Chapter 245 Xiahou Dun’s speech, Cao Cao designed to reward Xi Yu
Author: Tough Bronze
Chapter 245 Xiahou Dun’s speech, Cao Cao designed to reward Xi Yu
However, Cao Cao seemed to be impatient about this.
As soon as he saw Xiahou Dun coming in, Cao Cao already guessed what he wanted to say. He must have something to do with Xi Yu, otherwise how could Xiahou Dun come to him in person.
The clan members are already afraid.
Not to mention people from the clan, even Cao Cao himself is a little scared now.
Three hundred thousand people.
Last night, the whole night, Cao Cao didn't think about this matter. Where did 300,000 people appear?
Cao Cao clearly remembered that when she asked Xi Yu to take charge of Xuzhou, she only gave her 80,000 troops, and more than 20,000 of them were recruited in a hurry.
With just tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, it was not easy to defend Yuan Shao, but now it turned out to be 300,000 soldiers!
Such a large number of soldiers and horses are almost enough to dominate the world today!
But what Cao Cao is most worried about now is that he has been working hard all his life, but he is afraid that in the end he will end up making a wedding dress for someone else!
"Mengde, I mentioned to you before that General Zhao Zilong under Fengyi's command robbed my arms, do you remember?" Xiahou Dun looked at Cao Cao, lowered his head and said.
"I remember this." Cao Cao replied calmly, but did not show any other expression.
Seeing this, Xiahou Dun told Zhao Yun's story again.
After hearing this, Cao Cao raised his head and said, dumbfounded, "Haha, you are so talented in sophistry? This is not like what Changshan Zhao Zilong did!"
"Perhaps, Zhao Yun has been influenced by Xi Yu and others so often that he has learned bad things?"
"It's quite possible..."
Cao Cao shook his head and said: "If Zhao Yun talks like this, I'm afraid it will be difficult to get your armaments back. If you are still dissatisfied, I will allocate four thousand battle armors from our army to you. What do you think?"
"Thank you very much..." Xiahou Dun saluted Cao Cao with clasped fists and said, "However, Meng De, please listen to me for now. The important thing I said today is not this."
"Currently, all the four major counties in Jizhou have been occupied by Xi Yu. He also owns Qinghe County, where the literati and poets gather. I think many gentry have moved into Qinghe County. As a result, Qinghe County will soon be
Become the second Xuzhou Xiapi."
"From this point of view, the location of Xiyu is like destiny. Now, we are not short of soldiers and horses. To be honest with Meng De, I have a hundred thousand soldiers and horses. Taking Hejian is like picking up treasures. We can also take Jizhou within half a year.
Spring is about to begin in all prefectures and counties. Meng De, you might as well give this opportunity to the Cao family and the Xiahou family..."
"Why?"
Cao Cao raised his head and looked at Xiahou Dun with a half-smile.
"With so many prey in the hunting grounds, is it possible that we can only eat rabbits?"
Cao Cao suddenly looked stunned, then smiled and said, "Haha...that makes sense."
"This matter has been decided. You and Cao Ren will be the main ones to attack the land of Jizhou. Fengyi should be full of food by now in this hunting ground. It's time for him to take action in the south."
"Mengde, what I want to say today is exactly this." Xiahou Dun knelt down on one knee, clasped his fists and said to Cao Cao, "I thought that General Xi Yu was only suitable to sit in the rear to guard Xuzhou and Qingzhou and defend Sun Ce in the south.
, do a good job of guarding!"
"Of course you can become a big family in the future, but Fengyi is not suitable to be a pioneer and go south! The credit for going south must be given to our Cao family, Xiahou family, Mengde. If we capture Jizhou, Bingzhou, and even You
In the state, within three years, the number of soldiers and horses will reach 500,000."
Hearing this, Cao Cao put down the slip in his hand and couldn't help but turn his eyes several times.
Suddenly, Cao Cao looked at Xiahou Dun, his eyes suddenly shot out a ray of light, and he scolded Xiahou Dun, "Is this what Xi Zhicai taught you?!"
"Mengde..."
Xiahou Dun was so frightened that he knelt on the ground and crawled in front of Cao Cao.
He usually had a good relationship with Cao Cao, but now Cao Cao's eyes burst out with terrifying majesty, and Xiahou Dun was really frightened.
Xiahou Dun knelt on the ground and explained, "Mengde, this is not what Zhicai taught me. I rarely meet him in private. What I just said is all based on my own study of military books."
"hehe……"
Cao Cao put down the slip and stared at Xiahou Dun who was lying on the ground. He was filled with doubts and thoughts. Cao Cao really didn't know if anyone had taught Xiahou Dun what he just said.
His scolding just now was just to scare Xiahou Dun.
"Xi Zhicai really didn't teach you anything? Haha, don't think that I don't know anything if you don't tell me."
At this time, Xiahou Dun's shoulders and even his back were trembling with tension. He stared at the ground motionless, feeling very frightened and uneasy.
After a long time, Cao Cao looked at Xiahou Dun and said calmly, "Get up."
"Here."
Xiahou Dun was sweating all over his body at this moment, and his clothes were soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to his body, which was very uncomfortable.
Xiahou Dun secretly glanced at Cao Cao and saw that Cao Cao was pacing back and forth, thinking about something, so he said to Cao Cao, "Mengde, once our troops and horses are sufficient, I think Liu Biao in the south will not be afraid. However,
Jiangdong Sun Ce is a man who needs to be guarded against."
"As far as I know, Sun Ce suppressed the gentry in Jiangdong and reused young people. In this way, he gained the support of poor families and people. Now he is using force to intimidate the land of Jiangdong. Although this person has a bad reputation, he also has a brother...
…”
"The man's name is Sun Quan. I have met him before. Does Meng De remember this man?"
Cao Cao immediately smiled and said, "Back then, Wentai was considered my adopted brother. I worked with him to eliminate thieves in Runan for a long time. But later, Wentai prospered and declined, and we were defeated in Jingzhou."
"Since then, I have also met his family. When I first met Sun Quan, he was only nine years old. But even at such a child's age, he had the strategies of an adult, and he also had a bookish spirit, which impressed me
It’s very profound.”
Cao Cao looked at Xiahou Dun and continued, "Now, listening to what you said, Sun Ce from Jiangdong inherited the bravery and might of Wentai, thus suppressing the Confucian scholars in Jiangdong counties, but Sun Quan is the best in Jiangdong in the future.
The successor, with his benevolent government, will again ease the relationship between the Sun family and the Jiangdong gentry?"
"That's exactly what I mean." Xiahou Dun nodded and said, "Mengde, now we go south to capture Jingzhou. This will be easy. Then we can capture Jiangdong. In this way, the Central Plains can be unified in one fell swoop."
"This time half a million soldiers and horses are marching south, leaving Xi Yu to guard Xuzhou. At that time, we can put Xi Yu's loyalty to you to the test?!"
"Why do you say this?" Cao Cao thought.
"Go south to Jingzhou and then capture Jiangdong. We should be invincible. While Xiyu stays in Xuzhou, if he is disloyal to you Mengde, he can directly capture Xuchang and control the emperor, and even lead you into a trap.
Come into our heart."
"We can take precautions against this matter in advance, and then we can try out Xi Yu's loyalty."
"If Xi Yu does not rebel, no matter whether he is loyal or not, he will not do any more rebellion. After all, after the world is unified and everything is a foregone conclusion, no one will be willing to cause rebellion with Xi Yu.
"
Cao Cao immediately asked: "If during my march, I raise troops to invade Xuchang, how should you respond?"
Xiahou Dun said decisively, "This will definitely not happen!"
"Qingzhou defends Xuzhou, Yanzhou defends Qingzhou, and Jizhou is so huge that Xiyu cannot make a quick decision. Furthermore, such a major matter must take time to decide."
"My lord, you have always treated him with integrity and courtesy, how could Xi Yu attack Xuchang on the way? Furthermore, even if Xi Yu attacks Xuchang on the way, we can return immediately to besiege him, so there is nothing to fear."
If Yanzhou and Jingzhou are united, they can directly attack Xuzhou and Qingzhou, and win easily.
"Very good." Cao Cao gave a faint approval, and then said, "Although I don't agree with your approach, there is really no need for Xi Yu to take action in the future."
"You go back for the time being. I will discuss with Xi Yu and work hard to prepare to capture the remaining counties in Jizhou during the spring plowing period, and then attack Bingzhou and annex Yuan Shao's troops in Bingzhou."
"In my opinion, now that Yuan Shao has lost people's hearts, there will definitely not be much resistance in Bingzhou."
"good!"
Xiahou Dun used this incident today to explain to Cao Cao the relationship between hunting and prey, and to hint to Cao Cao that Xiyu had already made great achievements and should not be allowed to continue to make meritorious deeds, otherwise, the prey they could obtain would become less and less.
By then, how to award rewards has become a big problem.
However, Xiahou Dun also wanted to talk about one thing at this time.
Now that the second son, Cao Pi, is fourteen years old, he can join the army and make contributions, and he has a very good relationship with Cao Zhen, so the two can go together. In a few years, the Cao family will have another direct relative who can lead the army.
This is a very good thing.
Nowadays, the Cao family and the Xiahou family have to gradually place their generals, scribes, princes, young masters, etc. like chess pieces, and serve as officials in the military camp and various levels. Only in this way, the other heroes with foreign surnames will naturally
will be reduced, and the people of the Cao family and the Xiahou family can always occupy the core position.
Otherwise, as time goes by, the Cao family and Xiahou family will gradually leave their core positions, and the management of foreign surnames will become increasingly difficult.
People who are closer to Cao Cao naturally understand better what Cao Cao wants. Even if some things are not what Cao Cao wants, everyone's hard work forces Cao Cao to have them.
Becoming an official, worshiping a general, or even dividing the world among them is what everyone wants and desires most after a grand hegemony.
…
Therefore, Xi Yu had been leisurely for less than half a month before he was called by Cao Cao to go to the government office and meet Cao Cao in the main hall.
Cao Cao said that he had something to discuss with him. At this time, the only person accompanying Xi Yu in the hall was Dian Wei.
However, there were Xu Chu, Xi Zhicai and Xu You beside Cao Cao. These people had always been loyal to Cao Cao. The other advisers were busy with their own affairs and did not come at this moment.
"Fengyi, please read this edict carefully for now. I won't ask the eunuch to come over and read it out." Cao Cao smiled and handed a copy of the edict to Xi Yu.
Xi Yu took the edict, opened it slowly, and took a closer look. On it were written the new rewards given to him: General of the Five Features, Great General, and Marquis of Chenliu of the Han Dynasty.
The fiefdom changed from Jiwu to the entire Chenliu County, and Chenliu County is within the territory of Yanzhou. This is Cao Cao's heaviest reward so far, and the fiefdom of Xiyu is right next to Cao Cao's hometown.
Xu Zhen's brows moved slightly and he thought secretly: This fiefdom is not far from where the emperor is.
Cao Cao suddenly smiled and said to Xi Yu, "Fengyi, the world is now... settled."
Xi Yu frowned and thought to himself: Is the world settled?
Jiang Dong and Liu Bei are both alive and well, how can they say the world is settled?!
"Brother, we cannot make this conclusion now." Xi Yu bowed to Cao Cao and said calmly, "In this world today, there are many powerful enemies in the south. It would be premature to think that the world is settled."
"No, now I, Cao Cao, have hundreds of thousands of powerful soldiers, and I am in an advantageous position in the current war in the north. What else can be difficult? I think the world is about to be determined. If I, Cao Cao, don't even have this little self-confidence, how can I call myself a hero?"
!”
"Today's reward is what I give you in advance, and it is also a compliment to you!" Cao Cao said with a smile.
Hearing this, Xi Yu's face suddenly darkened, he stared at Cao Cao and sighed, "Brother, so you have made your decision?"
"Haha, is there anyone who will never decide this matter?" Cao Cao walked up to Xi Yu, patted his shoulder, and then pulled Xi Yu out of the hall.
As Cao Cao walked away, he said, "Fengyi, there is no need for you and me to be so guarded and caring about each other."
"Of course, there are many talents in my clan now, including many civil servants and generals. Brother, of course I have to let them have something to eat. Just like the matter of the hunting ground, if you can take away a lot of prey just by yourself, then the rest of my soldiers will
What other prey is available to the horse?”
"In this case, they will naturally starve. Therefore, I will definitely take care of you in this matter of enfeoffment in the world, but I also have to take care of the people of the clan. In order to be righteous, do you know the difficulties of being a brother?"
"Of course I know." Xi Yu replied with a smile.
The two of them gradually arrived at the entrance of the hall.
Looking at the huge and magnificent school grounds, the government office with thousands of people stationed under the stairs, and the Xuchang Palace with thousands of people stationed next to it, Cao Cao sighed with emotion, "Fengyi, eight years ago, I, Cao Mengde, would never have dared to imagine.
I can have the prosperous life I have today!”
"Today's prosperous age is entirely the result of the hard work of you and me. It must be managed well and must not be destroyed. Now I will hand over Xuzhou and Qingzhou to you. You must prosper and develop."
"From now on, you can develop your clan in the land of Qingzhou and Xuzhou. I, Cao Cao, promise you that in the future, your clan will definitely become the largest noble clan in the world!"
"You, Xi Yu, will always be the most powerful official of Cao Cao, even better than any of my descendants, confidants, or even benefactors."
Hearing Cao Cao's words, Xi Yu couldn't calm down in his heart. He could clearly feel that Cao Cao was really anxious at this time, and very anxious.
Perhaps because Yuan Shao is now terminally ill and will soon pass away from this world, Cao Cao is even more eager for the world and wants to quickly end this troubled world.
But in matters of time, haste makes waste.
Today, the world is not yet settled, but Cao Cao says it is.
The south is very strong, but Cao Cao said that the south is weak.
As for Sun Ce's defeat at Hefei, it was not that Sun Ce was too weak, but that Zhang Liao had the talent to be a general. If someone else had guarded Hefei, Sun Ce would have already occupied Hefei.
Xi Yu understood in his heart how could Cao Cao not understand this matter, but now... Cao Cao only needs to persuade Xi Yu not to make any more military exploits.
Maybe what Cao Cao said before was just a lie.
At this time, Cao Cao's intention was very obvious. It was nothing more than a hint that Xi Yu would give all the opportunities to make meritorious deeds to Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren and others, and even more people from the Cao family's clan, so that these people could make great achievements and become great heroes.
In this way, these people can very well restrain him from playing Yu.
Xi Yu smiled bitterly in his heart: Haha, Cao Cao, Cao Cao, you are still afraid of me after all.
Now, are your words a reward?
You are just hinting that I should stop making meritorious deeds and put aside my past feelings. You are also hinting that my playfulness is no longer useful to you. You want me to retire and return to my hometown to rest and recuperate.
Xi Yu sighed secretly.
In today's situation, if he doesn't agree to cacao, he may end up turning against each other.
After all, when things got to this point, Cao Cao did not dare to let Xi Yu go easily, because in Cao Cao's view, if he let Xi Yu go back now, he would soon become a prince.
How could Cao Cao accept such a situation!
"I already understand that from now on, I will temporarily return to the fiefdom for a while, and then return to the land of Xuzhou and Qingzhou to let the people gather food, recuperate, and fulfill my responsibility of supplying my brother."
"Haha, haha... Fengyi understands righteousness so well, he is really a good minister of Cao Cao."
Cao Cao suddenly burst into laughter.
He had known for a long time what would happen today, and he was certain that Xiyu would not refuse him.
I think back then, when Xi Yu had no fame or military strength, it was Cao Cao who gave him the opportunity to make achievements.
Now, Cao Cao is just letting him succeed and retire early.
Now, Xi Yu can gain the highest fame and status, and as for the military strength he holds, he can slowly hand it over when the world is unified.
well……
Cao Cao's plan was really good, but it was a pity that he came too early. Then how could Liu Bei and Sun Quan be stupid people?
However, since Cao Cao wants to think so and do this, although he doesn't know what the result will be, let Cao Cao do it for the time being, and he can live a leisurely life for a few years.
…
Xi Yu then bid farewell to Cao Cao and went to the fiefdom of Chenliu with Dian Wei.
Although Xi Yu did not have a clan in the local area at this time, he was already well-known.
Many nobles heard that Xi Yu had six wives in his family, so they all wanted to marry their female relatives to Xi Yu.
However, whenever anyone brought up this idea, Lu Lingqi immediately scolded them and drove them away.
Lu Lingqi was very angry: There are already six wives, and now six people are no longer enough to share the joy. If there are more women, how can we share?!
Dian Wei had some intention of returning home in rich clothes, remembering that he had killed someone and fled to Yanzhou to join Zhang Miao's army.
Now that Dianwei was famous all over the world, he came to Jiwu Township and had a drink with his former friends. After Xiyu got the farming household and the dian registration, and decided when to collect rent every year,
Just left.
By the beginning of spring, Xi Yu had returned to Xiapi City in Xuzhou.
Seeing Xi Yu return, Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang breathed a sigh of relief. Although Xi Yu returned safely, Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang still felt that Xi Yu's trip to Xuchang was very dangerous.
They always felt that as long as there were a few mistakes, Xi Yu would be forced to stay in Xuchang by Cao Cao and never leave again.
Fortunately, now it seems that everything is safe.
…
Chapter completed!