Chapter 246: Lingju presents a certificate of merit, Li Miao angrily reprimands Cao Mengde
Chapter 246 Lingju presented his petition, and Li Miao angrily scolded Cao Mengde.
Author: milk sugar sugar sugar
Chapter 246 Lingju presented his petition, and Li Miao angrily scolded Cao Mengde.
The cold moonlight leaked brilliance from the window lattice of Cao Cao's study.
Cheng Yu's brows were furrowed, as if he was in endless contemplation.
Cao Cao asked him to choose, but he didn't open his mouth in the end, but when he presented the two bamboo slips back to Cao Cao again.
Obviously, Cao Zhi's article "Recruiting Widows and Distributing Military Households" is at the top, while Cao Pi's "Nine-Rank Officials Law" is at the bottom.
Cheng Yu made his choice in his own way.
He also used his actions to choose to stand firmly with Cao Cao instead of the clan.
"Hahaha…"
Cao Cao laughed knowingly, "This is really embarrassing for Zhongde!"
Cheng Yu pondered for a moment, and his words were perfect and watertight, "No matter which article it is, anyone who can write such a chapter can be regarded as a great talent... It seems that both young masters have expert help behind them, and they are matched against each other!"
"Haha..." Cao Cao continued to laugh, and while laughing, he pondered: "Zhongde, what if I told you that Zihuan and Zihuan are the same master after fitness?"
this…
Cheng Yu was startled and quickly asked: "Who is it?"
"Li Miao!" Cao Cao's tone suddenly became cold, "This little-known one of the 'Three Dragons of the Li Family' is a bit interesting..."
Cheng Yu suddenly realized, "Could it be that...Li Miao offered his plans to the two young masters one after another, and it was these two plans, right?"
"It's not just these two tricks!" Cao Cao sighed with a smile: "Zijian actually proposed to Gu that Yang Dezu should be severely punished..."
ah--
Cheng Yu was startled.
Cao Cao's words continued, "When I came back from this trip, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Zijian's mind and tactics have greatly improved."
"What the Prime Minister means..." Cheng Yu seemed to have tasted something from Cao Cao's words, "Li Miao is named the son of Master Zihuan, but he is actually the son of Master Zijian?"
"Ha ha ha ha…"
Cao Cao did not answer. He continued to laugh heartily. When the laughter completely subsided, Cao Cao said: "Since this Li Miao is so interesting, then I will try this Li Miao for these two sons!"
At this point, Cao Cao flexed his sleeves and asked, "Where is the Tiger Marquis?"
"The end is here!"
Xu Chu walked in quickly.
Cao Cao ordered: "Tomorrow at noon I will have a banquet for the guests and review the drum music played by the drummers. I heard that the madmen are all good at drumming, so I am looking forward to it. Can Li Miao beat the drum sound like Ni Heng?"
"Prime Minister..." before Cheng Yu could speak.
Cao Cao's words continued, this time with deep emotion and contemplation.
"In the past, I wanted to humiliate Mi Heng, but I didn't expect to be humiliated by Mi Heng naked. Tomorrow's drum music, who will humiliate whom?"
"Also tell Zihuan and Zijian to go and listen to the sonorous drums!"
Cheng Yu was a little confused as to how Cao Cao wanted to test this Li Miao.
But such a solemn order and such a solemn arrangement allowed two young masters to participate.
It’s bound to…
Tomorrow's drum music will definitely be "passionate" and "tragic"!
…
…
Jiangling City is quiet at night.
Lü Meng's eldest son Lü Cong and his legitimate son Lü Ba walked through dark corridors under the guidance of a man masked in black cloth.
Every time they turn a corner and every door opens, Lu Cong and Lu Ba become more excited.
The reason why they were excited was because Miss Wen from Parrot sent them the news that Huang Laoxie's identity was revealed. In addition, Huang Laoxie's head was also cut off.
It's time to pay with one hand and deliver the goods with the other hand.
After walking through the last corridor, Lingju appeared in front of the two of them, wearing a red robe, a bamboo hat, and a green gauze veil.
There were more masked men around Lingju this time, standing guard with knives.
"Ahem..."
Lu Cong coughed lightly, looking a little nervous as always.
But Lu Ba opened his mouth and said: "Miss Wen sent someone to tell my brother that Huang Laoxie was found out and his head was cut off? Is this really true?"
Lingju didn't speak, but the guard beside him opened his mouth first.
"How can what my young lady said be false? Did you bring the gold?"
Lu Ba nodded and clapped his hands. An entourage brought in three big boxes. Lu Ba opened the box. The light emitted from the box full of gold made people feel the most tangible eight words - golden light, shining. radiant.
It seems that because of the revelation of gold, Lu Cong suddenly gained a lot of confidence and he opened his mouth.
"We understand the rules. We have paid a deposit before, and this is the final payment, but...Miss Wen always wants to tell us, who is Huang Laoxie? Where is his head? And how to prove that he is Huang Laoxie?"
"That's right, that's right." Lu Ba shouted loudly: "Miss Wen, why don't you take out Huang Laoxie's head quickly? He is already dead, why are you still hiding it? Could it be that Miss Wen is bluffing us? ?”
"puff--"
The words of Lu Cong and Lu Ba made Lingju laugh out loud.
"Have you forgotten that I have said before that Parrot only seeks money? Besides, if you two can find me, it proves that the power behind them is not small. There is no need for Parrot to lie to you. There is such an extra enemy."
As he spoke, Lingju clapped his hands gently.
Immediately, a wooden box was brought up by his subordinates and placed on the table behind him.
There were still blood stains on the outside of the wooden box. Lingju pointed at the wooden box and said, "What's inside is the head of Huang Laoxie you want... As for how to prove that he is Huang Laoxie, the two young masters took a look Then you will know.”
As he spoke, Lingju slowly took two steps to one side, as if he didn't want to see the bloody scene when he opened the box.
And as his voice fell.
Lu Cong and Lu Ba couldn't wait to step forward.
They both murmured in their hearts:
——"Huang Laoxie's identity? You can tell at a glance? Could it be that...this Huang Laoxie is a 'famous' person? Or is he an important person in Jiangling City? It can't be that Guan Yu, right?"
Lingju's words whetted the appetite of the two of them...
Lu Cong and Lu Ba walked quickly to the wooden box, staring at the wooden box with their eyes, their attention drawn to the blood that was constantly seeping out.
They couldn't wait to open the wooden box.
With a "crunching" sound, the box door opened, but... what came into view was... a... a sheep's head?
"this…"
"temperature…"
Lu Cong and Lu Ba were about to speak when they heard two "bang" and "bang" sounds behind them, and two sap sticks were hammered down on the backs of their heads.
"ah--"
With a crisp sound, the two fell to the ground.
Next, in this secret room, there was only the crisp "dong dong" sound when the two people fell.
For a moment, a spark suddenly flashed in this dark secret room.
Parrot's killers were well prepared. They quickly threw out hidden weapons and killed all the troops brought by Lu Cong and Lu Ba in a matter of seconds.
The scene was extremely bloody and violent.
Lingju clapped her hands gently and took off the green veil that covered her face. She had long been accustomed to such a scene.
She calmly ordered: "Tie them both up, splash them with water, and interrogate them overnight! Before tomorrow morning, I want to know their identities and the forces behind them..."
Lingju's voice was extremely cold, as if he had no expression at all.
Just like that cute and lovely Lingju in front of his mother Diao Chan...
As long as she leaves her mother and joins the "parrot", Lingju can turn into a "killing without batting an eye" female devil overnight.
——As long as she is willing!
"yes…"
A group of killers responded in unison.
Lingju noticed the three boxes of gold. She smiled and said, "Under the cover of night, take these to Cao Cao's office and hand them over to Fourth Young Master Guan!"
"yes…"
As a group of killers responded again.
Lingju had slowly turned around and walked towards the corridor beside him with vigorous steps.
Lingju is a very particular person.
It may be good to repay a favor, or to kill Cao Cao because of the same hatred.
As long as she joins the camp of the Guan family and her son, she, Lingju and Parrot, still need a "letter of nomination"!
…
…
Fancheng, the residence of General Wu Guan.
Cao Pi, Cao Zhen, Sima Yi, Chen Qun, and Liu Zhen were sitting around the fire, discussing the "Nine-Rank Officials' Law" presented by Cao Pi.
Cao Zhen said: "Look, Zihuan, you shouldn't have listened to Li Miao's nonsense and presented you with that bullshit "Nine-grade Officials' Law". It's fine now. It made your father angry, but it was the letter presented by Zijian."
Although your father did not praise the proposal of "Recruiting Widows", at least he was not as nervous as he was with you."
Cao Zhen's father's name is Cao Shao, and he is a member of Cao Cao's clan.
During the crusade against Dong Zhuo, he recruited troops for Cao Cao and was killed by the local governor. Because of this, Cao Zhen lost his father when he was young and was adopted by Cao Cao as his adopted son, treating him as his own.
And because they were similar in age to Cao Pi, the two had a tacit understanding and became very close.
At this moment, he looked downcast and stamped his feet...
He kept shouting, "Zihuan, you... you are usually quite smart. Why... why did you let lard fool you this time? Just... you just... listened to Li Miao's slander. You don't want to think about your father either."
If he would compromise with the clan, would he still be called Wei Gong? Will Xun Lingjun still die? You... alas... alas..."
Cao Pi quickly replied: "Zidan, don't be so irritable, can't you see? In recent years, just because my father was proclaimed Duke, and just because of Xun Lingjun's death, the entire Central Plains has been in turmoil. In the past three years, the rebellions in the Central Plains and the north have become more and more turbulent.
Eight times if not ten times? What does this mean? It means that the energy of the aristocratic family cannot be underestimated, and compared with Zijian, I am not favored by my father. This is the only power I can use!"
Cao Zhen could understand Cao Pi's worries, and he could also understand the compromises he had to make for the sake of his position as the heir apparent.
But as a member of the clan, Cao Zhen was particularly aggrieved: "But... you can't just... give up the power of selecting officials to outsiders!"
"Not allowed to go out? How can we get the families to support Mr. Zihuan?"
Young Chen Qun opened his mouth and said: "Young Master Zihuan is right. Prime Minister Cao's preferences determine the attitude of the clan to a certain extent. But after Young Master Chong, Prime Minister Cao loves Young Master Zhi the most. On this point... Zi Huan has already
Countless efforts have been made, but with little success..."
"To tell you the truth, many parts of the "Nine Ranks of Officials Law" coincide with my thoughts over the years...not to mention that Zihuan can use this to win over the support of many scholars.
The law is far better than the inspection of the Han Dynasty...This method of selecting people can give the world more hope!"
Liu Zhen said: "Actually, Mr. Li also mentioned to Zihuan that the "Nine Ranks of Officials Law" is good, but Prime Minister Cao may not listen to it, and may even get angry because of it. Mr. Li let Zihuan make his own choice.
, do you want to be a filial son? Always do things according to Prime Minister Cao's instructions, use this filial piety to impress Prime Minister Cao, and compete for the heir apparent?"
"Or should I be a rebellious son... Use the right way to accumulate energy, and then fight against Prime Minister Cao, and compete for the crown prince in a fierce way? At least in Jiangling, the behavior of the Guan family's rebellious son Guan Lin proves... Even if you are a rebellious son, this
The road is still open!"
As everyone expressed their opinions, Sima Yi remained silent. Cao Pi leaned forward and asked: "Zhongda? Everyone has mentioned this "Nine-Rank Officials Law", why don't you say a word?"
Sima Yi replied: "I was thinking about what Cao Cheng said to Zi Huan..."
ah…
Cao Pi was startled.
He realized that what Sima Yi was referring to was the sentence left by his father:
——"To achieve their goals, they have learned to unite with outsiders and fight against each other!"
——"Very good, you look like Gu's son!"
Sima Yi continued: "The Prime Minister is the hero of the world. If you want to understand what he says, you must also understand what he has not said. If you want to think what he thinks, you must also think what he has not thought."
Cao Zhen was impatient: "Can you just speak human language?"
Cao Pi asked: "What did my father never say? What did he never think about?"
Sima Yi shook his head, "The Prime Minister's heart is as deep as the sea. We can't understand it easily. I have to think about it carefully and don't make mistakes... However, this letter is exquisite and can help Mr. Huan unite the "Ninth Grade Officials" of various aristocratic families.
"Fa", since Mr. Li can dedicate it to Zi Huan, it is enough to confirm that he is someone Zi Huan can trust!"
Cao Zhen said sarcastically: "You said a lot, but it's as if you didn't say anything! You still want to think... At the noon banquet, Prime Minister Cao directly announced that he would use Zijian's letter "Recruiting Widows and Distributing Military Households"
》... In my opinion, you are entertaining Zihuan, right?"
Sima Yi bowed and stood up: "If Zihuan believes in me, let me think about it more. If you can't believe me, I will resign immediately..."
Cao Pi stretched out his hand to stop him, "Zhongda, sit down!"
He glanced at Cao Zhen reproachfully, "Think slowly, and think clearly about how I will respond next...and Mr. Li? My father must have ordered it because of the "Nine-grade Officials Law", noon
At the banquet, the drummers were checking the drum music, and Mr. Li was brought into the banquet. The last time such arrangements were made, it was You Heng... My father must be angry with me, so I turned my anger on him. My father wanted to humiliate him. This made
How does he handle himself?"
When Cao Pi spoke, Sima Yi had already fallen into deep thought.
It was as if he was connecting everything together.
Chen Qun in the hall couldn't help sighing. He wanted to talk to Sima Yi but didn't dare. Cao Zhen drank one glass after another anxiously, but did not disturb Sima Yi, who was frowning and meditating.
Cao Pi stood at the door, looking at the clear sky and bright moon. His concubine, Queen Guo Zhaoguo, came out and gently put a cloak on Cao Pi's body.
Cao Pi looked at Guo Zhao and was surprised at first: "Is it you?"
He originally thought it would be Mrs. Zhen Mi...
well…
Immediately, Cao Pi said with emotion: "I spread my poems and sing songs to talk about self-forgiveness, and my heart is broken by my joy and sorrow. I can't sleep on my pillow. I put on my clothes and walk around, look up at the stars and the moon and look at the clouds... Look at the position of the heir apparent.
The fight for the throne is just like walking on thin ice, with dangers everywhere! Are you afraid too?"
Guo Zhao shook her head. She took Cao Pi's hand and gently warmed his cold hand.
She chanted lightly: "I am not afraid..."
This sentence "not afraid" seemed to melt Cao Pi's cold heart.
There was also a fire burning in the hall, and it was burning brighter and brighter in Sima Yi's worried eyes.
a long time…
It’s getting twilight…
After a long time...it's almost noon.
Sima Yi finally struggled to move his legs, which were numb all night long, and stood up: "The banquet at noon is called a banquet, but it is a test set by Prime Minister Cao. It is a test of Zihuan and Zijian's response... It is also a test of the officials' understanding of "Nine
"The Law of Officials and Personnel", what are your views on "Conscripting Widows and Granting Military Households"..."
"Prime Minister Cao wants to force the two young masters to clearly distinguish their camps, and also to force the gentry and the clan to clearly distinguish. Zihuan... you have to think carefully. If you take this step, you will not only gain support from the gentry, but also have a deep relationship with the clan.
Deep resentment…”
"Zihuan, please think carefully. Although the move proposed by Mr. Li Miao is exquisite, it is a dangerous move! He is asking Zihuan to risk his life, betting that Prime Minister Cao will eventually...eventually compromise with the nobles! Zihuan
Huan, do you dare to risk your life?"
this…
For a moment, Cao Pi pondered, as if he had fallen into some kind of deep thought.
Cao Zhen grinned and cursed: "You thought about it all night and just came up with such nonsense?"
Cao Pi sat in front of Sima Yi. He gave Sima Yi a deep look and said, "Wash your face before leaving. You come with me to the banquet. You are mine. Even if you lose the bet and lose your life, you will still be there."
Be well groomed and die generously!"
"yes!"
Following Sima Yi's words, Cao Zhen looked at the two people who had a tacit understanding, and an incomprehensible and abandoned anger surged into his heart.
It seems that Zihuan will firmly stand on the side of the gentry!
But Cao Zhen is a member of the clan, how should he deal with this?
…
…
At noon, Li Miao was brought to Cao Cao's banquet in Fancheng.
I saw the warriors in the corridor all holding halberds, and the armor on their bodies and the sharp edges of their halberds shone with a cold light.
From a distance, Li Miao heard the voices of several important officials in the hall.
"Prime Minister Cao is now the Duke of the country, and he has settled the country in Yecheng. He should have established his heir as early as possible!"
The ministers echoed: "The prince of the country is uncertain and the world is uneasy. Please prime minister to establish a heir apparent as soon as possible."
These ministers came all the way from Xudu after hearing that Cao Cao had returned.
I also heard about the "Law of the Nine Ranks of Officials" presented by Cao Pi, and immediately decided to stand on Cao Pi's side. Today... we have made an appointment to come and give our advice.
Cao Cao waved his hands displeased, "Okay, okay, you are all more impatient than I am. Sit down. Today is a banquet. We only listen to drum music and don't talk about state affairs. We don't talk about state affairs!"
All the ministers retreated to their seats.
Li Miao noticed that the second son Cao Pi and the fourth son Cao Zhi were there, but Yang Xiu saw Li Miao and walked quickly to his side and whispered in his ear.
"The Prime Minister doesn't like madmen. If you fight like this, I'm afraid I will kill your spirit, just like Mi Heng did before... You must not..."
"Hahahaha..." Li Miao laughed immediately.
But his heart was screaming.
——"He finally came here, finally able to follow Mi Heng..."
——"Back then, Mi Heng humiliated Cao Cao while wearing no clothes and beating drums, which made him famous all over the world."
——"What shall I, Li Miao, do today?"
At this moment, the guard at the door reported: "The Prime Minister has summoned Li Miao!"
Yang Xiu walked past him with worry, and Li Miao walked into the hall with his head held high.
He knew...he also knew that if he wanted to achieve something, if he wanted to join the Cao family's son, if he wanted to stir up turmoil within Cao Wei, he would have to pass Cao Cao sooner or later.
Li Miao walked up to Cao Cao, but did not salute.
Cao Cao looked directly into Li Miao's eyes.
"Why don't you worship me when you see me alone?"
"I am not a minister of Wei, but I am just a common citizen. I should worship the emperor and the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, but I cannot worship the Duke of Wei?"
Following Li Miao's words, Xu Chu, who was beside Cao Cao, immediately blurted out.
"Be bold!"
Cao Cao didn't mind, he still smiled and said: "Haha, I heard that there was a madman in Shu who scolded Xuande at the banquet and Guan Gong in Jiangling City. This inevitably reminded me of Ni Heng. Mi Heng scolded Xun Lingjun as a pretty boy.
Zhao Rong is a loser, scolded Sima Lang for being a fat man who is fit to be a butcher, and scolded Chen Qun for only selling wine... I would like to know, which one is more arrogant, Mi Heng or you, Li Miao?"
Li Miao squinted his eyes and met Cao Cao's smile.
He saw the coldness in Cao Cao's eyes and was shocked, but countless preparations and countless fantasies about this scene allowed him to deal with this moment calmly.
After Cao Cao spoke, he smiled and said nothing. In the oppressive silence, one could feel the tension in the air.
"Turn around..."
Li Miao took a deep breath and turned around with his head held high.
Cao Cao looked at him and thought deeply: "In the past, Mi Heng was famous all over the world for his drum song "Yuyang Ginseng". You are ten times more talented than him. Do you dare to play the drum song "Yuyang Ginseng" too?
Lao"? Let me listen to the sonorous drum sound again."
"Why don't you dare?"
"Go, go...haha...hahaha!"
After hearing this, Li Miao walked straight towards the drum formation. His conversation with Cao Cao attracted the attention of everyone at the banquet.
Cao Zhi's heart was also deeply clenched.
Yang Xiu pursed his lips and thought to himself.
"Mr. Li...you need to break the situation that Mi Heng failed to break back then!"
Cao Pi also frowned, but Sima Yi was in a complicated mood. He seemed to have expected what Cao Cao was going to do. When... he became Cao Pi's staff, Cao Cao also "oppressed" him in this way.
That time, Cao Cao asked him to step back first, and then suddenly raised his hand and overturned the inkstone.
Sima Yi was startled by the voice and turned around suddenly.
Cao Cao's eyes were wide open, and he was victorious. He just wanted to see the unprepared look in the "opponent's" eyes. At that time, Cao Cao shouted - "Sure enough, it's true that the eagle is looking at the wolf!"
Recalling that moment again, Sima Yi couldn't help but feel frightened, especially from behind.
And it was just as Sima Yi expected.
With a "clang", Cao Cao directly overturned the wine pot and wine cup on the table. The sound of "clang, clang, clang" could not be heard. Li Miao was startled by this sound and turned around suddenly.
Cao Cao looked directly into his most real eyes, which were completely different from Sima Yi's "eagle looking at the wolf"... Li Miao's eyes were as calm as lake water.
Cao Cao couldn't help but be shocked.
——"Is he prepared? Or is his mind just so peaceful?"
——"Otherwise? How can we be so calm and composed?"
"Does the Prime Minister have any other instructions?"
Li Miao asked Cao Cao.
Cao Cao laughed, "You Heng would rather play the drums naked than change the drummer's robe. Li Miao is very curious. Would you like to change the drummer's robe or not?"
Following Cao Cao's words...
A guard presented the drummer's robe to Li Miao.
Li Miao turned a deaf ear and suddenly raised his head, pointing at Cao Cao's nose——
"Cao Mengde, do you think you are the only one in the world who dares to humiliate you?"