In the sixth year of Jian'an, it rained lightly in early December.
The weather is getting colder and colder. According to the modern temperature classification, today's temperature probably only hovers between a few degrees to minus a few degrees. Coupled with the intermittent light rain, it seems particularly cold today.
On the forest path, a group of people stared carefully at the slippery road and moved forward cautiously.
Walking in the front was Cao Cao, who was wearing the latest cotton-padded clothes and a thick cloak... Behind Cao Cao were his three sons, Cao Ang, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhang. Behind Cao Ang and others, were
It was Xu Chu and a dozen guards.
Cao Cao and his party walked through the forest and came to an open area.
Not far ahead, there is a huge and luxurious cemetery.
Cao Cao looked up at the cemetery in front of him and murmured: "We're almost there..." Then he quickened his pace and walked towards the cemetery of his old friend.
Buried in the cemetery ahead is Cao Cao's once most powerful rival and best childhood playmate, Yuan Shao.
When they walked more than ten steps away from the cemetery, Cao Ang, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhang obediently stood on the spot, leaving Cao Cao to go to Yuan Shao's tombstone alone.
Cao Cao took out a wine jug and two wine glasses from his arms, and then filled the two glasses with wine.
"Bah!" With a sound, Cao Cao drank up the cup in front of him, and then spilled the other cup in front of the tombstone.
Cao Cao continued to pour wine for himself and Yuan Shao, and then began to talk,
"Benchu, Meng De came to visit you... How are you doing there? Did you bully others or peek at the little sister taking a bath?"
"Your Majesty has made me the shepherd of Jizhou, and I will live in Yecheng from now on. We two brothers will have plenty of time to reminisce..."
"Don't blame me for bullying your son...I'm sure that if I were in your place, you would probably be more ruthless than me..."
"Original... Now I finally realize what Mr. Lu said about the feeling of being 'too cold at a high place'... Sometimes I wonder, will I become a loner in the future?"
Cao Cao ignored the wet ground and just sat next to the tombstone, talking to Yuan Shao's tombstone with a sip of wine...
When the wine was full, Cao Cao remembered his childhood friendship with Yuan Shao again. As he talked, he burst into tears.
Cao Ang was the wisest, and he turned his back first.
But seeing his two younger brothers still looking at Cao Cao curiously, he coughed twice and said to Cao Pi and Cao Zhang: "Don't read what you shouldn't. Be careful when you go back and punish you for copying books."
"Oh..." Cao Pi and Cao Zhang said oh, and then both turned their backs. Cao Pi also muttered in a low voice, "Father is just partial and never punishes his fourth brother for copying books..."
"Fourth brother likes to read. Isn't copying books a reward for him..." Cao Zhang replied in a low voice.
"Yeah..."
After a while, Cao Zhang suddenly asked: "Brother, dad often teaches us men not to shed tears lightly, so why is he crying now?"
When Cao Ang heard this, he slapped Cao Zhang on the back of the head, glared at him and said, "Don't worry about dad's affairs, you know?"
Old God Cao Pi nodded thoughtfully and said, "That's right, don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't look at what you shouldn't look at!"
At this time, Cao Cao's confused voice came from behind the three of them: "At first, when we raised our troops, you asked me, 'If things are not sorted out, what basis can we rely on?'"
"Hiccup...I ask you what you should do..."
"You said that if you face the south and defend the Yellow River, face the north and rely on the Yan, and gather the power of the Rong and Di for your own use due to the dangers of the Dai land, then you can go south to fight for the world, and maybe you can achieve great things!"
"And I said that I should gather the most intelligent people in the world and control them with the ideas of the late king, and I can accomplish great things!"
"Haha..." After saying this, Cao Cao laughed twice, but he did not finish the rest of the words.
One values the location and the other values the harmony. Which one is higher and which one is lower will be decided by oneself.
As Cao Cao's heir, Cao Ang naturally thinks much more than his brothers.
At this moment, hearing Cao Cao's intermittent and confused words, he couldn't help but compare Yuan Shao's behavior with his father's behavior over the years.
Yuan Shao gained the favorable location in Hebei, but Cao Cao received help from great talents such as Lu Yan and Xun Yu.
Now that Yuan Shao is dead, Cao Cao has already formed the trend of annexing Hebei. Such a comparison, "Sure enough, the weather is not as good as the right place, and the right place is not as good as the people... Dad's choice is right. Only by conquering the world can we be wise."
Only in this way can the world have long-lasting peace and order!"
After paying homage to Yuan Shao, Cao Cao put aside all the burdens in his heart.
To appease the people, fight against the powerful, put an end to land annexation issues, etc... Cao Cao once again strengthened a series of policies previously implemented. The Xuzhou Chamber of Commerce and the United Chamber of Commerce also donated a large amount of food, cotton clothes, and coal for iron furnaces to the people of Jizhou.
Things to keep out the cold during the winter will enable the people of Hebei to spend this winter safely.
The people of Hebei who had received various tangible benefits immediately applauded and began to sing praises to the emperor, Cao Cao, and Lu Yan.
On the one hand, Cao Cao and the people were resting and recuperating. On the other hand, Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao, Tai Shi Ci, Dian Wei and others to patrol Zhao State, Changshan and other places respectively, clearing out and recruiting bandits scattered in the mountains and forests, such as the Yellow Turban bandits, etc.
The security issues in various counties in Jizhou have been greatly improved.
At this point, Cao Cao finally completely pacified Jizhou.
...
Bohai County, Nanpi, County Governor's Mansion.
"The chariot and cavalry general Lu Bu served the court against the Yuan family's rebels and made outstanding contributions... He was specially granted the title of Bingzhou Mu, Jihou, and was given the title of Shizhong, a fake festival Yue, and the military commander of Qingzhou and Bingzhou..."
The envoy sent by the Han court read out the reward to Lu Bu and then respectfully presented the edict to Lu Bu.
Lu Bu knelt down on one knee, took the edict, and thanked the emperor for the reward.
After the envoy was led down to rest, Lu Bu said to Chen Gong with a smile but not a smile: "Cao Cao was very generous. He actually gave me the land of two states and granted me the title of Jihou..."
Chen Gong held his hand on his slightly gray beard and said with a smile: "Cao Cao is indeed very generous, and this Jihou also shows that he will leave Youzhou to you to take care of in the future."
When Lu Bu heard this, he laughed and said, "That is what I wish for!"
Nowadays, fame and fortune are no longer very attractive to Lu Bu. All he wants is to drive away the barbarians, open up territory for the Han Dynasty, and fulfill his childhood dream.
When he attacked Yuan Shao, without Lu Bu's help, even if Cao Cao could win, he would not be able to win as easily as he did now.
Due to Lu Bu's transformation and Lu Bu's status as Lu Yan's father-in-law, out of his trust in Lu Yan, Cao Cao now naturally has more trust in Lu Bu.
Handing over the Bingzhou Youzhou and Qingzhou to Lu Bu was not only a gift to Lu Bu for his help, but also allowed Lu Bu to help Cao Cao deal with the foreign tribes in the north, so that Cao Cao would have no worries when he went south to wipe out the princes from all over the country in the future.