"Since I came to Tian, I have been very careful with my instructions; I am already ignorant, so how can I be so sincere!" [Bowen of Sacrifice to Wang Junyu Tai]
The emperor sat under a big mulberry tree. The mulberry branches were lush and leafy, and they were like canopies, growing solitary in this vast farmland. When Cao Cao came, he saw the mulberry tree from a distance like a canopy. When he got closer,
When he saw the emperor sitting under the tree in coarse clothes, he not only did not feel any contempt for him, but was impressed by the emperor's calm and calm demeanor.
"General of the Guard and your Majesty, Cao Cao, bow down to your Majesty." Cao Cao bowed down on the field ridge far away from the emperor, his loose robes almost soaked in the mud.
"Get up." The emperor raised his hand and said jokingly: "The seedlings that Mr. Zhao and I managed to plant were suddenly overwhelmed by you."
"This..." Cao Cao stood up and immediately rolled up his sleeves after hearing this. He looked at the seedlings lying in the mud on both sides and said with some apology on his face: "I will help it up now."
"Let's talk about it later." Seeing Cao Cao's embarrassed look, the emperor seemed to be very surprised. He waved to Cao Cao: "Come closer."
Cao Cao followed the instructions and moved a few steps forward.
"Since we said goodbye in Luoyang, General Cao and I haven't seen each other for many years." The emperor said nostalgically, recalling the past as if he still remembered where he had dealt with Cao Cao a long time ago: "The year before last, he was attacking Yuan Shao in Hebei.
, ordered the general to go west to Liangzhou to fight against the rebellion, but he passed by Jizhou but failed to see him, which is a pity. Now that the world is finally at peace, you and I can have a good time together."
While Cao Cao pondered the meaning of the emperor's words, he followed the emperor's words and said: "Back when Dong Zhuo usurped the throne, I vowed to fight against the traitors. Since the army started, I have not dared to forget the suffering of the imperial court for a day. In the blink of an eye, it lasted ten years.
During this period, there were many disputes and many military dangers, and I trudged through them one by one. Fortunately, I hoped that the court would cheer up and the army would leave Hangu. I did not think that my talent was poor and my morals were bad, and I was awarded an important task...I am extremely grateful."
"What the imperial court has always emphasized is to make the best use of everything and make the best use of people's talents." Dong Cheng interjected.
Cao Cao raised his eyes and saw Dong Cheng staring at him coldly. The emperor didn't show any expression to Dong Cheng's words just now, and seemed to acquiesce.
"You have also seen the fields here. How do you think these fields are cultivated?" The emperor introduced the achievements of his own cultivation as if to boast.
Cao Cao avoided Dong Cheng's gaze, lowered his head and boasted a few words.
The emperor chuckled lightly and turned to say: "Ji Tian was originally a false story, but it was just to comply with etiquette and to care for all the people. Now I regard it as an important thing to do, and I must wear peasant clothes at certain times.
Take care of the seedlings. Because of this matter, many people from the court came to oppose it, saying things like 'discourteous', 'disrespectful'...Cao Mengde, tell me, why should I do this?"
"I thought..." Cao Cao lowered his head, trying not to look at the expressions of Zhao Wen, Yang Biao and others. When he lowered his head, he saw moist and fertile dark brown land in front of him, with a thin alfalfa plant lying on it.
On the ground, there are small purple flowers blooming: "Your Majesty is doing this to know the farming work, to sympathize with the people's difficulties in harvesting, and to know the difficulty of farming. In addition, he can also be informed about rain, drought, locusts and other disasters at any time, and understand the farming situation, so as not to be misunderstood by the subordinates.
shield."
"In ancient times, the emperor cultivated thousands of acres of land and was the first in the world. Now, although I work hard and take time to take care of it, it is only a few acres, let alone a thousand acres." The emperor continued to ask: "But why is there an emperor in the Zhou rites?
How about a thousand acres of land? If the emperor cannot cultivate it by himself, won’t the land be abandoned?”
This question was too simple to be raised by the emperor in front of him. Cao Cao did not dare to take it lightly. He thought for a while and said: "Under the emperor, there are people who are common people. The roads are all over Guizhou, so the land will not be abandoned."
The emperor held up his hands and said: "Only by the efforts of the subjects can we support the world. Just as the emperor has a thousand acres of land, but one person cannot do it, so he entrusts it to his subjects. There are many things in the world, and even if God gives talents, how can only one person be able to manage them?
?There are three princes and nine ministers in the imperial court, and there are governors and governors in the local areas. These virtuous subjects are the subjects who cultivate the world's 'fields' for me...Cao Mengde, you can also be regarded as one of these 'subjects'."
Cao Cao was suddenly enlightened. Not only him, but also Zhao Wen, Yang Biao and others also had slightly changed expressions. Apparently they all understood the meaning of the emperor's words. In fact, officials have always used the term "herdsmen" to represent
The emperor treated the people like cattle and sheep and managed them. It seemed that the emperor wanted to reuse Cao Cao.
Dong Cheng was unhappy and said sarcastically: "General Wei understands farming so well, I think he is very good at taking care of it. I remember that the general once imitated farming in Yanzhou, and he was even more familiar with the things in the fields. Now your Majesty, I and other ministers are all familiar with it."
I'm so sweaty, doesn't General Cao want to go down and give it a try?"
Cao Cao's expression remained unchanged, he immediately rolled up his sleeves and eagerly said, "I am willing to go."
"There is another basket there." Dong Cheng pointed towards the ridge of the field. The tender green seedlings were timidly blown by the wind, and their heads were exposed in the basket made of rattan.
Cao Cao immediately asked the emperor for instructions and prepared to get up to pick up the rattan basket.
The emperor stopped him at the right time: "Don't worry, let me ask you, do you have a guard named Dian Wei by your side?"
Cao Cao was stunned. Dian Wei used to be Zhang Miao's subordinate. After Zhang Miao's defeat, he kept him by his side as a subordinate governor and responsible for the bodyguard. Although he was an official of his old friend, Cao Cao admired his loyalty and bravery and regarded him as his military commander for many years.
Confidant. He didn't know why the emperor suddenly became interested in Dian Wei. Since the emperor asked, he naturally had no need to hide it: "Your Majesty, Dian Wei is indeed my bodyguard."
"Come here with you now?" the emperor asked.
Cao Cao was startled and hurriedly explained: "How dare I bring such a tiger and wolf man to your Majesty? When I came, I ordered him to remove his armor and troops and stay in Yulin Camp to rest."
"I heard that this man has the ability to fight tigers and has extraordinary bravery. Xu Chu, the tiger warrior in front of me, is also brave enough to be worthy of all men. I have nothing to do at the moment, so I just want to let the two of them compete." The emperor said with great interest.
.
Everyone was shocked and tried to dissuade them one after another: "Your Majesty, please take back your order. This matter is related to safety, so be very careful!"
"Let them fight here." The emperor had already waved his hand to Xu Chu, who was patrolling not far away. Gu stood up from under the mulberry tree and patted the dust on his hands: "I'll go to the Xiannong Altar to enjoy the wind and talk.
."
Cao Cao had no choice but to hold his hands and said: "I ask them to test their strength without using swords to avoid injury."
Dong Cheng stopped and said to Cao Cao with a deep meaning: "Meng De was too careful."
Cao Cao didn't reply, and it wasn't until the emperor took a group of people a few steps away that he said "Okay."