"If you study a few or six classics, you will not be able to learn the court; if you concentrate on nothing, you will have a pure and clear will..." [An Commentary on the Collection of Cao·Emperor Wen]
"So, Dian and Xu, who will win in the end and who will lose?" After hearing what Cao Cao had seen today, Wei Zhong, a lieutenant in charge, asked curiously.
"Of course it's Xu Chu, the palace minister." Wang Bi, the chief registrar, said without any doubt: "Who can be stronger than the guards around the emperor? This is a meaningless competition, but it's just the emperor who wants to see Meng Bi.
, it’s just Xia Yuzhiyong.”
Cao Cao nodded silently, not knowing what he was thinking. After repeated changes in the court, the emperor immediately transferred him to Chang'an. Even Dong Cheng could see that it was to check and balance him. But in fact, he was from Zhengxi, who had the military power in his hands.
The general transferred him to General Wei, who did not have many troops under his command. His status was high, but his power was reduced compared to before.
As a Wei general with little military power and little involvement in the government center, Cao Cao did not believe that he could threaten the powerful hussar general Dong Cheng on his own.
unless……
"Wang Ji's office went out to visit friends?" Chief Shi Dong Zhao picked up a bowl of hot tea, looked at the gloomy sky outside the eaves, and said to himself: "It seems that he will not come back."
"How many disciples and former officials of the Shanyang Wang family are there in Chang'an City? Not to mention how many people in the court were vying to cling to Wang Can when he was the secretary to the emperor." Wei Zhong said softly, holding a piece of bamboo.
The chopsticks slowly picked out the tea leaves, and poured the broken tea leaves into the tea bowl: "The emperor built a new Zhongshu Supervisor, and used literary scholars to write edicts. They have great power. Wang Can's thoughts these days may be on this.
Already."
At the beginning, the emperor examined the secretaries and supervisors, and awarded the older and successful secretaries to foreign posts and assigned them to local governments. Some of them were good at diction but not talented in talent, and they were promoted by the emperor to generals from various places who were qualified to open government offices.
As the secretary of the Record Office, he is responsible for writing chapters and statements and acting as a document. Although most generals were born in the military and are not good at writing, the Record Office can solve this document problem to a large extent, but since it is a ghostwriting document, then the military
Naturally, no matter how big or small, the word "note" in the recording room cannot be avoided.
The emperor's cronies, such as Zhennan General Xu Huang, Zhenbei General Zhang Liao, etc., had a clear conscience and did not avoid the recording room arranged by the emperor in everything. But foreign generals like Cao Cao had to pay more attention to their thoughts, even their words and deeds.
He behaves extremely cautiously, especially when Wang Can, the recorder who can review the chess game with just one glance, is around.
"It's because I can't keep people by my side." Cao Cao sighed half-truthfully, not knowing whether it was because he was relaxed or something else: "Wang Zhongxuan is well-informed. If he really wants to leave, I would be somewhat reluctant to leave. After all, we were together once.
People who have worked together should maintain a sense of friendship with each other, that's all. Wasn't it the same way with Mr. Xun and me back then?"
"How can Wang Zhongxuan compare with Xun Jun?" Wei Zhong was surprised by Cao Cao's analogy.
Wang Bi was also surprised and felt that there was something wrong with what Cao Cao said.
Dong Zhao glanced at Cao Cao faintly and said slowly: "It depends on how we compare."
Wei Zhong frowned and looked at Dong Zhao displeased, but Wang Bi asked curiously: "What's the explanation here?"
Just as Dong Zhao was about to speak, a burst of footsteps from far to near suddenly came from outside the courtyard. Cao Cao's dull eyes suddenly lit up and he turned his eyes from the clouds in the sky to the courtyard door expectantly.
However, among the few people who came in, there was not the figure that Cao Cao expected? Instead, there was a group of three or four young men of similar age. The leader was thirteen or fourteen years old, tall and tall, with the same thick eyebrows as Cao Cao. Although he was wearing a robe?
But his steps were very long, and he had the style of a military commander.
I saw this man with straight eyes, meticulously walking up to Cao Cao with several young men of the same age behind him, and saluted respectfully: "Ah Weng."
The young men behind him who were uniformly wearing Qingjin also said respectfully: "Junior, I have seen Mr. Cao."
"Do you go to school at this time every day?" Cao Cao waved his sleeves at them. Looking at the second son in front of him, he seemed to be much taller than before he was sent to Chang'an. His temperament was also much better than before. It can be seen that he was
Life in Chang'an was going well. He was satisfied, but there was no smile on his face. Instead, he said with a straight face: "I was not at home, what did you learn in the Imperial College? How many articles did you write?
Are the bows and horses in ruins?"
Cao Pi stood obediently at the bottom and said respectfully: "Aweng and my brother are both fighting on the border, how can I dare to ignore it? When I was in Chang'an, in addition to serving my mother every day, being friendly to my brothers, I also studied knowledge with Gong Zhen and them. Sometimes,
When you go out to the city for a horseback riding safari, you won’t dare to waste a moment.”
Hearing this, Cao Cao temporarily let Cao Pi go and looked at the young men behind him. There were many familiar faces among them, such as Ding Yi, Wei Zhen, Bao Xun, etc., all of whom belonged to Cao Cao.
Sons of relatives and friends. Especially Bao Xun and Wei Zhen. Their late fathers Bao Xin and Wei Zi all provided great help to Cao Cao during his campaign. Cao Cao has always been grateful for the friendship and old kindness of the past, and towards these two men
He took great care of him. When he sent Cao Pi and other family members to Chang'an, he secured the Imperial College for Cao Pi and also arranged for these people to move in.
Ding Yi and others stepped forward and asked Cao Cao to greet him for a while. When greeting Bao Xun and others, he couldn't help but talk about his old friends Bao Xin and others, and a few tears fell from his eyes.
"I heard that Duke Ming had to move to the General Guards and ordered him to return to Chang'an. We thought about going to the mansion to pay him a visit." After everyone shed tears, Ding Yi, the eldest and calmest among Cao Pi and others, changed the subject: "Now that we have seen the light.
Your Majesty is still in good health, and we can congratulate you."
"Yes, Ming Gong. My ancestors are knowledgeable. I can see Ming Gong assisting in bringing peace to the world. We are deeply cared for, so we have no regrets." Wei Zhen said with a wink.
"Seriously!" Cao Cao then wiped his tears and called Ding Yi's name intimately, pretending to be dissatisfied: "You are always so unfamiliar, why don't you call me 'uncle' in private? Your aunt is right behind you.
, you can go over and see her later."
Ding Yi was from the state of Pei, and his father was Ding Chong, the current Prime Minister of Jibei. He was a cousin of the same clan as Cao Cao's wife, Mrs. Ding. In terms of seniority, Ding Yi and Cao Pi had a cousin relationship.
Wang Bi smiled and joked at the side: "I think all the gentlemen are young gentlemen, with the same demeanor. They will become talents in the future. This is because Ming Gong has taught well."
Wei Zhong also followed up and said: "I heard that all the princes of Ming Dynasty are noble men. The eldest son Ang is serving the country in Shuofang. The second son Pi is good at both civil and military affairs. The third son Zhang is good at bowing and horsemanship. Even the fourth son Zhi is only eight years old.
If you can write poems based on literature, you can be called a good horse!"
The smile on Cao Pi's face suddenly faded.
Seeing this, Dong Zhao put down the tea cup he had been playing with and said casually: "That's not all. I heard that Duke Cao also has a young son named Chong. He is only four years old. His intelligence is as great as that of Ruo.
Adult Wisdom.”
The smile on Cao Pi's face had all gone. He cupped his hands and said to Cao Cao: "I haven't seen you for a long time. The children should serve and fulfill their filial piety, but this morning I promised a few younger brothers to teach them calligraphy. And Aweng
There are important things here, so I won’t dare to disturb you."
"Then you all go over and rest in the mansion tonight. I have to take the exam and you have to recite the meaning of the scriptures." Cao Cao didn't take it seriously. He nodded to Cao Pi and said, "Zijian has written several good articles recently.
One or two of them are actually better than what you wrote, so don't think you'll despise him because he's younger than you."
"Sincerely." Cao Pi said with an expressionless expression.
After Cao Pi and others left, Cao Cao looked at the courtyard gate for a while. Suddenly he looked back and met Dong Zhao's eyes. The two of them smiled immediately, and Cao Cao pointed at Dong Zhao and said, "Dong Gongren, you are so welcome."