"Cultivation of benevolence and righteousness is called responsibility, and turning against it is bullying."————————[Jia Zi’s Taoism]
July of the ninth year of Jian'an in the Han Dynasty.
Chariot and Cavalry General's Mansion.
Cao Cao was meeting with Huanzhi of Jiaozhou, who was responsible for the elephant presentation this time. Next to him, there was a child of about six years old who was practicing calligraphy in a decent manner.
"This time I invite Mr. Huan here for a private meeting, so there is no need to perform all the false courtesy." Cao Cao said politely.
Huan Zhi did not dare to take these words seriously, and flattered carefully: "I don't dare, I don't dare. Although I come from a humble county, I have always admired the demeanor of the princes in the court. Duke Cao is loyal to the country and has a sincere heart.
As far away as Jiaozhou, even the scholars admired it."
"Really?" Cao Cao smiled softly and started talking casually: "Are you from Jiaozhi? Is the Longkanghuan family your sect?"
"The Huan family in the world is roughly divided into two sects, one is after Duke Huan of Song Dynasty, and the other is after Duke Huan of Qi." Huan Zhi talked eloquently, and said in a vague voice: "Even if there is some connection, it is because of blood estrangement. Although they have the same surname, they are actually related.
Two families.”
Cao Cao heard the other party's vague intention of subsidizing himself, but did not expose it, and asked again: "Then the Changsha Huan family should be similar to you, right?"
If the Huan family in Longkang is too far away for Huan Zhi to get involved with relatives, then the Huan family in Changsha, which is the closest, can give it a try. Nowadays, the largest powerful clan in Jiaozhou is in ruins because of its participation in the rebellion. The local powerful people are similar in strength and all.
It is not considered strong. If you want to win the status of the Shi clan in Jiaozhou, it is not enough to influence a Jiaozhi county. You also need to pull the skin of the Huan clan in Changsha.
"Cao Gong Ruijian, if we trace it back further, the current Minister Youcheng, Huan Jun, should be related to the lower clan." Huan Zhi said with a look on his face.
"Oh, it turns out there is such a connection." Cao Cao sighed, and easily believed what the other party said without going into detail: "So, when you come to Chang'an this time, you should have already met Huan Boxu?"
Huan Zhi hesitated for a moment, but finally said honestly: "I did meet Huan Youcheng not long ago. I was busy with official business at the time and had not yet talked about our friendship."
"There are many affairs at the Chancellery all day long. You have to go to see me early, otherwise it will delay your return... I remember that you will be returning soon, right?" Cao Cao said enthusiastically.
"Wei, wei." Huan Zhi was a little confused. He didn't understand why Cao Cao was suddenly so interested in him getting close to the Huan family in Changsha. But since Cao Cao recognized it, he must have used it to find Huan Jiela's relatives.
It should be more convenient, right?
"By the way." Cao Cao seemed to have remembered something but did not say anything, and asked casually: "I heard that when you arrived in Jingzhou this time, you were delayed on the road for a few days. What was the reason?"
Huan Zhi suddenly felt bad and quickly said the excuse he had prepared: "It's because of the heavy rain in Jingzhou and the rapid river water. We were worried that the boat would capsize and sink the white elephant, so we waited a few more days."
"Oh." When Cao Cao heard this, he stopped asking further questions.
Huan Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and didn't want to stay any longer, so he left in a hurry.
After he left, Cao Chong, who had been quietly practicing his calligraphy, picked up a stack of paper and asked Cao Cao to check it. In addition to poetry, Cao Cao was also good at calligraphy. He was called "Li Mo Xiong Zhan" and "You Gong Zhang Cao", so majestic and unparalleled
', often communicated with famous figures such as Liang Hu and Handan Chun. He briefly commented on Cao Chong's calligraphy and mentioned some essential points. Then he put down the paper and asked pointedly: "You heard it just now, did you
Do you think he is telling the truth?"
"Of course it's the truth, how could he dare to deceive Aweng?" Cao Chong blinked his smart eyes and stood obediently beside the case.
Cao Cao said seriously: "No, sometimes the higher a person's position is, the more people will cheat him."
"I know, they lied because they were 'afraid'," Cao Chong said immediately.
Cao Cao patiently corrected him: "Not only because of 'fear', but also because of profit. The world is bustling with people, but Sima Gongcheng will not deceive me about the word 'fame and wealth'."
Cao Chong learned the lesson with awe. He was a very smart boy, but sometimes he couldn't understand his father's thoughts. Just like now, he didn't understand why Cao Cao had to talk to Huan Zhi in such a polite way.
I don't understand why I have to sit aside by myself.
However, there is one thing that he understands very well: "Aweng... In fact, one day in Shanglin Garden, the child deceived the emperor, right?"
"Why did you do that?" Cao Cao reached out and stroked Cao Chong's head. He didn't seem to blame him for this. He said to himself: "Is it because of fear? But whether you said it or not at the time,
The emperor will not blame you. Or is it because of 'profit'? But this idea was announced to the prince, who knew it was you?"
"The child just wanted to do the prince a favor at that time, letting the prince know that the child is smart, and he didn't want the emperor to know that the child was too smart." Cao Chong said without thinking, with a look of confusion: "...It's just that the emperor seems to know, now it's
It’s causing trouble for Aweng.”
After saying this, Cao Chong knelt down and bowed.
"Get up, why should I blame you? You didn't overwhelm the guest, and you didn't deliberately hide your clumsiness. It's already good." Cao Cao sighed, stretched out his hand to pull up his son who was too smart and precocious: "The emperor will
The fact that you entrusted the prince to serve as a servant shows his open-mindedness. I am telling you these things today because I want you to remember that when you enter the palace to serve the prince, the most valuable thing about being a minister is sincerity."
"My child, please be taught." Cao Chong bowed again.
Cao Cao did not stop him this time. He nodded and motioned for Cao Chong to go down and rest. Not long after, Guo Jia, Dong Zhao and others came. After hearing about Huan Zhi, they each thought about it for a while.
Guo Jiadao: "The matter is more difficult than expected. If Huan Zhi just wanted to make up for his mistakes and persuaded Huan Jie, the same clan who was in charge of the Shangshu desk, to be accommodating in the memorial, then it would be their business alone. But if Yang Situ intervened in it
, then this matter I’m afraid…”
"Jingzhou has indeed had a lot of rain in the past few months. Huan Zhi was delayed on the road for some reason. It should be true." Cao Cao said. Whether this matter is serious or not, it seems to have nothing to do with him, but in his position,
Don't be confused about anything: "I just don't know how much Mr. Yang was involved in it, and I don't know if there are anyone else."
"Whether Huan Zhi did it intentionally or unintentionally, whether this matter was planned in advance or just followed the trend, it cannot be underestimated." Dong Zhao rarely grasped Guo Jia's omission and said softly: "Huan Zhi wants to get close.
Huan Jie is probably not just trying to establish his reputation in Jiaozhou."
"How do you say this?" Guo Jia is not good at communicating with others, and he makes mistakes. Some details are beyond his knowledge.
Dong Zhao smiled slightly and looked at Cao Cao: "Does Mr. Cao know who Huan Jie's wife is?"
"How do I know about other people's wives and concubines?" Cao Cao said slightly displeased, then smiled narrowly and joked: "Unless they are beautiful."
Dong Zhao and Guo Jia looked at each other and smiled, and the atmosphere was relaxed for a moment. He then said: "His wife is the Fu family."
"Fu clan?" Cao Cao's joking expression suddenly turned serious, and he said seriously: "Is it Langya Fu clan?"
"Although it's not close, it's not far either." Dong Zhao nodded and confirmed. He always liked to pay attention to the personnel relationships in the court, and he could even get a clear picture of the family backgrounds of low-level officials whom Cao Cao didn't care about: "Only
It can be said to be a coincidence that Huan Jie's wife is a branch of the Fu family, but Duke Cao should remember that Nanhai County also contributed to this elephant sacrifice."
"Fu De?" Cao Cao smiled contemptuously and said disapprovingly: "I think there are people who want to build momentum for the Fu family and hide behind the prince. Do they think that with the emperor and empress married, the prince's status is as stable as a mountain?"
Dong Zhao hurriedly stretched out his hand to stop and said: "The prince is young, it is too early to say these things now..."
Guo Jia came back from his thoughts and said with a smile: "It's not too early. The prince is already five years old. He just issued an edict yesterday asking his young and smart disciples to sacrifice their lives for the prince. Mr. Cao is also here."
"This reminds me of someone who once said that when the emperor first came to power, he built a secretariat and gathered a group of handsome men of the same age."
"Yes, I haven't properly congratulated Mr. Cao yet." Dong Zhao cupped his hands and said with a smile. Now Cao Cao is highly regarded, and his son Cao Chong has become the prince's companion. Looking at it, there will be at least two people in the Cao family.
The power of three generations.
"I just don't know who is qualified to be the prince's tutor." His son grew up with the prince, which undoubtedly ensured the continuation of the power of the Cao family. When the emperor did this, Cao Cao had to show his gratitude and help him despite the great pressure.
The emperor implemented the New Deal, and amid the pros and cons, he said quietly and glanced at Guo Jia: "Fengxiao, this is not difficult to guess, right?"
"It's just Jia and Xun." Guo Jia said without thinking. At the end, he added: "If not, then the prince will..."
"Eh..." Cao Cao sighed. In fact, from his point of view, it may not be a good thing to get close to the prince now. The emperor is still so young, who can say for sure what will happen in the future?