【218】Wen Ji returns to Han (the last chapter of this volume)
Summary of the previous chapter: Guo Jia died young, causing Cao Cao to lose a strong arm, and Ma Xiaoquan also lost a good friend...Cao Cao's award ceremony turned into Guo Jia's memorial service.
Ma Xiaoquan was among them, feeling extremely heavy...
In the first month of the twelfth year of Jian'an, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, Ma Xiaoquan personally came to Cao Cao and asked Cao Cao to try to find Cai Yan and Cai Zhaoji, later named Cai Wenji, who was living in the southern Huns. Cao Cao agreed.
On that day, Cao Cao personally ordered to inquire about Cai Yan's information. As long as it was useful or accurate, once accepted, he would be rewarded with a hundred gold coins. In ancient times, gold coins generally referred to copper.
For this reason, Cao Cao set up an information collection agency next to the Majia Courtyard in Yecheng specifically to collect information on Cai Yan.
Ma's courtyard.
Hua Yuexin held Ma Xiaoquan's arm and said softly: "Ms. sir, Cao Cao has set up an information collection agency next to our house. Why do I think it is an intelligence collection agency?"
Ma Xiaoquan chuckled: "What Madam said makes sense, but it is not just an intelligence collection office, but also a small agency that monitors my Ma family..."
Hua Yuexin wrinkled beautifully and murmured: "What is Cao Cao doing?"
Ma Xiaoquan waved his hand: "Xiao Cao is naturally suspicious. If you can sit in his position, it is inevitable to be suspicious. But madam, I have something that I have to settle for you."
"What's up?"
"No matter what, we, the Ma family, do not want to participate in the fight for the heir of the Xiao Cao family, do you understand?"
Hua Yuexin nodded in understanding: "I know."
"Okay, let's go take a look."
"Um......"
...
A few days later, Ma Xiaoquan received the exact news. The news stated that Cai Yan was now in the territory of the Southern Huns, and was currently a rouge named King Zuoxian of the Southern Huns.
Ma Xiaoquan immediately set out to find Cao Cao and explained the situation to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao nodded and listened to Ma Xiaoquan's retelling, and agreed: "Zhao Ji's father Cai Yong is my good friend, and I should take care of my friend's daughter... Lord Shangxian, what do you say, we are fighting
Went over to snatch Zhao Ji back, or did we use other methods?"
Ma Xiaoquan shook his head: "Xiao Cao has just finished conquering Wuhuan, and we will be exhausted. If we go on an expedition, not to mention the Southern Xiongnu, even a small tribe of the Southern Xiongnu, Xiao Cao, you may be defeated."
Cao Cao thought for a moment, nodded and asked: "Master Shangxian, what do you think I should do?"
Ma Xiaoquan thought for a moment and said, "I ask you, what do the Huns lack?"
Cao Cao said: "Everything is lacking."
Ma Xiaoquan nodded: "In that case, Xiao Cao might as well spend a lot of money to exchange for Cai Yan with tea, silk, etc. from China. I think I can get it back."
"
Cao Cao hummed, feeling that what Master Shangxian said was very reasonable.
Ma Xiaoquan said: "I can't bear to ask you, Xiao Cao, to contribute money and effort alone. Let's do this. We'll spend 50/50 of the heavy sum. For the other tea, silk, etc., Xiao Cao, you can be more considerate. Why?"
Sample?"
Cao Cao was overjoyed when he heard this and quickly stood up and thanked him.
Ma Xiaoquan waved his hand: "Xiao Cao, you are too polite. Cai Yan is my wife Hua Yuexin's cousin. She is a good friend and it is appropriate to help. By the way, Xiao Cao, if Cai Yan comes back,
I hope to take you back to my Ma family compound and live with my wife."
"Everything must be obeyed by Master Shangxian."
"Um......"
In late January, Cao Cao sent envoys to the southern Xiongnu to negotiate with King Zuoxian.
The tribe led by King Zuo Xian was one of the most powerful tribes among the Xiongnu tribes. When they heard that Cao Cao, the most powerful man in the Middle Kingdom, had sent an envoy, they did not dare to neglect and held a banquet to receive Cao Cao's envoy.
When the envoy saw King Zuo Xian, he bowed and said straight to the point: "Well done, Your Majesty. I am the envoy sent by Lord Cao Cao of the Han Dynasty to implore King Zuo Xian to return Cai Yan..."
King Zuo Xian frowned when he heard this.
This Cai Yan is as beautiful as a flower. After being kidnapped by him 12 years ago, he has given birth to two children for himself. Moreover, Cai Yan is now called Yanzhi, although this Yanzhi is not as imposing as the great Chanyu's Yanzhi.
But anyway, he sealed it himself, right?
"This..." King Zuo Xian said, "Cai Yan has lived in the Xiongnu for a long time, and he may have been accustomed to this place. This... I'm afraid he can't do it, right?"
The messenger smiled slightly, clapped his hands, and someone immediately brought in a piece of fine silk brocade from outside the tent.
King Zuo Xian's eyes lit up and he stared at the brocade.
The messenger took the brocade, unfolded it about two feet long, then "stabbed" and pulled off a piece.
King Zuo Xian's eyelids twitched fiercely and asked: "What do you mean?"
The messenger chuckled: "Your Majesty, this brocade is a good thing unique to China. If your Majesty is willing to return Cai Yan, we will give you hundreds of pieces of brocade like this."
King Zuo Xian was tempted when he heard this.
The messenger continued: "Not only these brocades, we also sent a lot of money, as well as the king's favorite tea and pottery... Your Majesty, do you think these are comparable to Cai Yan?"
King Zuo Xian was silent, and thought to himself: To exchange so many things for a woman who has already given birth to two children for me, well, it is worth it, so worth it.
King Zuo Xian laughed loudly and said: "If that's the case, then what are you waiting for?"
The envoy was overjoyed and said, "Your Majesty is wise and wise. One day, your Majesty will definitely become the Great Chanyu!"
The envoy's words touched King Zuo Xian's heart. King Zuo Xian laughed heartily and entertained the envoy until he got drunk.
The next day, King Zuo Xian sent Cai Yan as promised, and the Han family also sent a hundred pieces of brocade, a hundred thousand gold, and a hundred boxes of tea as promised...
When Cai Yan left, he did not take away the two children she gave birth to.
It wasn't that she didn't want to take him away, but that King Zuo Xian didn't agree, so Cai Yan had no choice but to cry and get on the carriage home alone.
...
The convoy that came back was basically empty, so the traveling speed was much faster than before. In mid-to-early December of the twelfth year of Jian'an, Cai Yan returned to China after an absence of 12 years.
Cai Yan wanted to go back to her hometown in Chenliuyu, but the envoy accompanying her said that an old friend was waiting for her in Yecheng.
With doubts, Cai Yan followed the convoy back to Yecheng.
Cao Cao went out in person to greet Cai Yan.
Seeing Cai Yan, Cao Cao felt a little sad and comforted: "It's been too long since your father Cai Yong's incident. I hope you won't think about it anymore. Now that you are back, just live here well. By the way, Xiang
You recommend someone."
Cao Cao said, giving way and coming out.
Cai Yan raised his head and took a closer look. There was a purple-haired man standing in front of him.
The man is very handsome, especially his purple hair, which is very eye-catching.
"you?"
The man smiled slightly and interrupted Cai Yan: "Are you Cai Yan and Cai Zhaoji? Someone wants to see you." After the man finished speaking, he also gave up his position.
Behind the man, stood a stunningly beautiful woman. The woman looked at Cai Yan with tears in her eyes.
"You..." Cai Yan became excited the moment he saw this woman.
"Are you... Yue'er?"
The woman bit her lip and nodded vigorously.
Cai Yanyi burst into tears instantly.
The woman stepped forward and hugged Cai Yan gently: "Sister Yan, I am Yue'er, I am Yue'er..."
The two girls hugged each other and cried very sadly, which immediately infected everyone around them.
Cao Cao rubbed his nose and turned away, while Ma Xiaoquan closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.
After a long time, the two girls let go of each other's arms.
Cai Yan glanced at Ma Xiaoquan and asked Hua Yuexin in a low voice: "Yue'er, is that purple-haired man your husband?"
Hua Yuexin's face turned red and she nodded.
Cai Yan chuckled: "Yue'er has grown up, she is so lucky, Yue'er's husband is really the most handsome man in a hundred..."
Hua Yuexin responded in a low voice: "Sister Yan..."
Cai Yan shook his head, walked to Cao Cao, knelt down on his knees, and kowtowed three times to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao helped Cai Yan up and said excitedly: "No need to be polite, Zhaoji, I think you will live in the Shangxian family."
"Lord Immortal?"
Cao Cao nodded and introduced Ma Xiaoquan to Cai Yan: "Yes, this is Lord Shangxian."
Cai Yan turned his head and looked at Ma Xiaoquan carefully. After a while, he said in a feminine manner: "I have met the Master Shangxian."
Ma Xiaoquan supported Cai Yan: "No need to be polite, no need to be polite, just call me Xiaoquan from now on."
Cai Yan hummed.
...
Ma Xiaoquan asked his servants to send Hua Yuexin and Cai Yan back to the Ma family compound first. They had not seen each other for more than ten years, so they must have endless things to talk about.
Seeing the carriage gradually go away, Cao Cao stepped forward and sighed.
Ma Xiaoquan glanced at Cao Cao and asked, "Xiao Cao, what do you want to do next?"
Cao Cao nodded: "I plan to build a water river in Yecheng and train the navy..."
"What Xiao Cao means is that he wants to plot in the south?"
Cao Cao nodded.
"So, I will name your river Xuanwu Pond. What do you think?"
"Xuanwu Pond? Okay, let's call it Xuanwu Pond...Thank you, Lord Immortal, for the name, haha..."
Ma Xiaoquan nodded: "Also, I hope Xiao Cao will pay attention to what I need."
Cao Cao said respectfully: "I will always keep your instructions in mind."
Ma Xiaoquan laughed loudly, clapped his hands and said, "Okay, okay!"
"By the way, Xiao Cao, I heard that you wrote a quite grand poem a few days ago. Can you let me listen to it?"
Cao Cao's face turned red and he smiled: "Being respectful is worse than obeying orders!"
Cao Cao looked into the distance, took a step forward, and said calmly: "I named this poem Guancanghai."
"To the east is the Jieshi, where you can view the sea. The water is sluggish, but the mountains and islands stand tall. The trees are thick and the grass is luxuriant. The autumn wind is bleak and the waves are rising. The journey of the sun and moon is as if it were out of it; the stars are as brilliant as if they were out of it. Fortunately
Even more, singing to express one’s ambition”
"Bah bang..." Ma Xiaoquan clapped his hands and nodded, "What a great view of the sea, good!"
Cao Cao turned around and said energetically: "Thank you, Lord Shangxian!"
Ma Xiaoquan stepped forward, patted Cao Cao on the shoulder, and said slowly: "Xiao Cao, you are getting old..."
Cao Cao smiled: "No one ages in life, no matter how old they are. In this world, which young people need to step out slowly... By the way, Lord Shangxian, I have always wanted to ask you a question?"
"Ask?"
"Why doesn't Lord Immortal grow old? Is it really the result of cultivating immortality?"
Ma Xiaoquan glanced at Cao Cao, did not answer Cao Cao's question, and laughed...