Previously, Cao Cao was elected as the shepherd of Yanzhou by Yanzhou officials and worked in Changyi County. After Cao Cao collected Qingzhou soldiers and wiped out the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans in the east of Yanzhou, after a period of time, his strength was further consolidated and he moved from Changyi County to Juancheng.
Juancheng is the northernmost county seat of Jiyin County in Yanzhou. It is adjacent to Dongjun in the north, which is Cao Cao's base camp.
Cao Cao was stationed in Juancheng, with his base camp at his back, and could control Yanzhou. In addition, Juancheng was close to the Yellow River, and it was an open plain that could be used for large-scale farming. In addition, Dong'a County, northeast of Juancheng, was also close to the Yellow River, and had sufficient
land for farming.
Farming in the two places can provide Cao Cao with sufficient food.
This is where Cao Cao's food and grass depend.
It is not yet the time for spring plowing, but Cao Cao has already inspected the places and arranged for them to prepare for spring plowing.
Cao Cao walked in Juancheng for a day and returned to the Prefecture Mufu in the evening. He had dinner and quickly dealt with the government affairs at hand. While he was reading, someone came in and reported: "Prefecture Mu, Xun Yu wants to see you."
"please!"
Cao Cao gave an order.
After a while, Xun Yu entered, bowed and said: "My lord."
Cao Cao said, "Wen Ruo came here overnight, what's the matter?"
Xun Yu replied: "Reporting to my lord, the situation in Yangzhou has changed. Lu Xuan is about to become the shepherd of Yangzhou, but for the time being, this matter has not been announced."
Cao Cao raised his eyebrows when he heard this and asked: "What's going on? Why does Lu Xuan want to become the Yangzhou Shepherd? Is this kid so bold that he wants to lead the Yangzhou Shepherd by himself and dominate it?"
Xun Yu said: "I didn't lead it myself."
Cao Cao said: "Either you lead the state pastor yourself, or someone comes to the court to recommend it. Who recommended it for Lu Xuan?"
Xun Yu said: "Yes..."
"Wen Ruo, don't worry, let me guess."
Cao Cao stretched out his hand to stop Xun Yu, thought for a moment, a flash of light flashed in his eyes, and said: "Yuan Shu has a high official position and has the right to recommend. However, Yuan Shu and Lu Xuan are enemies, so it is impossible to recommend. The only people in the south who can recommend are
Liu Biao, is it him?"
Xun Yu said: "My lord is wise."
Cao Cao asked: "What exactly happened?"
Xun Yu explained: "Last December, Liu Biao in Jingzhou held a fifty-second birthday party and invited Lu Xuan. Lu Xuan arrived in Jingzhou and was deeply liked by Liu Biao. For this reason, Liu Biao went to the court and recommended Lu Xuan to be appointed as Yanzhou.
The memorial was sent to the imperial court in Guanzhong. Although the imperial court did not agree, Lu Xuan was able to serve as the pastor of Yangzhou."
Cao Cao chuckled twice, nodded and said: "Liu Biao is old, but he still wants to get involved in the situation in Yangzhou. He is old and his heart is not old. Lu Xuan becoming the shepherd of Yangzhou has no impact on us, but it is okay.
Although the imperial court does not agree, it is of no use as it has no control over local arrangements."
Cao Cao became the shepherd of Yanzhou, but the court did not agree.
At that time, the imperial court arranged for Jin Shang to serve as the governor of Yanzhou and wanted to expel Cao Cao, but Cao Cao drove him away instead.
Lu Xuan has strength, Cao Cao is not worried.
Xun Yu nodded and said: "My lord is right. Lu Xuan, the Yangzhou Shepherd, does not need to care about the court's attitude. He became the Yangzhou Shepherd. After returning to Lujiang County, he did not announce it for the time being, and he still acted as the Lujiang Governor."
"It can be seen from this that Lu Xuan, this kid, is sensible enough and forbearing enough. He is young and has such determination. He feels inferior to his humble position."
"There is one more important thing."
"Lu Xuan accepted the refugees in Lujiang County, provided relief to the victims, and absorbed countless people. It is roughly estimated that after this winter, I am afraid that the number of refugees Lu Xuan will absorb will not be less than 100,000."
"When Lu Xuan was absorbing refugees, people from the Lu family and the Gu family from Wu County in Yangzhou, as well as the Yu family and Wei family from Kuaiji County, went to Lujiang County to drive up prices and raised the price of grain to twenty-five cents per catty. They were directly killed by Lu Xuan
Catch them all in one fell swoop.”
"Lu Xuan killed these people, confiscated the grain of all the big families, and launched a government-run grain shop to sell grain for eight cents per catty in Lujiang County, suppressing the rising grain prices and stabilizing Lujiang County."
"The key is that Lu Xuan will continue to sell oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and meat."
Xun Yu said in a deep voice: "After thinking about it for a while, I realized that Lu Xuan's arrangement is quite clever. Although the price of a government-run shop is not high, it can make a lot of money with small profits but quick turnover. This is a long-term plan to make money."
.With this item, there will be a steady stream of income.”
A flash of light flashed across Cao Cao's eyes, and he said: "There is another effect, it can control the price of grain. When the price of grain is high, the price of government-owned grain will be reduced, which can stabilize the price. This is the biggest effect."
Xun Yu said: "My lord is wise."
Cao Cao stroked his beard and thought, and continued: "This kid Lu Xuan is quite powerful. It can be predicted that if he implements this move, the people will support him, and countless people will approve it."
Xun Yu nodded and said: "According to reports from our people, the people talk about Lu Xuan, they are fanatical and pious, and are willing to die for Lu Xuan."
Cao Cao sighed and said, "This guy is really powerful. My son-in-law is too capable and makes people a headache."
"Wen Ruo, do you think we can follow suit?"
Cao Cao had expectations in his eyes.
"no!"
Xun Yu answered without hesitation.
His eyes were solemn and he said in a deep voice: "Last year, my lord killed Bian Rang, a famous scholar in Yanzhou, which implicated many Yanzhou scholars and made the rich people in Yanzhou angry. Privately, these people are very dissatisfied with my lord."
"Although they are dissatisfied, it has no impact and they dare not do anything."
"Once the government continues to operate grain, it will be equivalent to competing with these people for profit, which will make them further resentful. Before the Lord seizes Xuzhou, he cannot have too big a rift with them, otherwise it will cause the newly stable Yanzhou to split."
"Lu Xuan promoted government-run grain stores in Lujiang County. On the one hand, the place is small, and on the other hand, he was forced by the big family. Moreover, Lu Xuan killed people on a moral basis, in order to help the people out of poverty."
"Don't forget that Lu Xuan had conflicts with the Yangzhou clan, but all Lu Xuan killed were insignificant people."
"At least, it's not like our side, where someone with such huge influence would die."
"In addition, Lu Xuan is from Yangzhou and comes from a wealthy Yangzhou family. Even if he kills some people, he can still win over some people. Even if there are people in the Lu family who are dissatisfied with Lu Xuan. But if the bones are broken and the tendons are broken, there will definitely be people in the Lu family who will
Continue to support Lu Xuan."
"So, it's a completely different situation."
Xun Yu talked eloquently and said: "We can't do what Lu Xuan can do for the time being. At least not in the short term. What we are doing now is to continue to cultivate the fields and continue to lay a solid foundation."
Cao Cao sighed.
Somewhat regretful.
Cao Cao looked a little yearning and said, "Wen Ruo, how great would it be if we could implement Lu Xuan's policy?"
Xun Yu chuckled and said: "Even if the lord does not kill Bian, it is impossible to implement Lu Xuan's policy. The lord destroyed the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans who invaded Yanzhou, incorporated them into the Qingzhou soldiers, and gave a large amount of land to the families of the Qingzhou soldiers to cultivate.
.”
"This incident made the Yanzhou wealthy people dissatisfied. They welcomed the lord as Yanzhou shepherd, but the lord recruited the Qingzhou soldiers and did not hand over the ownerless land that had been harmed by the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans to the Qingzhou rich people. Instead, he arranged for the Qingzhou soldiers to cultivate it."
"These Qingzhou wealthy people have gotten nothing, so naturally they have complaints. Now, we can no longer stimulate these people, and we can't do it again in the short term."
Cao Cao's cheeks twitched and said, "Wen Ruo, don't say you'll give in. Are you relieved that I won't follow Lu Xuan's example?"
"My lord is wise."
Xun Yu answered with his hands raised.
Cao Cao said solemnly: "According to the current trend, Lu Xuan's foundation is getting stronger and stronger. It is becoming more and more difficult for us to deal with Lu Xuan. Yuan Shu is not Lu Xuan's opponent at all. We still have to restrict Lu Xuan. What's wrong with this matter?
What to do?"
Xun Yu smiled and said: "This is what I am here for."
Cao Cao asked: "What are Wen Ruo going to do?"
Xun Yu's eyes were wise and he said: "Reporting to my lord, the imperial court not only rejected Liu Biao's recommendation, but also arranged for Liu Yao, a member of the clan, to go to Yangzhou to serve as the governor of Yangzhou. Obviously, Li Jue and Guo Si in Guanzhong thought that the Lu family had such a good reputation.
I am in danger and am unwilling to agree to Liu Biao's request."
"So, let's go with Liu Yao."
"Let us spread the news that Liu Yao is going to Yangzhou to take office as early as possible to all counties in Yangzhou."
"Without Lu Xuan's methods, these wealthy families in Yangzhou would not pay attention to Liu Yao. Now that Lu Xuan is eyeing him, these people will push Liu Yao out and let Liu Yao deal with Lu Xuan."
Xun Yu said loudly: "Let's use our own strength to suppress Lu Xuan with the help of Liu Yao and maintain the pattern in the southeast."
A flash of light flashed in Cao Cao's eyes and he said: "Wen Ruo's strategy is feasible. Especially Yuan Shu, a troublemaker, saw Liu Yao going to Yangzhou. When there is a conflict between Liu Yao and Lu Xuan, he will definitely participate. This is also good for us.
favorable."
Xun Yu said: "My lord is wise."
Cao Cao waved his hand and said: "Let's arrange it this way."
"Here!"
Xun Yu nodded and answered.
Cao Cao changed the subject and said with a smile: "This girl Cao Xian was married and has been pregnant for some time. Do you think he will be more like my grandfather when he gives birth to a son? My nephew is like my uncle, and my uncle is like my grandfather. He must be like me."
me."
Xun Yu looked at Cao Cao seriously, his cheeks twitched, and said: "My lord, you can arrange for someone to visit him when the time comes."
Cao Cao nodded and said, "I never thought that I, Cao Cao, would also be a grandfather. It would be interesting if Lu Xuan's wife Da Qiao gave birth to a daughter and this girl Cao Xian gave birth to a son."
Xun Yu said: "It's late at night. My lord, please go to bed early and humble yourself to arrange things in Yangzhou."
Cao Cao said: "Wen Ruo should also rest early."
He watched Xun Yu leave. He felt a little excited thinking that he was going to be a grandfather, and he went to the backyard to find his own woman. He had to have another baby quickly. By then, Lu Xuan's son would be bigger than his, and he would have to take care of him.