Chapter 118 Eleven, frustrated and secluded

Cao Cao planned to resign from Yilang's position and study behind closed doors at home.When he returned to Luoyang, he did not expect his concubine Liu Chun to die in childbirth a few days ago, leaving behind his youngest son Cao Shuo.It was midsummer, and in order to prevent the corpse from decomposing, a lot of lime and large grains of salt were put in the coffin to preserve Liu Chun's body.Because there are still elders alive in the family, the coffin can only be parked in Tianning Temple outside the south gate, waiting for Cao Cao to go home to deal with the funeral. Cao Cao saw Cao Ang, who was only six years old, and his youngest son, who was still in his infancy, wearing mourning for Liu Chun, and bowed down to Liu Chun in their arms.The early fate of the eldest son Cao Ang is so similar to that of Cao Cao.Cao Cao's mother also died due to dystocia, but even the fetus in the womb also died.

When Liu Chun was alive, Ding Hui and her were friends.When Liu Chun became the deceased, all the resentment and grievances disappeared. She calmly told Cao Cao that when Liu Chun had a difficult delivery, she strongly demanded to keep the child, and she said that she would let the child repay the Cao family instead of her. Cao Cao, who had suppressed his grief, couldn't bear it anymore, hugged Cao Ang and cried bitterly. The elders in the family are still alive, so the funeral must be kept simple.It was as simple as the death of a servant. Cao Song showed mercy and said that he had bought a cemetery for Liu Chun on the southwest hillside and would be buried in the name of Cao's daughter-in-law.

Cao Cao told Cao Song that since Liu Chun married into the Cao family, he has not been to his hometown Qiao County.When Cao Cao talked to her about the colorful life in Qiao County when he was a child, Liu Chun once asked her to go and see it.Cao Cao was an official abroad for several years, but he failed to realize his wish.Now, Cao Cao wants to bring Liu Chun back to Qiao County and let her rest in the clan cemetery as the Cao family. When Cao Cao told Cao Song about this decision one morning, Cao Song stood in the yard brushing his uncombed long hair, and spit out the salt water to rinse his mouth. , such a long way, what are you kidding?

Cao Song didn't say the following in front of his family—for a concubine?does it worth? Cao Cao said the second sentence he had prepared: I took Chun'er back by the way.I want to go to Qiao County, study in spring and summer, and hunt in autumn and winter. Cao Song asked back: What about your work? Cao Cao shook his head: I have resigned! Cao Song had gained weight in recent years. Hearing this, he picked up his long gown and walked over, trying to grab Cao Cao's ear. Cao Cao nimbly turned to one side. Cao Song couldn't reach it, and his arms stopped in mid-air, cursing: Did you go to Runan, did you?What kind of dementia are you committing again?Why did you quit a good job?

Cao Cao pressed Cao Song's arm: No.I thought about it for a long time.Just looking for a place to study well.I think I know too little, just like you said before, I am still very naive, and I am not familiar with the rules of officialdom at all.I want to supplement my knowledge and improve myself. Cao Song shook his head: Don't wait any longer, I've been looking for someone to find a solution for you. Cao Cao sighed: No, the son has already decided, thank you father. Cao Song wanted to buffer and buy some more time: why don't we wait until autumn? Cao Cao said: Chun is still waiting at Tianning Temple.Besides, I just took advantage of this time to go back to build the house, and it can be completed before winter.

Cao Song said: Didn't I already build more than 40 houses in my hometown and a big yard of 100 mu of land? Cao Cao shook his head, "I want to study hard in a hut by the Guohe River, without guests, relatives and friends." Cao Song looked at Cao Cao: If you really want to study hard, that's fine.I will find an opportunity for you, and you will come back when there is news. The next day, Cao Cao asked Cao Song to prepare according to the must-read list given by Cai Yong after graduation, especially adding Han Fei's "Say Difficulty". Since the books are made of bamboo slips, if it is not intentional, there are usually only a few important books, and the Cao family is the same.

All bamboo slips are engraved with books, and the production process is difficult, which consumes manpower and financial resources.Most of the time, you can’t do things even if you have money, and you can’t get along with national and local libraries or archives. Who will lend you those lonely copies and fragments for you to copy? Fortunately, Cao Song was a Ph.D. in the School of Confucianism, and now he is a senior minister. He came to him for dozens of volumes of ancient books, and no one refused to give face.Under the auspices of Cao Song, more than 30 knife and pen officials were invited to step up their work and make a surprise copy of ancient books for Cao Cao.

Cao Cao went to bid farewell to Qiao Xuan, time was like the setting sun, and it was extremely fast on the dying Qiao Xuan.His uncombed hair was disheveled, and even his chest-length beard, which he was once so proud of, was covered in snow-white frost. After Cao Cao told the story of going to Runan, he pondered over and over again, and still untied the Qingxuan sword from his waist and offered it to Qiao Xuan with both hands. Qiao Xuan looked at Cao Cao puzzled, as if he didn't understand his intention. Cao Cao explained: The student may never be an official in this life after going away. It is against the wishes of the husband, so I came here to return it.

Qiao Xuan laughed heartily, and pushed Qingxuan sword vigorously: I am old, I give him to you to find a satisfactory owner for it. Cao Cao held his sword and nodded hesitantly. Qiao Xuan sighed, with a sense of relief knowing the result: Hey, man, I'm already very old, and I'm almost ripe.At least he pulled Wang Fu and his son back, and he has no regrets in this life.If you don't live long, go over there and file a complaint with Lord Yan, and take Cao Jie early to the underworld to be punished!Lord Yan must be exactly as Qiao Xuan said, not only the laws of war, but also the way of life...

Cao Cao was thoughtful: He looks quite upright.Maybe... there is his difficulty. Qiao Xuan shook his head: It is because of his brilliant disguise that he has survived till now.He, Wang Fu and the others have too many ulterior secrets, and telling them out will make everyone want to kill him. Cao Cao frowned, somewhat unbelievable and somewhat convinced, those inside stories that outsiders can't understand, are the inside stories?It was also because of the asymmetrical news that veteran officials like Qiao Xuan complained too much because they knew too little.Whether it is Cao Jie or the emperor himself, it is impossible to explain everything in the court to all the ministers, so misunderstandings will arise, and estrangement will arise on the ground.

Just as Cao Cao was about to share the above opinion, Qiao Xuan suddenly leaned over and asked Cao Cao: Do ​​you know why I re-employed in the first place? Cao Cao thought for a while: The imperial court promoted you to the Shaofu, but it is the position of Jiuqing.It seems that before that, you were still at home, right? Qiao Xuan smiled awkwardly: That's right.However, I came here to eradicate the eunuchs who caused chaos in the court and avenge the innocent victims. Qiao Xuan said it lightly, but Cao Cao was greatly surprised.The old man in front of him, how much ambition is hidden in his gray beard and hair, and how many people can see through it?Cao Cao was thinking about it when he heard Qiao Xuan sigh: Hey, there will be no more people like your grandfather. When Cao Cao heard such words from Qiao Xuan's mouth, he pursed his lips and nodded in relief. Qiao Xuan suddenly changed the subject: All other eunuchs should be killed!Every little emperor can still enlighten his mind when he is taught by the Taifu and others.Once handed over to the eunuch, it becomes a waste of lard covering the brain and seven orifices.There are no eunuchs, and the state affairs are restless! Cao Cao's eyes were widened by Qiao Xuan's words, his mind was completely lost, and he could only be a listener who had no right to speak. Qiao Xuan changed his posture and leaned crookedly. He wanted to add more nonsense to the eunuch's remarks about the harm to the country, but after all, Cao Cao was an eunuch, so he had to change the subject: Don't talk about that, A Man, I want to be a good person As an official, there is no need to use fake and empty remarks to create momentum, let alone make superficial articles, you should actually do it.When the people suffer from disasters, you will reduce the disaster and help the poor; when the people are hungry, you will find ways to feed them; when the people suffer from robbers, you will be jealous.If you are an official on one side and the people are your family members, you must put your heart with them. Qiao Xuan took a sip of tea and lay down, looked at Cao Cao with satisfaction, and fell into distant memories: I remember that when I resigned from Hanyang, it happened to be the season when the local oranges and grapefruits were ripe.The oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines sent by the people from all directions can almost load dozens of trucks. I refused to take them, but the people insisted that I bring them, saying that they would give them to my parents to taste until the boat was almost overwhelmed by water. Line up. Cao Cao seemed to see the common people standing on the bank with baskets and baskets, and he could not bear Qiao Xuan to leave. Qiao Xuan sighed: As a son, if he does not make his parents ashamed, he is considered filial. Cao Cao couldn't help thinking of Dunqiu, when the common people called him "A Man" on the Dashun Festival.He brought so much trouble to his father, and Cao Song felt honored because of "teaching his son well". Is this considered "filial piety"?