Chapter 7 first quarter

Cao Cao led the army from Xuzhou, and arrived in Xudu more than ten days later.The army was stationed outside the city, and it was already dusk when he and the civil servants and generals were preparing to enter the city under the guard of their own soldiers.At this time, a fast horse sent an urgent report.Xun You finished watching right away and reported to Cao Cao: "Xu Du secretly reported that Empress Fu's father came to complain of illness after a few days of lying down. I sent people there, and their actions are treacherous, and they seem to be off the rails, and the details need to be further investigated." Cao Cao was silent immediately.Xun You went on to report: "Yang Biao, the Taiwei, also visited the mansion of Fu Wan in person. This is really extraordinary. There are signs that Yang Biao, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu have been in close contact recently, and it needs to be confirmed." Xun You saw Looking at Cao Cao, he glanced at the "secret report" in his hand, and continued to report: "It was just time to light the lamp, and the father-in-law rushed into the palace to meet the emperor and queen after he fell down. The details need to be investigated." The situation is different every day if you are not here. It is inevitable that you will change if you are not here for several months." Then he raised his whip: "Water comes to earth to escape, advance to the city."

Cao Cao greeted Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei to enter the city together.Informed that someone had already been dispatched to prepare the mansion where Liu Bei stayed.Cao Cao and Liu Bei bid farewell to each other immediately in front of the mansion, telling them that this is only Liu Bei's temporary residence, and they will make a unified arrangement after going to the emperor together in the pilgrimage tomorrow morning.Cao Cao dispersed most of the civil and military departments, and only led a few people back to the prime minister's mansion under the protection of the guards.Long ago, Zhu Si, the housekeeper, led all the servants to welcome and serve him.After Cao Cao took his seat in the mansion, apart from Zhu Si and his servants, only his son Cao Pi, military advisor Xun You, and school lieutenants Li Dian and Xu Chu remained.

Cao Cao said to Cao Pi: "Go and visit your mother first." Cao Pi said: "I think so." Cao Cao said: "There is also Mrs. Ding, and the two ladies will greet me together." Cao Pi said: "I know " Cao Cao said again: "I will meet with the emperor tomorrow morning after I see the emperor." Cao Pi said: "I know." Seeing that Cao Pi had gone, Cao Cao sat there loosely and sighed: "Every time I come back from a battle, I will inevitably feel tired and boring. It is just the so-called geometry of life." Xu Chu and Li Dian stood quietly to the left and right without squinting.

Xun You apologized nearby, "It's time for the prime minister to find someone to read with him." Cao Cao reacted briefly: "You mean that talented woman from Zheng's mansion? If you don't go to the imperial palace, how can you come to Cao's mansion?" Xun You said: "The Prime Minister is a hero in the world and a rare talent in the world. If Bai Shao knows that the Prime Minister has this intention, he will definitely come." Cao Cao shook his head: "Don't make mistakes. Zheng Kangcheng is not waiting for others." On the way, the class teacher asked the lord for a calligraphy—" Cao Cao said: "In the song "Duan Ge Xing", the moon and stars are thin, and the black magpie flies south?" Xun You said: "Exactly. I sent someone five hundred miles to rush to Zhengzhou, Xuzhou that night. In his letter to Mr. Zheng, he stated that the lord praised Zheng’s gentleness as the best in the world, praised his family’s poems, books, and piano paintings for several generations, and made people happy. Doesn’t that mean everything in silence?” Cao Cao smiled: “It’s really a little wisdom, a ghost. Well, it’s okay to do this. Whether you come or not, let it go, and don’t do it again. It’s still the old rule, go out and walk Going back to Xudu, I feel a bit ominous. This one needs to be thoroughly investigated, and that one needs to be investigated, so why not check it out yourself." Xun You said to Zhu Si: "Director Zhu arranged, and the Prime Minister is going to travel in disguise again."

Cao Pi hurried across the courtyard to the room of his mother, Mrs. Bian. Mrs. Bian is mending a long skirt with the maid, who is sitting at a slightly lower level beside her.When Cao Pi came in, he said, "Kowtow to my mother. My son followed his father to Xuzhou to get rid of Lu Bu, and he returned to Xudu with victory." Mrs. Bian said as she sewed, "Get up, I have said it many times, there are no outsiders, don't do anything to me. This rule. When the class teacher returned to Xudu, everyone in Xudu already knew about it." Cao Pi said: "Father said he—" Mrs. Bian said: "I know, he will meet with his family after he has an audience with the emperor tomorrow. The old rule is to worship the king first. How have you father and son been doing these past few months? ——Don’t talk to me about military and government affairs. I don’t participate in government affairs. This is your father’s family rule. Just talk about your father’s daily life and body. Cao Pi said: "There is one thing, but it doesn't matter. When I left Xuzhou, I met an assassin and almost shot my father with an arrow. My son and Zhang Liao couldn't cover them with shields. Zhang Liao blocked the arrow with his head and was shot off his horse. He was seriously injured."

Mrs. Bian sighed: "Fortunately, your father passed another test. His life is high, but his life is also in danger." Cao Pi said: "And—" He paused and said: "Military Master Xun You wants to find a talented girl to accompany his father to study with. She is Zheng Kangcheng's granddaughter. It is said that she is both talented and beautiful." Sew it together: "Your father should really find someone to study with him to relieve boredom. Except for government affairs and wars, he doesn't drink too much, doesn't go to prostitutes, and doesn't like singing, dancing and banquets. He is very lonely. Has he traveled in low clothes again?" Cao Pi said: " It seems to be." Then he said: "Mother, this long skirt is so tattered, why is it worth mending?" Mrs. Bian said: "I will follow your father's frugal life. Don't tell outsiders, it's just my habit. You can’t do this for fame.” Cao Pi said, “Father still let me see Mrs. Ding.” Outside the door came the voices of people cheering and embracing, and Mrs. Bian said, “I was talking about her, so Mrs. Ding came?”

Mrs. Ding came in surrounded by several maids, and she said as soon as she entered the door: "Sister, have you heard that, that ghost named Xun is going to find a talented girl to accompany our adults." Cao Pi made a greeting.Mrs. Bian asked Mrs. Ding to sit down, and said, "Where did you hear that?" Mrs. Ding said, "No one in this world has eyes and ears of their own. Cao Pi knows about this, right?" Cao Pi was obedient and did not answer.Mrs. Ding followed suit and said, "With our two wives serving you, isn't that enough, my lord?" Mrs. Bian said, "My lord needs someone to accompany me." Mrs. Ding said, "Don't be a daji vixen." While calmly putting away the mended dress with the maid, the lady said, "Can you and I do poetry, calligraphy, piano and painting? Who can study with adults?" Mrs. Ding said, "A woman's talent is virtue." Said: "Cao Pi is married at the male university. Since she is the granddaughter of Zheng Kangcheng's family, her family status is similar, and I heard that her age is also matched, why not let Cao Pi marry?" Come."

Cao Cao had already changed into casual clothes and was ready to go out. Xun You, Li Dian, and Xu Chu also changed into casual clothes to accompany them.Zhu Si insisted on following, saying "serve your lord at all times", and asked: "The prime minister has been away for a few months, and there may be a little chaos in Xudu. Do you want to bring another hundred guards to follow?" Cao Cao pointed at Li Dian and Xu Chu. The strong man said: "There are two tigers, Xu Chu and Li Dian, why should you be afraid?" He put a black felt hat with a wide brim on his head to cover his eyebrows and eyes: "Who can recognize me?"

When he came out of the mansion, he looked up and saw the bright moon in the sky and the cold wind. Cao Cao said: "The moon and stars are sparse here. Well, let's choose a street that has never been walked before." A group of five walked through the streets and alleys.Passing by a house, the gate is grand and elegant.Cao Cao said: "This looks kind." Xun You immediately wanted to worship, but Cao Cao said, "It's not a custom to travel in small clothes, so I can avoid it. I praise this house for its kindness. What do you want to thank? Is there any reason for that?" Xun You said: "Here It is You's residence, and I sincerely invite the Prime Minister to come to you." Cao Cao said, "That's how it is. Now that you're here, let's take a look." Xun You immediately knocked on the door.A servant opened the door and saw Xun You: "Hey, your lord is back." Immediately wanting to salute, Xun You said: "No, there is a real lord coming, please come out with your wife and the whole family to pay homage to the distinguished guest—Prime Minister Cao is here. ” The servants ran in hastily, and Cao Cao, Li Dian, Xu Chu, and Zhu Si stepped into the yard together.This is a secondary courtyard, and the houses in the courtyard are very neat and beautiful.Xun You had already rushed to the front, took his wife, children, and his parents to the courtyard to meet Prime Minister Cao.The family is also very neat and novel in dress.Cao Cao took off his felt hat and waved his hand: "Don't be a prime minister, look at my attire, I am not a prime minister or a grassroots, and ordinary courtesy is fine." Goodbye.When he got out of the house, he smiled at Xun You and said, "I'm living well when I was young." Xun You said, "Thank you, my lord, Hong Fu." Let's look at Guo Jia again." Xun You was a little embarrassed: "It's better not to go, my lord." Cao Cao was surprised: "Why? The road is far away?"

Xun You hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly said, "It's not far, so let's go!" As soon as he arrived at Guo Jia's residence, Cao Cao stopped and saw that the gate of the courtyard was dilapidated.When I creaked the door and entered the courtyard, I saw a small courtyard that was even more dilapidated.The doors and windows of the two small rooms are crooked.Xun You reported loudly: "Brother Guo, Prime Minister Cao is here!" Before the people inside came out, Cao Cao had pushed the door open and entered the house.I saw a family curled up in one place, all in shabby clothes.Guo Jia was wearing a tattered blouse, and was stepping barefoot on the desk, using a broken mat to cover the window from the wind. At this moment, he hurriedly climbed down and kowtowed to the ground.The lights in the room were dim, and the walls were desolate.Cao Cao saw some of Guo Jia's official uniforms hanging high, which stood out in the dilapidated house.The cold wind came in through the window, and the whole family trembled.Cao Cao took off his hat, frowned and said, "Excuse me. Why are you so poor?" Guo Jia was even more embarrassed.Cao Cao was dissatisfied: "I've already said I'm not polite, and I asked you why you are so poor." Guo Jia stood up and said in embarrassment: "Jia, Jia..." Cao Cao said: "I have never cut off your salary for a day. This?" Guo Jia was even more embarrassed: "Jia, Jia..." Cao Cao asked, "Have foreign debts? Been robbed?" Guo Jia shook his head.Cao Cao said: "Why don't you dare to speak?" Xun You said at this time: "Rong You risked his life to speak for you." Cao Cao said: "Speak." Xun You said: "For many years of war, Xudu is expensive, and it is difficult to maintain it with only salary. Life."

Cao Cao was stunned for a moment: "In terms of rewards for meritorious deeds, I will reward you a lot." Xun You said: "My lord's kindness is very beneficial. But Guo Jia's family is sick, and this half will inevitably lead to poverty." Cao Cao was stunned again: "Why do you live so well?" Xun You knelt down: "You dance to write ink, write inscriptions for others, etc., and exchange some small money to subsidize yourself." Cao Cao said: "What else?" Xun You said: "I dare not say any more." Cao Cao said: "But it doesn't matter, as long as it is not corrupt and perverts the law, I don't blame you alone." Xun You said: "I asked the lord for some ink treasures..." Cao Cao listened: "What?" Xun You continued: "It's not that you want to collect it, it's all asked by a few giants in Xudu." Cao Cao understood: "Did they give the silver taels?" Xun You said: "Yes. They took it to make the treasure of the town house, but the fox pretends to be the tiger's prestige. You think they are the fox pretending to be the tiger's prestige, and the tiger has the prestige of the lord. It's no big deal. Besides, if they really If they break the law, the prime minister will not spare them. So..." Cao Cao breathed a sigh of relief: "What is the use of those rich people who want so much money? It's okay to share the wealth like this." He turned to look at Guo Jia: " You do the same, I will write a few pictures with you, and you can exchange some money to subsidize the family." Guo Jia said again and again: "Jia dare not." Cao Cao said: "That's it, writing a few pictures alone will not be tiring. " Guo Jia said: "Jia can't..." Xun You said: "If brother Guo can't do this, brother You can help." Wife, son, and the family thank Prime Minister Cao.Cao Cao bowed his hands to Guo Jia's mother and said: "Madam Guo, you have made great achievements many times, and I am sorry for not taking care of you alone." Twenty horses will be delivered tomorrow to buy clothes for the whole family." Zhu Si replied, "Yes." Cao Cao and the others went out to the courtyard, and said to Xu Chu and Li Dian, "You two martial artists, how are your families, do you want to go and see alone?" Xu Chu and Li Dian clasped their hands together and said, "I dare not." Cao Cao asked: "Why don't you dare? Are you as poor as Guo Jia?" The two big men were embarrassed: "No, it's not..." Cao Cao asked: "That's why?" The two replied in embarrassment: "It's because Not so poor." Cao Cao asked, "How about Xun Junshi?" Xu Chu and Li Dian replied, "On par." Cao Cao asked, "Where does the subsidy come from? Xu Chu, tell me first." Xu Chu said. "Don't dare. Eat empty pay, detain soldiers, violate the prime minister's taboo. If you do, you must raise your head to see the prime minister." Cao Cao said, "But it's okay to be blunt." Xu Chu said: "Businessmen from all directions come to Xudu for business, and they all meet the local tyrants. The rich and powerful oppressed and occupied. But there were traders from Chu’s hometown, and Chu sent a few brothers to cover them up. I don’t know this...” Cao Cao understood: “This is not a big taboo, but it’s a little wrong. Where’s Li Dian?” Li Dian pressed Received the report: "Dian guided a few brothers to open a martial arts gym, and coached a wealthy family to protect the family. They did not make any mistakes in military affairs." Cao Cao said magnanimously: "You are all forgiven." He also pointed to Guo Jia: "But it's not as good as Guo Jia's aspirations!" Li Dian, Xu Chu, and Xun You all agreed one by one, and Guo Jia was very humble. Cao Cao suddenly saw a stone tablet leaning against the wall under the bright moonlight, and asked, "Why is this?" Guo Jia replied, "Father Jia passed away a year ago." Cao Cao asked, "Why did you put the tablet here?" Jia struggled for a while before replying: "Because of poverty, I had no money to erect a monument after the burial. This is a monument that I only pooled money to inscribe with my lord when he set out to Xuzhou a few months ago. I just came back with my lord's class teacher today, and I will go to erect it tomorrow." Tomb-sweeping stele." Cao Cao let out a "woohoo", took off his hat, and wept endlessly.Guo Jiacheng was terrified. Cao Cao said: "everyone has parents, why don't you feel hurt when you see this?"Guo Jia and others also burst into tears.Standing in front of the stele, Cao Cao bowed his bow and said, "Old Mr. Guo, you passed away one year ago and the stele was not erected. It is not because your son Guo Jia is not filial. It is really Cao's fault for being sympathetic to his subordinates!" repeatedly.Guo Jia knelt down to Cao Cao and said, "Prime Minister, don't dare, don't dare." Cao Cao said to Zhu Si, the housekeeper, after paying homage, "Another 50,000 yuan will be paid from the treasury of Cao's treasury for Guo Jia to set up a stele and sweep the grave." Zhu Si nodded in agreement. Cao Cao bid farewell to Guo Jia and came to the street. He looked up to the sky and sighed, "Whoa, Cao is so sympathetic to his subordinates. Guo Jia has not complained at all. He works hard and works hard. His ambition is commendable! I feel guilty for living too far!" Then he said to Xun You and others "The clean and honest officials are still so impoverished, and the people are even more miserable. It's really because of the chaos of the war. Every time I think about it, I really want to stop the war." Xun You said: "The world can only stop the war when the master rules the world. Besides, there is no peace in the world. day." Cao Cao sighed: "The crime of militarism is all imposed on the orphan." Xun You said: "The merits and demerits of thousands of years have their own opinions." Cao Cao said: "I won't say much about this." Then he said to Zhu Si: "Is there any empty house in Cao's mansion?" Zhu Si said: "There are several places that the prime minister has given to people one after another. , there is only a house in the southeast corner of the city, which is half empty and not empty, and stores things." Cao Cao said: "If it should be merged, it will be merged, and the house will be vacated, tidy, and given to Guo Jia to live in." Cao Cao asked Xu Chu again: "You said the Quartet Vendors come to Xudu to do business, and they are often bullied by local tyrants and dignitaries. Who are these overbearing people?" Xu Chu replied: "One is...the family of the emperor, the head of the state, the uncle of the state." Cao Cao paused, and said: "Except Now, what about two?" Xu Chu said: "Taiwei Yang Biao's family." Cao Cao pondered: "Taiwei Yang Biao?" Xu Chu continued: "Three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten... Just wait." Cao Cao nodded and snorted, "I know." Cao Cao and others crossed the streets and alleys and came to a luxurious restaurant. There was a big lantern with the word "wine" on it. The lights and windows on the upper floor were brightly lit. Under the moonlight in front of the building, there was a woman kneeling motionless.Cao Cao stepped forward and asked, "Why are you kneeling here?" The woman slowly turned her head to look at Cao Cao and the others, then turned back numbly and did not answer.Xu Chu asked in a louder voice, "Why are you kneeling here?" The woman remained silent for a while, without looking back, and said feebly, "Kneeling here to beg Lord Yang." Cao Cao asked, "Who is there?" Master Yang?" The woman slowly turned her head and looked at it briefly, and said, "Master Yang Diao, the prefect of Yang. I beg him to let my daughter go." Xun You approached Cao Cao and explained: "She is talking about Yang Diao, the deputy prefect of Xudu. , is the son of Taiwei Yang Biao. This restaurant is owned by Yang Biao." Cao Cao nodded.Xun You said again: "The prefect of Xudu has been vacant all the time. The Lord appointed Kong Rong to act as prefect of Xudu temporarily when he was marching in Xuzhou." Cao Cao asked the woman again, "What's the matter with your daughter?" After a long time, the woman murmured: "Prefect Yang Said that my daughter frightened his horse on the street, and punished her to wait at night to pay for her crime. If she is happy, she can be released in her 30s. If she is not happy, she may not be released for three months or three years..." Cao Cao asked: "How did you startle Yang Diao's mount?" The woman shook her head: "She was singing on the street, somehow she would startle his horse..." Zhu Si stepped forward and asked, "Is your daughter Luoyang Furong sister?" Then he turned around and told Cao Cao: "Both of their mothers and sons escaped from Luoyang. My daughter sang on the street and sometimes went to restaurants. She supported her sick mother by singing. ——This is the woman. Miss Luoyang Furong is pretty." Cao Cao asked: "Does Yang Diao know that you are kneeling here?" The woman murmured: "Yes, he said kneeling until the glaciers melted in the twelfth lunar month Let go of my daughter." Cao Cao said: "It's unreasonable to go upstairs."