Chapter 12 Section VI

Cao Cao never thought that the class teacher Xu Du would encounter such a "court fight" on the first day after he went to court.In the evening, I will discuss countermeasures with my staff. The guards outside the prime minister's mansion are heavily guarded.Guo Jia, Xun You and other counselors in the prime minister's mansion were on Cao Cao's left and right sides, and Cao Pi stood by his father's side.Just as Cao Cao was about to speak, the sergeant came in and reported: "General Che Zhou, governor of Xuzhou, led a convoy of 500 soldiers to escort a convoy to Xudu day and night, and he is very close to Xudu." The advisers looked at each other: "The prime minister never called him back. , and have not received the forecast, he led troops into Beijing without permission, what happened?" Cao Cao frowned slightly, "Leaving Xuzhou without authorization is really a big mistake. But Che Zhou is a loyal and reliable person, so don't be suspicious. There must be a special secret here. We still discuss important matters, as usual, and you all have to speak out boldly." Guo Jia said: "Today, the prime minister personally reasoned with them. It is too condescending to step down. It is time for the lowly officials to come out and teach them a lesson. Zhao Yan, Kong Rong, etc." Cao Cao said: "It depends on the situation. Sometimes you wait to come out to speak, and you are alone, good; Group fights. Fighting in the court is all based on reason, and you can't overwhelm others. I, Cao, have so-called power in the court and the opposition, so I should especially reason according to the situation. It is not harmful to let people impeach and attack, and show weakness. Only by reasoning every step of the way and refuting every step of the way can the people be convinced. The so-called majestic but not violent, can defeat the enemy and be lenient to those in the middle. not good."

Guo Jiadao: "I know this is the case in a humble position, but it is really unbearable to see the prime minister fighting the enemy alone." Cao Cao smiled: "Gushi is not alone. You open your mouth, why don't you swallow them?" Guo Jia said: "It is appropriate for the prime minister to fight in the court. Advance and retreat are really appropriate. The emperor pardons, that is the emperor's right, and the prime minister will never Distinguish; the emperor ordered Zhao Yan to avoid death, but the prime minister did not set it up. This is the law in the prime minister's hands." Cao Cao smiled: "You are really my confidants of Cao, and you know my heart." Guo Jia said: "However, the emperor's this The amnesty is really sinister. It not only wins over Captain Yang Biao, but also instigates him to become a sworn enemy with the lord." Cao Cao said: "Everyone in the world is not stupid, so the so-called cleverness is misunderstood by cleverness. He can't win over all the time. Reward to Yang Biao? He can't always provoke, and Yang Biao and I won't have festivities every day. Oh, it will be Yang Biao's 50th birthday in a few days, I have prepared a gift list, come, Xun You read it."

Cao Pi handed the gift list to Xun You. Xun You read loudly: "Your Majesty Yang Biao: To celebrate your fiftieth birthday, I will give you two collars of brocade fur, an eight-section silver-horned peach stick, three green felt mattresses, five hundred pieces of official silk, and six coins. 100,000 yuan, a painting wheel, a seven-scented chariot, two green oxen, one eight-hundred-mile Hualiu horse, ten pairs of red Rong gold saddles and bridles, one bell, two drivers, and left behind With one step, your noble family has a collar of colorful Luopu fur. It is woven into a quantity of boots, and there are two people in Tsing Yi with a heart, and they will serve it to the left and right. Although the gift is thin, it expresses my intention. I should accept it generously, and I will not go back and forth." After reading, Xun You said: " The prime minister's "small gift" is really not thin. Yang Biao will be happy for two days when he receives it, but it may not last for a long time. Sooner or later he will stand up to the lord, and the situation dictates it." Another counselor added: "Give it for nothing. It's better not to give it away, it's a waste of wealth, if you don't do it well, you will think that you are trying to win him over. Yang Biao and the prime minister will be at odds sooner or later."

Cao Cao smiled: "Gold and silver wealth are not expensive enough, and I don't have any unreasonable thoughts. A gift cannot change the general trend. But the world must do things in a reasonable manner. For Yang Biao, your birthday should be celebrated; you If you secretly contact Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, you should be monitored and monitored; if you are sick at home, you should visit your home; if your family breaks the law, you should be dealt with according to the law. Separation, excessiveness is flattery; soldiers also have limits, and excessiveness is arbitrariness. If you have to compromise and seek perfection, you don’t have to be too wronged. If you can live in peace today, or even work together in peace, you will live in peace; tomorrow you will fight, and then explain tomorrow You must not have the heart to harm others, which means that I will not harm him if he is harmless to me; the heart of defense must not be without it, which means that you must guard against it if you know that he may harm you. If you go too far, you will become suspicious, and in vain you will make yourself change. The scale here is just right." Cao Cao turned his head and said to Cao Pi, "This is what you have to learn." Cao Pi nodded repeatedly.

Cao Cao stood up, paced around and said, "Today I'm mainly fighting with Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu and others. Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu are the great enemies. It's best to win the alliance with Yang Biao; if you can't make an alliance, he will plot against me. Get rid of it first. To fight against the outside world, you must first secure the inside. This is what we call it.” Xun You said: “Alliance seems difficult.” Cao Cao pointed to Guo Jia and Xun You: “Both military advisers are right. But it’s hard to hear. If it’s wrong, I’ll do my best to benevolent and righteous. When facing several enemies, you must divide them and defeat them one by one. If you can divide it, you can divide it for a while, and if you can slow it down for a moment, you can slow it down for a moment. You can also use tactics such as attacking east and attacking west.” Xun You said : "Speaking of using soldiers, my lord uses them like gods, and they are not opponents." Cao Cao laughed: "The Qi family governs the country and the world must be rational at every step, and it is difficult to take every step without reason. I am planning to cut it down, but it is the time of the funeral of the other country. The cutting down is unjust and unreasonable, and it will arouse the hatred and anger of the whole people of the other country. This is not allowed. This is the same as the common people's daily reason. The enemy's family is going to have a funeral today, so you must not hit the door Go, no matter how reasonable it is, it will become unreasonable. And so on, big things and small things must be reasonable. If the reason is right, when you use soldiers, you will not tire of deception. Reasonable and disciplined soldiers will not tire of deceit. It is enough to govern the army, govern the country, and pacify the world!" Said Seeing Cao Cao sit down, he said to Xun You, "It's better for you to lead people to send congratulatory gifts to Yang Biao's residence." Xun You said, "Follow the Prime Minister's decree." Shao Yang Biao's cronies, replace with suitable people, promote and transfer a few. It will be done in two days. The Habayashi Army should also make some adjustments, and gradually take full control of the palace guards. Make a plan and hand it over to me tomorrow. In addition , The merit list must be posted outside the prime minister's mansion and the six ministries tomorrow morning, and all the urgent dispatches to the states and counties within 800 miles have also been posted?" The left and right responded one by one to what he sent.At this time, Xun You said: "The list of seeking talents has been sent out."

Cao Cao nodded and said, "Also, immediately report to me the latest developments of the princes from all walks of life. In addition, I will invite Kong Rong to come to the mansion for a drink in the past two days. He opposes the prohibition of alcohol prohibition and prohibits gatherings for drinking. I invite him to the mansion. You can have a drink." Guo Jia smiled: "Your Majesty, there is no need to appease this pedantic Confucian. It's a dead sycophant like Yilang Zhao Yan who wants to 'pacify' him." Cao Cao shook his head: "I just said, One thing is one thing. For an elegant person like Kong Rong, it is reasonable to treat him like this. As for Zhao Yan, this kind of person should not be underestimated. There are two kinds of treacherous people in the world. Fear can be extinguished with a single hand; there is another kind like Zhao Yan, who is obsessed with fame and reputation, and who fights against your crooked reasoning to the death, with this kind of person, you have to get rid of his crooked reasoning step by step." Guo Jia said with deep meaning. : "There are also people like the emperor, who are also a special kind." Cao Cao waved his hand: "Let's not talk about him for now."

The servant rushed forward to report: "Generals Li Dian and Xu Chu have arrived." Li Dian and Xu Chu, the captains of the school, put on their armor and stepped in to bow down. "General Che Zhou, the governor of Xuzhou, led a team of chariots and horses. I asked what happened, and said that I only saw the prime minister report." As they said, the two were around Cao Cao. Stand by the sword to guard. General Che Zhou led a team of chariots and horses into the city of Xudu. The convoy stopped in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion.The prime minister's mansion at night is heavily guarded.Che Zhou dismounted from his horse, hurried up the steps, took off his sword and handed it over to the general guard, led by his servants, hurried into the courtyard of Xiangfu, took off his helmet in front of the hall, and stopped.I heard someone inside report: "General Che Zhou knocked on the Prime Minister." He also heard Cao Cao say, "Let him in." The Prime Minister pleads guilty." Cao Cao sized it up and said, "What's the crime?" Che Zhou said, "The Prime Minister has a 10-day limit to solve the case and arrest the Xuzhou assassin. The ten days have passed, and the case has not been solved and no one has been caught. I have already executed the deputy general in charge of this matter." Zhou himself made an apology to the prime minister for the crime." Cao Cao snorted: "Apology for the crime? Just for this matter, he led five hundred troops and went to the capital without authorization, and neglected the duty of guarding one side. What crime should he be? Are you not afraid of turning around?" Zhou said: "Leading five hundred soldiers, going to the capital without authorization, and ignoring the duty of guarding one side, it is actually to escort an important person to the prime minister's mansion."

Cao Cao's eyes widened: "Oh?" The left and right staff and Cao Pi were all surprised, but Xun You smiled knowingly. Che Zhou said: "I will escort Zheng Kangcheng's granddaughter Bai Shao to the prime minister's mansion. She is the daughter of Zheng's mansion and the person wanted by Prime Minister Cao. I am afraid that there will be stragglers and bandits along the way, so I personally lead the troops. Escort, day and night, dare not make mistakes." Cao Cao was surprised, obviously satisfied again, and smiled: "I have just arrived in Xudu with my army, but you have sent them all." Che Zhou said: "The prime minister sends troops to fight like flying arrows, and withdraws troops triumphantly like an old mother." Cao Cao He leaned back and smiled: "That's a good flattery. The commander of my army deliberately walked slowly, letting the army rest while walking. The so-called way of using troops is moderate work and rest. Work hard when you should work. Marching day and night to fight to the death without blinking your eyes. Yi Zeyi, relaxed and calm, set up camp to rest after noon. Well, get up," Cao Cao said teasingly: "This will exonerate you? Send me a personal escort to accompany you, and you can avoid the unsolved assassin case. Is it a crime?" Che Zhou reported again: "The city of Xuzhou has been searched inside and outside, but there is no trace of the assassin. There is only one doubtful point, and I dare not disturb it." Cao Cao paid attention.Che Zhou went on to say: "It's just that Zheng's mansion was not searched, and the prime minister did not dare to do it without asking for instructions, and he picked up Bai Shao, especially I feel that it is not appropriate to do it." Cao Cao pondered for a while: "It is right not to alarm, leave any doubts Be suspicious. There is no certainty in the world. Not every battle can be won, and every case can be solved. Forget it, if the person is sent, the merit will be punished, and you can return to Xuzhou after a night of rest." Che Zhou said "Of order." Cao Cao paused and asked, "Where's the man?" Che Zhou replied, "Accompanied by the servant girl from Zheng's mansion, she's still in the car."

Cao Cao nodded, then turned to Cao Pi and said, "Order Zhu Si, the steward, to lead a few maidservants to serve. First send them to the two wives to meet and settle in the room, and then lead Bai Shao to wait in my study." Cao Pi said: " Follow orders."