Chapter 27 first quarter

Liu Bei opened a vegetable field in the backyard of his mansion, where he grew vegetables every day. On this day, as usual, he was busy watering and weeding the vegetable field, while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were shooting arrows at another part of the backyard. Qin Qingtong, the family slave of the government.Qin Qingtong looked around and saw that there was no one around, and said to the gatekeeper: "Please report to Uncle Liu Huang and Uncle Dong Cheng and Dong Guo for coming to visit." The gatekeeper asked, "Where is the person?" Qin Qingtong pointed to the distance: "The sedan chair that came over That's it." The gatekeeper hurried to the vegetable field in the backyard and informed Liu Bei, "My lord, Uncle Dong Guo is coming to visit." Liu Bei listened, concentrated his attention, then put down the farming work, wiped his hands, and put the He changed into the robe on the fence, and hurried to the gate to greet him.A simple sedan has parked at the door.Dong Cheng got out of the sedan chair, looked left and right, and hurried up the steps to enter.Liu Bei immediately invited him into the mansion, and invited him to sit in the pavilion all the way.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei came after hearing the news, standing behind Liu Bei on one left and one on the right. After Liu Bei ordered the wine and fruits to be served, he waved the servants to leave and asked, "Why does the uncle of the country travel in such a simple dress and come to visit suddenly?" Dong Cheng said: "Whether you visit during the day in a sedan chair or on horseback, it is inevitable to show off. Coming here at night is more likely to make a person suspicious. I don’t say that Liu Huangshu should know about this person. You can’t come in the daytime or at night, so you have to go to your mansion in a sedan chair when there is no one in front of you. It's not easy." Liu Bei raised his wine and said, "Drink a glass first, and then speak calmly... What's the important thing for uncle Guo to come here?" Dong Cheng drank the wine, put down his glass and said, "Let's get straight to the point, that Tianzi Field Hunting At that time, Yun Chang tried to kill Cao Cao with his horse and sword, but Uncle Liu shook his head and waved his hands to stop him, why?" Liu Bei was shocked.Guan Yu was also surprised.Liu Bei asked, "How did Uncle Guo know?" Dong Cheng said, "Yun Chang was angry that day. I saw it with my own eyes, and never said anything to outsiders. Uncle Emperor, don't worry." That day my younger brother saw Cao Cao’s behavior of arrogance and violation of the emperor’s prestige, so he didn’t feel angry.” Dong Cheng glanced at Guan Yu, covered his face with his sleeves and cried, “If the court’s courtiers are as long as clouds, why worry about peace! "Liu Bei looked at Dong Cheng covering his tears, but his face was thoughtful. He was obviously judging the authenticity of Dong Cheng's words, and then pretended: "With Prime Minister Cao ruling the country, why worry about the world not being peaceful?" Dong Cheng's face changed when he heard this. Standing up, he said: "Grand Liu is the uncle of the emperor of the Han Dynasty, so Dong X told the truth, why did you deceive me?" Liu Bei stretched out his hand to pull Dong Cheng to sit down, and said calmly: "With such a government, Liu Bei is also an uncle who fears the country. It’s deceitful, what I said just now is just a test.” Dong Cheng shook his head and sighed: “You and I don’t need to cheat and test each other. Your emperor’s uncle and my country’s uncle are all close relatives of His Majesty, honor and disgrace are related, and fate is the same. I risk it today. It is very important and extraordinary to come to visit before you die." Then, he took out the secret edict of Emperor Xian of Han from his bosom and handed it to Liu Bei: "You can see it yourself." Liu Bei opened it and looked, filled with grief and indignation, and said: " The Son of Heaven has such a blood edict, and the ministers are prepared to go through fire and water, and will not hesitate." Dong Cheng said: "Today I not only brought your majesty's blood edict, but also another thing." He took out another white silk and unfolded it: " Your Majesty asked me to unite loyal and righteous martyrs and exterminate traitors. Here, six people have signed and drawn letters to form this alliance of blood. Please look at it, Uncle Emperor."

Liu Bei took the letter of alliance and whispered the names of the signatures as he read them: "Six loyal and righteous men: 1. Dong Cheng, the chariot general; 2. Wang Zifu, the minister of the Ministry of Industry; Series; 4. Yilang Wu Shuo; 5. General Zhaoxin Wu Zilan; 6. Ma Teng, Prefect of Xiliang." After Liu Bei finished reading, he said: "Since you are ordered to hunt down thieves, how dare you refuse to do the work of a dog and a horse." Dong Cheng thanked him immediately.Liu Bei said: "What is the use of the country's uncle?" Dong Cheng said: "The emperor's uncle joined the alliance, the country is saved, Cheng can not thank you? Now I ask the emperor's uncle to sign and draw." Liu Bei immediately pulled out Zhang Fei's sword and broke it Finger, directly sign and draw with the blood finger, and then solemnly hand over the alliance letter to Dong Cheng.Dong Cheng properly put away the secret edict and alliance letter and put it close to him, and said: "Invite three more people to gather the 'Ten Righteousness' together, so as to plot against the country's thieves." Liu Bei said: "This should be implemented slowly, and must not be leaked." Dong Chengdao : "Uncle Huang is right. Dong won't stay for long, so as not to leak the news." Saying goodbye, he left.

Liu Bei got up and walked to the vegetable field in the backyard, taking off his robe while walking, ready to continue planting vegetables.Guan Yu and Zhang Fei said: "Uncle Guo just finished talking about such an important matter with brother. Why didn't brother pay attention and was busy with these small things?" Liu Bei sighed: "This is not what my second brother knows." The two looked at each other, said nothing more, and told Liu Bei: "Then I and I have gone to the suburbs to practice archery." Liu Bei said: "Follow the second brother." Dong Cheng came out of Liu Bei's mansion, and a sedan chair waiting on the side of the road rushed over to pick him up.Qin Qingtong followed the sedan chair and asked in a low voice: "Where are you going, my lord?" Dong Cheng said in the sedan chair: "Go back to the mansion first, and then go to the palace." Qin Qingtong said to the bearer in front: "Go back to the mansion first. .” Then hurried to the front.

At this time, a valiant team came from the street, Xu Chu and Zhang Liao rode on horseback and led seventy or eighty soldiers to meet them.Dong Cheng asked the bearers to pull over to make way.Several people rode over from behind, stopped beside Dong Cheng's sedan chair, and asked loudly, "Where are the two generals Xu Chu and Zhang Liao going?" Dong Cheng watched from the crack of the sedan chair curtain, and heard Xu Chu and Zhang Liao answer: "Oh, yes. Kong Rong, Master Kong. The prime minister ordered us to invite Uncle Liu Huang." Kong Rong said, "What's the matter?" Xu Chu and Zhang Liao said, "I don't know." Kong Rong rode over with a few people.Xu Chu and Zhang Liao led the army and rushed towards Liu Bei's mansion.Dong Cheng raised the curtain of the sedan chair and looked back and forth, quite suspicious, then waved his hand to make the sedan chair go faster.

Xu Chu and Zhang Liao led the crowd to dismount at the gate of Liu Bei's mansion, and then went straight in.The gatekeeper blocked the way: "Please wait to report to the emperor." Xu Chu and Zhang Liao sent people away: "The prime minister has orders, so I can't wait." Then they went in.Xu Chu and Zhang Liao led dozens of people to the backyard. Liu Bei, who was watering and planting vegetables, was surprised to see Xu Chu, Zhang Liao and the others.Xu Chu and Zhang Liao said: "The prime minister has an order, just ask the emperor's uncle." Liu Bei asked in surprise, "What's the matter?" Xu Chu said, "I don't know, just ask us to come and invite you." He said calmly: "Let me straighten out and change my clothes and go with you."

As Liu Bei spoke, he winked at the entourage at the side, and the entourage understood and left quietly. Cao Cao and Bai Shao sat in the lobby of the prime minister's mansion.Cao Cao said: "After the last field hunt, I have discussed with Guo Jia, Xun You and others whether or not to kill Liu Bei. I alone insisted not to kill him, and the two military divisions tried to persuade me to kill him. Of course, in the end I had the final say. Suggestions can be beneficial to Liu Bei. I also said that I want to find an opportunity to beat Liu Bei, but this matter has not been done. It is quite strange to hear that Dong Cheng visited him secretly. Therefore, I specially sent Xu Chu and Zhang Liao Bring someone to invite him to come here suddenly, you should startle him first, and then beat him calmly." After hearing this, Bai Shao just nodded.Cao Cao looked at Bai Shao suspiciously: "Why do you seem to be on your mind? Ever since you entered the palace and met Empress Fu, you seem to have been on your mind." Bai Shao intentionally smiled cheerfully: "No." Then changed the subject and said, "Prime Minister How do you plan to take advantage of Liu Bei Xiaozhi?" Cao Cao said: "For such heroes, there are naturally other ways to treat heroes." Just as he was speaking, the doorman came to report: "Report to the prime minister, the two generals Xu Chu and Zhang Liao have joined forces. Come with Uncle Liu Huang." Just as Cao Cao said "please", Xu Chu and Zhang Liao had already arrived at the entrance of the hall with Liu Bei.

Cao Cao smiled and got up to welcome the guests, and said to Liu Bei, "You have done a great job at home." One sentence made Liu Bei's face turn pale with fright.Cao Cao glanced at him, understood in his heart, went up and took Liu Bei's hand and said, "Let's go to the back garden." Liu Bei couldn't help but followed Cao Cao to the back garden. Cao Cao waved his hand slightly, signaling Bai Shao to follow. Cao Cao walked into the back garden with Liu Bei, hand in hand, and said something unbuttoned: "It's not easy for Xuande to learn how to grow vegetables." Then Liu Bei felt relieved, smiled honestly, and said, "It's just for fun." Cao Cao pointed to a few apricot trees in the garden, which were already covered with green apricots, and said: "Just now I saw the plums on the branches green, and suddenly remembered that when I led the troops to conquer Zhangxiu last year, the road was short of water and the soldiers were thirsty. I had a plan and raised the whip. Pointing to the front, he said, "There is a plum grove in front of us. You can have a good meal there." When the sergeants heard this, most of them thought of the sourness of eating green plums. Everyone's mouth was full of saliva, and they didn't feel thirsty anymore. The so-called "look at plums to quench thirst". Seeing this plum again today, I can't help thinking about it, and I can't help but appreciate it. It's time to cook the wine, so I specially invite Xuande to come to the small pavilion for a while."

Liu Bei's mind is fixed. When the two arrived in the pavilion, delicacies, a jar of boiled wine and a few plates of green plums had already been set out on the table.Only then did Cao Cao turn around and introduce Bai Shao: "This is Bai Shao, the chief secretary of my Xiangfu, the granddaughter of Zheng Gong and Zheng Kangcheng. It is said that you have met before." Said: "When Bei was in Xuzhou, he often visited the mansion to ask your grandfather for advice. I saw you many times. We met again today, and you are even more talented. Now you are famous all over the capital." Cao Cao laughed, sat down face to face with Liu Bei, and drank happily .

Bai Shao sat on one side and watched the two heroes talking to each other with great interest. Cao Cao shared a drink with Liu Bei, and said, "Today, I will take advantage of the wine to have a few frank words with Xuande. Recently, some people say that you, Liu Xuande, have the intention of killing me, Cao Cao." Liu Bei was shocked: "Why is that so? Say?" Cao Cao waved his hand disapprovingly, and continued, "Someone said that even though Liu Xuande had not yet intended to kill Cao Cao, his younger brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei already showed their intentions." Liu Bei was even more startled, put down his wine glass and chopsticks and said, "And Why do you say that?" Cao Cao still smiled disapprovingly, drank his wine, and said: "They say this, or they have knowledge, or suspicion, or speculation, I don't take it seriously. The affairs of the world Obviously, the fortunes of the Han Dynasty have been declining for four hundred years, and it is difficult for me to help the Han. Your Uncle Liu Huang is even more determined to help the Han. Why do you and my comrades kill each other? Leaving aside your two brothers, Uncle Liu is absolutely It won’t hurt Cao Zhixin. Well, I’m not saying these things to make you suspicious, but to make you doubtful. Come on, let’s take a swig to clear away any bad feelings.” He raised his wine again as he spoke.Liu Bei had no choice but to raise the wine.After drinking a few cups like this, suddenly cloudy clouds gathered outside the pavilion, and a shower was about to come. A few servants pointed to the sky outside the pavilion and said, "I saw flying dragons churning in the clouds."

Cao Cao became interested and invited Liu Bei to watch while drinking. Cao Cao pointed to the dark clouds rolling like a dragon in the sky and said to Liu Bei: "Brother Xuande, do you know the changes of the dragon?" Liu Bei said: "I don't know the details." Prosperous clouds and mists, small ones hide their shapes; rising ones soar between the universe, hidden ones hide in waves. At present, dragons change with time, just like a man who achieves his will and traverses the world. The dragon is a thing, He can be compared to the heroes of the world. Xuande has been around for a long time, and he must know the heroes of the world. Please try to point out." Liu Bei said modestly: "Be prepared for mortal eyes, and know the heroes safely?" Cao Cao smiled: "Hugh is too modest." Liu Bei said : "Bei's first involvement in the world. This time, the prime minister recommended the emperor's sage to be an official in the court. I don't know about the heroes of the world." Cao Cao said: "Although I don't know their faces, I will always hear their names." Liu Bei said : "Yuan Shu in Huainan, with enough food and soldiers, can he be a hero?" Cao Cao smiled: "The dead bones in Yuan Shu's tomb, I will capture them sooner or later!" In the land of Jizhou, there are a lot of people who are capable of both civil and military affairs, so they can be considered heroes?" Cao Cao smiled again: "Yuan Shaoser is bold and cowardly, always plotting, he cherishes his own life when he does great things, and forgets his life when he sees small gains, he is not a hero. "Liu Bei thought about it and said: "There is a person named 'Eight Jun', who is powerful in Kyushu. Can Liu Jingsheng be a hero?" Cao Cao shook his head: "Liu Biao has no name, and he is not a hero." A man of strong blood, the leader of Jiangdong, can Sun Ce and Sun Bofu be a hero?" Cao Cao shook his head again and said, "Sun Ce borrowed his father's name and relied on Lao Tzu's family to start a business. He is not a hero." Liu Bei thought about it again: "Yizhou Liu Zhang Can Liu Jiyu be a hero?" Cao Cao snorted even more: "Although Liu Zhang belongs to the Liu clan of the Han Dynasty, he is really just a household dog, so why should he be a hero!" Liu Bei thought again with difficulty: "That's like Zhang Xiu, Zhang Lu, How are Han Sui and others like you?" Cao Cao applauded and laughed, "Such mediocre people are nothing to worry about!" Liu Bei shook his head helplessly and said, "Besides this, I really don't know." Cao Cao then said: "My husband is a hero. Those who have great ambitions, have good plans, have the opportunity to hide the universe, and those who have the ambitions of the world." Liu Bei said: "Who can be it?" Cao Cao stretched out his hand and pointed at Liu Bei first, then at himself and said, "Today, the only heroes are Brother Xuande and Cao Er!" Liu Bei was taken aback when he heard this, and the chopsticks in his hand fell to the ground unconsciously.It was raining quickly and there was loud thunder, so Liu Bei calmly lowered his head to pick up his chopsticks by the thunder and said, "The shock was so powerful that even the chopsticks fell off." Cao Cao laughed: "The man is still afraid." Thunder?" Liu Bei said: "The sage said, 'Thunder and wind will change'. The sage should be afraid, but be safe?" Cao Cao shook his head and smiled.Bai Shao was on the side but saw Liu Bei clearly. Cao Cao noticed Bai Shao's expression on the side, as if he knew something, and said: "We are talking to Yin, what did you observe?" Bai Shao shook his head slightly, "It's nothing." Cao Cao said through the half drunk : "My uncle and I have a heart-to-heart drink today, what do you find out, but it's okay to be frank." Bai Shao still shook her head slightly.Cao Cao said to Liu Bei: "The master of the prime minister is good at observing people's hearts. She must have discovered that you and I have hidden meaning." Cao Cao still turned his head to look at Bai Shao, "Speak, help me and the emperor's uncle have fun." Bai Shao was forced to help him. , smiled and said: "Uncle Liu Huang said that the sage will change with thunder and wind. Although this is true, but Uncle Liu Huang's chopsticks landed today not because of thunder." Cao Cao said: "Why?" Liu Bei was a little surprised but pretended to be at a loss: Why do you say?" Bai Shao glanced at Liu Bei, then at Cao Cao, lowered his eyes and said, "To say that the hero scares people, and to cover it up by Wen Lei." Cao Cao pointed at Liu Bei and asked, "Is this the truth?" Liu Bei Explained: "Preparation is because of the thunder." Cao Cao looked at Bai Shao again, and Bai Shao sarcastically added: "Uncle Liu Huang is really a god of adaptability." Cao Cao laughed out loud. Liu Bei didn't explain, just shook his head and smiled. When it was raining, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei rode their horses to the prime minister's mansion and hurried off, handing over the reins to their followers who rode along with them.The two rushed into the Prime Minister's mansion with swords in their hands.The gate guards held halberds and guns to block them, and the two burst into the gate with a loud shout and brandished swords.Cao Mansion officers and soldiers blocked them along the way, but the two men were so powerful that they couldn't stop them and rushed straight to the pavilion in the back garden. Seeing that Liu Bei and Cao Cao were sitting and drinking, they put their swords in their sheaths and stopped. Cao Cao noticed the commotion in the crowd over there, and when he saw Guan and Zhang rushing over, he asked, "General Guan and General Zhang, why are you here?" Let me help you laugh." Cao Cao laughed: "This is not a Hongmen banquet, so how about using Xiang Zhuang and Xiang Bo?" Liu Bei also laughed.Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were a little embarrassed.Cao Cao didn't care, and ordered: "Get the wine and the second 'Fan Kui' to shock." Guan Yu and Zhang Fei immediately thanked Cao Cao after hearing this.The servant brought the wine, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood up and drank it down. Cao Cao said to Liu Bei: "Let's say goodbye today, and see you later." Liu Bei stood up and said goodbye. Watching the servant send Liu Bei and three people back from the back garden, Cao Cao said to Bai Shao: "My master has good eyesight today." "I don't know one thing. The prime minister said that today he wants to find out about his interests. How about beating him?" Cao Cao said. Together. For a hero like Liu Bei, you have to use the way you treat a hero. It is inconvenient to say anything. You have to save face. It’s okay to have a sharp eye, but not a sharp mouth. Isn’t Liu Bei growing vegetables in the backyard of the mansion? , but there is no need to tell the truth. At this moment, it would be best if Liu Bei could join hands with me to level the world." Bai Shao said: "The prime minister is probably just wishful thinking. Look at "Spring and Autumn" and "Historical Records". Can Liu Bang and Xiang Yu not fight each other? " Cao Cao said: "Liu Bang and Xiang Yu are fighting, and we have to wait until after Qin is destroyed. Liu Bei and I will first level the world together, and then fight if we disagree." Bai Shao said: "That's just right, he is a descendant of Liu Bang. Haven't you become Xiang Yu?" Cao Cao smiled: "Liu Bei is indeed like Liu Bang, but I am much stronger than Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu is only brave, how can he win the world?" Bai Shao sighed: "The prime minister and Liu Bei's wish to 'join forces' seems difficult to realize. I found that although the prime minister knows people well, he is also decisive in killing and punishing..." Cao Cao interjected, "How?" Bai Shao continued: " But sometimes I take people for granted." Cao Cao said, "For example, Liu Bei. Who else?" Bai Shao smiled and said nothing.Cao Cao said: "Also, isn't it just for you?"