Chapter 36 2. Reunion in hometown

Fifty years ago, Emperor Huan Liu Zhi was still in power at that time. One day in his dream, he saw Huang Xing staying in the sky corresponding to ancient Chu and Song. Yin Kui. The so-called yellow star is Saturn. In the five elements, the color corresponding to soil is yellow. At the same time, Saturn is also called the star of the emperor. According to this, Yin Kui believes that fifty years later, in the ancient Chu and Song countries, which is now Liang and Pei. There will be real people appearing in the country, and their momentum is unstoppable (the front is unstoppable).This matter is not nonsense, it was recorded in the royal secret archives, and quietly circulated between the ruling and opposition parties.

Cao Cao had heard this statement before, but in his opinion, even if it was not nonsense, it had nothing to do with him.But Qu Zhi calculated that exactly 50 years had passed, and he, a native of Pei, had defeated Yuan Shao, showing signs of becoming unrivaled in the world.So, Cao Cao inadvertently remembered the legend about Emperor Huan's dream. Could it be that he was talking about himself? Thinking back to the sixth year of Zhongping (189) when I raised the army in Jiwu, I was only 35 years old at the time, considered a young man. Now twelve years have passed, and I am 47 years old, already past the prime of life.During the more than ten years when he was the youngest and most vigorous in his life, he thought about fighting almost every day, and was in desperate situation several times. Thinking of these Cao Cao couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion.

Just after the New Year in the seventh year of Jian'an (202), Cao Cao decided to return to his hometown of Qiao County.Cao Cao has not been back to his hometown for 14 years since he returned to Luoyang at the age of 33 after finishing his seclusion in Qiao County. During this period, he led troops to pass by several times, but he did not go back due to various considerations. This time Cao Cao Decided to stay in my hometown for a while. This is not an ordinary vacation, nor is it a return home for ordinary people. As the actual controller of the court and the most powerful person in the world today, Cao Cao's trip back home is not only grand, but also has military significance.Cao Cao led a main force to Qiao County in a mighty way. He wanted to go back to his hometown to visit his relatives, and at the same time bring the troops to Peiguo and Liangguo for training.

In Bozhou City, Anhui Province, there are still many legends about Cao Cao's military training, and the military facilities of the year such as Yunbing Road, as well as the place names related to the history of the year, such as Guanjiatai, Douwu Lane, and Machang Street, are preserved.A military order was preserved in "Cao Cao Ji", which was also issued by Cao Cao in Qiao County at this time. In this military order called "Military Qiao Order", Cao Cao said that since he raised his troops to eradicate the riots in the world, the people in his hometown have suffered a lot, and almost all of them have died (the people in the old land, the death is slightly exhausted).Cao Cao said that when he came back this time, no matter where he went, it was difficult to see an acquaintance, which made him feel sad (makes me sad).

During the military training in Qiao County, Cao Cao made arrangements for the issue of pensions for the descendants of the soldiers who died in battle. He issued an order to find the children of the dead soldiers, and if they could not find them, they should find their relatives as descendants. Niu, set up schools and ask teachers to teach their children to read.Cao Cao also ordered the establishment of ancestral halls for dead soldiers, so that the descendants of soldiers can have a place to worship their ancestors.Cao Cao said affectionately: "If the dead have knowledge underground, I will have no regrets (soul and spirit, why do I hate it after a hundred years)!"

When he returned to Qiao County this time, Cao Cao also visited his original wife, Mrs. Ding, by the way. The Ding family is also from Qiao County, and was sent back to her natal family by Cao Cao for some reason two years ago, and now lives in Qiao County.According to "Wei Lue", Mrs. Ding has been childless since she married Cao Cao.Before the Bian family, Cao Cao also married Mrs. Liu, who gave birth to Cao Cao's eldest son, Cao Ang, and his eldest daughter, Princess Qinghe. But Liu died early, and Cao Ang was raised by Ding, who loved him very much. During Cao Cao's first Southern Expedition to Zhang Xiu, Zhang Xiu rebelled due to his own negligence, and Cao Ang was killed in battle.This incident made it difficult for Ding to accept. She often cried bitterly, and complained to her husband Cao Cao, saying: "You killed my son, and you are still as if nothing happened (kill my son, and you won't think about it)!" , Cao Cao was a little angry, and sent her back to her natal family two years ago, trying to calm her down.

"Wei Lue" said that when Cao Cao came back this time, he took the initiative to visit Mrs. Ding at his father-in-law's house. Mrs. Ding was weaving at that time. welcome.Cao Cao went over, patted Ding Shi on the back and said, "Turn back and look at me, come back with me (I will return together with you)!" But Ding Shi didn't turn his head back, nor did he answer. Cao Cao had no choice but to go out angrily, walked outside the door, and said, "Do you still want me to beg you (there is nothing wrong with it)!" Ding still refused.Cao Cao sighed: "It seems that the love is over!" Cao Cao had to divorce Ding, hoping that Ding's natal family would remarry her again.But who dares to marry Cao Cao's ex-wife?Even if there is someone who dares to marry, the Ding family will not dare to marry.

The Ding family was born in a well-known big family in Qiao County, and this family produced Ding Gong, Ding Chong, Ding Yi, Ding and other figures.After entering the Cao family, the Ding family was the official wife, and did not pay attention to the Bian family who came from the advocate family.After Mrs. Ding was dismissed, Mrs. Bian took good care of her. She often sent people to deliver things to her. She even took her to the mansion secretly when Cao Cao was not at home, and still let her sit on the throne. Mrs. Ding was very grateful for this .After Ding's death, Bian pleaded with Cao Cao to send her to Xu County instead of being buried in her natal family. The book "Wei Lue" often praises Cao Cao's literary and martial arts unabashedly, and sometimes does not hesitate to exaggerate and transplant, and the description of this period of Cao Cao's family affairs is particularly vivid.This incident should be true, and its material may come from the records of Cao Cao's accompanying literati. The author of "Wei Lue", Guanzhong Mermaid Huan, was once the Langzhong of the Wei State. He naturally did not forget to take the opportunity to sing the praises of Bian, the mother of Wei Wendi Cao Pi and the grandmother of Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui.

Cao Cao still had a lot of affection for the Ding family and his dead eldest son Cao Ang. When he was dying, he recalled his life and said something like this: "I have never done anything wrong in my life, but if there is a spirit after death, see When Zixiu (Cao Ang's style name Zixiu) asks how my mother is doing, I will be speechless!" The big military training in the seventh year of Jian'an (202) was to prepare for the upcoming Northern Expedition, and Yuan Shao was still alive at that time.In Peiguo, Chenguo, Liangguo, and Chenliu County with Qiaoxian as the center, Cao Cao stepped up the rest and training of his troops on the one hand, and on the other hand, raised food and grass and other materials to actively prepare for the war.

Cao Cao also mobilized the army and civilians to excavate the Suiyang Canal. This is an artificial canal mainly for military transportation. It starts from Junyi in Chenliu County (now Kaifeng, Henan Province) in the east and ends at Guandu in the west. The river bed of Suishui River is dredged below Yi, which can directly reach Suiyang (now Shangqiu, Henan Province) or go south from Langdang Canal to Chen Guo and Runan County, connecting with the Huaihe River system. There are many original artificial canals in this area. The main project of the Suiyang Canal is in the section from Guandu to Junyi, and the rest is to use the original canal. After the completion of the Suiyang Canal, the connection between the Yellow River and the Huaihe River will be smoother. The water transport capacity of Yuzhou, northern Xuzhou and Yanzhou in the "District" has been greatly improved.

Compared with land transportation, it is more convenient and safer to transport military rations by water, and the loss is also minimal.Cao Cao ordered the Suiyang Canal to be overhauled in order to improve the army's logistics support capabilities. His eyes were always on the north of the Yellow River. In order to ensure the smooth progress of the project, Cao Cao personally inspected Junyi. On the way from Qiao County to Junyi, he passed Liang Guo. This is the hometown of Cao Cao's old friend and the late Taiwei Qiao Xuan. Qiao Xuan was buried here after his death. Qiaoxuan's patriarch was from Suiyang, he was completely different from Jiangdong Erqiao's father, Qiao Xuan.Before Cao Cao made his debut, Qiao Xuanhui had a good eye, praised Cao Cao as a rare talent, and gave him great support. Naturally, Cao Cao could not forget this kindness. Cao Cao sent people to sacrifice to Qiao Xuan with the ceremony of a prison.The so-called ceremony of Tailao is to use cattle to sacrifice. This name comes from the Western Zhou Dynasty. At that time, the sacrifices were divided into three classes: cattle for the sacrifice of the princes, called Tailao; sheep for the sacrifice of officials, called Shaolao; pigs for the sacrifice of scholars. It's called feeding. Cattle are very common domestic animals now, but when the Zhou Dynasty was first built, cattle were a fresh species just introduced from the Aryans. They were very precious, and they were used as sacrifices to show the highest etiquette.Sheep were also just imported from Tibetans at that time, and the number was relatively small, and the size was second to that of cattle; pigs were domesticated domestic animals by the Chinese people themselves, and their grades were relatively common. Qiao Xuan was a hard-working official from the grassroots cadres to the three officials of the court. According to historical records, he was very strict with himself. When he died, his family had no property, and no funeral was required for funerals. He was praised by the people at that time.Although Xuanguan Qiao made a great deal, he had never been granted the title of marquis. Cao Cao sacrificed him with the ritual of being too prison, which exceeded the ordinary standard. Cao Cao also personally wrote a sacrificial oration, which is very vivid and different from ordinary polite articles. At first glance, it is Cao Cao's own handwriting, not only because this article has a distinct Cao style, but also in addition to expressing respect for In addition to Qiao Xuan's praise and nostalgia, there is also a past story between Cao Cao and Qiao Xuan: "You made an agreement with me back then: 'If you pass by my tomb after I die, and you don't sacrifice me with a bucket of wine or a chicken, your stomach will hurt after three steps. Don't blame me then!' Although this is Just kidding, but if you are not a close relative or close friend, how can you say it? I worship you now, not because I am afraid that you will be angry and make me sick, but because I miss the old love from the past, and my heart is sad (nostalgia only cares about it, and the thoughts are sad)!"