Chapter 10 2. Restless students

In the first year of Xiping (172), when Cao Cao was about to turn eighteen, Cao Song decided to let him come to Luoyang to study in the Taixue.So, for the first time, Cao Cao left his hometown Qiao County and came to Luoyang, the capital. As the highest institution of learning in the empire and also a training base for public officials at all levels, Taixue is the place that all scholars yearn for.When the Taixue was first established in the previous dynasty, the scale was only 50 people, and then it gradually expanded to 3,000 people, and it even expanded to tens of thousands during Wang Mang's time.Taixue is under the jurisdiction of Taichang Qing, one of the nine ministers. The teacher of Taixue is called Doctor, and the principal of Taixue is called Doctor Jijiu. "Jijiu" refers to the person who is the chief in social activities, such as "military division Jijiu", which means the chief military division, that is, the chief of staff.

The admissions of Taixue implements the method of recommendation, examination and recommendation.Locally, counties can be used as units to recommend outstanding local students for admission, and there is a fixed number of places.In addition, in a kind of Mingjing examination organized at that time, those who achieved excellent results could also enter Taixue to study.The objects of recommendation are the sons of public officials, and officials with a rank of more than six hundred stones can send a son to study in Taixue.Cao Cao took this path when he entered the Taixue. From the first year of Xiping (172) to the third year of Xiping (174), Cao Cao had been studying at Taixue.The education here is completely carried out in accordance with the standard model of Confucian classics, focusing on the teaching of the Five Classics, and according to the different methods of the Five Classics, different specialization directions are set up, similar to different departments.

These departments do not teach anything else, they teach Confucian classics, and Taixue is actually a Confucian school. But Cao Cao is not interested in these, he is a partial student.While in school, one of his hobbies was reading miscellaneous books, and the other was making friends. This son of a high-ranking official, the eldest son of a billionaire family, and a small young man from Peiguoqiao County, won the favor of many classmates with his frankness, straightforwardness, generosity and good communication, and soon became an active member of Taixue. . Some of these students entered the university relying on their family background, and many of them were excellent young people recommended from all over the country. It was not easy for all of them to be admitted to the Imperial Academy.

These people brought news from all over the world, including strange stories, customs, mountains and rivers, and historical legends. Cao Cao liked to talk about these topics with everyone. There are very few historical materials about Cao Cao's life at the imperial school, but from the sporadic records, it can be speculated that Cao Cao may have contacted the following people during this period: Wang Jun (also known as Wang Jun), courtesy name Ziwen, was born in Runan County, and had the best relationship with Cao Cao. Later, Wang Jun avoided chaos and went to Wuling County, and he happened to die when Cao Cao conquered Liu Biao.Cao Cao once personally went to the river to pay homage to him.

Zhou Qi and Zhou Ang are from the Zhou family in Huiji County. This family has a certain influence in the Yangzhou Governor's Department.Many years later, they supported Cao Cao at a critical moment. Liu Xun, courtesy name Zitai, was born in Langye County. Later, he served as the magistrate of Jianping County of Peiguo, the prefect of Lujiang County of Yangzhou Governor's Department, etc., and finally belonged to Cao Cao. Xu You, courtesy name Ziyuan, was born in Nanyang County. He was also an activist and had a wide range of contacts. Later, he had a particularly close relationship with the Yuan brothers. During the Guandu War, he defected from Yuan Shao's camp to Cao Cao.

Zhang Miao, courtesy name Meng Zhuo, was born in Zhang County, Dongping Guoshou. He was from a wealthy family and was a little older. He was a chivalrous man. There is another person, Cao Cao always wanted to make friends with him, but failed.This person is called Zong Shilin, from Nanyang County, and a star student in Taixue. Cao Cao took the initiative to find him to make friends, but he didn't like the descendants of the eunuch's adopted son's family. At a party, both Cao Cao and Zong Shilin were there. Cao Cao always wanted to talk to Zong Shilin, but had no chance.Later, Zong Shilin got up and left the banquet, probably to go to the bathroom, Cao Cao seized the opportunity to follow, took Zong Shilin's hand, and wanted to socialize with him.But Zong Shilin didn't show any sympathy and refused.

This incident left a wound in Cao Cao's heart.The more inferior a person is, the more he longs for the respect of others.He has been brooding over the matter.Later, when Cao Cao became Sikong, he asked Zong Shilin to be brought to Xu County. Cao Cao said, "Can we make friends this time?" Zong Shilin replied: "The ambition of pines and cypresses still exists." This incident is recorded in the book, which shows how much Cao Cao was eager to make more people and get everyone's approval when he was studying in Taixue. This is an era when public opinion can control everything, and even the most popular eunuchs sometimes have to bow to public opinion.

Qiao Xuan, Cao Teng's good friend during his lifetime, was serving as Sikong at this time and was one of the leaders of the Outer Dynasty.Because of his ancestor's relationship, Cao Cao went to senior Qiao's house more often, and Qiao Xuan attached great importance to this young man. The grandfather of Qiaoxuan (not Qiao Xuan, the father of Daqiao and Xiaoxuan), was from Suiyang County, Liang State. Qiao Xuan is good at commenting on characters and has a certain reputation in the Qing Dynasty.When Qiao Xuan saw Cao Cao for the first time, he felt that this young man was very unusual. He said to Cao Cao: "The world will be in chaos. Only the people of the world will not be able to save it. The one who can make peace depends on the king!" It means: the world is now There is going to be great chaos, and it is impossible to stabilize the world if it is not for the people who help the world. The one who can stabilize the world is probably you.

Qiao Xuan also said: "I have seen many famous people in the world, and there is no one who is like a king! You are good at yourself, I am old! I would like to rely on my wife." It means: I have seen many famous people in the world, and none of them is like you In this way, you have to work hard.I am old and willing to entrust my wife and children to you. This is an extremely high rating.Apparently a celebrity and courtier leader in his sixties or seventies doesn't need to compliment a young man under twenty years old. Qiao Xuan did see the difference in Cao Cao, his judgment of the current situation, and his respect for Cao Cao. The judgments of future development are all completely correct, which shows that Qiao Xuan, as one of the authorities in the Qing Dynasty, is not in vain.At that time, there was also a celebrity who appreciated Cao Cao very much and was willing to "entrust his wife and children" after his death. This person was Li Zan, the son of the party leader Li Ying.He admired Cao Cao very much and often recommended him to others.

When Li Zan was dying, he said to his son Li Xuan and others: "The country is about to fall into chaos, and there is no hero in the world who can surpass Cao Cao. Although Zhang Miao is my friend and Yuan Shao is your relative, don't take refuge in them. You must I'm going to join Cao Cao." With the recommendation of two heavyweights, Cao Cao gained a certain popularity.But Qiao Xuan thought it was not enough. He suggested that Cao Cao should find the Xu brothers in Runan, the most prestigious in the Qingyi circle, to further expand their popularity through the platform of "Yuedan Ping". Qiao Xuan also wrote a letter of recommendation to the Xu brothers. .

There is a pair of cousins ​​in Runan County named Xu Jing and Xu Shao.With the skill of knowing people, Erxu opened a forum on the small island of Qinghe in his hometown. On the first day of every month, he proposed a clear discussion, commented on the township party, praised and criticized current politics, did not pretend to be beautiful, did not conceal evil, did not slander, and debated whether people were good or bad. The distinction between loyalty, traitor, good and evil, whether in the court or in the opposition, are all included in the evaluation, and those who receive praise are all famous. Cao Cao rushed to Qinghe Island with the letter of recommendation written by Qiao Xuan in his arms, but was coldly received by the Xu brothers.Er Xu was unwilling to comment on this descendant of the eunuch at first, but later he couldn't stand Cao Cao's torture, coupled with Qiao Xuan's face, Xu Shao finally gave Cao Cao two famous words: "The ability to govern the world Minister, hero of troubled times." Cao Cao was quite satisfied with this evaluation, and his trip to Runan County was not in vain. In addition, Cao Cao was also highly praised by famous scholar He.He is very famous, and has many contacts with Li Ying, Fan Pang and other party members. He is a chivalrous man, likes to make friends with heroes in the world, and is good at doing some behind-the-scenes planning work. "A key member of the fraternity. When He saw Cao Cao, he spoke highly of it: "The Han family is about to perish, and the one who can stabilize the world must be this person." Life during Taixue was busy, time passed quickly, and two years passed in a flash.After the Autumn Shooting Ceremony, Cao Cao's students are about to graduate.