Chapter 8 2. Who is Cao Cao's lifelong rival?

"Huh? Is the "Zhi Dao Ji" sent by Han Song really a book to teach people how to read and write?" Sima Lang sat in the carriage and asked Sima Yi who was sitting next to him in surprise, "Where is the book in there?" The words and sentences in the article are indeed mysterious and sublime! Brother, I have never read such a popular "Book of Literacy Enlightenment." Sima Yi sat quietly, as if he was a different person, with no restraint or shyness on his face, on the contrary, he looked very alert and calm, his eyes shone brightly in the darkness of the carriage, as sharp as the eyes of an eagle cold glow.He seemed to be seriously thinking about something, but was brought back to reality by the sudden question of his elder brother.Sima Yi regained his composure, and slowly said to Sima Lang: "How could the "Zhi Dao Ji" sent by Han Song be a vulgar book to teach people to read and enlighten? It was just Yang Xiu's erudition to show off his talents. And he just said it casually to deceive Han Song."

"Huh? He...he knows this book by heart! It seems like he has read it many times." Sima Lang couldn't help being surprised. Sima Yi sat aside, just looked at his elder brother with a smile, without saying a word. "Could it be that this Yang Xiu really has a good reading ability and a good memory?" Sima Lang asked hesitantly. Remember it verbatim in your heart? This skill is really amazing!" At this moment, Sima Yi looked at Sima Lang and nodded with a smile. "However, second brother, your performance today is also very good-the 'eight views' method of knowing people you proposed was actually appreciated by Prime Minister Cao, and it became the order of the Eastern Cao Department and the Western Cao Department. It is really a rare honor!" Sima Lang turned his head and praised Sima Yi, "Originally, Yang Xiu made the limelight at the banquet with his extraordinary talent, but I was still worried about him at the beginning. Even you can't compete. However, Yang Xiu has extraordinary literary talents and is also very gifted, and he will eventually become a strong enemy of your second brother in the prime minister's residence."

"Brother is right in reminding you, younger brother will definitely pay more attention to Yang Xiu in the future." Sima Yi nodded and replied slowly.He pondered for a while, and then said, "However, big brother, it was the fact that I proposed the 'Eight Views' method of knowing people today, which was appreciated by Cao Cao, and that it was appreciated by Cao Cao, so that my younger brother saw Cao Cao's excellence with his own eyes. .” "Hmm...how did you see that?" "When my younger brother was in Hanoi County, he heard many times from the guests that Cao Cao's majesty is 'eclectic, but only based on talent'. At that time, he only heard about it. Today, during the banquet, he did What a magnificent and magnanimous way of controlling talents because the younger brother is young and humble, with a low status and a low name, neglects pride, accepts goodness when he hears it, uses it immediately after hearing a word, follows advice like a stream, without stagnation or hindrance. Dao?" Sima Yi's eyes narrowed into two sharp cold lights, as if he was cutting apart the truth he saw inch by inch, "To be honest, my little brother already admires him very much for this. Surrounded by powerful enemies for the rest of the year, he rose majestically like a strange peak from the sky, wiped out the Central Plains in one fell swoop, wiped out Shuofang, and achieved hegemony. Is it the favor of the heavens? I, Sima Yi, can always observe by his side, in fact It is an excellent opportunity to learn from his strengths and increase my talents!"

After hearing this, Sima Lang nodded in sympathy, and sighed: "Prime Minister Cao has so much to offer! Not only his magnificent way of controlling talents, but also his skill in using soldiers , the ability to govern the country, and the ability to strategize... which one is not outstanding? If you want to learn, second brother, even if you are talented, it is really enough for you to learn for a while." Sima Yi didn't answer the words, but still sat quietly, thinking silently. "Second brother! Do you know a piece of news? It is said that Ma Teng, the Marquis of Huaili who is guarding Xiliang and the general who conquered the west, will come to Xudu to surrender to Prime Minister Cao soon after Han Song came to Beijing to pay tribute on behalf of Liu Biao. Surrender." Sima Lang's voice was surprisingly slow, "Prime Minister Cao's prestige is at its peak now, as long as he is a little bit arrogant, which prince would dare to disobey? I heard that even Sun Quan in Jiangdong seems to have sent an envoy to come Come to report on your duties. Sigh, at this time, the power of the Cao family is in full swing, and the foundation of the Cao family is as solid as gold, and I am afraid that the Sima family's plan of "emerging suddenly and attacking later" may be impossible."

After listening to the elder brother's words, Sima Yi's eyes flashed brightly, as bright as the blade of a knife.He was silent for a moment, and finally spoke slowly: "Brother, it seems a bit premature to say that Cao's power is in full swing, and Cao's foundation is 'solid as gold'. According to my younger brother, it seems that Cao Cao's power is on the surface. The world is overwhelming, and Ma Teng, Liu Biao, and Sun Quan all expressed their respect to him—but all of this is because they are taking the opportunity to investigate Cao Cao's truth and details! The eldest brother thought that Ma Teng really came to Beijing Have you surrendered to Cao Cao? As far as I know, before Ma Teng went to Beijing this time, he had handed over the command of the 100,000 Xiliang troops under his command to his heir Ma Chao, and ordered them all to stay behind. Don't move, and follow his orders at any time - he also saved a "back trick" for himself. If Ma Teng finds out that something is wrong in Xudu, then the 100,000 Xiliang cavalry will attack Cao Cao at any time.

"Also, do you think that even though Han Song himself was bought by Cao Cao with the position of 'servant', he could persuade Liu Biao to come and surrender when he returned to Jingzhou? As far as I know, Liu Biao has already arranged Liu Bei's troops to Xinye County and Fancheng, which are close to the first line of the hinterland of the Central Plains, means that he has made all preparations to fully resist Cao Cao's conquest in the south! "As for the sudden dispatch of an envoy from Jiangdong Sun Quan to Xudu to report on his duties, his intentions are obvious. If Cao Cao wants to deter these princes by virtue of his momentary prestige in clearing the Central Plains and flattening Shuofang, he may not be able to do so. It is a critical moment when the mountains and rains are about to come, and if he is a little careless and makes a wrong move, the overall situation of the world may suddenly be reversed!"

"No way?" Sima Lang was a little terrified, "Second brother, your words are a bit exaggerated." Sima Yi remained silent like a stone statue, and did not make much excuses for his deduction.At this time, the voice of Niu Jin who was driving came from outside the curtain of the car: "Young masters, you are home." "Wait a minute. Niu Jin, just drive on ahead," Sima Lang's heart moved, and he ordered to the front of the carriage, "I want to talk to your second young master in the car for a while—when the time comes, I'll call you back home." , you go back to the house."

"Yes!" Niu Jin responded outside the curtain of the carriage, flicked his long whip, and drove the carriage forward again. Under Sima Lang's suspicious eyes, Sima Yi had no choice but to say again: "Does the eldest brother understand the intention of the prime minister to hold a celebration banquet tonight? Dislike the flashy, like frugality, and not make a show. These have always been the prime minister's temperament and temperament." Style! Younger brother Yingpi has been in the prime minister's mansion for the past few months and has been watching with cold eyes. He Cao Cao is the one who even picks up the rice in the bowl and continues to eat it with chopsticks. Why tonight? But 'doing the opposite', laying out extravagance at the celebration banquet?"

"Prime Minister Cao came here because he was happy to be named prime minister, and secondly, he came to show Han Song of Jingzhou the Hua Tianbao, a treasure of China from the Central Plains." Sima Lang thought for a moment before slowly answering, "Did the second brother come from here again?" What kind of tricks did you see in a celebration banquet?" "Brother said, in fact, he only knows one thing, not the other!" Sima Yi frowned, "My little brother thinks that the most important purpose of Cao Cao holding this celebration banquet is to force the high officials in the court to treat him. Abolishing the Sangong and taking the power of the prime minister' expressed his approval - he held such a grand celebration banquet, just to show everyone that with his majestic achievements and illustrious dignity, he is fully worthy of enjoying all the glory and wealth in this world !"

"According to what the second brother said, Prime Minister Cao has become a ridiculous person who 'wears the monkey and crowns'?" Sima Lang shook his head slightly, "How can he be so superficial?" "Brother, Cao Cao is not a 'monkey', he is 'dressing people and crowning'! 'Washing people and crowning, brocade clothes day walk' is just a trick he has carefully used!" Sima Yi said slowly, "Brother, have you forgotten that in the fifth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao was congratulated by the officials when he hunted in the outskirts of Xudu for being good at acting as the emperor?"

"Hmm... You mean he's making his own enemy again and leading snakes out of their holes?" Sima Lang's eyes couldn't help but light up. "That's right. Didn't Dr. Kong Rong be 'led' out by him at today's celebration banquet?" Sima Yi cast his eyes deeply on the car window, "Just like Dong Cheng and Wang Zifu in those days. He was "led" out just like the others. This time, Dr. Kong had no choice but to step forward, and Prime Minister Cao might not be able to hold him tenderly and tolerantly..." "However, that Dr. Kong is the descendant of Confucius! Back then, the great general He Jin was so arrogant and noble, and he was scolded by Dr. Kong for his incomplete body—He Jin was so ashamed that he shut himself up and thought about it for three days and nights. Doctor Kong hated him so much that his teeth were itchy, and he didn’t dare to do anything to Doctor Kong in the end?” Sima Lang was startled, “Even what He Jin didn’t dare to do back then, Prime Minister Cao dared to do it today. Is it tricky?" Sima Yi just silently glanced at his elder brother and didn't answer. From Sima Yi's deep look, Sima Lang also understood immediately - the meaning in his eyes told him clearly: What a brave and decisive master Cao Cao is, how could it be that He Jin, who is ambitious, talented and lacking in courage and lack of plan Comparable?As long as Cao Cao is determined to do something, is there anything he can't do? For a while, the carriage fell silent, only the sound of wheels outside could be heard "rumbling". After a long time, Sima Yi let out a long sigh to break the silence: "From tonight onwards, there will be no peace between the inner court and the Prime Minister's Mansion! When Cao Cao reached the peak of his achievements, he has also attracted the real rival in his life." .” A real rival?Who is Cao Cao's real rival in his life?Could it be Doctor Kong?How could Dr. Kong, a Qingliu literati, be Cao Cao's real rival?Sima Lang could only feel his thoughts turbulent, and he still couldn't make a clue.When he wanted to question his second brother again, Sima Yi was already leaning against the wall of the car like a sleeping eagle, closing his eyes and resting silently.