Chapter 11 5. Kong Rong, who would rather be a broken piece of jade than a whole tile

A big ditch about six feet wide guides the water of the Ying River to flow slowly to the south of Xudu, where it flows into a large pool with a radius of more than one hundred feet.Standing by the pool is a huge granite rock as high as one foot and two feet, on which are painted three big characters in seal script with red lacquer - Suzaku Pond. To the north of Zhuque Pond, there is a flat open space more than twenty feet wide, with willow forests alternating between dense and dense on both sides of the open space.On the other side of the open space, there were rows of men in armor holding halberds, standing neatly in the scorching sun, motionless.

Above the empty field, there is a tall pine shed, covered with green gauze curtains on all sides, opening and closing under the breeze, looking really refreshing and pleasant.The shed was full of guests, and from a distance, it was crowded with people and it was very lively. On the purple wooden square couch in the middle of the shed, Cao Cao was still sitting proudly.On the long seats on the left and right of the wooden couch, Dr. Gao Qing and the servants of the Xiangfu sat in turn.This time, the seats on Cao Cao's right were Ma Teng, General Zhengxi who had already joined the court, Han Song, Liu Biao's special envoy to the court, Lu Su, Sun Quan's special envoy to report on his duties, and Cao Cao specially invited from Wen County Xiaojing. Jing Zhaojun Sima Fang and others made friends in the world.

Originally, Cao Cao also invited the former Taiwei Yang Biao, but Yang Biao claimed that he had not recovered from his foot disease and could not attend the meeting.Since His Majesty the Son of Heaven entrusted Cao Cao to host the special envoy of the Quartet and General Ma Teng this time, it was a grand event for the court to declare "Huairou Yuanfu", so Kong Rong, the Taizhong doctor who was in charge of etiquette and advisors in the Han Dynasty, was also quite rare. He attended the meeting and sat on Lu Su's next seat. This time, the long seat on the left of Cao Cao was headed by Shang Shuling Xun Yu, followed by Xi Ji, Zhong Yao, Hua Xin, Wang Lang, Jia Xu, Yang Jun, Xun You, Sima Lang, Cui Yan, Mao Jie, Dong Zhao, Xin Bi, Yang Xiu, Sima Yi and other officials.This also allowed Ma Teng, Han Song, and Lu Su who came from the outside to see that in normal external occasions, Xun Yu was actually the most important and most prestigious official in the court of Xudu except Cao Cao—— Even Xi Ji, the official censor with an official rank of 10,000 shi, had to bow respectfully under his official rank of 2,000 shi.

Ma Teng arrived in Xudu yesterday morning.He was about sixty years old, but his burly body was straight, his beard and hair were gray, and his unusually large face was covered with a thick layer of bronze due to years of wind and sun in the Longxi frontier fortress.He has always been a rough and bold person, at this moment he forgot to observe etiquette in his seat, looked at the Vermilion Bird Pond outside, raised his voice and asked Cao Cao: "Prime Minister Cao—what are you doing digging such a big pool near the capital? Are you using this pool of water to wash and drink the horses? There are too many horses in Longxi, but the water is too little. There is no pool as big as yours, so it is not enough to bathe and feed them. Easy!" His voice was quite loud, and the sound shook the eardrums of some famous scholars and bureaucrats.

When Cao Cao heard this, a deep smile appeared on his face, he just stroked his beard and said slowly: "Oh? It turns out that General Ma is still worried about the lack of water for his Kansai cavalry to bathe and force-feed. Huh? Your problem is easy to solve—there is a lack of horses in the imperial court, so let’s ask the Ministry of Households to exchange three stones of rice and wheat and three thousand baht for a Xiliang horse under your account, and let them all go to the Zhuque Pond How about taking a bath and drinking water?" Hearing what Cao Cao said, Ma Teng's face turned red immediately: "Prime Minister Cao is really joking! The horses under my general's account are the court's horses—how can I exchange money and rice from the household department?" He said At this point, the voice paused, swallowed the saliva in his mouth, and said, "It's just that my Chao'er said that Zhang Lu's monsters in Hanzhong area are very rampant, and he will take those sons and horses to guard against Zhang Lu's presence at any time." Sit over there with great momentum..."

After hearing his honest and straightforward words, Xun Yu, Xi Xi, Hua Xin and other high-ranking officials in the opposite seat couldn't help smiling.Sima Yi sat at the bottom, but thought to himself: This Ma Teng looks straightforward in his conversation, but he is very ingenious in refusing to refuse Cao Cao's words and sentences. The son kicked back to Cao Cao-this is quite a bit of tactful and sophisticated shrewdness!It seems that Ma Teng's ability to rule the roost in Kansai is not all due to blind bravery. "General Ma, you are too honest!" At this time, Kong Rong interjected a few words, "Prime Minister Cao is so talented—he doesn't bother to dig such a big pool to feed your horses! His pool Ah! It is specially used to train sailors to conquer rebellious ministers—the Xuanwu pond he dug in Yecheng, Jizhou is said to be bigger than this Vermilion Bird pond!"

As soon as he said these words, the expressions of the two special envoys from the south, Han Song and Lu Su, changed slightly at the same time.Cao Cao's complexion sank even more, seeing Kong Rong's half-smile and nonchalant expression, he couldn't help being blown away by his beard and beard.It's true that today he held this grand hospitality event by the side of the "Zhuque Pond", which indeed meant that the elite navy who had been trained for a long time would show off his power to Han Song and Lu Su, two special envoys from the south of the Yangtze River. Going in and "poking through" with a stick, on the contrary exposed his deliberate affectation.Doesn't this make the majestic prime minister who has always boasted of his magnanimity lose some face?

This Kong Rong is always making troubles against the truth, so sooner or later he has to be dealt with!Cao Cao held the armrest of the couch tightly with his left hand, endured it for a while, and then let out a loud laugh: "That's right. There is an old saying, 'If you forget the battle, you will be in danger. I have learned something. According to the truth, the heroes of the world are divided into three groups: one is the iron cavalry who never goes forward, the other is the infantry who is invincible in a hundred battles, and the third is the sailor who gallops the river. There are 100,000 iron cavalry and infantry under the truth. With 700,000 dead, only sailors are lacking! If I can train an elite navy for the imperial court in my lifetime to be used as a wing to wear the emperor's house, my wish is enough! This... I hope Liu Jingzhou and Sun Julu will help you a lot!"

His last words were addressed to Han Song and Lu Su.Han Song and Lu Su understood what they heard, and hurriedly concealed the undulations on their faces. They both bowed and thanked each other: "I respectfully listen to the teaching of the Prime Minister, and I will explain your deep intentions to the two adults after I go back." At that time, Han Song thought this way in his heart: Now it seems that Prime Minister Cao is training hard as a naval officer, and he is so sharp that he is afraid that Liu Jingzhou will not have the slightest advantage anymore!After Han returned to Jingzhou, he had to persuade Cai Mao, Zhang Yun, Kuai Yue, and Wang Can to force Liu Jingzhou to surrender to Prime Minister Cao... But Lu Su thought this way in his heart: Now it seems that Cao Cao is He is determined to invade the south of the Yangtze River. His temporarily trained navy is certainly not to be feared, but his exaggerated "100,000 cavalry and 700,000 infantry" are really something to worry about...

Just as the two of them were thinking wildly in their hearts, Cao Cao looked at Sima Fang who was sitting under Kong Rong with a slight smile, raised the simple and elegant bronze dragon-shaped wine baron, and said to him: "Sima Fang Sir, how are you doing recently?" "Thanks to the great blessing of the Prime Minister, the old man is still in good health." Sima Fang bowed slightly, and also raised his glass to return the salute. Cao Cao held the wine cup in his palm, but he didn't drink it right away. If he wanted to or not, he asked: "When he was in the capital of Luoyang in the past, Sima Gong was eclectic. I still thank you for your wisdom in employing people and the grace of cultivation! But I don’t know that according to Sima Gong’s opinion, the truth can still be the northern captain today? Sima Gong expected that the truth can become what it is today. ?”

Sima Fang didn't dare to be disrespectful this time, he hurriedly got up and bowed deeply: "When I recommended the Prime Minister back then, I could only help the Prime Minister as a lieutenant to the best of my ability. Now, the Prime Minister is flying like a phoenix. Compared with what Liu can do? The young chick is even more insignificant." Hearing this, Cao Cao was in a good mood, leaned his neck, drank the Juezhong fine wine, laughed, and said to Sima Fang: "Sima Gong has always been dignified, it's rare to hear you praise him! Truth is delighted to receive this honor—but I don’t know what you are doing at home now?” "Read books and scriptures, play chess and chess!" Sima Fang said with a chuckle, "The joy of playing chess is infinitely interesting - the prime minister can experience it for himself when he has time! The old man's current leisure life can be expressed in an ancient poem: "The sky is like a round cover, and the land is like a chess game. People in the world are divided into black and white, and they come and go to fight for honor and disgrace. The honored ones are at peace, and the humiliated ones are always busy. Hanoi has hermitage, and there is not enough sleeping space!" "Sima Gong's leisurely attitude is really enviable!" Cao Cao nodded slowly, glanced at Kong Rong, and said half-saltedly, "Some people are famous for nothing, and they are obsessed with trivial details. Suo Suo, self-inflicted crime, is far worse than Sima Gong's mind-blowing chess game, happy mountains and rivers!" Kong Rong was listening harshly, his face flushed, but he didn't want to explode on the spot.Xun Yu saw it from afar from the seat opposite, and was secretly worried. "Today's meeting, gentlemen, it reminds me of the "Duan Ge Xing" I wrote before." Cao Cao suddenly straightened his face, and said, "I would like to recite it here and share it with you all. The joy of tasting poetry: Wine and song, life geometry?For example, the dew in the morning has a lot of bitterness in the past day. Generosity should be generosity, worries and thoughts are unforgettable, how can we relieve worries?Only Du Kang. Green Zijin, Youyouwoxin.But for the sake of the king, I have pondered so far. Yo Yo Lu Ming, the apple of the wild food.I have guests, harp blowing Sheng. It's like the moon, when can I stop?Worry comes from it and cannot be cut off. The more you pass through the fields, the more useless you will be.Qi Kuo talked about the banquet, thinking about the old kindness. The moon and stars are scarce, and the black magpies fly south.Go around the tree three times, what branch can you rely on? Mountains never get too high, and waters never get too deep.The Duke of Zhou vomits and feeds, and the world returns to its heart. ——What do you guys think? " The shed suddenly became very quiet, only the sound of "Hula Hula" from the green gauze curtains blowing on all sides could be heard. "Good poetry!" "Majestic and solemn!" "The generosity is touching!" ... The cheers in the four seats were loud, like waves, stirring for a long time.That Ma Teng also praised in a loud voice like a bell: "Master Prime Minister, this poem is really well written-even I, an illiterate Kansai old man, can't help but feel the blood rushing in my chest and the pride burst out!" Cao Cao listened to the thunderous praises from all around, stroked his beard with one hand, and proudly nodded to all his officials, as if his brows were full of smiles. At this moment, Kong Rong's cold and powerful voice suddenly broke the applause: "Prime Minister Cao's poem is well written, but unfortunately the artistic conception is a bit unlucky..." As soon as he said this, the four people were astonished, and everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, all pale. Seeing that Xun Yu's complexion changed, he reprimanded Kong Rong from a distance: "Doctor Kong is afraid that he has too much to drink again? Let the servants around help him to the table." When Kong Rong heard Xun Yu's scolding, the muscles on his face twitched slightly, and some starlight flashed in his eyes-finally he gritted his teeth and let it go, and said slowly: "Poems are like gold and jade, Everyone can be rewarded. How can flaws be concealed? Leave it to those who know!" Xun Yu didn't care about him, he just urged the attendants to come up and help him out quickly.Sima Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he was thinking whether he should go forward and follow them to help Kong Rong - in a blink of an eye, he saw that Yang Xiu had already stood up and walked towards Kong Rong with Xin Pi.For some reason, a flash of light flashed in Sima Yi's mind, and he secretly kept an eye on Cao Cao who was sitting high on the square couch made of purple wood.I saw that his complexion was as deep as the sea at this moment, and there was not even a slight wave of waves appearing.Sima Yi thought about it, but he didn't stand up. "What a 'how can flaws be concealed? Leave it to those who know'! Xin Pi, Yang Xiu, you stand down." Cao Cao raised his right hand, and the court immediately fell silent, and the attendants who were summoned by Xun Yu to the door of the hall were also shocked. He bowed his back and stepped back.His eyes were shining like lightning, so direct that others dare not look at each other. He stared at Kong Rong's face for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "What's wrong with this "Duan Ge Xing" of the truth? Please give me your advice, Doctor Kong. " Without fear, Kong Rong met Cao Cao's scorching eyes, straightened his body, straightened his clothes, and said solemnly: "This "Duan Ge Xing" written by the Prime Minister is elegant in style and profound in charm, and it is indeed the best in poetry. However, judging from the artistic conception of the whole poem, the prime minister first had the indulgence of "drinking wine as a song, playing the lute and playing the sheng", and then changed into the comfort of "crossing the fields and enjoying the banquet", and finally One turn turns into the loneliness of "Three turns around the tree, what branch can I rely on?"... The literary atmosphere contained in each sentence is ups and downs, and it is getting worse. What is the ominous omen of this poem? Could it be that God secretly used this poem to warn the prime minister that he must be restrained from fullness, respect and self-defense, and respect the superior and the inferior?" After hearing this, Cao Cao silently stroked the strands of beard and beard on his chest, his face sank like a pond, thoughtful, and remained silent for a long time.After about half a cup of tea, he raised his palms high and slapped them slowly: "Very good, very good. The truth is very grateful to Dr. Kong for his profound teachings—that's it, to show the truth With the determination and sincerity of "abstinence from fullness, respect and self-defense, respect to the superior and the inferior", I voluntarily resigned the fiefdom of Wuping County bestowed by His Majesty, and dedicated it to the Imperial Palace as His Majesty's exclusive rent-collecting gift. Yuchan...what do you think Dr. Kong thinks?" "That's very good!" Kong Rong immediately interjected, "Your Prime Minister's move is in line with the heart of heaven and the will of the people, and is very full of the style of a virtuous prime minister—Kong Rong thanked the Prime Minister on behalf of the people of the country! Everything depends on the heart of the Prime Minister Be the same, be the same, keep the festivals as the same! If this is the case, the society will be blessed! The world will be blessed!" Then, he stood up, bowed deeply to Cao Cao and all the officials present, and said calmly: "Kong lost his temper because of drinking today, and he has lost the gentleness and harmony of a gentleman. The prime minister and all the gentlemen laugh at you." Kong Mou was overwhelmed with fear, so he resigned respectfully and left, and hope that the prime minister and all the kings will be sympathetic." After saying that, he walked slowly towards the gate of the shed.Behind him, there was a long, inexplicable silence. As soon as he walked to the door of the shed, the red crane-shaped mutton fat jade pendant on his waist suddenly fell to the ground, and it shattered into several pieces with a "ding dong". Jia Xu, a regular attendant on horseback riding in the left seat, frowned slightly, but finally couldn't hold back, and said slowly: "Doctor Kong, you have to be careful, your jade pendant is broken!" When Kong Rong heard the words, the steps that were about to step out of the hall door were affirmed.He stood there silently for a while, never turned his head, looked out, but replied in a deep voice: "Although my jade is crisp and fragile, it cannot be changed to white; although the stone from other mountains is hard and wear-resistant , and ultimately lose the quality of jade!" "Oh?" Jia Xu raised her eyebrows, but her cheeks gradually became hot.He knew that this was Kong Rong secretly ridiculing his "five-surnamed family slave" and the past of his ministers' endless festivals, and he was secretly angry.So, he cast his eyes slantingly at Cao Cao, and sighed leisurely: "No matter how good jade is, if it cannot be worn by others, it is a kind of relief if it is broken. It can neither be worn nor broken—— Then it can only be used as a sacrificial vessel in the ancestral temple!" "That's right, that's right. This is exactly what I want!" After hearing this, Kong Rong laughed, stopped answering, flicked his sleeves, and left. As soon as he went out, Xun Yu's face straightened, and he slowly scolded Jia Xu: "Jia Jun, what you said is a little too thin..." Jia Xu looked at Cao Cao from a distance, but said with a smile to Xun Yu: "Mr. Xun Ling, don't take it too seriously. Just now, Jia was just following Dr. Kong's own words." Cao Cao's eyes met his eyes slightly in mid-air, and then moved away from each other.He had a gloomy face and kept stroking his beard with his hands, only nodding silently to Jia Xu. Sima Yi listened to Jia Xu's salty and non-salty words at the long table, and cold sweat dripped from the corners of his forehead.I have heard for a long time that this "strategic genius" Jia Xu is full of tricks and tricks, but seeing him today, he really lives up to his reputation!He actually hung the sharp white blade on Kong Rong's neck while keeping his composure on his face. This kind of slyness is really chilling.In this prime minister's mansion, there are indeed masters like clouds and talents like stars, and there are still many things that I have to study hard. Xun Yu also noticed that Cao Cao's expression was not quite right, so he arched his hands and said to Cao Cao solemnly: "My lord, although Dr. Kong's words are wrong, I hope you will forgive me. Back then, Dr. Kong spoke bluntly to General He Jin, the Prime Minister has seen it in person. He Jin had the idea of ​​reckless punishment at that time, and Xun once said something to persuade him, "Kong Jun has a high virtue and is famous all over the world. If the general intends to make resentment against this person, people from all over the world will know it." There is no one who does not lead them away. It is better to show courtesy because of this, so that it can be shown widely in the sea.' How can he be so rude and vulgar that he can finally be relieved and respect Dr. Confucius, not to mention the magnanimity and tolerance of the prime minister, the abyss and the sea? Today, Xun is still using the advice of the day to return to the prime minister, and please honor the prime minister!" Cao Cao was slightly taken aback when he heard this, looked sideways at Xun Yu for a moment, then laughed and said, "Where did your lord Lingjun say this? Dr. Kong's admonishment and advice just now are the 'bitter medicine' for the truth. It's not enough to thank you for the truth, how could he think about it? You are worrying too much..." When he said this, the tense and oppressive atmosphere in the audience immediately relaxed. Xun Yu stared at Cao Cao with half-belief for a while, then turned his head and stared at Xi Ji who was sitting beside him, and said meaningfully: "In that case, Xun will thank Prime Minister Cao for his tolerance on behalf of Dr. Kong." Thank you... Xi Jun, you are familiar with the scriptures, you should know that there is a saying in "Huang Shi Gong·Three Strategies" that 'injury to the sage will affect the third generation', right?" "Hmm... Lord Ling Jun is right, right." Xi Xi's face turned a dark purple for some reason, and he raised his glass to pay respects to Xun Yu, taking advantage of the situation to divert the conversation, "Come on Come on, come on, Ximou offers a toast to Lord Lingjun for his silent contribution to appease the ministers and Ning Yizhong..."