Chapter 24 old friend reunited

Hanshui was called Mianshui in ancient times, and it originated from Hanzhong County in Yizhou. Because Liu Bang, the great ancestor, originated here, later generations renamed the river Hanshui.Due to river siltation and numerous branches, the Han River flowed through Xiangyang and formed numerous large and small river islands, and the largest of these sandbars was Caizhou. Caizhou has a large area and pleasant scenery. It is not only inhabited by people, but also a manor has been built. The courtyard walls are made of large bluestones of the same color.Such a magnificent place is naturally not the residence of ordinary people - Caizhou is the private property of the famous Cai family in Xiangyang, and Cai Mao, the patriarch of the current Cai family, lives on this island.

The Cai family rose much later than the Kuai family, that is, nearly a hundred years ago.Cai Mao's father, Cai Tun, was highly knowledgeable and generous, and was praised by scholars, so he was fortunate to intermarry with many famous families.Among them, Cai Ximei married Zhang Wen, a famous scholar in Nanyang. Zhang Wen was recommended by Cao Cao's grandfather Cao Teng to be an official in Beijing. .It is precisely because of Cao Teng that the Cai family and the Cao family have also developed a relationship.Cai Mao studied in the capital when he was young, and lived in his uncle Zhang Wen's house for a long time, and became playmates with Cao Cao.

After more than 30 years, Cao Cao pacified Jingzhou, so he naturally thought of his old friend. Besides, the Cai family has a great reputation and holds the army. If Cai Mao is not brought out, how can he appease the people of Jingzhou?So after dispatching Cao Chun's four generals, Cao Cao took Xu You, Lou Gui and others to visit this old friend.The Jingzhou ministers did not dare to neglect, Kuai Yue guided the way, and Zhang Yun personally punted the group to the island. Xu You leaned on the ship's side in a big way, more imposing than Cao Cao, looked at the Cai family's manor, raised his mustache and said happily: "Such a large house is built of bluestone, how much does it cost? Cai Mao said The boy is really rich." In fact, both of them are in their fifties, but in Xu You's mind, they still look like fools when they were young.

Zhang Yun supported the penny and took up the conversation: "This is just a drop in the bucket. The Cai family has forty-five real estate and manors in this county alone, and Cai Zhou is just one of them." "Ah?" Xu You stuck out his tongue in shock, "My emperor's ancestor, how much money does he have to take advantage of!" Zhang Yun said again: "You are still an official under the foot of the emperor, so you don't even care about this? What is this? Ask Mr. Kuai, his family has more property than the Cai family!" Kuai Yue glared at Zhang Yun reproachfully, but said nothing.

Cao Cao stood at the bow of the boat, heard what they said clearly, and felt a lot of emotion in his heart - no wonder they surrendered so easily, Jingzhou has so many powerful industries, of course they don't want them to be destroyed in the war.Whether it is Yuan Shao or Liu Biao, they all prospered and died because of their arrogance.It's just that Yuan Shao still has strength after his death, and he can win over Shenpei and others; after Liu Biao's death and the reunification of the north, the strong will to protect himself is even stronger.It seems that if you want to stabilize the country, you must restrain the powerful.

In a blink of an eye, they landed on the shore, and all the people helped each other to get off the boat.Kuai Yue knocked on the door, and a servant came out respectfully and saluted: "My master is sick, so I cannot receive him." "When the prime minister is coming, don't you see him?" The servant looked humble, but his words were not soft: "The government can't use power to suppress people, everyone, please come back another day." Cao Cao lost his patience: "Cai Mao played with me when I was young, and we often came and went. The threshold of my house was kicked to pieces, and he climbed over the wall in the middle of the night! How can he not see me now that I am here?" After saying that, he pushed the gatekeeper away. , throwing off his big strides and rushing in, "Degui! Ah Cao didn't see you coming!"

Xu You and Lou Gui were more casual, yelling as they walked: "Cai Degui, what do you mean you didn't show up when we arrived in Xiangyang? What do you hide, get out quickly..." They were all brought by the prime minister and forced to go Who dares to stop? This group of people wandered around the mansion shouting and making noise, and everyone up and down was alarmed.There are more than a hundred servants in Cai's mansion. When they heard someone shouting the name of the master's family, they all flocked to the front yard to see.As if no one was around Cao Cao, Kuai Yue and Zhang Yun hurriedly bowed and explained: "This is Prime Minister Cao, who is here to visit your master." What is it called!

Cao Cao really didn't see the outside, he passed the middle hall and went straight to the back house. The maids and servants in the courtyard were terrified, and hid with their heads in their hands.A woman was holding a bowl of water and didn't know who to send it to. Cao Cao snatched it and drank it, moistening her throat and raising her voice: "Cai Degui! I know you are hiding from me on purpose, so why bother...don't hide, come out Bar……" After shouting several times, the door of the back hall creaked open, and a scholar in brocade clothes and scarves came out slowly.Cao Cao was a little surprised: "Degui? Are you Degui?"

The man seemed a little ashamed and nodded slightly. Cao Cao couldn't believe it, and rubbed his eyes again——Cai Mao was old, and he was far from the appearance he remembered. The fat and puffy young man had become a little old man. His brows and eyes no longer had the spirituality of the past, and his beard was already gray. .But after thinking about it, why isn't he the same?Thirty years have passed, youth is gone, we are both getting old... Cai Mao was not sick at all, what was left was shame—as Liu Biao's in-laws, he was entrusted with the responsibility of being lonely, but he acquiesced in offering Jingzhou to others, what face would he have to see Liu Cong again?As an old friend of Cao Cao, he helped others to separate the regime for 20 years, and met him in battle, how could he face Cao Cao?Left and right are not right, there is shame inside and out, today I know that it is difficult to be a human being!

Cai Hao also guessed that Cao Cao would come, but he didn't expect it to be so soon, let alone forcefully rush in, so he had to show up.Looking at his old friend, he could vividly remember the scene of cockfighting and playing when he was a child, and he was so excited that he was speechless for a long time. After staring at each other for a long time, Cao Cao spoke tremblingly, "Are you okay?" Cai Mao's lips moved a bit: "Ah Cao...Prime Minister Cao..." With a helpless call, he bowed respectfully to the end. Time flies and never returns, and now each other's status has changed.One is the prime minister of the dynasty, the other is a state official; one is a marquis, the other is a local tyrant;An invisible wall has stood in front of them, and it is impossible to go back to the past.

Cao Cao stood still for a moment, then gradually smiled: "Are you still talking about this kind of etiquette between you and me?" Later, Xu You and Lou Gui also arrived. They were not as reserved as Cao Cao. They went up and pulled and pulled: "Well, your surname is Cai. We don't show up when we come. Let's see what disease you have!" "Ashamed, ashamed." Cai Mao, like Kuai Yue, was speechless and could only bow again and again. "Hahaha..." Cao Cao stepped forward and grabbed his hand, "You have done a good job in Jingzhou these years. I saw Liang Menghuang's handwriting before I entered Xiangyang. I still remember that we went to pay homage to him in the past. Is he shutting us down?" Cai Hao also laughed, not quite naturally: "Of course I remember. Liang Hu is in Jingzhou now, how could he think that Ming Gong would be the prime minister?" "It's your contribution to offering Jingzhou, why don't you see me?" "Alas..." Cai Mao sighed before speaking, "It's shameless to see Duke Ming." "Cough!" Cao Cao looked very magnanimous, "You and I are friends of the general manager, how can there be so many grievances? Do you remember how you sang songs when you were a child?" It’s not as good as before!’ I have forgiven all the new arrivals in Xiangyang City, let alone you, an old friend? Let’s reminisce about the old days and talk about the future, and we are not allowed to think about these years.” "Yes yes yes." Cai Mao Nuo Nuo repeated. Lou Gui also persuaded: "Xu Ziyuan used to be with Yuan Shao in the past, and I lived in Jingzhou for many years. Now Meng De treats us with the same love as before? The friendship between you two is earlier than ours. If I were you, let go of your courage, and we will be together in the future." Eat his surname Cao!" "Yes!" Xu You was even more unscrupulous, "Don't think too much of him, who doesn't know what the foundation is between us? He was very pitiful when he didn't become a powerful man. He was cornered by Yuan Shao in Guandu. If it wasn't for my suggestions, I don't know where Cao Aman is buried! Just relax!" After hearing these words, Cai Mao finally felt somewhat relieved, and gradually became less nervous. Cao Cao was also laughing, but he was unhappy in his heart——Xu You was getting more and more outrageous, he just called me by my nickname, and exposed my old background in public, so he must be taught a lesson!He secretly planned this, but his face did not show it, and he said: "Isn't Ziwen also in Jingzhou? Take me to meet, we old brothers have to get together." When mentioning Wang Jun, Cai Mao's smile subsided again: "Ziwen...he passed away two years ago." "What!" Cao Cao was stunned, "Dead..." "He refused to be an official, and lived in seclusion in Wuling County in the south of the Yangtze River. He contracted typhoid fever a few years ago. Zhang Zhongjing saw him several times, but unfortunately he was dying..." Cai Mao shook his head and sighed, "I buried him in Wuling when the war was in turmoil. There are some things I can't say, Wang Jun was originally from Runan County, Yuzhou, which belonged to Cao Cao's territory; Liu Biao and Cao Cao were enemies before, how did Wang Jun's bones be transported back to his hometown? Cao Cao felt dejected, and Lou Gui and Xu You were even more embarrassed when they traveled with Wang Jun to study in the capital.Thanks to Kuai Yue's persuasion from the side: "Everyone, don't be sad. After Jiangling is stabilized, just welcome Wang Jun's coffin back to his hometown. The prime minister reunited with Mr. Cai's old friend. Today should be happy." "Yes." Xu You's tears came and went back quickly, "Don't mention him, we are still hungry, Degui must let us have a full meal." Cao Cao glanced at him - thanks to the fact that you are studying in the same school, you are so insignificant, so what is I, Cao?If I become emperor in the future, I don't know how domineering you will become! How can Cai Mao say anything else: "Yes, yes, let's set up a banquet and let's chat while eating." The Cai family is a big family, and they prepared a banquet in a short time, and the delicious food was served, and no one touched their chopsticks, it was just a recounting of the past.After drinking for three rounds, Cai Mao also let go, and asked his wife and children to come out to greet Cao Cao, as if he was an old friend.Cao Cao came here to reminisce about the past, and he asked Cai Mao to appease Jingzhou for him, and gradually returned to the main story: "I heard that there are many high-ranking scholars living in seclusion in Jingzhou, can you recommend some for me?" Cai Mao said: "Nowadays, the scholars in the city should take Handan Chun and Song Zhongzi as their leaders." Cao Cao smiled: "Of course I know the names of these two people, but they are all people who have studied the scriptures. Are there any handsome and capable people?" "If you're talking about handsomeness and virtuousness..." Cai Mao thought for a while before he said, "Leaving aside the people in the shogunate, there are two small islands on the waterway a few miles east of here, one is Yuliang Island, and one is Pang Degong. He is a man of great virtue, generosity and ability to recognize talents, and he can be regarded as a great sage. There is also a Baishazhou opposite Yuliangzhou, and there is also a hermit, whose surname is Sima Minghui, and his style name is Decao. He came from Yingchuan as a refugee, and he is usually reticent. No matter what the villagers asked him, he would only answer "good", so the people nicknamed him "Mr. Haohao". They are dull but have good plans in their belly, and have inspired many late students to advance. Liu Biao also knows the two men's virtuous names, and they refuse to become officials after many conquests." Cao Cao couldn't help nodding: "The ancients said, 'Acquaintance with horses is a good way to live with others.' Living in seclusion in elegant places, I am not an idler." "That's natural. Not to mention the two high sages, even their protégés and nephews are also unusual." Cai Mao said again, "There is a Tanxi River to the west of Xiangyang, where there lived several late-born descendants, Shi Tao, Shi Guangyuan, Meng Jian and Meng Gongwei. Xu Shu, Xu Yuanzhi, hired by Liu Bei, and the youngest hermit, Cui Zhouping, are descendants of Cui Shi's famous family in Zhuo County." "Cui Zhouping?" Cao Cao's eyes lit up, "He is the son of Cui Lie, the former Taiwei, and the younger brother of Cui Jun." "Is there such a thing? I don't know." Cao Cao stood up excitedly: "In the past, Cui Jun followed Yuan Shao to attack, Li Jue and Guo Si attacked Chang'an, and the old Taiwei Cui was killed. When he was in distress, he entrusted his family slave to protect the child from fleeing. He didn't want to live here. Cui Jun has now been represented by me. As the prefect of Hexi, if he can take Zhouping back to the north, wouldn't his brothers be reunited!" But Lou Gui said: "De Gui's words are not finished. I heard that there are two late-born "Wolong" and "Fengchu" near Xiangyang. Why didn't you mention it to Meng De?" He had stayed in Jingzhou before, so he knew more or less details. "Oh? There are such characters?" Cao Cao was even more astonished. Can he be called "Crouching Dragon" and "Phoenix Chick"? Cai Mao blushed for a while: "There are indeed these two people. 'Feng Chu' is Pang Tong Pang Shiyuan. He is the nephew of Lord Pang De. Wolong's name is Zhuge Liang, word Kong Ming, and now under Liu Bei..." He didn't want to mention Zhuge Liang, because Zhuge Liang's father-in-law, Huang Chengyan, married Cai Mao's sister. With this relationship, he was still an enemy of Cao Cao, which really made Cai Mao feel embarrassed. Light. People like Xu Shu and Zhuge Liang who Liu Biao couldn't please were willing to run for Liu Bei, but they violated Cao Cao's taboo-the big-eared thief is really cunning and confuses the crowd, and he must be put to death!He pulled Cai Mao up: "You can't stay at home for a long time, go back to the city and help me as director." "Leave now?" "That's right. I have sent troops to chase and suppress Liu Bei, but I don't know the outcome. I can only stay in Xiangyang for one day, and tomorrow I will lead the army to pick up the vanguard and go to Jiangling." Cao Cao had already planned, "Jiangling's food, grass and warships cannot It fell into the hands of the big-eared thief. After I leave, you will temporarily take pictures of Xiangyang's affairs, calm people's hearts and comfort the people, and use my name to invite Pang Degong, Sima Hui, and Cui Zhouping to come out of the mountain, so as not to let talented people go out." Cai Hao always felt ashamed, and originally planned to stop being an official. It can be seen that Cao Cao urgently invited himself, and his mind gradually became active. After thinking about it, he finally agreed: "In this case, I will do my best." "You don't want to be the prefect of Jingling, this nondescript. I will show you that you will be the captain of Yueqi, and you will be named Tinghou in Jin Dynasty. You will join the same army. After Liu Bei is put down, we will return to the imperial court together." One of the school lieutenants, responsible for guarding the capital, but after the capital was moved to Xu County, the defenders of the capital were all under the control of the Cao family. The school lieutenants of the Northern Army were all false titles, leaving only a salary of two thousand stones to show their dignity.Cao Cao gave him this post in order to commend him, but being transferred to Xudu as an official also means that Cai Mao will lose his influence in Xiangyang-after all, he is also a wealthy family. After the explanation, Cao Cao didn't want to waste time, so he hastily broke up the banquet, and urged Cai Mao to leave quickly.Cai Mao had no choice but to pack his bags, take his sword and leave the house together.Before everyone boarded the boat, they saw a fast boat coming from the opposite bank, and there was a thin and wretched Zaoli standing on the boat. Cao Cao recognized Lu Hong from a distance: "What are you doing here?" Lu Hong jumped off the boat and knelt down on the ground: "This subordinate is not doing his job well, Kong Wenju's body was stolen!" Cai Mao was surprised when he heard this, and asked Xu You beside him, "Kong Wenju? Could it be the famous Kong Rong?" "Yes, is there another Kong Wenju in the world?" "What crime was punished?" Xu You glanced at Cao Cao, and seeing that he didn't pay attention, he whispered to Cai Mao, "Don't offend Cao A! Ah Mo forced the censor, Xi Xi, to commit his crime, and slaughtered all Kong Rong's family. Outside the capital." After finishing speaking, he added extra words, "You should also be careful, Cao Aman is not the same as before, he doesn't even bat an eyelid when he kills people!" Xu You is also considered a smart person, but he only sees other people and doesn't to myself. Cao Cao was so focused on Kong Rong at this moment, how could he notice what Xu You was chewing?Without even thinking about it, he said harshly: "Go back and tell Wang Bi to catch the body thief and execute him immediately... No! When I go back and deal with it myself, I can't take advantage of him. I want to see who has such a Daring!" Cai Mao spent half his life with the gentle Liu Biao, how could he have seen such a thing?She was terrified, and deeply regretted that she shouldn't have come out to take a dip in the muddy water, but since she promised just now, how could she not go? "Degui!" Cao Cao shouted. "Ah?" Cai Mao shivered, and his sword fell to the ground in fright. Cao Cao had already boarded the boat, and waved to him: "Why are you in a daze, come quickly!" "Yes, yes, yes." Cai Mao picked up his sword and followed him onto the boat, his heart pounding—who would have thought that he had become so tyrannical now.It's easy to get on Cao Cao's boat, but how do you get off?