Chapter 14 Go to Jinan

In the winter of the seventh year of Guanghe (184 A.D.), the Yellow Turban Uprising failed and hundreds of thousands of people died in the war.Emperor Liu Hong announced the change of Yuan Zhongping, meaning the Central Plains was settled.However, peace in the world is just his wishful thinking.Fortunately, misfortunes never come singly. Zhu Jun, Huangfusong, Cao Cao and others led the victorious army just returned to Luoyang, and before they recovered, a new rebellion broke out in Liangzhou. Due to the frequent rebellion of the Qiang people in Liangzhou, large and small conflicts between the imperial court and them broke out from time to time, and they have been fought intermittently for more than 20 years.In the era of "Liangzhou Sanming" Huangfugui, Zhang Huan, and Duan Jiong presided over military affairs in the Northwest, in order to avoid the alliance between the Qiang people and other ethnic minority forces, and further divide the enemy from within, the imperial court appointed many Qiang and Zahu leaders as Guiyi Qiang Chang; give preferential treatment to their tribes, let them defend the rule of the Liu family.

After years of development, those surrendered tribes slowly migrated to the inner area of ​​Liangzhou, and their living habits gradually became Sinicized.But with the outbreak of the Yellow Turban Uprising, they witnessed the unpopularity of the Han court, and their unruly ambition and arrogant blood were awakened again. In November of the first year of Zhongping (that is, the seventh year of Guanghe before the Yuan Dynasty), the tribal leaders Beigong Boyu and Li Wenhou of Huangzhong Yicong ① rebelled.They colluded with the Xianling Qiang tribe, wantonly plundered property in Liangzhou, and colluded with the Han military officers Bian Zhang, Han Sui, and the gangster Song Jian to make a rebellion, conquered Jincheng, an important military town in Liangzhou, and killed Wei Leng, the school guard of the Qiang. Zheng and Jincheng prefect Chen Yi.

Although Zuo Chang, the governor of Liangzhou, immediately organized his armed forces, he was defeated and retreated steadily. Liu Hong was shocked again, so he had to order Huang Fusong, the left chariot general who had just returned to the court, to be the general again, and lead his troops to quell the Qiang chaos.He also pardoned Dong Zhuo, the general of Dongzhong Lang who was guilty of the defeat, and ordered him to repay the crime, and then command the troops as Huangfusong's deputy to return to the Liangzhou battlefield to defend against the enemy. This time, Cao Cao was unwilling to take the initiative to invite Ying again.Although he liked the art of war since he was a child, it was only on the battlefield that he truly understood the cruelty and destructiveness of war.This year he has witnessed too many people die on the battlefield, and most cities and villages were turned into ruins. After the two unforgettable hand-to-hand fights in Xihua and Wancheng, less than one-tenth of the three thousand riders he led came back alive, with blood and flesh flying everywhere. The scene constantly troubled his dreams.What made him even more uneasy was the profound thinking caused by the suppression of the Yellow Turbans: Although the common people were confused by the evil way, they were also forced by the harsh government, while the officers and soldiers were fighting to defend the country. Wrong, so what is the root cause of the war that killed hundreds of thousands of people?

After all, Cao Cao grew up reading the "Book of Filial Piety", subconsciously he was unwilling to point the finger at the emperor, and he didn't dare to think about it that way. After thinking about it, he came to a conclusion: the court's immorality and official corruption were the main culprits of the tragedy.If this problem is not resolved, the people's rebellion cannot be stopped, and more innocent people will die in the war.With such an understanding, he decided to accept the appointment of the imperial court to serve as the prime minister in Jinan, and the first priority after taking office was to effectively rectify the officials.

Although he thought hard, he didn't notice that the position of Prime Minister of Jinan was actually picked up by his father Cao Song a long time ago.In Cao Song's view, leading troops in battle is a job for rough people after all. It is inevitable that the mouth of the earthen pot will be broken, and it is inevitable to miss when you often dawdle on the tip of a knife.Even if we can always be invincible, once the world is peaceful, what good will there be for the birds to hide?Now the eldest son has returned in victory, and the younger son in his hometown is also safe and sound.With the military merits and the family business not damaged, it is almost time to accept it as soon as it is good.The state of Jinan is located in Qingzhou, and the damage suffered during the Yellow Turban rebellion was not great, so this state of Jinan is really a good vacancy.If the son can be slick in all directions and secure everywhere, coupled with his achievements in calming the chaos and his support, in three to five years, he will be able to fly to the top and reach the rank of Lieqing.Since the son is Lieqing, wouldn't it be logical for Lao Tzu to be the Sangong?

The father and son are in such a state of incongruity and separation.Cao Cao boarded his way to Jinan to rectify the administration of officials; Cao Song continued to wander among the eunuchs and relatives, seeking the opportunity to win the three princes. Cao Cao ordered Qin Yilu to leave half a month in advance, first return to Qiao County to deliver the letter, and then go to Dongpingling, the first county in Jinan, to stop at the front.I lingered with my colleagues and friends for several days, and thanked Ma Rixun, Zhu Jun, Zhang Wen, Cui Lie and other seniors one by one before leaving Luoyang.

Cao Cao had a lot of emotions along the way.Back then when he was ordered to serve as magistrate of Dunqiu County in Hebei, he was accompanied by only five servants, including Lou Yi, on the road. After experiencing heavy winter snow, thieves cutting trails, and getting lost in the wilderness, he was in a state of embarrassment when he finally arrived, with Lou Yi alone by his side. .Now it's the middle of winter again, and he's on the way east again, but the treatment he receives is very different. The official salary of the prime minister of the country is two thousand shi, and he has the same post as the prefect, and he governs more than ten counties.Litigation, people's livelihood, farming, filial piety and honesty elections, taxation and worship, and even the power of garrison and garrison in more than ten counties are all entrusted to him. and.Therefore, when his soap-colored official car is driving on the post road, no matter who he is, he must make way for him. Anyone who arrives at the post will be received by the post minister himself, welcome into the best house and live in the best house. Baked warmly, all the delicacies are prepared, and the people who serve are meticulous.Don't talk about yourself, even Lou Yi and his chamber pots are being rushed over.

This is not a big deal, and there are places along the way, from the prefects at the same level to the county magistrates and county lieutenants, all came to greet him.Good words are exhausted, smiling faces are enough to compensate, and travel expenses are also given away.It is said that it is travel expenses, but it is actually gold and silver treasures, silk and satin, and local specialties, all of which are of great value.Of course, these officials not only showed their loyalty to Jinan, but also because Cao Cao was the most popular hero in the fight against the chaos, and because his father, Cao Song, was ranked among the nine officials and was favored by the ten permanent servants.Cao Cao was full of thoughts about rectifying the administration of officials, so he was naturally unwilling to accept these things.But those officials who can't give gifts just drop their things and leave, and they can't deal with them if they don't accept them.

What's more important is that the officialdom talks about human feelings, you don't accept that others will only say that you are hypocritical, withdrawn, and arrogant. If you leave such a reputation, it will be difficult to move forward in future errands.It would be fine if someone said a few bad things three to five years ago, but now he is thirty-one years old and a father, and he doesn't want to experience too many setbacks in his official career.In desperation, Cao Cao had no choice but to make a rule that no gold, silver or treasures would be taken from officials who gave gifts, and only half of the local products would be kept as a sign of acceptance.Even so, before reaching Jinan, the gifts from the counties and counties filled two carriages.

Cao Cao sat in the car, looking back and forth at his team from time to time.Six carts loaded with household gifts, surrounded by more than forty servants; Lou Yi, dressed in a soap-colored brocade suit, riding a Dawan BMW with a waist knife, led the way majestically—how could this kind of courage be compared to back then?But what was even more different from before was that he could no longer meet passers-by, nor could he find common people with whom he could sit down and chat.At most, I saw a few scattered farmers in the field on the road. When they saw the official car from a distance, they either turned around to escape or knelt down and kowtowed in fear. The color of fear on their faces was palpable, as if they were afraid that they would pounce on them and eat them. .The Yellow Turban Rebellion was settled, but the estrangement between the officials and the common people was even greater, especially for him, a meritorious general, who had a bit of murderous intent invisibly.The prestige has been established, but this prestige is stained with blood that cannot be washed away!

The state of Jinan where Cao Cao took office was the first county of Qingzhou, the hereditary feudal state of Liu Kang, the son of Emperor Guangwu and the son of Empress Guo.Later, the heirs of the state were cut off, and in the third year of Xiping, Liu Hong was canonized as a descendant of King Hejian, and a Liu Kangfu who had the same name as his ancestor was King of Jinan. After Liu Kang died, his son Liu Yun inherited it.Because the emperor Liu Hong himself was also a descendant of the king of Hejian, in fact Liu Yun was a distant nephew of the current emperor.Although the emperor and king were separated by two generations, their actual ages were almost the same.Jinan has ten counties under its jurisdiction: Dongpingling, Zhuxian, Yuling, Taixian, Jianxian, Tugu, Liangzhou, Zouping, Dongchaoyang and Licheng.It is all because this county is rich in iron ore and is the richest in Qingzhou, so the royal family was sealed here.Of course, such a wealthy state of Jinan is also the first choice for Shi Changshi to sell officials to make money. Cao Cao spent a lot of time on the way because of social gatherings, and finally arrived at the gate of Dongping Mausoleum by car and horse. Qin Yilu and the county magistrate of Dongpingling fought at the front station.These people saw Cao Cao's chariots and horses from a long distance, and they gave an order to drums and music, and some people sang and danced to welcome the new official to take office. It was more lively than marrying a wife. Cao Cao ordered people to stop the car and remove the curtain, and watched them making noise with a blank expression. After waiting for half an hour, the dancing and singing were over. He kept blowing until his cheeks were swollen, and then he stopped tastelessly. Seeing that they were losing their energy, Cao Cao got out of the car and walked over with Lou Yi.Seeing this posture, everyone knelt down on the ground with their heads bowed, not knowing whether the adults were happy or angry.Cao Cao looked around the people in the yamen reservedly, and then walked up to the people and the dancers, and said: "My fellow yamen servants, thank you for welcoming me. But Mr. Cao has no merit or favor when he first arrived here. Everyone, you dare not bear this great gift, you all get up!" Everyone heard his cold voice, and no one dared to move.Qin Yilu was used to following him, so he was the first to get up and said: "My lord told you to get up, everyone get up, my lord is the most easy-going." Only then did everyone get up.Cao Cao saw a white-haired old man at a glance, hurriedly walked up to him, and asked, "Old man, how are you?" The old man trembled and dared not answer correctly, Qin Yilu hurried over to help him, and said with a smile: "You talk all the time, my adults are the ones who love the poor and the old most." Cao Cao took the old man's hand and said again: "You don't have to be cowardly, old man, have you lived a long life?" "Don't dare, I'm seventy-nine this year." The old man replied. "Seventy-nine years old! It's not like that," Cao Cao smiled kindly. "You are old and vigorous. I think you are in your sixties." "Hahaha..." The old man smiled happily when his parents said he was young. With this smile, Cao Cao saw that his teeth had fallen out a lot, and asked again, "Aren't you tired to come to greet me at such an old age?" "Not tired or tired, my lord, you have always loved the people like a son, and you are an upright official... You have to see the gentleman, and there is a lot of drama in your life." Cao Cao was surprised when he said "Three lives are lucky" to "Three lives have fun", and asked, "What do you always say is true?" "There are dramas in three lives." The old man repeated. Only then did Cao Cao take a closer look at the people who came here. Among them were old and young, men and women, scholars, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. The big girls and old ladies were all dressed in good clothes for going out, and there were rich landlords and wealthy households in splendid clothes. Standing with bowed head is very respectful.A few people from all walks of life came, which was clearly arranged by the yamen. He turned back and asked the old man again: "I see that you are dressed as a farmer, have you ever read?" "Cough! My lord, you are really making fun of the little old man. I have been a tenant for a lifetime, not to mention reading, and I can't read." The old man said with a silly smile. "Oh? Since you don't know how to read or write, who taught you those few words you praised me just now?" "It was all taught by the people in the yamen." The old man blurted out, "My little old man has a bad memory, and he memorized it for half a night yesterday, and he is not very proficient. Hmm... love the people like a son, and be an upright official. You have to see the gentleman , There are dramas in three lives. There are dramas in three lives!" Cao Cao gave a "puchi" smile and looked around at the crowd. Some covered their mouths and laughed, some looked up at the sky, and some showed embarrassment;He patted the old man's hand again: "You always have a good memory, and you are not bad at all. I let Cao watch a good show today! You have worked hard!" "Don't dare. This is what the Yamen ordered." Cao Cao was not annoyed, he raised his hand and bowed in a circle, saying: "I, Cao, have caused trouble for everyone since I arrived in Jinan. I am really sorry for you. I have received a lot of gifts from officials from all over the way. , everyone don't leave for a while, everyone will give some small gifts. The poor get more, the rich get less, but everyone should be happy to be here as an official." "Thank you sir!" All the people were beaming and knelt down to thank for the reward, this time they were really happy. Cao Cao persuaded everyone to get up again, and ordered Lou Yi to distribute gifts. Then he walked up to the county magistrate of Dongpingling and said, "Your Majesty, don't be too polite. Please get up quickly. You have worked hard today. I really appreciate you." The county magistrate Hearing his calm tone, he didn't know whether it was good or bad, so he had to answer: "Don't dare...don't dare... I'm in Xiadongpingling County Magistrate Zhao, it's only natural to welcome you here." Cao Cao picked him up and didn't mention the matter of Cai just now, but just told him to go back to the Yamen as soon as possible and don't care about his affairs; he himself took Lou Yi to the palace to pay homage to King Liu Yun of Jinan. Although the king of the feudal country does not have the right to govern, he is the representative of the royal family after all, and the prime minister assists him in government in name, so the first thing he does when he takes office is to pay homage to the prince.Although Liu Yun is the nephew of the current emperor, he is quite friendly and kind, not as arrogant and domineering as Chen Wang Liu Chong.After all the formalities, he personally sent Cao Cao to the second gate. Cao Cao gave another deep salute to the prince outside the second gate, and when he saw him go back, he turned around and let out a sigh of relief: "The top of the mountain is considered to have worshiped, and the next step is to look at my wrist!"