Chapter 20 Huang Longjian Qiao

After Mrs. Bian returned home, Cao Cao's life in the thatched cottage became more and more lonely. No one sang for him, no one drank with him, and no one could let him hug and talk about love.But if he went back to live, he couldn't stand the trivial atmosphere, as if it was impossible for him to belong to that kind of ordinary life. After thinking about it, Cao Cao suddenly remembered that he fought with Zhu Jun back then, so he found books such as "Sun Tzu", "Wu Zi", "Six Secret Teachings" and prepared his masterpiece "The Art of War Festival".During this period of time, Bian Bing and Lou Yi came to discuss his life from time to time, offering rice and firewood, while Mrs. Ding came every ten days to chat about household chores and pick up a change of clothes.Time seems to be full when there is something to do.Every day, I searched for chapters and excerpted sentences, and wrote vigorously, and it was winter in a blink of an eye.I am tired of writing a few volumes, and I can go out on horseback to shoot and hunt again. I am comfortable with both literature and martial arts in my childhood.

The weather was fine that day, so Cao Cao put down his pen and stepped out of the firewood gate. Taking advantage of the good weather, he could bask in the sun, but he heard someone calling his name from a distance: "Meng De...Meng De..." Cao Cao heard the melodious voice very familiar, but couldn't remember it for a while, so he looked around.Seeing no one, I thought I was lonely and had hallucinations.A sense of loss hit him, and he wanted to go back to the house to lie down, when he heard: "Mengde...Cao Mengde...where are you..." Someone really called him!Cao Cao couldn't find anyone, so he also shouted: "I'm here...here!" After shouting for a while, he saw a man and a horse flashing out from the Zhengxi mountain depression. The man was tall and wearing a military uniform. The tail crest, two pheasant tails are very conspicuous, coming from whipping the horse.It was only when he got closer that he realized that it was Cui Jun who came.

"Brother Yuanping, is that you?" Cao Cao rushed to meet him. "Hahaha...Meng De, long time no see!" Cui Jun got off his horse and cupped his hands. Cao Cao led the horse for him: "Why did you come here?" "Come and see you, Gao Xian, a hermit from the mountains." "Don't make fun of me. Look at my thatched cottage, isn't it?" "Oh, this place is easy for me to find!" Cui Jun didn't care to look at the scenery, "I went to your house first, and met Lou Yi, who said that you are now living in a hut and living in seclusion. Brother Lou said to lead the way, I said it's okay , I found it by myself. But I got lost in the valley, I can't help it, so let's shout!"

"Please come in and sit down." Cao Cao said and took his hand. Cui Jun was a little embarrassed, and rubbed his belly: "I said Meng De, can you find me something to eat?" Cao Cao was taken aback, and hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, you wait." After saying that, he let him into the thatched hut, then came out to tie the horse, and rushed to the kitchen to bring out the fish soup left by Ding.Just when he was about to heat up the fire, Cui Jun followed him in: "Don't bother, it's good when it's cold." After saying that, he grabbed it and started eating.

Cao Cao was surprised. He didn't finish the fish soup because he thought it was fishy, ​​but it tasted like a delicacy in Cui Jun's mouth.I saw him holding the dick and munching while standing in front of the stove, as if he hadn't eaten for a few days.Cao Cao found another piece of mustache, and in the blink of an eye, he went in again.After he had finished eating, Cao Cao let him back to the hut, sat down and asked, "Brother Yuanping, what's wrong with you? It's like fleeing from a disaster!" Cui Jun wiped his mouth and said: "Isn't it just to escape, I asked my father to kick me out of the house."

"Hey! What's going on here?" Cao Cao was more and more surprised, what could make the amiable old Cui Lie anxious. Cui Jun sighed, removed the obstructive pheasant's tail crown on his head, stroked the pheasant's tail and said, "It's all because of San Gong's trouble with his money." "What? With your father's qualifications..." Cao Cao didn't have the nerve to ask. "The Taiwei bought with money! You can't hide it from anyone, and now it has become a big joke in the capital." Cao Cao was puzzled: "There are no outsiders here, let's just say it straight. Your father is famous in Beizhou, and he has been the governor of Jiuqing County for more than 20 years. He should have been a public long ago. And the older generation is getting more and more famous. The less there are, who else can there be in terms of seniority? Why do you want to destroy your reputation and spend money to buy an official for the past two years?"

"Who said it wasn't!" Cui Jun sighed, "A few months ago, Taiwei Zhang Gong died, so..." "Who did you say died?" Cao Cao interjected. "Master Zhang Yanzhang." "He died too?" Cui Jun slapped the table and said, "I called Shi Changshi to kill him!" Cao Cao sighed bitterly for a while: "The rebellious officials and thieves have killed a loyal and good man again." Zhang Yan in Hanoi is famous for his honesty, and he is the son of Zhang Xin, the old minister of the former dynasty. The father and son took the throne to Gongtai, but in the end they were lost at the hands of the villain Shichangshi.

Cui Jun said, "Not only Zhang Yan, but also Liu Kuan died. He was so angry that he couldn't save Mr. Zhang. Yuan Shao's second uncle, Yuan Feng, also passed away last year. All the old officials have left, and now only Mr. Ma is left. People are alone in Dongguan, and it makes people sad to see..." Cao Cao interjected: "The emperor is really hopeless. Which of these veterans have broken their hearts for the country and the country, and have assisted the old people of several generations of kings. The last one turned out to be like this. This is not self-destruction. The Great Wall? Besides, Mr. Liu Kuan is the emperor's teacher, so how could any student crowd against his teacher like this."

"Listen to me, the new thing is still to come. After Zhang Yan died, Fan Ling and Xu Xiang came to my house one day. Ten million dollars to repair the Hejian Mansion." "Ridiculous!" Cao Cao waved his hands, "'Silence' and 'Smiling Tiger' are nosy things." "You know my father's temper. I would rather not be a captain than do such a thing that ruins my reputation! But I would rather offend a gentleman than a villain, and my father can't insult them, so I have to politely decline and drive them out." I left. Unexpectedly, a few days later, Mrs. Cheng, the mother-in-law of today's son, came. The old lady can really say, tell my father not to spoil the face of the emperor, at least give some money, so as not to cause trouble. Sitting Our family has been talking around for a long time, and we won't leave if we don't promise her. You say that an old lady is also the emperor's nurse, what can we do? My father is also annoyed, and finally agreed to pay five million yuan. It's settled."

Cao Cao didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "The more I listened, the more confused I became. Why is this old lady messing up the court affairs?" "Who said no! But she really came, most likely sent by the emperor or eunuchs." Cui Jun looked helpless, "Later, the grand ceremony was held, and the emperor granted my father the title of Shanggong. All the civil and military officials were present. , Mrs. Cheng also went. Our emperor said to the eunuch beside him when he was awarding the seal, "It's a pity, if you insist on it, it will definitely sell for 10 million!""

"Damn! Isn't this an insult!" "At that time, my father was blushing and didn't dare to answer. Fortunately, few people heard it. But that Mrs. Cheng was not happy. She came out from the crowd of palace people and accused the emperor in front of all the officials, saying, 'Your Majesty is too It’s too much, Mr. Cui, a man of integrity, is willing to spend money to buy an official? How many good things have I said for His Majesty before he is willing to take the money? Why aren’t you satisfied?” In the end, the canonization ceremony ended hastily." "Hahaha..." Cao Cao laughed until tears came out, "Actually, she is kind and she is telling the truth." "She is kind, but if she shouts like this, everyone in the world will know that my father's captain was bought with money." Cui Jun patted his thigh and sighed, "Meng De, do you think we can blame us for this?" "Hey! I can't blame you, I can only blame the emperor for being greedy for money... Then how did you get kicked out?" Cui Jun blushed and said: "A few days ago when I came home from outside, I saw my father leaning on a cane and getting angry in the yard. He said that since he became a Sangong, others have treated him coldly and muttered behind his back. Ask my friends what Benchu ​​and Gonglu think of him. It's also my fault that I didn't see the old man's face clearly, so I told the truth." "What exactly did you say?" "I said that everyone knows that you have worked hard and have a high reputation. You should be a captain, but the damage to your reputation is too great. He asked me why, and when I answered him, he became angry." Cao Cao seemed to be listening to a joke at the moment, and asked impatiently, "What did you say?" "I said... commentators think it smells like money!" "Hahaha!" Cao Cao laughed until his stomach ached, "Yuan Ping, you are really good!" "The old man is jumping up, trying to kill me!" Cui Junyi frowned, "I have never been beaten once since I was a child. This time he chased and beat the old man all over the yard with a cane. Don't look at the old man's age. I was born as a military officer! In the end, I was forced to run out of the house, and he asked the housekeeper to close the door. The bolts were fastened, and he didn’t want me to go back. I knelt outside for a long time, and many passers-by watched the joke, but he just didn’t open the door. In the end, my brother Zhouping threw a bag of money from the wall, and told the old man to beat me up if he didn’t run away, and he said he didn’t want me anymore. Zhouping told me to come out and hide for a few days, and go back when my father’s anger subsides.” Cao Cao laughed until tears came out.He also recognized Cui Zhouping, although he was Cui Lie's old son, he was much smarter than Cui Yuanping.Cao Cao wiped his tears and said: "You are not as good as a little brother in his early ten years! He is right. When you annoy the old man, say a few nice words and tell him to slap him a few times to vent his anger. The more you run away, the more he will lose face." .” "Hey... I left the house and spent a few days at Benchu's house, and two days with the brothers of the Bao family. The general wants to take me in, so how can I cause trouble for them? Dad didn't take it easy, so I simply left. Go outside and see old friends everywhere." "Did the money run out so quickly?" "I didn't know until I got out of Luoyang, money is of no use! It costs hundreds of dollars to buy a piece of cake, and the emperor's newly minted four coins are useless at all. Small counties barter, and I have no money before I arrive in Zhongmu. Yes. I bought half a piece of silk on credit from a small meritorious man in the county, so it’s finally at your house. I’m ashamed of Boling Cui’s face!" "Now you know the sufferings of the people, right?" Cao Cao said earnestly. "I haven't left Luoyang for three years. In the past few days, I have mixed feelings about what I saw and heard. When I go back, I have to assist the general." Cao Cao heard that he was wrong, and asked, "Assist He Jin?" "Meng De, you don't know. In the past two years, Uncle He Guo has recruited many famous men and women. More generals who lead the army have come out of his house, and the loyal and upright ministers are all dependent on him for protection. Everyone is planning for him to eradicate ten people. Where is the regular attendant!" Cao Cao was silent for a while. "Meng De, now is the time to make meritorious deeds, why are you still staying at home, come out and become an official!" Cui Jun looked at him earnestly, "Let's eradicate the eunuchs and revive the court together!" "I...I still don't want to go out." Cao Cao lowered his head, "The current wind direction changes day by day, who knows what will happen tomorrow. I want to do things for the court, but I can't be confused and lose my life. Why? How can Jin's plan be compared to that of Dou Wu back then, and our qualifications are far behind Chen Fan and Yin Xun, this matter needs to be rethought." "Having said that, when will you end this way? It's better to learn from Boyi than to learn from Liu Xiahui. You don't know yet. The cavalry captain you were at the beginning is not a rare official now. Now it's a little bit of a war in various places. You can become a cavalry captain with military merits. Bao Xin also became a cavalry captain, and Bao Hong became the magistrate of Fufeng County. "How is Brother Benchu ​​now?" Cao Cao valued Yuan Shao the most. "Yuan Benchu ​​was made a vassal by the General." Cao Cao was simply shocked.Yuan Shao is the core of many talents, since he is willing to come out and play for him, then this country uncle will definitely be able to protect him.Cui Jun hit the iron while it was hot: "Not only Yuan Shao, but also brother Boqiu, he has also become a subordinate of the general." "Ah!?" Cao Cao was stunned. "There are also Liu Jingsheng, Zhang Mengzhuo, Hua Ziyu, Kong Wenju, Bian Wenli, Tian Tiantian Yuanhao from Hebei, Kuaiyue Kuaiyidu from Jingxiang, Xunyou Xungongda from Yingchuan. Wang Qian made a history of the generals..." Cui Jun named a large list of celebrities, all of whom were more famous than Cao Mengde. Cao Cao was sweating profusely, and sighed: "The thatched hut has been built for a year, the world has changed a lot, and I have become a frog at the bottom of the well." "Meng De, come out and be an official! Everyone is looking forward to you about Uncle He Guo's words!" Cao Cao felt a little conflicted, and after thinking for a long time, he still said: "I am different from you, I am chilled! Back then, I was expelled from the capital because I offended the eunuch when I killed Jian Tu; in Dunqiu, the people praised me, but it turned out that I was met by a big boss. Difficult; Ren Yilang sat on the bench for two years, led the army to fight but killed so many innocent people; worked hard in Jinan for a year but did nothing... We are similar in age, but which one of you has experienced more ups and downs than me? One disappointment, what hope can there be for such an imperial court? I think let’s forget about it.” Cui Jun was silent for a while, and then said: "Perhaps you still have to think about it again. Of course, I can't force others to be difficult. But you remember, no one has forgotten you, and everyone remembers the credit you made when you were ordered to flatten the Yellow Turban. After all, you You are only thirty-three years old, and your father still..." "I've made up my mind!" Cao Cao interrupted him decisively, "I don't want to live in this filthy world. If the world is not clear, I will live in seclusion here. If I am not clear for the rest of my life, I will die of old age here!" Cui Jun stared at him blankly, and the corner of his mouth twitched for a long time.Cao Cao felt that he had lost his composure, and explained: "I'm sorry...I..." "It's okay, it's okay. Don't mention this...don't mention it..." Cui Jun felt that the atmosphere was too heavy, so he changed his face and said with a smile: "I see that you are not a bad day when you are a fool and drink blood." "It makes sense." "What are you writing?" Cui Jun saw the bamboo slips on the table. "Book of war, I want to combine many books of war into one, and write a volume of "Art of War Festival Essentials." "It's a shame to be so talented." "Writing can be handed down, what a pity." Cao Cao rolled his eyes at him, and saw that he was playing with the pheasant tail in his hand, "I said that you go all the way and wear a pheasant's tail crown, is it in the way?" "Oh, this kind of crown is fashionable in the capital now. Insert two pheasant tails, how powerful!" "Glamourous." Cao Cao curled his lips, "You are still inflexible. These two tails are enough to exchange for your travel expenses when you meet someone who knows the goods. Why are you confused like this!" "Really?" Cui Jun stroked it carefully, "Then I'm also reluctant to sell it for money." "Since you can't bear it, you should hurry back to Beijing." "I also want to go back, but I can't enter the house. I just went in and met my father. He scolded me for being unfilial and didn't want me. How can I answer correctly?" "I'll teach you." Cao Cao smiled, "You say that Shun served his father, that he accepts with a small stick, and walks away with a big stick, which is not filial." "Well...Confucius also said it." Cui Jun thought for a while, "Sure it will work?" "It should work." "Okay, then I'll try it. Thank you!" Cui Jun said as he got up and was about to leave. "You come all the way, don't you want to stay with me for two days?" "I don't have time, I have to go to Nanyang to contact some famous people. When I go back, I have to go to Yingchuan to help the general pay homage to Chen Zhonggong and Xun Ciming." Chen Shi and Xun Shuang are high scholars in Yingchuan. Zheng Xuan, the master of Confucianism in Shanghai Beihai, is one of the three great hermits of the contemporary era.Although they have never served as officials, they are recognized moral models. Whenever there are three vacancies, the imperial court must call them up, but they never accept it.Over time, this became a formality. "You're already cash-strapped, what do you need to make a round trip to Nanyang?" Cui Jun smiled: "Then I have to count on Meng De." Cao Cao found three pieces of silk and said, "All my belongings are at home. There are only three pieces of silk here. My wife wove them for me to help the people nearby. Today I will help you first!" "Okay, okay, as long as it's enough for me to go to Nanyang. I'll ask Xu You's family for the travel expenses back!" "You are the son of a Taiwei, fighting famine everywhere, what do you look like?" "My family has no reputation at all now." Cui Jun took the silk and carefully tied a package, "I won't disturb your masterpiece, see you again... I will mention you in front of the general after I return to Beijing, and I will wait for you." Someone from the imperial court will invite you!" After saying these words, he rushed out like a gust of wind. "You!? Damn it..." Cao Cao rushed out angrily, and saw that Cui Jun had rushed to mount the horse, but the pheasant tail on his head was entangled in the reins, and he tilted his head in a panic. Cao Cao turned his anger into joy, and said with a smile, "It's what you deserve! I've made you troublesome...I advise you to put away this boring thing, and you must not be so public when you meet a high-spirited hermit." "Understood." Cui Jun finally shook off the rein, "I don't believe what others say, but I will listen to you. You are also a reclusive Gao Xian now. Goodbye!" After saying that, he rode his horse and ran south .Cao Cao watched his back until he could no longer see him, then slowly returned to the hut, sat down and picked up his pen but couldn't write a word.His feelings are gone, and Cui Jun's casual visit completely disrupts his life.Why?Why?He threw the pen and lay down on the bed, and the hermit Gao Xian fell into boundless depression again. I don't know how long I lay there, when I heard a horse neighing, Chai Fei suddenly opened, and Bian Bing ran in: "Brother-in-law! Go home, my sister is about to give birth!" "what!?" "This child is going to be born prematurely, come with me!" Bian Bing pulled him up. Cao Cao didn't care about putting on a coat, so he went out and led the Dawan horse, and drove home after riding.You can tell if the horse is good or bad when you run it. Dawan horse is one of the best breeds in thousands, how can Bian Bing's horse catch up with it?After a while, it became invisible.Cao Mengde was so anxious that he wished he could fly back home with his own wings.But the more anxious he was and the more he urged the horse, the stronger the wind was blowing. What's annoying is that yellow sand is rolled up in the strong wind, and if you don't pay attention, you will squint your eyes.After a short time, yellow sand suddenly rose up, and the sky was dyed yellow by the overwhelming dust.The strong wind in front of us rolled up the sand in the wilderness, like a yellow dragon descending from the sky! Cao Cao didn't care about the danger, covered his nose and mouth with his hands, narrowed his eyes, and rushed forward with his head down.After passing through the yellow sand, the wind gradually died down, but he made his face covered with dust, cursed the ghost secretly, and continued to drive home.In today's journey, Dawanma has completely shown its foot strength, far surpassing the rush to save the Changsha back then. After running for fifty miles, Cao Cao didn't get off his horse, and directly drove his horse into the manor. From a distance, he saw that everyone was guarding the gate of his courtyard. "It's late!" Xia Houyuan was the first to raise his voice, "The child is born, and you will definitely not be the master of this child in the future." Cao Cao felt that his eyes were full of gold, so he got off his horse with a sway, and he just squeezed in without answering.After stumbling to the door of Bian's room, Mrs. Ding came out and asked, "Why are you in such a mess? Come and take a look, the baby has been born long ago, and I've finished taking a bath. It's my son! My son!" Hearing her tell her son, Cao Cao didn't say anything, but he was still worried. When Mrs. Liu gave birth to a child and died, that tragedy troubled him for an unknown amount of time.He could hardly face the mother again.He entered the room with fear, only to see Mrs. Bian lying on the couch, the sweat from her forehead had been wiped off, and she was smiling at him! Mrs. Bian did not look like she had just given birth, and said confidently: "Ah Man, our son really loves me, and he didn't ask me to make any effort." Cao De's wife smiled and hugged the baby in front of him—white and fat , I cried so much! Mother and child are safe and everything is fine, Cao Cao finally let go of his worries. "Do you want to hug?" Brother and daughter-in-law laughed. "Oh." Cao Cao stretched out his hand to pick up the child. Ding hurriedly stopped her: "Don't hug, don't hug! Look at the loess all over your body, go wash your face, wash your hands, and dust off your clothes!" After Cao Cao heard what he said, Tanshou was about to wash his hands in the basin beside him. "Oh! What's the matter with you? That's for bathing children, didn't you see?" Ding was very angry, "Can a basin of blood be washed? Go outside and wash." Mrs. Bian was a little disappointed by her husband's abnormal behavior. Why didn't she smile when she saw her son?Although he rushed back, his heart was not here at all.She looked at her husband's back and forced a smile without confidence: "He must have been dizzy from joy... Maybe he was dizzy from joy... Maybe..." Ding looked at her helplessly. It is self-evident that the two people who share the same bed feel the same.Cao Cao walked out like stepping on cotton. Xia Houyuan and Cao De hurried over to pat the dirt off his body, and relatives and friends surrounded him tightly. "Are you happy to have a son again?" "Your long house is thriving!" "He is stupid!" "what's your name?" "Yeah, come up with a name." Cao Cao only felt that the dark crowd was pressing in front of him, and he didn't know whether it was Huang Sha squinting or something, so everyone was in a trance.I saw Lu Zhao raised his hand and handed over a pen: "Master, write your little brother's name on my hand!" He took the pen and couldn't help but write a word "no" in his palm. "What's the name of this?" Everyone was talking about it, and Cao Cao raised a pen and added a line under it heavily, as if he wanted to bend the stroke, but suddenly stopped.He shook his head in horror, without saying a word, he put the pen into his younger brother's hand, and followed Lou Yi to wash his face. Everyone followed closely behind and continued to make fun of Cao Cao, only Cao De and Lu Zhao were left there.Lu Zhao turned his hand over and looked at it, and said with a smile, "I know this word, Pi! This little brother is called Cao Pi." "Pi Zhe Da Ye. This name is so domineering!" Cao De smiled, but when he looked carefully at the word in Lu Zhao's palm, his smile suddenly froze, "How could the word PI be...he wanted to write that 'no' '?" "Second Uncle, isn't that a good name?" Cao De wanted to say something, but he held back and forced a smile: "No, it's good to call Cao Pi... very good..." Lu Zhao blinked his black bean-like eyes, not knowing what was going on.