This is the most prosperous place, not only because Xiapi has not been affected by the Yellow Turban bandits, but also because most of the famous families in Xuzhou are gathered in Xiapi State.
In the Xiapi Kingdom, the Cao family is a big local snake, and the family's strength is complicated in the entire Xiapi Kingdom. The reason is very simple. The head of the Cao family, Cao Bao, serves as the Prime Minister of the Xiapi Kingdom.
Cao Bao pretended to be a public servant and used his power as Prime Minister of Xiapi to continuously arrange officials and let his people serve in various places, quickly filling the counties of Xiapi.
This created the strength of the Cao family.
Cao family, in the study.
Cao Bao is practicing calligraphy with a pen, with a happy expression on his face and a very high mood. Although Cao Bao's calligraphy is as his name suggests, and his writing is as ghostly as a straw bag, but he can't help but like it. He just likes to practice calligraphy, and there is such a thing
a hobby.
"Boom! Boom!"
A knock on the door came from outside the room.
However, the housekeeper of the house entered, bowed and saluted Cao Bao, and said, "Master, Captain Chen is here to visit."
Chen Duwei, named Chen Biao.
This man was the captain of the Xiapi Kingdom and was promoted by Cao Bao. He controlled the military power of the Xiapi Kingdom.
Cao Bao ordered: "Please!"
"Here!"
When the steward receives the order, he immediately goes to make arrangements.
Not long after, a burly middle-aged man entered. This man was Chen Biao. He entered the study, clasped his fists and saluted Cao Bao, then came to Cao Bao's desk, looked at Cao Bao's handwriting, and praised:
"Your Excellency, your words are becoming more and more arbitrary, but like an antelope hanging its horns, you are becoming more refined. I am afraid it will be difficult to find someone who can compete with Your Majesty in Xuzhou."
"Hahaha……"
After Cao Bao heard this, he couldn't help but laughed proudly and said: "It is written casually, it cannot be taken as true, it cannot be taken as true."
Chen Biao said: "Although your calligraphy is written casually, it is also excellent. In my opinion, this calligraphy is comparable to Cai Yong's Fei Bai style. Cai's calligraphy is highly sought after. In my opinion, your calligraphy is very good."
His handwriting is not inferior to that of Cai Yong."
Cao Bao stroked his beard under his chin and said: "I praise you, I praise you." After saying this, the look on Cao Bao's face was extremely proud and proud. He did not think that Chen Biao was flattering, but that Chen Biao was flattering.
It's a real compliment.
Chen Biao solemnly said: "Your Excellency, you are too humble. Although this handwriting of yours is just scribbling, in my opinion, it is of great value. Since I think it is not the best, why not give it to me as a gift?"
How about a humble job?"
"Okay, I'll give it to you,"
Cao Bao immediately agreed.
His handwriting was given to Chen Biao, and he felt that he had been recognized.
Cao Bao changed the subject and asked: "Tell me, what are you here for?"
Chen Biao said: "I have just received news that Wang Can, the governor of Xuzhou appointed by the imperial court, has mobilized a large army and is coming to our Xiapi State. According to the information obtained by the sentinel, Wang Can has ten thousand troops."
"Ha ha……"
After Cao Bao heard this, he couldn't help laughing again.
The laughter was full of disdain.
The laughter is full of confidence.
He looked down upon Wang Can's 10,000 people and believed in his own strength more.
After Cao Bao stopped laughing, his eyes became cold again and he said: "Wang Can really thinks that with the loyalty of the Mi family, he can be unscrupulous. This time he led his troops to kill me, and I will never let him come back."
Chen Biao had worry on his face and said: "Sir, after all, Wang Can is the governor of Xuzhou appointed by the imperial court. Furthermore, we were the ones who first robbed the Mi family of 20,000 shi of food. Once the trouble gets bigger, I'm afraid we will also sue
No benefit."
"What am I afraid of?"
Cao Bao raised his head, raised his chin, and said loudly: "First of all, even if Wang Can is the governor, so what, he is just supervising and inspecting the counties, and he has no control over my own affairs."
"Second, who said that I robbed the Mi family's grain? I just checked that there were many weapons hidden in this batch of grain. The Mi family had an evil plan, so I intercepted the grain."
"Third, Wang Can led his troops to kill, and I led my troops to fight. Even if Wang Can was killed, in the end, it was not me who killed Wang Can, but Wang Can who was attacked by the Yellow Turban bandits on the way here.
To the point of death.”
Cao Bao said: "I will make arrangements for every incident."
"Your Excellency is so wise!"
When Chen Biao heard Cao Bao's words, a bright smile appeared on his face.
Cao Bao is so bold.
In the Xiapi Kingdom, Cao Bao was like a local emperor, and he had the final say over the entire Xiapi Kingdom.
Cao Bao ordered: "Wang Can is coming with his troops to fight. We can't waste any more time and have to go to fight. You immediately send the order and mobilize all the soldiers in the army to follow me to fight Wang Can."
Chen Biao said: "Sir, although there are 12,000 soldiers in the military camp, you also know the combat effectiveness of these more than 10,000 soldiers. Although it is good, the combat effectiveness is still limited."
Cao Bao flicked his sleeves and said: "Don't worry, I will bring three thousand private soldiers of the family. With the private soldiers of the family, it will be easy to defeat Wang Can."
Chen Biao said: "Your Excellency is wise!"
Cao Bao ordered: "Go down and prepare for sending out troops. Follow me to send out troops early tomorrow morning."
"Here!"
Chen Biao turned around and left.
After Chen Biao left, Cao Bao ordered the housekeeper to call the attendants from the Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister's Office was actually not far from the Cao family. Most of the time, Cao Bao handled government affairs in the family, and the Prime Minister's Office
If any of the officials have something to do, they will report it to the government.
Instead, this became Cao Bao's yamen.
After a short time, the attendant entered the study and bowed.
Cao Bao asked: "I asked you to visit the Chen family. Is Chen Deng willing to serve as an official?"
The attendant shook his head and said: "Reporting to your lord, Chen Deng said that Xianyun Yehe is not willing to serve as an official. Chen Deng also said that his ability is shallow and he may not be able to take on important tasks."
Chen Deng is a descendant of the Chen family of Xiapi State.
Although the Chen family is not as prominent as the Cao family in Xiapi State, the influence and reputation of the Chen family in Xuzhou is greater, because both Chen Deng and Chen Deng's father Chen Gui are both
Xuzhou celebrities.
On the other hand, Cao Bao was just the Prime Minister of Xia Pi.
Cao Bao wanted to win over the Chen family for his own use, so the organizers of Jiji Yingying went to the Chen family, hoping that Chen Deng could become an official. In fact, Chen Deng had already become an official before, but in recent years, the Yellow Turban thieves have been rampant.
, Chen Deng resigned and returned home. He was idle at home and did not become an official.
The expression on Cao Bao's face turned cold and his brows furrowed.
He wanted to win over Chen Deng, but he did not expect that Chen Deng was not willing to serve as an official at all. Cao Bao wondered whether it was because he did not visit in person, so Chen Deng felt that he was not polite enough.
Cao Bao wanted to win over Chen Deng.
Once the Chen family helps, his status in Xiapi Kingdom will be as stable as Mount Tai.
Cao Bao was unwilling to give up, so he left Cao's house in person and went straight to Chen's house. He rode to the door of Chen's house, came to the hall, and saw Chen Deng.
Chen Deng was in his mid-twenties, tall and handsome, looking like a famous man. When he saw Cao Bao, his face was soft and he said, "I have met the Prime Minister."
Cao Bao smiled and said: "Yuanlong doesn't need to be polite!"
Yuanlong is Chen Deng's cousin.
Chen Deng waved his hand for Cao Bao to take a seat, and then said: "The Prime Minister of the State must have something important to do when he comes to visit. I don't know, what kind of affairs does the Prime Minister of the State have?"
Cao Bao said: "It's a pity that Yuanlong is idle at home. Nowadays, Xiapi Kingdom is lacking talents like Yuanlong. Yuanlong, aren't you willing to serve as an official?"
"well……"
Chen Deng sighed after hearing this.
Cao Bao said: "Why does Yuanlong sigh?"
Chen Deng replied: "Prime Minister Cao, it's not that Deng is unwilling to become an official, but that he is unable to do so. On the one hand, Deng Xianyun Yehe is not used to the constraints of officialdom and does not like to become an official; on the other hand, his old father has been ill recently and is seriously ill.
, I can't even walk, I can only lie on the bed. As my father's son, how can I only care about myself and not care whether my old father is alive or dead. My father is seriously ill, so I should stay by my father's side and take care of him.
's condition."
Cao Bao was at his wits end now.
A big man pays attention to loyalty and filial piety, which is the fundamental measure of a person. Chen Deng's father, Chen Gui, was ill and was unreasonable, so Chen Deng stayed to take care of him. There was nothing wrong with that.
Cao Bao sighed: "That being the case, I won't force myself. After Chen Gong recovers, if Yuan Long wants to become an official, he can come to Cao's house to see me at any time."
Chen Deng said: "Thank you so much, Prime Minister!"
"Farewell!"
Cao Bao turned around and left without staying.
After Cao Bao left, Chen Deng stood up and went to the study with a faint smile on his face. When he entered the study, he saw an old man who was nearly fifty years old.
This person is none other than Chen Deng's father, Chen Gui.
Chen Gui, also known as Han Yu, is a famous scholar in Xuzhou and is extremely influential in Xuzhou. Chen Gui stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Cao Bao came to visit in person, and you rejected him again?"
"yes!"
Chen Deng nodded and said: "Cao Bao is greedy, self-willed, and self-righteous. A person like him is not worthy of Chen Deng's allegiance. I have refused several times, but Chen Deng has to come to recruit him every time. It's really frustrating.
It’s so annoying.”
After a pause, Chen Deng continued: "Now, Cao Bao has withheld the food of the Mi family again. The Mi family is the top tycoon in Donghai County. Although they are big businessmen and have not been officials, their strength cannot be underestimated. Especially according to the inquiring information,
According to the news, Mi Zhu surrendered to Wang Can of Langya Kingdom in the north. This Wang Can is now the governor of Xuzhou appointed by the imperial court."
"Putting aside Wang Can's identity, what Wang Can did in Langya Kingdom was very extraordinary. The army under his command is good at conquering and fighting. His army is even more invincible."
"It is not a wise move for Cao Bao to offend Wang Can."
"He just feels so complacent."
Chen Deng said: "If my son's prediction is correct, in this confrontation between Wang Can and Cao Bao, Cao Bao will undoubtedly lose."
Chen Gui stroked his beard and said: "What you said makes sense. You can pay attention to Wang Can. I heard that Wang Can is very young, but at a young age, he can serve as the governor of a state, no matter how he becomes an official.
, are all worthy of attention.”
"My son understands!"
Chen Deng smiled and nodded, very confident. (To be continued)
