The night ban in Xudu begins at Hai hour, which is around nine o'clock in the evening.
The whole city has become quiet, no longer noisy during the day. The long street echoes the sound of Jingo's horse hooves, accompanied by waves of footsteps.
Xu Du, calm down.
On the surface, at least, it has calmed down.
The back door of Dian Mansion was wide open. Cao Cao walked out of the small door of his back house, crossed the alley, and walked into Dian Mansion.
Cao Peng and Dian Wei were respectful to the prime minister, while Dian Man Xu Yi and Niu Gang were on separate sides. As for Dian Cun and others, they did not appear here due to their age, and were rushed to the bedroom to rest by Mrs. Niu early. Dian Wei and Cao Peng stayed close to each other.
Take two steps and bow to salute Cao Cao.
"Welcome my lord."
Cao Cao smiled and said, "Jun Ming, Ah Fu, Mo Duoli."
As he spoke, he turned slightly to reveal a young man standing behind him.
Judging from his age, this young man looks about fourteen or fifteen, with a handsome face and very aura.
"Cao Zhi has met General Dian, brother of the Cao family."
He is Cao Zhi?
Is that Cao Zijian who claims to have one stone in the world and Zijian to dominate eight battles?
However, at this time, Cao Zhi still had that kind of extremely outstanding talent and learning, but it made people feel that his aura was compelling.
Cao Peng and Cao Zhi didn't have much contact. The last time I saw Cao Zhi was four or five years ago. At that time, Cao Zhi was only ten years old, but he was already somewhat talented and learned. He looked very smart, not unlike Cao Chong's intelligence.
, quite different. Cao Zhi's aura lies in his talent, but it makes people feel that he is not generous and slightly feminine. After Cao Pi died, Cao Zhangyuan was in the northwest, so Cao Cao took Cao Zhi with him to deal with some documents.
Chores. But overall, Cao Cao's evaluation of Cao Zhi is a little frivolous...
Of course, this is also related to Cao Zhi's age.
I came to see Cao Peng today. Cao Cao didn't want to bring anyone here.
But I don’t know why, Cao Zhi took the initiative to request, and Cao Cao couldn’t refuse. Was he trying to win over, or did he have an ulterior motive?
Cao Cao couldn't tell what Cao Zhi was thinking, because this child's thoughts were sometimes too far-fetched, and even Cao Cao found it difficult to understand.
Cao Peng smiled slightly and said, "Zijian is fine."
Then, he took a step back, sideways to make way, "Uncle, please."
Cao Cao nodded and stepped forward.
Cao Peng and Dian Wei lined up on the left and right, while Cao Zhi walked side by side with Dian Man and the others, looking curiously at Dian Wei's mansion as they walked.
Although the two families are very close to each other, Cao Zhi has never been to Dian Mansion.
He secretly looked at the back of Cao Peng in front of him, his eyes were rolling, and he didn't know what he was thinking.
The group came to the hall. Cao Cao sat on the central chair, while Cao Zhi lowered his hands respectfully and stood behind Cao Cao without saying a word.
On the other hand, Cao Peng and Dian Wei sat down.
Noriman and the other three were on guard outside the house and did not need to get any closer.
Cao Cao took a sip of mung bean soup, put down the bowl, smiled at Dian Wei and said, "Madam, this bean soup is truly one of a kind.
It seems like honey syrup has been added to it, making it a little sweeter."
Dian Wei said: "Zhuo Jing also heard from Mr. Zhang that the irritability in late summer should be relieved with honey syrup. It's just that I can't control my lord's taste, so..."
"Haha, next time it will be less, just half."
Cao Cao and Dian Wei talked very casually, mostly talking about common things.
But the more this happens, the more unusual the relationship between him and the Dian family is revealed. They are both personal guards. In contrast, Xu Chu does not receive such treatment. However, it is not difficult to understand that Dian Wei is a lonely minister.
In the court, there was never any clique, unlike Xu Chu who had a large family behind him, so he was unconsciously divided into relatives and friends. It's not that Cao Cao didn't trust Xu Chu, it was just that he had a stronger impression of Dian Wei.
He chatted with Dian Wei for a few words, and Dian Wei stood up to leave.
Before leaving, he called Cao Zhi and said, "Zijian has never been to my house, why don't I take you for a walk?"
This is Dian Wei’s brilliance!
It’s not that he doesn’t know how to read words and colors, but he knows when to watch words and colors.
It was obvious that Cao Cao wanted to talk to Cao Peng alone, so it seemed inappropriate for both him and Cao Zhi to stay here.
Cao Cao said: "Well, Zijian might as well go and see the ink orchid in Junming's house. It's really moving."
When he said this, Cao Zhi couldn't stay here any longer, so he had to leave together with Dian Wei. After going out, Dian Wei closed the door casually.
Only Cao Peng and Cao Cao were left in the house.
The light was good, and the room was very transparent... Cao Peng took a peek and saw that Cao Cao had white hair on his temples. He was much older than the last time they met in Xingyang. It could be seen that he was a little tired, sitting down
Sitting on the Taishi's chair, he curled up inadvertently.
"uncle……"
Cao Peng never hated Cao Cao.
Even though Cao Cao punished him with three years of ghost salary, he didn't feel any resentment at all.
He knew that if the same thing happened to others, they would definitely be dead long ago. Because of Cao Cao's favor and care for him, he was able to do whatever he wanted even though he was a prisoner. In the eyes of others, he was the best in Xingyang.
Serving his sentence was actually a form of protection from Cao Cao. It was precisely because of Cao Cao's attitude that Cao Peng lived a happy life in Heyi Workshop.
"Although government affairs are heavy, we need to take care of ourselves."
Cao Cao smiled slightly and closed his eyes.
Although there are many such close encounters, it is rare for them to be as peaceful as this one.
Cao Peng thought for a while, stood up and walked behind Cao Cao, put his hands on Cao Cao's shoulders, and pressed his fingers hard, and felt Cao Cao's body stiffen suddenly.
"Uncle, don't be nervous. Afu once learned massage and often relieves his mother's fatigue at home."
His fingers were beating in priority, and the muscles on Cao Cao's shoulders went from being tight at first to slowly relaxing, obviously he had adapted.
Cao Peng was probably the first minister to get so close to Cao Cao.
If he exerted just a little force with his fingers, he would probably kill Cao Cao.
According to Cao Cao's suspicious temperament, it was difficult to allow someone to get so close to him... But at this time, Cao Cao relaxed and seemed defenseless.
After a while, he patted Cao Peng's hand and said, "Ah Fu, sit down."
"Here!"
After Cao Peng sat down, Cao Cao opened his eyes and looked Cao Peng up and down, and then said in a deep voice: "Before, my uncle and grandson advised me not to attack Bingzhou, and you said it was your idea?"
"ah?"
Cao Peng quickly shook his head, "My Lord misunderstood, this matter has nothing to do with Ah Fu.
In fact, before my brother-in-law told me about this matter at the end of the year, I always believed that high-ranking officials should be dealt with as soon as possible. It was my brother-in-law’s words that made me alert. It is easy to conquer a state and it is difficult to govern it. Merging a state is different.
There are too many difficulties in Liangzhou, so it is really not easy. But this matter is indeed not my suggestion, but my brother-in-law discovered it himself... When he left Xingyang, he was still a little hesitant, wondering whether he could advise his uncle."
"I knew it!"
Cao Cao laughed.
Cao Peng told him frankly, which made him very happy.
Not only because of Cao Peng's honesty, but also because of Deng Ji's growth...
Although he was disabled and difficult to manage the central government, with his talents, he was able to shoulder the important task of governing a party. Cao Cao had a plan in mind and was ready to add some burden to Deng Ji. However, Dongjun also suddenly found someone
Until a suitable candidate takes over, we can only delay and retreat. After all, things have just changed in Dongjun, and both the scholars and the common people have gradually accepted Deng Ji's existence. If someone is replaced at this time, it may not be possible to take over smoothly.
Dongjun. It would be better to let Deng Ji stay in Dongjun and wait until the time is right before he can be appointed or dismissed.
"Afu, why are you looking at Jiangdong?"
Didn’t you say that you want me to be the governor of Nanyang County?
Ask me what Jiangdong means?
Cao Peng glanced at Cao Cao doubtfully, thought for a while, and replied in a deep voice: "Jiangdong, a land of wealth."
"oh?"
“Although it is now remote and remote, it is indeed a land of plenty.
Sun Quan is now entrenched in Jiangdong, and with the help of his father and brother's remaining shadow, he will do a lot. Although this man is about the same age as me, he is very talented. He is more than enough to guard Jiangdong. However, this man is headstrong and tyrannical, just like the Sun family. Now he is
He is humble and courteous, and seems gentle and gentle, but once he becomes powerful, he will definitely become like Jie and Zhou. However, this person is very strong and submissive on the surface, but he is extremely tough on the inside."
"The story of father and brother?"
Cao Cao nodded lightly, "Sun Jian and Sun Ce are indeed headstrong people."
He changed the topic and said: "I want to take Jiangdong, what should I do?"
You don’t want me to go to Huainan.
Thinking about it, it seems possible...
Gan Ning was in Huainan, and Cao Peng was in the Jianghuai area and also had some prestige.
Cao Peng became more and more confused, but it was hard to ask. He couldn't directly ask Cao Cao: Didn't you ask me to go to Nanyang? Why do you keep asking me about Jiangdong?
"Last year, I told my lord that if we wanted to take Jiangdong, we must first build a navy.
Today, I still hold this view. Without the powerful navy, taking Jiangdong is just a flower in the mirror, a moon in the water, which is not realistic."
Cao Cao nodded and remained silent.
After a while, he said to Cao Peng: "Ah Fu, go on."
Cao Peng couldn't help but smile bitterly.
What to say? In other words, what do you want to hear?
This is a hammer in the east and a *** in the west. I have no idea what you want to hear.
Cao Cao seemed to see Cao Peng's dilemma, so he said: "You said that if you want to capture Jiangdong, you must build a naval army. I thought about it carefully, and it makes sense. However, it is difficult to build a naval army... Wen Ruo once talked with
I have calculated the accounts and said that if we build a navy as large as the Jiangdong Navy, it will cost one billion in food and salary. You also said that Sun Quan has benefited from three generations, and with the help of his father and brother, he has the Jiangdong Navy today. And I..."
Cao Peng seems to understand a little bit!
It's not that Cao Cao didn't want to build a naval army, it was just that he couldn't build it.
Indeed, it is a law that people from the north are good at horses and people from the south are good at boats.
There are no large shipyards in the north, and there are no craftsmen to build ships and sterns. It is indeed not easy to build a navy...
Not to mention, there are very few people who are good at water fighting under Cao Cao.
Cao Peng counted on his fingers and found that there were only a handful of people who were truly good at water fighting.
Among them, people like Zhou Cang are all extremely brilliant navy generals. Building a navy is indeed an unrealistic dream.
"My lord, do you want to take Jingxiang?"
Cao Peng's eyes sparkled, and a smile appeared on his chubby face.
He set his sights on the Jingxiang navy.
"I once heard a saying that the river is like a dragon, with Bashu at the head, Jingxiang as the belly, and Jiangdong as the dragon's tail. If you want to capture Jiangdong, you need to build a naval army, which is true. But if you don't have a foundation, how can you capture Jiangdong? Since ancient times, Qin has
Destroy the Chu State, and go down the river from Bashu, and the Chu State will be destroyed.
As you said, the general trend of the world is nothing but the struggle between east and west, and the struggle between north and south.
Now that the conflict between east and west has gradually come to an end, the struggle between north and south will become more important in the future. Bashu is in danger of Jianmen and has access to large rivers and natural chasms, so it will be difficult to capture it for a while. Although Liu Zhang is weak, it may be difficult for his father and son to manage it in one fell swoop.
Defeat it. If I were Sun Quan, I would definitely plan for Jingxiang and then take the dragon's head, so that the dragon could soar south of the Yangtze River. Therefore, Jingxiang must not be obtained by Sun Quan. I must take it first so that I can feel at ease."
Cao Peng was silent for a moment.
Cao Cao went on to say: "Yuan Rang was brave, but he had more than enough strength, but lack of strategy.
He has always despised Jing Xiang, which is why he is defeated today. I want you to take over Nanyang, but I don't know how you should deal with the current crisis?"
Finally let’s get down to business!
Talking to Cao Cao requires at least a lot of brain cells.
What a fucking tired!
Cao Peng sorted out his thoughts, and after a moment, he said in a deep voice: "My lord, Ah Fu thinks that the Jingzhou of today is the Jingzhou of Liu Biao."
Cao Cao's eyes lit up.
"Liu Bei was just relying on others, but yet he won such a great victory. This is no different than turning his back on foreigners.
If I were Liu Biao, I probably wouldn't be able to bear it. Therefore, Liu Bei's victory is not a good thing for him, but a bad thing. If I were the prefect of Nanyang, I should guard Yexian and Wuyin, and then win over the local gentry and stabilize the people.
When Liu Bei attacks, I will not be able to get out, and Liu Bei will retreat before the end of the year. As the saying goes, it is better to be still than to move, and let him be arrogant, but it will not last long. This is Nanyang's strategy."
Cao Peng did not mention farming, which he was best at.
Because he knew very well that Nanyang County was by no means a good place to implement farming.
Unlike Xingyang, the capital of Xu, after experiencing several wars, the powerful local gentry has long been reduced to its former glory. A large amount of land was deserted and became the soil that gave birth to farming. Moreover, regardless of Haixi, Hexi, or Yanjin where Deng Ji promoted farming
, are all in this situation. In contrast, the situation in Nanyang is quite different, because after the Yellow Turbans, the powerful Jin gentry in Nanyang never experienced a war again.
After Liu Biao captured Jingzhou, he ruled with leniency and benevolence, which led to the rise of the Jin gentry in Nanyang again.
If you want to farm, it will inevitably arouse the opposition of the Nanyang Jin gentry, and may even trigger riots, causing them to completely surrender to Liu Bei.
Therefore, Cao Peng decided to show his weakness and then take advantage of it.
Cao Cao smiled and nodded repeatedly.
In fact, he thinks so in his heart. He has no spare power to deal with Jingzhou now, so he will temporarily let Jingzhou maintain the current situation.
After he kills Yuan Xi, it will be time to clean up Jingzhou.
But before that, he needs a calm person to implement his idea.
Cao Peng's show of weakness is undoubtedly the most consistent with his point of view...
"Afu, I will ask Fengxiao to pick you up later, and you will stay at Bailan Jingshe for the time being.
As for other things, you don't have to worry. In a few days, the envoys from Lu's Han Kingdom will come, and you still need to come out to receive them.
After the Lu family is sent away from Han Dynasty, I will appoint you again.
There is a lot of controversy in the court now. If Lu's surrender to the Han Dynasty is successful, it will be a great achievement, and those people will no longer be able to stop it... Before the envoys of the Lu family from the Han Dynasty arrive, please be aggrieved for a moment and don't show your face. There are many on weekdays.
Research Nanyang County and see if there is anything you can let Fengxiao and I know. In short, for the time being, we will focus on the affairs of the Lu family and the Han Dynasty, and we will discuss it in depth with you later."
