Jia Xu was in the hall, discussing matters with Wei Yan, who had come from afar.
Wei Yan now went out of Zhenye County to form a three-way confrontation with Dianman Xu Yi, which made it impossible for Liu Bei's troops to advance any further, and the two sides were temporarily in a stalemate. Hearing that Cao Peng was appointed as the governor of Nanyang, he established the county government in Wuyin County.
In both public and private matters, Wei Yan would come to visit. In terms of public affairs, Wei Yan paid homage to the Zhonglang General, and Cao Peng was the governor of Nanyang, and he was under Cao Peng's account; in private matters, the friendship forged at Nine Girls City back then has now been eliminated.
Nearly ten years. Therefore, Wei Yan came from Ye County early and wanted to meet Cao Peng...
"Youxue is staying in Zhongyang Town temporarily?"
Jia Xu put down an official document in his hand in shock, looking thoughtful.
"Yes, Governor Cao ordered someone to deliver a message, saying that he would leave Zhongyang Town on the first day of the first lunar month and arrive in Wuyin County that night. But..."
"Just what?"
"Prefect Cao's people bought grain, rice, wine and water in the county town, causing chaos in the market.
Moreover, Governor Cao also asked people to bring all the cooks in the city to Zhongyang Town, causing people to panic...According to someone from Governor Cao, Governor Cao planned to hold a flowing-water banquet in Zhongyang Town for three days. I don’t know what it was exactly.
The intention is: Tai Zhong, why don’t you send someone to ask?”
Jia Xu suddenly smiled!
"No need, tell me below that Governor Cao is returning home in fine clothes. He is just having fun with his fellow villagers. There is no need to worry."
"Here!"
After the messenger retreated, Jia Xu turned around and asked, "I knew that boy was the most suitable candidate for the post of Nanyang Prefect."
Wei Yan was shocked when he heard this, "How can Taizhong say this?"
"The author knows, why does that kid want to stay in Zhongyang Town?"
"This... is normal.
When a wanderer returns to his hometown, he should celebrate it. When the general came out of Huyang, he also returned to his hometown to have a drink with his fellow villagers. Humanity is to return home in rich clothes, don't you know?"
Jia Xu shook his head and said with a smile: "If that's all, then Cao Youxue thinks it's simple.
As far as I know, although he has lived in Zhongyang Town for many years, he is not a prominent family. I have sent people to inquire before, and many people have even forgotten the existence of the Cao family. To be honest, how close he is to Zhongyang Town.
I don't really believe in deep feelings.
Nanyang, since Emperor Guangwu's revival, has been the place where the township party is most serious.
When Cao Youxue left Nanyang Town, he had to follow the local customs. In my opinion, when he was in Zhongyang Town, he was not simply returning to his hometown in fine clothes. I'm afraid there were still local party members to gain a foothold in it. This is in line with the custom of Nanyang County, at least he was there
Wuyin can have a foothold."
Xiangdang generally refers to hometown.
The ancients regarded 500 families as a party and 12,500 families as a township. Together they were called a township party.
However, under certain circumstances, the township party still has a very special meaning... Nanyang County is a region where the township party is extremely popular. In every region, there will be a township party. Although it is controlled by the government,
But he was also vaguely detached from the government.
Just like Cen Hao and Cheng Jin mentioned before.
Cen Hao ruled Nanyang as a meritorious official. Although Cheng Jin was an official of the imperial court, he could not control Nanyang and had to be controlled by Cen Hao.
Among them, there is the power of the township party.
In other words, this rural party is quite similar to later nativism.
It would be difficult to succeed in Nanyang without the support of the township party. Although Cao Peng was from Nanyang, he had been away from his hometown for a long time and had no roots in Nanyang. Therefore, if he wanted to establish himself in Nanyang County, he must have the support of the township party.
And Cao Peng's township party was in Zhongyang Town.
Zhongyang Town has a population of more than 3,700 people.
But this is only the local population statistics of Zhongyang Town. In fact, there are many people from Zhongyang Town who came out of Zhongyang Town and settled in Wuyin County or other places. These people add up to nearly six to seven thousand people.
There are many, which can be regarded as a great strength of Wuyin County.
However, since there have never been any outstanding figures in Zhongyang Town, such a large population cannot form a force. This also makes Zhongyang Town’s status in Wuyin County always low. In those days, you could get married in Zhongyang
The town was rampant, partly because Cheng Yao was the magistrate of Wuyin County, but also because Zhongyang Town could not produce anyone who could compete with Cheng Jia.
That is, a leader like a flag.
To give another example, everyone knows that Nanyang County is full of powerful people.
But these powerful people are mostly supported by the township party. For example, the Cen family and the Deng family in Jiyang. The reason why the Cen family was able to suppress the Deng family was because of the appearance of Cen Hao. But no matter how powerful the Cen family was, they could never catch up.
He left the Deng family because of the strength of the Deng family’s rural party.
Nanyang, since the Eastern Han Dynasty, has had ten powerful men.
But whether it is the Deng family and Cen family in Jiyang, the Zong family in Rangcheng, the Xinye Lai family, etc., they all have extremely powerful rural party forces behind them.
Previously, Xiahou Dun was in Nanyang. Although he had strong troops, he was still unable to integrate into Nanyang. The reason was that he was above the word "township party". On the other hand, Liu Bei, after leaving the town of Xinye, vigorously recruited local scholars. Poor scholars such as Zhang Cun
Wang Lian and Gao Shi are like the five permanent members of the Ma family. Coupled with Zhuge Liang's mediation and Xun Chen's assistance on the side, they still got the support of many powerful people...
Now, when Cao Peng returns to Nanyang, he must have strong enough support from the township party.
Whether it was Cao Peng's choice to make Wuyin the county government or his stay in Zhongyang Town, it all revealed his desire to form a rural party and become independent.
Jia Xu vaguely guessed Cao Peng's thoughts and couldn't help but nod secretly.
Cao Peng undoubtedly sent a message to the entire Nanyang County through Zhongyang Town: I am from Nanyang, and I should put Nanyang's interests first.
"The article is long."
"The end will be here."
"Prefect Cao has begun to make plans, and he probably has a clue.
I think he will definitely make other moves next. Let’s not wait for him any longer. You can return to Ye County immediately and wait for orders at any time. Hehe, Nanyang will probably become lively now. After you return to Ye County,
Be careful and watch out for Liu Bei's actions."
Wei Yan is a smart man.
Historically, he dared to make a bold statement to Liu Bei: If Cao Cao brings all the troops in the world, the lord will eventually reject them; if Cao Cao unites an army of 100,000 people, the lord will eventually swallow them up.
Maybe, some people think that Wei Yan is bragging.
But being able to say such words also shows that Wei Yan himself is a very capable person.
A capable person is usually quick-witted. He may not have understood it at first, but after Jia Xu said a word, he realized it. Has Cao Peng already begun to make plans? Then there will inevitably be a fight between dragons and tigers.
, the excitement is about to begin!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++
It's night.
But Zhongyang Town was decorated with lights and colorful, noisy and lively.
Throughout the town, pine oil torches can be seen everywhere, lighting up like daylight.
On the long street outside the door of Chen's residence, there is a row of food tables, with hundreds of tables of various sizes. Drinks and drinks are constantly being delivered, and dozens of cooks from Wuyin County are busy cooking.
The cooked dishes are delivered non-stop. The so-called flowing banquet is an uninterrupted banquet. You can go home when you are full, have a good sleep, and then come over to eat again. There are no restrictions.
Generally speaking, setting up a flowing banquet is a great and happy event, and it requires financial support from the sponsor.
Cao Peng is a big benefactor, and for the people of Zhongyang Town, Cao Peng, who is now the governor of Nanyang, will undoubtedly become the pride of the people of Zhongyang Town. The conditions of Chen Shi's family are not too bad, and they have a quite big yard.
, and several houses. Cao Peng was in the hall of Chen's house, inviting everyone to drink. During the banquet, he was seen chatting and laughing. Sometimes he told everyone about his life in Zhongyang Town, and sometimes he talked about Zhongyang Town.
The future of Yangzhen. Unknowingly, the repairs of Cao's ancestral house and Wang Meng's residence were arranged.
"Old Zhang!"
Cao Peng held the wine cup and walked to Zhang Cheng's side with a smile.
Zhang Cheng was the third elder in Zhongyang Town. Although he was frightened and uneasy, he had to attend this banquet.
Seeing Cao Peng coming, he stood up quickly, bowed his body, and showed a flattering smile.
"Master Taishou."
"Hey, you and I, fellow countrymen, don't use this kind of title. Isn't it a bit alienating?
Let the past be forgotten. The current situation in Nanyang is in chaos. I have returned to my hometown for the first time, and I still need all the fellow villagers to work together to run the business. After all, Nanyang is also the capital of Emperor Guangwu, and we must not be occupied by some outsiders.
It’s a domineering thing here, isn’t it?”
"That's it, that's it!"
Zhang Cheng couldn't help but nodded repeatedly, and the elders in the hall also expressed their agreement.
Most of the people who could sit in this hall were respected and capable masters of Zhongyang Town. When Cao Peng saw everyone nodding, his smile became even brighter.
"Just now Mr. Zhang asked me to resign as the third elder, and I agreed.
Mr. Zhang has worked hard in Zhongyang Town over the years and has made great achievements, and it is time to take care of his old age. However, as for the candidate for the new three elders, you still need to pay more attention to me and give me a candidate. But I don’t know, does Mr. Zhang have any recommendations?
So that the kid can understand?"
Zhang becomes a mature man.
He knew very well that he had offended Cao Peng's family in his early years.
Now, Cao Peng will not embarrass him, but it does not mean that he can continue to be in charge of Zhongyang Town.
There will inevitably be changes in the selection of the three elders of Zhongyang Town. Cao Peng's aide Deng Zhi had already made it clear before that he would not be able to continue to serve as the third elder. Therefore, before the banquet started, Zhang Cheng came to Chen
In the Shi family, he apologized to Cao Peng and resigned from his position as the third elder.
This is a matter of attitude!
Although resigning as the third elder will lower the status of Zhang Cheng's family.
But it can preserve the family... Moreover, Zhang Cheng also knows very well that the rise of the Cao family has destined that the pattern of Zhongyang Town will undergo tremendous changes. In the past, Zhang Cheng could rely on being able to get things from both sides and relying on his family property.
The third elder's seat. But now, it is no longer his turn to sit down.
Rather than being driven away by Cao Peng, it is better to take the initiative.
Obviously, Cao Peng also appreciated Zhang Cheng's knowledge and interest very much.
So after the banquet started, he was always friendly towards Zhang Cheng and his son.
The three elders are lower-level officials in the county, similar to the position of the township chief in later generations. They are responsible for verifying, mediating disputes, providing education, and at the same time ensuring the adequate collection of taxes. This kind of position is generally held by the elders. Others
The rights and tasks are like the patriarch of a clan. However, the object of the patriarch is the clan; while the three elders have a very strong regional nature and are responsible for a region.
Zhang Cheng and the elders in the hall looked at each other and couldn't help but secretly smile bitterly.
From this moment on, Zhongyang Town’s previously fragmented situation will change. From now on, Zhongyang Town will have a strong imprint of the Cao family...
