The weather is getting colder. Fortunately, the south is not as cold as the north. Even at the end of the year, the ground is not frozen to death. The scorching sun is shining brightly, bringing a touch of warmth to the people working on the ground. Inside and outside the county,
Countless people are busy, many of them are people from Yangzhou. During the busy farming season, Cao Cao did not use them, but now, most of the people have nothing to be busy with, so Cao Cao asked them to help.
On the other side, there is a group of prisoners. These people are wearing clothes that can barely cover their bodies and are working here. These are prisoners captured from overseas. There are soldiers guarding them around them so that they cannot escape.
, under the high-intensity work, these people were almost paralyzed by fatigue, moving their steps with difficulty, waving the tools in their hands numbly, but they did not dare to stop for a moment.
The soldiers patrolling around also stared at them coldly, leaving them no chance to relax. As long as they dared to relax, they would be beaten head-on. Since they were caught, they began to dig the canal.
During this period, many people were beaten to death and many were exhausted. In short, life was very difficult, and the food they received every day was only enough to fill their stomachs.
It can be said that Cao Cao's methods towards them now would have made Dong Zhuo tremble when he saw it. He was not so ruthless. In some aspects, Cao Cao can be said to be more ruthless than Dong Zhuo. Now under Cao Cao
In his eyes, he only wanted to dig the canal sooner and complete the great cause in his heart. As for how many lives it would take to complete this great cause, he didn't care at all.
The common people who were working often took a peek at the captives and expressed sympathy for them. Compared with the captives, the common people were treated much better. Not only did they have free meals, but they also received some subsidies.
They are not so resistant to working, and they should be contented compared to the poor people on the other side.
However, the officials in Yangzhou were very opposed to Cao Cao's use of these labors, including Ju Shou. They probably felt that Cao Cao's behavior was unbenevolent, but they had no way to deal with Cao Cao, who was a Situ.
Ju Shou tried to dissuade or block him many times, but Cao Cao also avoided it, not caring about his thoughts at all, and just wanted to finish it as soon as possible.
Cao Cao was discussing the next goal with several close officials. An angry Jushu came over. He frowned, his anger directly revealed on his face. The soldiers around him did not dare to stop him, so he walked straight away.
Entering this small pavilion, Cao Cao raised his head with a smile, looked at the officials around him, and said: "You have to deliver these documents in person. Remember, carefully observe their progress. I need to report it truthfully!"
The officials nodded and left. The construction of the canal this time was carried out simultaneously in the entire Yangzhou. Cao Cao had been running around these days and almost never stopped. This was the reason why Jushou had not been able to see him for so long.
After giving orders to the officials, Cao Cao turned around, saw Ju Shou in front of him, and said with a smile: "Master Ju! I haven't seen you for a long time. I miss you so much. Today I finally get to meet you!!"
Jushou ignored Cao Cao's enthusiasm, frowned and said: "In these six days, nearly a thousand people died! Cao Mengde, Cao Mengde, a thousand people died in our county alone! Are you prepared?
Are you taking their lives to fill this canal??!" Hearing Jushu's words, Cao Cao was also a little surprised and asked quickly: "How many Yangzhou people died??"
Jushou was stunned, shook his head, and said: "The people of Yangzhou are fine, but..."
"Come, sit...sit..." Cao Cao pulled him and they sat down.
"Master Ju... In this year, I dug nearly half of the Yangzhou Canal... Of course, I don't need to say more about this, but you have to know that Mr. Xing, who is far away in Liangzhou,
He also started construction like me, but so far, he has not been able to complete even one county. Ju Gong, does he know why I can achieve this?" Cao Cao asked with a smile, Ju Shou was a little angry.
Said: "That's because you treat people as livestock!!"
"Oh? People??" Cao Cao was stunned and asked with a smile: "Jugong, I am the Situ of the Han Dynasty. The survival and death of the people in the Han Dynasty are under my jurisdiction. Those outside the Han Dynasty are not under my control.
.Whatever they do, that is their business... As long as I can treat the people in the territory of the Han Dynasty as human beings... that's all."
"Cao Mengde...even if they are prisoners of war, why do you press so hard? Even if you don't pay attention, at least you can't force them to death! If they all die, who will build the canal?"
"No, You Jun has already set off to arrest people..." Cao Cao smiled and shook his head.
Jushou looked at him helplessly and said: "After all, Mr. Cao has read the books of sages. How can he do such a thing? He said he was educating the people, so why didn't he do this?"
"Ju Gong!!!" Cao Cao said solemnly: "Do you believe that if we change the position and let them capture our people, they will be more ruthless... There will be no chance of survival at all!!"
Jushou nodded and said equally seriously: "I know they will do this."
"You may be scolding me in your heart for worrying about some captives outside the Great Wall instead of caring for the people. However, Meng De, I hope you know that my Chinese people, since enlightenment and enlightenment, have become
Good people, many of our sages are based on benevolence and righteousness, the people are honest, and the emperor is benevolent. This is not only for the country, but also for the nation. If we encounter foreign enemies, even an old man like me will definitely draw my sword.
, kill a few of them in exchange for my old life!!!"
"But it's different now. They are all defenseless and weak. I don't want your actions to change my big man's benevolent heart and make my people become tyrannical and cruel, just like them!!"
Hearing Ju Shou's words, Cao Cao couldn't help laughing. He couldn't help it.
"Hahaha!!" Cao Cao laughed loudly, and Jushu's face gradually turned green and black. He asked: "Mr. Cao? Is there something wrong with what I said??" Cao Cao suddenly stopped laughing and slowly
Approaching Ju Shuo, his eyes were extremely cold, "Jugong... the First Emperor did not unify the countries by virtue of benevolence and righteousness. I, Taizu, Taizong, and Emperor Shizu, did not rely on benevolence and righteousness to make the Han Dynasty strong... This world
, in Cao’s view, it’s nothing more than the jungle of the jungle..."
"When the big man is so powerful, if we don't eat more meat... I'm afraid someone will come to eat our meat in the future..."
"Mr. Ju has a kind heart. As a great sage, he has the spirit of all people in the world. Cao admires him. It's a pity that Cao can't learn from him... Does Mr. Ju want to eat meat, or does he want to be treated as meat?"
Ju Shou stood up in horror. Looking at the man in front of him, he felt terrified. He stretched out his hand and pointed at Cao Cao, but he was speechless. Seeing Ju Shou's appearance, Cao Cao found it interesting and couldn't help it.
He laughed again, and the coldness just now disappeared immediately. It seemed that Cao Cao was still the same humorous short black old man, no different, but Jushou's eyes were already different.
The man sitting in front of him had just allowed him to see his true heart. It was just a glance, but it gave him endless fear. This man seemed to be afraid of nothing and nothing. In his heart, from beginning to end, there was only
Apart from his own ambitions, nothing else would enter his eyes. Looking at Ju Shou, Cao Cao laughed and asked: "I see, by the end of next spring at the latest, most of the canals in Yangzhou will be able to
It’s done. Next, I’m going to Jingzhou...I still have to trouble you for the rest of the things here.”
Jushu was speechless, trembling, and turned around to leave.
Cao Cao shook his head and continued to look at his map.
Little did Cao Cao know that his actions in Yangzhou had already caused a sensation in the whole of Luoyang. During the Jianning period, Dong Zhuo was insulted by the courtiers because of his harsh treatment of prisoners. Now, Cao Cao is far superior to Dong Zhuo. His treatment of prisoners
Cruelty was something that had almost never happened in the Han Dynasty. For the wise men of the Han Dynasty, such an approach was very excessive. They were all Confucian scholars with a benevolent heart.
Cao Cao was different. He read Confucian classics and acted more ruthlessly than Legalists.
The ministers in the court impeached Cao Cao one after another. These reports made Liu Xi dare not go out easily. Fortunately, Empress Lu was pregnant, so Liu Xi used this excuse to hide in the palace and was not prepared to deal with this.
Of course, the matter could not be left alone. In the end, the matter fell into the hands of Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, and Sima Yi, and the emperor asked them to take charge of handling the matter.
Most of the courtiers knew that Liu Sikong was a benevolent and righteous person, and they were extremely happy to hear that Liu Sikong was handed over to him, thinking that Situ would definitely make concessions.
In Sikong Mansion, Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, and Sima Yi were sitting together.
"The queen is pregnant, and your majesty is a father for the first time. It is inconvenient to disturb the affairs of the court. The three of us will handle the affairs of Sikong... I have to trouble the two of you..." Liu Bei said with a smile,
However, Sima Yi shook his head and said: "Before meeting Sikong, we were all juniors and did not dare to discuss this matter with Sikong. The matter still needs to be decided by Sikong, and we will just carry it out..."
Hearing Sima Yi's words, Liu Bei smiled and said: "No, you two are rare heroes among our great men. If you don't participate, I won't be able to make a decision..."
"Since Sikong has given orders, we will certainly not dare to disobey them."
The two were chatting, but Zhuge Liang seemed a little impatient. He didn't like these sects. Liu Bei could easily see Zhuge Liang's thoughts and said directly: "Kong Ming, Zhongda, I believe you have also learned about Cao Gong.
The construction of the canal in Yangzhou resulted in more than 400 casualties and prisoners... It really shocked the temple..." Liu Bei said, but said helplessly: "However, I heard that things are not what they said.
..."
"After those people were captured, they were not accustomed to the climate, so they suffered from diseases, and there were many casualties..."
Hearing Liu Bei's words, Sima Yi mostly understood what he meant, but Zhuge Liang said seriously: "Mr. Xuande, I think it's better to send some people to go there to see the situation there for yourself?"
"Kong Ming's words are reasonable... But, Kong Ming, now the temples are busy. I am busy with scientific achievements, and you are also busy with official studies. Who can go and take a look?"
"But, Mr. Xuande, what happened there involves human lives after all..." Zhuge Liang frowned, and just as he was about to continue, Liu Bei stood up and said solemnly: "I understand what Kong Ming said.
Yes, I was very sad when I heard that those laborers suffered heavy casualties...I wish I could go there now and help them, but...it was of no use to me in the past...there is no use in punishing Sikong!!"
"Those working people do not need our condolences and visits, nor do they need us to punish Sikong. What they need is change, a doctor... In this way, I will personally find a doctor to help them solve the problem.
The problem of dissatisfaction... In addition, I am also going to report to His Majesty Cao Situ and ask His Majesty to issue an edict, asking him to treat these laborers well, control the disease, and not let the disease spread everywhere..."
"Do you think this is okay?" After Liu Bei finished speaking, he looked at them and asked.
Sima Yi's mouth moved, nodded, and said: "I'm here."
Zhuge Liang looked at Liu Bei for a long time and then nodded helplessly.