Cao Cao stood on the roof of a farmer's house and looked thoughtfully into the distance. He was observing the surrounding terrain. It was all flat land. He didn't want to waste time building a high platform, so he went directly to a family's house.
The roof of the house could barely make out the outline of the land being excavated, but the farmer seemed a little frightened. As soon as he got up in the early morning, a group of fierce-looking soldiers entered the house.
Then, this short black man appeared. Without saying anything, he directly put up the ladder and climbed up to the roof of his house. Half an hour had passed. The farmer was holding his wife and children, shivering. He didn’t know about these official duties.
Where did it come from? I had only heard of officials robbing food and money. This roof... The farmer never figured it out. Not long after, another young official came closer.
The surrounding officials bowed to each other one after another, and the farmer also imitated their example and saluted quickly. The young man ignored him and raised his head in surprise, looking at the roof. Then, he also climbed up.
Sima Yi went up to the roof. It was rainy in the south, so the houses were different from those in the north. They seemed a bit steep. Sima Yi walked to Cao Cao's side cautiously. Cao Cao did not look at him. Sima Yi did not dare to speak, for fear of scaring Cao Cao. If he was frightened,
, Situ Gong fell from here, something would have happened. Cao Cao thought for a long time, and suddenly said: "Do you think Yanzhou should be included in the canal?"
Sima Yi, who was looking into the distance, was shocked when he heard Cao Cao's question. His eyes widened and he replied: "Cao Gong, I think there is no need to flow through. Go directly from Xiangyang to Yuzhou, from Yuzhou to Qingxu, to Youzhou."
As for Youzhou and Ningzhou, I think there is no need to go through too much trouble. As long as the canal can reach Luoyang through the river, the purpose of the canal will be completed..."
Cao Cao nodded, looked into the distance, and said: "The canal policy has been revised many times, but it still cannot bypass Luoyang. The main thing is to connect the two rivers. However, it is rare to have such an opportunity to implement such a huge policy.
Nearly 80% of the national treasury's financial resources have been spent on the canal. Since we are sitting on it, we must do our best. Speaking of which, I am not very satisfied with the excavation of Yangzhou. The guy in Jushou fights with me at every turn.
..”
"It really makes me angry that those barbarians are blocking the plan of the canal... I originally didn't want to come to Jingzhou. My original idea was to go directly from Yangzhou to Yuzhou... The reason why I came to Jingzhou is because the Jingzhou Canal is beneficial to Yangzhou.
, can eliminate the shortcomings of Yangzhou, do you understand?"
Sima Yi nodded, knowing what Cao Cao meant in his heart. He said in a low voice: "Mr. Cao, I and Gong Ju are naturally different. Extraordinary people should do extraordinary things, just like Zhuge Liang, a corrupt scholar from Ju.
What kind of false benevolence and righteousness miss the mark...I hate this kind of people the most." After hearing Sima Yi's words, Cao Cao was stunned, turned his head, looked at him, and smiled.
Cao Cao said: "It's good that you understand what I mean. I also brought some people from Yangzhou. I think you will also have prisoners and the like here, which will come in handy. In addition, places like Jiangxia... you understand
I mean?"
Sima Yi narrowed his eyes and nodded. There are many barbarians in Jingzhou. Although these so-called barbarians are not any different from other people, it’s just that the south has always been regarded as a barbarian land, so these people living in the mountains and forests are called
They are barbarians. In fact, they are no different from other people in terms of language, customs, beliefs, etc. They just live in a different environment.
"Zhongda, these things cannot be known to outsiders... If you want to achieve great things, you cannot look forward and backward. Someone has to sacrifice. For this reason, I have not returned to my hometown for two years. The officials who followed me died of illness.
We killed more than a dozen people, some drowned, and some died from exhaustion. They all paid, and those... people also had to pay some. Anyway, in the end, it was not you and me who benefited, but them..."
"I understand what Mr. Situ said. Don't worry, Mr. Situ. I will arrange the arrangements right away. I can still manage the area in Jingbei..." Sima Yi said seriously, and then said: "However, Mr. Cao
Ah, Jingbei is very close to Yangzhou and Jingnan. Both Jushou and Zhuge Liang are pedantic gentlemen. I am afraid that they will go to the temple to impeach Situ...especially Zhuge Liang..." Sima Yi was about to continue
When he said that, he saw Cao Cao turning his head and looking at him with a smile.
Sima Yi was a little unable to speak. Cao Cao slowly approached him and asked in a low voice: "Zhongda?"
"Um?"
"Are you not going to impeach me in the temple in Zhuge Liang's name in order to frame Zhuge Liang? Or are you going to let him know on purpose, let him enmity with me, and kill him with my hands?" Cao Cao asked with a smile.
Sima Yi trembled all over, lowered his head, and his hands trembled slightly. He shook his head and said, "How could I do such a thing? Mr. Situ is worrying too much..."
"Hahaha!" Cao Cao laughed, slapped Sima Yi on the shoulder and said, "I'm joking with you, what are you afraid of? I know you wouldn't do that kind of thing. Normally,
The officials under my command often fight with each other. At this time, I will not pay attention to it. After all, with competition, they will work harder. However, if they fight and disrupt my business, I will
They are usually used as sacrifices to heaven. After all, the construction of canals also requires sacrifices to God..."
Sima Yi forced out a smile and smiled.
"Then you go and do it... Also, remember, no one can know about Jingzhou except you and me..."
"Here you go!"
Sima Yi lowered his head and stood behind him. Cao Cao looked into the distance, his heart full of pride. After he had ordered everything, he seemed to feel more relaxed. He smiled and said: "Actually, people like Ju Shou and Zhuge Liang
, I still respect them very much. People who can maintain their true intentions and have benevolence and righteousness are worthy of admiration. Unlike the two of us who do whatever it takes, hahaha, what a pity, this world is more suitable for people like us!!"
Sima Yi didn't dare to speak at all.
When Sima Yi returned to the mansion, two people were waiting for him. One of them was his brother Sima Lang. Sima Lang was dismissed from his original official position because he was involved in the previous Jiuqing case. Now he is with Sima Yi, more like
He was his subordinate and had no official status. The other one was called Sima Fu, who was Sima Yi's younger brother. He was quite innocent. He was about to participate in the assessment when his brother pulled him over to help.
Seeing Sima Yi approaching, Sima Fu quickly stood up and paid homage to his brother. Sima Yi glanced at this guy, without saying anything, sat down, met Sima Lang with his hands, and sat on the main seat. Although Sima Lang was his
Brother, but now that he has no official status, Sima Yi still has to be the leader in the governor's mansion. Sima Lang asked: "Have you gone to see Duke Cao?" Sima Yi nodded.
"What did he say? He didn't say he wanted to intervene in the Jingzhou matter?"
"Not really, but he wants me to do two things for him."
"What's going on?! Just tell me, brother, and I will definitely do it well!" Sima Fu said happily, patting his chest. He had always wanted to achieve something, and now that he could follow his brother, he was particularly happy.
, Sima Yi frowned and said: "The first thing is to help him hide the things in Jingzhou from outsiders. The second thing is to help him catch Jiangxia Man, Bandun Man and his like... maybe...
He needs to get some slaves from the big clan, and he has to get this manpower anyway..."
After Sima Yi finished speaking, Sima Lang nodded thoughtfully, while Sima Fu was stunned.
He was stunned for a long time, and then asked: "Brother?? You want to arrest people to build the canal?"
"Shuda!! You go to the study and read!!" Sima Lang reprimanded unhappily. Sima Fu looked at Sima Lang in shock, turned his head, looked at Sima Yi again, and then said: "Brother, within Jingzhou,
There have been countless rebellions, all of which were caused by officials oppressing and bullying the barbarians for no reason. If my brother does this, they will definitely rebel. At that time, how could your majesty let my brother go?"
Sima Yi squinted his eyes, shook his head, and said: "You are still young and don't understand. As long as you arrest their clan members and let them build, they will not dare to disobey. In addition, don't say anything barbaric or cruel."
There is nonsense like the people are the same. If there are not enough manpower, even the people, I will let them participate in the excavation. It is what they should do to contribute to the country. The big man has raised them for four hundred years, so they should repay their kindness.
..”
Sima Fu's heart suddenly became cold and his whole body trembled. He looked at Sima Lang. Sima Lang closed his eyes and ignored them. At that moment, the image of the two brothers he admired so much collapsed.
He once admired his two brothers immensely, and in his dreams he always dreamed of being like them, doing things for the king and the country, but at this moment, they made Sima Fu feel strange.
Sima Fu was stunned for a long time, without saying anything, turned around and left the study.
Sima Lang opened his eyes and watched him leave without a trace. He said with some worry: "Zhongda, you shouldn't say these things in front of him. You know, he is still young..." Sima Yi shook his head.
He shook his head and said: "I don't know why my father asked him to become a disciple of that old man Zheng Xuan. Look at what he has become now. It is also a good thing to let him grow up earlier. I will talk to him tomorrow.
..”
Sima Lang nodded, and then he and Sima Yi chatted about the arrests and discussed how to block the news.
The two were talking when suddenly a soldier hurriedly approached and bowed to the two.
"What's wrong?"
"Sima Jun...he just left..."
"Left??" Sima Yi stood up angrily.
"Where did he go??"
The soldier lowered his head in embarrassment and said, "He said he was going to Jingnan to join Zhuge Liang."
Sima Yi stared at the soldier, gritting his teeth and looking extremely gloomy.