ebookland Chapter 125 Cao Cao’s Path
Chapter 125 Cao Cao’s Path
Chapter 125 Cao Cao's Path
You can hear the needle drop.
It’s not because the Sima family has any taboos, but because this is an invitation from the prime minister.
Having the support of the prime minister of the current dynasty is a huge help to any noble family!
"I have known my destiny,"
Sima Jun said with a smile: "I don't care about the affairs of my children and grandchildren."
Yang Biao never had the habit of forcing anyone, so he smiled and said, "Sima Gong is quite open-minded."
Wei Ji's eyes moved slightly, and he said, "Lord Yang, when you cut redundant officials, are you going to cut them in the Eastern Capital, or in the whole country?"
Before he finished speaking, the silence in the small room became even more terrifying than before.
Everyone held their breath and stared at Yang Biao.
It is not difficult to reduce the size of the imperial court. After all, the court has gone through several turmoils, and all the losses have been made up slowly.
However, if the cuts are made to states, counties and their foundations, it will be another matter.
Nowadays, almost all the states and counties of the Han Dynasty are controlled by aristocratic families. If you want to maintain your position firmly in one place, whether it is a state or a county, you must have the support of aristocratic families!
"Today we will only talk about love and romance, not politics." Yang Biao pushed it away lightly.
When everyone saw this, they couldn't help but look at each other, and their hearts were secretly solemn.
The imperial court is obviously not only targeting the redundant officials in Luoyang City!
While hosting a grand banquet at the Prime Minister's Mansion, Liu Bian met Liu Zhang in Fanglin Garden.
It is obvious that Liu Zhang has been eating and drinking well since he was a child. He is plump and fair, with round features and a simple and honest look.
Liu Bian looked at him and asked, "Is Mr. Liu's family seriously ill?"
Liu Zhang sat opposite Liu Bian, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, my father has a serious back ulcer and can no longer lie down. He can only lie on the bed and has not been able to get out of bed for more than a month."
Liu Bian recalled that Liu Yan seemed to have died of a back sore, but he didn't know it had happened so early.
He nodded calmly and said, "You have worked hard, Mr. Liu. I will send someone to take you to the capital, and have the palace doctors treat you. How about that?"
Liu Zhang blinked and said, "Your Majesty, the journey from Yizhou to Beijing is long and arduous. I am afraid that my father will not be able to make it to Beijing."
Seeing him blurt out the answer, Liu Bian knew that he had already prepared for it, and said, "Then let Liu Qing's family stay in Yizhou to recuperate. Previously, the Grand Marshal's Mansion and the Shangshutai transferred some people from Yizhou to the capital. What do Liu Qing's family think?"
Liu Zhang remained calm and said, "Your Majesty, as far as I know, Huang Zhong seems to have gone to Taiyuan. As for the others, I don't know."
Huang Zhong is not well-known in Yizhou now. Liu Yan only agreed to Huang Zhong and would not let others go. His intention can be imagined.
However, just one Huang Zhong is enough for him to lose!
Liu Bian picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and said with a smile: "If you are fine, write to Liu Qingjia and tell him about the situation in Luoyang City. When Liu Qingjia's health improves, come to the capital. Father trusts Liu Qingjia, and I also hope that Liu Qingjia can come to the capital to help me."
"I obey your order." Liu Zhang said.
Liu Bian narrowed his eyes slightly. Liu Zhang showed no emotion at all from beginning to end.
'Is it that he expected all my questions, or is he just too cunning?'
Liu Bian turned his gaze and said with a smile: "Mr. Liu, what do you think of the court's reduction of redundant officials?"
Liu Zhang did not change his movements at all after he knelt down, only his lips moved. When he heard Liu Bian's question, he paused for a moment and said, "Your Majesty is wise, and the officials in the court are wise. This move is in line with the will of heaven and the will of the people. Yizhou should comply with it."
"It's unusual."
Liu Bian's eyes were filled with smiles. It turned out that Liu Zhang was not as honest as he looked.
Since you are so cunning, you can't waste it.
Liu Bian put down his teacup and said, "Since you have come to the capital, you should not be idle. You should help me with my worries. You should join the Shangshutai and serve as Shangshu Lingshi to assist Wang Yun and be responsible for the reduction of redundant officials this time."
Liu Zhang's face twitched involuntarily, and after a moment he raised his hand and said, "I accept your order and thank you."
Reducing the number of officials will offend people!
At this time, a middle eunuch quietly walked in, took a look at the situation, came to Liu Bian, handed him a memorial, and said, "Your Majesty, this was urgently sent by the Grand Marshal's Mansion."
Liu Bian said "oh" and took it. After reading it, he looked normal and fell into deep thought.
The content of this memorial was that Cao Cao had trained his soldiers too harshly in the Imperial Guards camp, and more than a dozen people had been exhausted to death. At first, when it came to one or two people, the people in the Imperial Guards camp did not take it seriously, but when it came to more than ten people, they realized the seriousness of the matter and began to report it.
Liu Bian's eyes were calm and he was thinking constantly in his mind.
He did not blame Cao Cao for the deaths during military training, but he had been considering Cao Cao's future direction - should he pursue a career as a civil official or a military commander?
Cao Cao is definitely a capable person. Although he has not shown it yet, he has amazing potential.
Whether from the evaluation of him by his contemporaries or looking at history, there are definitely only a handful of people who can compare with his abilities.
"Civil official or military general?"
Liu Bian frowned slowly, feeling unsure and hesitant.
In the past, he wanted to wait and see and give Cao Cao some opportunities to exercise. But Cao Cao caused trouble in the Imperial Army camp, and he had no choice but to make a decision.
After a long while, Liu Bian still hesitated and said, "Pan Yin, pass the order, Cao Cao... enter the palace."
"Yes." Pan Yin still didn't know what was going on.
Liu Bian closed the memorial, collected his thoughts, looked at Pan Yin and asked, "Is there anything else going on outside the palace?"
Pan Yin glanced at Liu Zhang, walked to Liu Bian's side and spoke in a low voice.
When he finished speaking, Liu Bian suppressed a smile and said, "How could a person from an aristocratic family do such a thing?"
Liu Bian had never expected Wang Lang to use such means to resolve the disturbance of the students. He had thought that these well-educated people from aristocratic families would come up with some conspiracy, but he had never expected it to be so childish.
“But it’s useful after all.”
Liu Bian nodded, feeling somewhat relieved that more and more people were coming out to do things, and there was no need for him to be at the forefront.
Pan Yin didn't say anything. He waited for a while, then took a document and handed it to Liu Bian.
Liu Bian took it and immediately became serious after just one glance.
This is the guest list for the banquet at the Prime Minister's Mansion. Although there are many uncommon characters, Liu Bian can still see a lot of clues from the surnames.
The noble families in the opposition invited by the Yang family are all well-known and famous families in the Han Dynasty, and some are even the top noble families. Naturally, those small families are not worthy of entering the Prime Minister's Mansion!
Looking at the familiar and unfamiliar names, some surnames are quite special, such as Sima, Gongsun, Zhugong, Yang and so on.
He still underestimated the influence of the Yang family!
No wonder the Yuan family was so prominent in later generations. Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao were still among the most powerful forces in the two places. If they could work together, or know how to restrain themselves and not expand so quickly, the Han Dynasty would undoubtedly be renamed Yuan!
He will definitely not work as hard as Cao Cao, and he will not even become the second Wang Mang!
For a moment, countless thoughts flashed through Liu Bian's mind, until he felt a chill, and then he suddenly woke up.
Looking up, I saw snowflakes falling from the sky without me noticing.
Liu Bian had a special liking for snow, especially walking in the snow and listening to the crackling sound under his feet.
Reaching out to catch a snowflake, Liu Bian looked at Liu Zhang, and suddenly a thought popped into his mind: military exercise!
The powerful military exercise is enough to deter some people from their rebellious intentions, making them restrain themselves and give him more time!
When Liu Bian thought of this, he couldn't suppress the smile on his face.
Although Liu Zhang lowered his head, he had actually been observing Liu Bian quietly. Seeing that Liu Bian had been silent for such a long time, with his expression constantly changing, and now he had a strange smile, he felt a pang in his heart and quickly lowered his head.
With the idea of military exercises, Liu Bian felt relieved. He stood up and said, "Sir, come with me for a walk and tell me about the situation in Yizhou."
Liu Zhang quickly stood up and said honestly, "Yes."
Liu Bian walked out of the pavilion. There was no snow on the ground yet. He walked leisurely and looked towards the north.
In the northeast direction, Xun You was escorting Ying Shao out of Weijun and into Handan with General Huangfu Jian and less than 300 imperial guards, heading straight for Julu.
Ying Shao was very thin, with long and thin facial corners, an ordinary face and a dull expression, except for his very thick beard.
He looked up at the heavy snow falling from the sky.
Xun You saw this and stepped forward and said, "Sir, it will probably take us three days to reach Ye County."
Ye County is the seat of Jizhou.
Ying Shao did not respond, his expression remained calm.
Xun You had met Ying Shao several times before, but he had never expected that he had such a calm personality.
"I don't know if he can stabilize Jizhou." Xun You couldn't help but worry.
The importance of Jizhou lies not only in its salt administration, but also in the center of "China", the head of the nine states, and it is related to the destiny of the country!
Suddenly, Huangfu Jian rode forward and whispered, "Minister Xun, something is wrong."
Xun You was startled, turned around and looked around, seeing heavy snow and no one around, he asked, "What did you find?"
Huangfu Jianchang said: "It's too quiet, there must be bandits here."
Jizhou was where the Yellow Turban Rebellion started. Although it was pacified several times, Jizhou was basically devastated. Not only was the imperial court unable to control it, but the local governors and prefects were also powerless.
Nine out of ten houses are empty and bandits are rampant.
Xun You looked gloomy and said, "Send more people to investigate. Don't rest tonight. Let's go to Julu first."
Huangfu Jian nodded calmly, turned around and called Shi A, and then more than a dozen fast horses galloped out separately.
Ying Shao glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and remained silent.
Xun You remained silent with a gloomy face, and gradually felt uneasy.
Although they hid their identities and never contacted anyone, it was inevitable that the news would leak out as they traveled all the way from Luoyang.
Regardless of whether they are bandits or people with ulterior motives, all of them are fat meat!
After walking for a while, a horse galloped back, knelt on one knee, and said loudly: "Reporting to the envoy and Minister Xun, there is a group of people blocking the road ten miles ahead. They look like bandits."
Xun You's expression suddenly turned cold, and he asked anxiously, "How many people are there?"
The soldier hesitated for a moment and said, "We estimate there are at least two thousand people."
two thousand!
Everyone changed color, there were only two or three hundred of them!
It was only ten miles, and it was too late for them to turn back!
Xun You thought anxiously and said to Ying Shao, "Sir, how about I lead them away while you take some people through and we meet up in Ye."
Ying Shao remained indifferent, looking ahead, and said, "Are you sure they are bandits and not someone pretending to be them?"
The soldier immediately said, "That village is at least five or six years old. It doesn't look like it was newly built."
"Minister Xun, let's talk for a few minutes alone." Ying Shao turned and said to Xun You with a calm expression and tone.
Xun You frowned and nodded.
The two men rode their horses and walked a long way.
Ying Shao said: "I came here alone, without soldiers or food, I am afraid it will be difficult to gain a foothold. I want to persuade these bandits to surrender."
The Han army was mainly recruited, and when the war was going on, it was also common to recruit bandits to fill the army.
Xun You was stunned. He never expected that Ying Shao would come up with such an idea!
He only had less than three hundred imperial guards, and wanting to recruit two thousand people to surrender was not something he could do with empty promises.
Seeing that Xun You was silent, Ying Shao raised his hand and said, "Please help me, Minister Xun."
Xun You's expression was as stern as iron, and he was thinking of various solutions in his mind.
He had never been in a battle, had no combat experience, and was racking his brain.
Ying Shao didn't say anything, just looked at him quietly.
After a long while, Xun You said solemnly: "Use the strategy of confusing the enemy!"
"It's all thanks to Minister Xun." Ying Shao raised his hand and said.
Xun You nodded slightly. His mission was to escort Ying Shao to Jizhou, help him gain a foothold, and gather some troops, which was also what he should do.
'Two thousand gangsters.'
Xun You felt as if a huge stone had dropped from his heart. They had no choice but to make a serious plan.
The two of them reunited with Huangfu Jianchang and others and began to plan carefully.
Huangfu Jianchang also didn't expect that Ying Shao was not afraid at all and actually wanted to surrender the bandits!
Asking for a monthly ticket~~