Everyone under Yuan Shang must have heard of Xu Fu's legend. He was a native of Qi during the Qin Dynasty and a famous alchemist at that time.

Xu Fu is knowledgeable and talented, and is proficient in medicine, astronomy, navigation and other knowledge.

In the 28th year of Qin Shihuang, when Ying Zheng first toured the sea, he sent Xu Fu to sail for a long voyage, but he never expected that Xu Fu would never return.

"Records of the Grand Historian" records that "Xu Fu got the plains and the vast mountains, and he stopped the king from coming."

This story tells us two principles. The first principle is that the magical medicine for immortality does not exist in this world, and it is useless to seek it.

The second reason tells us that if we are leaders, we should not place our dreams and obligations on a subordinate, because while placing our dreams, we should also give him power. No matter how big the leader is, once the subordinate has enough ability and is out of control, the result will be to let you go.

When Gan Ning heard Yuan Shang pulling the words on Xu Fu, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He raised his eyes lightly and looked at Yuan Shang anxiously.

"The lord is not Xu Fu, isn't it?"

Yuan Shang smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, it's not him. That old guy has been dead for more than four hundred years. He probably won't even recognize his mother when he picked up the bones."

When Gan Ning heard this, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Yuan Shang said: "There are rumors that after Xu Fu traveled east, he established himself as king in an island in the East China Sea, and abandoned all the tasks assigned to him by Qin Shihuang. He became an island owner on that island, and was very unauthorized."

Ju Shu coughed heavily, looked at Yuan Shang dissatisfiedly and said, "Lord, you are referring to the place where you are the Japanese Yematai, right?"

"Ah?" Yuan Shang was confused when he heard this: "Why... do you know that place?"

Ju Su sighed and said, "Lord, don't talk nonsense if you don't understand. You can ask! Xu Fu crossed the archipelago and acted as a mighty person. Wouldn't he make people laugh when he spread it?"

Yuan Shang smiled ashamed. He really didn't expect that people in this era had already dated Japan, and he thought his remarks today were very fresh.

Ju Su cleared his throat and said, "The place mentioned in the lord's mouth should be the Yematai, the Japanese kingdom outside the East Sea. During the reign of Emperor Guangwu, the lord of this island sent people to our Han territory to visit. At that time, Emperor Guangwu specially gave the envoy a golden seal to consolidate the relationship between neighboring countries and personally called the "Water King and Japanese Envoy". Later, the two countries have been constantly interacting, but in recent years, the princes of our Middle-earth were united and fought with each other, and had no close contact with the foreign country. Therefore, the Yematai and our great Han rarely walked around. However, if Ju remembered correctly, when the Yematai came to pay a visit last time, the country seemed to have suddenly had civil strife and wars. It was not peaceful."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shang slapped the table heavily and said, "Yes, it's this Evil Horse Platform! If there is a record, it would be even better. It means that our Han Dynasty already had a route to its island! Ganning, train your navy well! Then cross the Evil Horse Platform to the east and conquer this Japan!"

Gan Ning didn't know the depth and bowed carelessly: "Leave it to me!"

"Nonsense!" Ju Xu's beard trembled: "This evil horse and my great man are also neighboring countries. We have never been close to each other, but also have good friends. How can we easily attack them? Besides, it is said that the strength of the evil horse and the Japanese country should not be underestimated. There are more than 30 small island countries under its jurisdiction. We are all enemies in the south. Why do we cross the dangerous sea to provoke them?"

Yuan Shang shook his head and said, "As it said, there are no eternal friends or eternal enemies between the two countries. Now we are close to us, maybe we will not deal with each other one day. Are you going to plan ahead? As for the strength of this evil horse-table, let's talk about it... Gan Ning should focus on training naval masters first. By the way, it is best to go to sea to communicate with this island country, and contact them frequently to see how their strength is. If you can fight, you will have a good relationship with them long ago... Besides, there is nothing wrong with being stronger. If Gan Ning's navy can set a big country with more than 30 vassals in the future, it proves that our navy has been trained! Why fear Dongwu?"

Ju Su was stunned when he heard this, and then sighed.

"Make a fuss, just make a fuss. It's a good idea, what is the other person doing for an island country? I'm sick~~"

“…………”

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In order to form a naval army, a series of other major moves were launched in Hebei. For a moment, the pressure on the top leaders of Yecheng seemed to have increased a lot, and the trivial matters in their hands were also more than before.

First, establish a navy army to repair the port, second, instigate Tuoba Liwei and Tadun to expand westward, and third, negotiate entry with the Xianbei Xiongnu. Yuan Shang made many policies drastically and made Raylei popular.

Just as the civil and military officials in Yecheng were busy preparing for these matters and planning, Xu Du's spy Fei Ge sent a letter, which brought a major news.

The imperial court abolished the three dukes and reset the position of prime minister!

"Has Cao Zhi become the prime minister?" Yuan Shang looked at Zhang Yan, who was responsible for collecting information from various places, and asked.

Zhang Yan nodded and said, "Yes! The imperial court has granted and rewarded 27 officials in the capital this time! The three dukes were abolished and the prime minister was reset. With Cao Zhi's identity, this position will naturally belong to him!"

Yuan Shang touched his chin and his eyes frowned slightly.

"This kid became the prime minister at a young age, and he is quite good."

Zhang Yan thought for a while and said, "Lord, at this point, my subordinates have a concern."

Yuan Shang looked up at him and said, "What worries?"

Zhang Yan frowned and said, "In the past, Cao Cao was the supreme emperor of Sikong, and the lord was appointed as the guard of the Nine Ministers. Although he was short, the other party was Cao Cao after all, and his power was in him. That would be fine. But now even Cao Cao's son has become the prime minister and ruled all the civil and military officials in the world. He is inferior to that of thousands of people. The status is too high compared to the lord... Lord, at this time, if you are in the position of the Nine Ministers, it would be a bit unreasonable. In this way, it would be detrimental to the lord's reputation among the lord."

Yuan Shang couldn't help but ponder when he heard this.

Zhang Yan was born into a bandit, and he saw the truth among them. How should the scholars and clans in the world view this matter?

Yuan Shang gently tapped the table and said, "How to deal with this matter according to your opinion?"

Zhang Yan gritted his teeth and said, "What else can I do? I want an official! As the Prime Minister, he is the one who is above the Three Dukes, and holds civil and military officials. It is probably impossible to hand over Cao Zhi over it, but at least he has to have a similar title so that the lord's morale will not be degraded."

Yuan Shang thought for a while and said, "Which official position is good in your opinion?"

Zhang Yan grinned and said, "The one who ranks the most important position under the prime minister is undoubtedly the title of the general. However, the title of the general has always been given to those with great power or relatives, such as Dou Xian, Deng Qi, Liang Ji, etc. How can the lord be called together with these people? Moreover, the title of the general is still low and Cao Zhi. According to the subordinates' wishes, the lord may as well submit a statement and ask the court to entrust the lord as the 'Grand Sima General' to demonstrate his power!"

"Grand Sima General!"

Yuan Shang muttered silently and nodded, "It's quite powerful! But the Grand Sima is just the former title of the Grand Marshal. Now the Three Dukes are abolished. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to use this title?"

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Although the last general was born into a bandit, he liked to read military history! Since the beginning of the Han Dynasty, General Sima respected the position of outstanding military achievements and was named after him. His origin was earlier than the Three Dukes and had nothing to do with the title of the former Taiwei. Moreover, this title was the title of Wei Qing, the Marquis of Changping during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu! It has a profound meaning! If the lord got this title, the future military commander would be pointed at, who in the world dared not to accept it?"

"Grand Sima General..." Yuan Shangzhan smiled: "Who is the hero who is so arrogant when drinking and singing. I am so arrogant to live! I want this title. Cao Zhi, who followed me in Mobei, was half of my student. Now that the student has become a prime minister, I can't leave my master, so I sent Xin Pi as an envoy and went to Xudu with a great gift to pay homage to the emperor, and took the opportunity to ask for the title of General Sima!"

"promise!"

***************

A few days later, the envoy Xin Pi in Yecheng brought the court ceremony to the emperor. He went south across the Yellow River and went to Xudu to ask for an official position for Yuan Shang.

When the news came back to Xudu, Cao Zhi hurriedly summoned his three important officials Xun Yu, Guo Jia and Jia Xu to discuss.

"Three gentlemen, just after the end of this year, Yuan Shang had already paid tribute to the emperor. Now less than a month, his envoy Xinpi came again. According to the opinions of several gentlemen, what did he send someone to do?"

Guo Jia's body was basically healed at this time. Although he was still slightly weak, he was no longer seriously injured.

"Don't worry, Prime Minister, Guo is sure that Yuan Shang has sent an envoy to come this time. Not only does he have no plans, but he still wants to ask us?"

Cao Zhi raised his eyebrows and said, "What does it mean?"

Guo Jia coughed twice and said with a smile: "My lord has become the prime minister, and he is a civil and military man in the world. Yuan Shang is also a human being, and he is a vulgar person. He is so vulgar that he can't stand it. Looking at the position of prime minister, how can he not be jealous? Guo felt that Yuan Shang sent people to Xudu this time, for nothing else, but only his official position."

When Cao Zhi heard this, he seemed to have some clarity and said, "With Mr. Fengxiao's opinion, what official position would Yuan Shang ask me for?"

Guo Jia smiled and said, "It's either the general or the general of the cavalry, there are only these two types."

Cao Zhi continued to ask, "In your opinion, the messenger is here, will I give it to you or not?"

Xun Yu thought for a while and said, "At present, Yuan's army has no action, and our army is also committed to the recovery of people's livelihood. Now it has achieved results. Don't mess with Yuan Shang for the time being. If he wants it, give it to him! It's also considered selling his favor."

Jia Xu also agreed: "When the old lord was alive, he ordered the princes to serve the emperor and gave up the position of general to Yuan Shao. The lord followed the way of acting in his father's way."

Cao Zhi heard this and said, "Since there is no objection, then let's see what Yuan Shang's envoy said the next day? It's not too late to promise him the official position."

Guo Jia heard this and said, "But this official position cannot be given to him for free."

Cao Zhi was stunned: "What do you say?"
Chapter completed!