Section 4: The

Cao Pi stuck his head out of the car. Before he got out of the car, he glanced at several carriages parked in the woods. His eyes couldn't help but shrink and relaxed again in an instant. His arms spread out, and his sleeves floated, like a bird passing through the blue sky, jumping down from the car quickly and freely, with his steps light and silent, lighter than a raccoon.

"Zihuan, your body movements are getting more and more neat." Cao Zhen, who rushed over, raised his thumbs up and praised.

Cao Pi smiled indifferently, and a hint of pride in his modesty: "Zi Dan has gone too far. Has Cang Shu arrived?" He asked, pointing to the vehicle in the distance.

"It's here, I just arrived at the hour of You in the afternoon." Cao Zhen chuckled softly, walked to Cao Pi as he spoke, lowered his voice and said, "He is here, Mrs. Huan is holding her grandson and has already talked to the Prime Minister."

"Is that so? He brought his son back, why didn't he hear him? No wonder he walked so slowly this time." Cao Pi smiled, and his hand tidied up his clothes suddenly stopped. He pulled up the milky white jade pendant on his waist, thought for a while, took the jade and tucked it in his arms, and walked towards the long dike.

Cao Cao looked at Hu Zi in Mrs. Huan's arms with interest, stretched out to touch his chubby little face, which made Hu Zi curl his mouth and burst into tears. Then he stopped and smiled proudly: "Cang Shu, this kid is interesting, it looks exactly the same as when you were a child, especially those two eyes, which are so dazzling that it makes people feel more and more happy." He smacked his lips, and was still unsatisfied: "It just seems that he is a little afraid of me, but it's still unfamiliar. So, don't take him away. A few people live here with me, so that I can get closer to him, so that I won't be afraid of me. By the way, Cang Shu, you have a lot of things, so I will do the enlightenment of this kid..."

Cao Chong smiled. Before he could speak, a hearty laughter came from outside: "With my father's personal enlightenment, my Cao family will have another invincible general." Before he finished speaking, Cao Pi walked in with a smile, first bowed to Cao Cao, turned around and bowed to Mrs. Huan, then stuck his head out to look at Hu Zi, turned around and blamed Cao Chong, saying, "Cang Shu, you didn't tell me earlier. If you knew you brought your son back, I, the uncle, would have to bring some gifts no matter what. You see, I didn't bring anything now, and I didn't even have a gift for a meeting. It's really rude. I'll send you a copy to make up for it, don't be surprised."

"How dare you?" Cao Chong smiled repeatedly, "A little baby, how can he ask for any ritual? When he grows up, his brother will teach him two sword techniques, even if he is lucky."

Cao Pi laughed loudly, stretched out his hand and pinched Hu Zi's cheek, and smiled happily, "What's the matter? My two tattered sword techniques are not a treasure. If he wants to learn it, I'll pass it on to him."

Cao Cao looked at Cao Pi and waved to Mrs. Huan. Mrs. Huan knew that they were going to talk about business, so she hurriedly left and happily hugged Hu Zi and left. Cao Cao turned around and walked towards the seat in front of the screen. Cao Pi hurriedly stepped forward to support Cao Cao's arm. Cao Cao shook his hand away, knocked his calf bone with the Qiong stick in his hand, and said unhappily: "Am I that old? Use you to help me?"

Cao Pi was a little embarrassed. He saw that Cao Chong used to support Cao Cao, but Cao Cao always smiled. He thought Cao Cao must be very helpful, so he rushed forward to help him, but he was disappointed. He quickly smiled and said, "Of course my father is not old. My son is just doing his best to do his best. His son is not as good as Cang Shu's military talent and cannot solve his father's problems, but his son's intentions are still the same as Cang Shu."

Cao Cao's face improved a little. He sat down on the mat and pointed to the two mats in front of him: "Sit down, I have something to say to you."

Cao Pi and Cao Chong looked at each other, smiled at each other, sat down respectfully, held their arms and listened to Cao Cao's words quietly. Cao Cao looked at them quietly, his sharp eyes swept around their faces, but he didn't say a word. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense and depressed, so quiet that he could only hear the breathing of three people.

Cao Chong tried his best to adjust his breathing, making him look less nervous. Thanks to Zuo Laodao's sitting and forgetfulness technique, he quickly returned to calm, relaxed his body, and waited for Cao Cao to ask questions. However, compared to him, Cao Pi unconsciously stretched his body and seemed a little restrained.

"Ziwen has written a letter." Cao Cao took out a letter from the desk and threw it in front of the two of them. On the snow-white rice paper was Cao Zhang's very distinctive font, with strokes like a long sword and a large halberd, full of masculinity. Although Cao Chong and Cao Pi did not reach out, their eyes quickly swept the letter paper, and their faces changed. Cao Chong just twitched the corners of his eyes and then returned to normal, but Cao Pi's face was not good, and his breath became much thicker unconsciously.

Cao Zhang's letter is very simple, and there are only two meanings throughout the article. First, it is to congratulate his father on being the king, and second, it is to support Cang Shu as the prince.

Cao Chong was very calm. Cao Zhang's idea was astonished as he expected. But Cao Pi seemed to be hit by a stick in the head. Cao Zhang said this too directly, without any cover up. He didn't even mean to participate in the competition. He directly expressed his support for Cao Chong. There was nothing wrong with Cao Pi. It was natural to make Cang Shu the prince, which made Cao Pi very annoyed. No matter what, Cao Zhang and Cao Pi were brothers of the same birth, so why didn't they get close to him, but instead supported Cao Chong so unconditionally?

"Ziwen's words were so stupid that he didn't say anything. He was still so bad-tempered. He was just a fool except for war." Cao Cao smiled, put away the letter paper, and threw it aside: "Jihuan just said that he did not have the ability of Cang Shu, so he could only be filial. This is only half true. When it comes to marching and fighting, you may indeed be inferior to Cang Shu, but in other aspects, you are not bad, even better than that."

Cao Cao's words were like a basin of cold water pouring down from the head, which made Cao Pi, who was anxious all over, feel extremely fluttering. He quickly smiled and said, "My father has gone too far, and Cang Shu's new policy is also excellent."

"The new policy is good, but there are many problems with employment." Cao Cao snorted, turned his head to Cao Chong and said, "The new policy was made by Liu Zichu. He was the first to follow you. He has never made any mistakes in Xiangyang over the years. Why did you make Zhuge Kongming investigate his political affairs now? If you want to find out something, wouldn't it embarrass him? How can a government affairs person have no personal relationship? Pang Shiyuan from the Pang family is by your side, Cai Degui of the Cai family

It’s your father-in-law, and Kuai Yidu and I have a relationship for a day or two. These people are doing business in Xiangyang, so how can they not get cheap? Is this a problem for Liu Zichu? Zhuge Kongming was decisive and strict, and he would not involve a few of them in the end? If these companies get angry and ruined, what are the benefits for you in the end? These companies have so much support for you, but if they end up in the end, who will support you in the future?"

He paused and said to Cao Chong again, his tone was very stern: "I heard that Zhuge Kongming is known as Wolong and has a high opinion of himself, but after all, he is young and has more energy to do things, but he is not thorough in thinking. It is very inappropriate to use people like this."

Cao Chong was stunned for a moment. He knew that Cao Cao had heard from Xiangyang, but he did not expect that Cao Cao's news was so well-informed. He was the position of Zhuge Liang that he announced before leaving. Although he did not go fast because of his wife and children, Cao Cao said this at this time, probably because he had known some of the things that had happened in Xiangyang recently due to strict discipline. He had just received Zhuge Liang's fast horse report for only two or three days.

Fortunately, he has been considering this issue these two days, otherwise he would have been caught by Cao Cao's question. After a brief thought, he responded calmly: "My father was very concerned. As his father expected, Kong Ming's investigation had caused some disputes." Since Cao Chong knew that he could not hide it from Lao Cao, he simply told him, and then continued: "But this matter was not Kong Ming's idea alone, nor was it decided by me alone, but I discussed and decided with the General's Mansion and several gentlemen. Of course, I will not forget the support of the powerful Jingxiang for me. It is precisely because of this that I agreed to Kong Ming's suggestion to strictly investigate those greedy tyrants. Human nature is evil, and greed is the magistrate of man and heaven, and merchants are even more so. The new policy eliminates the suppression of merchants, but we cannot let them develop freely and lose the necessary control, otherwise it will be counterproductive."

Cao Chong said, and took out a booklet from his arms and handed it to Cao Cao: "This is the meeting minutes I just sorted out. It records everyone's opinions in detail and the origin of this decision. Please check it out."

Cao Pi was just listening to it, but suddenly saw Cao Chong stop talking and handing Cao Cao something like this, and he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He looked at Cao Chong quickly turning over pages of records, but he didn't know what was said above.

"It makes sense." Cao Cao closed the record and thought for a while and said, "I just don't know if Kong Ming can grasp the standards. I was defeating the powerful people in Yanzhou, but I tried too hard, and Yanzhou was in chaos, almost... Alas, you have so many talents to help you, and you shouldn't be the same as me."

Cao Chong knew that Cao Cao was talking about the great defeat in Yanzhou. When Cao Cao was young, he also believed in the Legalists. Of course, he is now, but he has more experience and no longer had the impulse and recklessness of his youth. And the most important part of this experience is of course Yanzhou. When he just took over Yanzhou, he found that Yanzhou's wealth was in the hands of a few people, so he issued a decree to deal with those big clans and killed famous scholars who took the people's request for help. Unexpectedly, this caused chaos in Yanzhou. The counselor Chen Gong and his friends Zhang Miao all stood against him all at once. When he was expeditioning to Xuzhou in the east, he attracted Lu Bu, which almost put him in a state of doom and almost sent him to Yuan Shao to surrender. If Cheng Yu had not persuaded him at that time, of course he would not have had his glory today.

It can be said that the rebellion in Yanzhou was a big blow to Cao Cao, so when he saw Zhuge Liang's trick in Jingxiang, he immediately felt a little nervous.

"I received an urgent letter from Kong Ming and Mr. Zichu on the way. The great clan of Jingxiang did rebound. Fortunately, the Cai family and the Pang family did not rise up to lead the way, and the matter was not serious and they were already controlled." Cao Chong continued: "The Kuai family just died last year and did not have the intention to participate in this matter. Besides, I have written a letter to explain. I believe that the Kuai family can understand my intentions, not because they want to break the bridges across the river, and they will definitely cooperate."

"This is easy to deal with. Kuai Yidu has a good relationship with me. Before he left, he asked me to take care of his children. I immediately recruited his son Kuai Jing to the court as an official. It would be considered a statement." Cao Cao nodded and said, "It would also be easier to alleviate their opposition."

"I'm so grateful to my father." Cao Chong was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked him.

"Well, since you are so sure about this matter, I won't worry so much." Cao Cao waved his hand and said that this was just a trivial matter and was not worth mentioning: "Cangshu pacified Jiangnan, Jiaozhou, Yangzhou and Yizhou all returned to the court's rule, and there is nothing wrong in the south. It's just the world..."

He stopped talking, looked at Cao Pi and Cao Chong, looked for a long time, then continued: "But the world is still far from unification. The war in Guanzhong has been fighting for five or six years, and the food, grass and weapons have been consumed a lot, but there is no result yet. The Gongsun family in Liaodong is overestimating their abilities and wants to dominate Liaodong. Now the prince of Gongsun Gong also wants to be king. The Xianbei in the north has been swaying between rebels. After Ziwen defeated the Wuhuan people, they have been honest for several years. After hearing that they are restless again in recent years, and that Kirby is ready to be moved. Even Qingzhou and Xuzhou in the east should be rectified. Ziwen came to write and said that he would learn from the Wei Huo Zongheng Mobei and go to war again. I have already responded to him. The remaining Liaodong, Qingxu, and Guanzhong, you can see how to deal with it."

Cao Chong laughed in his heart. Old Cao didn't mention the matter of establishing the prince in a word, but he called himself back from afar, but discussed this matter. It was really because the drunkard was not drunk. He paid attention to Cao Pi's face and found that Cao Pi's face was ugly, especially when Cao Cao spoke in his words that he was very dissatisfied with the war in Guanzhong. His face turned blue. In an instant, his angry expression flashed and soon returned to a submissive look.

"The war in Guanzhong has indeed been delayed for a long time." Cao Pi smiled slightly, his tone was neither anxious nor slow, and he sounded very calm, without any anger: "But this is no wonder Uncle Miaocai. Although Guanzhong has a fertile land of thousands of miles, after being harmed by Dong Zhuo, the once wealthy Guanzhong is now full of devastation, with a household registration of less than one hundred. Even if the population of the four counties of Xiliang is not enough for Hanzhong, transporting grain for thousands of miles, one of the ten. Uncle Miaocai could not do it even if he wanted to eat from the enemy. The people of Xiliang were left with the war horses under his crotch and the swords in his hands. I was able to win a great victory in Guanzhong all rely on the three million stones of food supported by my father, otherwise there would be no way to talk about it. I was afraid that it would be even more difficult than Uncle Miaocai."

Cao Pi talked freely, and it sounded like he was an explanation for Xiahou Yuan for a long time, but in fact he had already put himself aside. While trying his best to explain the predicament in Guanzhong, he also mentioned his victory and attributed it to Cao Cao's support. But from the voice-over, it was heard that Guanzhong could not conquer for a long time, which was a problem of food and grass, not caused by military ability. Of course, this cannot be considered a forced argument, and it sounds quite reasonable, but it always makes people feel that he left himself too clean. You must know that his confidants Sima Yi, Wu Zhi and others are still in charge of heavy troops in Guanzhong and influencing the development of the war.

"Now that Jiangnan has been pacified, Jingyi Prefectures can also withdraw food and grass to support it. How much more do you need to completely pacify Xiliang?" Cao Cao looked at Cao Pi quietly.

Cao Pi raised his head in shock and looked at Cao Cao. Hearing this, Cao seemed to want him to go to Guanzhong. But he didn't want to go anymore. He knew his ability to fight, and Xiahou Yuan couldn't handle those people, and he couldn't handle them even more. Jingzhou and Yizhou had food and grass, but those were all from Cao Chong. Will Cao Chong support himself so happily? Joke, if Jingzhou was changed, Yizhou was his own. Cao Chong went to fight Xiliang, he would never support Cao Chong to fight Xiliang so happily. This is obvious. I pay for money, you make contributions, and you will still have to compete for a position with me in the end? Am I that stupid? In other words, would Cang Shu be so stupid? No one would believe it if he changed.

At least Cao Pi didn't believe it.

If you can't go to Guanzhong, you have to let Cang Shu go. Although he has Jing Yi's rich financial resources as a backing, once this battle starts, I'm afraid that the big clans will not give money so happily. This is not a small amount of millions or tens of millions of dollars, at least tens of billions of dollars is possible to win.

Cao Pi laughed at the thought of hundreds of billions of dollars. The Han Dynasty only earned a few dollars a year. No matter how rich Jingzhou is, it will only cost about two billion a year. Cang Shu fought a war and could spend all Jing Yi’s savings in several years.

Besides, there are Wu Zhi and Sima Yi in Guanzhong. With them here, how could Cang Shu easily win the battle?

Thinking of this, Cao Pi shook his head repeatedly, "This question is better to ask Cang Shu. His ability to use troops is well-known for his father. I am beyond my reach. If he arrives at Guanzhong, he will definitely be as powerful as a bamboo shoot. Ma Chao and Han Sui are afraid that he will descend in sight."

Cao Cao turned to Cao Chong: "Cang Shu, what do you think?"

Cao Chong scratched his head: "Brother, I am really proud of myself. The situation in Guanzhong is not as good as Jingyi. I can win a small victory in Jingyi. Most of the achievements of the barbarians who are familiar with the local environment. In addition, Sun Quan and Liu Bei are not in harmony and destroy each other. I cannot be as glorious as I am now. Xiliang is vast and the four counties of Hexi are all vast and sparsely populated. Jingyi's tactics cannot be used to take Xiliang. I... I'd better go to Liaodong, which may be easier to deal with. Zihuan has always been responsible for the war in Guanzhong, and I don't want to be greedy for his contributions. If Zihuan is worried about the issue of food and grass, I can make a promise. I dare not say that if there is too much, as long as the weather is good, God will help you, two million stones of food and grass a year will still be guaranteed."

Cao Pi almost sneered at the child, "Why are you cheating on the weather? God helps you, who can tell me clearly? Just find an excuse. Two million stones may not even get 20,000 stones. I went deep into the desert. If you don't have food, I will only die. Besides, you go to Liaodong? Isn't that too cheap? Zhao Yun is now the prefect of Zhuo County, and he happens to be the pioneer for you. Ziwen is in Dai County, and Cao Ren is in Hejian, and he will all serve as a supporter for you. Is this war still necessary to fight?

"Cang Shu's words are wrong. How come he is a struggle for merit? No matter who wins it, it is the credit of my Cao family. What are the brothers who share with each other? Could it be that it was your Jiangnan that the emperor should give you a king, rather than a father a king?" Cao Pi said deliberately and gave Cao Chong a big hat.

When Cao Chong heard this, he shook his head repeatedly: "Brother's words are so harsh. I don't mean that. It's just that Guanzhong is too difficult. I really don't dare to take on this task." He turned to Cao Cao and said: "Father, in my opinion, let your brother go to Guanzhong. He has fought a war there and is much more familiar with the situation. I will be Xiao He for him and I will definitely protect him from food and clothing."

"Hey—" Cao Pi said unhappily: "Cang Shu, this is wrong. If you don't go to Guanzhong if you are so powerful in war, you don't want me to go to Guanzhong, but you have any ideas?"

Cao Chong was speechless and looked at Cao Cao with a very aggrieved look.

"Zihuan is right. You do have a tendency to be lazy. I heard that after you captured Sun Quan from Wujun, you have been hiding in the mansion without seeing anyone, and just play with your wife and son. This is not a good phenomenon. You are only twenty years old and are eager to make contributions. You cannot be so unpromoted and nostalgic in the boudoir." Cao Cao criticized very seriously: "As Zihuan said, you go to Guanzhong. As for Zihuan, you can't be idle. Are you going to Liaodong or Qingxu?"

Cao Pi felt relieved: "I'll go to Qingxu. With Yuan Rang uncle in Qingxu, I might be able to make some minor achievements to highlight Cangshu's great martial arts."

"Cang Shu, look." Cao Cao turned around and looked at Cao Chong who was helpless.

Cao Chong smacked his lips, looking like he was indescribable: "Since my father and brother have made a decision, I can only make it difficult. It's just that ugly words are ahead. If I want me to go to Guanzhong, I have to follow the method I said, otherwise I would rather not go to Guanzhong, so as not to lose my troops and lose my generals and return without success."

"This is natural." Cao Pi was so excited that he was a little disobedient. He made a statement in front of Lao Cao and said something. Then he remembered that Lao Cao should say this. He quickly added: "I think my father will definitely agree with you."

"Zihuan is right. If you want to go to war, you will naturally have to listen to your decision." Cao Cao was in a good mood and nodded repeatedly: "There are many cavalry in Xiliang, and it is impossible to deal with infantry. This way, you expand the dragon cavalry in your hand to 5,000 people. The soldiers and war horses can be transferred from Zhuojun and Daijun - I think Zhao Zilong and Ziwen will not object to it - but you have to raise all your expenses by yourself, and the Prime Minister's Mansion will not pay you a penny. Zhang Zhengqing (Zhang Quan) and Zhang Ziwei (Zhang Hu) are both from Liangliang cavalry and are well-kicked. They are all transferred to your command. They are not allowed to help you. If you have any other requests, tell me."

Before Cao Cao finished speaking, Cao Chong was so happy that he couldn't stop talking. As for Cao Pi, he was mixed and unexpectedly helpless. Although he was jealous of Cao Chong's cavalry to expand to 5,000, he could not do the same with the same conditions. He could force him to death with the 5,000 armored weapons of the 5,000 men.

Cang Shu, only Cang Shu can be so rich, but why does this condition sound so like tailor-made for Cang Shu? The more Cao Pi thinks about it, the less uncomfortable it feels.
Chapter completed!