Xu was worried that Cao Cao would not be able to save face and regret it halfway, and Liu Xie officially issued a holy decree the next day, ordering Cao Cao to send his second son Cao Pi into the Cai family. Cao Cao was silent for a long time after receiving the decree, and finally ordered someone to summon Cao Pi into the inner tent to talk. It didn't take long for Cao Pi to be brought to Cao Cao, and he obviously knew that he was about to become a big man, and his young face was full of confusion and uneasiness.

However, in the face of his father, who gave himself out like a commodity, Cao Pi did not dare to complain at all, and still bowed respectfully to Cao Cao, "The child greets his father." ”

Cao Cao quietly raised his hand and retreated, and then handed the holy decree to Cao Pi and said, "The Son of Heaven ordered you to enter the Cai family." ”

It is true that he knew about the matter early in the morning, and it is true that he had already prepared in his heart the moment he stepped into the camp tent, but when his father handed the holy decree in front of him, Cao Pi still shuddered and stopped. A son-in-law is no better than a proton. The latter is that no matter how hard and tired you are, you will eventually return home one day; The former was to be completely removed from the Cao clan, and to join the Cai family, he was despised and treated like a slave.

Cao Cao saw that his son hesitated and did not step forward to receive the decree, so he threw the holy decree into the corner like garbage, and sighed abruptly, "For the father, even my son is also affected!" ”

Cao Cao's sigh made Cao Pi realize that even if he twisted and didn't accept the order now, he couldn't change the reality that he was about to join the Cai family. I saw Cao Pi kneeling in front of Cao Cao with a plop, his forehead pressed against the pu mat and blamed himself, "The child is not filial, please punish your father!" ”

Of course, Cao Cao would not blame Cao Pi for being unfilial, in fact, the three brothers Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi are all rare filial sons. It's just that Cao Pi's temperament seems to be a little cowardly, which makes Cao Cao a little uneasy. So I saw him wave his hand. "You, Zhang'er, and Zhi'er are all filial sons, and they are very happy to be alone."

Hearing his father mention his two younger brothers, Cao Pi's heart couldn't help but feel a trace of unspeakable bitterness. Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi are the brothers of Cao Pi's mother. Who would have thought that the three brothers would even have such a similar situation. Cao Pi was about to join the Cai family, Cao Zhang was sent to Liu Bei's department as a hostage, and even the youngest Cao Zhi had to go to Eastern Wu to serve as a proton. Cao Pi, who already had three years of experience, knew that life under the fence of the enemy camp was not easy, and in a hurry, he couldn't help but blurt out to Cao Cao and pleaded, "Father, Ah Zhang and Ah Zhi are young, can they wait until they are adults to go to the enemy camp as hostages." ”

Of course, Cao Cao also felt sorry for Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi. In particular, the wise and shrewd Cao Zhi often reminds Cao Cao of what he looked like when he was young, so Cao Cao has always been fond of Cao Zhi. However, it is distressed or pampered. None of them can change the established facts. After all, according to the current situation, it is impossible for Liu Bei and Sun Ce to agree to such a request. So Cao Cao just waved his hand, and then changed the topic, "I heard that Cai Anzhen treats you like a servant? ”

Cao Pi hesitated slightly, but finally decided to tell the truth. "Back to Father. Qi Hou treats children very well. ”

"Oh?" Cao Cao glanced at Cao Pi meaningfully, thinking that he was still a little less bloody this time. So he immediately raised his face and warned Cao Pi, "Zihuan, although you were ordered by the emperor to enter the Cai family, you are the blood of the Cao family after all, and you must not forget your roots!" ”

After hearing this, Cao Pi hurriedly bowed his head and promised, "The child obeys his father's teachings. ”

Cao Cao nodded with satisfaction, then stood up and walked over to Cao Pi. Stretched out his hand and patted his son's shoulder and encouraged, "He will rule the Central Plains as his father one day." It is the day of your return. ”

However, Cao Cao apparently did not understand the temperament of his second son. Cao Pi is a delicate person. Cao Cao's promise was certainly heart-pounding, but Cao Pi thought about it when his father unified the Central Plains, and he would inevitably destroy Cai Jibu first. At that time, it is difficult to say whether he will survive to the end of the war as a son-in-law. Even if Cai Ji keeps his promise and does not sacrifice the flag with him, according to the strength comparison between Cao Cai, his father may not be the final winner.

In fact, Cao Pi is not greedy for life and afraid of death, he just doesn't want to die in vain and die in obscurity. I think that he Cao Pi practiced martial arts hard every day and studied literature diligently, so that one day he could fight on the battlefield and establish an immortal foundation, or write a good sentence through the ages and leave a name in history. But now he bears the stigma of being a son-in-law, not only being looked down upon, but also may become a victim of his father's struggle for hegemony at any time. On the other hand, Xu Du's brother was born as the heir of the Cao family, and he will enjoy the foundation laid by his father in the future. In the face of such a strong contrast, if Cao Pi said that he didn't mind, he would be deceiving himself. But Cao Pi would not reveal his heart to Cao Cao, because he knew very well that in his father's eyes, he and his siblings were not as important as the world. As long as conditions permit, Cao Cao can give up his flesh and blood at any time in exchange for the world he cares about. So Cao Pi finally just agreed in, "Father Xie." ”

Cao Pi's reaction somewhat disappointed Cao Cao. In his opinion, Cao Pi, as his son of Cao Cao, should be full of passion and blood. But Cao Pi has always maintained a restrained attitude, like a half-boiled pot of hot water. In desperation, Cao Cao had to wave his hand to signal that his son could leave.

Cao Pi got up and said goodbye and returned to his account. I never thought that Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi had been waiting here for a long time. As soon as the two teenagers saw Cao Pi entering the tent, they immediately hugged each other and said, "Second brother, second brother, you can come back!" ”

Facing the two younger brothers who came uninvited, Cao Pi said in surprise, "Why are you here?" ”

"The younger brother and the third brother are about to enter the service as hostages, so I have come to resign to the second brother." Cao Zhi arched his hand.

Cao Zhang was not as well-behaved as Cao Zhi, he directly asked Cao Pi straight to the point, "Second brother is going to join the Cai family?" ”

Seeing that Cao Zhang's question was so straightforward, Cao Pi had to nod with a wry smile, "Yes." ”

Hearing Cao Pi personally admit the matter of joining the family, Cao Zhi couldn't help but widen his eyes and asked, "Father doesn't intercede for the second brother?" ”

Cao Pi smiled bitterly and shook his head, "How can the will of the Son of Heaven be violated?" ”

Cao Zhang, who was on the other end, was unconvinced, "What about the holy decree!" The Son of Heaven relies on the blessing of the Cao family in Xudu, so why care about the will of the Son of Heaven. ”

It is true that he knew early on that the Cao family had broken with the Son of Heaven, and at this moment, Cao Zhang's "rebellious" words still surprised Cao Pi. I heard him hurriedly warn Cao Zhang, "Liu Bei is a member of the Han family. After you arrive at Liu Ying, you must not be disrespectful to the Son of Heaven, otherwise your life will be in danger! ”

Who knew that Cao Zhang, not only did he not take Cao Pi's words to heart, but suddenly said coldly. "Second brother, it's better to run away than to send someone under the fence!"

"Run? Where to flee? Cao Pi looked at Cao Zhang, who was about the same height as him, and said with a dumb smile. Speaking of which, he also had the idea of running away when he was as old as Cao Zhang, but for various reasons, he still didn't put it into practice.

Cao Zhang, who has a rough personality, could not look forward and backward like his second brother, and saw him raise his hand and said with a big grin, "Heaven and earth are so big, why worry about nowhere to go." ”

Seeing Cao Zhang's open-mindedness, Cao Pi couldn't help but sigh secretly, thinking that according to the heartless temperament of the third brother, he would have to endure hardships in the enemy camp in the future. However, before he could teach Cao Zhang a lesson. The young Cao Zhi on the side had already taken the lead and shook his head in denial, "No! When the rest of the people fled, they didn't believe in their words. Caught in the unrighteousness of his father. Third brother, you must not be an unfilial person! ”

"What the fourth brother said is extremely true." Cao Pi took over the conversation and educated Cao Zhangdao, "Third brother, are you really willing to flee in the name of unfilial piety and trustworthiness?" ”

Cao Zhang thought about it sideways, and felt that what his brother and younger brother said also made some sense. But he had learned from his subordinates that it was a matter of great humiliation. The government has always treated sons-in-law on the same footing as criminal officials, fugitives and merchants. This category of people was conscripted to serve in labor or garrison in remote areas. So Cao Zhang asked Cao Pi again, "Is the second brother willing to get into the red?" ”

In front of his two younger brothers, Cao Pi no longer had anything to hide, and said frankly, "Unwilling." ”

"Since you are unwilling, why did the second brother accept his fate?" Cao Zhang asked puzzled. In fact, the reason why Cao Zhang asked Ying as a hostage was mainly because of the encouragement of his younger brother Cao Zhi. But when he figured out what it was like to be a hostage and learned that Cao Pi was about to join the Cai family, the whole person's state of mind involuntarily underwent subtle changes.

Cao Zhi, who has a pure character, didn't think about it so much at all. Seeing that he was busy answering for Cao Pi, "The second brother is bearing the burden of humiliation for his father and the Cao family. ”

"Why is it that our three brothers endured humiliation and self-destruction of their future. You can't go home! Cao Zhang, who was outspoken, couldn't help but complain. And as soon as he said this, even Cao Zhi, who has always been filial and optimistic, lowered his head and fell into silence.

Cao Pi looked at Cao Zhang, who was indignant, and Cao Zhi, who was gloomy, and felt that as an elder brother, he should give his two younger brothers a little advice. Otherwise, according to the temperament of Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi, the future proton career will not be easy. So he immediately cleared his throat and encouraged his two younger brothers. "Tianxingjian, a gentleman is constantly striving for self-improvement. Qi Zhi's son-in-law is pure and simple, less than seven feet long, funny and argumentative, and counts the princes, but has not tasted humiliation. King Xiang of Qin Zhuang also went to Zhao as a hostage. Although the rest of the people are forced by the situation, or into the redundancy, or as a hostage, but even if they are displaced, they should be indomitable and work hard! As a brother, I believe that the two of you will eventually return home, and you must not give up on yourself because of temporary difficulties. ”

Cao Chang and Cao Zhi were both inspired by Cao Pi. Cao Zhi even stepped forward to hold Cao Pi's hand and said, "Ah Zhi firmly believes that my brother will also have the day to fly high." ”

And just as the three brothers of the Cao family were encouraging each other, the Qi army was also making intensive preparations for the upcoming wedding. Compared with the engagement gift three years ago, the wedding ceremony of Cai Ji and Cao Pi this time seems to be extremely hasty in terms of time and scale. Fortunately, the marriage ceremony is usually relatively simple, and both parties are not willing to make a big deal of it. After all, it is quite a shameful thing for men in this era. Some men from poor families even carry a small burden to the woman's house to report, which is considered to be a burden. However, Cai Ji's wedding gift as a party overlord must not be too simple. What's more, the Qi land she ruled has had the custom of being a son-in-law since ancient times.

It is said that the word "son-in-law" originated from the customs of the Qi Kingdom in the Spring and Autumn Period. At that time, the customs of the Qi State believed that the eldest daughter of the family could not marry, and she had to preside over the sacrifice at home, otherwise it would not be conducive to the family's fortune. These eldest daughters who presided over the sacrifice at home were called "Wu'er", and Wu'er wanted to get married, so she had to recruit a son-in-law, so she had a "son-in-law". This custom has been around in Qidi for a long time and was still popular until the Han Dynasty. Of course, if it weren't for the economic poverty and inability to marry a wife, the average man would not be rich. In a sense, the reason why Cai Ji was able to inherit his father's business as the eldest daughter and rule the Qingzhou area for a long time is also somewhat related to this custom in Qidi.

However, Cai Ji himself did not care about the wedding. Just when everyone was busy with her wedding, she sat in the tooth tent and discussed the matter of dividing the seal with Guo Jia. It must be known that with the gathering of Cai, Cao, Sun, and Liu at the foot of Xiangyang City, the matter of "dividing the princes" was finally officially put on the agenda. However, each family has its own small ninety-nine, so each family also has a variety of opinions on how to divide the seal.

No, after listening to Sun Ce's conditions, Cai Ji couldn't help but laugh dumbly, "Feng Wang? Sun Bofu has a big appetite. ”

Thinking that the Dongwu side often put forward some conditions for lions to open their mouths, Guo Jia also shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Gaozu once killed the white horse and swore an oath: from now on, if it is not the Liu family, it will not be crowned king, and it will not be crowned a marquis unless it is meritorious." Therefore, the Son of Heaven was very resistant to the matter of being crowned king. ”

Cai Ji lowered his head and thought for a moment and asked. "Do the Cao and Liu families want to be crowned kings?"

"The Cao and Liu families only ask for the title of duke." Guo Jia added a sentence when he said this, "But Sima Lang and others went to the table of the Son of Heaven and asked for an additional nine tins in addition to the title of the prince." ”

Jiuxi is the ancient emperor to the princes, ministers have nine kinds of ritual vessels, namely chariots and horses, clothes, Lexian, Zhuhu, Nama, tiger Ben, axe, bow and arrow, and straw. These ritual vessels are usually used only by the Son of Heaven, and the formal significance of the reward is far greater than the use value. In Cai Ji's opinion, it is understandable for the Cao family to make such a request, so she then asked about the specific time of the separation, "Taishi Ling, has he ever calculated the auspicious day of the separation?" ”

Guo Jia replied, "Back to the Lord, according to the words of Taishi Ling, seven days after the beginning of spring is an auspicious day. ”

"Seven days after the beginning of spring?" Cai Ji was slightly stunned, thinking that time was so tight, Liu Xiemo was not in a hurry to send them, the princes of King Qin, to leave Xiangyang as soon as possible.

"Exactly." Guo Jia nodded and said, "It is reported that the Son of Heaven has drawn up a new year name as Yankang, and it will be announced to the world on the day when the princes are divided. ”

"Yankang?" Cai Ji was shocked again. It must be known that Yankang is the last era name of the Eastern Han Dynasty in history, and it only took seven months before and after. Seven months later, in October of the first year of Yankang, that is, in the year 220 of the Western calendar, Liu Xie was forced to cede the emperor's throne to Cao Pi, the Han Dynasty fell, and Chinese history entered the Wei and Jin dynasties. Now Liu Xie wants to change the era name to Yankang in the 204th year of the Western calendar, which will undoubtedly end the Jian'an era ahead of schedule. Yankang, Yankang, continue to be well-off. But I don't know if the name of this time and space Yankang can bless the Han Dynasty to continue to be passed on in his hands as Liu Xie wishes.

Guo Jia didn't know the allusion to the word "Yankang", and seeing that Cai Ji was silent, he jokingly asked, "Does the Lord want to be crowned king?" ”

Cai Ji, who came back to his senses, immediately smiled slyly and said, "It's okay to seal the father." In the middle of the day, the moon is full, and the lonely can not be sealed in the future. (To be continued......)