Gongsun Du doesn't look down on Yuan Tan's alliance with Xianbei, which doesn't mean that others are not moved. And when Guo Tu went to Liaodong to lobby Gongsun Du, a letter from outside the Saiwai was placed on the case of Shi Gaogan in Bingzhou. And the signature at the end of the letter reads "Brother Yuan Tan".

This is the third time that Gao Gan has received a letter from Yuan Tan after the fall of Pseudo-Chen. In the last two letters, Yuan Tan first recounted Yuan Shao's kindness to Gao Gan and accused him of not surrendering to Cao Cao, and then Yuan Tan expressed in the tone of an emperor that he believed that Gao Gan was loyal to Da Chen despite his previous suspicions, and hoped that Gao Gan would accept him into the annexed state. Gao Gan only read half of it at that time, and then sneered and threw the letter into the brazier. It is indeed true that Yuan Shao has the grace of promotion in senior cadres. But his high-ranking cadres did not enjoy his uncle's kindness in vain. I think that if he and Xun Chen had not lobbied Han Fu to give up Jizhou, how could Yuan Shao have taken Jizhou without spending a single soldier. So in the eyes of Gao Gan, Yuan Tan's actions are simply a clown jumping off the beam, which makes people look funny and disdainful.

However, to Gao Gan's surprise, compared with the immeasurability of the last two letters, Yuan Tan's letter has been much more restrained in terms of tone and posture. In the letter, he neither regarded himself as a king, nor did he scold Gao Gan for being ungrateful, but called Gao Gan a brother. With Gao Gan's understanding of Yuan Tan, unless it is at the critical juncture when the mountains and rivers are exhausted, he will not be light and soft according to his cousin's temperament. But Yuan Tan confidently declared in the letter that he had subdued the roots of Xianbei Budu. It was precisely this that made Gao Gan feel a little moved, so that he didn't throw the letter directly into the brazier like the last two times.

Seeing that Gao Ganmo was silent for a long time with the letter, Wei Gu, the mastermind on the side, couldn't help but ask tentatively, "Envoy, Yuan Tan's letter begged the envoy to take him in?" ＂

Wei Guzi Zhongjian, born in a famous family in Hedong, resourceful, was once a county in Hedong. Later, because Cao Cao severely punished and annexed in Hedong, he killed a lot, so he abandoned his official position and fled to live in idleness and annex the state. After hearing the news, Gao Gan personally came to the door and asked him to go out of the mountain and hire him as the mastermind. Now Wei Gu seems to have become a high-ranking strategist, and the high-ranking cadres naturally don't care much in front of him.

In the face of Wei Gu's inquiry, Gao Gan handed the letter to him, "Yuan Tan claims that he has subdued the roots of Xianbei Budu, and is willing to lead his troops to join hands with me to go south to conquer Cao and Cai." ＂

Hearing that Yuan Tan had found foreign aid, Wei Gu hurriedly took the letter and read it carefully, and then his eyes lit up and said, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Don't miss it! ＂

"The Xianbei people are cunning and good at fighting, and even the Mobei Xiongnu are not their opponents. Mr. Zhong Jian really believes that Yuan Tan can subdue the Xianbei people? Gao Ganhu asked suspiciously. He didn't really believe that a straw bag like Yuan Tan could subdue the fierce Xianbei people.

Wei Gu twisted his beard disapprerovingly and said, "It doesn't matter whether Yuan Tan subdues Xianbei or not. As long as he can lead his troops south. ＂

Gao Gan heard a hint of murderous intent from Wei Gu's words, so he hurriedly asked, "What do you say, sir?" ＂

"Cao Cao's brutalization of Zhongliang and slaughtering the people in the land of Heshuo has long been notorious. If Yuan Tan leads Xianbei people into the customs to ask for Cao. Heshuo Haoqiang will definitely hear the wind and get into trouble! In order to make the prestige of the king only need to ascend to the heights at that time, he will be able to be called the king and the state! When Wei Gu said this, an unhealthy flush appeared on his originally gray face. Everyone in the world said that Wei Gu gave up his official position last year because he didn't want to be in the same league with Cao Cao's party, but Wei Gu knew very well in his heart that he was scared away by Cao Cao at that time.

Like many powerful people in Heshuo, Wei Gu's family annexed a large amount of land in his hometown of Hedong and raised many domestic slaves. Cao Cao's measures to rectify and merge the year before last undoubtedly infringed on the interests of the Weigu family. In order to resist the decree issued by Cao Cao. Wei Gu's family not only disobeyed the officials sent by the imperial court at the local level. Wei Gu himself even used his relationship between the DPRK and China to jump up and down, intending to put pressure on Cao Cao through the Qing Dynasty. Wei Gu thought that this would force Cao Cao to take back his life. But who knew that the final development of things was completely unexpected by him.

Cao Jun first exterminated Zhang Sheng and other Hanoi heroes who rose up against Cao with the momentum of blowing up and decaying. After that, before Wei Gu was sad for Zhang Shengtu, who was the three clans, Xu Du came with the bad news that Zhao Yan was hacked and killed by Cao Cao's guards on the street. For a while, the fate of Zhang Sheng and Zhao Yan shocked the heroes of Heshuo, and they couldn't stop worrying. and Wei Gu, who had a close correspondence with Zhao Yan. In order not to affect his family, he was so frightened that he abandoned his official position and fled.

However, although Wei Gu fled from Hedong, deep down in his heart, he was still thinking day and night about how to return to Hedong to reorganize his family business. And the current plan of Yuan Tan's southern invasion undoubtedly gave him hope for revenge. In Wei Gu's view, he is not the only one who hates Cao Cao in Heshuo and even in the world. As long as he can bring down Cao Cao and maintain his privileges. The warriors of Heshuo don't mind cooperating with anyone, even if they are traitors. It's a robber, it's a foreign race.

Gao Gan also knew very well in his heart that Wei Gu took refuge in him in order to return to Hedong one day. If it weren't for this, with Wei Gu's background and fame, he would not have succumbed to a martial artist like him at all. It must be known that even when Gao Gan was at his most prosperous, he failed to recruit a celebrity from the state. However, although Gao Gan attached great importance to Wei Gu, he had also fought with Cao Jun after all, and knew what a difficult figure Cao Cao was.

Thinking of this, Gao Gan couldn't help but say in a humble heart, "Cao Cao has many tricks, and his subordinates are even more fierce. Moreover, there is Donglai Cai Anzhen as his minions. It is difficult to achieve great things with Hu Ren and Haoqiang Qubu alone. ＂

Wei Gu'er heard Gao Gan mention Cai Ji, and immediately restrained the excited expression on his face. It is undeniable that today's Cai Ji has surpassed Sun Ce, Liu Bei, and Ma Teng, and has become a great prince alongside Cao Cao and Liu Biao. Her attitude will undoubtedly influence the situation in the world. And Cai Ji happened to have an in-law alliance with Cao Cao. Once Cao Cao is attacked, it is reasonable that Cai Ji will send troops to help. However, the current time is troubled, and anything unreasonable will happen in the troubled times.

Seeing Wei Gu pondering for a while, he suddenly laughed and said, "The old man heard that Cai Anzhen has always regarded himself as a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty, but he doesn't know whether he will choose loyalty or filial piety when loyalty and filial piety are difficult to achieve. ＂

The "filial piety" mentioned by Wei Gu naturally refers to the relationship between Cao Cao and Cai Ji. Gao Gan, who heard the sound outside the strings, seemed to understand and asked, "What does Mr. mean?" ＂

Wei Gu raised his head and smiled without saying a word, then took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Gao Gan.

Gao Gan took the letter and opened it, and his originally suspicious eyes were instantly full of differences, "This is"

Without waiting for the high-ranking cadres to say the identity of the person who made the payment, Wei Gu had already talked to himself, "Cao Cao is murderous and has no heaven. If you can save the Son of Heaven from fire and water, then you will be the minister of the Han Dynasty. ＂

Gao Gan once followed Yuan Shao to establish the puppet Chen state, and also surrendered to Cao Cao when Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang's brothers asked him for help. But this did not affect Wei Gu's use of "ministers of the Han Dynasty" to instigate high-ranking cadres. And Gao Gan himself was quite useful for the title of Zhongxing minister, but when he looked at the letter in his hand, he glanced back at Yuan Tan's signature on the case, and his eyes couldn't help but show a look of yearning.

At the end of the sixth year of Jian'an, it is like a bay before a storm, which seems calm on the surface, but in fact the dark tide is turbulent. But for ordinary people, this year's autumn and winter are rare peace. Except for Liu Biao, Zhang Xian, Liu Bei, and Sun Ce in the south, who confronted each other under the city of Changsha, the rest of the states have been truces for more than half a year. In particular, the four prefectures of Xu, Qingdao, Henan, and Yan, north of the Yangtze River, have been recuperating after more than a year of recuperation. It seems to have shown the appearance of "japonica rice accumulation".

However, Liu Xie, the emperor of the Han Dynasty who was in the deep palace of Xudu, was not happy because of the smooth weather this year. On the contrary, as the winter solstice approached, the face of the Son of Heaven darkened day by day. It turned out that according to the system, the Son of Heaven was supposed to accept the congratulations of all nations and hundreds of bureaucrats on the winter solstice. However, Cao Cao took Xun Yu and other important ministers from Xudu on the grounds of preparing to open a branch in Yecheng. Only his son Cao Ang was left behind in Xudu. Without Cao Cao's minions looking around, it certainly made Liu Xie a lot easier, but when it came to Ya Sui, the court was deserted, which made him lose face as the son of heaven.

Thinking of Cao Cao, who deliberately opened another mansion in Yecheng, Liu Xie couldn't help but sweep his gaze to Cao Ang, the right general standing under the hall. Like most men of this era, Cao Ang grew a beard after marriage, and added to the magnanimity accumulated over the years of his career as a horseman. All of them made his god form closer and closer to his father Cao Cao. Although it is natural for the father and son to be similar in appearance, but looking at the appearance of his former confidant, the more he looks like his own henchman, Liu Xie's heart is really mixed.

It is undeniable that Cao Ang's loyalty to Liu Xie can be demonstrated. Therefore, many courtiers who were loyal to the Han but were afraid of Cao Cao once advised Liu Xie to lie dormant for ten years first, and wait for Cao Ang to inherit the Cao family's business. and then ordered him to return to power. The arguments of these courtiers are not unreasonable. Cao Cao is forty and six this year, and he will be close to the age of sixteen in ten or fifteen years. At that time, Liu Xie was in the prime of life. One is old, the other is high-spirited. With Cao Ang's help, it is not easy for the Son of Heaven to govern pro-government.

It's a pity that Liu Xie, who has been threatened by powerful ministers since he was a child, doesn't trust any powerful ministers deep down. even Cao Ang and Cai Ji, who had helped him. What he pursued was the army loyal to his Liu Xie, the military generals loyal to his Liu Xie, and the civil servants loyal to his Liu Xie, not a little imperial power that others gave away. Because in Liu Xie's view, only the imperial power based on military power is the real imperial power. The emperor without military power is nothing more than a canary confined to a deep palace.

Cao Ang, who was standing behind Dong Cheng, could clearly feel that the Son of Heaven was staring at him. But he didn't dare to look up, and he was ashamed to look up. As Cao Cao's eldest son, Cao Ang knew very well that his father opened a branch in Yecheng this time to prepare for the establishment of a shogunate in Yecheng in the future. It is said that although the shogunate Yecheng is not as shocking as Yuan Shao when he established himself as the emperor. But there is not much difference in essence between the two. This made Cao Ang, who had always been loyal to the Han family, ashamed and angry. For this reason, he persuaded his father more than once to give up such rebellious acts, but in exchange for his father's cold eyes and squint and walked away.

Where did the father who once hugged himself and laughed that he would erect a monument in front of the grave in the future, "The Tomb of General Han Zhengxi". Where did the father who taught him "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and faithfulness" go? Thinking of Cao Cao's decisive back when he left Xu Du, Cao Ang's heart tingled. As for the rumors of some good deeds about Cao Cao's desire to take the Han Dynasty, he didn't dare to think about it. I'm afraid that the details of a rumor will be exactly the same as my father's arrangement.

At present, Cao Ang is the most afraid to face three people, one is his father Cao Cao, the second is Liu Xie, the son of heaven, and the third is Cai Ji who is far away in Donglai. Cao Ang is ashamed of his failure to stop his father, and even hates himself for failing to keep his agreement with Cai Ji. So when Cao Cao set up a marriage for him, Cao Ang accepted his father's arrangement almost like a marionette. As for the longing and guilt for Cai Ji, he can only be buried deep in his heart.

And just when Cao Ang was suffering from the contradiction of loyalty and filial piety in his heart, he suddenly heard the young and solemn voice of the Son of Heaven in his ears, "The world is undecided, and a hundred wastes are waiting to be revived, I have decided to exempt the winter gift this year." ＂

Liu Xie's decision to exempt him from the congratulatory gift made the civil and military ministers, including Cao Ang, breathe a sigh of relief. It must be known that this time Cao Cao not only lost a large number of ministers in the court, but even the envoys of the surrounding subordinate countries also transferred to Yecheng to celebrate the New Year with Cao Cao. It is also thanks to the young Son of Heaven who knows each other enough, otherwise on the day of the winter solstice, there are few people in the hall to congratulate, and it is really called a loss of national body.

Liu Xie's cold eyes swept the civil and military ministers under the hall, and he couldn't help but sneer to himself, this is my court. It is better to ask for others than for yourself. Liu Xie, who had secretly made up his mind in his heart, first glanced at his uncle Dong Cheng, who was standing at the head of the military attaché, and then coughed lightly and said, "Uncle Dong, General Right." ＂

"The minister is here. Dong Cheng and Cao Ang, who were named, were both listed.

"After the year, I want to go out of the suburbs of the city. This matter bothered the two families. Liu Xie commanded in a kind tone.

The suburban ritual was the central activity of the ancient Chinese state religion, and the emperor passed guò "Jedi Tiantong" to gain the exclusive right to communicate between the sacred world and the secular state, and used it as the basis and ultimate source of legitimacy for royal power. The suburbs have existed in ancient times, but it was not until the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty that the specific suburbs were determined. At first, the ritual of suburban worship had a strong sense of magic and wandering immortals, and in the late Han Dynasty, Wang Mangfang was determined to be a Confucian sacrificial system. Compared with the previous suburban rituals, the Confucian sacrificial system is more complicated, the Son of Heaven worships in the hall, and the eight dances dance in His Royal Highness, all of which are indispensable.

Of course, this was all in the heyday of the Han Dynasty. And today's great chaos, the decline of imperial power, although the details of the suburbs are constantly refined by the influence of Zheng Xuan and other Confucians, but the scale of the relevant is much smaller. At least after Liu Xie's accession to the throne, there will be a suburban ceremony every year. But Liu Xie is the Son of Heaven after all, and he can't refute it when he says that he wants to worship the courtiers present. What's more, the young Son of Heaven was sympathetic to the people a moment ago and exempted him from the gift of He Dong, so naturally no one would come forward to refute his face at this moment.

So I saw Dong Cheng and Cao Ang leading in unison, "Obey the order." ”

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I wish you all a happy Chinese Valentine's Day. Xiao Cai will return in the next section, so stay tuned (*^__^*)