Xiahou Yan stood in the corner of the courtyard gate for a while, calmed down, and then went to the hall to reply.

It's not that Cao Miao is unwilling to serve his family and country, it's just that he has no goal and doesn't know who he sacrifices for. You want him to always find a goal that he is willing to strive for.

Sima Guo is obviously not enough.

When he said this, Xiahou Yan was very nervous, for fear that his mother would see the flaws.

However, Princess Deyang didn't care about Xiahou Yan's reaction, and after discussing it with Cao Zhi, she felt that Cao Miao's reaction was also reasonable. It is obviously not enough to let him venture out of the world just because of his identity as a clan. There are so many clans, why don't you send someone else and send him instead?

What's more, as far as the clan is concerned, their father and son are also the most aggrieved, and Cao Miao is even more frenzied, and he really can't find a reason to work for the court.

The true purpose cannot be declared, and other suitable targets cannot be found, so persuading Cao Miao to obey orders has become a dead knot.

No profit can not afford to be early. Without tangible benefits, who wants to take risks and work hard?

Cao Zhi thought about it, said goodbye to Princess Deyang, and came to the backyard with a cheeky face.

He gave a reason that Cao Miao couldn't refuse.

If Cao Miao can complete this task and help the Son of Heaven through this difficulty, he will go to the Son of Heaven to restore the reputation of Cao Miao's biological mother, Mrs. Cui, and posthumously present the title of princess. If the Son of Heaven does not agree, he will never make a princess in his life, and this position will always be Mrs. Cui's.

Although Cao Miao had no actual feelings for Mrs. Cui, he couldn't refuse this reason. Of course, he didn't really intend to refuse, it was just a routine of bargaining, and it was just the right time to borrow the donkey.

So, Cao Miao agreed very "reluctantly", but he put forward two conditions:

First, there must be an adequate supply of funds. The expenses between the banks are very large, and this time it is a major event to prevent Sun Quan from becoming emperor, and the people to be bribed are all big people with families and businesses, and the money is not enough. At that time, Chen Ping was the ancestor of the Han Dynasty and traveled to Chu, but he went with 100,000 gold. When I go to Jiangdong this time, I want at least this number, and the more the better.

Second, I need the cooperation and support of the Yangzhou Theater, but I don't listen to their orders, especially the orders of Da Sima. The man was unreasonable, I saved his life, and he told me to get out. I want to form a capable team on my own, independent of the Yangzhou theater.

Of course, all the expenses of this team also had to be paid by the imperial court.

Cao Zhi thought about it for a moment and agreed to Cao Miao's request in principle. Cao Miao's request was not excessive. One billion is not a small amount, but it is still reasonable compared to the goal of preventing Sun Quan from becoming emperor. Not to mention anything else, Cao Xiu fought a defeated battle, and the baggage and ordnance he lost alone exceeded a billion.

Cao Zhi is more concerned about the team that Cao Miao wants to build, and this requirement is easy to arouse suspicion. "How big do you need to be on this team, and who are they?"

"The scale is not too large, about 100 people at most. As for who they are, it's hard to say now, if there is a suitable one, it will be recruited, and if there is no suitable one, it will be empty, and it cannot be filled indiscriminately. ”

Cao Zhi understood what Cao Miao meant, he just wanted to eat empty wages openly. Fortunately, his appetite is not too big, only a hundred people, one or two hundred million, and one hundred million is far less than the cost of bribing the minister of Jiangdong, and the Son of Heaven should be able to meet it.

Cao Zhi finally asked a question: "When will you go to the Taiwei Mansion with me to propose marriage?" ”

Cao Miao couldn't help but roll her eyes. Sima Yi has already said very bluntly, marriage is just a self-preservation strategy, not what he wants. Now that I'm going to go to Jiangdong, I don't know if I can come back alive, he will be in a hurry to marry his daughter to me? ”

Cao Zhi nodded. "It is precisely because of this that His Majesty hopes to settle this family business and not give him a chance to regret it."

Cao Miao is on fire. "Then you just marry Sima Guo, why bother with me? You are only thirty-seven, married to Sima Guo, and you still have time to have a few more obedient sons. "After speaking, flick your sleeves, turn around and leave." Bo Yuan, send the king of Yongqiu. ”

Cao Zhi couldn't laugh or cry. Xiahou Xu, who was standing on the side, didn't hold back, and laughed out loud. Cao Zhi glared at him fiercely, got up, got down, stood in the courtyard, looked up at the sky, and sighed.

——

The Son of Heaven soon learned about the process of Cao Zhi's father-son conversation.

Knowing that Cao Miao was angry and suggested that Cao Zhi marry Sima Guo, he couldn't help laughing.

I have to say, it's really a good choice. Anyway, this family is a bondage, as long as the goal is achieved, it doesn't make a difference who the rope is tied to.

Of course, this sentence can't be said directly to Cao Zhi.

The Son of Heaven said to Cao Zhi that Yunliang was also reasonable, he couldn't be forced too hard, and he still put urgency first. It's not too late to wait for Jiangdong to come back and talk about family affairs. Uncle Huang, you go to Guanzhong first, and I'll handle the rest.

Cao Zhi was relieved and immediately set off and rushed to Guanzhong.

The Son of Heaven immediately summoned Cao Shuang and asked him to take the edict to Buzhou Villa and tell Cao Miao. The imperial court can agree to your request, a total of 2 billion, 300 million first, and the rest will take time to raise, which will be delivered one after another after you arrive in Yangzhou. The marriage was suspended until later.

The Son of Heaven said to Cao Shuang, immortal art is related to the life and death of the general, and you must complete the task. If you can't get the immortal art, don't go back to the city, go directly to Guanzhong, and go to the general to listen to the order to fulfill your filial piety.

Cao Shuang wanted to cry without tears, but he didn't dare to refuse, so he had to find a way by himself. He and Cao Miao are not directly related, and after thinking about it, there is no other way than to beg his aunt, Princess Deyang.

Fortunately, Princess Deyang is in Buzhou Villa, and it is convenient to meet Cao Miao every day.

The Son of Heaven gave Cao Shuang another task: let him publicize several questions about Cao Miao's test for Sima Guo through the mouths of He Yan, Deng Yang and others, saying that it was not that Cao Miao refused to marry Sima Guo, but that Sima Guo's performance was too poor and was disliked by Cao Miao.

Cao Shuang understood that the Son of Heaven was preventing others from marrying Sima Guo, especially Xun Fei. Xun Fei was born in a tall family, and he has always thought highly of himself, and he doesn't take Cao Miao in his eyes. Cao Miao can't even look down on someone he can look down on?

Xun Fei is also a loose rider, on duty in the palace, and when he saw the exam questions for the first time and knew the process of the assessment, he was anxious at that time.

Xun Fei flatly denied that he had the idea of marrying Sima Guo. In order to prove his innocence, he claimed that this was just Sima Yi's wishful thinking to repay Xun Yu for his appearance back then, and he did not approve of it. He and Cao Miao are cousins, although they are not close, there is no contradiction, and it is impossible for a conflict to have a woman.

Hearing Xun Fei's reaction, Cao Shuang was very satisfied and rushed to Buzhou Villa with a lot of money. In addition to the 300 million money allocated by the imperial court, he brought another 100 million money, planning to bribe Princess Deyang, no matter what, to get the immortal art in Cao Miao's hands and prolong Cao Zhenzhi's life.

100 million is a lot, but compared to Cao Zhen's life, it is still too cheap.

He was accompanied by a young Lang official named Yinfan.