After sending Liu Bei to the boat at Mengjindu, Corporal Cao Lixian asked Li Su to return to the city with him.

Li Su symbolically politely said, half-pushed, half-got into the car.

Idle along the way, Cao Cao asked casually: "After County Lieutenant Liu goes, what are your plans?" ”

"What can I do, but it's just up to the imperial court." Li Su spoke very steadily, without leaking a drop of water.

I am a brick of the imperial court, where I need to move.

Cao Cao smiled and taught proudly: "If you don't want to say anything, it seems that you have a grudge against the court." It's no wonder that when I was weak, I was the captain of the northern part of Luoyang, and when I saw that I was strong and lawless, I couldn't rub sand in my eyes. However, there are seven or eight times out of ten unsatisfactory things in the world, officials can abandon them, but they can't complain about the heavens and others. ”

Li Su was just afraid that he would make a lot of mistakes, but he didn't expect Cao Cao to interpret it like this, and he also broke it offensively.

You really dare to speak, and you're not polite at all.

Li Su subconsciously mobilized the professional habits of his previous life, and analyzed Cao Cao's psychology for a wave: Cao Cao first complained about the court in his words, and in this context, he obviously wanted to show honesty, hoping that the other party would also let down his guard and say something sincere.

Because even if the other party also complains, as long as the scale is not too much out of line than Cao Cao, then Cao Cao will not be able to do the informant. What's more, Li Su's status is so low now, and he is not worthy of being calculated by Cao Cao.

So, Li Su said with a plan: "I don't dare to slander the court, it's just that County Lieutenant Liu treats me, Brother Enruo, I'm quite unhappy about his suffering-

He had to abandon his official position, in the final analysis, it was the imperial court that strictly forbade local officials to cross the border to pursue thieves. It is like tying up loyal ministers and good generals, and letting the thieves do it first. Could it be that if Zhang Chun didn't kill back to Zhongshan County, the lieutenant of Zhongshan couldn't take the initiative to attack and go to Zhuo County to hunt down Zhang Chun? There is no reason in the world!

In the first year of Zhongping, when the Yellow Turban thieves first rose, the general asked His Majesty to issue an edict and allow the local government to recruit troops on its own. But there are more and more thieves in the world, why can't that good governance go further and allow officials to cross the border to suppress thieves! ”

Cao Cao couldn't help but be amused by Li Su's seemingly enthusiastic words: "This idea is very dangerous!" The imperial court has its own considerations. The right to cross the border to attack thieves and take the initiative to attack local assassins, this kind of thing involves too much, how can you wait for the kid to figure it out! ”

"The humble position is young and shallow, and he can't see the overall situation, and he only sees the interests and disadvantages in front of him, which makes Cao Gong smile." Li Su pretended to be harmless to humans and animals.

Li Su said this, which was also carefully designed by words. One is to show Cao Cao that he has no city, so that Cao Cao will always feel that he is a straightforward person in the future.

On the other hand, there are also dates and no dates, and I want to slowly spread out in the small circle the character of "Brother is to support the imperial court to allow local officials to cross the border to fight thieves, and the relevant deeds and materials I currently have on hand can also help promote this purpose".

Cao Cao knew this, and it might not be useful, but Cao Cao also had his like-minded friends and a circle of acquaintances.

What if there are other court bigwigs in Cao Cao's circle who are also planning this now, and then hit it off and want to use Liu Bei and Li Su as pawns? (Of course, Li Su and Liu Bei will definitely not be pawns for nothing, they want to take what they need and get benefits in return.) ）

Multiple intermediary channels, multiple roads.

Li Su's homework was really not done in vain.

Along the way, the two of them cooked wine and scolded the court, and there was no match.

Pulling and pulling, Cao Cao suddenly said: "The idea you had just now is quite similar to some old ministers in the court. ”

Li Su was slightly expectant, and asked rhetorically with the same expression and tone: "Oh? Please also ask Cao Gong to teach me. ”

He wanted to say "I want to hear it in detail", but I want to hear it in detail and it will be too calm, but it is easy to leak flaws - Cao Cao's status is so much higher than him, tell him something, even if it is out of respect, Li Su should be more positive, right?

The difference between the two sides is not an equal chatter between negotiators and gangsters.

Cao Cao said heartily: "I'm talking about Taichangqing Liu Yan." Liu Junlang mentioned it to His Majesty once, saying that the thieves in the world have spread to this point, so that the passive defense of all places cannot be guarded at all, but should 'abolish history and change pasture', set up the position of state pastor, and give the local government greater power to take the initiative to transfer troops. It's just that His Majesty has always been afraid that the place will get out of control, and he has been reluctant to play it for a long time - hey, these major events in the world, I don't understand when I tell you and other juniors. ”

Li Su said humbly: "That's really an honor, I really didn't expect that the hot-blooded shallow view of the humble position that was formed by the momentary righteous indignation could also secretly cooperate with the important ministers of the imperial court." If you are lucky in this life, I really want to ask Tai Changqing for the truth. ”

Cao Cao laughed: "What's so difficult about this? I'll give you a thorn when I go back, and in a few days you can go to Taichangqing's mansion to meet you, Liu Junlang is willing to turn it in, so it's none of my business. ”

Li Su was stunned.

The so-called literary thorn is the "letter of introduction" of this era, which is used to introduce contacts. It's like a "famous thorn" is a business card made by yourself, and a "literary thorn" is given to you by someone else.

When did Cao Cao treat me so well? Not really.

Although everyone discussed the military plane at He Jinfu and had the same views, they had a drink together and took the bus.

But this kind of friendship is far from worthy of letting Cao Cao open a letter of introduction to Taichangqing Liu Yan to introduce Li Su.

Many rich people want to seek officials, but they can't find a way to spend money, and what they lack is a letter of introduction.

However, after Li Su was briefly shocked by Cao Cao's generosity for a few seconds, he finally came back to his senses:! Cao Cao, where is this to give him a favor Li Su! He obviously wanted to give Liu Yan a favor!

If the chess piece wants to find the chess player, it will certainly make the chess piece owe the introducer a favor.

But for chess players, if they find a key piece that just fits, they will also owe the introducer a favor.

Therefore, what Cao Cao attaches importance to is not to make Li Su owe favors to others, but to make Liu Yan owe favors to others!

At this moment, Liu Yan and Liu Bei (Li Su) are in a relationship of mutual demand and mutual use.

Liu Bei needs Liu Yan to help him publicize his deeds and promote the name of filial piety, honesty and loyalty.

Liu Yan also needs to exaggerate Liu Bei's deeds to prove "how many human tragedies have been caused by the imperial court's refusal to cross the border to attack thieves", so as to add bricks and tiles and add arguments to his exhortation plan of "abolishing history and establishing pasture".

Thinking about all this, Li Su's heart calmed down instantly.

However, on the surface, he still pretended not to figure out anything, and thanked Dade with a happy face, and saluted Cao Jie in the car: "Cao Gong is generous, which is admirable!" If you can seek advice from Taichang, you will be recommended by Cao Gong. ”

"Eh, it's just a thorn, and it doesn't take much time, why bother to see outside, maybe everyone will be officials in the same dynasty in the future."

Cao Cao smiled and twisted his beard, and was proud in his heart: Eh, in the end, young people have never seen the world, which is so moved. This thorn in the sword, selling favors at both ends, makes this kid and Liu Junlang thank me, it's really wonderful.

Cao Cao put this in his heart, and gave Li Su the impression that he was "a little clever and good at calculating accounts, but he didn't see the problem comprehensively and maturely".

The forty-mile road was quickly completed, and in the evening, the carriage returned to Luoyang City from Mengjindu.

Li Su followed him to Cao's mansion, waited for a while, and took a letter of introduction written by Cao Cao temporarily. was kept by Cao Fu and ate some wine, meat and rice, and then politely thanked him and left.

……

When he returned to his residence, Li Su saw Guan Yu eating there alone, just a big bowl of steamed wheat rice and a boiled dog leg.

Well, a half-dog with one leg, to be exact. It is very simple boiled and eaten with salty leek sauce.

Who told Cao Cao to leave only Li Su to eat? Today's Guan Yu is completely low-key and dressed as an ordinary soldier, and Cao Cao doesn't know his ability, so he won't deliberately treat him with courtesy.

Li Su was a little embarrassed: "Second brother, Cao Cao left me for entertainment, and I was delayed." Fortunately, there will be no official entertainment from tomorrow, so it's rare to come to Luoyang, let's eat something good. ”

Guan Yu tore a bite of the dog's leg, swallowed the meat and wiped his mouth: "What are you talking about?" Don't get me wrong, big brother's business is serious. What should I do in the next few days? Let's wait until we drive back to Yecheng in frustration, and climb up to the friendship of the local magnates, otherwise how can we stay in the capital to help the eldest brother do things? ”

Li Su smiled slightly, and proudly took out Cao Cao's letter of introduction: "Of course I won't miss the big brother's big event, eating and drinking with Cao Cao today is not to ask for this thorn." With this thorn, I am sure that I will find the magnates of the capital who are willing to conquer us! ”

"Oh?" Guan Yu was immediately in awe, and the depression of being hung alone at home and eating dog legs before also dissipated.

It turned out that Boya and Cao Cao ate and drank a lot, not really for enjoyment. It's about working with Cao Cao and helping the eldest brother in secret!

I'm ashamed that I misunderstood him.