Cao Cao returned to Yecheng and prepared to conquer Ma Chao and Han Sui in the west, fearing that Liu Du and Han Hao in the south would take the opportunity to raise troops to attack, so he wanted to compete with them for talents and bring them under his command.

Cao Cao asked the officials to contribute a strategy that could better discover talents. At this time, I saw a broad-eyed scribe under the hall come forward and say, this person's surname and name are Qia, when Cao Cao conquered Jingzhou, Zhengbi and Qia were the prime minister's subordinates. At this time, Mao Jue and Cui Yan were all valued for their loyalty, honesty and integrity, and their selection of officials was based on thrift.

He Qiajin said: "The major policy of the country lies in the position of power and talent, and officials cannot be selected based on just one aspect. Paying too much attention to frugality and simplicity is okay as a principle of one's own life, but if you only use this aspect as the standard for measuring characters, there will be a lot of lost talents. Nowadays, it is widely discussed that officials wear new clothes and ride neatly in a neat car, and they think that they are not honest; If a senior official is in the government's mansion, his face is not decorated, and his clothes are shabby, he is called incorruptible. caused the scholars to deliberately stain their clothes and hide the clothes of the chariots and horses; Officials of various official offices of the imperial court, or those who carry their own pots and meals into the official office. It is important to set up a fatwa and observe customs, and it is important to be in a suitable degree so that it can be promoted. Nowadays, all of them advocate difficult methods to check officials, and if they do it reluctantly, there will be many drawbacks. In ancient times, the implementation of great political education was just to make it accessible to people. Any radical move is easy for people to conceal their true feelings. ”

Cao Cao stroked his palms and exclaimed: "What Yang Shi said is reasonable. In the past, Meng Gong was the head of the Zhao and Wei retainers of Jin, and he had more than enough talent, but he was not qualified for the position of Teng, Xue and other small country doctors. If only honest people use it, how can Qi Huan Gong dominate the world! It is advisable for you to recommend the wise, even if you are of humble status. On the same day, the order for talents will be widely issued, and only talents will be moved, and they will be used for me! ”

As soon as Cao Cao's meritocracy order was issued, talents from all over the world entered Cao Cao's command. In the Central Plains, where Cao Cao is based, the total population is still more than that of Jiangnan, and there are naturally more talents.

Cao Cao feasted the ministers on the bronze jue platform, and Cao Cao celebrated the new officials. At this time, some scholars provoked trouble and said: "Most of the people regard the prime minister as a traitor in the world, and he has great power, so that the Son of Heaven does not dare to disobey the will of the prime minister." Therefore, many scholars belong to Liu Du and Liu Bei, thinking that the Han family is orthodox, how do you look at it? ”

The banquet was suddenly silent, and the old staff under Cao Cao looked at these people with sympathetic eyes, Cui Yan whispered and sighed with Yang Xiu on the seat next to him: "Young people don't know the depths, and if you say this today, a big disaster will surely come!" ”

Yang Xiu shook his head and said to him: "Cui Gong's words are wrong, the love of the prime minister is beyond the scope of you and me. Xiu dared to assert that not only would these people not be blamed by the prime minister, but would be more valued by the prime minister. ”

Cao Cao laughed for a while when he heard the words of those people, and accidentally caught a glimpse of Yang Xiu and Cui Yan whispering, holding the wine lord and asking, "What is the matter of Dezu and Ji Jue's private discussion?" ”

Yang Xiu stood up and bowed to Cao Cao: "Fang Caixiu said to Cui Gong that Liu Du is a businessman, and Liu Bei is a mat weaver and a peddler. The ignorant throw themselves into it, just as the poor will fall into the house. The prime minister is a gorgeous palace, which can accommodate people, and you are under the command of the prime minister, which is really a phoenix and a sycamore. But you can show your strengths, and you will soar in the future! ”

Cao Cao laughed, he was already a little drunk at this time, and sighed and said, "Dezu is too famous." When I was first recommended as filial piety, I thought that I was not a well-known person who lived in seclusion in the mountains, but I was afraid that the world would think that I was mediocre and incompetent, and I carefully handled government affairs and carried out education in order to establish my reputation. Therefore, when he was the minister of state in Jinan, he eradicated violence and eliminated evil, and appointed people to be the public. In this way, I was jealous of the powerful and wealthy families, and I was afraid of bringing disaster to my family, so I used the pretext that I was sick and returned to my hometown. At that time, he was still young, so he built a study fifty miles east of the county seat of Qiaoxian County, planning to study in autumn and summer, and hunt in winter and spring. But I failed to do so, and was later called by the imperial court as a military captain, so I changed my will, and wanted to make meritorious contributions to the country, so that the tombstone can be inscribed 'The tomb of Cao Hou, the general of the Han Dynasty's late expedition to the west', this is also my ambition. Then in the rebellion of Dong Zhuo, I raised rebels. Later, I served as the pastor of Yanzhou, defeated the Yellow Turban Army, and forced the landing of 300,000 Yellow Turban Army; and south to Yuan Shu, so that he was cornered, poor and died; attacked Yuan Shao in the north and beheaded his second son to show the public; Destroy Liu Biao today, so the world is pacified. As the prime minister, I have reached the very noble rank of a minister, and I have also exceeded my expectations. If the country has no self, I don't know how many people will be called emperors and how many people will be kings? Perhaps some people will see that I am powerful and do not believe in the destiny of heaven, so they will speculate at will, saying that I have the ambition to usurp the throne. Every time I think about it, I feel very uneasy in my heart. Therefore, I told you and others that these words are from the bottom of my heart. However, if you want me to hand over the military power, return it to the imperial court, and return to my fiefdom Wuping Marquis, it is really impossible. Why? I am really afraid, but after I leave the army, I am afraid that people will murder me, not only for the sake of my descendants, but also because if I am defeated, the country will be in danger. Therefore, I cannot pursue false fame and suffer real calamities. However, there are four counties in my fiefdom, and I have the right to collect taxes from 30,000 households. I am not at peace today, and I cannot resign from my office; As for the fiefdoms, they can be retreated. Today, I will return the 20,000 fiefdoms of Yangxia, Zhe, and Ku counties to the state, and only enjoy the tax of 10,000 households in Wuping, so as to reduce the world's slander against me, and also slightly reduce my responsibility! ”

Everyone stood up and bowed: "Although Yi Yin and Zhou Gong are not as good as the prime minister!" ”

Cao Cao returned drunk and summoned Da Qiao to sleep. Cao Cao saw Da Qiao's flowers with tears and asked, "Madame has tears in the corners of her eyes, so she must have cried." I think I treat you well, but you have any grievances, but I can talk about it. ”

"The concubine has a younger sister named Qiao Fang. Now in Jiangdong, my sisters and I can't see each other all day long, and I miss each other in my heart. I implore the prime minister to let the concubine return to her hometown and visit her sister. Da Qiao's beautiful eyes fluttered, and he pleaded with Cao Cao.

Cao Cao has long heard of Jiangdong Erqiao's beauty, and now that Da Qiao is so beautiful, Xiao Qiao must also be a beauty who captivates the country and the city. Cao Cao had the heart to accept it, so he said to Da Qiao: "What's so difficult about this? After I pacified the troubles of Xiliang Ma Chao and Han Sui, I went south to Jiangdong and took my sister to meet! ”

Da Qiao wanted to say more, but Cao Cao leaned over and vented his primitive beastly desires on her body.

After the entertainment, Cao Cao was woken up by a hurried knock on the door. Cao Cao scolded and got up, got dressed, and glared at the man angrily after opening the door. The man was so frightened that he couldn't speak, and Cao Cao stabbed him to death with a single sword.

Cao Cao is depressed, he came to this Tongjue Platform to enjoy a few days of peace, now there is nothing to do in the south, and there are people who don't know what to do to disturb his dreams. also blamed Da Qiao for being too powerful, and tired him a lot last night.

Da Qiao put on his dress and got up, and he was also startled when he saw the corpse on the ground. Cao Cao didn't know what important thing he wanted to report, and he suddenly regretted it a little.

Fortunately, Man Chong was also at the Tongjue Tai banquet yesterday, and as soon as he got the urgent report this morning, he hurriedly came to report to Cao Cao. Man Chong glanced at the corpse on the ground, raised his eyebrows, and said to Cao Cao: "Lord, something is wrong." The Changping Shou General sent an urgent report that a few months ago, Lelang County under the jurisdiction of Gongsun Kang of Liaodong was attacked by Han Xuan. Now Han Xuan has won the land of Lelang, south of Goguryeo and Sanhan, and is fighting against Gongsun Kang! ”

Cao Cao exclaimed: "What! Han Xuan? Why is he in Liaodong? ”

Of course, Cao Cao knew the seriousness of the problem, so he said why he didn't see Han Xuan during the Battle of Chibi, he only knew that Han Xuan had sailed to the sea. I thought he was looking for some overseas immortal mountain, but I didn't expect that he would take advantage of the Battle of Chibi to go to Liaodong! If Han Xuan defeated Gongsun Kang and captured Liaodong, would he still have it? That would directly threaten his rear, and Youzhou and Qingzhou would be in danger.

Cao Cao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, he didn't notice that Da Qiao behind him smiled slightly, and Da Qiao thought silently in his heart: "Han Zixin, you must defeat Cao Cao and save me." ”