Just after the fifteenth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve of Emperor Jian'an of Han Xian (210 AD), Cao Cao anxiously came to the Ma family compound to discuss with Ma Xiaoquan how to seek merit.

Cao Cao has been sparing no effort to recruit useful talents, but due to the influence of the old model of being an official in the Eastern Han Dynasty, he has not been able to get good results.

Prior to this, Cao Cao had discussed with his officials, and some of them had adopted the model of filial piety and honesty; Some people tend to be recommended by relationships, such as teachers and students, superiors and subordinates, etc.; There are also some people who have a far-sighted vision and use some non-scholar talents

This subordinate has built a lot of yì, and Cao Cao, who was already suspicious, couldn't make up his mind for a while.

After going to bed at night and talking to Mrs. Bian about this, Mrs. Bian Jian yì husband Jun Cao Cao went to find Lord Shangxian

"Na~~ Lord Shangxian, that's how it happened"

Cao Cao spread his hands, looking helpless.

"Hmm~~" After listening to Cao Cao's retelling, Ma Xiaoquan also felt a little tricky.

Cao Cao in history issued a merit-seeking order in this year, and the main purpose of the meritocracy order was "meritocracy".

Ma Xiaoquan also thought about letting Cao Cao adopt the meritocracy strategy when Cao Cao recounted it, but after all, this Han family is not his surname Cao's final say, if Cao Cao unusually promotes a talent that he thinks is useful, then other old Hanchen will definitely ask for the promotion of the person they like, that is, the so-called balance of power.

Ma Xiaoquan thought about it again and asked Cao Cao: "Xiao Cao, what do you think, what do you really think?" ”

Cao Cao said: "Lord Shangxian, if it were me, I would be more inclined to the third point of view. ”

Ma Xiaoquan nodded, the third point of view that Cao Cao said happened to be the strategy of meritocracy.

"Since you're more inclined to the third point of view, why don't you enforce it against the crowd?"

Cao Cao smiled bitterly: "Lord Shangxian doesn't know something, it's not that I don't want to carry it out, but as long as I make a move, it will definitely attract a lot of scolding, I, Cao Mengde, don't care about these scoldings, but my subordinates, not necessarily." ”

"Hmm~~" Ma Xiaoquan said, "Indeed, you can control your own thoughts, but you can't control other people's thoughts, and I don't blame you for this."

"Lord Shangxian, what should I do?" Cao Cao said, kneeling on the ground with a puff, "Cao Cao implores Lord Shangxian for guidance." ”

Ma Xiaoquan helped Cao Cao up and patted him on the shoulder: "Well, this matter, you can't be too anxious, let me think about it for a few days, and then give you an answer, what do you think?" ”

Cao Cao was overjoyed, although Lord Shangxian said that he would have a few days to think about it, but at least he agreed to help him.

"Then thank you first, Lord Shangxian, then I will prepare some money for you"

Ma Xiaoquan smiled and patted Cao Cao on the shoulder: "You don't need it this time, I'll help you with this immortal." ”

When Cao Cao heard this, he couldn't help laughing

In the evening, Ma Xiaoquan summoned Ma Yu to his side and instructed Ma Yu to prepare a book for him overnight, the content of which was mainly about talent recruitment

Early the next morning, Ma Yu knocked on Ma Xiaoquan's door with red eyes and presented the book to Ma Xiaoquan's hand.

"Haven't slept all night?"

Ma Yu smiled: "Master, the more I think about it, the more I feel that it is wrong, so I spent a night organizing the language and writing this article, master, please take a look."

Ma Xiaoquan's eyebrows shook slightly, and he unfolded the book to take a look.

"Yo he~~" Ma Xiaoquan smiled, this Ma Yu is really good, he actually wrote the upper music into prose one night, talented, so talented.

"Okay, I'm sorry, hurry up and go back to rest, otherwise your wife won't want to, by the way, give me an order, prepare a horse for me, I'm going to Xudu, right away."

Ma Yu scratched his head, smiled and retreated

On the third day, in the early dynasty, there was an explosive news in Xu Du - the immortal marquis, who had never been to the court, suddenly held a book of prelude and made an early pilgrimage to see the emperor.

What the content of the immortal marquis's meeting with the emperor has not yet been revealed, but there have been many versions in the market.

Some people say that the book in the hands of the immortal marquis is actually a refining method of the elixir; Some people say that the fairy marquis is to treat the emperor; Some people also say that the Immortal Marquis actually went to threaten the emperor, because the relationship between the Immortal Marquis and Prime Minister Cao Cheng is very good; Some people even said that the fairy marquis suddenly fell in love with the emperor and wanted to have a dragon and yang fetish with the emperor

On the fourth day, Xu Dugong suddenly issued an order - if there were any more nonsense in the market, cut off his tongue and tattoo words on his face

Xudu, Imperial Palace.

Emperor Han Xian teased the canary in the birdcage with great interest, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and in front of him, the immortal Hou Ma Xiaoquan was standing quietly, waiting for the little emperor's reply.

After all these years, the former little emperor has now grown up.

With his own thoughts and his own revenge, Emperor Han Xian is no longer the former Emperor Han Xian.

"Aiqing, it's very difficult for you to do this?"

Ma Xiaoquan scolded secretly in his heart, thinking that the little emperor still called himself uncle at the beginning, but now that he has grown up and his wings have grown stiff, his uncle is no longer called.

"Hmm~ What does the emperor think?"

Ma Xiaoquan originally wanted to call Emperor Han Xian "you", but after thinking about it again, now the Han family is still the world of his surname Liu, forget it, bear with it.

Emperor Han Xian raised his eyebrows, dropped the birdcage, and said, "What if the widow doesn't agree?" ”

Ma Xiaoquan said: "That's not negotiable?" ”

Emperor Han Xian snorted coldly: "Ma Xiaoquan, do you think the widow doesn't know? Your book is actually for Cao Cao, right? ”

Ma Xiaoquan nodded: "Yes." ”

"Presumptuous!" Emperor Han Xian's right hand slapped the stone table beside him fiercely, "Ma Xiaoquan, do you know the consequences of your doing?" ”

Ma Xiaoquan was not impatient, and said lightly: "I don't know!" ”

"You" Emperor Han Xian pointed at Ma Xiaoquan and gritted his teeth tightly.

"Stand down!" Emperor Han Xian roared.

Ma Xiaoquan shook his head and turned to leave.

Looking at Ma Xiaoquan's back, Emperor Han Xian kicked the stone table over, and kept cursing in his mouth: "Bastard, bastard, he is still Cao Cao's person, he is still Cao Cao's person."

Several eunuchs from the Yellow Gate stepped forward and knelt in front of Emperor Han Xian in fear.

"Pass on my word, but all the family members, relatives, and subordinates of the immortal marquis are not allowed to serve as any form of official in my Han Dynasty!"

"Yes~"

When Ma Xiaoquan returned to the Ma family compound in Yecheng, the emperor's oracle had become a holy decree and was "issued" to Ma Xiaoquan.

After receiving the holy decree, Ma Xiaoquan was not surprised, but the entire Ma family compound was terrified.

The holy decree said that Ma Xiaoquan, the immortal marquis, could not be hereditary, that is to say, after his generation ended, it would really end, and there would be no one in his Ma family who would be an official in the Han Dynasty.

Ma Xiaoquan smiled and burned the holy decree to the ground, but for the little eunuch who came to deliver the holy decree, Ma Xiaoquan generously rewarded 100 gold and sent it away. (It is a hundred catties of copper, and the ancient gold refers to copper) Seeing that the head of the family was so calm, the Ma family didn't know what to do.

Hua Yuexin walked to her husband's side gently and held Ma Xiaoquan's hand tightly.

Ma Xiaoquan looked at Hua Yuexin, and what he got was the other party's firm gaze.

"Yue'er, thank you!"

Hua Yuexin shook her head: "No matter what kind of person my husband is, I will stand by my husband's side, forever and ever!" ”

As soon as Hua Yuexin's words fell, the remaining seven ladies also stepped forward, stood behind Ma Xiaoquan, and voted on their wishes.

Next, Liang Long, Ma Yun, Ma Yu and other subordinates also raised their hands, showing the attitude of following the master to the end.

It's just that although there is one person who votes, he is very resentful in his heart

This person is Mao Gang.

At night, Mao Gang lay on the bed, tossing and turning and unable to sleep.

Thinking of the events of the day, Mao Gang was very unwilling.

As early as before Ma Xiaoquan went to Xudu, Mao Gang had secretly dredged up some relationships, the purpose was to find himself an official and a half-position in the Han Dynasty, but Ma Xiaoquan had just gone to Xudu for only two days, and the emperor issued a holy decree, completely cutting off Mao Gang's dream of being an official; and Hua Yuexin, after learning that Ma Xiaoquan could only be an official alone and could not be hereditary, she was still so desperate to stand by his side and support him

"Humph!" Mao Gang snorted heavily and sat up slowly.

"What's wrong with you, husband?"

Mao Gang said coldly: "Sleep obediently, don't ask if you shouldn't ask!" ”

"Yes, yes!"

Mao Gang stood up, hastily draped a dress, walked to the window, and pushed the window open.

The weather was still cold, but Mao Gang felt hot and aggrieved in his heart, at this moment, he really wanted to kill Ma Xiaoquan

"Hey~~" After a long time, Mao Gangqing was a little more stable, then he closed the window and muttered, "I don't know how that guy is preparing"