It's a hot summer.

In the far suburbs of Luoyang, two strange carriages different from this era stopped on the side of the road.

The carriages of the Han Dynasty were all two-wheeled carriages with square carriages, but these two carriages were different from the other four-wheeled carriages, and the wooden wheels under the carriages were also wrapped in thick cowhide. The upper carriage is arched in a semicircle, and there are wooden windows on both sides of the carriage that are stuck in the slipway of the window frame and can be pulled from side to side. The car is nearly two meters long and is pulled forward by four healthy horses.

The people on the side of the road paid attention to this unprecedented carriage, and because there was a strong and majestic cavalry guard next to the two carriages, no one dared to approach it, but only stood at a distance and whispered about the origin of the carriage.

The cavalry didn't care about the discussion of the common people on the side of the road, but just watched the situation around them vigilantly. The people's voices gradually changed from small to loud, and entered the carriage.

There was an old man in his sixties sitting in the carriage in front of him, and when he heard the discussion of the common people, most of them were full of envy and surprise. The old man resigned and lived in seclusion for many years, and he had not heard this voice of envy for a long time, and a sense of leisurely complacency welled up from his heart. It's just that the old man, as a celebrity and scholar, has been famous for a long time, and has been up and down in the sea for many years, this leisurely feeling is only fleeting, and then he holds himself, feeling that the carriage is too ostentatious to stop here, which is not in line with the Confucian golden mean.

The old man knocked on the carriage, and immediately an attendant came over and asked, "What do you command?" ”

The old man said in the carriage: "Ask Yan'er if the tea is ready." ”

The attendant walked to the carriage behind him and asked into the carriage, "Miss, the lord asks if the tea is ready." ”

"Just a little bit." The girl's voice from the carriage was gentle and tactful.

The attendant went back to report to the old man, who did not want to be too ostentatious here, so he ordered: "Don't drink yet, and prepare to set off and continue on your way." ”

The attendant retreated, and the driver of the car flicked his whip after receiving the order, and the four horses pulling the cart suddenly let out a long roar and galloped. The knights who were guarding the carriage also moved with them.

The carriage was fast and disappeared from the sight of passers-by in a short time. After the carriage left, the common people still couldn't help but talk about it, and there was a white-clothed man riding a donkey in the crowd, looking at the back of the carriage in the distance, and muttered to himself: "I didn't expect the Son of Heaven to seek talents, and the pomp was so magnificent, and I don't know who was in the carriage?" ”

The man in white immediately showed a cynical self-deprecating smile: "I think that the envoy who picked me up in Yingchuan now is also such a pomp, I knew that I would stay at home, but I could also enjoy it." It seems that what Feng Xiao said is really reasonable, you have to live recklessly, don't pretend to be high. ”

The man in white shook his head and smiled, patted the donkey under his crotch, and hurried leisurely in the direction of the carriage.

The two new carriages in front of them traveled some more way, and when they passed a field, the old man stopped again. The surrounding knights and the carriage behind them also stopped.

The old man pulled open the window and poked his head out to look at the work in the fields.

Since the old man came from his hometown, all he saw along the road was the barren land after a long war, and the crowds of displaced people were starving all over the wilderness. It wasn't until I entered the Sili Prefecture area that I saw a little bit of recovery. The large-scale tuntian has brought the common people back to the land. Although the people the old man saw were still ragged and had vegetables on their faces, there was more hope in his eyes than people in other places, especially when he came to the vicinity of Luoyang, the capital of Beijing, where such a busy scene of farming could be seen everywhere, and people's faces were also filled with a satisfied expression.

The old man suddenly felt that the satisfied expressions of the common people seemed to indicate that the Han Dynasty, which had gone through all kinds of hardships, finally had a glimmer of hope.

Suddenly, the old man noticed a man in the field who was barefoot and explaining something to the other peasants, and when he recalled it carefully, he remembered who he was.

The old man lifted the curtain, stepped out of the carriage, and shouted at the man in the field by the shoulders of the driver: "The person in the field is Cao Mengde, the lieutenant of Luoyang?" ”

The person in the field is Cao Cao, hearing the old man's shout, he couldn't help but feel strange, he was the captain of the north of Luoyang for a long time, this person does not call himself the current position of the general of the Diannong, and the captain of Luoyang, is it an old friend?

With curiosity, Cao Cao looked in the direction of the old man, and saw that the other party was still riding the carriage used by the imperial court to pick up the famous men who had conquered the expedition, and he was even more curious, so he walked barefoot towards the old man. When he got closer, he saw that the old man's appearance was also very familiar, and while he was thinking about it, the old man stroked his beard lightly and said lightly: "I haven't seen him for many years, and Captain Cao has forgotten how old and decaying?" ”

Cao Cao suddenly woke up, wasn't the person in front of him Cai Yong and Cai Bojiao, who had been framed by the Ten Standing Servants and returned to his hometown after being dismissed?

When Cao Cao was young as a lieutenant in the northern part of Luoyang, he admired Cai Yong's calligraphy and literature, so he came to seek advice. And Cai Yong, who was already famous all over the world at that time, did not dislike Cao Cao's fledgling, but after he was still a eunuch, he greatly appreciated Cao Cao's talent, strictly enforced him, and beat Zhang with a cane to make his uncle applaud. often discusses literature and current affairs with Cao Cao, and there is also a half-teacher friendship with Cao Cao.

Since Cai Yong was dismissed, the two have not seen each other for a long time, so Cao Cao did not recognize him for a while. Now that he remembered it in time, Cao Cao couldn't help but increase his forehead, bowed deeply to the old man, and confessed: "I am honest and clumsy, I didn't recognize Cai Bo and Cai everyone here, and I hope that Cai everyone is here." ”

On the carriage, Cai Yong waved his hand again and again, and said: "Meng De is now a Zhonglang general of the imperial court, entrusted by the Son of Heaven, for the country, and in an important position, there is no need to give this great gift to me, a commoner, for nothing."

Cao Cao humbly said: "Cao is stupid by nature, but the Son of Heaven does not give up the important task, and the only way to do his best is to do his best." And Cai's family is erudite and talented, the world looks up, and now that His Majesty has entered Beijing, he will definitely take on a heavy responsibility, how can he compete with the stars with a little fluorescent? ”

Cai Yong laughed and joked to Cao Cao: "I haven't seen him for many years, and Meng De has become flamboyant." Well, that's good. has faded away from the glitz and water chestnut, and now Meng De is more mature and steady, and has a little taste of being a minister who rules the world. I am a hot man and a prosperous man, and Meng De has a heavy responsibility. ”

Cai Yong's ardent anticipation, true feelings revealed, Cao Cao's heart was moved, and his eyes moistened. He bowed again and said: "I think I have been a Yanhan country for more than 800 years, after several ups and downs, there are both filial piety and martial arts, and there is also Guangwu Zhongxing, such as today's chaos, thieves are swarming, if you want to rejuvenate the Han Dynasty and revitalize the national prestige, you still need a pillar of the country like Cai." a little bit of energy, I just hope to follow Cai's family and do my best. ”

Hearing Cao Cao say this, Cai Yong sighed: "Yong is close to the age of six, and he has been demoted for many years, far away from the court. Now that it is recovering, I don't know if I can still contribute to the country. ”

Cao Cao saw that Cai Yong was a little unhappy, and he was not confident about serving in the court again, so he persuaded: "The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold, and Cai's family eradicates eunuchs for the country, but they end up being degraded and exiled." Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, the eunuch party has been swept away, and the government is clear, it is the time for everyone Cai to show their strength. ”

Cai Yong was slightly stunned, then nodded and said: "What Meng De said is right, the imperial court has gone through natural disasters such as the Ten Standing Servants and the Yellow Turban Thieves, and it is the time when all kinds of waste are waiting to be revived, and the old man should not be arrogant, and should use the residual strength of the rest of his life to support Sheji and assist the new emperor." ”

Cao Cao saw that Cai Yong quickly swept away the haze in his heart, regained his strength, and secretly admired in his heart: Cai Bojiao is really worthy of being a famous man in the world, with many ups and downs in life, and his mind is like the sea. Even if there is a slight knot in the heart, a little loosening can be let go.

At this time, I heard Cai Yong say: "I have been in a hurry for a while, and I feel very thirsty." Can Meng De take a break and drink a cup of tea with the old man? ”

"Cai everyone gave tea, how dare you refuse. It's just that now is the busy season of farming, and Cao is teaching the people His Majesty's newly invented farming method, so it is inconvenient to be idle for a long time, so you can ask Cai everyone for a cup of tea here. ”

Cai Yong couldn't help nodding when he heard what Cao Cao said, and said: "Meng De is conscientious and responsible, and the country is also very fortunate." The little girl has cooked the tea, Meng De and the old man have a drink, and then the old man will also go to Beijing to meet the Son of Heaven. Just wait for the settlement to settle down, and then talk with Meng De about wine and reminisce about old feelings. ”

"But it's disrespectful."

"Yan'er! Can tea be cooked? Cai Yong shouted to the carriage behind.

"That's it." A gentle voice came from the carriage. As soon as the curtain was lifted, a beautiful young woman held a tea tray and stepped out of the carriage.

The young woman was only sixteen or seventeen years old, with her hair tied in a bun and a white skirt, and her appearance had both the maturity of a married husband and the youthful youth of the jasper years.

Cao Cao heard Cai Yong call her Yan'er, so he thought that this woman might be Cai Yong's widowed daughter Cai Yan and Cai Zhaoji.

As the daughter of the celebrity Cai Yong, Cai Yan has been influenced by Cai Yong since she was a child, not only erudite and literate, but also good at poetry and music, as early as when she was in the boudoir, she was quite famous. It's a pity that after marrying Wei Zhongdao, a talented son in Hedong, her husband died young, and Cai Zhaoji was widowed at a young age. Cai Yong only had this daughter under his knees, and he was afraid that she would suffer in her husband's family, so he took her to his side.

Cao Cao met Cai Yan when he was very young, but he didn't expect that Cai Yan had grown up so generous and captivated the country and the city. Now that they met again, Cao Cao suddenly realized that he was covered in mud and barefoot, which was really a bit out of place, and he even showed a shy face.

Looking at Cao Cao's embarrassment, Cai Yong smiled silently, and at the same time felt a wave of sadness in his heart. He is old, and his only daughter, Cai Yan, is in her prime, but she is unfortunately widowed. If you can find someone in the handsome show in the capital for life this time, you will be at ease when you leave a hundred years later. Although Cao Cao in front of him has a gap in age, he can match Cai Yan in terms of talent and ability. It's a pity that Cao Cao has already married a family, not only has the original Mrs. Ding, but also has the concubine Mrs. Bian and the eldest son Cao Ang. (The second son, Cao Pi, was born in Qian County in the fourth year of Emperor Ling's Zhongping, and Cai Yong didn't know.) asked his daughter to be someone else's concubine, Cai Yong naturally refused.

Regardless of Cai Yong's entanglement, Cai Yan stepped forward and walked between the two, first offering Cai Yong a cup of tea, and then holding the tea tray in front of Cao Cao.

Cao Cao took the tea presented by Cai Yan and bowed to thank him, Cai Yan's elegant and delicate and peerless temperament made Cao Cao, a person who is a suave and veteran of flowers, look shy.

Cai Yan didn't mind Cao Cao's awkwardness at all, but asked curiously: "Brother Meng De's talented little girl heard it when she was in the boudoir, and the sentence just now, 'The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold' is very good, and the little girl really admires it." ”

When Cao Cao heard what Cai Yan said, he blushed even more, and hurriedly explained: "Miss Cai Yan misunderstood, this sentence was not done by Xia, but said by the Son of Heaven when he persuaded Xia. ”

Cai Yan's eyes lit up, and he looked at Cao Cao in confusion.

Cao Cao further explained: "Cao often thinks that the career is difficult, and the sea rises and falls, and His Majesty hears it, and then he persuades him with 'the edge of the sword is sharpened, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold', and Cao is deeply encouraged and determined to improve himself." ”

Cai Yan silently recited this sentence in his heart, nodded again and again, and praised: "This sentence is far-reaching, introspective, and really wonderful." ”

Then Cai Yan asked Cao Cao curiously: "When the little girl was in her hometown for a long time, I heard that when today's Ziwen is extraordinary, she is good at the recently emerging rhythmic poems and block letters. Brother Meng De has lived in the capital for a long time and served the Son of Heaven closely, do you know how His Majesty's literary style is? ”

Liu Bian's literary talent is extraordinary, which was specially promoted by Wei Yi and Ren Hongchang in order to highlight Liu Bian's glorious image. In addition, the rhythmic poems and block letters have gradually spread in society, and their initiator, Liu Wei, is even more shrouded in the aura of a teacher in the literary world.

However, Cai Yan's question made Cao Cao, who knew Liu Wei, groan. On the one hand, Cao Cao was amazed by the new poems and new block letters revealed by Liu Wei at the first meeting, and even in the subsequent contact, those wonderful words and sentences in Liu Bian's mouth were easy to come by, and there were no stumbles. However, on the other hand, Liu Wei is lackluster in traditional literature such as poetry and poetry, and his writing is so-so, even if he is good at it, he can see that his pen power is slightly lacking. This also confirms the rumor that Liu Wei didn't like to read when he was young and worked full-time.

Cao Cao once suspected that Liu Bian's poems were plagiarized by others, but there was no one around Liu Biao who was so talented. At this time, Cai Yan asked, although Cao Cao had doubts, but after all, as a courtier, he couldn't discuss the rights and wrongs of the Son of Heaven, so he had to praise him with a mouthful: "Your Majesty's literary talent, ancient and modern, Cao Wan is not as good as one of them." ”

Speaking of this, Cao Cao remembered one thing, and couldn't help but say indignantly: "There was originally a legal poem written by His Majesty in the style of "Sending Mengde to Yanzhou", which was given by His Majesty when he left the official position. How do you know that Zhong Yuan is often despicable and shameless, and he already has the "Autumn Twilight in the Mountain House" given by His Majesty, but he can't imagine that he still covets my "Yanzhou to Mengde", and borrows it from me in the name of borrowing and copying. I didn't want to borrow him, but I couldn't stand his soft grinding and hard bubbles, so I still lent him back home to copy for one night. Who knew that he went to Chang'an to take office the next day, and smuggled away with the pair of "Yanzhou for Mengde" given to me by His Majesty. As a celebrity, it is really insulting and shameless to do such a thing of rooster and dog theft! ”

Cai Yong laughed after hearing this, and Cai Yan couldn't help laughing on the side. At the same time, Cai Yan began to be fascinated by Liu Wei's talent, and his eyes were deep.

Zhong Miao is known for his talent, and Cai Yong admires him very much. In the past, when passing by Yingchuan, I also had a friend with him, and the two talked happily. At this time, he made peace between Cao Cao and Zhong Xuan: "Yuan Chang loves calligraphy and is almost obsessed. When he returns to Beijing, I will ask him for it on your behalf, and let him apologize to you. Meng De did not need to be angry again at this time, so as not to spoil the harmony between the ministers. ”

Cao Cao's face turned slightly pale, and he bowed and said, "This matter is all up to everyone Cai." ”

"Well said, well said." Cai Yong nodded with a smile, and then said: "The tea will be cold in a few moments, Meng De hurriedly drank it, don't let Yan'er live up to her heart." ”

Cao Cao hurriedly said that he was rude and drank the tea in his hand.

After drinking, Cao Cao nodded slightly and praised: "The entrance is fragrant, and the taste is like sweet rain." It's a lot more than the typhoon shelter in the capital. Miss Akihime is a good tea artist! ”

Cai Yan was embarrassed, and said humbly: "It's just a small road, not enough to worry about." Thinking that the Luoyang typhoon shelter is a holy place for tea drinking in the world, how dare the little girl's tea art be compared with it. ”

Cao Cao shook his head and said, "It is indeed better than many." ”

Immediately, Cao Cao said: "But it's slightly inferior to the 'Hongdu Gate Master'." ”

The habit of drinking tea was just beginning to become popular in the Han Empire, and although how tea was picked and processed was still a trade secret of the imperial palace and typhoon shelters, the processed tea could be sold in packages to various parts of the empire.

Although Cai Yan is humble in her mouth, since the tea ceremony was introduced to Chen Liu, she has carefully studied the art of tea, and her self-confidence can be regarded as a slight success. Now hearing Cao Cao say this aroused his competitive mentality, and asked curiously: "Brother Meng De said, 'Who is the master of Hongdu?' Where is its tea art better than that of the little girl? ”

Cao Cao said: "The master of Hongdu Gate is the doctor of Hongdu Gate Ren Hongchang, its beauty is overwhelming, its singing and dancing are rare in the world, its tea ceremony is more exquisite, the tea cooked is fragrant into the lungs, elegant as cinnamon, which is called 'three uniques'." How many princes and nobles in Luoyang have asked for a song and dance, or a cup of tea, or even a meeting, all of them have met and hollowed out their minds. However, Dr. Ren is a noble person, and ordinary people can't enter his eyes. In the next is also by the light of His Majesty, I am fortunate to drink a cup of tea cooked by Dr. Ren in the Dragon Garden, and taste the taste of tea...... Cao Cao sighed in his mouth, and then said: "The best in the world, indescribable." ”

"Could it be that the tea that Dr. Ren cooked is so delicious?" Cai Yan asked in disbelief.

At this time, Cai Yong said with a smile on the side: "If the tea ceremony of this 'Hongdu Gate Master' is really as Meng De said, the old man wants to pay a visit after entering Beijing." ”

Cao Cao jokingly echoed and said: "Everyone Cai is a famous person in the world and is admired by thousands of people." If you go to visit, you will be greeted by him. At that time, I hope that everyone Cai will call Cao to go together, and then Cao can also touch the light of Cai everyone, taste tea, and then watch singing and dancing. ”

"Well said, well said!" Cai Yong happily agreed. The two men looked at each other and laughed.

Cai Yan, who was on the side, glanced at Cai Yong dissatisfiedly, and his tone seemed to be bland, but he said dissatisfiedly: "The tea ceremony of the 'Hongdu Gate Master' is better than Zhaoji, and my father can go often." Zhao Ji of the province also worked hard every day, laborious cooking tea and pouring water. ”

After speaking, he ignored Cao Cao and Cai Yong, and the two flew away and returned to the carriage.

Cai Yong, who stayed behind, stayed in place in embarrassment, and then remembered his daughter's sensitive and unconvincing character. smiled apologetically at Cao Cao, and apologized: "The little girl has been spoiled, don't mind Meng De." ”

"Hehe, how dare you, how dare you. Miss Zhao Ji has a sincere temperament and admires her very much. ”

Cai Yong said again: "It's not early, I have to wait for Beijing to enter Beijing and other miscellaneous matters, so it is inconvenient to stay here for a long time." In this way, he said goodbye to Meng De, and after the old man settled down in the capital, he asked Meng De to come over to talk to him. ”

Cao Cao hurriedly bowed and said, "Cai, everyone is at your own convenience." ”

Cai Yong turned around and returned to the carriage. The two carriages started again and headed straight for the capital.

After Cai Yong left, Cao Cao was about to return to the field, but found a white-clothed scribe riding a donkey on the side of the road looking at him intently.

Cao Cao was curious, so he stepped forward and bowed his hand, and asked curiously, "Where did the Magi come from?" ”

The white-clothed scribe smiled and squinted his eyes and said, "On the way here, I wanted to beg for saliva to drink, but when I saw that Cao Zhonglang was talking with Cai's family, I didn't dare to bother, so I waited on the side. ”

Cao Cao pointed to the two water tanks under the tree not far away, and said, "There is cold water in the tank under the tree in front of you. ”

"It's okay!"

Cao Cao led the white-clothed scribe to the water tank, took out a scoop of water, and handed it to the white-clothed scribe. He took another scoop of water, scooped it up for himself, and drank it all with his neck up.

"Ha-" Cao Cao let out a sigh of relief and praised: "Although the tea is delicious, it is no more fresh and cool than this tank of water!" ”

The white-clothed scribe took a sip of water and looked at Cao Cao with a smile.

Cao Cao looked at the green in the fields with emotion, and the farmers who worked hard like sweat and rain. The sun was scorching in the sky, and there were no clouds.

"This year's harvest should be good." Cao Cao muttered to himself.

"yes." The white-clothed scribe beside him also sighed sincerely.

"As there is chaos today, people are displaced. As far as the eye can see, there is no hunger all over the earth; Listen to it, where is not mourning. However, in this troubled era, it is a great blessing for the world that the Son of Heaven can exercise benevolent government and inhabite the fields, so that all the people can live and work in peace and contentment, and not suffer from being overhanged. ”

Cao Cao saw that the white-clothed scribe had an extraordinary appearance, and he did not dare to underestimate it, so he bowed to the white-clothed scribe and begged: "What the wise man said is very true. If there is great chaos today, and the people are not able to make a living, what good strategies can the wise men have to calm the troubled times? ”

"What's the best idea?" The white-clothed scribe laughed. Stretching out his hand, he pointed to the farmers who were plowing the fields and said, "Isn't the Son of Heaven already letting Cao Zhonglang do the good policy of pacifying the world?" ”

Cao Cao looked at the field and was slightly stunned, and the white-clothed scribe immediately explained: "Mencius said: 'Heaven and time are not as good as the place, and the place is not as good as the people. 'Lady and Whosoever, the desire of all peoples. Where the people gather, the wise men are near, and the fierce generals are close. The Son of Heaven gathers all the people in Tuntian, takes the way of people, prospers the national strength, and is invincible, and the small people in the world dare not move. At that time, the central government of the imperial court was strong, and the local princes were afraid, and a single edict could calm the world. ”

The words of the white-clothed scribe made Cao Cao nod frequently, bowed to the end again, and thanked: "The wise man's high view is like an initiation, making Cao Cao like waking up from a dream." His Majesty often says that the world is people-oriented, so Tuntian gathers people, recruits talents, and strengthens itself. Today, when I heard the words of the Magi, I realized that Your Majesty was so wise and far-sighted. From this point of view, the peace of the court is also in the past ten years! The people of the world finally have hope! ”

The white-clothed scribe smiled and looked at Cao Cao, who was excited because the people of the world had the hope of living and working in peace and contentment, and there was a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

Looking at the heroes all over the world, there are still people who care so much about the people and are happy with the blessings of the people.

Cao Cao laughed and said, "I have a good time talking with the Magi today. If the Magi are all right, can he rest under the tree for a while, and then have a drink with the Magi when he is done with his farm work? ”

The white-clothed scribe smiled silently and shook his head. Cao Cao was stunned, and his disappointed expression overflowed on his face.

The white-clothed scribe smiled again and squinted his eyes and said: "Cao Zhonglang is still in a high position, and he can plough the field himself, although he is weak below, he is not industrious and indistinguishable. Tanaka's affairs are also slightly understood below. ”

As he spoke, the white-clothed scribe rolled up his trouser legs and long sleeves and walked towards Tanaka.

Cao Cao looked at the white-clothed scribe in a daze, and couldn't help but bow down and ask, "The wise man's surname?" ”

The white-clothed scribe replied without looking back: "Yingchuan opera Zhicai." ”

(To be continued, stay tuned for the next chapter)