When the news of Liu Wei's imperial examination reached Cao Cao, he was on his way to Yanzhou to take up his post.

After Cao Cao left Chang'an, he first spent a few days in Luoyang. Although Liu Wei was appointed to him in Chang'an, he still had to return to Luoyang to get the seal letter from General Zhendong. In addition, it was also to find Hua Tuo to see a doctor for Xi Zhi.

A few days before Liu Wei hurriedly returned to Luoyang, Cao Cao left, and the two were staggered. Since the two of them had said goodbye in the stone pavilion before, there was nothing to worry about.

At the post station in Yuanwu County, Cao Cao read a newspaper about the imperial court about the imperial imperial examination and a "Luoyang Times" publicizing the matter.

China's post station system has a long history, appearing as early as the pre-Qin period. Its main function is to transmit military information, imperial edicts, and local official documents. In the early days, it was passed on foot, and in the Han Dynasty, it was gradually replaced by horseback riding. Moreover, in order to meet the needs of state management, in addition to the function of transmitting information, the post station of the Han Dynasty also had the function of welcoming and sending officials and providing government personnel with rest on official travel.

After Liu Wei succeeded to the throne, in order to expand the influence of the "Luoyang Times", the newspaper was distributed to post stations in various places. Compared with the imperial court's newspaper, the newspaper was more civilian. Di Bao is the medium of communication between the local government and the imperial court, and it is a government document. However, the newspaper is oriented to the public, and some post stations post the newspaper outside for the people to see, and those who are active in the brain simply set up a hall to invite the newspaper man to tell the newspaper, and by the way, sell some tea, fruits, and the like to make some extra money. In any case, for the first time, the post station began to serve the people, and many civilians took the opportunity to learn about the current affairs of the imperial court. In Liu Bian's heart, he already had the idea of setting the post station as a post office, but the postal system was extremely complicated, and Liu Bian didn't want to rush it, so he did everything slowly.

Cao Cao's post station in Yuanwu County was just a campy night, and he continued to hurry in the early morning. Before leaving, he took the copy of "Luoyang Times" that was sent to the post station.

Due to the constraints of the size of the printing house, the current circulation of the "Luoyang Times" cannot meet the needs of the people of the whole country. Even in the regions of Bingzhou, Liangzhou, and Sili Prefecture controlled by the imperial court, the circulation was very limited. There are only a few copies of newspapers that can be distributed by post stations in various places, and only that copy can be sent to remote counties such as Yuanwu County.

Now that the newspaper has been taken away by Cao Cao, although the head of the post station is in pain, he doesn't dare to say anything in the face of a high-ranking official like General Zhendong. I had to watch Cao Cao take the newspaper and get into the carriage and leave.

Cao Cao, who was on his way again, did not have the slightest sense of shame in taking it by force, but read the newspaper with relish in the car. When he was in Luoyang, Cao Cao had already developed the habit of reading the newspaper every issue, and now he has not seen the "Luoyang Times" after leaving Luoyang for a long time, and he is really uncomfortable.

In the carriage, Xi Zhicai knelt beside him, and in front of the two of them there was a small clay stove with a pot of soup and medicine fried on it.

This medicine was prescribed by Hua Tuo to Xi Zhicai to recuperate his body and treat diseases. The strong smell of medicine emanated from the pot, Xi Zhicai wrinkled his nose, and said to Cao Cao with a guilty face: "General Cao, this smell of medicine is smoky, I think I should take another car, and come over when the medicine is decoctioned." ”

Cao Cao didn't mind and said, "It's okay, just open the window and let the smell of medicine out." I still have a lot of things that need to be solved by my husband, and I can't do without him for a while. ”

Cao Cao paused and said: "Didn't I say that Mr. can just call my cousin Mengde, and there is no need to pull the relationship between each other so far." ”

Cao Cao's words were sincere and unpretentious, and Xi Zhicai's eyes were red. After living for more than 30 years, he can be regarded as a full reader of history books and countless people. It's not uncommon to undress and push food and break the corporal, but Cao Cao feels different from others when he gives Xi Zhicai.

Not to mention Cao Cao's eloquence, the all-round civil and military power makes Xi Zhicai admired, and his informal, free and easy character coincides with Xi Zhicai's character. The two are also teachers and friends, and when they are with Cao Cao, they never have a sense of dominance.

Seeing Cao Cao's insistence, Xi Zhicai didn't say anything more, and ordered the waiter in the carriage to open the window, and the topic of the two of them talked about the imperial examination.

"Your Majesty's move is really a miracle." Cao Cao was the first to praise.

Xi Zhicai nodded in agreement and whispered: "Kyushu is angry and thunderous, and it is sad that all the horses are angry." I advise the Lord of Heaven to be vigorous and reduce talents without sticking to one pattern! ”

This new style poem was chanted drunken when Liu Wei and his ministers were at a banquet. Cao Cao, who was at the table at that time, remembered it in his heart, and only listened to it after he went back. At this time, when he heard Xi Zhicai chanting Liu Wei's poem, Cao Cao couldn't help but say with emotion: "When today's young man is Yinghui, everything he does is imaginative, and it is unexpected. ”

"As soon as this edict comes out, I am afraid that all capable people in the world will return to the court in the future." Xi Zhicai sighed.

Since following Cao Cao, Xi Zhicai will always think about things from the perspective of Cao Cao's interests. Although the imperial court did not abolish the old-style system of recruiting scholars such as the conquest and probation, it is foreseeable that the emergence of the imperial examination system has shown that the imperial court wants to abolish the old-style systems such as the expropriation system and the probationary system, and nationalize the talents of the world. Compared with the system of expropriation and inspection, the imperial examination system is more in line with the interests of the central court and can arouse the interest of scholars all over the world.

As a reader, Xi Zhicai can best understand the mentality of readers in the world. Although it is said that there is no first in literature and no second in martial arts, but these scholars are not conceited. The Son of Heaven opened the imperial examination to select scholars based on talent, which will inevitably attract the attention of people from all over the world.

If the imperial examination gradually forms a regulation, it will inevitably compete with the conscription and probation system to snatch a large number of human resources. If this is the case, it will have a great impact on the party groups within the imperial court and the local princes. If there is no nepotism or recruitment, the strength of the party lords or local princes will inevitably decline.

Again, this had a great impact on Cao Cao. Although Cao Cao did not show the ambition of separating one side at this time, Xi Zhicai knew that Cao Cao's eloquence was strategic, and he was definitely not a thing in the pool, and he did not show anything when he was lying in Beijing, but once he lived in the place, the wind and clouds would be vacated and turned into a dragon.

Xi Zhicai also thought about following the example of the imperial court and holding a imperial examination, but after careful consideration, he dispelled this idea. The Son of Heaven was able to hold the imperial examination because the imperial court had a righteous and orthodox reputation and could attract people from all over the world, which was absolutely incomparable to the local princes. Moreover, Cao Cao's new entry into Yanzhou is still unknown, and it is still unknown whether he can fully control Yanzhou, and many places still need the help of the imperial court, and his performance is too eye-catching for fear of arousing the suspicion of the imperial court. It's better to keep a low profile before the gun shoots the first bird. As for recruiting talents, Xi Zhicai decided to use the network he had built up in Yingchuan over the years to find some classmates and friends to assist Cao Cao.

At this time, Cao Cao didn't know what Xi Zhicai was thinking, and now he really doesn't have the ambition to dominate one side, and he is still relatively loyal to the imperial court, especially for the little emperor Liu Bian, who also has very deep feelings. He did not think about the impact on his own interests when the imperial court carried out the imperial examination, but was worried about the imperial court.

"The Son of Heaven implements a new policy, what if the courtiers oppose it?" Cao Cao said worriedly.

Xi Zhicai sneered and said; "Whoever opposes in the court is the enemy of the corporal in the world. In the imperial imperial examination, the best students are selected first, which is a way for the people of the world to show themselves and be fair and just. Especially for Hanshi, it is a rare opportunity to get ahead. Whoever contradicts this matter will inevitably arouse the public indignation of the corporal of the world! ”

Xi Zhicai sighed when he said this. Aside from the imperial power in it, this imperial examination system is indeed a fair system for selecting officials in the imperial court. Xi Zhicai himself is a Han Shi, so he naturally understands the bitterness of Han Shi. Without the support of a large family, if a Hanshi wants to get ahead, he must rely on others.

The expropriation system and the probation system have been implemented for hundreds of years, and there are indeed fair recommendations based on the character and talent of others. However, there are not a few cronyisms and cliques for personal gain. Especially in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the situation became more and more serious. Xi Zhicai himself is unwilling to rely on others to become famous, so he has been unknown in the countryside, if it wasn't for the introduction of his friend Xun Yu this time, he would not have come to the capital, let alone met Cao Cao. If you're unlucky, I'm afraid that you won't be able to die in the countryside.

Cao Cao listened to Xi Zhicai's words and nodded repeatedly, and the two talked about the situation in Yanzhou again, and while talking, Xi Zhicai inadvertently looked up and saw a Tsing Yi scribe riding a donkey passing by outside their carriage.

Xi Zhicai was stunned for a moment, the appearance of the scribe in Tsing Yi was very familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was for a while.

Poking his head out of the car, he saw a scribe in Tsing Yi riding a donkey in the direction of Luoyang. As soon as the edict of the imperial examination came out, many scholars were rushing to Luoyang, and Xi Zhicai and Cao Cao met several along the way. I thought that this scribe rushed to Luoyang for the imperial examination. It's just that the more I look at his back, the more familiar it becomes, and for a while, Xi Zhicai still can't remember who he is.

Seeing Xi Zhicai's head exposed outside the window in a daze, Cao Cao asked curiously, "What is the matter with Mr. ”

"I seem to have seen an old friend just now, but I can't remember who it is." Xi Zhicai replied.

Cao Cao said: "Mr.'s old friend must be a great talent, I don't know if I can recommend it." ”

Xi Zhicai smiled bitterly; "This man is long gone, and I can't remember who he is."

Speaking of this, Zhicai's expression froze, and Cao Cao's sentence just now, "The friend of Mr. must be a great talent" made him think of who that person was.

"Yingchuan Guo Fengxiao!" Xi Zhicai couldn't help but exclaim.

Cao Cao was taken aback, and he didn't know why Xi Zhicai was suddenly so excited, and hurriedly asked, "Who is Guo Fengxiao?" ”

Xi Zhicai said angrily: "Guo Fengxiao is a native of Yingchuan Yangzhai, and his single name is Jia. Extraordinary and resourceful for talents. I often come with my friends from Yingchuan Academy, drink and play, and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the world's heroes. This is the person who just missed! ”

Listening to the drama Zhicai's evaluation of Guo Jia so highly, Cao Cao also felt deep regret. Hurriedly said: "Staggered each other and soon, maybe we can catch up." ”

Xi Zhicai nodded, Cao Cao abandoned the carriage with him, ordered the troops to rest from the same place, and the two rode horses and rushed back with a team of guards.

chased for a long time, but Guo Jia was never seen. In the end, the two of them stopped unwillingly.

"There are many forks in the road here, and it must be a mistake with Fengxiao." Xi Zhicai said with annoyance.

Cao Cao was also quite sorry and said unwillingly; "How about looking for it on another road?"

Xi Zhicai sighed and said, "I don't know where people are, so it takes a lot of work to find it." Forget it, in the end, he will have a chance to introduce Meng De again. ”

The two finally gave up the search, turned their horses' heads and continued on their way.

When the sun began to turn west, the scorching summer heat began to gradually dissipate, and the cool breeze was blowing, and Guo Jia, a scribe in Tsing Yi who Xi Zhicai and Cao Cao had been looking for, led a donkey out of the bushes by the roadside.

"Good sleep!" Guo Jia stretched his waist and let out a long sigh.

Raise your head and feel the cool breeze blowing towards the evening.

"Take the sky as the cover, take the earth as the house, avoid the heat, and dream of Zhou Gong." After a good night's sleep, Guo Jia nodded comfortably.

"It's cool, and it's time to hurry." Guo Jia said as he turned over on the donkey, broke a branch, and gently slapped the donkey's buttocks.

The donkey ran up on all fours, carrying Guo Jia and continuing to Luoyang.

To be continued, stay tuned for the next chapter.