Inside the ancestral house of the Liu family in Zhuo County.

The elders of the Liu family specially cleaned up a side room for Xu Zhen and Cao Ang, and it was inconvenient for the two to go back to the inner city to live at night, so they spent the night here.

The candles were lit, there was no one else in the house, Dian Wei and the rest of the generals were sleeping peacefully in the other rooms of the courtyard, only a dozen or so guards of the armored cavalry battalion were guarding outside the door.

At this moment, without the Liu clan's people on his side, some words can finally be said.

This is what Cao Ang has been holding in his heart for too long, no one can give him an answer, and he can't figure it out when he is in the game.

It is necessary for someone else to soberly inform him how to make a choice and how to plan.

"Brother, you can know that since you became the pastor of Jizhou, the scholar clan is gradually no longer friendly to me, but to the second brother, no matter how benevolent and virtuous you are in the court, you can't be like the eyes of the minister."

"Over the years, the scholars have been intertwined, in-laws with each other, and have woven a big net that covers the sky and the sun, even if it seems to be losing power now, but in fact, they are just burying their power deep in the ground, and they are not going to show people."

"And they don't get close to me, but make friends with Zihuan more, what do you mean? Now that Zihuan is about to become an adult, what should he do in the future? ”

"Is this what they are secretly doing, using this as a plan to divide the next generation of my Cao brothers."

"For example, if I have a dislike because of this, I think about this matter, and I am afraid of Zihuan, wouldn't it always be contradictory again, but fortunately, at this moment, I am sober-minded and broad-minded."

"Tsk, it's already suspicious, there are no outsiders, Zixuan, be honest."

Xu Zhen suddenly leaned back, glancing at him with an insight into everything.

Cao Ang's face turned red.

"Yet, there is no gap yet."

"Don't carry it."

"I just don't understand, why didn't my father stop it!?" Cao Ang suddenly became emotional, "If it is blocked, it will never be like this now, he can completely let Zihuan go to the army for training, instead of making friends with the minister in Xudu." ”

"Brother, the scholars are not close to me, but my brother and I have always been in the same spirit, and it is only because we have reached this situation."

"Yes," Xu Zhen did not deny it, and nodded expressionlessly.

What he has done over the years has never given these ministers and celebrities of the Han Dynasty any good looks, unless he has the quality that Xu Zhen respects.

For example, Xun Yu, Xu Zhen has always respected him, and it can be said that he has only secretly ruined his reputation.

"So, brother, what does the situation look like now? How do I deal with myself? ”

Speaking of this, Cao Ang suddenly leaned back, supported the ground with both hands, his movements became more casual, and he smiled bitterly at Xu Zhen: "In the past, my father said that I am the eldest son in the family, and my younger brothers and sisters will be subject to me in the future." ”

"Don't hide it from my brother, I am so trembling, walking on thin ice, for fear of setting a bad example for my younger brother, where is it so easy, I am so tired!"

"I'm so tired!"

"My father gave birth more and more!"

Xu Zhen: "......"

This does seem to be a lot of pressure.

The main thing is that if you don't handle it well, it may be much worse than the three sons of the Yuan family in the future.

Cao Ang is both civil and military.

Cao Pi is outstanding.

Cao Zhang's yellow beard is brave and good at fighting, and he is powerful and fierce.

Cao Zhi writes poetry very well.

How exciting it must be to fight.

"Ziyu, be happy."

Xu Zhen patted him on the shoulder.

"How are you happy?"

Cao Ang shook his shoulders, somewhat aggrieved.

At this moment, Xu Zhen suddenly thought of some not so good situations.

But he didn't tell Cao Ang.

For example, most of these scholars now support Cao Pi, who is quite close to them.

Then the scholars gathered behind him and secretly befriended him.

It's even safer to do so.

Because Cao Ang is still here, no matter which prince they have a good relationship with, it seems that they will not mess up the order, but what if one day, Cao Ang dies?

Did everything fall into place?

"Alas, but I'm just venting my displeasure with my brother about this matter, but I haven't been able to tell anyone about it, and I've been consoling myself, don't be too suspicious."

"But after a long time, I will still think more after all, I really don't know where my slightly suspicious temperament comes from."

Heredity.

Xu Zhen was silent and smiled secretly.

"Brother, today should be regarded as my big talk here, and there is no need to take it to heart, this is my own narrow-mindedness...... will suffer from such gains and losses. ”

"You don't have to say that."

Xu Zhen stretched out his hand and put it on his shoulder, and said softly: "Sometimes, it is not so easy to set an example, and when you are tired of perseverance, you naturally need to be relieved, get drunk, and indulge yourself." ”

"Just tell me these words, and Chong'er, you are indeed a genius of the world, but why is your reputation longer than everyone in the world, and all the civil and military are in the world?"

Cao Ang laughed, the corners of his mouth trembled slightly, and he picked up the wine on the case and took a sip before he said what he thought at the moment, "Brother, when Chong'er showed his talent three years ago, his father was elated and excited. ”

"I don't have any worries about letting Chong'er show his talent in front of outsiders, every time he is shocked, his face will show a look of self-satisfaction, he is satisfied, I have been growing up since I was a child, how could I have let my father show off so much? Why should it be taken for granted that the eldest son is talented? ”

"Brother Ling thought, this doesn't look like the story you once told Kong Ming?"

Xu Zhen pinched his shoulders and said seriously: "Those stories are really meaningless to pass the time. ”

"There is a deep meaning! The elder brother said that Zhongyong was finally unknown to everyone because he lacked a good father and did not go to school, and Chong'er had a prime minister's father who covered the sky with one hand! Won't the status be transcendent in the future? ”

After hearing this, Xu Zhen fell silent, and after a long time, he slowly spoke: "Your father and I follow the ministers, and there are actually two battlefields in this life. ”

"Compete with the world and survive with the scholars."

The intricate warriors are like the rhizomes of hundreds of years old giant trees, buried deep in the ground, even if the giant trees wither, those rhizomes are difficult to uproot, and in the future, when it rains in spring, they can also draw nutrients again.

"Ziyu, your father pushed you to my place, but he pushed you to the opposite side of the Shi clan, why don't you go all the way to the end, besides, you must go to your father to talk to your father about Chong'er."

Cao Ang's eyes suddenly lit up, and he arched his hand and said, "Listen to me, my brother will teach me." ”

"You need to reprimand and blame, love Chong'er, how can such a talented person not attract jealousy, show in Xu Du, everyone is afraid, for fear that the descendants of the Cao family can really last for hundreds of years, first remind the prime minister and protect Chong'er."

"Not bad! That's exactly how it should be! Cao Ang's eyes suddenly lit up, and at the same time he was afraid in his heart, and then his eyes narrowed, and he said solemnly: "What my brother said, I am contrary to the behavior of the scholars, so it is better to operate and suppress." ”

"In the future, whether it is to inherit the family business or benefit the brothers, it will be a great achievement."

"I can also let my father see my hard work."

Xu Zhen suddenly smiled at this time, "Zi Zhen didn't have such a big grievance, right?" Today, taking advantage of the wine, deliberately losing your temper in front of me, you actually want me to give you advice, how to plan for the long-term future, right? ”

When he said this, Cao Ang's face turned red, he was stunned for a moment, and then he turned his face away and didn't know where to look, and his voice was as thin as a mosquito flapping its wings, "Not really." ”

"Oh, from the bottom of my heart, I do have a little ...... in my heart Dissatisfied. ”

Xu Zhen sat up straight, put his hands in his wide sleeves, and then leaned forward slightly to prop himself on the case, and said: "In the future, you have a lot of military and political power, and what the lord wants to see is not that you use this to coerce your brother, but that you can protect your brother." ”

"Zixuan, you are different from them, you should have the bearing of a king, and your younger brothers will fight, you can try to be like the lord, overlooking from a high place, what is there to fight with them?"

Actually, Ziyu still wants a word from his brother...... Brother Ji and Bingzhou now have 300,000 soldiers and horses, will they stand behind Ziyu in the future? ”

"At your disposal."

Xu Zhen said solemnly.

After hearing this, Cao Ang immediately returned to normal, no longer twisted, and his smile was much more sincere, "That's okay, brother sleeps and gets up, and I will go back with my brother tomorrow." ”

"Tsk, it's not good to be too real," Xu Zhen glanced at him helplessly, Cao Ang smiled hesitantly, and said: "I prepared gifts for Kong Ming and Dian Wei, prepared a few more copies, and then gave the lieutenant general a point, as for the army, there is nothing to be done, now follow the example of my brother, scatter wealth to the people, Youzhou is in ruins, and the money is used for people's livelihood." ”

"That's right."

Xu Zhen nodded in praise, and he didn't know whether he was talking about preparing a few more gifts, or spreading wealth to the people.

……

The next day, Cao Ang really returned to Xudu with Xu Zhen.

The army walked for ten days, and first went to Wei County to inspect the mansion and government office that was being built, which was as gorgeous as a palace and cost a lot of money.

Even the walls of the government office are several zhang high, almost one zhang thick, covering an area of more than 10 million, which can accommodate hundreds of courtyards, during which there are also school yards, several gates, and countless courtyards.

Lead a river into the hospital, graceful and luxurious, like a fairyland, luxurious and magnificent and like a towering palace wall, if there are a few years of decoration and expansion, carefully built.

Its potential and appearance should catch up with the prosperity of Luoyang back then.

They watched for a day, and then returned to Xudu, after all, the garrison of Yecheng in Wei County, Cao Ren, who was the chief general, was not there, only some clan generals of the Xiahou clan and the Cao clan were leading the troops.

Xu Zhen is not very familiar with these people, and Cao Ang is also familiar with one or two people, so it is not interesting.

Xu Du, the army was stationed outside, Xu Zhen, Dian Wei, and Zhuge Liang went to the Prime Minister's Mansion to report.

As a special driver in Jizhou, Zhuge Liang does have official duties, and he has to report to the Son of Heaven what he has gained over the years, inform Jizhou of the situation, and then write down the date of the year in the book, put it in the treasury, and then let the historian record the report.

Xu Zhen has just returned to the government office where he used to live, and now it has been converted into a deep courtyard mansion, which is not as gorgeous as his in Qinghe, but it is not something that ordinary officials can afford.

As soon as he arrived in Xudu, everything was calm as usual, Xu Zhen accepted the reward from the Son of Heaven, and added a reward to the household, and credited it in the book.

At the same time, he sent money and grain to Bingzhou to relieve the disasters caused by this year's drought, listened to Xu Zhenzhi's opinion to appease the people of Bingzhou, sealed the official position of the clan, and allowed all parts of Bingzhou to nominate local people who were not pure Han families to be recommended as minor officials.

The situation in Bingzhou is quite complicated, because it is close to Yongliang, so many years ago slowly entered some of the rest of the clan's survival, several emperors were reluctant to drive away, so slowly the clan increased, and it became a family.

With these rewards, Xu Zhen didn't want anything, and stayed in Xudu for the time being, and did not plan to return to Jizhou immediately, after all, there was still something that had not been resolved.

All the information about the land of Jingzhou, as well as the local geographical maps, need to be collected and collected, plus the Confucian scholar in Jingzhou Xinye and Jiangdong Xu Gong, both of whom were spies sent by Xu Zhen to Cao Cao.

These still need to be connected, and since the war in the north has been settled, there is no need to rush to Jizhou to recuperate.

In Xudu, Cao Cao was re-appointed as a military advisor for a period of time, waiting to lead the troops to the south together.

So Xu Zhen simply stayed in Xudu with Dian Wei and Zhuge Liang, and rested and enjoyed himself for a while.

Inside the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Cao Cao was unprecedentedly relieved, and Zixuan and Xu Zhen also returned.

Youzhou Thorn History, Jizhou Mu are all within the Xu capital, both internal affairs and military affairs in the north are extremely stable, at this moment to see the eldest son who is extremely satisfied, Cao Cao is more and more pleased.

"Zixuan, I have a general understanding of the feelings of Youzhou, you are like your brother Bowen, bow to each other day and night, and scatter wealth to the people."

"I am relieved that since ancient times, it has been the gathering of wealth and the gathering of people, and the gathering of wealth and the dispersion of people."

"Money and food should be given to the people, it is useless to hide them at home, and if they are scattered among the people, they can win the hearts of the people and save countless lives. ”

Cao Ang thought so, but at the moment, his eyes were looking at Cao Chong, who was sitting and reading in the distance.

The brocade robe is up to the body, the hair is tied behind the head, the face is white, and the facial features are exquisite, although he has not grown up, he is only eight or nine years old, but he can also see that he will be a handsome Confucian in the future.

Every day, he is determined, never impetuous, he reads day and night, and he has the style of a brother.

Moreover, he is constantly whimsical, thoughtful, and intelligent.

Cao Cao also noticed Cao Ang's gaze, his smile suddenly froze, his heart ached, and he suddenly felt a little guilty for a while.

"Chong'er has been doing well recently, he has learned a lot, and he is very smart, and he should be a big help to Zi Yu in the future."

"If you study for another ten years, you may be able to become the head of the family, and you will not stop in civil and military affairs, and you will also be the descendant of the Cao family."

Cao Cao said meaningfully.

These words were also to comfort Cao Ang's thoughts, and he asked Cao Ang to personally take his younger brother Cao Pi back then, teaching a lot, and telling all the feelings of the military camp and horses.

As a result, within a few years, Cao Zhi grew up and showed a rare literary talent.

Later, there was Huang Xu'er, and Cao Ang was also allowed to practice martial arts, and the more talents the brothers showed, the more favor they would naturally get from Cao Ang.

Now, Cao Chong has grown up, and his talents and talents are far above the rest of the brothers, if he can also learn to be mature and spicy in the future, these heirs of the Cao family will have their own style in the future.

Cao Cao was afraid that his Ang'er had something in his heart.

Cao Ang said calmly: "Brother is in Jizhou, there is a bronze bird building, I asked for Chong'er's approval some time ago, you can enter the bronze bird pavilion, view thousands of ancient books. ”

In that place, Confucian scholars were rumored to be able to govern half of the world once they entered and learned something, and they had knowledge in their hearts and strategies in their stomachs.

However, as soon as his words fell, the smile on Cao Cao's face froze for a moment.

"You want to take Chong'er away?"

Cao Cao felt the hair on his forehead tremble, and the originally loving gaze in his eyes suddenly gradually showed a little sharpness.

(End of chapter)