A.D. 215, Xia, Yecheng.

In the palace, Cao Cao spread out his arms, let the maid dress him in royal clothes, looked at himself with half-white hair in the bronze mirror, sighed slightly, and thought to himself: "The great cause has not been accomplished, and the lonely general is old." However, who can inherit the foundation of China, Zihuan and Zijian? ”

"King!"

The two maids finished tidying up Cao Cao's clothes and stepped back from the left and right.

Cao Cao looked at himself in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction.

However, Cao Cao saw this novel and exquisite brocade dress on his body, and asked curiously: "Is this dress newly made recently?" ”

"Your Highness!"

The maid replied respectfully: "It is made by the craftsman to take the Shu brocade, and if His Highness does not fit, he can let the craftsman change his clothes." ”

"Shu brocade?"

Cao Cao held his belt, looked at himself in the mirror, frowned and asked, "I remembered that I took Xiangyi weaving and cutting before, how can I take Shu brocade clothes now?" ”

"Back to His Royal Highness, the weaving skills are not as good as Shu brocade, nor as exquisite as it. Today, the prince and the doctor take more Shu brocade clothes, and the slaves see that His Royal Highness's clothes are old, so this summer takes Shu brocade clothes. If His Highness does not like it, the slave will take the old clothes and change them for His Highness. The maid was quite frightened and said.

"No need!"

Cao Cao liked Shu brocade in his heart, and said with his chin headed: "The color style of the weaving text is old, and the color of Shu brocade is beautiful." You don't have to change it, and you wear it today. But next time you want to get Shu brocade clothing, you should report to Lone. ”

"No!"

"King, the three princes are already waiting in the main hall!" The squire said.

"Good!"

Cao Cao wore the sword at his waist and walked out of the hall.

In the hall, Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, and Cao Zhang's three sons stood in the hall.

Seeing Cao Cao enter the palace, Cao Pi took the lead and bowed, saying: "The son has seen his father, and I hope that his father will be blessed and healthy." ”

Cao Cao pressed the sword into the bed, and saw that the three sons had their own style, such as Cao Pi solemn and majestic, Cao Zhi chic and casual, Cao Zhang burly and martial, and his heart was suddenly proud.

"Sit down, gentlemen!"

"Thank you, Father!"

Taking advantage of the time when the third son was seated, Cao Cao called Yang Xiu and said: "I have heard that the common people are cutting Shu brocade for clothing, and Shu brocade is from Bashu, and it is advisable to persuade the people to take more Chinese silk and silk linen for clothing, and not to fund the southern thieves." ”

"No!" Yang Xiu bowed his hand and retreated.

The three sons sat down and waited, Cao Cao looked around at the three of them and said, "Call the three of you into the palace today, what do you know?" ”

"But my father wants to inquire about current politics and military affairs?" Cao Pi asked.

"Exactly!"

Cao Cao stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Today is undecided, you are an orphan heir, you should have great ambitions and make contributions to the world." ”

As he spoke, Cao Cao pointed to Cao Zhang and said with a smile: "Poetry and songs, the director of Zihuan and Zijian; Riding and shooting tigers, Ziwen's director. Therefore, now that Lone is taking the current political and military affairs, I hope the three of you will not let Lone down! ”

"No!"

"Saibei Xianbei is gradually rising, Kebineng, Fu Luohan, and Budu are entrenched outside the Saibei, and Zhuhu is gradually disagreeing, what do you think?" Cao Cao asked.

"Father!"

Cao Zhi wanted to answer first, but seeing that Cao Pi had the intention of answering, he raised his hand and humbly said, "Brother, please go first!" ”

Cao Pi intended to answer first, but when he saw Cao Cao on top, he humbly said: "Zijian is the first to speak, and it should be the younger brother who answers first!" ”

"You Zijian will answer first!" Cao Cao saw that his brother was humble and said by name.

"No!"

"Enlightened Father,"

Cao Zhi glanced at Cao Pi and said, "Xianbei has fallen apart since the death of Tanshi Huai, and it is difficult for me to suffer from China. Although the sandalwood acacia is dead, the forces of the Xianbei tribes still exist. Now my father wants to be peaceful, and he should divide and rule. ”

That is, it is not allowed to unify the outside of the fortress, and divide and rule by the leaders of multiple tribes, induce them to attack each other to weaken their strength, and if there is any disobedience, they will raise troops to fight against them and use force to threaten them. Under martial arts, with Wen Huai Rou, he allowed him to trade and educate his people. Civil and military together, this plug can be safe! ”

After speaking, Cao Zhi was quite complacent, glanced at Cao Pi, and smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth.

"Hmm!"

Although Cao Cao's face remained unchanged, his heart recognized Cao Zhi's words.

"Where's Zihuan?"

Cao Pi glanced at Cao Zhi a few times, and couldn't help but be shocked. Cao Zhi's reply, what else can he say, is mostly the words of wisdom.

After thinking about it for a while, Cao Pi stubbornly said: "Father Qi, the Hu people are afraid of power but not virtue, and they should be ordered to join the expedition and take their good horses, so as to weaken their strength." The father chose Wuhuan to ride in the expedition, so that Xianbei could enter the army with good horses. Strengthening China's strength is the fundamental way. ”

"What does Ziwen think?"

Cao Cao didn't comment, but looked at Cao Zhang and asked.

Cao Zhang thought hard for a long time, straightened up and replied: "Father, my son is willing to follow Huo Quai, Wei Qing, go to the north, sweep Zhuhu, seal the wolf Juxu, capture Kebineng, Budugen and other Zhuyi under the steps, and sing and dance for my father!" ”

"Haha!"

Hearing this, Cao Cao stroked his beard and laughed, and said: "The lonely yellow beard has great ambitions." ”

After smiling a little, Cao Cao looked at the third son on the seat and said: "As the saying goes, the son is better than the father, and the son is talented, but it is difficult to know the loneliness!" ”

Then, Cao Cao changed his words and said: "Current politics and military affairs are what my son is good at. Today, it is not as good as Zijian. In the future, you should be more attentive to avoid being overtaken. ”

"No!"

Cao Pi lowered his head and arched his hand and said: "Erchen has been neglecting his intentions recently, and he must work hard in the future to live up to his father's expectations." ”

"Good!"

"In the future, if you use force outside the Saiwai, you will use Ziwen as the handsome!" Cao Cao laughed.

Cao Zhang's face was full of joy, and he said, "Thank you, father!" ”

"Let's all stand back and rest!"

Cao Cao waved his hand and motioned for the third son to step back.

The three Cao tended to step out of the hall, and Cao Pi talked and laughed, and he didn't see any mustard in his heart.

"Brother is respectful, please first!" Cao Zhi raised his hand and said.

"Third brother, please!"

"Brother, please!"

Cao Pi took Cao Zhi and Cao Zhang's hands, and said with a smile: "Since they are brothers, why bother seeing each other like this, they should be peers." ”

"Haha!"

Looking at the back of the third son, Cao Cao showed a satisfied smile and thought: "Zihuan is open-minded, and all the sons are not as good!" ”

After thinking about it, Cao Cao took the bamboo slips on the desk and wanted to read and browse.

Yang Xiu took the opportunity to present the document and said: "The king, the decree to persuade the people to ban the purchase of Shu brocade has been drafted, and there are three detailed rules listed on the document, please look at it!" ”

"Oh!"

Cao Cao took the scarf, browsed a few times, and said in surprise: "Dezu wrote so quickly? ”

"Please approve it!" Yang Xiu handed over the brush and said respectfully.

"Huh!"

Cao Cao held the pen and looked at the text, didn't know how to change it, and said in surprise: "Mo Fei Dezu has prepared a manuscript in advance, and there are nearly 1,000 words on the silk, but he doesn't know where to start?" ”

Yang Xiu was neither humble nor arrogant, and arched his hand and said: "King Qiyu, the wind of Shu brocade is flourishing, and the ministers are worried. The day before yesterday, the couple met with Zijian Gongzi and talked about it. The third prince sighed greatly, saying that Zhuge is good at governing the country, if he does not curb the wind of Shu brocade, it will not take long, and the court and the princes should have more Shu brocade. ”

"The southern thief official camp Shu Jin, making huge profits from it, thinking that it was military funds to enrich the treasury. When the thieves went on a northern expedition, I wore Shu brocade, and the enemy was wearing armor, which should be called the enemy. I don't dare to specialize in cultivation, and the above thoughts have the opinions of the three sons. ”

Cao Cao stroked his beard and said with emotion: "I didn't expect Zijian to have such a talent!" ”

"It's really a small look at the lonely guy who built it!"

Seeing Cao Cao's words, Yang Xiu decided to strike while the iron was hot, and arched his hand and said: "If the servant's talent is better than that of the son, then it is just a bird and a bird to Dapeng." ”

"Huh?"

Cao Cao held the water cup with a thoughtful look on his face.

Seeing Cao Cao like this, the expressions of the ministers on the left and right were different, and Sima Yi and Chen Qun glanced at each other, slightly nervous. Jia Xu lowered his eyes, his expression unchanged.

"Intelligent, intellectual, with excellent articles, ambitious, and thinking for the country. When today's talented gentlemen are willing to swim and die. Zijian Gongzi is heavenly, so he blesses Dawei! ”

Yang Xiu bowed his waist and said: "Forgive the servant for courage, the king opened the foundation of the country, but there is no crown prince, this is not in line with etiquette, I hope the king will think about the prince's affairs early." ”

"Haha!"

Cao Cao got up from the couch and said with a smile: "Lone also loves Zijian deeply!" ”

"The king's words should be the social society of the great country!"

Looking for an opportunity, Ding Yi stepped out of the ranks, knelt on the ground and bowed, and said: "Corporal Lixian, the son of Zijian, can win the hearts of the people." If the king establishes his son as his heir, the court will be very lucky, and the people of the world will be very lucky! ”

Ding Yi, the word is right, and he is a native of Peiguo. His father Ding Chong once made great contributions to Cao Cao, and Cao Cao was often grateful to Ding Chong.

After Ding Chong's death, Cao Cao wanted to marry his beloved daughter Princess Qinghe to Ding Yi, so he discussed with Cao Pi. Cao Pi disliked Ding Yi's eyes and persuaded Cao Cao to marry Princess Qinghe to Xiahou Nan. After that, Ding Yi hated Cao Pi deeply, so he was friendly with Cao Zhi.

After Princess Qinghe married Xiahou Nan, Cao Cao talked to Ding Yi and Xiahou Nan respectively, sighed greatly, and bluntly said that even if Ding Yi was blind in both eyes, he would marry his daughter to Ding Yi, not to mention that Ding Yi was just small-eyed.

Since then, Cao Cao also has a different opinion of Cao Pi, thinking that Cao Pi's ability to recognize people is not good.

Cao Cao looked at Chen Qun, Sima Yi and the others and asked, "What do you think?" ”

Chen Qun didn't dare to hesitate, and arched his hand and said: "This is a family matter of the king, and the minister does not dare to say anything." However, the matter of establishing an heir is a matter of the safety of the world, and it is not appropriate for the king to make hasty decisions. ”

"Today, under the division of the north and the south, Liu Bei is eloquent, Zhuge is good at governing the country, and Huo Jun is strategic. The three thieves are the enemies of the king. Liu Bei is close to the king, and the successor will be entrusted with Zhuge and Huo Jun. If I abolish the dynasty and cause political turmoil, this will be taken advantage of by the southern thieves. ”

"Moreover, Zihuan Gongzi is benevolent and filial by nature, knows literature and martial arts, and has won the hearts of the people, and has no fault since assisting the prime minister. If the king wants to change his son and build his son as his heir, the group is afraid that the ministers should have objections! ”

"The minister seconded the proposal!" Sima Yi said.

Cao Cao stroked his beard and paced, thinking about the establishment of an heir. He is in his early sixties, and the matter of his successor cannot be ignored.

He had considered the idea of making Cao Pi his heir before, but Cao Pi's military and political ability gradually made him unsatisfied. In this process, the talented Cao Zhi made Cao Cao quite fond of him, and his personality also had an appetite for Cao Cao.

If considered from an emotional point of view, Cao Cao would make Cao Zhi his heir; But from a rational point of view, Cao Cao would choose Cao Pi, who was in politics, as his heir.

The entanglement of sensibility and reason made it difficult for Cao Cao to make up his mind.

After pacing for a while, Cao Cao glanced at Jia Xu, who did not express his opinion, waved his hand and said, "Wait and retreat, Rong Gu thinks deeply." ”

"No!"

(End of chapter)