From July of the thirteenth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao's army went south to Nanyang, and in February of the fourteenth year of Jian'an, the Southern Huns retreated from Shicheng, the world changed drastically in seven months, and there were countless people who made meritorious contributions.

After returning from the state, Cao Cao rewarded the army, and the meritorious ones such as Zhao Yan, Zhang Liao and other generals were rewarded, and in the name of the false Son of Heaven, they were either promoted, or feuded, or the food was increased.

From generals to small soldiers, those who have meritorious service are rewarded, and those who have faults are punished, this has long been a rule set in Cao's camp.

However, after Cao Cao announced the reward in Yecheng, Cao Wu, the general of Beifu who contributed the most in the Battle of Chibi, did not receive any reward.

This matter has been discovered by someone with a heart, Cao Wu disturbed Xu Du, they thought that Cao Cao did not like it, so he deliberately did not make a reward.

They didn't know that Cao Cao didn't reward Cao Wu, but wanted to ask Cao Wu's own opinion.

Cao Wu had expected such a show, and said with a smile: "The three princes and nine kings are too noble, the state pastor is too tired, and the four expeditions and four towns are too bloody, don't do it, don't do it." ”

Everyone who heard these words had different expressions, and Cao Wu didn't even look down on the position that others dreamed of.

The look of admiration in Xi Xuan's eyes was thick, and Jia Xu lowered his head in contemplation.

Cao Cao shook his head with a rare look of disappointment on his face.

Others came to ask for officials in person, but Cao Cao came to give officials in person, and Cao Wu didn't look down on them at all.

In this era, there are many hermits who refuse to be officials, or sell for fame and reputation, or for the sake of waiting for a price, and there are very few people who really don't want to be officials.

And Cao Wu's decisive refusal is admired even by Zhuge Liang, a person who has really been a hermit.

Unexpectedly, Cao Wu changed his words, and continued: "But I won't be promoted, and the official I am an official can be promoted." ”

"Huh?"

Everyone didn't react, it turned out to be Xi Wei who was the best at figuring out people's hearts, and said: "Prime Minister, the general of the Northern Mansion controls Jingxiang in the south, and the Chibi fights for victory. ”

Everyone suddenly realized that Cao Wu meant this.

In the Han Dynasty, important positions such as generals and three dukes could open the government on their own, and some important generals could also grant the right to open the government.

Opening the government means that he can hire officials as his staff, and justifiably gather celebrities from all over the world to do things for him, and these staff members also have rank, the same as officials.

For example, Yuzhou Mu Wang Si, who used to serve in Cao Cao's Sikong Mansion, was vacant in Yuzhou, and became the lord of a state when he was released.

The political situation has been relatively stable, and if it weren't for the fact that he was a subordinate of Zhilu, it would be difficult to directly become a big official or command something. With the position of a government subordinate, it is much more justifiable.

Xun Yu saw Zhuge Liang and Lu Xun two talents, and once knocked on the side to suggest that Cao Wu open a mansion, Cao Wu considered it at that time, and now Cao Cao is here, just propose.

As he said, Assassin Shi Zhou Mu is very tired, he doesn't need to do it himself, but just support Zhao Yan, a person who is strong and can judge the situation. The three princes and nine secretaries are all fictitious, and they have little effect, so he doesn't need to do it. On the surface, the Four Expeditions and Four Towns are the top military positions second only to the generals, hussar generals, and Wei generals, but in fact, there are not many permanent troops that can be managed, and they have to cooperate with the actual powers to play a role.

In other words, these three positions all look good on the surface, but they are not suitable for Cao Wu.

Cao Wu needs not to achieve his goal of making the world rich and not being bullied.

On the contrary, it is more important to open the government and build a government.

And for Cao Wu, retaining the title of General of Beifu and not serving as the Four Expeditions and Four Towns, he has greater autonomy.

Cao Cao only thought about it for a moment, and then agreed.

He patted his body and stood up, and said with a smile: "Okay, if you are not an official, Lone will be directly promoted to the rank of Beifu, promoted to more than two thousand stones, and opened the mansion." ”

Cao Wu nodded in agreement, this was exactly what he needed.

Cao Cao said again: "Originally, I was going to seal you Hou this time, but I see that you are too lazy, just wait for next time." ”

Cao Wu didn't care, waved his hand and said: "Save thousands of households, next time you will directly wait for thousands of households." ”

Cao Cao laughed and said, "If you don't seal it, your staff will always have to seal it." ”

Cao Cao pointed at Zhuge Liang, and glanced at Xi Xin.

Xi Yu immediately took out a prepared bamboo slip.

For Cao Wu, he asked first before he was absolute, and he didn't need to do it for Zhuge Liang, obviously he had already prepared.

Originally, it was Guangluxun's responsibility, but the new Guangluxun was the Jingzhou general Kuai Yue, which was a vacant position, and Cao Cao preferred to let his predecessor Guangluxun Xi worry about doing this kind of thing.

Xi Xuan held the bamboo and read briefly, Cao Wu had already come up and pressed his hand, and said with a smile: "I'm going to open a mansion, Kong Ming is my person, and I should arrange it." ”

Zhuge Liang was ordered in danger in the Battle of Red Cliffs, and Cao Cao attached great importance to him, but knew that he was Cao Wu's aide and did not rob him.

This reward is actually for Kong Ming to serve as Shang Shulang in Shangshutai, but he doesn't need to really report it, just hang up his qualifications.

Although Shang Shulang's rank is low, his power is great, and he is not the smallest official position in Shang Shutai, in fact, there is Gong Cao below, and after three years of Shang Shuling, you can become a squire, and you will have capital for promotion in the future.

Shangshutai is under the jurisdiction of Xun Yu, and it has a good relationship with Cao, and it is a place to really exercise people, which is Cao Cao's best arrangement.

Xi Xi also thought it was reasonable, so he wanted to take the credit for the reward, who would have thought that Cao Wu would not let him read it.

Xi Wei hesitated: "The prime minister has already made arrangements, and he has no intention of letting Kong Ming leave the general. ”

Zhuge Liang took a step forward and said: "Liang is a retainer of the general of Beifu, but he is arranged by the general of Beifu. ”

Regarding Cao Wu's sudden stand-up, Cao Cao was thinking about the reason, but at this moment, seeing Zhuge Liang take the initiative to come out, he couldn't help but appreciate Zhuge Liang even more.

With this kind of person who is not greedy for merit by Cao Wu's side, Cao Cao is very relieved.

With this comparison, he glanced at Lu Xun behind Zhuge Liang a few times, he knew Lu Xun's origin, but Lu Xun was not a big official in Jiangdong, and his reputation was not significant, Cao Wu favored this person, I don't know what he is capable of.

Lu Xun obviously felt that Cao Cao was looking at him, fixed his body, and stood upright, without showing timidity.

Cao Cao nodded, and then turned back to Cao Wudao: "What official position does Xiao Wu want to ask for for Kong Ming?" But my schedule is too low? ”

"Definitely."

Cao Wu said with a smile: "Kong Ming is a fledgling, his qualifications are still shallow, and he is not filial piety, and he goes straight to Shangshutai, afraid of others talking about it." It's better to release it, but his merits are more than enough to be a county order, but it is not enough to be too guarded, so it's better to be a county order outside. ”

"Release, then you can't stay in Beifu!"

Jia Xu reminded in a whisper.

Speaking of which, after all, the county order is the head of a county, and the real power is greater than that of Shang Shulang who has just entered Shang Shutai, but his future promotion is far worse than Shang Shulang, and the twenty-seven-year-old Shang Shulang has the opportunity to survive to Shang Shuling, and the twenty-seven-year-old county order may not be able to become a thorn.

Not to mention Jia Xu, Zhuge Liang himself was a little surprised, he knew that following Cao Wu had a great future, so he didn't care about Shang Shulang's official position, but if he was released, he would have to take office in a real way, and he really couldn't stay in Beifu.

Cao Wudao: "The fierce general must start from the army, the prime minister must be issued in the state and county, Kong Ming is a great talent who will enter the prime minister, I hope he can start from the county first, and I also hope that in the future, if the court officials, if they want to go further, they must be the governor of the county." ”

"The fierce general must start from the army, and the prime minister must be issued in the state and county......"

Cao Cao chewed on Cao Wu's words, and suddenly felt that it should be like this, with experience at the grassroots level, only by being an official in the future can he understand the situation below, so that he will not formulate an unrealistic strategy.

He sat down again, patted his thigh and said, "Xiao Wu said it well, I'll do it in the future!" ”

Cao Wu saw that he was about to slap his red thighs, and the corners of his mouth twitched.

Xi Xuan hurriedly said: "Kong Ming is a talent, I will go to Shangshutai to find a shortage of Jizhou and Yuzhou counties!" ”

He was about to leave, obviously not wanting to give the credit to anyone else.

Xi Wei is not talking nonsense, because Yecheng is in Jizhou, Cao Cao is Jizhou Mu, and now Jizhou is basically Cao Cao's base camp. Yuzhou, on the other hand, is a relatively wealthy place, close to Xudu.

As a result, before he could take a step, Cao Wu grabbed him again.

"No, I've already chosen a county."

"What county?"

"Dupang County!"

"Where is that?"

Everyone looked confused, obviously no one had heard the name of this county.

There are more than 100 counties in the thirteen states, and there are thousands of counties, but there are people who have a lot of experience here, but no one knows where this county is.

Everyone looked at Cao Wu in unison.

Cao Wudao: "Jiaozhou, Jiuzhen County, Dupang County!" ”