Cao Zhang and Mrs. Bian came to Sikong Mansion, and Mrs. Bian went directly to the back house and asked Cao Zhang to go to the study to meet Cao Cao.

Cao Zhang came to the outside of the study and asked his subordinates to report to Cao Cao, and after a while, he received a reply approving entry.

Cao Zhang walked slowly into the study, and saw Cao Cao sitting in front of the bookcase, with several books in front of him, his brows furrowed.

"Father, what's the trouble with this? Could it be that there is a problem with the business of the three stores? Cao Zhang asked with concern.

Cao Cao raised his head and waved his hand: "No, the business of the store is not bad, and the income is also considerable." And the three weapons you've developed are now in production, and while the first batch won't be too many, it's well underway. ”

"In that case, why is my father still worried?" Cao Zhang asked puzzled.

"It's a food problem, there is a lot of rain in the Central Plains this year, and many places have been flooded, so the harvest will definitely be poor. Now we have money in our hands, but we have no place to collect food. My heart is worried. Cao Cao told Cao Zhang about his troubles.

Cao Zhang listened to Cao Cao's words and suddenly realized that the food problem was indeed something he hadn't pondered before, just thinking about how to make money.

Now the Central Plains is in arrears, and the Yongliang area has just been recovered from the war, and there will not be too much grain reserves, and it is difficult to transfer to the Central Plains.

Cao Zhang couldn't think of a solution to this problem for a while.

Cao Cao saw that Cao Zhang was also deep in thought, and hurriedly waved his hand and said: "Okay, I've thought about it for a long time, but I haven't come up with a solution, how can you come up with it for a while, say, what is the matter with you coming to me?" ”

Cao Zhang hurriedly said: "Back to my father, Zhongquan has returned from Chang'an, but he has not found a letter to Li Dao. In other words, all the evidence we have in our hands can only prove that the collaborator is Dong Cheng and has nothing to do with Brother Zihuan, so I came to you today in the hope that he can be released. ”

Cao Cao was slightly stunned when he heard Cao Zhang's words: "You said you were going to release Zihuan?" ”

"Yes, now there is no evidence that he collaborated with the enemy, maybe he really wanted to show concern for me out of good intentions, how could I not know the hearts of good people, take revenge, but keep locking him up?!" Cao Zhang replied to Cao Cao seriously.

Cao Cao stared at Cao Zhang with a scrutinizing gaze, obviously he didn't expect Cao Zhang to let Cao Pi go so easily.

"Your mother went to look for you? She interceded with you, right? Cao Cao was silent for a moment, and asked directly, he wanted to know if Cao Zhang was influenced by Mrs. Bian to make this decision.

"My mother did come to me, and her slap in the face made me wake up completely. No matter what time it is, Brother Zihuan and I are brothers of the same mother, how can we turn against each other because of unwarranted speculation? Isn't this a joke about the relatives and the enemies, so that outsiders can see our Cao family?! ”

"My mother's words made me repent, and I realized that I couldn't continue to be wrong. It just so happens that Zhongquan hasn't found any evidence, so I think don't delay and release Brother Zihuan as soon as possible. Lest outsiders misunderstand, our brothers frame each other for the so-called dispute between the sons of the world, and turn against each other! Cao Zhang explained his reasons for releasing Cao Pi to Cao Cao.

"You don't have to say these things to outsiders in front of me, I want to listen to your true thoughts!" Cao Cao waved his hand and asked Cao Zhang bluntly.

Cao Zhang was not polite, and responded directly: "My true idea is that the business that should be done has been done, and I don't want to use the good reputation that I have worked hard to accumulate in the past six months, because this matter is all lost!" ”

"I don't want to mess up the good situation that has just stabilized because of the rumors of the brotherhood. So I thought about it again and again, and decided to release Brother Zihuan. ”

"I want to fight for the position of the son of the world, but I want to win glory and beauty, not rely on this little trick of chickens and dogs! I believe that my father also hopes that the heir he chooses in the future will be a person with brains, a heart, and a person who knows how to take care of the big picture! ”

Cao Zhang no longer chose to hide his true thoughts, and proudly said his thoughts in front of Cao Cao.

"Well said!" Cao Cao looked at Cao Zhang and let out an exclamation, then stood up.

"My Cao Cao's son can't be a waste or a bad seed, and he can't just rely on playing tricks to make a living! We must have the ability to govern the country and calm the world, and we must have the mind to swallow mountains and rivers and tolerate all things! Therefore, if you want to be my heir, you must fight with your ability, and as you said, you must fight openly and brightly! Only those who can win everything with their true skills are qualified to be the heirs of my Cao Cao! Cao Cao was affected by Cao Zhang's arrogance, and also loudly expressed his criteria for choosing the prince.

The father and son looked at each other, and they couldn't help but look up to the sky and laugh, at this moment, what they thought in their hearts was completely together.

Cao Cao laughed a few times, regained his composure, looked at Cao Zhang and said, "Then according to what you said, release Zihuan." However, although the capital crime can be avoided, after all, he has a responsibility for poor supervision, and he still has to be punished. also told him that this matter is not just settled, and he must be taught a long lesson! ”

"Back to my father, I have already thought of a way to punish him, please ask my father for instructions." Cao Zhang immediately replied.

"It seems that you have been prepared for a long time, okay, tell me, how are you going to punish Zihuan?" Cao Cao asked.

"When I returned from the expedition to Chang'an, I saw that Luoyang had been completely deserted, after all, it was a century-old ancient capital, and there were eight levels of protection. And Xudu is located in the Central Plains, whether it is Jizhou or Jingzhou, it can be a direct threat. ”

Therefore, Erchen dared to suggest to his father that he could send Zihuan's brother to Luoyang to supervise the reconstruction of Luoyang. In this way, when Luoyang recovers its former glory, we can also move the Son of Heaven back, which not only satisfies the wish of the Son of Heaven, but also makes our base camp more and more solid, and we can compete with Yuan Shao and Lu Bu with peace of mind! Cao Zhang told Cao Cao his thoughts.

He had seen the devastation of Luoyang and had long planned to rebuild it, but after all, this was a time-consuming and laborious work, and he had never thought of how to carry it out.

Now it is time to deal with Cao Pi, let him be a supervisor, stay away from Xu Du, and prevent him from continuing to engage in intrigues and tricks, which is an excellent arrangement to kill two birds with one stone.

"Zihuan oversees, rebuild the Luoyang ......" Cao Cao muttered quietly, reminiscing about Cao Zhang's arrangement.

Cao Cao was so shrewd that he immediately understood Cao Zhang's intentions.

The reconstruction of Luoyang will not be completed overnight, and it will take at least a year or so.

During this time, Cao Pi will be far away from Xudu and away from the center of power politics, and Cao Zhang can also use this time to carry out more actions, better establish his prestige, and consolidate his prestige and status.

He is about to start a war with Lu Bu and Yuan Shao, so let Cao Pi leave for a while to rebuild Luoyang, so that the battle between the three sons can be temporarily stopped, and it is also convenient for him to concentrate and respond to the battle with peace of mind.

Cao Pi's rebuilding of Luoyang was also a great achievement for the Han court, and his identity as the eldest son was still there. A year later, he still has the opportunity to continue to compete for the son, and he also echoed what Cao Zhang said, fighting openly.

All things considered, this plan has many benefits and is indeed the best arrangement at the moment.

"Okay, according to what you said, arrange for Zihuan to take people to rebuild Luoyang." Cao Cao made a decision, and then he said with a little regret, "Zihuan has an arrangement, so that Shi Ah will be a scapegoat for him." Doesn't he want to kill himself, then fulfill him and send him on his way! ”

Cao Zhang nodded: "Yes!" ”

"I'll leave this matter to you to convey, you go and inform Zihuan, and by the way, tell him that it was you who released him in large quantities, so that he can behave for himself in the future!" Cao Cao still gave Cao Zhang the power to deal with this matter.

Cao Zhang naturally understood Cao Cao's intentions, this was to establish his authority, and at the same time, he also wanted to sell himself to Cao Pi.

After all, the two are still brothers, and the apparent peace and intimacy still have to be maintained.

Cao Zhang immediately bowed his hand: "Yes, I'll arrange it immediately!" I suddenly thought of a way, Brother Zihuan is going to Luoyang, and he can also help his father solve the problem of military rations! ”

Cao Cao's eyes immediately lit up: "What way?" ”

"Promote Tuntian in Sizhou!" Cao Zhang said his plan.

After Cao Cao moved the capital to Xudu, he carried out a large number of actions in Tuntian. The historical Cao Wei regime also vigorously promoted the system of Tuntian and maintained the government expenditure for decades.

The proposal of Tuntian is equivalent to nationalizing the originally ownerless land, recovering a large amount of ownerless land, organizing displaced people to plant to increase grain production, using the output to maintain military rations, and filling the state treasury and government expenditures with surplus grain.

Cao Zhang also suddenly had an idea and thought of this method.

Cao Cao heard that Cao Zhang's method of Tuntian was proposed, and his originally excited expression dimmed again.

"Ziwen, although your idea is good, I'm afraid it's not so easy to carry out tuntian around Luoyang." Cao Cao shook his head slightly.

"There is a lot of wasteland in the area of Luoyang, and after the war, there are many displaced people, why is it not easy to carry out tuntian? We can take the initiative to provide the displaced people with farm tools, seeds, and land, but they still refuse to accept it? Cao Zhang told Cao Cao what he thought.

"Of course, you can attract displaced people to join Tuntian, but I think the most fundamental issue is the tax rate. I was in the fields around Xudu, and the peasants adopted a tax rate of 55 and then 30 taxes. ”

"In this way, the peasants can still have a certain amount of surplus grain after deducting their shares and taxes, so they are willing to accept it. The situation in Kesi Prefecture is different, after the war, the land is barren, and the income will be much less. If this distribution method is still followed, the food that the displaced people can leave behind will not be able to make ends meet at all, so I say that it is difficult to carry out it. Cao Cao explained to Cao Zhang the reason why it was not good to carry out Tuntian in Sizhou.

"Father, can you appropriately reduce the taxes of some people?" Cao Zhang asked Cao Cao.

"Ziwen, this is where I am embarrassed. This ratio is already the maximum I can bear. After all, the daily government expenses and our army need huge financial guarantees, and this tax rate has been used since the previous dynasty, and it is really difficult to change. Cao Cao replied helplessly.

Cao Zhang understood that what Cao Cao said was also true, changing the tax rate at will was not a trivial matter, and it would affect all of Cao Cao's jurisdictions, which could not be easily attempted.

"What's more, it's already summer, and even if we start tuntian, we won't be able to harvest until next year, which is also a place that the displaced people may not be interested in." Cao Cao raised the second question.

"If my father is worried about this problem, I have a solution: we might as well spread barnyard grain on a large scale." Cao Zhang made his own suggestions to Cao Cao.

"Barnyard Valley?" Cao Cao frowned slightly.

"That's right, it's barnyard grain, it's not afraid of drought and flood, it's very adaptable to growth, it can also set ears, and it can mature in three or four months." Cao Zhang introduced Cao Cao to the Barnyard Valley.

"But the taste of this barnyard grain is so bad!" Cao Cao shook his head slightly.

"That's better than eating what you don't have! Although the ears of barnyard grain are relatively small, the yield is extremely high. The yield per mu of general grain crops is about seven hundreds, and the actual grain is about four hundreds; However, one acre of barnyard grain can harvest more than 20 hundreds, and even if the harvest is slightly worse, it can reach about 15 hundreds. ”

"If such a harvest standard is followed, it will definitely alleviate the problem of military rations for our army this winter. It is also possible to stabilize the displaced people first and develop the tuntian. Wait until the beginning of spring next year, and then replant the rice! Cao Zhang explained to Cao Cao in detail the benefits of growing barnyard grains.

After hearing this, Cao Cao nodded again and again, Cao Zhang's suggestion can indeed greatly alleviate the problem of military food shortage caused by this year's poor harvest.

"Okay, Ziwen, your proposal is really good, then give this matter to Zihuan as well, let him rebuild Luoyang, and carry out Tuntian." Cao Cao agreed to Cao Zhang's proposal.

"Yes!" Cao Zhang agreed.

"By the way, what are you going to do with Dong Cheng's side? Now that all the evidence points to him, we can't just leave it alone, right? Cao Cao then raised the issue of Dong Cheng to Cao Zhang.

"Of course you can't just leave it at that! But my father thinks that if he is arrested now, I am afraid that there is no real benefit except for shaking the government and the opposition and stimulating the contradiction between my father and the Son of Heaven, right? ! In my opinion, it is better to send that letter directly to Dong Cheng! Before meeting Cao Cao, Cao Zhang had already thought of a way to deal with Dong Cheng and said it directly.

Cao Cao immediately understood Cao Zhang's intentions, smiled and nodded: "Knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger, it just so happens that it takes a lot of money to rebuild Luoyang and develop Tuntian, so let Dong Cheng have some blood!" ”

"The father is wise, and the son is exactly what he means!" Cao Zhang said with a little compliment.

"I'll leave this matter to you, and I'm sure you'll get the best result!" Cao Cao smiled and assigned the task to Cao Zhang.

"Son's command! Sons and daughters retire! Cao Zhang respectfully saluted Cao Cao and exited his study.

……