Chapter 143 The Emperor's Order Has Come [Subscribe]

The main reason why Cao Cao settled in Qiao County and did not rush back to Changyi was to solve the problem of the gentry.

Qiao County is close to Runan and Yingchuan. Those who came after hearing the news all wanted to form an alliance and borrow each other's power for assistance.

[Xun Yu, also known as Youci, was from Yingyin, Yingchuan]

[The last of the Eight Dragons of Xunzi, he was called Mr. Eight Dragons. A historian in the late Han Dynasty, he was an important promoter of Xunzi's decision-making]

[Xun Yue, courtesy name Zhongyu, was from Yingyin, Yingchuan. He was a famous writer in the late Han Dynasty, good at describing people with his writing, and practiced the lineage of novelists. He was the grandson of the famous scholar Xun Shu, the nephew of the former prime minister Xun Shuang, and the eldest son of Xun Jian, the head of the Eight Dragons of the Xun Clan]

Cao Cao went to meet Xun Yu and Xun Yue.

When the two sides meet, they are naturally polite to each other.

The noble families that came this time were headed by Xun Xun of the Xun family.

The second was the Chen family of Yingchuan, whose elders also came.

There were also many noble families gathered.

The suburbs where Cao Cao and Xun Yu met was not far from a tributary of the middle reaches of the Huai River.

The local area draws water to form a lake with abundant water.

Cao Cao received several noble families by the lake and prepared lake seafood to entertain everyone.

Hot pot has existed since the Warring States Period, and "ranlu" was popular during the Han Dynasty, that is, each person had his own table and his own stove!
The ceramic stove has grid-like black stripes, an ancient shape, and ears on both sides.

There is a small stove in front of each person’s low seat.

Someone is responsible for cutting the fish, and the fish fillets must be thin and transparent so that you can see through them.

Then put the fish meat in boiling water and shake it. The fish meat will shrink instantly. Pick it up and put it in your mouth. It is tender and smooth.

This way of eating was also called hot food in the Han Dynasty.

Dian Wei and Xu Chu were allowed by Cao Cao to sit at the table behind him.

Dian Wei poured the whole plate of fish and donkey meat into the pot, then picked it out, a full spoonful.

He dipped it in the condiment, opened his mouth wide, took it all in, and his eyes lit up immediately.

Someone asked during the banquet: "I heard that the Black Mountain bandits also came to attack Yanzhou not long ago?"

"It is true. Their army has been defeated. In Taiyuan, Bingzhou, Wang will unite with us in Yanzhou upon hearing the news and exchange information."

The one who responded was Xi Zhicai, who had just arrived in Qiao County in the afternoon.

What he meant was that not only were the Black Mountain bandits defeated, but Yanzhou also used this opportunity to reach a consensus with the Wang family of Bingzhou and formed an alliance.

Some news came out during the conversation.

Each family can choose the aspects that are beneficial to itself, and then they can develop deeper connections with Yanzhou and form common interests.

It was already evening when the banquet ended.

Xun Yu wanted to stay at Cao's ancestral home for one night.

He and Xun Yue came to Cao Cao's study.

Only then did we start discussing in detail.

Among the gentry, the Xun, Chen, and Wang families all had their own networks of relationships, and had many intersections with the Yanzhou gentry. Some of their members and students even served as officials in Yanzhou.

Cao Cao wanted to rely on the support of several Xun families in order to win over more aristocratic families to his side.

The lights are always on.

It was not until the hour of Hai that Xun Yu and Xun Yue returned to the guest house.

"Just like Wen Ruo said, other states and counties are still in turmoil and disputes, but the situation in Yanzhou has stabilized, and now they actually control Yuzhou, which is very promising."

"Uncle Eighth, do you mean that we should take the lead and form an alliance with Yanzhou?" Xun Yue said.

“Even if my Xun clan did not come forward, if Wen Ruo were to serve as Sima in Yanzhou, it would be known to everyone in the world.

Xun Chen is in Jizhou, but there is no progress."

Xun Yu said: "The Yuan family only trusts the Yuan family. We want to rely on them, but they won't give us this opportunity.

It's better to be straightforward. Look at the Yu family. Old guy Yu Wen is the fastest. Now is a good time and no one needs to come."

Xun Yue said, "Wen Ruo wrote to me saying that the Caozhou governor's concubine is a girl from the Yu clan. I asked which branch she was from, and Wen Ruo replied telling me not to ask any more questions."

Xun Yu smiled and said, "The Yu family made the biggest bet. The daughter of the eldest branch of the family married the governor of Caozhou..."

"Uncle Eighth, what do you think the Xun family should do?"

Xun Yu thought for a while and said, "Zhongyu, you will be appointed as a palace official in Yanzhou."

Langguan included Shangshu Lang, Mishu Lang, Zuzu Lang, etc. Most of them were attendants and close servants of the monarch.

The scope of Langguan becomes wider when it comes to people who are spread to local areas or have the power to establish governments.

But all the unification officials were close ministers.

Wang Yun wanted the descendants of the Wang family to come to Yanzhou in order to become a close minister of Cao Cao.

The Xun family asked their eldest son, Xun Yue, to come to Yanzhou to serve as Cao Cao's close minister. This statement was very firm.

Even Xun Yue was surprised. He didn't expect that Xun Yu was so optimistic about Cao Cao and allowed him to enter Yanzhou after Xun Yu.

……

study.

Only Cao Cao was left, still sitting behind a low seat.

"The imperial edict appointing the governor of Yanzhou has left Chang'an. Go and get it back. We have to fight for it in the next few days and not give Yuan Wei the opportunity to make arrangements."

There was an undercurrent behind him, leaving silently. It was the kendo master who had once taken action.

This man joined Cao Cao in the hope of gaining family connections and a good family background so that his descendants would benefit from it.

----

Four days later, early morning.

In an official post station on the way from Chang'an to Yanzhou, a flash of sword light flashed quietly, rising up like rain, but it was retracted in an instant and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The sword fell without a trace of blood, and it seemed that the blood did not even have time to stain the blade.

A small group of people from the Yuan family who secretly protected the imperial edict were killed one after another by the sword.

A hand reached out and took away the imperial edict.

At the same time, in Yanzhou, the famous scholar Bian Rang wrote an article in cursive under the pretext of being drunk. In the article, he described that Yanzhou was invaded by the Qingzhou army a few months ago. During the crisis, Cao Cao took the opportunity to seize the power of the governor of the state. Afterwards, he was nameless and unjust, and forcibly occupied the position of the head of a state without returning to the court.

He also complained about the accumulated evils in the world today. In the past, there were eunuchs and internal servants who brought chaos to the government and the country. Now, the Cao family is the descendant of the eunuchs and has usurped the power of the governor.

This is an ambitious and premeditated move.

Bian Rang wrote an article while drunk, pointing out that Cao Cao's becoming the governor of Yanzhou was a conspiracy.

When the Qingzhou army attacked, it might have been Cao Cao who was pushing behind the scenes, otherwise the timing wouldn't have been so coincidental, and he would have been able to subdue the Qingzhou army afterwards.

The article also mentions Cao Cao's identity as a eunuch.

You have to know that it was only two years since the Ten Eunuchs caused chaos in the world, and people from all walks of life were particularly resentful of the eunuchs.

The more one reads Bian Rang's article, the more it seems that Cao Cao has hidden ambitions, and he calls on all parties to be vigilant and not let Cao Cao continue to steal the position of governor.

This article, written by Bian Rang while drunk, spread throughout the counties of Yanzhou in one day and caused a sensation.

If Cao Cao dared to touch Bian Rang at this time, he would undoubtedly confirm what Bian Rang said.

Therefore, the wider the news spreads, the safer it is.

He was fearless and quite confident about this.

Behind this was of course Yuan Wei's counterattack against Cao Cao's defeat of Yuan Shu and occupation of Yuzhou.

According to the plan, famous people from other places in Yanzhou, such as Li Zhang, Qiu Zhen, Xu Huai and others, would stand up later and echo Bian Rang, adding fuel to the flames and proving that Cao Cao had stolen the position of Governor of Yanzhou and obtained it in an illegitimate way.

By then, even if the imperial edict came, Cao Cao's prestige would be hit to the lowest point.

Everyone would think that the emperor was deceived by him, and the imperial edict he obtained would make Cao Cao look even more treacherous and arrogant!

However, just as Bian Rang's article spread, another piece of news also spread.

The Xun family of Yingchuan, the Chen family of Yingchuan, and the Guo family all had people join the Yanzhou governor's office and hold important positions.

Relying on the reputation of the above-mentioned families among the gentry, their public statements of support for Yanzhou caused even greater waves among the gentry.

Following closely, there was also news about what Cao Cao had done in recent years.

It was he who killed Zhang Rang and others who were the head of the Ten Eunuchs.

After that, the campaign against Dong Zhuo and the killing of Dong Zhuo were all done by Cao Cao.

The Xun, Chen and Guo families of Yingchuan jointly denounced Bian Rang's words, saying they were unreliable and full of slander.

The credibility of the article suffered the most direct blow.

The next day, another team carrying the imperial edict entered Yanzhou.

However, the team that delivered the imperial edict at this time was actually arranged by Jia Xu.

The entire team delivering the imperial edict was huge. Emperor Xuan issued an edict, appointing Cao Cao as the governor of Yanzhou, giving him power over the state.

At this point, Cao Cao rightfully became the head of Yanzhou.

He took the opportunity to inform all the counties in Yanzhou and made adjustments to his civil and military forces. He planned to expand the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to 5,000 troops, divided into two groups, with the Tiger Cavalry being heavy armored cavalry with 2,000 men.

The Leopards were light cavalry, numbering 3,000 troops.

Cao Chun and Cao Ren were appointed captains of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry respectively, and Zhao Zilong was appointed commander of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.

Xu Chu and Dian Wei were appointed as the left and right vanguard captains of the Yanzhou army.

There was also a series of rewards, which were announced to the entire army and spread to the five counties and three kingdoms of Yanzhou, in order to strengthen the centralized power of the governors and invisibly suppress local forces.

This time, no one in Yanzhou could oppose Cao Cao's appointment as governor.

Changan.

Yuan Wei sat behind a low seat, his face turning pale.

Cao Cao even dared to send people to attack the team that was delivering the imperial edict, kill Yuan's troops and take away the imperial edict in advance.

Yuan Wei wanted to unite some aristocratic families in Yanzhou whose interests were damaged by Cao Cao's appointment as governor, using Bian Rang's article as an introduction, but his plan was suppressed at the very beginning.

What made Yuan Wei even more angry was the support of Yingchuan nobles such as the Xun family and the Chen family for Yanzhou.

It was an unprecedented provocation that also came from the aristocratic class.

Qiao County at the end of March.

After being busy for days, Cao Cao planned to relax.

----

Ling Jin was climbing frantically in the darkness, holding tightly onto a rope connected to the top.

Countless Taoist and Mohist spells were engraved on the rope.

This rope is a treasure. It is said that it is nourished by Yin energy and can be extended, so it can penetrate any deep tomb.

Ten months ago, Ling Jin followed the clues given by Cao Cao and came to the main peak of Qinling Mountains where Tomb No. 4 was located. After going through various means, he was able to enter it.

At this moment, Ling Jin looked panicked and tried his best to climb out of the tomb.

Half of his kung fu skills were in his hands. He held the rope tightly and climbed with all his strength, reaching an incredibly fast speed.

There is endless darkness all around.

Ling Jin vaguely heard a strange voice whispering in his ear.

He also felt as if there was something on his back.

But Ling Jin was experienced and stuck to his original intention, just climbing out of the tomb.

And in the darkness below him, there was a presence, rising like a tide, chasing after him.

Ling Jin didn't know how long he had been climbing when he suddenly heard voices coming from above. It was Xu Huan, Li Feixiong, Hu Yu and a group of tomb raiders who were waiting outside the tomb.

Ling Jin was overjoyed and was about to jump out of the darkness, but he felt someone grabbing his feet from below and dragging him back into the darkness.

At this moment, Jin Fuzhi spiritually recalled the breath that Cao Cao had merged into his body and that was differentiated by the Moon Shadow Mirror. This breath carried the reputation that Cao Cao had driven with his spirit and soul, corresponding to 100,000 people.

Ling Jin tried to sense inside his body.

Boom!
The force that was holding him loosened, allowing Jin to leap out of the darkness of the tomb.

"Come on!"

Ling Jin shouted at the top of his lungs and ran as fast as he could towards the main peak of Qinling.

Ps: It’s late, sorry~
(End of this chapter)