Chapter 581: The concept of governing the country
Speaking of Xu Gongming's explanation for Wang Zijun, Wang Ping felt depressed and confused. He didn't know where to go and let his horse take him away from his sad place. But the old horse knew the way to Hefei City, and carried the prince all the way along the path to Hefei City.
The secret sentries of the Qinglong Army scattered outside the city had already discovered Wang Ping in Cao's uniform, and quickly set up a trap to capture Wang Ping, both men and horses. The leader of this Qinglong Army was Chen Ying, the former Guiyang general. After asking Wang Ping for his confession, he not only refused to order the killing, but also paid travel expenses and ordered them to be released.
Wang Ping was grateful for his kindness. Everyone in the world had heard about Chen Long's benevolent policies, but today he felt the same way, and Wang Ping still felt shocked in his heart. If we want to honor our ancestors and the lintel of our gates, is Chen Long the true lord?
When Wang Ping thought of this, his heart was filled with passion. Since the Cao family could not tolerate him, it could be said to be unjust to him, so why should he be loyal to the Cao family? Although I feel sorry for Xu Huang and Xu Gongming's loyalty, I will never face Xu Gongming head-on on the battlefield in the future, so that's it.
These thoughts flashed through Wang Ping's mind like thunder and lightning, but they were enough to make Wang Ping make up his mind. He had studied military science and practiced martial arts diligently since he was a child, and had developed a lot of skills. He was still in his prime, so how could he want to go home and die. Wang Ping took a deep breath, looked straight at Chen Ying, raised his hands and said sincerely: "Captain Chen, I feel the kindness of the Qinglong Army, do you want to surrender?"
Chen Ying was overjoyed when he heard this and said: "Why not? I am the former Guiyang general, and the lord always regards me as a family member."
After hearing this, the princes no longer hesitated, knelt down and said respectfully: "Wang Ping is willing to surrender." Chen Ying quickly helped him up. Wang Ping continued: "Please take me to see General Zilong! I have important military information and I want to report it to General Zhao immediately."
In the early morning, Chen Ying personally called the west gate open and took Wang Ping into Hefei City, which was loose on the outside and tight on the inside. Wang Ping saw that the torches on the west city were as bright as day, and the soldiers and civilians were carrying them with their hands and shoulders, constantly deploying city defenses. Many of them were ordinary people in uniform, who seemed to be united. Wang Ping recalled the moment when Cao's army captured Hefei, but what it brought to the people of Hefei City was endless terror and killing, and he couldn't help but sigh.
Violence and terror are the magic weapons of Cao Jun, but benevolence and peace are the labels of the Qinglong Army. Which concept can quickly unify the country? Both Chen Long and Cao Cao are making efforts towards this end.
In official history, Cao Cao is indeed an outstanding military strategist, a great politician, and a great writer. But if you ask about Cao Cao's philosophy of governing the country, first of all, he insisted on implementing a farming system that was conducive to production, vigorously built water conservancy, and did a good job in farming.
Cao Cao's farming system uses villages as the basic organization. There are about fifty or sixty people in each village, and the farming Sima is responsible for the management. In addition to military camps, the farming organizations formed their own system and were not affiliated with counties or counties. Officials included Diannong Zhonglang General and Diannong Duwei, who were directly subordinate to the imperial court's Da Si Nong. Cao Cao recruited a large number of refugees from Jingzhou, distributed them to ownerless wasteland, built water conservancy and irrigation channels, and helped and encouraged them to engage in agricultural production. Cao Cao also adopted Wei Xi's suggestion and implemented an official ban on salt. He used the income to buy cattle and farm tools, and loaned them to farmers who returned to their hometowns to help them resume production. Farmers are also called farmers. Those who farm with official oxen must pay 60% of their harvest to the state, and those who farm with their own oxen must pay 50%.
Although the farming system had positive effects, due to the heavy exploitation, the farming residents were firmly bound to the land and were not allowed freedom. In the later period, the distribution ratio gradually reached eight for officials and two for civilians, which caused flight and resistance. The farming land was continuously occupied by powerful families, so the farming system was gradually destroyed.
Secondly, Cao Cao insisted on implementing the policy of appointing people only based on their merit and running the army by law. Cao Cao had ordered many times to recruit talents. Many people with humble backgrounds but real talents and learning, such as Guo Jia, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Pang De, Yu Jin, etc., were promoted and reused by Cao Cao and became important ministers of Cao Wei. They were completely in line with the Legalist Han Feizi "The prime minister must be from the state and county, and the fierce general must be from the army".
Once again, he coerced the emperor and ordered the princes to cling to the symbol of the highest power. At that time, the orthodoxy of supporting the Han Dynasty was still very strong among officials from the central to local governments. As a wise and far-sighted politician, he captured Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty and also captured the political power that still had illusions about the Han Dynasty. Xun Yu is a typical representative among them. He made great contributions to Cao Cao's seizure of the world. He hoped that he could really help the Han Dynasty, but in the end he died of depression out of complete disappointment with Cao Cao.
Finally, when Cao Cao governed the country and the army, he always firmly held the two handles of punishment and reward, and used the combination of kindness and power to achieve good results. He resolutely suppressed all forces and people who opposed him, and rewarded those who had meritorious service. At that time, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, rituals and music had already collapsed. Intelligent people wanted to find a wise master and tried their best to use their wisdom and abilities. Today it was Yuan Shao, tomorrow it was Cao Cao, and the day after tomorrow it might be Liu Bei or Sun Quan. In this case, relying on Confucianism alone The orthodox so-called benevolence cannot completely win over talents. It can only rely on iron fist and wrist. Cao Cao is the best at this.
In this contrast between tyranny and benevolence, Wang Ping hurriedly entered the west gate of Hefei City. Chen Ying led a small team. They had just arrived at the gate of the City Lord's Mansion when they saw a small team galloping out from the City Lord's Mansion. A white horse came first. The leader was a general wearing a full body suit and carrying a silver gun. It was Zhao Zilong who had gotten up early to inspect the city defense.
Chen Ying waved and shouted on his horse: "General Zhao!"
Zhao Yun saw Chen Ying from a distance, and gently pulled the reins of the horse with his left hand. The white dragon horse immediately stood still and just neighed impatiently. Chen Ying dismounted and paid homage to Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun asked, "Aren't you setting up defenses in the west of the city? But Cao Jun has arrived again?" Looking around, he saw Wang Ping behind Chen Ying wearing Cao Jun's uniform, and he couldn't help but be slightly startled.
Chen Ying did not hesitate, turned around and pointed to Wang Ping and said: "This person is Xu Huang's deputy general Wang Ping. He came to capture it for me at night. After being persuaded by me, he surrendered wholeheartedly. If you want to ask about the movements of Cao's army, I'm afraid he knows best."
Zhao Yun raised his eyebrows and looked at Wang Ping with distant eyes. Wang Ping looked straight at Zhao Yun without any fear. Zhao Yun smiled and said: "My lord has always been thirsty for virtuous people, and Zijun's arrival here is like sweet rain after a long drought."
Wang Ping was already prepared to deal with Zhao Yun's severe cross-examination, but he didn't expect Zhao Yun to say such a sentence. He was slightly startled and asked: "General Zilong knows about me?"
Zhao Yun smiled slightly and said: "My troops are stationed in Wancheng, how could they not understand the soldiers of Runan. I know that Zijun is talented in both civil and military affairs. It is a pity that Yang Feng was unable to know people well and wasted such talents as Zijun."
Wang Ping felt like sediment was rising in his heart, and all kinds of feelings came to his heart for a while, and he was choked and speechless. Zhao Yun saw this and said, "Zijun is anxious to see me. Should he be able to teach me?"
Wang Ping heard this and knew that he must put down his mood as soon as possible in order to integrate into the Qinglong Army. He said in a deep voice: "General Zilong, Cao Cao's army on the fifth route has received Cao Cao's order to attack Hefei across the board. We are strictly ordered to capture it within three days. Today. I think Hefei Ximen is well defended on land, and it seems that the focus of Zilong’s defense is on the Ximen.”
Zhao Yun nodded in acquiescence, and Wang Ping said a little eagerly: "But this is not enough! The real threat of Cao Jun is to return to Yujin's waterway!"
If you want to know what happens next, listen to the explanation next time.
