Cao Pi and Xun Yu pushed open the door together and saw a corpse with white hair hanging from the beam. Cao Pi quickly went up and untied the corpse, holding it and crying bitterly.
Former Situ Zhao Wen, he had been a Situ since the fourth year of Chuping, and had been ranked as the Third Duke for fifteen years by the thirteenth year of Jian'an.
Before June this year, Sangong was the first of the hundred officials, a super-first-grade official position, and Zhao Wen's time as Sangong ranked high in the entire Eastern Han Dynasty.
He survived Dong Zhuo's rebellion and Li Jue's and Guo Si's rebellion. Together with Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, he was robbed from Luoyang to Chang'an by Dong Zhuo, and was taken out of Chang'an by Li Jue and Guo Si. Finally, he was welcomed by Cao Cao and returned to Xudu in the east. , so many strong winds and waves came over.
Finally, when winter came in the thirteenth year of Jian'an, at the age of seventy-two, he hanged himself in his home.
In the first half of the year, Zhao Wenzheng appointed Cao Pi as a vassal of the Situ Mansion. Cao Pi thought that he finally had the opportunity to enter politics, but unexpectedly he was given a slap in the face by Cao Cao.
Cao Cao believed that Zhao Wen's move was just to cater to the Cao family, rather than because Cao Pi had real talents and learning, so he simply dismissed Zhao Wen.
A few months later, he took advantage of the trend and abolished all the three official positions, including Situ and Sikong, and re-established the position of prime minister, with monopoly power.
And Zhao Wen has no chance of recovery.
Cao Pi's eyes were red and swollen from crying. He knew in his heart that in the afternoon all officials entered Beifu, and in the early morning, Zhao Wen, who supported Cao Pi, died at home.
Anyone with a discerning eye can see that if Zhao Wen dies, all officials will live, and Cao Yepi will still have a chance.
But he was the Third Duke for fifteen years. In the eyes of his father, Cao Cao, he was a dignified Situ and a minister.
Cao Cao didn't even ask whether Zhao Wen was behind the incident, but directly pressured him to commit suicide.
Cao Pi knew Cao Cao's temper. If it was because of his petty actions, then Cao Cao would only deal with him, Cao Pi, instead of forcing him to kill such a high-ranking official.
Then, there is only one reason for Zhao Wen's death.
Cao Pi's eyes were red and swollen from crying. He looked up and saw that only Xun Yu was there. He couldn't help but ask: "Xun Lingjun, why is this? Just because I offended the sixth uncle? Which one is more important, the third male or the sixth uncle?"
Xun Yu looked at him expressionlessly, just watching him cry bitterly, and after a while he said: "Zihuan, maybe you have never understood this uncle of yours."
"What do you mean by your words?"
Xun Yu sighed: "There are many things that you are still young and have never experienced. But I can see clearly. What I do, what you do, my future, your future, and even Ming Gong's future, General Beifu You can tell at a glance. Ming Gong said that I am his ovary, but I understand that compared to General Beifu, I am just a firefly in front of the bright moon."
Cao Pi stopped crying and looked at Xun Yu blankly.
Xun Yu and Xun Wenruo have been in the center since they joined Cao Ying.
He served as Shangshu Ling in Shangshutai for many years. He was one of the "three independent sittings" and was respectfully called Lord Ling.
In all areas actually controlled by Cao Cao, all internal affairs were handled by Xun Yu.
He is a well-deserved real man, not the Three Dukes, but better than the Three Dukes, and can be called the leader of the civil servants in Cao Ying.
Such a person actually said that he is a firefly and General Beifu is a bright moon?
Just that arrogant and domineering general of Beifu? That General Beifu who was hiding among a bunch of women and having fun?
Why should he?
Cao Pi lowered his head, his face full of anger.
One day, when I take power, I will avenge today.
Xun Yu was extremely intelligent and well-informed. Seeing that it was useless to talk too much, he stopped trying to persuade him and went out on his own.
As soon as he left the house, Sili Colonel Zhong Yao hurriedly came over. This usually steady and famous scholar had sweat all over his face. He pulled Xun Yu's sleeve and said, "Your Majesty, it's not good. Taizhong doctor Kong Rong stopped General Beifu's horse, and General Beifu was extremely domineering, claiming that he would trample the great scholar to death in the street!"
Xun Yu was shocked when he heard this. Kong Rong was the Taishan Beidou in the literary world and Confucianism. If he was really trampled to death in the street, it would be a disaster recorded in history.
…
Not long ago, Cao Wu, who was approaching Yecheng, met a drunk Kong Rong.
After the officials left yesterday, Cao Wu was forced to study by his maid Ada. He wrote down the names of some of the officials who were present, and found out that this old man was the famous Kong Rong.
Kong Rong is currently the Taizhong doctor. He has a casual position as a consultant. The official position is not high and the position is not important. Compared with the two thousand Dan he held before, the Taizhong doctor even has a salary of only one thousand Dan.
But he has solid seniority and a good background.
At this time, there was no talk about the Shenggong family, but Kong Rong was able to unify the Kong family in Qufu and was the contemporary talker of the Kong family.
He was quite talented in literature and was called one of the Seven Sons of Jian'an by later generations. He made great achievements in articles and poems and was very influential. He can be called a contemporary great Confucian.
Kong Rong had a background in literature, Confucianism, and aristocratic families, so Cao Wu did not want to embarrass him, so he left without even looking at the drunken old scholar.
However, Kong Rong opened his eyes, looked at Cao Wu for a while, recognized him, pointed at Cao Wu and shouted: "You...you! Beifu General Cao Wu, I will kill you!"
After saying this, Kong Rong rushed up to him, but he was still drunk. He looked at the horse's legs for a long time, rolled up his sleeves and thought for a long time, but couldn't find a place to start.
"What are you doing, looking for pears to eat?"
Cao Wu led the horse to change direction, and did not forget to spray Kong Rong.
Kong Rong didn't understand, and wasn't going to let him go. He also changed his direction and shouted: "Master Zirou committed suicide by hanging from a beam. General Beifu, are you satisfied with this traitor who brought disaster to the country?"
"Who is Mr. Zirou, and what does it have to do with me?"
Cao Wu rolled his eyes. He had tolerated it for a long time, but Kong Rong obviously didn't intend to let him pass.
At this time, Ada in white clothes finally chased after him. When he saw this scene, his beautiful eyebrows exposed in the veil frowned, and he whispered to Cao Wudao: "It's not a good thing. Zirou is the cousin of former Situ Zhao Wen."
Cao Wu suddenly understood. Although he didn't fully understand it, he probably knew that Kong Rong was responsible for Zhao Wen's death.
In other words, he didn't dare to confront Cao Cao directly, so he came to find himself.
When Kong Rong saw the broken-arm slave and the woman in white following Cao Wu, he remembered what he had seen and heard in Beifu yesterday and cursed: "Zirou Gong has been in the third rank for fifteen years. He understands the sentiments of the people and controls hundreds of officials. He is worthy of his reputation." You’re called a gentleman. He died because of a thief like you who didn’t care about his slaves and only cared about having fun! Zhuzi! Do you know what the teachings of a saint are?”
He kept blocking the road, and the crowd around him gradually grew, with many people looking here.
Since ancient times, the people in the capital have been good people. Although Yecheng is not the capital, because Cao Cao has been here for many years, he has become superior and tainted this custom.
Naturally, the common people would not dare to comment on courtiers in the street, but among the crowd there were inevitably officials and nobles who knew the famous celebrity Kong Rong, and they had already started talking.
"Who is Old Master Kong talking about? Is this the horseman?"
"I don't know what I did because I didn't know how to sympathize with my slaves."
"Wen Jugong is a great scholar in the world. What he wants to do is naturally right. What he wants to stop must be a villain."
The voice was so low that Cao Wu couldn't hear it clearly. The one-armed slave beside him was highly skilled in martial arts, but veins appeared on his face when he heard it.
He stepped on the stool and dismounted, and said angrily: "Old Master, why do you say that my general does not know how to show compassion for his slaves?"
Kong Rong hummed: "I saw with my own eyes yesterday that there were disabled people everywhere in Beifu. During the cold weather, General Beifu didn't know how to let these people rest, but instead made them do hard work. Isn't this disrespectful?"
The one-armed slave said anxiously: "We, the slaves, sincerely share the general's worries and take the initiative to go to work, can't we do it?"
Unexpectedly, before Kong Rong could speak, a young scholar next to him said, "If you are willing, will others be willing too? Someone must be forcing them!"
The one-armed slave was not good at arguing and was about to draw his sword in a hurry, but Ada dismounted to stop him.
Ah Da opened his mouth, his voice trickling like running water: "I don't know where I am, but in Bei Mansion, there are seventy and six slaves, all of them are disabled, but they are all willing to work for Bei Mansion."
Kong Rong frowned: "I don't argue with women."
Everyone couldn't see clearly the expression of Ah Da in the veil, but they heard her say: "Master, do you know the origin of the slaves in Beifu?"
Kong Rong ignored her, but she didn't feel dissatisfied and asked, "Master, when you entered Beifu yesterday, do you still remember the old servant who drove the chariot?"
Kong Rong finally said: "Yes, I remember that the old servant had a broken arm and was still driving to sweep leaves. Isn't this evidence that Cao Beifu does not care about the servants?"
Ah Da did not hesitate and said calmly: "In the second year of Jian'an, General Zhang Xiu of Jianzhong rebelled, and the prime minister's eldest son and beloved nephew both died in this battle. The old servant that Master met, accompanied the school's Wei Dian in this battle After Wei Duan, he fought to the death, had one arm cut off, and crawled back among the dead."
After hearing such a passage, even the people watching in Yecheng couldn't help but be moved.
Ah Daze continued.
"In the fifth year of Jian'an, the Prime Minister and the Yuan family fought for supremacy in Guandu. In April, they pretended to attack Yanjin. One man knew that he would die and asked for a fight. Finally, he got an opportunity for an ambush. His only son was the doorman that Master met yesterday."
"In the ninth year of Jian'an, the Prime Minister conquered Yuan Shang. The battlefield was in the city of Ye behind Master. There was a man who was the first to board the city, but lost an arm on top of the city. He——"
Ah Da pointed at the one-armed slave and said, "That's the strong man in front of Master. His surname is Zhang Mingxia. Maybe in Master's eyes, he is just a nobody."
"However, the seventy-six slaves in Bei Mansion are all nameless people who died in the service of the country. Master said that they are disabled because they are loyal to me and become disabled for the sake of my great man!"
"I would like to ask, if such people are not willing to work for my general, who can order them?"
"Everyone present, there is still the blood of heroes on the bricks of Ye City!"
Silence, the whole place was silent, and the people who had just been discussing could no longer say a word "no".
They looked at this woman's impassioned speech and couldn't help but feel ashamed.
The scholar who had spoken just now turned red in the face and retreated into the crowd.
Even though Kong Rong was a great Confucian, he could not think of anything to refute after exhausting all the classics.
Kong Rong regarded himself as a Han official and shouted every day to revitalize the Han Dynasty, but he knew in his heart that revitalization could not rely on words. The era when Duke Wen of Jin retreated was long gone. In this chaotic world, he wanted to recreate the civilized scenery, Guangwu The glory of China depends on war.
But the servants in Bei Mansion were all veterans of the battlefield, and they were all disabled because of the unification of the world.
Such a person may not be considered a hero, but he is definitely a good man who cannot be slandered.
Just this one statement made Kong Rong speechless.
There was a heavy feeling in his chest, but he couldn't bear the grief and anger of Beifu yesterday and Zhao Wen's death today. He had been smart since he was a child, and when he saw the sharp-tongued Ada in front of him, he took it into consideration.
Kong Rong shouted: "What about the maids in Bei Mansion? There are hundreds of beautiful maids in Bei Mansion, and they enjoy themselves every day. It can be said that the rituals have collapsed! I want to ask, are you maids also on the battlefield? Did you go up or down?"
This kind of words is what interests the onlookers the most. For a while, everyone started whispering again. Everyone looked at Cao Wu and the other three, wondering what the veiled woman would say in response.
