From July of the 13th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao's army marched south to Nanyang, to February of the 14th year of Jian'an, the southern Xiongnu troops retreated from Shicheng. During the seven months, the world underwent drastic changes, and countless people made great contributions.
After returning from Bingzhou, Cao Cao granted rewards to all the troops. Generals such as Zhao Yan and Zhang Liao who had made meritorious deeds were all rewarded. In the name of the emperor, they were either promoted, made marquises, or had more towns.
From generals to small soldiers, those who have meritorious services will be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes will be punished. This has long been a rule set in Cao's camp.
However, after Cao Cao announced the reward in Yecheng, Cao Wu, the Beifu general who contributed the most in the Battle of Chibi, did not receive any reward.
This matter has been discovered by people who are interested. Cao Wu disturbed Xudu. They thought that Cao Cao was not happy about this, so they deliberately did not reward him.
They didn't know that Cao Cao didn't want to reward Cao Wu, but wanted to ask Cao Wu himself for his opinion.
Cao Wu had already expected such an incident and said with a smile: "The three princes and nine ministers are too noble, the governor and governor of the state are too tired, and the four campaigns and four towns are too bloody. If you don't do it, you won't do it."
Everyone had different expressions when they heard this. Cao Wu actually didn't like the position that others only dreamed of getting.
Xi Lu's eyes were full of admiration, and Jia Xu lowered his head in thought.
Cao Cao had a rare look of disappointment on his face and shook his head.
Others came to ask for officials in person, but Cao Cao came to offer them in person, but Cao Wu didn't like him at all.
In this era, there were many hermits who refused to be officials, either to gain fame or to wait for a price, but there were very few people who really did not want to be officials.
And Cao Wu's decisive refusal even admired Zhuge Liang, a man who had truly been a hermit.
Unexpectedly, Cao Wu changed the topic and continued: "But I don't want to be promoted. The official I am can be promoted."
"ah?"
No one could react. It turned out that Xi Lu was the best at figuring out people's hearts and said: "Prime Minister, the general of the Northern Mansion is controlling Jingxiang in the south and is fighting for victory in Chibi. He should be promoted to rank and be awarded the title of Kaifu. This is exactly what he should do!"
It suddenly dawned on everyone that this was what Cao Wu meant.
In the Han Dynasty, important positions such as generals and three ministers could open mansions on their own, and some important generals could also be granted the right to open mansions.
Opening a government office means that you can hire officials as your staff, and you can legitimately recruit celebrities and people with lofty ideals from all over the world to work for you. These staff also have ranks, just like the officials.
For example, Wang Si, the shepherd of Yuzhou, had previously served in Cao Cao's Sikong Mansion. There was a vacancy in the shepherd of Yuzhou, so he was sent out to become the leader of a state.
The political situation has been relatively stable. If you are not related to Zhilu, it would be difficult to directly become a high official or direct something. With the official position, it is much more justified.
When Xun Yu saw the talents of Zhuge Liang and Lu Xun, he once suggested that Cao Wu open a government. Cao Wu had considered it at that time, but now that Cao Cao was here, he just proposed it.
As he said, it is very tiring to be the governor of Zhoumu. He does not need to do it himself, but just supports someone like Zhao Yan who is strong and able to judge the situation. The three ministers and nine ministers are all empty positions and have little effect, so he does not need to do them. On the surface, the Four Expeditions and Four Towns are the top military positions after General, General of Hussars, and General of Guards. In fact, there are not many permanent troops to manage them. They must be coordinated with the actual powers to be effective.
In other words, these three positions all look good on the surface, but are not suitable for Cao Wu.
If Cao Wu wants to realize his goal of making the world rich and not bullied, he needs something other than this.
It is more important to open a government office and build a government office.
Moreover, for Cao Wu, retaining the title of Beifu General and not being responsible for the Four Expeditions and Four Towns would give him greater autonomy.
Cao Cao just thought about it briefly and agreed.
He patted himself and stood up, and said with a smile: "Okay, if you don't want to be an official, I will be directly promoted to Zhilu of Beifu, to Bi Liangshi, and open the mansion."
Cao Wu nodded in agreement, this was exactly what he needed.
Cao Cao said again: "I was going to make you a marquis this time, but seeing that you are too lazy, I will wait until next time."
Cao Wu didn't care, waved his hand and said: "Save the Qianhu Hou, next time just Wanhu Hou."
Cao Cao laughed loudly and said: "If you don't seal me, your staff will always seal him."
Cao Cao pointed at Zhuge Liang and winked at Xi Lu.
Xi Lu immediately took out a prepared bamboo slip.
For Cao Wu, he asked first before making an absolute decision. For Zhuge Liang, he didn't need to. He was obviously prepared.
Originally, it was Guang Luxun's duty to serve as commander-in-chief. However, the new Guang Luxun was Kuai Yue, a general from Jingzhou, and it was a false position. Cao Cao preferred to let his predecessor Guang Luxun, Xi Xi, do this kind of thing.
Xi Lu held up a bamboo slip and read, but Cao Wu came up and held his hand, smiling and saying: "I'm going to open a house. Kong Ming is my man, I should make the arrangements."
Zhuge Liang was ordered to do something in danger during the Battle of Chibi. Cao Cao attached great importance to him, but he knew that he had no aides for Cao Cao and did not rob him.
The reward this time was actually to let Kong Ming serve as Shangshulang in Shangshutai, but he didn't need to actually report it, he just showed his qualifications.
Although the minister's rank is low, he has great powers. It is not the smallest official position in the minister's office. There are actually meritorious officials below. After three years of being a minister, you can become a minister, and you will have the capital for promotion in the future.
Shangshutai was under the jurisdiction of Xun Yu, who had a good relationship with Cao Wu, and it was a place where people could really be trained. This was Cao Cao's best arrangement.
Xi Liu also thought it was reasonable, so he wanted to take credit for the reward. Who would have thought that Cao Wu would not let him read it.
Xi Lu hesitated and said: "The Prime Minister has already made arrangements and has no intention of letting Kong Ming leave the general."
Zhuge Liang took a step forward and said, "Liang is a retainer of General Beifu, but he is subject to General Beifu's arrangements."
Cao Cao was thinking about the reason for Cao Wu's sudden step, but seeing Zhuge Liang take the initiative now, he couldn't help but appreciate Zhuge Liang even more.
Cao Cao was very relieved to have such a person who was not greedy for merit by his side.
With this comparison, he glanced at Lu Xun behind Zhuge Liang a few more times. He knew Lu Xun's origins, but Lu Xun was not a high official in Jiangdong and his reputation was not significant. Cao Wu favored this man and did not know what he was capable of.
Lu Xun clearly felt that Cao Cao was looking at him, so he calmed himself and stood upright without showing any timidity.
Cao Cao nodded, then turned back to Cao Wudao: "What official position does Xiao Wu want to seek for Kong Ming? But I arranged it too low?"
"No."
Cao Wu said with a smile: "Kong Ming is just coming out of the village, he has relatively few qualifications, and he is not filial and honest. He went straight to the ministerial desk and was afraid of other people's comments. It is better to let it go outside. However, his contribution is more than enough to be a county magistrate, but not enough to be a prefect, so it is better to let him do it outside. A good county magistrate."
"If you release it outside, you can't stay in Beifu!"
Jia Xu reminded in a low voice.
In theory, after all, the county magistrate is the head of a county and has more real power than the minister who just entered the ministerial office. However, his future promotion will be far inferior to that of the minister. The twenty-seven-year-old minister has a chance to survive until the ministerial order. A twenty-seven-year-old county magistrate may not necessarily become a governor.
Not to mention Jia Xu, Zhuge Liang himself was a little surprised. He knew that following Cao Wu would have a bright future, so he didn't care about Shangshu Lang's official position. However, if he were to be transferred to another country, he would have to take up the post in earnest, and he really couldn't stay in Beifu.
Cao Wudao: "A strong general must start from the ranks of soldiers, and a prime minister must be sent to a state or county. Kong Ming is a great talent who can become a general or a prime minister. I hope that he can start from the counties and counties first. I also hope that in the future, if he wants to be a court official, he can go further. Everyone must have served as a county magistrate."
"A fierce general must be born in the ranks of the soldiers, and a prime minister must be sent to the states and counties..."
Cao Cao chewed on Cao Wu's words and suddenly realized that this is how it should be. Only with grassroots experience can he understand the situation below when he becomes an official in the future, so he will not formulate unrealistic strategies.
He sat down again, patted his thigh and said, "Xiao Wu said it well, let's do this from now on!"
Cao Wu's lips twitched when he looked at his red thighs.
Xi Lu hurriedly said: "Kong Ming is a great talent, I will go to Shangshutai to find a vacant county in Jizhou or Yuzhou!"
He said and was about to leave, obviously not wanting this credit to go to others.
Xi Lu was not talking nonsense, because Yecheng was in Jizhou, and Cao Cao was the herdsman of Jizhou. Now Jizhou is basically Cao Cao's base camp. Yuzhou is a relatively prosperous place and is close to Xudu.
As a result, before he could take a step, Cao Wu grabbed him again.
"No need, I've already chosen a county."
"What county?"
“Dupang County!”
"Where is that?"
Everyone looked confused, obviously no one had heard of the name of this county.
There are more than a hundred 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.
Cao Wudao: "Jiaozhou, Jiuzhen County, Dupang County!"
