Cai Hao came to the gate of the camp to ask for a meeting. After waiting for a long time, no soldiers came to notify him. Instead, he became worried, fearing that Lu Xuan would avoid seeing him.
After waiting for almost two quarters of an hour, Cai Hao finally saw the soldiers coming back and instantly cheered up. When the soldier came over and asked him to follow him, Cai Mao quickly followed. Not long after, Cai Mao entered the Chinese army's tent, saw Lu Xuan, and quickly saluted: "Cai Mao, meet the general."
Lu Xuan nodded and said, "General Cai came to see me. What's the matter?"
Cai Mao did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "General Lu has just arrived in Jingzhou. To govern the place, he will definitely need money. The Cai family is willing to donate 20,000 acres of fertile land, 1,000 taels of gold, and 50,000 shi of grain."
"When I met General Lu earlier, because I had been ignoring the situation at home, I didn't know how much supplies could be mobilized, so I went back to check and asked the housekeeper how many supplies could be mobilized before I came to see the general again."
"Everyone in the Cai family will obey General Lu's arrangements and are willing to support you with all the strength of the family."
Cai Mao looked respectful.
He gave himself a little excuse.
It would be too embarrassing to just say that I didn't think of it before. If I say I went back to check it out, I can barely live up to my reputation.
Lu Xuan smiled and said, "Did General Cai follow suit after hearing the news about the Kuai family?"
Cai Mao shook his head resolutely and said: "Reporting to General Lu, the Cai family is definitely not a family that tends to be swayed by others. There is no need for the Cai family to cling to others. Everything the Cai family does is just to help General Lu, nothing more."
Lu Xuan smiled in his heart and asked, "Has General Cai thought about it?"
Cai Hao said firmly: "Think about it."
Lu Xuan said: "Since the Cai family is with their heart, I will accept it. The Cai family donated money and materials, and their sincerity is admirable. On behalf of the people of Jingzhou, I would like to thank the Cai family for their strong support. The Cai family's righteous deeds, I believe the people of Jingzhou will not forget it."
Cai Mao was a little disappointed when he heard this.
What Lu Xuan said were all official words and compliments. In fact, there was no nutrition or benefit at all.
Cai Hao still smiled and said respectfully: "As long as everything is conducive to the general, the general is busy with his affairs and will resign from his humble position."
"Not in a hurry."
Lu Xuan shook his head and spoke.
Cai Mao sat up straight and felt a little expectant in his heart.
Lu Xuan said slowly: "Degui, you are a military general. My original plan was for you to stay with Gan Ning and assist him in training Jinfan Camp. But I just got the news that Gan Ning has a mission, Jinfan The soldiers from the Sail Camp have also gone on a mission."
"You have to work by his side, which is difficult to arrange, so there is another adjustment to be made regarding your appointment."
"In my opinion, stay in Bingcao."
"You go to Bingcao to be a doctor of Bingcao and assist Bingcao Shangshu in his work."
Lu Xuan asked: "What do you think?"
"I humble my duty and obey my orders."
Cai Mao suddenly became excited.
He gave enough benefits and benefits, and immediately received the benefits and became a soldier. It is true that the benefits he received were far different from those obtained by Kuai Yue, at least they were better than before.
If you serve Gan Ning as a lieutenant, wouldn't you be a scapegoat?
That's about right now.
Although it is realistic, Cai Mao is happy to see it happen.
Lu Xuan waved his hand and said: "Go and deliver the materials and land deeds, etc., and prepare to take office in Shu County."
"Here!"
Cai Mao bowed and left.
After Cai Mao left, Lu Xun stood aside, a little confused, and asked, "Uncle, my nephew has some problems."
Lu Xuan smiled and said: "You want to say that my uncle's move to appoint Cai Mao is no different from buying and selling officials, right?"
"right!"
Lu Xun nodded solemnly.
He said in a deep voice: "Cai Mao has some abilities, but letting him serve as a soldier is a bit excessive. In addition, Cai Mao is not a loyal person, unlike Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue who stood up early On my uncle’s side.”
"My nephew even thinks that Cai Mao is a villain with no sign of loyalty. Such a person should be left to fend for himself in Jingzhou. Why should he be given the position of a soldier?"
Lu Xuan shook his head and said, "You are too young."
Lu Xun said: "Uncle, please tell me."
Lu Xuan's expression became serious and he said slowly: "Although there is a clear boundary between loyal ministers and villains, can you guarantee that the people around you are loyal ministers and no villains? Can you be sure that the loyal ministers around you are not loyal? Will things change?”
"People will change."
"Human nature is fragile and cannot stand the test."
"The distinction between loyal ministers and villains seems to be clear. In fact, it is just a change in a thought. For us, loyal ministers must use it, and villains must also use it. At some times, villains are more important than loyal ministers. of loyalty, because he can only rely on you.”
Lu Xuan looked at Lu Xun and said seriously: "You are the Qilin'er of my Lu family and the backbone of the Lu family's future. You must understand that human nature is complicated, and the real world of human beings and interpersonal relationships are even more complicated. It cannot be either/or or black. That’s white, don’t go to extremes.”
Lu Xun said respectfully, "My nephew, please remember your uncle's teachings."
Lu Xuan continued: "Second point, you mentioned that I arranged Cai Mao's official position, which is like buying an official and selling an official. In essence, it is actually selling an official. But in everything, don't look at what is done on the surface, but see the underlying situation. Nature."
"Why do I give benefits to Kuai Yue? On the one hand, he deserves it, and on the other hand, it is a return favor."
"As for Cai Mao, this person is still useful and needs to be won over, because he is from the Cai family in Jingzhou. I collected the materials from the Cai family and arranged Cai Mao's duties. I set a special example."
"My purpose is to make other big families in Jingzhou understand the truth. If you want to get benefits, just give land in exchange."
“All I value is the land.”
"There are many powerful families in Jingzhou, and these big families have not been dealt with like the big families in Yangzhou. Now, on the premise of seeking stability, we use interests to leverage the big families in Jingzhou and let them weaken themselves."
"They offered their land for profit, and I gave them some insignificant official positions, which can not only weaken the big family, but also stabilize the people."
Lu Xuan talked eloquently and continued; "When Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sold his titles for money, it was actually the same thing. Titles may look glamorous, but in fact they have no real power and do not hold the key to governing people's livelihood. They are insignificant but can Can change money.”
“Nowadays, it is the same when it comes to Jingzhou’s powerful families.
"One thing depends on the final result and what your goal is."
"If you are just trying to make money and get money and enjoy yourself. The ultimate starting point is not to resettle the people or run the world and benefit the people, then it is not worth doing."
Lu Xuan said: "In the future, when you do things, you can't be dogmatic or too rigid. You have to be flexible."
Lu Xun seemed to understand.
He understood a little bit, but a little bit less.
However, Lu Xun remembered Lu Xuan's teachings firmly in his heart, turned around and left.
Lu Xuan still stayed in the army, temporarily staying to stabilize the situation in Xiangyang and Nanjun. For the time being, Lu Xuan did not attack Huang Zu in Jiangxia County, nor did he attack Changsha County in the south and other places.
The key now is still here in Xiangyang.
As time passed day by day, Lu Xuan successively received many wealthy families in Jingzhou, received a lot of land, and obtained a lot of food. After all, with the examples of Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, many people are eager to become an official and are willing to pay the price to give it a try.
In the blink of an eye, July has begun, and the autumn harvest has begun in Jingzhou. Yan Xiang has arrived in Xiangyang to take up his post and begins to handle government affairs quickly. With Yan Xiang in charge, Taishi Ci and Yan Xiang cooperated to handle Jingzhou's government affairs efficiently.
At this time, Lu Xuan was ready to leave.
When Lu Xuan was about to leave, Lu Xun came to the camp and reported: "Uncle, a man named Ma Yu came outside. He came with his son Ma Liang to ask for an audience. He has something to report to his uncle."
Lu Xuan raised his eyebrows.
Ma Liang and his son are here.
According to age, Ma Liang is now eleven or twelve years old, not very old. Among the five brothers of the Ma family, Ma Liang is the most talented, and his actions are said to be the best among the five white eyebrows of the Ma family. The Ma family is in Jingzhou. Although it is not as good as the Cai family and the Kuai family, it is also a wealthy local family.
Lu Xuan smiled and said: "Invite people in."
"Here!"
Lu Xun turned around to inform.
After a while, Ma Yu and his son Ma Liang entered the Chinese army's tent, bowed and said: "Ma Yu, Yicheng, pay homage to Lu Qiaoqi."
"Ma Liang, meet Lu Xiuqi."
Ma Liang saluted with neither humility nor arrogance.
Lu Xuan's eyes fell on Ma Liang. This child was only eleven or twelve years old, but he was almost 160 centimeters tall, with a tall and straight figure and a good appearance. Although Ma Liang is a little nervous, he behaves appropriately, neither humble nor arrogant, and is more mature than ordinary people.
There is really a ray of white on Ma Liang's eyebrows, which is strange.
Lu Xuan looked at Ma Liang, and Ma Yu was even more nervous. Why does Lu Qiaoqi always stare at his son?
Ma Yu was more nervous than his son and said respectfully: "Lu Xiuqi, I am here to see you today. I am willing to donate the Ma family's 6,000 acres of land in Yicheng County to help Lu Xiuqi govern Jingzhou."
