Luoyang, the imperial capital.
Although Luoyang was still prosperous, Cao Cao had no time to care about these business arrangements during this period.
Cao Cao was thinking about dispatching troops and generals to capture Hanzhong.
Cao Cao's plan in mind was not just Hanzhong, but he also hoped that with the help of this battle in Hanzhong, Lu Xuan could be severely damaged and Lu Xuan would capsize in Hanzhong.
The current situation in the world is that Lu Xuan is the strongest. However, once Lu Xuan is defeated in Yizhou and Yuan Shao wins a large-scale victory, the situation in the burning Wu Kingdom will take a turn for the worse.
By then, not only will Cao Cao and Yuan Shao further tear apart the State of Wu, but the State of Wu that has been stitched together will also fall apart and further fall apart.
Cao Cao can completely change the situation.
Therefore, Cao Cao had great ambitions for this battle.
Prince Qin's Mansion, in the study.
Cao Cao stared at the southbound road of Chencang Road, observed carefully, and then glanced at the map of Yanzhou hanging not far away. There was a war in Yizhou, and Cao Cao believed that there must be a war in Yanzhou as well, so he had to think carefully.
While Cao Cao was thinking, there was a sound of footsteps, and the attendant entered, bowed and said: "King Qin."
Cao Cao asked: "What's the matter?"
The attendant reported: "A woman named Cai Yan came from outside the palace. She said she was an old friend of King Qin and asked to see King Qin."
Cao Cao's eyes lit up when he heard this.
Cai Yan!
He knew that this was Cai Yong's eldest daughter. When Cai Yong was an official in Luoyang, Cao Cao also served in Luoyang. He often visited Cai Yong, exchanged calligraphy and literature with Cai Yong, and talked about Confucian classics. The relationship between the two was very good.
When Cao Cao went to Cai Yong's house, he naturally saw Cai Yan, who had returned to Luoyang from Hedong and was living as a widow at home.
It can be called the beauty of heaven and country.
Later, Dong Zhuo gained power, and Cao Cao left Luoyang and began to crusade against Dong Zhuo. After Dong Zhuo's death, Li Jue and Guo Si caused trouble in Chang'an. Cao Cao was already busy with his own affairs, and there has been no news about Cai Yan since then.
Over the years, Cao Cao was so busy with conquests in the east and west that he naturally had no time to think about such an old friend.
Cao Cao returned to his seat and sat down. He sat upright, straightened his beard again, and said, "Go and invite the people in."
After a while, Cai Yan came in.
The weather in Luoyang is quite hot in July. Cai Yan is dressed in plain clothes, with bright eyes, white teeth, and fair skin. Standing in the study, he looks like a touch of green among the flowers, or a pure and flawless lotus in full bloom.
Sober and elegant yet bright and radiant.
Cai Yan doesn't wear much makeup, but she has read thousands of books, is outstanding in learning, and has an elegant temperament that is full of poetry and calligraphy.
Historically, when Li Jue and Guo Si caused trouble in Guanzhong, the Huns followed them south to plunder and robbed Cai Yan. They left Cai Yan for twelve years. During this period, Cai Yan gave birth to two sons among the Huns. Cao Cao later received news about Cai Yan and sent someone to redeem Cai Yan from the southern Huns.
There are many speculations about Cao Cao's operation of redeeming Cai Yan from the Huns and then marrying Cai Yan to Dong Si.
One thing is indisputable.
When Cao Cao redeemed Cai Yan, he had not seen Cai Yan for more than ten years. The impression of Cai Yan that remained in Cao Cao's mind always stayed in Luoyang. When he visited Cai Yong, he saw the widowed Cai Yan.
It was so bright, pure and flawless, the beauty of heaven and country, and even more stunningly beautiful.
Cai Yan, whom Cao Cao brought back from the Xiongnu, had been living in a foreign country for more than ten years. He lived in the north, worked hard day and night, and gave birth to two sons. Such a woman has been wasted by life and has gone through many hardships. She has changed from the woman under twenty years old that Cao Cao met back then to a woman in her thirties who has experienced vicissitudes of life.
If she is a pampered woman, she can still be mature and charming in her early thirties.
Cai Yan is obviously impossible.
The Cai Yan that Cao Cao welcomed back was most likely a woman who had lost her luster, with rough skin and wandering eyes. She was not much different from a woman who worked in the countryside all day long.
This is the difference between the goddess in my heart and the ordinary woman suddenly.
No matter who you put it on, you can't help it.
The current Cai Yan is different.
Because of Lu Xuan's influence, Cao Cao was unable to go east to Xuzhou to establish a foothold in Yanzhou, nor was he able to go south to attack the Jianghuai region. He could only attack Guanzhong with all his strength. Cao Cao did not become the king of Wei, but instead became the king of Qin in Guanzhong.
As a result, the Guanzhong area was not troubled by the Xiongnu, and Cai Yan was not displaced.
Although Cai Yong died, the Cai family still existed and had some properties. Cai Yan did not need to worry about his livelihood. Therefore, Cai Yan, who is more than 20 years old, is like a ripe peach, with infinite brilliance and excitement.
Cao Cao's eyes became brighter and brighter, and he couldn't help but think a little more. He smiled and said: "Wen Ji, sit down!"
He called Cai Yan affectionately, which brought the relationship between the two parties closer.
"Thank you, King Qin."
Cai Yan bowed and sat down.
Cao Cao smiled and said: "Back then, Duke Bojie was killed. Unfortunately, I was in Yanzhou and could not intervene in the situation in Chang'an. If I had been in Chang'an back then, I would not have let Wang Yun do anything wrong and kill Duke Bojie."
Cai Yan looked gentle and replied: "This is my father's fate, and I can't control it at all. When my father was alive, he often said that he and the King of Qin were close friends. He asked me to treat the King of Qin as if he were his elder, without any disrespect. Neglect. Therefore, King Qin does not have to blame himself for my father's affairs."
Cao Cao's cheeks twitched.
His expression was slightly frozen.
elder?
Cao Cao glanced at Cai Yan again and continued: "Back then, I also studied with Duke Bojie. How can I be considered an elder?"
Cai Yan looked cold and solemn, and said, "My father often said that King Qin's poetry was profound, and his calligraphy was unique. He was one of the greatest talents in the world."
"My father respected the King of Qin very much and regarded him as a confidant. Although you are younger than my father, you are more than enough to be the elder of the King of Qin's concubine, no matter in terms of status, age, or ability."
"My father also has a will, asking me to treat the King of Qin as a teacher, respect the King of Qin, and treat him as a father."
Cao Cao took a deep look at Cai Yan.
This girl's mouth is so good at talking, it's really hard to get off the stage.
He didn't want to be sacrificed on stage, but Cai Yan was involved in his death and Cai Yong's arrangements, so Cao Cao couldn't go any further. After all, Cai Yong is a great scholar in the world, although Cai Yong's attainments in Confucian classics are not comparable to Zheng Xuan's. But Cai Yong's reputation far surpassed that of Zheng Xuan.
Cao Cao could not treat Cai Yan harshly.
He still wants face.
What's more, at this stage, Cao Cao wanted to unite his subordinates and stabilize the scholars, so the greedy thought in Cao Cao's heart was suppressed in an instant. He rolled his eyes and said with a smile, "I feel ashamed that Duke Bozhe praised me so much."
"Compared to Duke Bojie's noble character and integrity, I am far behind."
"Scholars all over the world regard Duke Bojie as their role model. If Duke Bojie were still here, Lu Xuan would not have been allowed to run rampant in Shu County. Instead, he gathered a bunch of corrupt scholars and set up a Five Classics Museum, where they were barking wildly."
"Oh, what a pity!"
Cao Cao's eyes returned to calmness, and he smiled and said, "Niece Xian came to the palace, what do you want?"
Cao Cao changed his title.
If you can't go further, you might as well settle for the next best thing, be an elder and gain a good reputation.
