The ancestral tomb of the Kuai family is located on a hill more than 20 miles to the west outside Xiangyang City. It is a geomantic treasure with dragons and tigers perched on it and basalt covering the screen.
At this time, the ancient tombs that were more than 200 years old have been dug up, and there are soldiers guarding the surroundings.
Smoke and dust swept across the distance, and the Kuai brothers who came on horseback jumped down in front of the grave. Looking at the messy ancestral grave in front of them, the two brothers fell to their knees on the ground with a thud, clenching their fists, with painful expressions and eyes filled with pain. Crystal tears.
In this era, the emperor would build a mausoleum as soon as he registered. Why? I am just superstitious about Feng Shui.
The ancestral graves of the Kuai family were dug up. In their view, it was to destroy the Kuai family. They would never do this if they were a mortal enemy.
Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue asked themselves, in this land of Jingchu, they always keep a thin line, even if they are opponents, they will not push them to the end. Who is it that wants their Kuai family to be wiped out?
"Let's go in and take a look!" After a long time, the ferocious-looking Kuai Liang squeezed out a sentence through his teeth.
The two brothers almost supported each other and walked towards the tomb passage in front of them.
The method of tomb robbing is very rough. It is not like the traditional tomb robbers who dig holes from the side and penetrate horizontally into the tomb. This is obviously a last resort in a hurry.
Kuai Liangliang, who was walking in the tomb passage, secretly analyzed it.
The key behind him held a torch and followed in. Through the firelight, it could be seen that it was empty inside. All the funerary objects had been emptied out, and even the coffin had been dug up. It looked like it was done by someone who was poor and crazy.
"Brother, what is this?" After looking around the tomb, Kuai Yue soon discovered that there was an object under the coffin.
Kuai Yue raised the torch and looked at it. It was an object similar to a military talisman, with the word "touch gold" engraved on it.
After seeing these two words clearly, the two brothers looked horrified and blurted out in unison: "Touch Captain Jin!"
It is an undisclosed secret that Cao Cao has a team of gold-touching captains. Although everyone has never seen this team, they all know that in the early years, when Cao Cao's military budget was in short supply, he would use this team to dig out graves. Stealing grave goods.
"Okay, thief Cao dared to touch the ancestral graves of our Kuai family. Let's go and settle the score with him!" Kuai Yue's temper suddenly rose.
When the ancestral grave was dug up, Kuai Yue still cared whether he was Cao Cao or not. Even if the knife was hanging on his neck, he would not be afraid.
What's more, once this matter spreads, it is absolutely impossible for anyone in the civil and military circles in Jingxiang to continue to work for Cao Cao. Kuai Yue is still very confident in the influence of the Kuai family.
Kuai Liang frowned, instinctively feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't explain it. However, he found the golden military talisman in the stolen ancestral grave. Cao Cao should give an explanation for this.
The two brothers hurried back to Xiangyang City. Before going to the General's Mansion, Kuai Yue turned around and told the housekeeper, "Go and take care of the affairs of each house first. If you don't see us coming back, spread the word and I will I want to see if he can stay in this Jingxiang land!"
"Old slave, let's do it now!"
Soon, the two brothers arrived at the gate of the General's Mansion, and happened to meet Pang Degong and Huang Chengyan. They must have come for the same thing, so they simply went in together.
After entering, I found that Cai Mao, Cai Zhong, Cai He and his brothers were already waiting there, with devouring anger on their faces.
"Where is Cao Cao?" Kuai Yue asked directly.
Before Cai Mao had time to answer, he saw Cao Cao running out of the inner hall in a hurry, "Pang Family Head, Huang Family Head, Yidu, Degui, I have just learned that the ancestral tombs of your four major families have been stolen. You guys Don’t worry, if you dare to do such an unscrupulous thing under my rule, even if all the troops are dispatched, I will find these people!”
Looking at Cao Cao's uninformed look, several people thought that they acted quite similarly.
Huang Chengyan snorted coldly, raised his forehead and said coldly: "General Cao goes to arrest him, I'm afraid he won't be able to catch him in this life."
"What does the Huang Family Master mean by this? Could it be that he has doubts about Cao's ability?" Cao Cao asked with a confused look on his face.
"Thieves shout, catch thief, what else are you going to catch?" Pang Degong stared at Cao Cao fiercely.
"It's not good to talk nonsense. Head Pang needs to know that sometimes rumors can kill people!" Although Cao Cao had his hands behind his back, he held his head high and was not afraid at all.
"I heard that General Cao has a team of gold-touching captains who are good at digging graves for military use. Could it be that General Cao didn't do this?" Even Kuai Yue stopped calling him "lord" when he spoke.
The people standing in the general's mansion are all powerful beings in the land of Jingxiang. With these people joining forces, even if Xu Chu stood behind Cao Cao, they were not afraid of him at all.
Not only was he really angry because he had the courage to come forward to question his guilt in such a big way, he also needed to show it to his clan members.
If the ancestral grave has been dug up and there is no movement as the head of the family, then you may have to consider replacing the person.
"Xidu, are you just making these assumptions out of thin air, or is someone spreading rumors to you? If you are deceived by others, I will not hold you accountable for your lies, but if you come together to investigate based on the suspicion in your heart, Then you don't take me, Cao Cao, seriously!" Cao Cao's eyes narrowed, and he showed the aura of a master, looking back at everyone with vicious eyes.
"Do you want evidence?"
Kuai Yue snorted coldly, took out the gold-touching talisman belonging to Colonel Touching-Gold from his arms and slapped it hard on the table, "It was found in the ancestral grave of the Kuai family, what do you say!"
Later, Cai Mao and Pang Degong also threw a gold-touching talisman on the table.
Huang Chengyan held the golden talisman in his hand, but he wanted to put it down but didn't because at this time, he also realized that something was wrong.
Cao Cao's acting skills were quite good. He first picked up a gold-touching talisman and checked it. He frowned and said, "It is indeed owned by Colonel Touching Gold."
Then he said sadly: "Everyone, let me tell you the truth, in the early years, due to military resource problems, Cao did indeed form a team of gold captains, but it was later disbanded.
What's more, when it was established, the cemeteries that were excavated during the Spring and Autumn Period were always excavated. How could it be possible to start with the ancestral graves of one's own family?
No matter how crazy you are, you can't do such a thing, right? "
Several people looked at each other, perhaps because everyone took out a gold-touching talisman, and they themselves realized the problem, but based on this alone, they seemed unable to completely let go.
Cao Cao looked at them with a wry smile and said helplessly: "You are all the most talented people in the world. Think about it seriously. If I did it, could I leave such a mark on your ancestral graves?
Even if someone accidentally left it behind, isn't it ridiculous that it was left in all four ancestral graves? "
This is the most unreasonable part of the whole thing. It’s really inappropriate to leave even one of these identifying objects. How could they be left behind in every ancestral grave? It’s obvious that someone deliberately left them behind. .
The people who can stand here have some brains, but they were too angry with each other at first and did not discuss it. Now that they see this situation, they have actually reacted in their hearts.
"I understand, I understand." Cao Cao shook his head in pain.
"Lord, what do you understand?" Kuai Liang's reaction was quick. It was better not to change the title until the matter was clarified.
"After the gold-touching captain was dismissed, their gold-touching talisman should have fallen on the school grounds in Xuchang. Someone wanted to kill me."
Cao Cao did not say who it was, but the shocked expressions on the faces of those present said everything.
The Captain Touching the Gold was dismissed in Xuchang, so the Touching the Gold Talisman may have been left in Xuchang, and Xuchang is now occupied by Lu Lin. Who did this, no need to say more.
"My lord, you mean that Lu Lin did this, and you want to put the blame on your lord?" Probably, the one with the longest reaction arc was Cai Mao. He thought slowly and had to verify it after he finished thinking.
Cao Cao did not answer him, but turned around and took a few steps back, then bowed his hands and saluted them.
"Lord, why is this happening?" Kuai Liang hurriedly stepped forward to help him. Now, he had fully realized that someone had indeed taken advantage of the four major families and wanted to disintegrate Cao Cao from within. He still felt a little guilty in his heart.
"Everyone, I apologize to you. Although this matter was done by me, it happened because of me."
Cao Cao looked sad and choked with sobs, "You should all have received the letters contained in those bamboo slips floating on the river recently. I thought this was the end of Lin Mo's attack on the heart. Who would have thought that he would do things like this? Absolutely.
If it wasn't because he wanted to bring me down, he wouldn't have attacked the ancestral graves of your four major families. After all, I also have an unshirkable responsibility for this matter. "
If they had 80% doubts about this matter just now, then they had completely believed Cao Cao, because the cause and effect of the matter were indeed correct.
Lin Mo was always used to attacking people's hearts. He first used bamboo tube rewards to sway the civil and military forces of Jing and Xiang, and then immediately used grave digging to further intensify internal conflicts. It was a good move.
"My lord, I am stupid, please forgive me for speaking nonsense!" He was so cruel just now, but now he is so obedient. Kuai Yue knelt down on one knee and bowed, without even turning his face to the side.
Cai Mao, Cai Zhong, Cai He and Kuai Liang also followed, and Pang Degong and Huang Chengyan also bowed and apologized.
They are a group of people who still understand the importance of things. Based on the premise that this matter has nothing to do with Cao Cao, he can still explain so patiently and finally take the responsibility on himself. His feelings towards him are indeed unconsciously reflected in his heart. There has been a huge improvement.
"Xidu, get up, this matter has nothing to do with you, it was Lin Mo who did it."
Cao Cao pulled Kuai Yue up and said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, I will definitely make the decision for you in this matter, Lin Mo, I will make him pay the price."
"Lin Mo is also a genius, but I didn't expect him to be so shameless in what he does!"
"He can take advantage of our four major families, and he is not afraid of deception, but he should not dig up our ancestral graves. Lin Mo and I are incompatible!"
"Don't worry, my lord. From now on, the Kuai family will wholeheartedly assist me in helping my lord defeat the thief!"
What the future will bring, no one knows.
But at this moment, the anger in the hearts of the four major families has reached its peak. Just for the sake of alienation, he dug up the ancestral graves of the four major families in one go. He seemed to be too arrogant.
"My lord, my lord!"
While they were chatting in the hall, Cheng Yu strode in. When he saw the battle, he hesitated to speak.
Cao Cao immediately waved his hand and said: "There are no outsiders here. If you have anything, you can just say it!"
Cheng Yu hesitated for a moment. Just as Pang Degong and Huang Chengyan were considering retreating, he finally spoke, "My lord, all the pensions for the soldiers who died in Yizhou's quelling the rebellion have been paid out. Plus the pensions paid during the First World War in the Central Plains, the treasury no longer has any money." I’m here to supervise the construction of ordnance for this autumn’s war, and this doesn’t include the cost of preparing food and fodder.”
Hearing this, Cao Cao sighed, "I will find a way."
Then he regained his relaxed smile and said to several people: "Okay everyone, this matter is related to me after all. I will let the four major families repair the ancestral tombs. I am busy with official duties, so I won't accompany you."
After saying that, he turned to leave.
"Lord, wait!"
Kuai Yue, who felt the deepest guilt, immediately stopped Cao Cao and said, "The preparation of grain and grass should be relieved after the autumn harvest. There is no need to worry about this, but the creation of ordnance is related to the victory of the war, so there is no need to delay."
Kuai Yue glanced at Kuai Liang, and when the latter nodded in agreement, he continued: "The Kuai family is willing to support the lord with 30 million yuan to build ordnance!"
"Alien, Zirou"
Cao Cao was so moved that he didn't know what to say. He just held one by one hand, his eyes twinkling.
For Kuai Yue, his character is more reckless. Whether it is the initial attack on the enemy or the later attempt to make amends, he always did what he thought.
But Kuai Liang didn't think so. On the contrary, his thoughts were much deeper.
The fact that the four major families came to the General's Mansion to cause trouble today will definitely spread out soon. Even if Cao Cao doesn't feel comfortable with it now, who can guarantee whether he will remember the old grudges in retrospect after a long time.
If you are wrong, you must adopt an attitude of admitting your mistake. This will give Cao Cao a step forward from the outside.
What's more, after this incident, it is no longer possible for the four major families to switch to Lu Lin. Each of them needs to go back to the family to explain. There must be an explanation between the superiors and the subordinates.
Of course, 30 million yuan is a huge amount of money, but for public and private purposes, now they all hope that Cao Cao can win against Lu Lin, so if they don't contribute now, how long will they wait?
"Lord, the Cai family is willing to support 50 million yuan!" Probably Kuai Yue's actions reminded him, Cai Mao spent a lot of money boldly.
Neither Pang Degong nor Huang Chengyan spoke. It was obvious that they had this idea in mind, but they all had their own concerns. One was Pang Tong under Lu Lin, and the other was his son-in-law under Liu Bei. They would definitely not be as good as the Cai family and the Kuai family. So vigorous and resolute.
"General Cao, if you need help in the future, just ask. I will not be stingy with anything the Huang family can do."
"It's the same with old people."
Two old foxes were doing Tai Chi.
But Cao Cao didn't mind this at all, because the actions of the Kuai family and Cai family had greatly alleviated his financial crisis.
If they don't vomit now, Cao Cao is confident that he will have a way to make them vomit gold coins next.
"It's easy to add icing on the cake, but it's difficult to deliver charcoal when the time is right. I will keep your kindness to me in my heart, and I will also keep in mind Lu Lin's despicable behavior towards the four major families.
In a word, from now on, Cao is willing to share weal and woe with the four major families! "
Of course, Cao Cao was trying to spread the pie, but the weight was really not light, and he seemed to have taken them seriously as members of his team.
"Lord, General, your words are serious." People from the four major families bowed together.
The atmosphere had reached this point, and everyone naturally had a lot more to say. Seeing that no one had any intention of leaving for a while, Cao Cao couldn't sit still, and immediately looked at Cheng Yu.
"The ancestral graves of the four major families were dug up by Lin Mo. You should quickly arrange for personnel to repair them. I will go with them to pay homage to the ancestral graves on the day of the memorial ceremony!"
"Here!" He responded happily, but Cheng Yu did not leave.
However, this sentence woke up the people of the four major families. Yes, the ancestral graves were still hanging out. Everyone in the family was gearing up to go back and explain, so they bowed and said goodbye one by one.
After sending everyone away, Cao Cao breathed a sigh of relief.
This thing is really dangerous. If you are not careful, you will get burned.
Thankfully, the bet was right.
Cao Cao put his hands on Cheng Yu's shoulders and said sincerely: "Zhongde, thanks to you this time, thanks to you, we can finally get through the current crisis."
Cao Cao was very excited, not only because the bet was right, but also because the subsequent effects of this incident will last forever.
The tomb robbing incident was basically equivalent to cutting off the possibility of rebellion by the four major families. At the same time, for such a big thing, the four major families had to have an explanation to the outside world. Regardless of whether Lin Mo admitted it or not, he would have to take the blame.
In this way, the bamboo tube bounty trick he used before can be easily disintegrated, and Cao Cao no longer has to worry about the instability of his subordinates.
As for money and food, the Kuai family spent 30 million and the Cai family spent 50 million. Is that much?
In fact, it's not much at all. They have the entire family behind them. This amount of money is nothing to the four major families behind Jingxiang Land Foundation.
But what Cao Cao values is their attitude. As long as they take the lead and relent, the wallflowers below will definitely follow suit, and the money problem will definitely be solved smoothly.
I dare not say it from afar, but the armor, weapons, food and warships for this autumn’s war will all be solved smoothly.
Cheng Yu's plot was really vicious. Even at the beginning, Cao Cao was unwilling to do it. He was too gambling. Once the news got out, with the appeal of the four major families, he could even besiege Xiangyang. city.
This is a game where one's wealth and one's life are put on the line, and the win can be huge.
Kill three birds with one stone.
Even after sorting out the entire plan again, Cao Cao was still stunned by Cheng Yu's plan.
"As long as I can share my worries with you." Cheng Yu still felt warm in his heart.
"Come on, come drink with me!"
Cao Cao pulled Cheng Yu toward the inner room and said with a smile: "I haven't been so happy for a long time since Feng Xiao left!"
Cao Cao was really happy. He knew that next, he could prepare for the Autumn War with peace of mind.
Almost, less than two months later.
Even if Lin Mo wants to cause trouble, it will be difficult for him to achieve results in the short term.
Now, Cao Cao is gearing up and looking forward to the next battle.
(End of chapter)
