Three Kingdoms

  Chapter 2582 People take tea cold

   Sure enough.

   Liu Xie summoned Xi Xi after the court meeting this time to ask Xi Xi about the purpose of impeaching Kong Rong at the court meeting.

  After Xi Xie got up and sat down, Emperor Liu Xie looked at Xi Xie for a few times, and without going around the corner, he asked directly: "Xi Aiqing, today is in the morning court." Why did you suddenly target Kong Wenju? I remember that a few days ago, didn't you say that Kong Wenju was brilliant and loyal? I have never heard of any personal enmity between the two of you, but what you have done today makes me a little confused. 』

   After finishing speaking, Liu Xie stared at Xi Xi's face with piercing eyes, not letting go of any changes in Xi Xi's expression.

After hearing Liu Xie's question, Xi Ji didn't dare to answer vaguely anymore, so he said calmly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, if there is any grievance between the minister and Kong Wenju, it is just a difference in interpretation between the articles and scriptures." That's all, it's not a big resentment. Kong Wenju is also loyal to the big man and to His Majesty, but it is precisely because of Kong Wenju's actions...』

   Having said this, Xi Ji sighed, as if feeling sorry for Kong Rong, "So I have to impeach Kong Wenju, and it would be best to cause some controversy... This will be of great benefit to your Majesty's stability..."

"Oh? ’Liu Xie was thoughtful, as if he had thought of something, but he still asked, ‘What does Aiqing mean by this? 』

"Your Majesty..." Xi Xi said slowly, his voice lowered slightly, "Your Majesty must be aware of the current situation in the world. Hussars are the only one in Guanzhong, and they are holding a grand seminar at Qinglong Temple to invite outstanding scholars from all over the world. Gathering in Chang'an... It can be seen from his human nature. Now the head of Wenhua in Shandong is Kong Wenju, and Wenju lives in seclusion in the wild and refuses to become an official. If things go on like this, Chang'an is stronger than Shandong, and Shandong is weaker... The ministers use the name of impeachment to really encourage Kong Wenju to come out of the mountain. ...I hope His Majesty will learn from it. 』

   Liu Xie was taken aback.

   Is there such a saying?

  Oh, the impeachment of Kong Rong is for the good of Kong Rong, um, for the good of the big man?

  Hearing Xi Ji's explanation, Liu Xie took a deep look at Xi Ji, and after a moment of silence, he asked: "What Ai Qing said...Although there is some truth to it... But, what Ai Qing said is all for this reason? 』

  『Your Majesty is holy! ”Xi Xi nodded first, then shook his head, and continued to explain, "I...I also have a little selfishness, and I have other considerations..."

  Liu Xie straightened his back slightly, "Oh? Let's talk and listen. 』

  Xi Li lowered his head, "I... I am ashamed. Ever since I received His Majesty's favor, I have accomplished nothing and failed to resolve His Majesty's worries... Now that the court is divided from east to west, and there are dissidents gathered in Guanzhong, there are many schemes, it can be said that they have ulterior motives...』

Seeing that the Son of Heaven didn't interrupt him, and didn't veto him, Xi Ji felt determined, but his face was still ashamed, and he continued: "Your Majesty trusts you, and you are in charge of the Yushitai. Quan, but there are many shortcomings in the initial establishment of the Yushitai... and I know your majesty's worries, and your majesty's worries are the faults of the ministers. If you can take this opportunity to expand the Yushitai, you can also use it for your majesty... 』

Xi Xie paused for a moment, he didn't know if it was to organize his thoughts, or to let Liu Xie have room to think. Seeing that Liu Xie hadn't said anything, Xi Xie said again: "The big man is in turmoil now, the reason why there are people who are disobedient and don't know the emperor , because the scriptures are not clear, and loyalty is not known. I thought about it privately, the Yushitai was originally a rumor... Therefore, no matter whether Kong Wenju was found guilty or not, he must come to Xu County to plead his case, and His Majesty can take advantage of the situation to correct his mistakes, or pardon his crimes, all of which are up to His Majesty Between...therefore, the minister made this move of impeachment. 』

   Xi Xi's words were not only extremely frank, but even somewhat reflected someone's meaning. Although they all mentioned Chang'an, they may not all refer to Feiqian. Anyway, on the surface, Xi Ji and Fei Qian have completely drawn a clear line, everything is considered for the sake of the emperor Liu Xie, and his attitude is extremely correct.

  After hearing what Xi Xi said, Liu Xie couldn't find anything wrong with it, and if it was carried out according to the plan Xi Xi said, it would indeed be beneficial for Liu Xie to control the situation in the DPRK and China.

  After thinking about it, Liu Xie finally put on some smiles on his face, nodded slowly and said: "Aiqing is willing to solve my worries, so I feel relieved." 』

  Although Liu Xie said so, Xi Xi's expression turned bitter, and he said, "Your Majesty is wise. However, I have one more thing to ask Your Majesty...Kong Wenju is very famous now, with many disciples and former officials, his influence is far beyond what I can reach. Although the minister impeaches Kong Wenju now, he may provoke his backlash. At that time, I hope His Majesty will help you a lot for the sake of your loyalty...』

   Seeing Xi Xi like this, Liu Xie smiled and said, "If Aiqing has no confidence, why bother to provoke disputes?" Well, I know, if Aiqing is in trouble, I will never stand still, and I will definitely protect Aiqing thoroughly. 』

   Xili bowed again, and then withdrew.

  Liu Xie sat in the hall, meditating for a long time.

  Although Xi Xi kept saying that it was for Liu Xie and the big man, and then lightly said some of his own selfishness, and these selfishness seemed to be used on Yushitai, but in reality?

   As for the open and covert struggles in the court, Liu Xie actually had a complicated heart.

  If the major factions in the court live in peace, do not fight with each other, or even live in harmony, then as an emperor, he will generally start to doubt whether the major factions in the court are going to join forces? Will he start to deal with him, the emperor again? I always feel that the position under my buttocks is starting to get hot, and I am not stable.

  For Liu Xie, Fei Qian in Guanzhong was used to suppress Cao Cao's external pressure. It was because of Fei Qian's existence that Cao Cao was not so arrogant and domineering at the moment.

Then within Xu County, Liu Xie hopes that there will be one person, or even a faction, to continue to contend with Cao Cao, restrict Cao Cao, and fight each other for various interests, so that Liu Xie can balance and adjust among the struggles of various factions. After all, only when there are disputes between the various factions, the importance of the emperor will be reflected.

  If courtiers compete, the emperor will benefit, but if courtiers cooperate, the emperor will be in danger.

  This is Liu Xie's experience in recent years.

  If Yuan Kai was willing to stand up against Dong Zhuo back then, his imperial brother Liu Bian might not have been expelled from power and killed by poison...

   In other words, if Cao Cao wanted to expel Liu Xie from power now, who would stand up and speak for Liu Xie?

This kind of deep-rooted worry made Liu Xie feel panic all the time, and with the passage of time, he became more and more paranoid about persecution. He doubted Cao Cao, Fei Qian, and everyone around him. , Of course, he also holds a skeptical attitude towards what Xi Xi said.

  Before, Liu Xie wanted Zheng Xuan to come to Xu County. After all, Zheng Xuan's reputation in Shandong was very high, and he could be a good shield standing by Liu Xie's side, blocking many injuries for Liu Xie.

   It's just a pity that Zheng Xuan doesn't want to come back, it's just that Xi Ji came. If Zheng Xuan is a big shield, then Xie can only be regarded as a few pieces of armor, although they have some effect, but the effect is not so great. In order to make this piece of armor truly a piece of armor, Liu Xie also made many times His favoritism not only conferred positions, but even came forward to build a censor platform for Xi Ji.

  Then Kong Rong, who is inferior to Zheng Xuan...

   Well, it’s several levels, but at least Kong Rong’s name is bigger than Xi Xi’s.

  Liu Xie knew that Cao Cao didn't like Kong Rong, so if he directly wanted Kong Rong to take up certain positions, he would inevitably be opposed by Cao Cao, but could he achieve his goal through a curved attack like Xi Xi? Regardless of whether he is guilty or not, after the news spread, it would be best for Kong Rong to come to Xu County to plead guilty, or confront him for a defense. At that time, can he just push the boat along and leave Kong Rong as a shield on the other side?

   Just like what Xiji said, Kong Rong Kong has been in business for many years, and there are actually many students and friends...

  Last time on the palace wall, Liu Xie saw hundreds of officials slaughtered by Cao Cao just like that, and the blood is still in his heart, and it can't spread.

   Must be doing something...

  …(▽)/…

   Youzhou.

  Ji County.

   It's the second watch at night.

   This room, which looked a little gloomy in the cold night, was still not lit.

  Thin moonlight penetrates through the cracks in the window lintel, and the charcoal fire in the brazier provides extra luminosity for this room.

  A black figure sat silently in the room, with both hands flat on his knees.

  All the surrounding objects are familiar to him. He has played and grown here since he was a child, and now, it seems that it is time to leave.

  If you don't want to leave, you may never have to leave.

  Zu Wu's eyes danced.

   Didn't expect Cao Chun to track it down here? !

   This surprised Zu Wu a little, and he couldn't help but wonder if he underestimated Cao Chun.

  On the table, there is a glazed blue tea bowl.

  Beside the tea bowl, there is a tea urn.

  A servant came forward, lifted the lid, and poured freshly brewed tea into the tea pot. The dark brown water rushed into the bottom of the urn, and an elegant tea fragrance gushed out. Zu Wu's expression became somewhat blurred in the mist rising in the cold night.

  『Master, the tea is ready. ’ said the servant.

  Zu Wu didn't speak, just nodded, and the servant immediately retreated.

  Rationally speaking, Zu Wu should avoid Cao Chun's edge at the moment, after all, if there are green hills left, he is not afraid of running out of firewood.

   But emotionally speaking, Zu Wu was reluctant to leave.

  It’s been seven years since Taixing...

  Zu Wu did it himself, poured a cup of tea, then picked it up, and took a sip slowly.

  The slightly bitter aroma lingered on the tip of his tongue, making him intoxicated with inexplicable feelings for a moment, he couldn't help but close his eyes slightly, and let out a breath. He has never been sure whether the pleasure of drinking tea lies in the tea itself, or in the sense of relaxation that transcends the mundane and forgets the sophistication for a moment.

   This is Hushi's tea.

   It's not the prime minister's wine.

   Hussar's tea can be bought with money, but the prime minister's wine can't be bought even if he has money.

  Because the prime minister banned alcohol.

  But the Xiahou family of the Cao family can't help drinking.

   Others can't drink it, but they have it when they want it. Occasionally, they would act as if they were poor like ordinary people, but in fact, their food and clothing were never the same as ordinary people.

   Prohibition of alcohol is only forbidding the common people.

   It's like registering households and Qimin, which will always only restrict the people, while scholars, not even considered officials, can already go around.

   Interesting, right?

  So why can the Xiahou family of the Cao family drink when they want to?

   In other words, why is the ban only aimed at the common people, but why some people don't have to abide by it?

  Since some people don't have to abide by it, it's no wonder that others don't want to obey it either.

   No one likes to be restricted, banned, restrained, and bullied.

  The moonlight outside the window was still clear, Zu Wu put down the cup, stroked his beard, and a sarcastic smile inadvertently slipped from his lips.

  Maybe you are laughing at others, or you may be mocking yourself.

  The beard is a man's annual rings, which carry the ups and downs of his life, and also record the sentimentality of the torrent of time that will never return.

  I am already thirty-nine years old.

   No, it's already forty.

   Also reached the age of no confusion.

Zu Wu's right hand stroked down lightly, the pads of his fingers gently gliding over each strand of beard, it seemed that each strand of beard made his thoughts roll, like flipping through a book of memory, nostalgic thoughts are like quiet Like the tide gushing out...

  How long has the Zu family been in Youzhou?

   And how long has it been since the Cao family came to Youzhou?

  Zu Wu still clearly remembers the scene of his first meeting with Cao Chun.

At that time, Zu Wu remembered that like other big families in Youzhou, he was uneasy, not knowing what would happen under the new regime of the Cao family, so when he heard that Cao Chun was the edict of the emperor, Cao Cao's special envoy With his identity, when he came to Youzhou, Zu Wu's first reaction was nervousness, and the panic born of nervousness.

   And the confusion about the future...

  But at that time, Cao Chun's attitude was completely different from now.

  The first time Cao Chun saw Zu Wu, he took the initiative to come forward and greeted him cordially, which seemed to have a sense of humility, which somewhat relieved the uneasiness of the nobleman Haoyou in Youzhou.

At that time, Cao Chun said to Zu Wu, and also to Haoyou, a nobleman in Youzhou, General, um, Cao Cao was still a great general at that time, I hope Zuwu and other noblemen in Youzhou, Haoyou, can understand that both the emperor and Cao Cao are very concerned about Youzhou. Zhouzhou attaches great importance to it, and has no suspicion of all Youzhou gentry tyrants including Zuwu, and will not adopt any suppressive policies. On the contrary, both the emperor and Cao Cao hope that Zuwu and Youzhou gentry tyrants You can take responsibility and cooperate with Cao Chun to manage Youzhou well, so that the people can live and work in peace and contentment...

  At that time, Cao Chun's voice was delicate and slow, as if every word was said after careful consideration, and then relieved the tension of Zu Wu and others, and eased their worries.

  Zu Wu remembered that he was the first one to take the lead in applauding at that time, and the clapping made his hands hurt.

   Now, it hurts too.

   It was just that my hands hurt at the time, but now I feel that my face hurts.

  Zu Wu still remembered that Cao Chun not only spoke in public, but also took them to sit together in the hall to discuss the policies and strategies of Youzhou governance. They discussed from dawn to dusk, and then confirmed many matters. For example, they all agree that Youzhou has suffered from wars for a long time and need to recuperate, they all agree to develop the economy and restore local production, they all agree to rectify law and order, and clear away thieves and bandits...

  Even Cao Chun patted his chest, saying that Zuwu's affairs are Cao Chun's affairs, and whoever has trouble with an important local gentry like Zuwu will have trouble with Cao Chun!

  Finally, Cao Chun invited Zu Wu and others to a banquet. At the banquet, Cao Chun fought back and sang loudly.

  Zu Wu once thought it was the beginning of a beautiful dream, but he didn't realize that it was actually the beginning of a nightmare.

  People, in fact, many things are not decided by people, but by the ass.

  It is more elegant, it can be called the buttocks, or the buttocks.

  Where the **** tail is located really determines everything.

  Now, Zu Wu feels like a toilet, after using it, it is filled with excrement and urine gushing out from Cao Chun's lower mouth, and he discards it like a shoe.

  Guan, there are two mouths up and down.

  Zu Wu sneered.

  The change started probably when Zu Wu met Cao Cao.

   Only once.

  Zuwu and some nobles from Youzhou, Haoyou, were summoned to Yecheng.

  Before departure, Zu Wu was full of hope. Because Youzhou had some improvement at that time, Zu Wu felt that he should accept the award, and even prepared his acceptance speech... Bah, it was a humble statement, and he was going to say a few words before taking on a bigger position to express his gratitude. Take a look at your own good character.

  It's a pity that whether he prepared a long speech or a short and humble speech, he didn't use a sentence or a word.

  He remembers just shouting like everyone else, "Great General! 』

  Cao Cao sat on the lobby, his majesty was like a heavy axe, pressing on the heads of Zu Wu and others.

  『Since you are the people of the great man, you should do your best for the great man...』 Cao Cao said indifferently, as if saying that it is going to rain in a day, and the moon will be cloudy and sunny.

   What Cao Cao said seems to be somewhat different from what Cao Chun said.

   But it's normal, isn't it?

   After all, Cao Cao’s **** is sitting under the position of the general, not the governor of Youzhou, the general who joined the army.

  『Those who violate the law because of committing crimes, exploiting local governments, neglecting government affairs, and neglecting the great grace of the emperor...』 Cao Cao said in a low voice, "You are looking for your own death, and there is no excuse for the crime!" 』

   Although Cao Cao's voice was low, it sounded like a thunderbolt to the ears of Zu Wu and the rest of the people.

  Because just before Cao Cao met them, he had just beheaded a few Jizhou nobles in the downtown area, and the charge was to sow discord and cause trouble.

  『How dare Xiao Ke not do his best, assist the general with all his heart, and be loyal to the emperor until death...』

  Zu Wu remembered what he said at the time.

   Afterwards, everyone followed suit in disorder and bowed down to Cao Cao.

   At that time, Zu Wu felt that Cao Cao's eyes fell on his head, body and tail through a group of pouting tails.

  Zu Wu still seems to be able to recall that feeling...

  Zu Wu laughed, and then his face gradually became grim, "Prime Minister Cao, General Cao... Really, what a good way... The tea is cold before this man leaves?" 』

  (end of this chapter)