Section 15 Resignation

Cao Pi left the palace and went to the Xun family to meet Xun Yu, who was idle at home. As soon as he entered the door, he was still ten or so away from Xun Yu's study room and heard Zhang Zhao's angry voice: "How can those who read a few words and those who know two words can be called scholars? Xiangyang College and Chang'an College who have just read some filial piety and the Analects of Confucius also call scholars? Isn't this a contempt for scholars in the world? Isn't it that I dare to talk about the meaning of the saints' scriptures, know a little about the sentences, but do not know the subtle meanings, and the profound meanings, how can I fight against the enemy? Those who have studied the classics of saints for many years have gone through the scriptures, only know how to search for chapters and pick up sentences, but don't come out to be officials, but let those who only recognize some words come out to be officials. How can this be done? If I give it to these people, how can I bring peace to all ages? Let the lord, have you realized such a thing in Xiangyang for a few years? I am so disappointed with you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the study door clattered, and Zhang Zhao slammed out with anger. As soon as he saw Cao Pi, he snorted, bowed his hand in a hurry and left. Before Cao Pi had time to return the salute, he had already arrived outside the door. Cao Pi stood in the courtyard awkwardly, looking at Zhang Zhao's angry back and puzzled. Xun Yu walked out of the room, looked at Cao Pi with a calm and peaceful expression and smiled: "I don't know if the general is coming to the humble house, he will be welcome. Please, General Hai Han."

Cao Pi blushed and said repeatedly: "Lingjun, you don't have to be so humiliated by me. I am your junior. I can't make such jokes. If my father finds out, I will have to hit me fifty whips."

Xun Yu smiled and waved his hand and said, "Please come in. Zhang Zibu ran away before he had time to drink the fragrant tea that he had just made. Just come to you. Please come in quickly. Have you ever seen the emperor when he came to Xu County this time?"

Cao Pi smiled respectfully and said, "I have met the emperor and have been given the gift from the emperor. Not only did I agree to my request to send someone to the Xianbei envoy, but I also gave me an envoy to maintain justice, control the troops and horses of Liaodong, and be responsible for all the affairs of the relevant vassal states."

"Is it a good thing to keep the chastity?" Xun Yu smiled in surprise: "It's a great congratulations. Is the war in Liaodong still going well? The weather is so cold, can there be wars in Liaodong?"

"It's thanks to the fact that all the materials have been prepared well. Even if I can't make a deal this year, there will be no problem after the spring next year." Cao Pi smiled a little proudly and said, "What's wrong with Mr. Zhang? Why is such a good-tempered person so angry?"

Xun Yu smiled disapprovingly: "This is pretty good. A few days ago, he wanted to smash my study room. He pointed at my nose and scolded me for being a disaster for the country and the people, and wanted to ruin the country and the country that had been in power for four hundred years. It is already polite to just slam the door like today. Good temper? Do you only know that Mr. Zhang has a good temper, but don't know that Long also has a reverse scale? The foundation of governing the country, the meaning of the sage, is his reverse scale."

Cao Pi was very surprised. He looked at Xun Yu in surprise, picked up the green fragrant tea on the desk and asked for a while, "I wonder if Lingjun can tell you what kind of words made Mr. Zhang so lose his composure?"

Xun Yu glanced at Cao Pi, raised a smile on the corner of his mouth, turned his fingers into a teacup and was silent for a while, and grinned: "Zihuan, do you really don't know? The ninth-rank official law you proposed has now become a disaster among the officials of Xu County, but you, the initiator, are at ease?"

When Cao Pi mentioned the Ninth-rank official law, he remembered that he had just been concerned about ceremonializing the emperor, but actually forgot the great event of the Ninth-rank official law. He slapped his head and said, "Oh, I just focused on reporting the war in Liaodong to the emperor, but I actually forgot about this matter. I went to see the emperor as soon as I arrived in Xu County. I really don't know what all officials think of the Ninth-rank official law. Can you tell me one or two?"

Xun Yu smiled with a sneer: "I don't like these ninth-rank official law. It is inevitable that I will be a bit extreme when I say it. If you want to listen to the opinion, it is better to go to the court meeting tomorrow. I heard that the theme of the emperor's tomorrow's court meeting is you, the ninth-rank official law. I will go there at that time. You can understand it and understand the opinions of both parties."

Cao Pi was surprised to see Xun Yu not have any interest in telling him the law of the ninth rank official. In his opinion, the ninth rank official law has too many benefits for a large family like the Xun family, and it is impossible to see it with Xun Yu's eyes. Moreover, the ninth rank official law has obvious advantages compared to previous local reviews, so it is not harmful to Xun Yu in public or private ways. Of course, Cao Pi could also understand Xun Yu's position. After all, he is Cao Chong's father-in-law, and Cao Chong basically has no great Confucian family under his command. The ninth rank official law is not good for Cao Chong. But it is probably not easy for Xun Yu to oppose it. Not only should he face a Confucian family like Zhang Zhao, but he also has to face the internal struggles of the Xun family. Xun You, another pillar of the Xun family, has not expressed his opinions yet, which is enough to explain the problem.

Without any speculation, Cao Pi and Xun Yu talked a few words, learned about the situation in Xiangyang, said goodbye and went out to see Cao Qiu. Cao Qiu had nothing to say to him, and said a few words about family matters. Cao Pi went out and settled down at Cao Zhen's house, preparing to attend the court meeting the next day.

In the evening, Cao Pi charred and only brought Wang Shuang and twenty guards to Sun Quan's door. Sun Quan's home was in the deepest part of a remote alley. The long alley was deep and quiet, and the simple door was spotless, which was very consistent with the identity and status of Sun Quan, a loser. When he heard that Cao Pi was visiting, Sun Quan was shocked. He thought Cao Pi was just making fun of him, but he didn't know that Cao Pi was actually here. He was a little unprepared for a while, and after a little panic, he really came out with a broom.

Cao Pi laughed loudly, seized the broom from Sun Quan's hand and threw it aside, and said with a smile: "Since I have come to your mansion, I won't call each other's official positions. You are five years older than me, I will call you brother. Brother, we are a family, do we need to be so arrogant? When outsiders heard this, they thought that Cao Pi was bullying you by relying on others."

Sun Quan was nervous and didn't know what Cao Pi was coming. He carried the broom out, of course, to fully express his humility. Seeing that Cao Pi was so familiar, he couldn't force him anymore. He quickly smiled and invited Cao Pi in, called Mrs. Xu out to pay homage to Cao Pi, prepared wine, food and snacks, and everything was prepared at the highest level.

Cao Pi looked at the decorations in Sun Quan's house, shook his head and said, "My Han Dynasty has paid a full salary in the past two years. You are the only one with two thousand stones. How could it be so simple?"

Sun Quan smiled faintly. He had returned to peace in a short time: "Although I have a lot of official salary, I have too many people in my family. I spend a lot of money. I often have trouble making ends meet, so I can only be simplified because of the simplicity."

Cao Pi blinked, and there was a trace of distrust in his eyes. He glanced at Mrs. Xu who was sitting quietly behind Sun Quan, but unexpectedly found that Mrs. Xu's face was made of very valuable fallen forest powder. The fallen forest powder can be worth about 3,000 yuan per cake. At the current price of 50 yuan per stone, it is equivalent to the price of 60 stones. Sun Quan's monthly salary is 120 stones. According to court practice, giving millet sixty stones and the other half is cash, which is equivalent to about 3,000 yuan. Since Sun Quan was so embarrassed, would he use a month's pocket money to buy fallen forest powder for Mrs. Xu? Even if he prefers Mrs. Xu, he would not be so generous.

Cao Pi laughed twice: "Brother, you are so frugal. I'm afraid that this fallen forest fan can only use it occasionally."

Sun Quan's expression stopped and subconsciously wanted to look back at Mrs. Xu, but he held it back. He laughed, and his laughter was a little unnatural: "Shame, the only thing that women like is the only thing that falls into the forest, so I can only do it."

Cao Pi narrowed his eyes and looked at Sun Quan quietly. Sun Quan felt his pressure, as if he was sitting on pins and needles. He wanted to kick Cao Pi out, but he wanted to slap himself. He just came. He had already given him a face with a broom. Why did he add to his snails and pull Xu out to see him? He saw the flaws now. Isn't it so unlucky?

He thought about it and said embarrassedly: "Although my salary is not much, Your Majesty also rewarded me with a marquis of Tinghou. The taxes of a thousand households can barely buy some slaughter of the forest. In addition, my hometown Wujun is very popular in business. The servants often do some business subsidies, and the business of slaughter of the forest is also often done."

Cao Pi smiled and stopped asking: "This is Cang Shu's fault. You are his foreign relatives, how can you be so wronged? I must talk about him when I see him in a few days. No matter what, you have to increase your fief. You can't use some of the wife of Lord Zhi Jinwu to save money. Besides, these Jingyi's merchants are too dark. Such a small piece of the scattered powder is actually sold for 3,000 yuan, which is equivalent to the annual expenses of a household. He says that he wants to benefit the people every day. Is that what he does?"

Sun Quan smiled a little embarrassedly, but he didn't agree. He wouldn't be stupid enough to believe Cao Pi's words. He smiled faintly: "Thank you, General, General Cheqi has his difficulties, so why bother him about this little thing? I wonder if the general came so late, but what should I give me advice?"

Cao Pi nodded and followed the topic. He thought for a while and said, "I'm not hiding it from my brother-in-law. When I was conquering Liaodong, I sent Governor Zang and Governor Sun to attack Liaodong County by sea, but met pirates on Sanshan Island. I heard that these people were quite organized in wars, fierce and tenacious, and there were Mengchong Dou ships, as if there were tower ships. Not only that, I heard Cangshu say that similar pirates were also found in Zhuya County, Jiaozhou. The merchants who robbed the passing merchants, and even the 10,000 elite soldiers under Zhang Ren could not do anything to them. I felt a little strange. When did so many pirates appear around my great man? I would like to ask Brother-in-law, where did your Jiangdong Navy go? Will some of them go into the sea and become pirates?"

Sun Quan did not answer him immediately, but just sat quietly, as if wondering whether there were defeated soldiers who became pirates. Cao Pi continued: "Cang Shu got angry after receiving Zhang Ren's report, and felt very embarrassed. He wanted to transfer the navy to wipe them out, and appointed Zhou Yu and Lu Su as the chief and deputy governors of the navy, and replace Cai Degui and Yan Junrong. Not only that, he also equipped them with a new sea ship jointly developed by Xiangyang Institute of Technology and Chang'an Institute of Technology. It is said that entering the sea is like walking on flat ground, which is very powerful."

Sun Quan's eyes twitched twice and said slowly: "It is not impossible to say that some of the navy members fled into the sea and became pirates. However, I was surrounded by Cang Shu in Wu County at that time, and the navy had cut off the news. Later, I had no right to ask about the surrendered soldiers. Therefore, I don't know whether these people were old subordinates in Jiangdong."

Cao Pi nodded, looking very sympathetic.

Sun Quan glanced at him and continued, "But if they were really old subordinates in Jiangdong, they might be able to give me some face. I am willing to write a letter to the general, and the general will send someone to contact them, and maybe they can surrender to the court."

Cao Pi stared at Sun Quan for a moment, and Sun Quan looked calm and didn't look nervous at all. Cao Pi smiled. Even if those people were old subordinates in Jiangdong, he had no evidence that they were related to Sun Quan. Sun Quan could completely push them completely. Besides, his purpose was not to deal with Sun Quan, but he just wanted to understand some situation through Sun Quan. Now that Sun Quan was willing to help him subdue the pirates, he was already overjoyed. The pirates robbed the baggage and killed Sun Guan, who was famous for his fighting spirit, must have good combat power. If he subdued these people, he could not only retrieve the baggage, but also produce more soldiers with strong water fighting ability to make up for the losses of the Qingxu Water Division and enhance combat power. Why not do it?

Thinking of this, Cao Pi smiled and bowed and said, "I am so grateful." He waved his hand and the two guards carried a large box from the carriage and placed it in front of Sun Quan. Cao Pi smiled and said, "I don't have any respect, so I'll give it to my brother to buy more fallen forest powder for my wife."

Sun Quan thanked him repeatedly, but he did not open the box. Cao Pi did not take out the box from the beginning, but took it out now. Obviously, it was not a sincere gift, but a temporary reward. It must be extremely limited and not worth making a fuss. He asked someone to take out the pen and ink, wrote a letter and handed it to Cao Pi after reading it. He put it in an envelope and handed it to Cao Pi with both hands.

Cao Pi received the letter, chatted for a few more gossips, then stood up and said goodbye. Sun Quan sent him out of the door, looked at Cao Pi's carriage ripped away, then stopped smiling and returned to the house. In the house, Mrs. Xu was stunned at the opened box. Sun Quan glanced at her with a funny look, and walked to the box and smiled, "It's really a woman's opinion. Have you seen many things? That's it..." When he saw the things in the box, he stopped suddenly and almost bit his tongue. In the box, there were mostly five zhu coins of five zhu coins, and there were twenty ingots of lin-toe gold on it. Together, this box costs three million yuan.

Three million is not a lot, but this box was not given by Cao Pi on purpose, but it was just rewarded casually. This box of money may be the pocket money he brought with him to reward people. At one point, it would be three million. This is the rich man.

Sun Quan was stunned for a moment when he looked at Qian, but he didn't feel happy at all. Instead, he sneered a little lonely: "My life is really bad. If Cang Shu died of illness that year, how could this prodigal son be my opponent?"

Cao Pi went to the court meeting the next day. The main topic of the court meeting was the ninth-rank official law that Cao Pi submitted to establish. However, the discussion was not as lively as Xun Yu said. Perhaps it was because most of the people who could stand in the court were aristocratic families and great scholars, while those who opposed the ninth-rank official law were from poor families. Many of them had low official positions, and even some minor officials were white. They had no chance to stand in the court to speak, so what Cao Pi saw was a one-sided situation.

Only Xun Yu and Liu Xian were loudly opposing the passage of the Ninth-rank official law, while Zhang Zhao, led by the Prince's Young Tutor, all quoted the classics to refute them. As for Zongzheng and Liu Zhang, they belong to the neutral faction. Although they are currently on Cao Chong's side, their family background makes them tend to be the Ninth-rank official law. Of course, his knowledge is obviously not enough to discuss state affairs with these people, so he just listened quietly. He would look at whoever he spoke, looking a little dumb.

However, Xun Yu's combat power is obviously the super strong one, and Liu Xian is not an ordinary person. Although their number is obviously inferior, everyone knows that behind them is Cao Chong, the general who just settled Xiliang, who just defeated Xiliang. Looking back, there is the general who killed people without blinking. The only one in the Han Dynasty who was still alive and lively, Cao Cao, the king of Cao in the Han Dynasty. Besides, these court officials were able to receive full salary, and most of them were still affected by the new policy of Xiangyang. It was a bit lacking in confidence to criticize Xiangyang's new policy. Therefore, although Xun Yu and Liu Xian were at a disadvantage, they were not defeated. Everyone was so quarreled that they were red and parted in disagreement.

The battle was mainly concentrated between Xun Yu and Zhang Zhao. They had already discussed it in private many times and knew each other well. This time they just took out what they said in Xun Yu's study and said it again in front of all officials, and the emperor and all officials made a judgment.

The emperor seemed to be frightened by their appearance. A ninth-rank official made so many gentlemen who were always gentle and gentle, which was beyond the emperor's expectations. He was even worried that the roof of the hall would be shaken down. Looking at Xun Yu and Zhang Zhao's verbal battles, he argued back and forth that the emperor could understand at first, but gradually he could not understand later. First, what they said was becoming more and more profound and more specific. Both of them had been doing it for a long time.

For those who practice management, who do not know much about government affairs, the huge number and old cases they said sounded dizzy and confused, and it seemed that they all made sense, but they didn't seem to make sense. In desperation, after a few words, the emperor hurriedly retreated and asked everyone to go back and express their opinions, write them in written opinion and give them to him to read slowly, and then make a decision after careful study.

Cao Pi was disappointed and was dissatisfied. He chased him to the harem to ask the emperor. The emperor was also a rogue. He spread his hands and said, "This matter is too big. I want to discuss it with the Prime Minister and General of the Cavalry before talking." Cao Pi suddenly felt angry. He could not refuse Cao Chong, but he dared not refuse Cao Cao. The emperor wanted to ask Cao Cao for instructions. He could not force the emperor too tightly, but instead seemed to be insecure."

At this moment, Cao Chong came to Xu County and brought Cao Cao a letter. This letter soon caused a huge commotion among the officials in Xu County. The commotion was so great that it soon drowned out the discussions of the Ninth-rank official law without a trace.

Cao Cao submitted a letter to the emperor and resigned from the position of General and Prime Minister, and asked the emperor to allow him to return to the Kingdom of Wuping to spend the rest of his life.

When the emperor saw this letter, he was stunned for a moment, and then a burst of ecstasy surged in his heart. He was so excited that he almost agreed, and then picked up the pen and wrote the word "ke". The old man who had bullied him for more than 20 years actually resigned himself. After resigning, he went back to his Wuping Kingdom. After two years of stable life, he died quickly. If he died, he would not have to feel as uncomfortable as if he was pricked on his back. Then he would cheer up and fight with these two little things, and regain the power that belonged to the emperor but had been occupied by him for more than 20 years.

The emperor's impulse was stopped by Wei Feng, who was standing behind him. Wei Feng saw the emperor's hand reaching to the brush resting on the inkstone, and Cao Chong knelt down and leaned on the ground. In desperation, he did not care about the courtesy of the king and his subjects, and kicked the emperor on the butt. In a hurry, he kicked so hard that he almost made the emperor scream. At this moment, Zhang Zhao also stretched out the broad and warm hand, pressing on his hand that had just stretched out half an inch, and shook his head at him. Although he didn't say a word, the expression in his eyes was warning the emperor, you can't play with fire.

Although the emperor was a little excited, he did not lose his mind. He knew that the two people who were most respectful were so anxious now that they would definitely not be aimless. He suppressed the excitement in his heart and the pain on his butt, retracted his hand that reached out to the brush, and smiled at Cao Chong: "My dear, get up quickly and let me see what a hero my young general is."

Cao Chong couldn't stand up, his voice full of fear and fear: "Your Majesty is so serious, I dare not take it."

The emperor laughed, pushed Cao Cao's face aside, got up and walked around the desk in front of him, and personally helped Cao Chong up. Although Cao Chong was a little surprised, he was not too excited. He took advantage of the situation and stood up straight and bowed again: "Thank you Your Majesty."

"My dear, why is this prime minister... like this? Hasn't his health always been good?" The emperor looked at Cao Chong with a smile and said sincerely: "Why did you suddenly leave me and your country? After leaving the prime minister, how can I govern such a big country?"

Cao Chong said respectfully: "Your Majesty, my father is over 60 years old. Although he is still healthy, he is not young after all. Prime Minister Wan Ji and General are all important officials of the country. He must not be idle for a moment. My father felt that he was not energetic and was afraid of delaying national affairs. Therefore, he asked Your Majesty to allow him to retire and enjoy his old age. I also hope that your Majesty will give him a request for 40 years and have a slight contribution to his father's request. My father is grateful, and I am also grateful to me."

The emperor looked at Cao Chong and smiled slightly, shook his head, stretched out his finger and pointed at his chest: "My dear, I remember the great achievements of the Prime Minister, and my people of the Han Dynasty are also remembered in my heart. The Prime Minister is well maintained, and although he is over 60 years old, he is still stronger. In ancient times, Lian Po is still able to eat in his seventies, and in recent years, he is still able to go to war again. The Prime Minister is only 62 years old. Why do you think about returning to the country and abandoning me? Do you think that my qualifications are mediocre and not enough to assist me?"

When Cao Chong heard this, he was shocked. The emperor said something, and his hat was too big. What does it mean to think that his qualifications are mediocre and not enough to assist him? It is equivalent to saying that the Cao family is going to be a throne. He hurriedly bowed to the ground and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister dare not be the one, and my Cao family dare not be the one. The Prime Minister is over 60 years old and has pastoral thoughts. He wants to return to his hometown with the title of royal rewarded by His Majesty. How dare you have other ideas? Please do not have other ideas, which delays a good story about the king and ministers getting to know each other."

The emperor's brow twitched slightly. Cao Chong's words sounded frightened, but the focus was on the last sentence. Is he threatening me? The emperor thought a little unhappily, what you listen to is the good story of the king and the ministers, but don't you?
Chapter completed!