The Collection of The End

——AD 181——

Jinan, the side hall of the Prime Minister's Office.

Cao Cao was entertaining an uninvited guest in the hall. He claimed to be a friend of the Xun family, and he was probably a counselor who acted like a dramatist.

The first question he asked before was: "Master Cao really intends to talk to Xiaosheng here?"

Although this sentence can be easily understood as "It's very noisy here, please find another quiet place." But it can also be understood more deeply as "What I want to discuss with you is not suitable for people in crowded places." Say it."

So, Cao Cao led Xi Zhicai and Zhang Jue to a side hall away from the banquet hall, asked the servants to finish cleaning, served fruits, vegetables and tea, and then stepped back far away, and then asked him for advice again.

"Master Cao has answered the question about Mr. Zhang's attitude towards Zhang, so we can study the next question," Xi Zhicai said: "What does Mr. Cao think of the 'Taiping Dao'?"

"Be kind to others, but have principles. Although you are suppressed by the court at this time, you must have a backup plan. Just like the saying, 'A rabbit will bite when it is anxious.'" Cao Cao replied.

"It's roughly as Mr. Cao said," Xi Zhicai nodded: "Then, if someone whose status is at least as high as Zhang's is going to be detrimental to Zhang's, how should Mr. Cao respond?"

Let’s not talk about how to deal with it, but Zhicai’s “strategist characteristics” are quite awkward in this play. He could clearly explain as soon as he came, “He got news that a senior executive from Taiping Dao was dissatisfied with Zhang Jue’s random changes to the effect of the talisman and came to him.” "Trouble, please make a decision early", but he used a series of "what ifs" to express this information, and in the process deliberately strengthened the sense of crisis, as if Jinan was about to be destroyed.

"Looking on the bright side, at least he is smart enough and has expressed his intention to help." said the "substitute".

"As I said before, everything Zhang Jue did was to help me, Cao Mengde, so no matter what kind of trouble, I will take care of it," Cao Cao responded to Xi Zhicai: "But Mr. Xi came here specially, and he will never Even if it is just a warning and there is no response, please make it clear."

"Xiaosheng once heard that although Taiping Dao was denounced as the 'source' by the imperial court during the Sili plague, its Taoist disciples still tried their best to treat those suffering from the plague during this period. Does this prove that they have no respect for officials from various places, but care about them? The language of the common people?" Xi Zhicai said.

"Oh..." Cao Cao had some realization: "So, I need to accumulate fame among the people of Jinan as soon as possible, so that the 'high-level officials of Taiping Road' will pay more attention to my opinions."

"In addition, it is rumored that Taiping Taoist ancestors also had many 'immortal arts' that transformed talisman water into various other functions. Why didn't his Taoist disciples have any opinions? Xiaosheng guessed that it was not because of his status as 'Taoist ancestor'." Xi Zhi Only this time he looked at Zhang Jue.

"This..." Zhang Jue seemed to be used to Xi Zhicai's way of speaking, and responded: "I should show the purpose of this 'reform' and prove to myself that it is not for my own selfishness?"

"That's right," Xi Zhicai handed over to Cao Cao: "I think Mr. Cao, who can manage Dunqiu in an orderly manner, can find a way to get the best of both worlds in Jinan."

This strategy... Of course, Cao Cao looked at Zhang Jue: "Zhang can go home and rest today. He doesn't have to go to the military camp or the prime minister's office tomorrow. He can just report to everyone in Cai."

"I accept the order." Zhang Jue was not familiar with Cai Wan and felt that the order was a bit abrupt, but he still complied.

"Very good, very good," Xi Zhicai said with a smile: "I believe Mr. Cai, who has been praised by the people of Dunqiu, will be able to handle this matter well."

"This guy has known for a long time that Dunqiu was not our fault, and his previous compliments were simply a test?" The "substitute" said with dissatisfaction: "I really can't relax at all when talking to these smart people."

As if you were talking to him, Cao Cao glanced at the "substitute".

————

After Zhang Jue took the order and left, Xi Zhicai did not say goodbye. He just sat in the side hall and drank tea.

Cao Cao guessed that he might have something else to say,

In line with the idea of ​​"talk less and listen more when talking to smart people", he didn't take the initiative to speak except asking the servant to change some tea and snacks.

As for the guests outside, if necessary, the "substitute" will naturally show up to see him off. Except for Ang'er and Zhenji, probably no one can notice the difference between him and themselves.

"Haha, it's really interesting." After the "substitute" came and went a few times, he said to Cao Cao: "Before leaving, the chief steward of the country hinted that his master was also dissatisfied with the 'Ten Constant Attendants' and that everyone should get closer to each other. The county magistrate and county magistrate hope that we will not continue to target the ten permanent servants."

This... can be said to be what it should be. Cao Cao nodded slightly. As the leader of a feudal country and a clan member of the Han Dynasty, as long as Liu Kang did not launch an army to rebel, the Shichangshi really could not do anything to him, but the subordinates County officials did not have this confidence. Like Cao Cao, he was first sent to Dunqiu and then to Jinan, and they looked like they were being "assigned". If one of them did not cope well, they might be sent to Beihai with him.

Oh, that is the territory of the descendants of Confucius, so is it the Bohai Sea?

Cao Cao was drawing a straight line on the map in his mind when he saw Xi Zhicai put down his tea cup. He seemed to want to say something, so he sat upright.

"Lord," Xi Zhicai stood up and saluted and called.

Huh? !

"Mr. Xi - Oh, you don't have to be polite if you are a talented person." Although Cao Cao was startled, he still responded appropriately immediately, stood up and returned the courtesy and asked him to sit down.

"Wen Ruo told Xiaosheng that since the lord can win the favor of friends, he must not be a thing in the pool. At this time, the lord's subordinates are all weak-minded generals. If Xiaosheng comes, he will be reused," Xi Zhicai Another hand was handed over: "Xiao Sheng boldly conducted some tests on the Lord, please forgive me."

test? when? Could it be referring to Zhang Jue's incident? Cao Cao didn't know why, but he still made an expression like "It's all a trivial matter."

"Because of his actions of leaving you here!" On the contrary, the "substitute" thought of it first: "He wants to know who is more important between himself and the Shangguan envoy and a group of subordinates - ha! There is no way he can Think of my existence~"

"Zhicai, actually -" Cao Cao frowned and was about to tell the truth. After all, this matter can be concealed for a while, but it cannot be concealed for a lifetime, especially in front of smart people.

"My lord, there is no need to say it clearly," Xi Zhicai directly stopped him: "Even if my lord has some means of remote communication or reception, the fact that my lord doesn't care about the people over there at all cannot be disguised."

"...Tch, I just said I hate smart people." The "substitute" complained, turned around and left the side hall.

————

"So, what does the lord think of the current situation in Qingzhou and Jinan?" After clarifying the relationship, Xi Zhicai immediately turned to serious planning, obviously preparing to prove himself with an excellent strategy.

However, it is still the method of inducing questions.

"This place is fertile, and disasters and bandits are rare, so it has been regarded as a place of ennoblement by successive emperors," Cao Cao responded: "Due to the existence of many Liu clan princes, it is not difficult to make achievements, but great achievements But there won’t be, because it will make other princes’ leaders incompetent.”

"No," Xi Zhicai shook his head and said, "From Xiaosheng's point of view, the situation in Qingzhou is like a blind man riding a blind horse, approaching a deep pool in the middle of the night."

"You're in a crisis and you don't know it?" Cao Cao quickly recalled the situation in Qingzhou introduced by Cai Wan, but he didn't find anything wrong.

"If the lord doesn't want to hear what Xiaosheng wants to say next, he can directly tell Xiaosheng to shut up. Then Xiaosheng will not make any relevant suggestions before it actually happens." Xi Zhicai showed a slightly serious expression and spoke word by word. He suddenly said: "——This world will be in chaos within three years."

"Well," Cao Cao, who was not surprised by this conclusion, casually responded, but then found that it was not appropriate, so he added: "——Huh?"

"It's so fake." The "substitute" who happened to come back laughed.

"Haha——" Xi Zhicai looked very satisfied: "If the master hadn't expected this, Xiaosheng would have doubted Wen Ruo's vision."

"Can Zhicai teach me something?" Cao Cao asked.

Although he had anticipated this and was prepared to take advantage of the situation, Cao Cao was still unsure of how he would do it. Moreover, due to the presence of Shi Changshi and Wang Yue, the scale of this "rebellion" was also doubtful.

"In today's world, although the people can't live and work in peace and contentment, they are still far from being miserable. Therefore, if there is chaos, it must be because the imperial court has oppressed Taiping Road too much, and they have to rise up." Xi Zhicai said: "Of course, it may also be the north. Or the foreign tribes from the south took the opportunity to invade when the imperial court had just conquered the Western Qiang and needed to recuperate."

So that's why you gave up? Cao Cao nodded slightly but did not comment.

"This group of...'rebellious armies'," Xi Zhicai casually named him, "will definitely attack Sili and try to occupy Luoyang. However, the Han Dynasty has hundreds of years of foundation, which is enough to withstand this attack, and then the 'rebellious army' They have to spread out and occupy territory in order to confront the imperial court, and in the process, what kind of treatment will Qingzhou, the farthest and richest place from Luoyang, suffer?"

"This..." Cao Cao frowned, "Of course he is the first to bear the brunt."

"It's not disrespectful, but those feudal lords will definitely abandon the country with their soldiers and flee when the 'rebellion army' first arises, leaving all the 'rich' Qingzhou land to the 'rebellion army'. By then, my lord How should we deal with other county chiefs who do not have the power to build an army?"

"Of course the old code will be released after closing the door, and Benchu ​​will be released as well." The "substitute" said with a smile.

"Please Zhicai teach me." Cao Cao handed over to Xi Zhicai.

"It's very simple," Xi Zhicai said: "Through Zhang Jue's good relationship with Taiping Dao, they will not immediately want to occupy Qingzhou when they rise up, and the lord will secretly train soldiers before that, and then directly control Qingzhou The entire territory, and controlled Yuzhou and Xuzhou respectively with the influence of the Yuan family and Cai family, Jizhou and Yanzhou can be left to Taiping Road to attack Sili, but they are not allowed to enter the lord's territory. Let's wait and see. The Lord must not be given the position of 'provincial governor'."

Xi Zhicai paused and seemed to realize that there was no question in these words, so he added: "Isn't it beautiful?"

The "substitute" hammered the table and laughed.