Three Kingdoms

In Xuchang City.

Originally named Xuxian County, it was renamed Xuchang because of its hope in Hanchang.

Cao Cao sat on the canopy car and walked slowly along the long street in front of Beigong. The expression on his face was neither yin nor yang, making it impossible to detect his inner thoughts.

Cao Cao had just met Han Emperor Liu Xie.

The whole process is not necessarily very pleasant.

Liu Xie was dissatisfied that the government affairs he approved were all about people's livelihood matters. He wanted to know more and know more. He also did not want to stay in the palace every day, but wanted to go out of the palace and the city to see the common people of the Han Dynasty. Take a look at the surrounding counties...

If an ordinary family had such an enterprising son, most of the elders would be happy and cooperative. However, for Cao Cao, these wishes expressed by Liu Xie were not a good thing.

Perhaps, in Cao Cao's mind, future generations of otakus are the best candidates for emperor. Anyway, I just stay in the palace, order takeout when I have nothing to do, don’t go out the door, don’t take two steps, and the requirements are low, just the second dimension, I don’t like the third dimension...

"Stop!"

Cao Cao glanced at Dong Cheng, who was retreating humbly on the side of the street, and said, "Dong Junhou, where are you going?"

Dong Cheng didn't expect to bump into Cao Cao on the street, and when he wanted to avoid it, it was already too late. After all, Beigong Street was very smooth, and any slightly annoying movements were very obvious, so he had to get out of the car and avoid it on the side of the street. , hoping that Cao Cao wouldn't notice and just go straight there. I didn't expect that Cao Cao would let him go so easily and asked him directly.

"For the record, Duke Cao, this...I got some new pickled fish. They are delicious. I don't dare to keep them to myself, so I took them to present to Your Majesty..." Dong Cheng lowered his head and explained with his hands.

"Oh?" Cao Cao smiled, with small eyes, "Dong Junhou is so thoughtful, he is really a model for a courtier... Can I have a look at where the fish is located?"

"This... this is natural..." Of course Dong Cheng couldn't refuse, "Come here, show the lacquer box to Duke Cao for inspection." Pickled mackerel is pickled mackerel with salt. Mackerel is a small mackerel, and may have different names in different places. However, in the Han Dynasty, there was a word called the Year of Mackerel Back, so many people also believed that eating this fish can lead to longevity, which is a beautiful symbol.

Cao Cao stared at Dong Cheng for a while before looking away, and then slowly opened the lacquer box. Inside the lacquer box, on a layer of green salt, four mackerel fish were placed staggered.

Cao Cao stretched out his fingers and pressed on the fish, then plucked the salt on the bottom of the lacquer box, and asked casually, "I don't know, Mr. Dong, how did you get this fish?"

"I report to Duke Cao that I bought it in the market place..." Dong Cheng said with cupped hands, "Thanks to Duke Cao's good governance, all businesses are prosperous. Now there are a lot of goods in the market, which is really a blessing to the people... "

"Haha, this is your Majesty's great blessing, and you all are diligent," Cao Cao closed the lacquer box and said with a smile, "I dare not take credit... His Majesty is now in the Xuanming Palace... Dong Junhou can do what he wants..."

Dong Cheng hurriedly asked someone to take the lacquer box and thanked Cao Cao.

Cao Cao nodded slightly and then ordered to continue moving forward.

Dong Cheng bowed to see him off, and when Cao Cao and his party were far away, he took a long breath and said: "Let's go to see your majesty..."

After walking for a while, Cao Cao suddenly knocked on the guardrail of the canopy carriage. The guards on one side immediately approached. Cao Cao was heard whispering: "Go to the market to check if there are any new stains in the past few days." Mackerel for sale…”

The guards immediately took the order, broke away from the large army, and turned towards Dongshi.

Cao Ang, who was acting as the charioteer on the canopy chariot, couldn't help but ask: "Father, this is..."

Cao Cao glanced at Cao Ang. He didn't want to say anything at first, but he felt that this kind of thing still needed to be taught. The provincial Cao Ang didn't know how to deal with it in the future, so he finally said: "...I have an audience with Your Majesty today... His Majesty has spoken a lot about major events in Hebei and Henan." …”

Cao Ang was a little confused and couldn't react.

Cao Cao glanced at Cao Ang. Although he knew that Cao Ang hadn't figured it out yet, he neither continued to explain nor was in a hurry. He just sat upright with his eyes half-open and half-closed.

Cao Ang frowned, thinking while holding the reins of the horse pulling the cart. What is the connection between His Majesty's talk about Jizhou and Yuzhou and whether there are any newly arrived fish for sale in the market?

The sound of the car was approaching, and Cao Ang suddenly turned around excitedly. He was about to speak, but Cao Cao glared at him, and Cao Ang quickly swallowed his words.

The central gate of Cao's mansion opened wide, and Cao Cao's carriage and horses entered the front yard directly.

Cao Ang jumped out of the canopy car first and put the pedals on the vehicle on the ground. Cao Cao held on to the railing and got out of the car, walking toward the central hall, signaling Cao Ang to follow.

After arriving in the middle hall, the servant went into the copper basin with clear water, first cleaned his hands and face, and then served the tea soup. Cao Cao waved his hand for the servant to retreat, turned to Cao Ang and said, "I heard that you and Anmin are studying with Wen Ruo today. Is this possible?"

Cao Ang thought that Cao Cao would continue the topic just now, but he didn't expect that Cao Cao would suddenly change to this question. He couldn't help but be stunned for a moment before he answered: "This is exactly the case, sir. Mr. , everything that was confused in the study of classics was solved, and I actually benefited a lot."

Cao Cao nodded and said: "The study of Confucian classics is as vague as smoke and as vast as the sea. Even if you live, you will not be able to complete it... You must know the choice, which is the way to advance..."

Cao Ang blinked and said, "Well, I would like to be taught."

Cao Cao glanced at Cao Ang and knew that he might not understand, but just agreed first out of habit. However, Cao Cao did not want to expose or question him, so he said: "Your mother is in the back hall, please go and pay her respects... …”

Cao Ang was not born to Mrs. Ding, but she was brought up by Mrs. Ding. She was not her biological mother, but she was her biological mother. Therefore, after hearing Cao Cao's words, she also looked forward to it, so she stood up, bowed her hands, and then left for the back hall.

The sunlight outside the hall shone on Cao Ang's armor, shining brightly, just like the vitality of young people, always radiating out inadvertently.

Cao Cao looked at Cao Ang's retreating back, stroking his beard and keeping silent. After a while, he suddenly stopped laughing, then shook his head and sighed...

…………………………

"Your Majesty, Dong Cheng, bows to your Majesty!" Dong Cheng bowed to Liu Xie.

"Aiqing, please get up." Liu Xie stretched out his hand, gave a weak support, and then ordered, "Bring the brocade group and put it on Dong Aiqing's bed."

People in the Han Dynasty sat on their knees, so having a brocade cushion was always more comfortable than kneeling on a hard wooden board.

Liu Xie has now gradually grown. Between his eyebrows, the childishness is gradually disappearing, and the heroic spirit is gradually emerging, and he is quite energetic. It can be said that several emperors of the Han Dynasty were pretty good-looking. They were plump and plump, with bright eyebrows. It is natural when you think about it. After all, they have been optimized by natural genes for many years. Basically, they are still considered to be royal family members with some status. It's not completely impossible, but the probability is smaller after all.

Today's Liu Xie has a bit of the style of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty in his face and eyes, which makes Dong Cheng feel a little emotional...

Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty was also diligent for a period of time, but he didn't know whether it was because he found that laziness was more comfortable than diligence, or because he encountered a heavy blow on the way forward, or for some other reason. Anyway, he finally became Nothing is difficult in the world, as long as you are willing to give up...

I don’t know how long the person in front of me can advance on this thorny road...

"What?" Liu Xie saw that Dong Cheng seemed a little distracted and couldn't help but smile, "Dong Aiqing, what's the matter?"

"..." Dong Cheng came back to his senses, apologized quickly, and said, "When I saw your majesty, he was like the late emperor. I couldn't help but feel in a trance. I have lost my manners in front of the palace. I hope your majesty will forgive me..."

"It's okay." Liu Xie waved his hand and said, "Aiqing, you don't have to be so restrained. I wonder what Aiqing is carrying this time?"

"Today's thing is a product of the East China Sea..." Dong Cheng thanked Liu Xie, and then asked someone to present the lacquer box containing the pickled fish, and then told the origin of the pickled fish, and even gave it to Liu Xie Describes some scenery and geography of the East China Sea.

Dong Cheng presented his daughter to the palace, so from a certain point of view, Dong Cheng was still Liu Xie's elder, so there was some intimacy between the two, plus Dong Cheng took careful care of Liu Xie Naturally, the two of them talked happily, and the atmosphere in the hall was harmonious for a while.

"I never thought that the world is so big, that even this fish is so particular..." Liu Xie looked at the mackerel in the lacquer box, imagining what Dong Cheng said about the fish swimming upstream when they reproduced, and he couldn't help but feel a little bit... Feeling.

"Your Majesty..." Dong Cheng looked at Liu Xie, cupped his hands and said, "This fish is swimming upstream. Although it knows it is difficult, it has no intention of retreating. This is because everyone competes to get it, and it dies due to laziness..."

Liu Xie gradually stopped smiling, and then nodded slowly.

Dong Cheng also nodded, smiled, and said goodbye.

Liu Xie went down to the main hall and asked someone to carry the lacquer box and walk to the harem.

Xiao Huangmen bent down and asked: "Your Majesty... I wonder where your Majesty wants to go? I can make arrangements for you..."

Liu Xie kept walking and said, "Go to the queen's place."

"Wei..." Xiaohuangmen quickly retreated, and then an attendant shouted loudly, "Your Majesty, please come to Kunning Palace!"

The queen is still Fu Shou. Although there have been many newcomers to the palace in the past two years, Liu Xie still has some feelings about a couple in need for Fu Shou who has followed him step by step through hardships.

Fu Shou got the news and quickly came out of the gate of Kunning Hall to greet Liu Xie.

Liu Xie was convinced and took her hand into the hall. After the two sat down, he asked someone to fetch the lacquer box presented by Dong Chengjin and place it on the table.

Liu Xie looked at Fu Shou, who understood, raised his eyes, looked around, and ordered: "Everyone, please go down. Your Majesty is tired and needs to rest for a while..."

"Your Majesty..." Fu Shou said in a low voice when he saw the maids and eunuchs retreating, "These are old people who have been with us for many years... there should be no problem..."

Liu Xie sighed, stood up, and took the lacquer box in his hand, "...it never hurts to be careful..."

"..." Fu Shou was silent and did not refute. He helped Liu Xie open the lacquer box, and then fiddled with the fish and salt. He found nothing unusual and couldn't help but look up at Liu Xie in confusion.

Liu Xie was also a little confused. He frowned and thought about Dong Cheng's words again. Suddenly he felt enlightened. He took out the lid of the lacquer box that had been placed aside, turned it over and looked at it carefully, groping for the inside of the lacquer lid. Brocade, and then his face lit up...

Fu Shou quickly took out the sewing box, opened the brocade stitches, took out a stack of silk and handed it to Liu Xie, then used the needle and thread to sew the brocade back on while looking at the man who was reading the silk. Liu Xie.

"Rebel!" Liu Xie's face turned livid, even a little twisted, "You traitor, you are so eager to kill me as a great man!"

"Your Majesty!" Fu Shou said quickly, and then looked around.

Liu Xue agreed, took a few breaths, closed his eyes, and handed the silk to Fu Shou.

Fu Shou took it and looked it up and down, and couldn't help but exclaim softly. It turned out that on the silk, there were some recent changes in the world written on it. Among them, the one that concerned Liu Xie and his wife the most was Yuan Shao's visit to Jizhou. It’s time to change the virtue of water...

Liu Xie was in the palace and had no news. He mentioned this matter to Cao Cao several times. Cao Cao either tried to shirk the blame or did something trivial to fool him. After several times, Liu Xie wanted to get some information from the outside world. Really important things are not easy, so after a few times like this, Liu Xie stopped negotiating with Cao Cao. Instead, he secretly entrusted some relatively reliable ministers to collect updates, such as Dong Cheng, and then secretly If he is sent in, he will not be completely blinded by Cao Cao.

"What a great Shui De!" Liu Xie couldn't hold himself back any longer. He stood up and walked around the hall with his hands behind his back. He was obviously very angry.

"I..." Liu Xie stopped and said quietly, "I originally thought that Cao Mengde was loyal to the country and could be entrusted with great things. But now it seems... alas... Yuan Thief must have known about the change of Shui De. But not a single word has been reported to me! Does he want to hide it, does he want to deceive him? His heart can be punished!"

"Your Majesty..." Fu Shou tried to comfort him, "Maybe this matter was too disobedient and unethical, so I didn't report it..."

Liu Xie shook his head and said: "Cao Mengde has been friends with Yuan Thief since he was a child..."

"Since I came to the throne..." Liu Xie lowered his voice and said slowly, "Study scriptures diligently and inquire about government affairs. Even if I have no food and clothing, I dare not relax for a moment, for fear of missing the outline of the Han Dynasty... But, but ! No way, no way..." Liu Xie looked up at the sky, grievance and anger intertwined, and couldn't help but murmur in his heart: "Father, I have worked so hard, why do these subjects still not recognize me and still oppose me? I...why, why..."

Liu Xie raised his head for a long time, but no one gave him an answer. Finally, he lowered his head and turned his anger into a deep sigh...