Three Kingdoms

Northland, Pingyang.

Guo Jia stared at the two servants with bright eyes, carrying an iron plate with a diameter of more than two feet supported by wooden boards. On the plate was a huge piece of steak with a strong smell of heat and meat. In addition, there was another person lying beside the plate. The two eggs were only fried on one side and were still half-cooked. Put the plate on the table, then pick up the prepared rice wine and pour it over. Suddenly a mist started to billow, and there was also a jumping and burning sound of "呲拉呲拉".

Guo Jia twitched his index finger and praised: "This Hu Zhi is really delicious!" 』

With the knife in his left hand and the chopsticks in his right hand, the blade of the knife was gently scratched, and the slightly burnt surface of the large piece of beef immediately split open from left to right, revealing the bright red, tender and perfect meat inside.

Many people in later generations thought that knives and forks were Western dining utensils and regarded them as foreign. However, they did not know that in the New Era, knives and forks used by Chinese people were found at the Hemudu site.

During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the Chinese combined spoons and knives to form a "dagger" with a concave center and sharp edges. In later generations, the dead mother is called "妦", which actually represents the mother who cooks. A woman wields two "daggers" for cooking. She chops meat and fish when she is happy, and she also chops her husband and bears when she is angry. child.

In the Han Dynasty, due to the skillful use of copperware, knives and forks became smaller and even decorated with certain patterns...

Guo Jia didn't seem to care that the outside of the beef was still hot. He eagerly picked up the cut beef and put it into his mouth. As soon as he chewed it, he felt the delicious juice and hot oil contained in the beef burst out instantly. This fat taste seems to melt all the taste buds on the tongue...

Xun Chen looked at Guo Jia who was intoxicated with delicious food, smiled slightly, and then waited for Guo Jia to pause for a while, raised the wine baron and said: "Good materials should be accompanied by good wine, and even better." drink……"

Guo Jia pretended that he did not understand the meaning of Xun Chen's words, and just regarded them as words to persuade him to drink. He chuckled, put down the knife and chopsticks in his hands, picked up the wine cup, and saluted Xun Chen with a gurgle. Take a big sip, and then you can't help but stretch your neck, so that the wine can slide into your stomach more smoothly and mix with the delicious meat.

The wine and oil stains stained Guo Jia's beard, making it look a little shiny and sloppy, but Guo Jia didn't care and didn't even bother to wipe it off. He put down the wine and started eating the second piece, the third piece...

Xun Chen neither frowned nor chuckled. He still just asked Guo Jiadao gently: "Do you need another treatment to serve as a filial piety?" 』

Guo Jia shook his head, swallowed the meat in his mouth, and then raised his head and said: "You are drunk with wine, and you are full with virtue. A gentleman for ten thousand years, I will introduce you to Jingfu..."

Xun Chen also smiled and said, "Sheng Yin!" ” But he sighed in his heart, this Guo Jia and Guo Fengxiao!

After Guo Jia went to Taiyuan, he felt that he had been tricked by Fei Qian. I became passive and slacked off at work, and stayed in Pingyang, claiming that I was unwell or something, and couldn't move anymore.

And after hearing about Fei Qian's actions in lurking in Chang'an, Guo Jia didn't want to go to Chang'an to wade into the muddy waters, so he just thought of relaxing in Pingyang in the north, so he wrote Fei Qian a letter saying that he had a headache, leg pain, and arm pain. I expressed my discomfort in the letter in an extremely perfunctory way, and then I started eating and drinking in Pingyang every day with peace of mind.

According to the national law, cattle are not allowed to be slaughtered at will. The meat must be eaten after the cattle die of illness or old age. Therefore, even if there are many wealthy people at the banquet, such as Guo Jia, it is difficult to eat them in ordinary times in Xu County. beef.

Now that we live in the north, we are naturally close to water and terraces. Can the cattle of the Hu people be regarded as farming cattle?

Of course not!

So since they are not farm cattle, they can be slaughtered directly. The fresh and tender parts of the meat are cut off, marinated a little, and then fried and eaten. What you want is freshness and tenderness.

In Xu County, meat is mostly roasted and boiled, while in Pingyang in the north, it is fried on copper plates...

It can only be said that the Hussars General is too incompetent.

Really, inhumane.

After all, these days, copper is almost equivalent to money, which is probably similar to the feeling of using gold and silver to make tableware in later generations...

People in the Han Dynasty had no taboo about eating medium-rare or even medium-rare beef, because the nobles themselves even pursued eating raw meat, not to mention raw fish, which was a delicacy along the coast. What a guy, even the pork belly at the festival is mostly half-lived, so everyone still eats it.

At the Hongmen Banquet in the early Han Dynasty, Xiang Yu ordered a live pig to be given to Fan Kuai. Fan Erha cut it off and ate it without saying anything. Later generations thought it was Xiang Yu who was making things difficult for him. In fact, it seems that he did not mean to make things difficult for him, but really appreciated it. Fan Erha.

Of course, when Xun Chen hosted a banquet for Guo Jia, he would not invite Guo Jia alone. After all, Guo Jia still belonged to Cao Cao's side, similar to a prisoner, but he only enjoyed some preferential treatment, so there were some officials from the north at the same table.

For example, Xinpi, who was newly transferred to the North, felt that the beef was a little raw, but it was just a little bit. After heating it for a while, it was almost medium rare, and he was satisfied.

Guo Jia was not averse to raw or cold beef, and even felt that the rawer the beef, the more tender it became. He ate the first piece medium-rare, and then asked for it to be rarer. He ate it until he was shaking his head, almost eating all his tongue, and he seemed speechless. .

Most people either have a shallow appetite, or they don't dare to show too much greed in front of their boss Xun Chen, so they don't eat much. Xin Pi even said that he couldn't eat all meat and asked for some vegetarian dishes, which he said was okay. Warn yourself to be cautious and upright.

As the master, Xun Chen naturally agreed to the request with a smile.

Only Guo Jia seemed to be reincarnated from starvation, eating two pieces in a row. After the third piece, he burped loudly, indicating that he was really satisfied and full. You know, the beef that is cut and served is not the kind of steak restaurant in later generations that has a foreign name and sells it as thin as paper to deceive Chinese customers. Instead, each piece is really more than two fingers thick, at least. Palm-sized chunks of beef!

Seeing Guo Jia put down his knife and chopsticks, someone in the hall laughed and said: "In the early days of Yanyu, there is a lot of uncultivated land. Brother Guo has such an appetite, I am afraid that even Sikong will not be able to provide for it. What can I do..."

In the past few days, Guo Jia, relying on his special status, has actually caused some trouble to the officials in Pingyang, so he was naturally a little dissatisfied. Seeing Guo Jia's lazy attitude, he couldn't help but taunt him.

Guo Jia glanced at it slightly, then smiled and said: "Of course!" If there had been such meat in the past, the emperor would not have received the bones! ” Guo Jia was definitely not a fuel-efficient lamp, so he just blocked it with one sentence.

Xun Chen squinted his eyes, glanced at the official who had just spoken, and said: "Time changes and trends change, just like water flowing from the east." Chen wanted to stay in Fengxiao and stay in Pingyang for a long time, but the Lord had a call..."

"ah? ” Guo Jia’s originally slightly proud face suddenly became stiff.

Xun Chen smiled. Otherwise, what would I specifically ask you to do? Naturally, it was treated as a farewell party.

In fact, Xun Chen doesn't dislike Guo Jia. After all, Guo Jia and Xun Yu are on good terms. This time he came to Pingyang, it can be regarded as bringing some information about his hometown to Xun Chen, so that Xun Chen, who has been wandering outside for a long time, can hear some news about Ying. The changes in Sichuan were already very rare in the Han Dynasty.

But for Guo Jia, he hasn’t had enough time in Binh Duong...

It's not because of eating, uh, it's not all about eating, but Guo Jia discovered some secrets of Fei Qian in Pingyang. He felt that he hadn't fully understood it yet, and he still wanted to stay a few more days.

In the Han Dynasty, many people would never hear the local accent again from the moment they walked out of their homes. Therefore, from the people in Guizhou to the descendants of the gentry, no one is willing to stay away from their homeland, which has obviously become a common mentality.

During these days, Guo Jia was observing in Pingyang and discovered that this was indeed a problem that he had never considered.

In the Han Dynasty, there was only one type of person who traveled around the world, even traveling all year round.

That's the businessman.

The previous wars in Yanzhou, Yuzhou, and the Jianghuai area turned many areas into battlefields, and a large number of people migrated and dispersed. Especially in the chaos, a large number of people fled to the relatively stable Northland and Guanzhong areas.

As a result, in Yanzhou, Yuzhou and those areas affected by the war, the demand for goods naturally created many vacancies, and the characteristic of businessmen themselves is to pursue profits. Perhaps it is human instinct to be afraid of war, but this will not cause it. Rejecting profits, when the war stopped for a while, there were businessmen focusing on the profits. Merchants and caravans of large and small businesses were busy transporting materials and making a lot of money.

As a result, Yanzhou and Yuzhou, which were supposed to restore production facilities, were not so anxious to restore production equipment when there were relatively goods that could meet their needs. As a result, the handicrafts and some workshops in Yanzhou and Yuzhou areas , the speed of post-disaster reconstruction is very slow.

And hidden underneath, workshops all over Feiqian are booming, producing various utensils day and night, and then large and small cars are sent to various places for sale...

Living utensils, weapons and armor, it seems that all the products on the market can be produced in workshops in Pingyang North, and Guo Jia can often see war horses and fine steel that are difficult to buy on the market.

The more he watched, the greater the gap Guo Jia felt.

Cao Sikong and Fei Qiaoqi seemed to be in two different stages.

The lower level of Guizhou, the middle level of the gentry, and the upper level of officialdom. During this period of time, Guo Jia saw all kinds of new things, the introduction of new policies, and the collection of various voices and messages, which made Guo Jia feel a little confused.

Could it be that what I have always insisted on is actually a mistake?

Are your own ideas already behind the times?

Correspondingly, my original belief that Cao Cao's side would eventually win gradually collapsed...

Just like what Fei Qian said that day, I watched him build a Zhulou, watched him entertain guests, and watched his tower collapse. To onlookers, every change of power seems to be vigorous, but in fact, it does not bring much benefit to the people of Guizhou, and they may even be implicated as a result.

Guo Jia noticed that because of the Hussar's protection of commerce and even caravans, the products of the Hussar generals have now penetrated into all levels. In recent years, through this copper-smelling trade that the nobles were ashamed to talk about in the Han Dynasty, Fei Qian He has become the top business leader in the entire Han Dynasty. Although Fei Qian does not sell directly, no one in his caravan or merchants dares not to give Fei Qian face. Even the bandits and road tyrants from all over the country charge a nominal fee and rarely intercept and kill Piao. The incident of the caravan ride.

Because Guo Jia acted as an intelligence gathering leader for Cao Cao, after meeting Fei Qian and other caravan merchants, he suddenly realized that all kinds of information about his own actions would be leaked by these merchants. They were constantly sent to Fei Qian...

Guo Jia originally thought that since businessmen are all profit-seeking, and since Fei Qian can take advantage of businessmen, he can also suggest that Cao Cao lure these businessmen in turn. However, after having scattered and pretending to be casual contacts with these businessmen, Guo Jia found that the problem was much more serious than he originally thought.

These businessmen seem to have a kind of loyalty to Fei Qian that is difficult for Guo Jia to understand.

How did Feiqian do it?

But before Guo Jia could see clearly, he was called back by Fei Qian again. How could this make Guo Jia not depressed?

Xin Pi said on the side: "I heard that Cao Sikong wrote a new poem, which said: "Riding six dragons, riding on the wind. Traveling all over the world, visiting eight countries under the road. Climbing high mountains, approaching valleys, riding on clouds. Traveling all over the world. , to the east of Mount Tai. Immortals and jade maidens came down to swim. They rode six dragons to drink jade jelly. When the river ran out, it would not flow eastward..." This article by Cao Sikong is majestic and majestic, and it makes people forget to read it. However, there is one sentence that I don't understand: why does it say "when the river is exhausted, it will not flow eastward"? I heard that Guo Fengxiao and Cao Sikong knew each other. I wonder how to interpret this sentence? 』

Guo Jia was stunned for a moment and then said: "It's nature is like turbulent water. When it crosses the east, it will flow east, and when it crosses the west, it will flow west!" 』

Xin Pi glanced at Xun Chen, and then looked back at Guo Jia. He knew that Guo Jia was quibbling, but he couldn't find the right words to refute.

Did Xinpi just admire Cao Cao? of course not. Give Xinpi a hundred courages, and he would not dare to publicly express his liking for Boss Cao when Fei Qian was under control, so Xinpi chose to say this poem and this sentence for a reason, but Xinpi Pi didn't expect Guo Jia to be so quick in thinking, so he immediately blocked him, and even vaguely mocked Xin Pi himself, making it difficult for Xin Pi to continue.

"It has been said that "the sea flows eastward without hesitation, it is so big", but now Cao Sikong "stops flowing eastward", how can it last long? "This sentence is a bit explicit. Naturally, it was not said by someone like Xin Pi, but by another petty official at the table.

Guo Jia smiled proudly: "The tombs lead to the Yangtze River, and the eastward flow leads to the Han Dynasty." If the water is like this, how much less the people? 』

"Haha..." Xun Chen put his hands on his hands and smiled, and said, "I have long heard that Fengxiao was quick in thinking and sharp in words. Now that I have seen him, I should be like this... However, I also heard that Fengxiao was appointed as "Military Advisor" to Cao Sikong. "Sacrifice wine" position? 』

Guo Jia nodded slowly. This matter is naturally undeniable, just like Guo Jia also knows the positions of many people under Fei Qian's rule.

Xun Chen also nodded slightly, and then said: "I heard that Cao Sikong has been changed to Dong Zhao, and Dong Gongren is offering wine to the military advisor..."

Guo Jia's expression finally changed.

The military advisor’s offering of wine can be regarded as Cao Cao’s first initiative. Originally, the position of military advisor had already existed in the early Han Dynasty. At that time, it was mostly the official title of the staff, and there was no definite official rank. It was somewhat similar to "a certain adjutant", and the status of "strategist" was determined based on the size of the chief officer. of high or low.

Jiujiu is an honorable position that originated from the custom of sacrificial rituals. It is used to prepare banquets and offer wine. Originally, it was not the same as the military advisor. They were two completely different positions.

However, Cao Cao, who was adventurous, merged these two positions into one, taking the honor of sacrificial wine and adding it to the military advisor, indicating that he was the chief among the "strategic advisors" to show his dignity. The most important thing is that this position was created by Cao Cao for Guo Jia, that is, in order to enhance Guo Jia's status among the "strategic advisors", the name of the position was coined, probably like "first adjutant" or "first adjutant". It means something like "Chief Adjutant".

But now, the military advisor's sacrificial wine, which originally belonged to Guo Jia, now falls on Dong Zhao.

Guo Jia closed his eyes and sighed slightly.

Previously, Guo Jia could quickly counterattack, but when Xun Chen said this, Guo Jia didn't know what to say...

Just like no matter how passionate the adultery is, couples who have experienced passionate love will be defeated in front of the two words "distance". The one who defeats the original vows of "mountain without edge" and so on is not the so-called "I need" time, where were you? ” Or maybe it’s “I can’t feel your temperature”, but “doubt”.

Because of the long distance, sometimes there may be quarrels and cold wars just because of the other party's words. Once a problem arises, it will be difficult to solve it. In fact, sometimes problems that can be solved with just a hug or sitting down to communicate are very difficult in a long-distance relationship. The time points of both parties are different. They cannot know when the other party is free or busy, nor do they know what the other party is doing, who they are with, and what they are doing. This creates conflicts to a certain extent. It also creates speculation and suspicion.

However, Cao Cao was such a suspicious person...

Just like Xun Chen and others were able to know some of Cao Cao's changes, wouldn't Cao Cao know about Guo Jia's situation here? Even if Cao Cao had no channels, wouldn't Fei Qian and others reveal something intentionally or unintentionally?

The more Guo Jia behaves indifferently, eating and drinking with a heartless look, the easier it is for Cao Cao to become suspicious. But on the other hand, even if Guo Jia shows pain and loss here, what can be changed? Is what Cao Cao got and thought of the real situation?

It is not easy to fall in love, and even harder to get along with each other. If you cannot get along with each other, if you want to insist on "loving Qing" unchanged, that is "man on top of man"...

Guo Jia shook his head, and then smiled. The smile was gentle and firm, releasing a kind of calmness and confidence, "There is a saying, "No clothes are as new. No person is as old." Someone likes new clothes and will never forget the old ones! 』