Three Kingdoms

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rumor.

The ancient sages said that rumors only stop with wise men, but unfortunately, there are very few wise men in the world, so there is always a market for rumors.

Rumors can often provide a false sense of certainty, "This is actually what happened!" 』

Simple, so that everyone can understand and accept it without using their brains.

But what is the truth? It’s like a young lady wearing complicated clothes, peeling off one layer and leaving another layer, and each layer is interconnected with each other, complex and contradictory, making it difficult to see the scenery under the skirt.

Faced with such a situation, ordinary people prefer to choose to swipe directly and let the ladies twist it by themselves.

Simple actions bring simple results. Anyway, many people who like simplicity can use the excuse that their brains have so many important things to deal with every day that they are exhausted to save brain cells that are not necessary at all, making themselves slower and slower. In the end, even though I knew something was wrong with the rumor, it was obviously more in line with the brain's lazy cognitive strategy to believe it, so I just believed it.

On the other hand, rumors inherently have traps that some people with the ability to think can easily fall into.

Prisoner's Dilemma.

People are self-interested. Subconsciously, people tend to be more self-interested. Under the dual influence of fear of loss and gain, people will choose a choice that is more beneficial to themselves, and they will also benefit from it when they prevent their own interests from being harmed.

This kind of insecurity will lead to the idea of ​​​​preferring to believe that something is true rather than something that is not true...

I would rather kill a hundred by mistake...

I would rather lose...

rather……

So the rumors became more and more prosperous.

Some people say that Zhao Yun has conspired with Cao Cao...

Some people say that the emperor has made Zhao Yun a general of chariots and cavalry...

Some people say that Zhao Yun has had different intentions for a long time and has not visited the pass for many years to see the hussars. I am afraid that he is Lu Bu's second...

etc.

But if you want something more specific, then there is none.

What was the plot about?

have no idea.

Has the emperor's edict really been issued?

Don't know either.

Of course, no one knows this.

But what they don't know doesn't stop these people from telling stories vividly and with emotions on their faces.

Catching Li Kui was of no use in stopping the spread of rumors, because many people would rather believe the lies than the truth.

Or pretending to believe the rumors and waiting to see Pang Tong and Fei Zhen’s jokes...

What?

A sense of belonging?

The public sentiment at the grassroots level belongs to Fei Qian, but it is obtained in exchange for welfare. You must know that at the middle level, there is neither "people" nor much additional "welfare"!

The Chinese culture has been inherited for thousands of years, and the skin and hair are affected by the parents. It is a thousand-year tradition. It is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Then, why don’t you shave your head when it’s time to shave it? It has taken thousands of years to cultivate these people's sense of belonging to China. How can Fei Qian cultivate it in these people's hearts in just a few years?

Ordinary people were worried after the rumors spread, but there was no other way. However, these middle-level people were not very worried, but secretly laughed, just like those in later generations who heard "Why serve" and were wandering in the light and shadow. Among them, there was a group of people holding red wine glasses and laughing wildly.

Zhao Yun is going to rebel?

Ah ha ha ha ha...

Be loyal?

Ah ha ha ha ha...

During the day, they are well-dressed, good-looking, and sit squarely, speaking of fairness, justice, loyalty, and conscience. But at night, hahahahaha...

People who took the imperial examination?

There are people who have sneaked in from the imperial examination, and on the one hand, Feiqian needs a county, a county to replace and infiltrate. On the other hand, the number of people is not enough. A thousand people look like a big scene, but the passing rate is not high. , even if thousands of people accept it, how many can be distributed to each township and county on average?

Then the people of Shandong can clamor again, the land in Guanzhong is a sieve, everything is an eye!

Do these people think that it will not be the case in future generations?

The Chinese dynasty has to work hard to integrate the pulp and crookedness bit by bit in the sieve that leaks again and again. What they have to pay is thousands of years of reincarnation and generations of blood and tears. Even if it is like this, it still cannot let the gangsters shut up. , concentrate on doing things.

The rumor "finally" spread into the Cavalry General's mansion...

Pang Tong was immediately furious, and then Youwensi was dispatched to arrest those who dared to spread rumors about the matter around Chang'an Sanfu. Later, Pang Tong personally beheaded three people on the edge of the Wei River in Chang'an, who were said to have been carefully crafted by Cao's army.

However, this did not make the rumors disappear. On the contrary, they spread even more widely.

Some people began to secretly poke fun at Pang Tong's incompetence, or semi-openly laughed at Pang Tong's incompetence. Some people coughed and said that Pang Tong's move to kill the spy was completely meaningless, and the more important thing was to announce more information.

For example, the situation in the Western Region and Northern Region...

The reason for these people is that the people in Chang'an Sanfu are somewhat worried about the Western Region, so now that the news about the Northern Region has come out, it has naturally aroused more people's worries, and this worry is obviously not about not letting go. You don’t have to spread it, and it doesn’t mean that beheading on the Wei River will calm the situation. Only the “true” announcement of the news can eliminate people’s worries.

Does it make sense?

Makes sense.

But actually?

Do these people really care about the truth?

Therefore, when the rumors became more and more uncontrollable, Fei Zhen, the son of the Hussar General who stayed in Chang'an City, felt "at a loss" and convened an enlarged meeting of the General's Mansion.

At the meeting, Feizhen wanted Pang Tong to announce the "truth", but was opposed by Pang Tong. However, Pang Tongguang objected but could not come up with any strategies. Feizhen asked Zao Zhi again how to handle the matter, but Zao Zhi said that he was just in charge of farmland and knew nothing about military and political affairs.

Fei Zhen asked Sima Yi again, and Sima Yi, who was like a ghost, saw that Pang Tong and Zao Zhi were acting a little different from usual, and they were very strange, so he immediately imitated Zao Zhi and said that he was just in charge of legal proceedings. The rest is less clear…

Huang Chengyan, a graduate student, also did not express his opinion.

Guo Tu from the Law Council shrank his head and didn't even dare to fart.

The examiner had a sad face and said that he was good at arithmetic, but his intelligence was limited...

Everyone discussed the matter from morning to noon, but still no action was taken.

Feizhen lost her temper and said that there must be a way to deal with it, and then proposed to send people to the Northern Territory to investigate the rumors and completely solve the rumor problem from the root. Pang Tong immediately opposed it.

Then at the end of the day, nothing was discussed.

In the evening, Feizhen couldn't stand it anymore and had to announce that the meeting was adjourned and we would discuss it again tomorrow...

Pang Tong particularly emphasized that no one should leak the contents of the meeting, otherwise military law would be involved. However, it was strange that many people knew that night and nothing was discussed during the whole day.

This made the lower-level officials even more uneasy.

For these lower-level officials, they know some things, but they cannot know everything.

This is their pain.

They are always at the end of the information chain.

As for the people at the bottom?

That is excluded from the information chain.

The next day, Feizhen held another so-called "closed-door meeting". Everyone saw Pang Tong enter the General's Mansion with a gloomy face, and then closed the door again with a bang. The difference from before was that this time The only participants in the closed-door meeting were Pang Tong and Zao Zhi.

After all, the main disagreement was between Fei Zhen and Pang Tong.

Those big and round guards of the General's Palace guarded various key points. Anyone who wanted to peek into the General's Palace was immediately warned. If they did not listen to the warning, they would be captured, and those who resisted would be killed on the spot.

Everyone thought that Feizhen and Pang Tong were going to have the most serious discussion, perhaps a discussion that would determine life and death...

Huang Chengyan, a candidate for the college entrance examination, was still smiling and optimistic, looking heartless, pretending to be deaf and laughing, and seemed not to care about being excluded from closed-door discussions. Sima Yi from Dali Temple was silent for a long time after learning about this, but he still didn't say anything. No one knew what he was thinking.

Guo Tu also strictly prohibited the officials in the Senate from discussing the matter, and then closed the door and secretly found Feng Ji.

As the director of the Merit Examination Department, Feng Ji was actually qualified to make comments, but like Guo Tu, he smelled something ominous, and just like Guo Tu, he said nothing.

The two sat for a long time. After a long time, Guo Tu sighed, "Oh, Pang Shiyuan still can't trust you and me..."

Feng Ji remained silent, with his eyes closed, and he let out a sigh of relief.

After a moment, Guo Tu suddenly sneered, "But we're not bad at all... At this time, whoever moves around... Hehe... That's really asking for death..."

Feng Ji nodded, shook his head, and said: "But... Chang'an and others have been dealt with for several rounds... but there are always some people who think they are smart..."

Guo Tu smiled and said, "This time is different. It is said that the Prime Minister has come with an order from the Emperor!" 』

"hehe. Feng Ji sneered and repeated half of the sentence, "Yes, after all, it is the order of the emperor..."

The two looked at each other, and then looked away in unison.

After a long time, I don't know who whispered softly, "Big man..."

The sound was thin and dissipated like smoke.

But inside the palace of General Hussar, everything was in full swing.

"Where's Uncle Zijing?" Feizhen asked.

Pang Tong said seriously, "Sleep behind that pillar." 』

"ah? ” Feizhen was stunned.

Pang Tong said: "Zijing transferred the grain and grass from two Changping granaries last night... How can we show chaos without burning the two granaries?" 』

"Then...don't call him?" Feizhen asked again.

"He said no. Pang Tong shook his head.

"Then let's start now? 』

Pang Tong nodded, "Let's get started." 』

Feizhen and Pang Tong looked at each other.

"The knife must be sharp." Pang Yi looked serious, "This is very important." 』

Feizhen nodded slightly, "Yeah. 』

"The knife is even faster." Pang Tong continued, "This way it won't stick to each other..."

Feizhen still nodded, "Yeah. 』

Pang Tong said in a deep voice: "Since the prince already knows the trick, you can take action now." 』

Feizhen was stunned for a moment, "Why should I do it?" 』

Pang Tong still said seriously and seriously: "I'm wearing a court robe and I'm so fat, so it's not convenient..."

"I'm wearing a formal suit too!" Feizhen said dissatisfied, "And you are older than me, and I am still younger!" And it was Uncle Shi Yuan who suggested it! There is no problem that a meal of Qiang cooking cannot solve! 』

Pang Tong frowned and said, "That's what you agreed to, Your Majesty!" What's more, this sentence was also said by the Lord before! If you don't want to take action now, it will be difficult. We agreed to discuss matters behind closed doors, so it's hard to let servants come..."

Feizhen nodded, "It's indeed difficult to handle...but if this continues, the soup will almost boil..."

The two frowned together.

Suddenly a burst of white smoke rose between the two of them.

The soup is boiling.

Gududu felt hot.

"Hey... I can't live up to this pot of good soup..." Pang Tong sighed deeply, "I didn't expect that I, Pang Shiyuan, would be here today!" Bring it! I'll cut it! 』

Fei Zhen happily placed the mutton strips and chopping board in front of Pang Tong, and ordered her unceremoniously, "This piece is thick... it's thick... it's thin... it's crooked... it's broken..."

"Quack!" Pang Tongyi sweated, "I told you before, my hands are fat and I can't do this well..."

"You are fat and you still eat so much," Fei Zhen said, "Father also said that you want me to watch you exercise, but you are lazy every time!" 』

Pang Tong chuckled, "If you don't eat enough, how can you have the strength to exercise?" My lord wants me to keep an eye on you and write strategies! Aren't you lazy too? 』

"Uh...then you should eat less meat and more vegetables!" ” Feizhen continued, “My nephew just has to do it and eat the meat for Uncle Shi Yuan. 』

"That's not possible. It's hard to get enough meat. Who would want to go back and eat grass?" If you really want to help me, come and help me cut the meat. Pang Tong said, "Or put the meat in the pot first... We just have a pot of soup... Forget it, that's it anyway, the big and small pieces will rot in the pot..."

"Uncle Shi Yuan," Fei Zhen said while putting the meat on the table, "Why does it sound like what you are saying... is not all meat..."

"What else can it be if it's not meat?" Pang Tong finished cutting the meat, grabbed a piece of cloth and wiped his hands, "Who in this world is not meat?" Our little pot has little meat, so we need to clearly distinguish who can eat it and who cannot eat it... Not everyone is qualified to eat meat..."

Feizhen looked at the rise and fall of the meat in the soup pot, "Yesterday was fine..."

"As the saying goes, meat can't last more than three... Wrong, things can only last three..." Pang Tong chuckled, staring at the meat rolling in the pot, "Just watch, wait until the fire burns tonight, and then we will do the next one." There must be some people who can't bear it anymore..."

Feizhen rolled her eyes, "I understand, does this count as giving those people a chance..."

"That's right, if these people don't move, give them a chance. If they want to move, give them a chance... Come on, do it yourself... I won't help you, Crown Prince..." Pang Tong nodded. He nodded and said, "It's just a pity, Cao Mengde is no longer the Cao Mengde he used to be..."

"The Prime Minister Cao back then?" Feizhen asked, "What was it like back then?" 』

"My lord said before..." Pang Tong replied, "Back then, Cao Mengde was very concerned about the country and the people, and he was upright... Therefore, everything in the world changes with time and place. How can there be anything that remains unchanged forever... Do you really think that you will never change the vows you made back then? Yes, this meat is ready..."

Pang Tong accurately grasped the piece of meat that had just changed color, rolled it in the sauce, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Mutton is undoubtedly the best from the Yinshan grassland, because this kind of sheep is said to be able to eat green onions on its own, and pickles itself to taste over time.

When Fei Zhen saw this, she stopped talking and started grabbing the meat with Pang Tong.

You have to rush to eat the food to make it delicious.

Meat is even more so.

Not long after, the two of them had eaten up the meat, and then Pang Tong put some of the remaining side dishes into the pot, saying, "This is the time to kill cattle and sheep... Does the prince know? There is a custom in the Western Regions. It is said that two months before the winter month, those who cannot eat meat or kill cattle and sheep...and then wait until the first day of the first month of the winter month, can kill them...say What is the will of the gods? What does the prince think? 』

"Where does God have time to take care of this?" Fei Zhen laughed and said, "There must be some other reasons, but they used the name of the gods. If the gods really control everything, they can't slap these guys who fake their names to death..."

Pang Tong also smiled, nodded and said, "That's right." In fact, it has nothing to do with the gods, but everything to do with the weather. The two months before the winter month are the most critical time for cattle and sheep to put on their autumn fat in the desert grasslands, just like the last grouting moment in late summer for Zhuanghe in our Han family, so no one would be willing to wait until Zhuanghe is about to Harvest when mature, and the same goes for cattle and sheep... When winter comes, those cattle and sheep that have successfully put on autumn fat can survive the winter smoothly, while those who cannot put on autumn fat for various reasons... that is Of course I have to kill it and enjoy it..."

"Originally, it was just the simplest solar terms change, something that conforms to nature," Pang Tong said with a smile, "but he wanted to get the name of some god, and then create a lot of things... This is It’s called putting the cart before the horse, and it’s the same problem as Cao Mengde’s move..."

Feizhen said, "Uncle Shi Yuan is talking about Cao Mengde framing General Zilong?" 』

Pang Tong nodded and said, "That's right. Did Zilong have less military pay in the Northern Territory? Have you ever neglected people’s wealth? Since there are none, what's the fuss about? What are you rebelling against? Just like this time of chaos in the Western Regions, why should we attack quickly? That’s because the current chaos in the Western Regions is just chaos on the surface. It’s not true that all the herdsmen in the Western Regions have been affected by the disaster and have nothing to eat... If it is true that one day, all the herdsmen in the Western Regions have nothing to eat, then who will go It’s useless to calm down the chaos! If there is still something to eat, nothing will happen! No matter what time, don't take away the last bite of food from the people, otherwise... When the lord left Chang'an, he brought troops with him. When he arrived at Longyou, he brought many craftsmen and farmers, as well as those Qiang people. The prince felt that the lord was fair. What is the most important thing about the Rebellion in the Western Regions? 』

"Hmm..." Feizhen sat cross-legged and frowned.

Pang Tong tapped the Qiang cooking pot with his kuaizi.

"Meat! No, it’s food! It’s food! Feizhen responded, "If the people have food, there will be no chaos!" My father also said this before, and even took me to eat folk food... But it was really unpalatable..."

Pang Tong sighed slightly, "That's right. As long as there is food, the people will not be in chaos, so as long as we have food and grass in hand, Chang'an will not be in chaos either! It's a pity... It's a pity that some people don't understand... There are people who want to take away such unpalatable food from the poor people. These people want to pick it out from between the people's teeth and take it out of their throats... At the end of the year, the Lord , didn’t they provide winter charcoal for the people in Guanzhong to keep out the cold? Do you know what the people in Shandong are talking about? Are they talking about why they don’t let these people go out for a few laps to stop the cold? It’s simply a waste of coal...』

"..." Feizhen was speechless.

After a while, Feizhen asked, "By the way, Uncle Shi, what orders do you want to give just now?" 』

Pang Tong smiled and said: "Simple... The Crown Prince has given an order to remove him from the post of Protector of the Northern Territory!" 』

"ah? ” Feizhen was stunned, and then said, “Is it acting again? 』

Unexpectedly, Pang Tong shook his head, "No, it's really free..."

"ha? ” Feizhen’s eyes widened, “Really? ! 』

Pang Tong raised his head and laughed, "Of course it's true... Cao Mengde wants to gain five things from Chang'an, so naturally we also want five things!" Your Majesty, you might as well think about it, where did our five gains fall? 』