Chapter 60: Talent and Virtuous

Cao Cao returned triumphantly in the north to the Wuhuan expedition, which was awe-inspiring world!

Even the famous Qingliu scholars who were prejudiced against Cao Cao could no longer criticize Cao Cao with mean words. After all, the great victory in the Wuhuan was a favorable thing for the nation. Netizens in the novel "" beat him up

After solving the worries of the north, no one knows Cao Cao's next strategy. Should he fight Guo Jia first or unify the south? No matter what, he will rest first.

At this moment, the princes in the world who can have the power to fight against Cao Cao are nothing more than Guo Jia, Liu Biao, Sun Quan, and Guo Jia is naturally not afraid of Cao Cao, while Liu Biao and Sun Quan are already restless.

Liu Biao asked himself that he had never offended Cao Cao. He appeared to be inclined to Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu, but never intervened in the battle of dragon and tiger. Therefore, he did not think that Cao Cao had reason to attack him.

In order to show goodwill to Cao Cao, Sun Quan no longer just expressed his goodwill to the court, but directly sent someone to send gifts to Yecheng and to Cao Cao's doorstep.

Cao Cao had more than twenty sons. If there were any distinction between legitimate and illegitimate son Cao Ang died in Wancheng when he conquered Zhang Xiu, and the other sons were all considered concubines.

Although Cao Ang was not born by his wife Ding, he was nominally the legitimate son.

The other sons, Cao Pi, Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi, were all born by Mrs. Bian, and Cao Chong was born by Mrs. Huan.

In the name of establishing an heir, these sons have equal identities, and there is no distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, at least before Cao Cao helped Mrs. Bian to correct her.

Cao Cao had a very good relationship with his original wife, Mrs. Ding, especially when he was in a downturn, some of his subordinates wanted to go their separate ways. It was Mrs. Ding who came forward to preside over the overall situation and stabilized the hearts of the people inside, which made Cao Cao not end up falling apart when his foundation was weak.

But Cao Ang died in Wancheng in battle, which was a confusing matter. Is Zhang Xiu's counterattack on Cao Cao because Cao Cao slept with his aunt, or because Cao Cao was openly trying to win over his subordinates, or both, but Mrs. Ding's favorite son, regarded as his own son, was gone, and the couple parted ways. After that, Mrs. Ding returned to her parents' home. Cao Cao asked for help three times and four times but failed to get what she wanted. Later, Cao Cao couldn't bear to have Mrs. Ding's life alone and allowed her to remarry, but Mrs. Ding refused, and Mrs. Ding's family did not dare to marry anyone else.

The couple was strangers, but Mrs. Ding did not draw a clear line with the Cao family. When Cao Cao left home to fight, the kind-hearted Mrs. Bian would take Mrs. Ding home and treat her well, and send her away before Cao Cao returned home.

Cao Cao knew all these things. In consideration of the relationship between husband and wife, Cao Cao never set up another official family.

It is also possible that Cao Cao did not set any more obstacles for Cao Chong to succeed to the throne. If he made Mrs. Bian the official wife, then Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi, and Cao Xiong (dead young) would become the legitimate sons.

When Cao Cao used to be the Central Plains, the powerful enemy was surrounded by a strong enemy, and his sons had no idea, but after Cao Cao swallowed Hebei and occupied half of the country, the dispute over the throne would gradually begin.

I heard that Sun Quan from Jiangdong sent an elephant, and all the civil and military officials from Yecheng went to watch. Cao Cao specially ordered people to call his sons.

The elegant and gentle Cao Chong was about to step out of the mansion to see the elephant, but unexpectedly heard a burst of crying.

Following the sound, Cao Chong saw a servant crying bitterly in the warehouse in the mansion.

"Hey? Why are you crying?"

Cao Chong walked over and asked curiously.

The servant turned his head and found that it was the young master, so he quickly wiped his tears and knelt on the ground and was silent.

"What's the matter? Tell me and listen."

Cao Chong's face was gentle, without the arrogant attitude of the powerful children.

The servant hesitated for a long time and presented the saddle in his arms in front of Cao Chong, and said cowardly: "A mouse bit the saddle this night. If the Prime Minister knew about it, he would definitely cure the villain's crime."

Reprimands are all trivial matters. What he fears most is that Cao Cao beheaded in anger.

Cao Chong thought about it and comforted him, "You don't have to be afraid of this."

When the servant heard this, he thought Cao Chong would plead for him, so he kowtowed and thanked him immediately.

Cao Chong turned around and left without saying anything.

If Cao Chong really pleaded directly, it would seem a bit unreasonable. After all, it was the servant's responsibility to guard the warehouse. If the mouse got in and bit the saddle, it would be his dereliction of duty.

Yecheng is very lively today. From the moment the elephants were transported into the city, people on the street watched the streets, and there were endless comments and exclamations.

There are no elephants in the Central Plains, not to mention the people, not even the officials have seen them.

Cao Cao sat on the stairs in front of the wide government office, with civil and military officials on both sides accompanying him, and Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi and other sons had already arrived.

Looking at the elephant's huge body and the way it rolled up fruit with its nose and swallowed it in one bite, it opened everyone's eyes.

An excited general ran over to the elephant and compared his thick arms to the elephant, which made others laugh.

No matter how powerful the general is, he will only appear small when compared to the elephant.

After Cao Chong arrived, Cao Cao called him to his side, pointed to the elephant with his hand, and laughed: "Chong'er, look, this is the elephant sent by Sun Quan from Jiangdong."

Cao Chong was held by Cao Cao and looked down, looking over with a cheerful look, staring blankly, and curious.

Just as everyone was amazed at the elephant's head discussion, someone suddenly asked a question.

How heavy is an elephant?

The scene suddenly became silent, no one could answer, and even the envoy who sent the elephant could not answer.

The world cannot afford to be called this elephant. How heavy is it? Who can know!

Cao Cao looked around and smiled teasingly. No matter how talented the talented people around him were amazed, it was really a bit difficult to call an elephant.

Just when everyone seemed to be about to skip this topic, Cao Chong, beside Cao Cao, suddenly said: "Father, put the elephant on the boat, carve marks on the water surface of the hull, and then replace the elephant with other objects and place it on the boat. Then you can compare the weight of the elephant."

When everyone heard this, it made sense.

Cao Cao was so happy that he immediately ordered people to do it. He first led the elephant to the ship, engraved the mark on the side of the ship, and then used large and small stones to sink the ship to the level of the mark and the water surface, and then moved the stones to weigh them one by one, and calculated the sum.

The weight of the elephant was weighed, and everyone present praised Cao Chong. Cao Cao laughed happily and hugged Cao Chong very proudly.

After this feast of watching new curiosity, Cao Cao was still unsatisfied and wanted to reward Cao Chong, but he did not see Cao Chong. After asking his side and learning that Cao Chong had returned to his mansion.

In his room, Cao Chong took out a piece of clothes he usually wore, cut a hole in the clothes with a knife, and then put it away, and a look of sorrow appeared on his face.

"Chong'er, Chong'er."

Cao Cao's generous laughter came from outside. Cao Chong sat by the bed without moving, still looking at his torn clothes and looked full of sorrow.

Cao Cao walked into the room and felt nervous when he saw his expression.

Could anyone bully him? He was wronged?

A cold light flashed in his eyes, Cao Cao walked over quickly and asked with concern: "Chong'er, what's wrong with you? Why bother?"

Cao Chong handed over the clothes in his hand and whispered: "Father, the child's clothes were bitten by a mouse. Some people say this is a sign of bad luck."

Cao Cao was stunned, looked down at the clothes, and then said to Cao Chong with a gentle expression: "What is this? Nonsense. Only ignorant people will believe this, don't take this matter to heart."

After Cao Cao's enlightenment, Cao Chong felt better and the father and son had a good chat. When Cao Cao left, Cao Chong accompanied Cao Cao out.

The servant guarding the warehouse appeared in front of Cao Cao in his arms, holding the saddle, and knelt down to apologize.

"Prime Minister, the villain is guilty. A mouse entered the warehouse and bit the saddle. I asked the Prime Minister to punish him."

Cao Cao seemed to understand something in an instant, and waved his hand casually: "It's okay. My son's clothes will be bitten by mice at night, let alone the saddle in the warehouse. I'm sorry you are innocent, go."

The servants who had overcome the difficulties hurriedly saluted and thanked Cao Cao and Cao Chong, and were more grateful to Cao Chong.

Cao Cao walked out of the courtyard and stopped. Cao Chong, who had not turned around and returned to the room, turned his head and smiled kindly and gentlely at the servant.

Cao Cao looked up at the sky and made a decision in his heart.

How could he not see that the ripped mouth of Cao Chong's clothes was cut by a sharp blade? It could not be the result of a rat biting it.

I didn't understand at first, but now I understand it.

Cao Chong.

A young man who is only twelve years old and has both virtue and talent!

With such a son, Cao Cao was willing to pass on his lifelong foundation!

Cao Cao was over 50 years old and had to start thinking about establishing an heir.

The old and new regimes alternate, and it is impossible to make plans only when the monarch is dying, otherwise it is likely that political instability will occur when the new monarch takes office.

For example, the defeat of the Yuan family is a good example. Yuan Shao did not officially make a prince before his death. As for the will that Shen Pei gave when he supported Yuan Shang, all parties were not convinced, even if it was true, it was not enough to convince the public.

Therefore, Cao Cao had to make plans early.

The problem that is the first to bear is not who will lead the next generation of the Cao family.

This is the future path of the Cao family, how should we go!

Cao Cao was a traitor in troubled times. He could suppress the imperial party and play with the gentry under his command and the Han emperor. But is his next generation okay?

If the Imperial Party united the gentry to fight back, the Cao family would probably be hit by thunder after Cao Cao died.

Therefore, Cao Cao no longer considered whether he was a loyal or a treacherous minister in the eyes of outsiders.

There is no point in thinking about this question.

Because no matter whether he is loyal or treacherous, the Cao family is powerful. After Cao Cao's death, those enemies for political and material interests will unite to overthrow the Cao family.

At least, we cannot give the enemy a legitimate reason to resist the Cao family.

It is also time for the Cao family to truly establish a system of power.

An idea came to Cao Cao's mind: be the king!

He is the prime minister, but he is still a minister. His power is completely different from that of the king. The power that the minister can create is even more different from that of the king.

If he were the king, then those who were loyal to the Cao family would not hesitate and not listen to the emperor's orders.

*j
Chapter completed!