Waves at the end of Han Dynasty

Chapter 9 Father and Son
Cao Song Sikong Mansion in Luoyang, the late autumn wind blows away the heat with fallen leaves, and also brings a little bit of coolness. Cao Cao walked with his father in the exquisite garden. He has become accustomed to this way of communication between the two fathers and sons. Since then, his father often took him to this garden, where the servants wandered and talked casually, even if they said something wrong, they were rarely blamed.

But today he felt that his father was a little different from the past, so he quietly walked behind and waited for his father to speak.

"In the past, you must have been chattering non-stop, why are you so dull today?" Cao Song walked for a while, and finally noticed his son's strangeness and asked.

"It's not for anything else, it's because Ah Man sees his father's dullness, so he is speechless." Cao Cao still waited for his father to open the topic.

"Hey, you know that you have been working for your father for several days to no avail, and it has been a fixed time to go to the position of Sikong. It is like a dream and illusion, but now. It is time to wake up." A few words seemed to exhaust all the strength of Cao Song, and said After that, he sat leaning against the rockery on the side.

"My lord father, don't be depressed. Although I didn't expect this result, I secretly think that this is a blessing rather than a disaster for my Cao family!" Cao Cao hurriedly stepped forward to support Cao Song and said solemnly.

"Stop talking nonsense, where does the blessing come from?" Although Cao Song scolded, there was some expectation in his heart, and some brilliance returned to his eyes.

His education for Cao Cao since he was a child was different from most of the strict fathers in the Han Dynasty. For later generations, it was a democratic and equal education, and even a little indulgent and spoiled. Fortunately, Cao Cao was indeed smart, and he seldom made troubles since he was about ten years old. I read at home by myself every day, and I read very seriously. Later, I got the comment of "a capable minister of Qingping, a hero of troubled times" from Xu Shao.Although he seems to be doing nothing all day long, he is familiar with the general trend of the world and has his own opinions on everything.

"Did my father get involved in salt and sugar when he was in business in the past?" Cao Cao thought for a while and suddenly changed the subject.

"I have never heard that these two things have gradually become popular all over the world after Longwei created the 'distillation method' to produce the top grade. Now the non-pure white of the two is not easy to sell, but this method has never been spread, so..." said Cao Song has rich experience in doing business. Although he thought Cao Cao's question was strange, he replied subconsciously.

"Then father, do you know where the benefits of these two things have come from since Longwei's rebellion?"

"Naturally. Um. Naturally, it should be held in the hands of the imperial family. It's just that if you don't go to the court today, I'm afraid that the benefits have already been shared by the eunuchs."

"If my prediction is correct, this benefit is still in the hands of today's master. I heard that the first emperor once set up the post of salt envoy. Later, when the emperor ascended the throne, because the person he served was repeatedly corrupted by ink, he withdrew, so he set up another imperial salt officer to rule over him. There are production areas, workshops, financial planning, transportation and sales, warehouses, and security departments. The mutual constraints are very strict, and the main tasks of each of them are only engaged in. Officials have four hundred stones, and all orders are directly communicated by the servant of the Huangmen. There has been no news for several years.”

"I don't know this kind of news, where did you get it?" Although Cao Song usually felt that his son must have his own ideas under his body, so when Cao Cao proposed not to go to the Imperial Academy to study, he was tired of playing with the poor family all day long. , he will not interfere at all.But what he said today really surprised him.
"Er was acquainted with Liang Liang in Qucheng when he was old. He served in the Huangmen for several years. He specially handed over the imperial Yansi Wenjian for the present, so he knew some inside information. But although he had a heart-to-heart relationship with him, he only talked about foreign affairs with him. Because if you leak your inner feelings, you will be wiped out by the family. It can be seen that the strict supervision and investigation is definitely beyond the capabilities of Zhongchang Shi and others. And what I have done today, I often think about it, thinking that it is all done on purpose, but I don’t understand what the purpose is.”

"Presumptuous, how can you speculate about today!"

"I know I was wrong, but my father thought about it. When Longwei swept the world, all the military resources were spent by himself. The excellent armor and equipment of Longwei's army has never been seen before. The consumption is so huge. It's all about it. The two things were born, and after being brought back to the imperial family, the second-class gray and white ones were sold. Now not only the aristocratic families, but also the poor and rich families also eat them. It can be seen that the benefits are huge. However, there have been no major wars on the border for decades. The imperial court has not gone on an expedition, and there is no huge project. I am afraid that the money and food in the Shaofu will be ignored. Now, although it is extravagant and prostitution, not building a palace is a waste of national power. Seeing Cao Song's eyes and mouth opening more and more, he stopped.

"Well, even if your expectations are true, what does all this have to do with being a father and the Cao family?" Cao Song hesitated for a while, then looked around and lowered his voice.

"Although I haven't fully understood what I'm thinking about today, if you look at how he killed General Dou with thunderbolts at the beginning of his ascension to the throne, and then entrusted him to the ten permanent servants in such a dormant manner, you can know that his plan is very big, and the future will be like this." King Zhuang is a blockbuster! Now that the relatives at home and abroad are weak, the eunuchs and the Qingliu are fighting more fiercely, and now internal and external troubles are coming, and there are celestial phenomena warning again and again. I guess the Qingliu party's attack on his father is just the beginning, and there must be many followers. And the emperor It would be a good time to plan something. Now that Luoyang is a vortex of conspiracy, wouldn't it be a wise choice for me, the Cao family, to get out of it as soon as possible?" Cao Cao spoke very slowly, so that his father could think enough.

"Well, this is also reasonable. In this way, why didn't you tell your father earlier when you made such an inference last year!" After pondering for a long time, Cao Song was also surprised.
"Father is above, and the child knows his mistake, but at that time, I didn't see it thoroughly, and if it is said clearly, would my father be willing to abandon his job and go back to hiding?" Cao Cao knelt down and bowed to Cao Song, but he couldn't do it again after speaking. .

"Zhuzi!" Cao Song was so angry for the first time, and wanted to strike a lesson, but he raised his hand but didn't hit.

----

The autumn wind turned around and found that there were still many yellow leaves in the garden, so he started to work.

"Father, since you have already said this, can you allow Ah Mo to finish all the disrespectful words?"

"Oh, it's just that my father is too arrogant and indulgent to you, anyway, you can say it all."

"In the past, Ah Mo didn't want to study at the Taixue University, but because he couldn't integrate into it. The children of the Gein family all regarded me as an eunuch. I think my father also felt it when he was an official." Cao Cao raised his head. Looking at Cao Song, he saw that he was very calm and did not intend to reprimand, so he continued: "The Qingliu of the gentry and the eunuch party have long been in conflict, and the power of the eunuch party must rest with the emperor and it is only in the palace. The situation is also feared that the emperor's plan will not last long, and the great Han land is mostly controlled by the family, Qingliu, powerful and others, so even if the father is an official to the Sangong, if he does not approve, my Cao family will not be easy to prosper."

"Nonsense! If it is according to what you said, my Cao family will not have a bright future!"

"Aman was also frustrated by this, but after thinking about what I heard recently, I suddenly realized that there is indeed a way to promote the prestige of my Cao family! I think back in those days when Wei, Huo, and Longwei made military achievements, Tian, ​​and Lu Yifu Entering the imperial court, if the Cao family has several people to expand the frontiers and defeat the enemy, command the army and confer titles, and the family's caravans and stores are everywhere, and the storehouses are full of money and food, my father can imagine who would dare to take it lightly. The key to this journey is that the war will start, Without war, there is no merit, and without war, there is no need for wealth."

"The person in charge of the army is not difficult to find, nor is it difficult to find money, food and land. But where is the battle? In a certain view, the disputes are all over the temple these days. The general servants are all in the city of Luoyang and there is no military power. How can there be a war? Xianbei's rebellion in the north will not last long, and it is enough to send one side of the army to break it, and the rest will live in peace. How can we fight?"

"Father, don't underestimate that sandalwood locust tree. It is said that he has been in power in Xianbei for only a few decades and has gathered hundreds of thousands of riders. His reputation is as strong as ever, but he has endured it until now. Once he starts it, he will be unstoppable. Now he is sending envoys to seek peace. , and the Son of Heaven must have a response to accumulating this huge wealth, and one party has been investigating for several years, and the three parties will definitely fight endlessly from now on.”

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Ouyang Qi woke up from a dream in Longwei Mansion, Taipei, Yizhou. The dream was very long, but he didn’t remember much of what he dreamed of. The messy images gave him some headaches. The only clear thing was his father’s unwilling face , yes, only this hesitating face that often appeared in his dreams recently.

"I miss you so much, Father!" Ouyang Qi murmured while rubbing his temples, and after he finished speaking, several servants came in with their utensils
"Report, the second son returned to the mansion, heard that Junhou got up, and wanted to come to pay his respects." Ouyang Qi was refreshed after washing up, and was about to call everyone for a discussion when he heard the report from his servants. "Forget it, call him to meet in the front hall."

"Father is fine, I am very happy, I hope father will take care of himself!" Ouyang Ling knelt down and kowtowed as he entered the door.

"You and my father and son don't need to be like this. I heard that you have returned from Jiangnan, can you make progress in your plan?" Ouyang Qi has always been quite at ease with this frail and taciturn second son. People... His insight into people's hearts and his decision-making are far superior to those of his two brothers. He is also stable and sophisticated in his actions and never out of line. Ouyang Qi was a little surprised that he would follow his elder brother Ouyang Jun to change the general plan of the mansion this time.

"How does father know that my son is wrong, I hope father will punish him." Ouyang Ling's kneeling body visibly trembled, and then quickly kowtowed again to admit his mistake and beg for punishment.

"Get up, this is your brother's claim. I know all about it. How is the situation in Jiangnan?" Ouyang Qi felt his son's timidity but smiled and asked unhurriedly.

"After the boy crossed the sea, he inspected and inspected various matters in the Jiangnan base. He thought that although there were minor flaws, the overall situation was good. Afterwards, he also arranged the important tasks for the next six months, and reported the required financial resources to Mr. Fan."

After explaining the routine affairs, Ouyang Ling paused, glanced at Ouyang Qi and said cautiously: "Before returning, my boy met Sun Wentai and tested his heart. He thought that although this person was hesitant, if the government was powerful in the future, he would accept him. It's not difficult."

"Oh? That's how you see it. What do you think about your elder brother's support of the Taiping Dao to start an early riot?" Ouyang Qi still asked with a smile.

"Brother and elder brother acted ahead of time, my child thinks there are advantages and disadvantages, and generally speaking, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages." Looking at the smiling father, Ouyang Ling felt a chill in his heart, and then he was overwhelmed.

Come to test me again, every time you do something big, you have to test me, no matter how good I am, even if I have always followed the rules like walking on thin ice, even if I am more filial to you than anyone else, even if I have tried my best to help him, you still have to habitually test me , I'm afraid that I have the heart to fight...

Isn't it because I'm the second son?Isn't it because I was born late and never saw my grandfather?Isn't it because the grandfather recognized him as the son?Except for some brute force, how can he and the third child be better than me?Didn't the grandfather also say that the capable will rise and the mediocre will fall?
"Ling'er, but it's okay to say."

"My boy thinks that Taiping and others may not be sincerely attached. At this time, there may be changes in the future of support; and although the Han court is weak and corrupt, it has not been consumed for many years, and the world is used to respecting the Liu family. The preparations in the mansion have not yet been fully prepared. Things may not be easy. However, this year the Xianbei resurgence, the momentum is aggressive, if the peace and chaos again, there will be frequent visions, and this is also a good opportunity for the uprising. Gu Haier begged to open up land for rice planting in Zhuya County, which is similar to Yizhou It is the same, it is also one-year-old and two to three-year-old, if the elder brother has trouble in the future, the birth here will be a helping hand, I don’t know what my father thinks?” This is the plan and rhetoric he has thought up for a long time, since you are all optimistic Ouyang Jun, let's wait and see, my fate is up to me!

"Well, Linger's opinion is indeed reasonable. You are exhausted and go back to rest. We will discuss matters with the political affairs hall tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)