Jianming Chaos

Cao Ren and Li Dian fled back to Xuchang, went to see Cao Cao, and pleaded guilty.

When Cao Cao asked about the situation of the battle, Cao Ren told the truth, and said: "General Li has advised me many times, but I have turned a deaf ear to it, which led to the defeat of this army. Please punish me for my crime!"

Li Dian said: "This failure is not the fault of General Cao Ren alone. I am also at fault. Please punish us both!"

Cao Cao smiled, went down to help them up, and said: "Winning or losing is a common matter in military affairs, and Er Qing doesn't have to blame himself; but I don't know who gave advice for Liu Bei?"

Cao Ren remembered what Guan Yu had said, and said, "I remember, the person who caused our army's disastrous defeat seems to be called Shan Fu, and he must be Liu Bei's military advisor."

Cao Cao asked, "Who is Shan Fu?"

Cao Ren shook his head.Cao Cao asked all the generals in the hall: "Do you know this person?"

Adviser Cheng Yu stood up and said, "I know a man with the same name, also named Shan Fu."

Cao Cao said happily, "Zhongde (Cheng Yu's character) please tell me."

Cheng Yu said: "This man's original name was Xu Shu, thanks to his list of blessings. He used to live in Yingchuan, and I was a good friend with him when we were young. He was good at learning swords since he was a child. In that year, he hacked to death a local bully in order to avenge his friend, and was killed by him. He was imprisoned in a large prison. Seeing that he was young and he was doing harm to the people, the jailer felt pity for him for a moment, so he let him go privately. He and his family escaped from Yingchuan, and since then his name has been concealed. Later, I heard that he went to Jingzhou He worshiped Sima Hui as his teacher and became his favorite disciple. If I guessed correctly, General Cao Ren should be referring to him.”

Everyone had heard of Sima Hui's name and admired him very much.

Cao Cao asked: "How is Xu Shu's talent compared to Zhong De?"

"His talent is ten times better than mine, and I feel ashamed." Cheng Yu said truthfully.

Everyone was in an uproar.Cao Cao shook his head and sighed: "It's a pity that such a good talent fell into Liu Bei's hands!"

"It's not difficult for the prime minister to get him." Cheng Yu already had a plan in mind.

"Zhongde means..." Cao Cao's eyes lit up.

"Xu Shu lost his father since he was a child, and his mother is eighty years old. She lives in a small village not far from Xuchang City. I think she is a godmother. She was originally taken care of by the second son Xu Kang, but Xu Kang died of illness recently. , she is lonely, and cooks wild vegetables to satisfy her hunger every day. The prime minister can send someone to pick her up to Beijing, and then write a letter to Xu Shu. Xu Shu is a famous filial son. If he knows that his mother is in the hands of the prime minister, he will definitely go to Beijing to find her. mother."

Cao Cao understood: "Zhongde wants the old man to threaten the son with his mother?"

"The prime minister is brilliant."

Cao Cao was overjoyed: "If this is the case, then the event will be completed. Zhongde, you are her godson, and I will leave this matter to you."

"Yes, Prime Minister, I will definitely finish it as soon as possible." Cheng Yu went home immediately to prepare gifts, and went to see Mother Xu that day.

Xu's mother's home is not far from Xuchang, and Cheng Yu arrived soon.He greeted her when he entered the house.

Xu's mother said in surprise: "Zhongde, why are you? I heard that you are now an official of the imperial court. Why did you come to visit me, a dying woman?"

"Where, the godmother's words are serious. Yuanzhi (Xu Shu's character) has also become an official, doesn't the godmother know?"

"Oh, what official?"

"He took refuge with Liu Bei and served as a military advisor in Xinye."

Mother Xu said happily: "Really? That's great, he finally found his home."

Cheng Yu put the gift on the table and said: "This is my heart, please accept it."

Xu's mother was flattered: "This... no, I can't take your things."

"You're welcome, godmother, you have taken care of me before, this is what I should do."

Mother Xu refused to accept it anyway.Cheng Yu said: "If the godmother doesn't accept it, please follow me into the capital. I want to take the godmother into my mansion and enjoy my old age in peace."

"Go to your mansion? No, no, no, I can't afford it. I live here well, no need." Xu's mother has been walking around all year round, used to living a poor life, and suddenly received an invitation from a wealthy family, but dared not accept it.

"Godmother, please don't decline. Yuan Shun just passed away, Yuan Zhi was not around, and no one took care of the godmother. I want to do a little filial piety for the two of them, and I believe they will not object." Cheng Yu's reason was heard at first glance There is nothing wrong with that.

Mother Xu shook her head blindly.Seeing that she was worried, Cheng Yu continued: "Godmother, don't worry too much. I have been friends with Yuanzhi for many years, and I just want to do something for him. After all, he has helped me before. Don't worry, godmother, I will take care of you." Take care of you, you just treat it as your own home."

"I..." Mother Xu always felt weird and couldn't tell what she felt.

"Godmother don't need to worry too much, just follow me. In fact, I had planned to take the godmother to Beijing early in the morning, but I can't speak. Now that Yuan Shun has left, it just gives me a chance to take care of the godmother for the rest of my life. Then The conditions here are much better than here, and I guarantee that the godmother will not want to come back after she goes." Cheng Yu's lure was in place.

After some rhetoric from him, Xu's mother finally fell in love.She simply packed her luggage, and followed him at every step. To be honest, she was really reluctant to part with this dilapidated house.Since Xu Shu went out to learn art from a teacher, Xu Kang has been taking care of her, and the two of them can't eat enough every day.Today, she suddenly had to rise from the predicament of poverty to the one of no worries about food and clothing. She had mixed feelings, thinking that the spirit of her second son in heaven would be very gratifying.

Cheng Yu brought her into the mansion, walked through the courtyard, and came straight to the backyard.Xu's mother looked around all the way, and felt that she had come to a paradise - spacious space, gorgeous decoration, and air full of golden smell... She looked up at the ceiling, which was full of flower carvings in different shapes, dazzling and dizzying Give.

Cheng Yu took her into the bedroom and said: "Godmother, you will live here from now on, and the bed has been arranged. You rest for a while, and someone will deliver the food later. I have ordered the chef to make your favorite food." braised pork; after the meal, someone will come to give you a full-body massage."

Mother Xu sat on the bed, feeling the soft quilt, and couldn't believe the facts before her eyes.She didn't understand what kind of medicine was sold in Cheng Yu's gourd, and she didn't know that there was always ugliness hidden behind beauty.

After Cheng Yu settled her down, he went to the Prime Minister's Mansion to report to Cao Cao: "Prime Minister, the matter is settled."

Cao Cao said happily, "Where is she? The old man is going to see her."

"Prime Minister, don't be in a hurry. The godmother just arrived in our mansion, let her settle down; if you go to find her now, it will make her suspicious. During this time, I will ask someone to take good care of her, and I will make my own arrangements for the future."

Cao Cao thought about it and agreed.

Since then, Xu's mother has lived a life like heaven, with no worries about food and clothing, accompanied by family members when she goes in and out, and even has a dedicated person to take care of changing clothes and bathing.Her face was rosy, her wrinkles were less, and her fat had grown, making her look much younger.The service here is really considerate, and she has to admit that life inside and outside the palace is indeed very different.

…………

It has been half a month in the blink of an eye, and Xu's mother is living a carefree life in Cheng's mansion.

On this day, Cao Cao suddenly came to greet him with a gift.Xu's mother was very surprised, and said: "The Prime Minister has a lot of things to do every day, why did you come here in person? The old woman is flattered!"

Cao Cao said with a smile on his face: "A few days ago, I overheard Zhong De say that he brought his godmother back to the mansion to take care of her. The old man specially came to visit you today, and I want to discuss something with you, old lady."

"Oh, Zhong De actually told the prime minister about his private affairs. Dare I ask why the prime minister is here today?" Xu's mother felt that Cao Cao should not appear here unless it was something important.

"I think the old lady should know that your son is engaged in Liu Bei's affairs in Xinye, right?"

"I know, Zhongde told me. Does the prime minister know Gouzi?"

"Does the old lady know that Liu Bei is a traitor?" Cao Cao didn't answer her directly.

"Oh? How did you know that?" Mother Xu frowned.

"He pretended to be the emperor's uncle, but he refused to submit to the court. What is it if he is not a rebellious minister?"

"Prime Minister, you are wrong. Although I am a poor woman, I also know that Liu Bei is the great-great-great-grandson of Emperor Xiaojing after King Jing of Zhongshan. He spreads faith and righteousness throughout the world. He is a great hero in the eyes of the common people. Why did the prime minister call him a rebellious minister?" Xu's mother felt a little unhappy when she saw him berate Liu Bei like this.

Cao Cao was speechless for a moment.Xu's mother asked directly: "The prime minister is not here just to say these things?"

Cao Cao immediately smiled again and said, "Of course not, I want to ask you one thing."

"Oh? The prime minister is so powerful in the Central Plains, do you still come to beg me, an old lady?" Mother Xu didn't like him at first, and now she speaks even more rudely.

Cao Cao suppressed his anger and said: "I want you to write to your son and ask him to come to Xuchang. I will arrange for you two to live together so that you can reunite mother and child, okay?"

Xu's mother immediately saw through his intentions and said angrily: "Hmph, that's why you came to me! You want the dog to turn to the dark and work for you! Don't even think about it!"

Cao Cao didn't expect her to refuse, so he said angrily, "Old man, don't be ignorant! I came to beg you with good intentions, but you talk to me in such a tone, you have eaten the guts of a leopard?!"

Xu's mother flushed with anger, and said: "I understand. You have planned to trick me into Xuchang on purpose. The purpose is to try your best to get the dog! Tell you, give up this heart, I will never let You got it!"

"You..." Cao Cao was furious and at a loss for a while, "Don't forget, you are in my hands now, and I can kill you at any time!"

"You kill me! I have an old life, and death is not a pity, but you don't want to get him!" Xu's mother became more and more angry, "You use the name of the Han Dynasty, but you are actually a Han traitor, disrupting the government, and trying to establish yourself as the king! Animal, I am at odds with you!"

After saying that, she picked up a stone inkstone on the table and smashed it.Cao Cao avoided the stone inkstone, but was splashed all over with ink.

Mother Xu laughed and said, "You deserve it! Let me smear you again, hahahaha!"

Cao Cao was so angry that his lungs were about to explode, but he suppressed his anger and said, "I will ask you one last time, are you willing to help me with this favor? I can assure you that you, mother and son, will be carefree all your life and enjoy the glory and wealth." !"

Faced with his tricks, Xu's mother said angrily: "Cao Aman (Cao Cao's nickname), anyway, my old life will not last long, so I don't care about these things. The dog has taken refuge in Uncle Liu Huang. I am too happy, how can I call you?" He came to rely on you! You shameless bastard, get out of here!"

Cao Cao didn't expect that she would dare to call him by his nickname. His patience had reached its limit, and he said through gritted teeth, "You arrogant bitch, I'm going to kill you! Someone, drag me out and beat you while hanging!"

Two warriors came in from the door, one on the left and the other on the right, carrying Xu's mother and walking out.

"Cao Aman, if you kill me, Gouzi will never let you go! Even if I'm a ghost, I won't let you go! I will become a ghost to harass you every day!" Mother Xu lost her mind and kept yelling.

The warrior tied his limbs tightly, hung him upside down, and was about to whip him when suddenly someone shouted "stop!" It turned out that Cheng Yu had come.

"Put her down quickly!" Cheng Yu ordered the warriors, then winked at Cao Cao.

The warrior looked at Cao Cao.Cao Cao hesitated for a moment, then signaled to let him go.

After Xu's mother was released, Cheng Yu shouted at the warriors and said, "The godmother is frightened. With me around, they dare not touch a single hair of your hair."

Xu's mother was in shock and said: "You actually tricked me into this kind of place, you...you are no longer the Cheng Yu I knew back then..."

Without explaining, Cheng Yu helped her into the bedroom, pretended not to know, and asked, "Godmother, what's going on?"

Mother Xu was taken aback, and asked back: "Didn't you guys have secretly discussed how to get Xu Shu here?"

Cheng Yu was also taken aback, pretending to think for a moment, and said: "I completely understand, godmother. You misunderstood. In fact, I shouldn't have told the prime minister about your living here. He said he would come to visit you at the mansion, and I It's just a joke, I didn't expect him to really come and use you to do things for him. No, I'll talk to him."

Xu's mother was confused by him, and she couldn't turn her head around all of a sudden, so she had to trust him for the time being.

After settling Xu's mother, Cheng Yu came outside the house and said to Cao Cao, "Prime Minister, you can't kill him!"

Cao Cao's lingering flames were still alive, and he said, "What's the use of keeping such an arrogant woman!"

"Prime Minister, please calm down. Although the first plan failed, I still have a second plan." Cheng Yu whispered in his ear.

After Cao Cao heard this, his anger turned into joy: "Zhongde still has a way, and I will leave everything to you!"

Cheng Yu returned to the bedroom and said to Mother Xu: "Mother, I have persuaded the prime minister, he will not come to harass you again, you can rest assured."

Mother Xu believed it was true and breathed a sigh of relief.

From then on, Cheng Yu gave her a gift every day, with a note on which to write some blessings; Xu's mother also wrote a reply note every day, expressing her gratitude.

A week later, Cheng Yu had seven manuscripts in hand.With a natural ability to imitate, he imitated his tone and handwriting, wrote a book, which contained the meaning of summoning Xu Shu to Beijing, and asked his confidant to send it to Xinye on the same day, and told him to hand it over to Xu Shu himself.