Three Kingdoms

  Chapter 2453 The means of royal seal

Of course, China must pay attention to humility, so it is impossible for Cao Cao to declare himself as the Prime Minister of the same day as Dong Zhuo, and then he will be the Prime Minister. , "Embarrassing responsibility", I am afraid it is "below the expectations of everyone", so that everyone has a buffer, and it also prevents the face of the emperor from falling to the ground on the spot.

   But everyone knows that this matter has already been settled in all likelihood. Unless the emperor is going to turn against Cao Cao, the prime minister of Old Cao is basically stable, but it’s just one day sooner or later.

  After the chaotic early morning meeting, the emperor naturally returned to the apse, but Cui Yan felt that the emperor's footsteps were a little erratic when he walked back, presumably because he was somewhat uncontrollable emotionally.

  Cui Yan put himself in the emperor’s place and thought about it. Do you think this matter is actually not a bad thing? After all, even if the emperor does not recognize Cao Cao as the prime minister, isn’t Cao Cao caught by the outside court?

right?

Of course, giving Cao Cao the title of prime minister will make Cao Cao more justified in doing these things, and it will represent the decline of imperial power and the loss of more right to speak, but the problem is that doing so is for the current big man, for Jizhou Yuzhou, as well as other areas controlled by Cao Cao, can almost immediately relieve some turmoil, which is beneficial to the Han society as a whole.

  Well, the "Dahan Sheji" here has actually drawn out the area in Guanzhong...

   However, since Emperor Guangwu, there have been many conflicts between Shandong and Shanxi, and now they are only completely on the surface, so it is not an unacceptable major event.

  One matter must have both positive and negative effects. This may also be an opportunity for the emperor. It depends on whether the emperor Liu Xie can grasp it!

  The same opportunity, some people can't even grasp it, but some people can use it to the extreme. This may be the difference between a mediocre person and a capable person.

Although the old classmate Cao was manipulated by Fei Qian's series of black hands at the beginning, it made his own territory look a little bit burnt out. There is nothing he can do, but once he returns to the field he is good at, the operation is really exciting.

The title of prime minister is not only a difference in name, but also represents a large number of new radish pits under the prime minister, and these radish pits will greatly ease the conflicts in Jizhou, Yuzhou, and other states and counties due to tight positions. , And it will also make these internal personnel who had some conflicts under Cao Cao's rule become "obedient" to a certain extent again.

  For example, Cui Yan.

The biggest conflict between the children of the Jizhou gentry and Cao Cao before was the uneven distribution of benefits, or strictly speaking, there were not enough positions for the group of Jizhou people. Now if Cao Cao becomes the prime minister, there will be more Naturally, Cui Yan has a share of the position, not to mention anything else, at least one Cao Cao in the prime minister's mansion is still there.

  Cui Yan will not worry that Cao Cao will cross the river and tear down the bridge, because this is the rule after all. Cui Yan took the lead in raising the flag for Cao Cao. Could it be that Cao Cao turned around and threw Cui Yan away? If he is really so short-sighted, how will Cao Cao convince the public and employ people in the future?

  So after the Jizhou gentry and others learned about this, they quickly reached a consensus and recommended Cao Cao to be the prime minister. In the same way, Zang Ba and Cai Hao also had similar thoughts.

  In this incident, Cao Cao backed down a step, but to some extent profited. After all, Cao Cao didn't want to completely break the broken pot, but hoped that he could save some soup. The reason why there were conflicts and disputes with the local tyrants in Jizhou and Yuzhou before was not because the original "cake" was too small to move around, and everyone could eat so much, but now it is almost equivalent to making the "cake" If it is expanded, the natural contradictions will be reduced, or slowed down.

   Xun Yu may have seen this step earlier, but he has not said or done it for a long time, just because Xun Yu still has some loyalty to the emperor Liu Xie in his heart. But for Guo Jia, he has no thoughts or burdens in this regard. Of course, he can choose what is more beneficial.

Although Guo Jia's strategy is not perfect in some respects, and may even be suspected of treating the symptoms rather than the root cause, but at the moment when it has gradually reached a dead end, the only way is naturally the best the way...

   Xun Yu knew what Liu Xie was doing, and Guo Jia knew it too, but Xun Yu cared, and Guo Jia didn't care.

In the previous battle of Jingzhou, Cao Cao won first, then lost, and then made peace. Although he had meritorious service, it was not a big victory. However, this time in the battle of Qingxu, he lost first and won. Not only did he gain, but he also eliminated some Hidden dangers are naturally a "big victory". Anyway, just don't compare yourself with that Hussar.

  Based on such a premise, Cao Cao took advantage of the opportunity to ascend to the position of prime minister, and he had a relatively good reason, and it was easier for ordinary people to accept...

   And among these ordinary people, the emperor Liu Xie was obviously not included.

   Liu Xie returned to the apse, but took off the heavy crown, didn't even change his clothes, and drove all the eunuchs out.

  The warm pavilion in the back hall is not big, and the carved green gauze divides it into two parts, inside and outside.

  There is a table case and brocade mat outside. A row of bookshelves stood on one side, holding some idle volumes. The serious books or memorials are in another study room, most of which are not very important books. There is a Langhao pen on the desk case, and there is still some ink on the nib.

  Behind the green gauze partition is a sleeper that can be used for temporary rest. Incense is lit in a corner of the inner room. The elegant and delicate fragrance is just the finest spices from the Western Regions.

  But these things that are difficult for ordinary people to obtain cannot bring peace of mind to Liu Xie.

  Liu Xie sat behind the table, frowning.

  He didn't know if it was because of Cao Cao's counterattack caused by his actions during this period of time, or because Cao Cao originally had this intention in this regard, and then waited for this opportunity now.

   This time, Liu Xie already felt very careful.

  After all, he still vaguely remembers Dong Cheng’s death, and sometimes at night he would be awakened by the sound of a woman’s weeping, and then he turned over and sat up, only to realize that it was just the wind blowing through the treetops.

  Liu Xie has been thinking hard, um, carefully accumulating his own strength, he yearns for the outside world, looks forward to the future man, imagines the blue sky and the vast land...

   It just so happened that Liu Xie knew that Cao Cao was not doing well some time ago.

   Competing against hussars, Cao Cao suffered in many places.

When Cao Cao went to Yecheng, the princes of Xiahou were busy guarding against the hussars, and they had to deal with Jiangdong on the other side. For a while, no one cared about Liu Xie, nor would they have any intentions to make things difficult for him. Liu Xie was preparing He arranged some of his own little days well, and thought carefully, but he didn't expect that after a short time, there was a thunderbolt, and then pouring rain and hail hit his face.

   Pain in my heart!

  Even though Liu Xie doesn't have much experience in fighting for power, he instinctively knows that this is definitely not a good thing!

Although Cao Cao's ascension to the prime minister's position was not finalized at today's court meeting, Liu Xie knew that this was definitely just the beginning, and there would be a second person and a third person to perform on the table until Cao Cao's "favored" ascension Until the position of prime minister!

Liu Xie couldn't help but picked up the Langhao pen on the table, and then moved the pen like flying on the paper on the desk table, writing down the four characters "his heart can be punished", especially the character "Zhu", which pierced through the back of the paper, with a long stroke Na is as sharp as a blade!

Liu Xie let out a long breath, then tossed the pen, ignoring the stained pen and ink splashed a large amount of ink on the table, stood up, and turned around with his hands behind his back in the small apse room two laps.

   Then turned two more times.

   When turning to the third two laps, Liu Xie finally calmed down a little.

  Does he have the ability to prevent Cao Cao from ascending to the position of prime minister?

  He really wants to have it, and he is still working hard to accumulate it, but unfortunately, Liu Xie knows very well that his current strength is not enough to compete with Cao Cao.

So…

Liu Xie sighed slightly, remained silent for a moment, raised his head and was about to go out, but suddenly stopped when he reached the door, then turned his head back to the table, grabbed the piece of paper on which he had just written, Kneaded into a ball, looked left and right, and finally stuffed it in his sleeve, then turned around and walked towards the queen.

After Liu Xie left, a cleaning **** came in with low eyebrows. Not long after, he found the ink stains on the table case. It's a pity that although some ink color seeped through the paper and remained on the table, only that stroke seemed to be more obvious, and the rest of the words were relatively vague, and it was not sure what was written.

  The **** looked up at the door, his eyes flashed, but he quickly lowered his head again...

  For Liu Xie, it was just a helpless psychological struggle in the palace, but for most officials, it was unconcealable joy in their hearts.

  After the early dynasty, Cui Yan followed the flow of people to Shangshutai.

The Shangshutai seems to be always busy, with people coming in and out, almost as busy as not touching the ground, but even so, after seeing Cui Yan, these officials, big and small, did not hesitate to offer The brightest smiling face is like peach blossoms in March.

   There were even those who led Cui Yan himself, standing at the corner of the road, bending over and waiting for Cui Yan to walk past before leaving. Cui Yan was somewhat flattered by his politeness.

  『Ji Gui is loyal and bright, with a long history of elegance and knowledge. He is by no means a mediocre person. Today, Zhuang is more beautiful than before. He pushes the square and straight the way. He is really a role model for my generation! 』Walking at Shangshutai, Lu Hong, the chancellor of Weiwei Temple, walked straight a few steps to Cui Yan with a smile on his face, praised Cui Yan, and then invited Cui Yan to enter the hall.

  Cui Yan was polite, and then walked into the hall with Lu Hong, and then worshiped and accepted the edict.

To Cui Yan's surprise, besides changing his Biejia to Inspector this time, he was also given an additional official position as a servant. What a noble position, but this so-called small one is relatively speaking.

Ordinary people, even for this kind of official promotion, start as a doctor, and then after a while, it will take at least a year before they can be promoted to Shangshulang, and after a while, they can be promoted to minister .

   Above the servant is the servant.

Normally speaking, it is not bad to be appointed as a minister or minister, but Cui Yan was exempted from the time spent on aptitude, and stepped into the rank of official minister who was banned in one step. A kind of grace is added.

  Servant, from the beginning of the Qin Dynasty, was an additional official from Liehou to Langzhong. There was no fixed number of people.

Although Cui Yan was a little surprised, his etiquette remained undisturbed. After receiving the official edict respectfully, all the officials around him congratulated him again. In comparison, it is quite different.

  But this is also a reasonable thing. After all, when Shizhong was in the Qin Dynasty, he still had a history of being a prime minister. Cui Yan is now carrying the banner for Cao Cao first, so he is naturally worthy of this position of servant.

  However, it should have been an extremely harmonious atmosphere, but soon disappeared with the arrival of a person.

An old man with gray beard and hair came along the corridor, looked up and saw a group of people laughing and chatting around Cui Yan, his face was a little unhappy, when he walked near Cui Yan, his eyes narrowed coldly, his face There was some sarcasm on his face, and he raised his hand slightly, as if saluting, and as if flicking dust outside, "Ji Gui is now a blockbuster, and he enjoys a generous salary, which is really the envy of the world... Congratulations." It's just that when you are proud of your life, you still need to be cautious and self-denial. Some bad words, tell each other according to the situation, listen or not, it is up to you to listen. 』

  What does it mean? It probably means that I am a straightforward version of the Han Dynasty.

   Cui Yan smiled slightly, showing no lack of etiquette, and cupped his hands and said, "Brother Tai Kuo, please give me some advice. 』

  Liu was too much, Liu Yi glanced sideways at Lu Hong who was beside Cui Yan, and said nothing, just shook his sleeves and turned away.

"Huh..." Lu Hong let out a cold snort of unknown meaning, and then saw Cui Yan turned his head, and put on a smiling face again, "This person is just relying on the old to sell the old, a person with no power and power... Hehe, this time Some people speak nonsense, Ji Guixiu should take it to heart..."

   Powerless?

   Ha ha, not necessarily.

  Liu Yi, if you talk about it, can be regarded as the elder of the three dynasties. During the period of Emperor Han Ling, he once served as Taichang and Sikong. Although he was dismissed in the second year, which was a typical example of the three men who took the blame, he was also a top official of the Han Dynasty after all. Naturally unusual.

  In addition, Liu Yi has a twisted and twisted relationship with the royal family. Now he is in the post of Taichang, responsible for various ancestral temple etiquette, and he is old. Basically, others will be courteous when they see him.

Such a position as Liu Yi, such an identity, basically determines that he must stand on the position of the emperor Liu Xie, but he is old, and his subordinates are either great dancers or star-watchers. It's just a matter of making do with ghosts, and I can't do anything if I really want to. At most, I can only beat the side drums like I am doing now, and I can't do anything else.

  Cui Yan waved the flag for Cao Cao this time. On the surface, it was only Cao Cao who was promoted to prime minister, but as long as he knew something in his heart, he would know what it represented. In the eyes of the pro-Cao faction, Cui Yan naturally became one of his own, and the courtesy and enthusiasm that came along the way were also born of this. It is an unforgivable sin!

  In Liu Yi's words, he basically regards Cui Yan as a flattering villain, a scum of Shilin...

   Then Lu Hongzhi said, "don't care about it" on the surface, but in fact it was more of an instigation.

Cui Yan smiled and said: "It's too often good words to warn you, it's a kind heart, but the friendship is shallow but not deep, or ignorant and insensitive, and it's just a thank you... I still have something to do, we will meet again... sorry , let Rong leave first..." After finishing speaking, he did not wait for Lu Hong's response, and turned his head to signal to the surrounding Shangshutai officials, and then left.

The reason why he didn’t continue talking with Lu Hong was that on the one hand, Cui Yan felt that Lu Hong might not be smiling, but he might not have good intentions; Digging a hole for him to attract people like Liu Yi...

   That is, the current emperor is weak, so he can do this, otherwise...

Anyway, Cui Yan is the same as most of the children of Jizhou gentry. He could offer "loyalty" to Yuan Shao back then, and he can offer "loyalty" to Cao Cao now. Offer "loyalty" to Emperor Liu Xie without hesitation.

   It's just that this "loyalty" is based on the premise of ensuring the interests of the family. To put it bluntly, Cui Yan and others basically have nothing to do with true loyalty, only actual interests.

When Cui Yan left Shangshutai and was about to reach his temporary residence in Xu County, before he left the gate of the official residence, suddenly another attendant rushed from behind and shouted loudly: "Servant Cui ! Cui Shizhong, please stay! The great general came down again, and invited Cui Shizhong to go to the great general's mansion to receive the imperial order! 』

  When these voices fell, the surrounding people couldn't help but burst into an uproar!

   Received imperial seals twice a day!

   Before stepping out of the official residence of the court, the back foot went to the General's Mansion to receive the seal!

Feeling the envious eyes cast by the surrounding officials, Cui Yan was surprised, but also aware of a serious crisis. In this way, his original position as the leader of the Jizhou gentry will face a very big change. !

  Cui Yan’s face color remained unchanged, but his heart began to feel a little orange...

  Even if the prime minister's affairs failed this time, Cui Yan knew that he was firmly labeled as Boss Cao, the kind that he couldn't tear it off!

   On the surface, there are two seals a day, but in fact it kills two birds with one stone!

   No, it even serves multiple purposes!

  Cao Cao, this is really...

  Good trick!

  (end of this chapter)