Chapter Thirteen Sour Dates

Cao Mengde's power is still weak now, but the boat is easy to turn. If anything happens, everyone can work together immediately and it can be done quickly.

But after all, without a dedicated person to paint praises, Chen Gong had to be busy with government affairs and appeasing the people, and Cao Hong was not very proficient in this. If it weren't for Wei Zhen, who had a family background, Cao Mengde would not have been able to obtain such huge profits in such a short period of time.

Now that he has tens of millions of dollars in hand, and more profits are coming in a steady stream, Cao Mengde immediately takes off, purchasing food and recruiting troops.

As long as these two industries are kept in hand and the technology is not leaked, at least for a few years, there will be no need to worry about insufficient money.

Cao Mengde defeated Dong Zhuo and advocated righteousness. His reputation spread widely and was known to many aristocratic families. His business is easy to do wherever he goes at this stage. Even under the rule of Dong Zhuo in Guanzhong, Wei Zhen is now involved. After all, both glazed mirrors and soap are good things.

Maybe in the future, Cao Mengde would have enemies with the surrounding princes, and business would not be as easy as now, but by that time, he had already developed. What's more, businessmen are eager to make profits. As long as the goods are good, they don't have to worry about not being able to sell them.

Then Xia Houyuan got to know Zhao Yu carefully from the mouths of Cao Mengde and Cao Hong.

Surprised: "Is this Mr. Zhao still an immortal?"

Cao Hong said: "Don't disbelieve in wonderful talents. Both me and my eldest brother have seen Mr. Zhao's magic."

Cao Mengde said: "At that time, I was ambushed and almost died. It was Mr. Zhao who came to the rescue and blocked Dong's army with one person. I have personally experienced his magic."

"This..." This is really unbelievable. Xia Houyuan said hesitantly: "Could it be Zhang Jiao's?"

"Don't talk nonsense." Cao Mengde said sternly: "It's just a joke, a demon, and a false destiny to deceive people's hearts. How can you be compared with Mr. Zhao? You must not talk nonsense in front of Mr. Zhao. If not, the family will take care of you!" "

Xia Houyuan's face turned red: "What the elder brother said is that I am sensitive."

Said: "Since Mr. Zhao is from the Immortal Family, how could he interact with the eldest brother..."

Cao Mengde smiled and said: "Isn't this a good thing? You see, Mr. Zhao is from the Immortal Family, which is where my destiny belongs. Since he came to Zhongmou, he has never taken care of anything or taken power, but he has given me many treasures. The help is unparalleled. Besides..."

There are many things that Cao Mengde would not say in front of people like Chen Gong, but in front of the children of the Xiahou family and the Cao family, he has no scruples and absolutely trusts them.

An inexplicable light flashed in Cao Mengde's eyes: "Mr. Zhao is undoubtedly an immortal. Although he claims to have just embarked on the immortal path,..."

Cao Hong said next to him: "If one day, I may not be able to get some benefits."

Xia Houyuan was startled: "Hiss... Brother, the immortal family has always been slim, and immortality is like a mirror, flowers in the water, and the moon. You shouldn't think like this. Think about Qin Shihuang and Emperor Xiaowu, who also worked hard, but in the end they were all vain."

"That's because they have never met a true immortal." Cao Mengde waved his sleeves: "I, Cao Mengde, do not desire immortality, nor do I desire immortality. But with the immortal family by my side, I can always guarantee a long life without illness or disaster. "

Then he said: "Mr. Zhao once said that he would establish a separate courtyard in his sect. I don't know when. At that time, I will teach Ang'er to join Mr. Zhao's sect. What do you think?"

Cao Hong said with a smile: "I said that the eldest brother has never mentioned it, but it turns out that he has always been worried about it."

"This is an obvious thing. Mr. Zhao must also know it." Cao Mengde waved his hand: "It's just that now is not the time. I, Cao Mengde, don't even have a place to stay, so I won't mention it."

"This is a good thing." Xiahou Yuan thought: "It's time to stuff all the children of the Cao family and the Xiahou family into it, haha..."

The three of them laughed.

After chatting for a while, Cao Mengde said: "In short, you must not be evil to Mr. Zhao."

Trying to find ways to be tied to the immortal is the way to go.

Then Cao Mengde got down to business: "Nowadays, there are so many things. Chen Gongtai is busy with his feet off the ground, and I also have a headache. I don't know where there are talented people. It would be great if they could help me. On the other hand, Mr. Zhao asserted that in the beginning of the new year, there will be bandits in Montenegro. Going south to plunder Dongjun, I must prepare early."

After a pause, he said: "You came back at the right time. With you here, Zi Lian can get out of military training."

He said: "The matter of military training is a matter of great talent. Zilian," he said to Cao Hong again: "Take some men and go to Hanoi and Weijun to lay nails secretly. Always pay attention to the Black Mountain bandits and Yu Fuluo. , once there is any movement, immediately send someone to report it."

Cao Mengde arranged everything in a few words.

The next day, Chen Gong was called into the study for a detailed discussion. Chen Gong then left Zhongmu and went to Puyang, Dongjun.

Cao Mengde came to see Zhao Yu again and asked Zhao Yu to temporarily take charge of Zhongmu's government affairs. However, Zhao Yu was not happy and had to let Xia Houyuan take charge as well.

Then Cao Cao said that he wanted to go south to the wild jujube.

"I'm going to Suanzao to meet Yuan Benchu ​​in a few days to talk about our old friendship." Cao Mengde said: "Although talented people are capable, most of them are in military strategy. If there is anything inappropriate, please ask Mr. Zhao to take care of it." a bit."

When Zhao Yu heard this, he was immediately moved. It was not that he wanted to look after Gu Zhongmou, but that he also wanted to meet Yuan Benzhu, who was famous all over the world, to see what kind of person he was. But he thought that some of the experiments in the small world had reached a critical point, and it was not possible to see Yuan Shao for a while, so he had to hold back for the time being.

But before Cao Mengde could leave, Yuan Shao's envoy arrived first.

"Meet Mr. Cao."

Yuan Shao's envoy said: "The general sent a messenger to summon Cao Gong to meet us at Suanzao as soon as possible."

Cao Mengde's expression changed and he asked, "What's the matter with the general's interrogation office?"

"The general will know as soon as he says it." The messenger said, "Now that I have informed Duke Cao, I will leave."

"So eager?"

"Not only did Mr. Cao do it, but the general also ordered the villain to summon Kuang Zhang Yang, the king of Hanoi..."

"Oh." Cao Mengde said thoughtfully, "Then just go quickly."

After the envoy left, Cao Mengde called Zhao Yu, Chen Gong, Xia Houyuan and Cao Hong to the study and said, "Yuan Benchu ​​sent a message asking me to take some jujube for a while. I don't know why."

Xia Houyuan thought about it for a moment and said, "Maybe he is Dong's thief?"

Cao Mengde shook his head slightly, but his eyes fell on Zhao Yu.

If it were Dong Zhuo, Yuan Benchu ​​would not have hesitated and would have joined forces to attack Guanzhong. This must be done not for Dong Zhuo.

Zhao Yu smiled slightly: "Haha..."

After a pause, he said: "Dong Zhuo deposed the young emperor and established a new emperor, and now he is forcing the Manchu ministers and the new emperor to move their capital to Guanzhong Chang'an. Although Dong Zhuo is good at deposing the emperor, the new emperor is of the blood of the Ling Emperor and the Han Dynasty. Dong Zhuo has famous weapons in his hands. Yuan Benchu ​​must be afraid..."

Cao Mengde laughed loudly: "Mr. Zhao is right!"

At this time, Xia Houyuan also wanted to pass and said: "Yuan Benchu ​​must be afraid that Dong Zhuo holds the famous weapon. He takes the position of general by himself. His reputation is not justified. Could it be..."

A flash of surprise flashed in Xia Houyuan's eyes.

Cao Mengde laughed and said: "Perhaps Yuan Benchu ​​was arrogant and wanted to re-establish others and be on par with the emperor of Chang'an in the east and west! Otherwise, he only needs to pass the order as the leader and general. How can we come to discuss it in person?"

Cao Hong suddenly understood.

"What do you think, Brother Meng De?" Zhao Yu asked with a smile.

Cao Mengde looked sighing and said: "Yuan Benchu ​​is not a human son."

"Brother, do you want to go to Suanzao?" Cao Hong said.

"Go, why don't you go?" Cao Mengde showed a self-deprecating look: "Based on my understanding of Yuan Benchu, if I don't go, I will definitely offend him and be resented by him. Not only will I go, I will also reprimand him in person! "

Xia Houyuan was puzzled: "If the eldest brother doesn't go, he will be offended. Could it be that if I reprimand him, I won't be resented by him?"

Cao Mengde smiled and said: "Yuan Benchu ​​is such a person. Don't make him suspicious when you have friendship with him. If you are suspicious, he will bear a grudge. It is better to be honest and open with him. I am friends with him, not him. Being subordinate is natural."

"But just in case..." Cao Mengde smiled and said to Zhao Yu, "I'm afraid I have to ask Mr. Zhao to come with me."

Zhao Yu laughed: "Before Meng De said to remove the wild dates, I was a little quiet and thoughtful. Since Meng De invites you, it's okay to go for a while. I want to see what kind of person Yuan Benchu ​​is."

Cao Mengde smiled and said: "This will definitely disappoint you sir."

Cao Mengde spent half a day taking care of the affairs in his hands. All the important military and political affairs in Zhongmou were handled by Xiahou Yuan before Chen Gong returned. As for Cao Hong, he took the manpower trained in the past few months and went to Hanoi to plant nails.

Cao Mengde and Zhao Yu, on the other hand, rode lightly on fast horses and only brought more than ten followers with them. They went all the way southeast and entered Chenliu territory. And jujube is in Chenliu.

At the beginning of the year, the princes from all walks of life gathered in Suanzao. However, due to different ideas, Yuan Benchu ​​was afraid of Dong Zhuo's military strength and hesitated to move forward. More than 100,000 troops were stationed in Jujube, spending only money and food every day without achieving anything. Cao Mengde was alone and helpless. When news came that Dong Zhuo had forced the court to move westward and had the young emperor killed, Cao Mengde was so angry that he led thousands of troops into Henan County and was defeated in Xingyang.

If the original historical trend is followed, after Cao Mengde was defeated, he was rescued by Cao Hong, and then returned directly to Suanzao, where he argued his interests with the princes and gave specific plans on how to advance the army, Dong Zhuo would definitely be defeated. But the princes were unmoved, and left Suanzao in despair, and went to Yangzhou with Xiahou Dun to recruit troops. Then they became subordinates to Yuan Shao and stationed in Hanoi with thousands of soldiers and horses until they defeated the Black Mountain bandits. Yuan Shaobiao was appointed as the prefect of Dongjun.

However, here, Zhao Yu appeared.

So Cao Mengde stayed in Zhongmou for more than three months and simply forgot about the wild jujube.

Because of Zhao Yu's appearance, Cao Mengde's heroic heart awakened in advance.

Now, more than three months later, Cao Mengde has an overall plan in mind. Suanzao must go, and Yuan Benchu ​​must make friends. Even if Yuan Shao didn't send an envoy, he was already ready to leave.

A quick ride on a light horse, a journey of two hundred miles, and we arrived the next day.

Seeing the stretching military tents in the distance, Zhao Yu couldn't help but sigh: "There are so many soldiers and horses stationed here, but they are doing nothing. They are really full."

Cao Mengde sighed: "Zi Zi'er, they are all withered bones in the tomb."

He still felt a lot of dissatisfaction in his heart.

Upon learning of Cao Mengde's arrival, Chenliu Prefect Zhang Miao and Yanzhou Governor Liu Dai personally came out of camp to greet him.

These two people are both friends of Cao Mengde.