Chapter 49: Ordinary

According to Cao Mengde's own ideas, he planned to settle down for another one to two years and accumulate enough information before launching an offensive on the surrounding areas.

But when people are in the arena, they can't help themselves.

Yuan Benchu ​​made it very clear that he wanted him to send troops to attack Yuan Shu.

And even without Yuan Shao's instructions, Cao Mengde couldn't help but react to Yuan Shu's movements during this period. What's more, Liu Biao of Jingzhou was also involved. Cao Mengde can't let his guard down.

Yuan Shao, Cao Mengde, and Liu Biao are now considered to be in the same camp. Yuan Shu, Tao Qian, and Gongsun Zan are in the same camp again. Yuan Shao sent someone to tell Cao Mengde that Liu Biao would take the lead in sending troops to Nanyang, and Yuan Shu would definitely refuse. At this time, Cao Mengde was needed to contain Yuan Shu.

In other words, Yuan Shao needs Cao Mengde and Liu Biao to cooperate to suppress Yuan Shu. The reason is that in the north, the fight between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan has reached the point of fighting with each other.

Here, Cao Mengde not only has to contain Yuan Shu, but also Tao Qian.

For this reason, Yuan Shao also specially sent 100,000 shi of grain as support.

Cao Mengde said: "I discussed it with Wen Ruo and Zhicai and decided to strike first."

When Zhao Yu heard this, his mind changed and he understood: "What Meng De means is, take Nanyang?!"

"Yes." Cao Mengde said, stroking his hands: "Didn't Mr. Xiang say that Nanyang can be used as a place for refining refined steel? If it falls into the hands of Liu Jingsheng, it would be a waste. I plan to send troops in advance and let Zixiao occupy Nanyang first."

Cao Ren's army is now deployed in Chenliu. The closest to Nanyang. If they want to occupy Nanyang, Cao Ren's troops will do their part.

Zhao Yu thought for a while, nodded and said: "Nanyang is indeed a good place, but how are you going to explain it to Liu Biao?"

Cao Mengde laughed and said, "Do I need to explain?"

Zhao Yu also laughed: "It's really not necessary."

To a certain extent, Cao Mengde shouldered the responsibility of containing Yuan Shu.

At most it's just a little bit of gossip, would Cao Mengde be afraid?

But what Zhao Yu was thinking about at this time was the direction of the world situation. From here on, I'm afraid it will deviate from the original history.

In the original history, Cao Mengde was unable to covet Nanyang at this time. So after the military campaign against Yuan Shu, Nanyang fell into Liu Biao's hands again. Later, during the chaos in Guanzhong and Zhang Ji died in battle, Zhang Xiu led the remaining troops out of Wuguan and entered Nanyang. Liu Biao surrendered and handed Nanyang over to Zhang Xiu to guard the northern gate for Liu Biao.

Later, Cao Mengde played with the Zou family, Zhang Xiu rebelled again, and Dian Wei and Cao Ang died in battle. But now that Cao Mengde wants to capture Nanyang first, what should have happened in history may be strangled at the source.

"Although Yuan Jiujiu has many soldiers and generals, I am not afraid of him." Cao Mengde added: "It's just that I don't have enough knowledge and manpower now. Even if I drive Yuan Jiujiu out of Huainan, I won't be able to govern him. And I can't do too much. , otherwise you will be feared by Yuan Benchu."

At this point, he sighed: "I'm powerless."

Zhao Yu laughed and said: "You are greedy. The great cause of the world must be achieved slowly. In a few years, what will Yuan Benchu ​​be?"

Cao Mengde laughed confidently: "Sir, what you said is right. After a few years, when the treasures given by you are digested one by one, who else in the world can stop me, Cao Mengde!" "Then the rare medicinal materials I want. .." Zhao Yu chuckled: "You can't forget it."

"Can't forget."

Cao Mengde laughed loudly: "It's because I was so busy that I neglected my husband. Don't worry, sir, we will have medicinal materials and rare items delivered to you in a month at most."

Zhao Yu nodded with satisfaction: "That's good. By the way, the types are not limited, but the quantity doesn't need to be too many. I can't grow them here."

Cao Mengde left, taking the hundred people with him.

These one hundred people are the seeds cultivated by Zhao Yu. After Cao Mengde brings them back, he will establish a state school in Puyang. Ten of these 100 people will be retained to bring out more elementary school teachers in the state school. At the same time, Mengxue, the foundation of the education system under Cao Mengde, will start from Puyang, gradually spread throughout Dongjun, and end up all over the world, starting from the most fundamental place and revolutionizing the Ding era. Although the Taihe Villa remains the same throughout the four seasons, the weather changes and are no different from those outside. When the wind should blow, the wind will blow, and when it should rain, it will rain. It’s just that snow or something is always impossible.

The scenery of Taihe Villa in the rain is unique.

Under the eaves of the wooden courtyard, Cai Yan played the piano while Zhao Yu listened. The sound of the piano, the sound of the rain and the wind are extremely harmonious at this moment.

Zhao Yu looked at Cai Yan's delicate face with a smile on his lips.

The relationship between the two seems a bit strange. It doesn't sound like they are a couple. It doesn't sound like they are friends. You could say they are close friends, but that doesn't sound like it. It seems to be between various relationships. But the intimacy is absolute, but we are also respectful to each other.

The longer she stayed in Taihe Villa, the calmer Cai Yan's heart became, and she suddenly felt that this was her destination.

Earlier, someone from the Chenliu Cai family came and wanted to take Cai Yan back, but Cai Yan refused. Later, Cai Yan's mother and younger sister Cai Jin simply moved from Chenliu and lived in another courtyard.

The other courtyard is a paradise isolated from the world. The war outside makes it difficult for the people to live, but here it is calm and comfortable, without any influence.

Zhao Yu would often take time to listen to Cai Yan playing the piano, and he didn't talk much each time. However, both Cai Yan and Zhao Yu became closer and closer through such unique and silent communication.

The servants of the other courtyard have regarded Cai Yan as the mistress of the other courtyard. Zhao Yu did not deny it, nor did Cai Yan admit it. Just silently.

The sound of the piano is clear and crisp, like the tinkling of spring water, and combined with the sound of wind and rain, it is like a symphony, harmonious and beautiful.

Cai Yan's mother, Mrs. Cai, was standing at the corner of the corridor in the distance, and Cai Jin was also there. Uncle Cai stood aside.

"Zhao Yu is not like a mortal, is this appropriate?" Mrs. Cai had a worried look on her face.

Cai Jin's face showed yearning. She felt that the relationship between her sister and Zhao Yu seemed to be what she longed for. She forgot to mention that although Cai Jin was only eleven years old, her marriage was already on the agenda. Someone in the family suggested a marriage with the Yang family of Taishan County.

Cai Jin was dissatisfied because the other half, Yang Gou, who was going to be engaged to her, was a widower.

And he was a widower much older than her.

But who makes the Taiyang family a famous family?

Uncle Cai whispered: "Madam, the young lady has suffered enough, let her..."

Mrs. Cai was slightly startled and sighed: "Okay..."

Then he said: "But this is not their solution. Lao Cai, please invite Zhao Yu over later and I will talk to him."

"Yes, ma'am."

...

In other words, Zhao Yu and Cai Yan came together naturally.

When Zhao Yu announced that he was going to marry Cai Yan, no one in the other courtyard was surprised. Mrs. Cai called him over before and asked him straight to the point what he thought and whether he wanted to get married. Zhao Yu naturally wanted to get married. After Mrs. Cai asked Cai Yan again, the matter was settled. It was smooth and uneventful at all.

But it is this plainness that is the most real.

Getting to this point is indeed a matter of course. Zhao Yu didn't deliberately think about how to chase, and Cai Yan didn't deliberately think about how to do it. He came over step by step. Be the listener and the listened to, the friend and the confidant. It doesn’t require so much fanfare.

Zhao Yu doesn't need it, because his temperament is almost natural.

Cai Yan doesn't need it because she has experienced it.

Since you are getting married, of course you have to take care of things. Zhao Yu and Cai Yan worked together to make some invitations. They mainly invited Cao Mengde and some familiar people, no more than twenty people in total. As for the Cai family, Cai Yan meant not to disturb them.

Zhao Yu didn't care either.

When Guan Hai sent the invitation to Puyang, Cao Mengde's family happened to move from Qiao County.

After receiving the invitation, Cao Mengde laughed and said to everyone around him: "Mr. Zhao is finally getting married!"

Then he said to Guan Hai, "Go back quickly and tell sir that I will be there tomorrow."

Last time Zhao Yu mentioned to Cao Mengde about accepting disciples, how could Cao Mengde dare to delay? So he simply moved his wife and children to Puyang. It's been almost a month and just arrived today. After sending Guan Hai away, Cao Mengde said to Dian Wei beside him: "First call me Zihe."

After a while, Cao Chun arrived.

A group of generals under Cao Mengde, Xiahou Dun, were stationed in Mount Tai to guard against the forces of Tao Qian of Xuzhou and Gongsun Zan of Qingzhou. Xia Houyuan and Yu Jin were in Pei State and were about to launch a military operation southward against Yuan Shu. Cao Ren was in Chenliu, and Cao Hong and Cao Chun were both in Puyang.

Cao Chun was highly valued by Cao Mengde. Cao Mengde formed a force of steel armored cavalry, named Hubao. Cao Chun commanded it and was at Cao Mengde's disposal at any time. "Brother."

Cao Mengde nodded: "Mr. Zhao is going to marry Miss Zhaoji, and I will go there tomorrow. I said before that I would accept disciples. You go to Yuan Rang, Miaocai, Zilian, and Zixiao's houses, choose one, and join them together tomorrow. Take it with you.”

When Cao Chun heard this, he laughed: "Yes, brother."

The invitations sent by Guan Hai are all here with Cao Mengde. In addition to Cao Mengde, the Xiahou brothers and the Cao brothers all had a share. But now they are inseparable and cannot go. There were also Chen Gong, Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, etc., whom Zhao Yu recognized, and they also all had invitations.

So Cao Mengde asked Dian Wei to make a trip in person to deliver the invitations to each person's house. When Dian Wei sent the invitation to Xun Yu's house, Xi Zhicai was also there.

Dian Wei met Xun Yu and held out the invitation: "Chang Xun, this is Mr. Zhao's invitation."

Xun Yu defected to Cao Mengde, first serving as Sima of another department. After Cao Mengde took control of Yanzhou, he appointed him as the governor of the state's pastoral office and counselor to Cao Mengde's military and political secrets. So Dian Wei called him Chang Shi.

Under Cao Mengde, the civil servants are now headed by Xun Yu. Even Cheng Yu had to lower his head. In the past year, it was thanks to Xun Yu that Yanzhou was able to smoothly go through the transition period of power transition. The credit was so great that Cheng Yu and others were resigned to being inferior.

Hearing this, Xun Yu took the invitation with both hands, opened it, looked at it, and said with a gentle smile: "It turns out that Mr. Zhao is getting married."

Then he said: "If the lord wants to go, it is not convenient for me to go. I will ask the butler to prepare a gift and deliver it to the lord's house later. I can't help but tell the lord to bring it to the lord to express his feelings."