Chapter 52 Banquet

It has been more than two years since Cao Song fled to Langya, Xuzhou because Cao Mengde launched an army to attack Dong.

At first, Cao Ren personally escorted and resettled him.

Speaking of which, in the chaotic times of the late Han Dynasty, at least at this stage, various princes are still concerned about many hidden rules. For example, Cao Mengde's hometown, Peiguo Qiao County, was previously within Yuan Shu's sphere of influence. Although Cao Song went to Langya to avoid disaster, the Cao family and the Xiahou family were both large and powerful, and many clans remained in Qiao County. But Yuan Shu had never had any interest in the two clans.

Cao Song avoided trouble in Langya, and Langya was in Xuzhou. Tao Qian and Cao Mengde were also in two camps, but during this period, Tao Qian did not attack Cao Song.

This is probably what is meant by the saying that harm cannot be brought to the family.

So Cao Mengde never thought about what problems his father Cao Song would have in Xuzhou.

But rules are meant to be broken.

Zhao Yu said: "The old lady is avoiding trouble in Xuzhou. After all, it is a foreign land and it is no better than home. Now that the princes are everywhere and the conflicts are getting more and more serious, I am afraid that... Mengde has gained a foothold, and it is time to invite the old lady back."

After hearing this, Cao Mengde couldn't help but nodded: "Sir, that's right. I was so busy that I almost forgot. It's really unfilial!"

Zhao Yu said: "It's not too late."

He laughed and said: "If the old lady has an accident in Xuzhou, what should Meng De do?"

Cao Mengde frowned: "I must kill Tao Gongzu!"

Zhao Yu stroked his palm: "Then Mengde can start doing it."

Cao Mengde's expression changed and he laughed: "You want Tao Gongzu to take the blame?"

"Why not?" Zhao Yu said with a smile: "First of all, please be honest and ask the old lady to come back. Then secretly send people to Xuzhou to escape a golden cicada... But this must involve the old lady. I don't know where the old lady is... "

Cao Mengde smiled and said: "Don't be afraid, my father will not object, on the contrary, he will support it."

"That's good." Zhao Yu said: "Mengde is like this, and Tao Qian is guilty, so he mobilized all his troops to attack Xuzhou. Yanzhou is empty. Do you think it's time for those people to jump out?"

"one stone two bird?"

"Killing two birds with one stone." Zhao Yu laughed and said, "But it won't be easy to eat the Xuzhou bird in one fight."

"It doesn't matter, we'll occupy Langya, Donghai and Pengcheng first, and eat half of it later." Cao Mengde was not greedy, thinking of the benefits, his face was filled with joy: "I opened the door, Xuzhou is flat, and I can still run away!"

"As long as Meng De knows what's going on."

Zhao Yu said: "In that case, we can start preparations. Meng De will go back to Puyang first, and I will go in a few days."

In the following days, Zhao Yu acted busy, and everyone in the other courtyard knew that Zhao Yu was about to travel far.

Zhao Yu arranged a study plan for Cao Ang and other children. Reading and literacy were supervised by Uncle Cai, and martial arts training was supervised by Guan Hai. As soon as everything was ready, Zhao Yu took Cai Yan and the couple away. The other courtyard went to Puyang.

The couple traveled in a horse-drawn carriage, leaving behind the motorcycle. Zhao Yu was driving, and Zhao Ji was in the car. They were driving slowly, enjoying themselves by looking at the scenery or chatting.

After entering Puyang and arriving at the Prefecture Mufu, Cao Mengde welcomed the couple into the house. After a while, more civil servants and military officers arrived. So a banquet was held for the guests, and they drank and drank among each other.

In the hall, the singers and dancers were waving their long sleeves, and the musicians were tinkling, playing drums, harps and shengs.

Cao Mengde is sitting at the top, with Zhao Yu on the right, and Xun Yu below Zhao Yu, and so on. Cao Hong is the first on the left, followed by Cao Chun, and there are some people Zhao Yu doesn't know. They watched the singing and dancing and chatted in low voices.

During Zhao Yu's absence in Puyang, as Cao Mengde's power became more and more stable, and he set up a recruitment hall and posted recruitment orders, many knowledgeable people joined his ranks. Regardless of whether they were civil or military, there were many more people than before. Those who can sit in the hall are all capable and talented people who have entered Cao Mengde's eyes.

Among them were the envoys from Jingzhou, the people from Yi that Cao Mengde mentioned a few days ago.

Because he was an envoy, he ranked third, below Xun Yu and above Chen Gong. But Cheng Yu is not here, but it is because Cheng Yu went to Zhang Ling to celebrate his birthday and was not in Puyang.

During the banquet, Yi Ji would secretly look at Zhao Yu from time to time. He really couldn't figure it out. Why didn't he hear Zhao Yu's name, but this person could sit on the right side and his status was higher than Xun Yu?

"Mr. Zhao is polite."

Yi Ji leaned over, raised his wine cup across Xun Yu, paid respect to Zhao Yu, and said, "I'm from Yi Ji. I've heard about Mr. Zhao's name for a long time, and I have great respect for him."

Zhao Yu smiled slightly, changed his respect, and said, "Uncle Ji also knows about me?"

The words are quite teasing.

A flash of embarrassment flashed across Yi Ji's face and he said, "Teach Mr. Zhao a joke."

Zhao Yu shook his head slightly: "Uncle Ji has a great talent, and I have admired him for a long time."

In the middle, Xun Yu said with a smile: "Mr. Zhao does not seek to be well-known. It is common sense for Brother Ji not to know."

The three of them talked and laughed.

After they were full of wine and food, Cao Mengde waved his hand and asked people to take away the singing and dancing food.

Cao Mengde laughed and said, "Why do you have time to come to my humble room today, sir?"

Zhao Yu said: "The first thing is to be quiet and restless, and the second thing is to say goodbye to Meng De."

Cao Mengde looked shocked and shouted: "But what is wrong with me, sir?"

Zhao Yu shook his head and laughed: "Why make such a fuss about Meng De? It's not that there's anything wrong with Meng De, it's that I'm just thinking about it."

After a pause, Zhao Yu said: "I have been in the other courtyard for nearly half a year, and I feel like my bones are rusty. As the saying goes, it is better to travel thousands of miles than to read thousands of books. I plan to take my wife with me to travel around the world and see everywhere. Another thing...Meng Dezhi I have reached a critical point in my meditation practice, and I also want to find a place where Yuan Qi gathers, and sit there in order to break through the realm."

After hearing this, Cao Mengde raised his eyebrows and said, "Sir, if you want to sit in prison, isn't there a good place in Yanzhou? Why should you sacrifice the near for the far?"

Zhao Yu shook his head: "It has to be famous mountains and rivers."

Cao Mengde was silent for a long time and sighed: "It's not like there are no famous mountains in Yanzhou."

Zhao Yu shook his head and said: "Either Western Shu or Nanshan, it has to be these two places. Meng De, I have made up my mind, you don't need to persuade me anymore."

Cao Mengde looked disappointed: "Everything is busy in Yanzhou now, but my husband has to leave. I..."

Zhao Yu said: "Why is Meng De like this? It only lasts two or three years. I will come back when I have completed my cultivation. In the other courtyard, ten disciples are still there. I have not fulfilled my responsibility as a teacher. How can I leave? No return?"

Cao Mengde seemed to have thought of this and said, "That's why sir, you shouldn't stay away."

Zhao Yu smiled and said: "Yi Ying's disciples are young. In my original apprenticeship plan, I only laid the foundation in the past two or three years. If I really want to teach, it will take two or three years. That's when I came back. when."

Cao Mengde was silent for a moment and sighed again and again: "Since your mind has been made up, I can't say any more. Anyway, your husband is going to travel far and I don't know what he will need. I should prepare everything for him."

Zhao Yu said: "No, no, no, I've already prepared it."

Xun Yu, who was standing next to him, said: "Why should you refuse, sir? I see that when you came today, you only had a carriage with Mrs. Zhaoji and nothing else. Unless you want to go back to another courtyard."

Zhao Yu laughed and said, "If Wen Ruo doesn't know my methods, no wonder he has such doubts."