Chapter 2021 Overt and covert exploration, overt and covert chess


    Mid April.


    ?Cao Cao held the withered and thin Zhuang He and remained silent.


    Outside Yecheng, large areas of fields have been replanted with new wheat, but after planting, there is no rain to moisten the fields. As a result, the fields in many places have experienced drought, and some places have even cracked and split. The wheat seedlings that went down were like the hair of a senior IT man. It looked like it was there, but it couldn''t be covered.


    Because of this situation, Cao Cao naturally did not send troops.


    Those who play politics are dirty, not because others are so clean, but because those others, even if they are dirty, will probably only affect a few people around them, while those who can play politics will affect a large area.


    ??Does Cao Cao really want to raise an army to attack Feiqian?


    ? Even if he wants to fight, the target is not Fei Qian...


    ??Swearing the oath can, firstly, boost morale and unite people''s hearts. Secondly, it can also collect some food and grass and make some reserves. Thirdly, if Cao Cao makes an attack posture in Yecheng, no one will be prepared for Cao Cao''s other actions...


    ?In addition, you can also arrest some guys who are hooking up with the hussar generals and identify which of the nobles in Jizhou have crooked butts.


    Where is Zhou Zifeng? ” Cao Cao asked, leaving Zhuang He behind.


    A group of waiting local officials quickly gave guidance. After Cao Cao and his party bypassed the hills and a forest, they saw in the distance that Zhou Zhang was leading some people to survey the water conservancy situation.


    Seeing Cao Cao coming, Zhou Zhang hurriedly stepped forward to salute.


    I have to say that Cao Cao is very friendly to talents, especially when they are very useful to him, such as meeting Xu You when he was fighting against Yuan Shao, and accepting Cai Mao before the Battle of Chibi...


    "No courtesy, no courtesy..." Cao Cao stepped forward with a smile and helped Zhou Zhang up, seemingly unaware that Zhou Zhang''s hands were stained with mud, "Zifeng, how about the mulberry farming here...?" 』


    Zhou Zhang was originally a garrison officer in Yuzhou, with the title of a captain, but he did not actually control the soldiers, and the army commanders under him controlled the garrison soldiers. Zhou Zhang was mainly responsible for some technical matters, basically He is considered a technical officer.


    ?Now that Cao Cao is in charge of Jizhou, he swapped the original field officers in Jizhou with those in Yuzhou, and asked Zhou Zhang to come to Jizhou to deal with the farming and mulberry issues near Yecheng first.


    Of course, the most important thing is the drought at hand.


    "Report to Duke Ming..." Zhou Zhang sighed slightly, frowned, and whispered, "There has been no rain for many days, the land has dried up, and the rivers have bottomed out... I''m afraid... a severe drought is not far away..."


    ??Cao Cao''s smile remained the same, but something seemed to jump in his little eyes. After a while, he said slowly: "So, what can Zifeng do?" "Those who have a method and can use it are naturally talents. If it is of no use and you just spread your hands all day long and say there is nothing you can do, can you still call it a talent?"


    Zhou Zhang stretched out a hand, tugged at his fingers and said: "One is that the water level of the river has dropped. These waterwheels need to be redone, otherwise they will not be able to draw water and will be just like decorations... Second, choose a low-lying and humid place. Try to dig deep wells and collect water for irrigation... Third, if you replant now, you will never be able to plant wheat again. You can only replant some bean sprouts for emergency... Fourth, gather manpower to save the semi-arid fields first, so as not to disperse the water power, which will lead to failure. Live...Fifth, collect these drought relief methods into a document and distribute them to local areas. Treatment must be carried out quickly without any further delay...Zhang Bucai, now he can only think of some corresponding methods..."


    『Good! Cao Cao laughed loudly and said loudly, "If you have children here, why worry about not having enough grain!" Just as Zifeng said! If you can have a good harvest this year, it will be a great contribution to the country and save the people from fire and water! Let’s take a bow! 』


    ??? Cao Cao said, straightened his crown, then arched his hands, and fell to the ground towards Zhou Zhangchang!


    ?Zhou Zhang quickly knelt down and bowed in return, and then was helped up by Cao Cao. Cao Cao made another series of words of effort, and said that he would send someone to take care of Zhou Zhang''s food and daily life, so that he could concentrate on controlling the drought. If there was any need to control the drought, it would be approved without reporting it...


    Zhou Zhang is extremely grateful.


    Before leaving, Cao Cao glanced at Song Hang and waved.


    Song Hang hurriedly came forward to pay his respects. Song Hang was originally in the Forbidden Army. Seeing his talent, Cao Cao transferred him to the position of military secretary. Later, he was promoted to military commander, responsible for military affairs.


    ??Cao Cao nodded, stopped smiling, and said seriously: "Have a good time assisting Zifeng!" If there is anything wrong, you are the only one to ask! 』


    Song Hang naturally responded loudly.


    ??Cao Cao stretched out his hand and patted Song Hang''s shoulder, then put on a smile again, said goodbye to Zhou Zhang, and then left for Yecheng. Although Cao Cao seemed confident and smiling on the surface, in fact, after he entered the mansion, his face darkened...


    The drought was more serious than Cao Cao originally imagined.


    Jizhou and Yuzhou are populous states. Even though there have been constant wars in the past few years, the foundation is still there. Similarly, they are also large agricultural states. In addition, they are basically located in a plain area, so they naturally have more acres of land. However, now, these advantages are There are signs of a sharp turn into a disadvantage.


    ?The large number of acres means that once the agriculture and mulberry industry is hit by a large-scale disaster, the overall economy will suffer greater damage. The large population also means that if it is not controlled well, there will be floods of disaster victims!


    Come here! ” After Cao Cao sat down, he was silent for a while, “Send someone to keep an eye on Song Zijing. If there is anything wrong, come and report it quickly!” "Zhou Zhang is the official figure to rescue the drought, and Song Hang is Cao Cao''s deputy who arranges to "assist" Zhou Zhang. However, Cao Cao is still worried and has to send his own Cao family to keep an eye on Song Hang.


    ?Farming and mulberry matters are the authority of the country. How can we easily delegate them to others?


    Whether these are learned secretly from Guanzhong, returned to their hometown, or those with a bachelor''s degree in agriculture and a bachelor''s degree in engineering, the farming techniques in their hands are all passed down from the Feiqian school. How can this make Cao Cao feel at ease?


    But the frustrating thing is that Cao Cao has to use these people. No matter what happens, the result is the most obvious and the best reason. These people can improve efficiency and increase production, so even if Cao Cao has many concerns, he still has to use them.


    The Cao clan and the Xiahou clan can be used to lead troops in battle, advance the army and provide logistics.


    ??The Cao family and the Xiahou family are no less good at intrigues and quarrels in the court.


    But the problem is the fields...


    ??It is not that Cao Cao has not resisted, he also tried to imitate it with his own craftsmen, but the result...


    Most of the gentry in other Jizhou and Yuzhou were similar, and were even influenced by those with a bachelor''s degree in agriculture and a bachelor''s degree in engineering. At least most of the measuring instruments used now have become a unified format, because only in this way, they were brought by the hussar general Fei Qian. Only the various technologies that come out can be used easily, otherwise things that are a thousand miles away from each other are not only found in cutting-edge technology, but are also easy to encounter in the mulberry fields.


    ?When Cao Pi came to check things out at dawn and dusk, he saw Cao Cao looking at the table in a daze.


    On the table, there are only two thin, long and flat objects, like two rulers.


    "Well, Father..." Cao Pi bowed down.


    Cao Cao came back from his trance and pointed to the seat next to him, "Sit down." 』


    I have to say that the Han Dynasty praised filial piety, which is indeed very good in some aspects. At least children should care about their parents every day. The morning and evening routine is something that no matter whether they are high officials or small, in office or in the opposition, they will do it. It is not like the children of later generations calling back. The most common word spoken at home is "money", but the most common word parents talk to their children when they call them is "Are you going home for dinner?" 』


    What are you worried about, father? "Although Cao Pi felt that he might be in trouble if he asked, he couldn''t pretend like he didn''t see anything, so he had to bite the bullet and ask.


    Cao Cao pointed to the two rulers on the table.


    ?Cao Pi stepped forward, took two rulers and looked at them. In fact, there was not much difference, except that the lengths were slightly different.


    "One is originally used by Yingchuan, and the other is..." Cao Cao raised his head, straightened his waist, and looked straight ahead, "The other one is Huang''s Ruler..."


    ?Cao Pi raised his eyebrows.


    "I thought..." Cao Cao said a few words, then paused, looked at Cao Pi, and said, "Zhou Zhang and Zhou Zifeng, do you know who he is?" 』


    ??Cao Pi''s eyes rolled around a few times and he said, "But the Colonel of Tuntian?" 』


    ??Cao Cao nodded and said: "This Huang''s ruler was used by the former landowner of Yecheng... Hum, Zhou Zhang and Zhou Zifeng also used Huang''s ruler for measurement..."


    ??Cao Pi was stunned for a moment: "My father, what do you mean...the two of them...may have some connection?" 』


    ??Cao Cao lowered his eyes and said, "Someone once asked him to switch to the Yingchuan Ruler... He refused on the grounds that "it is a measuring instrument that is related to each other. Changing one item alone would be inconvenient"..."


    ?Cao Pi frowned and asked, "Is this just an excuse?" 』


    ??Cao Cao shook his head and said, "No." "    "ah? ”Cao Pi’s eyes widened.


    Cao Cao snorted, "The hussars may take several months, or half a year, or use caravans, or send letters to deliver some mulberry planting and animal husbandry points. All the measures used are Huang''s utensils... If you want to change it, you can use it." It’s really not easy to move your whole body with one shot..."


    ??Cao Pi rolled his eyes, "Is there any spying... or guests coming and going..."


    ??Cao Cao glanced sideways at Cao Pi and said, "Think carefully before you speak!" 』


    Cao Pi was immediately stuck.


    This only proves that these people are indeed connected with the Hussars, but then what? Isn''t it a good thing to get the latest technology from Hussar? Could it be possible that these people should reject it? Even if Cao Cao is willing, will other wealthy noble families be willing? Therefore, just saying that these people have received this information and saying that these people have espionage behavior will not work. The most direct evidence must be caught. However, in the era when there are marriages all over the Three Kingdoms and relatives are everywhere, let’s chat and say a few words. What, can it be considered something?


    Just like in history, Liu Bei married a member of the Sun family, and Zhang Fei married a member of the Xiahou family. There were usually relatives among them, so could they all be arrested?


    "I understand..." Cao Pi looked at Cao Cao''s expression and said with some caution, "Father is not worried about him leaking the news, but worried that these people will take advantage of the natural disaster to do anything..."


    Cao Cao nodded and sighed. It is precisely because of this that Cao Cao sent people to monitor him closely.


    "In that case..." Cao Pi said, "Why not replace it..."


    Hearing this, Cao Cao threw another eye knife.


    ??Cao Pi suddenly understood, and suddenly smacked his mouth twice in embarrassment.


    ??Cao Pi could want to find someone to replace him, wouldn''t Cao Cao have thought of it? In fact, Cao Cao had already sent some people to Chang''an, pretending to be students from poor families, and entering the Agricultural Society and the Engineering Society to study. But the problem is that this study does not mean that you enter the gate of the Agricultural Society and the Engineering Society today and just wander around tomorrow. Those who were able to study and return, and Cao Cao learned that many of the more important technologies were actually not in the Agricultural Society and Engineering Society, but in the Huang Family Workshop...


    ?It is not completely impossible to sneak into the Huang Family Workshop. The Huang Family Workshop also recruits some craftsmen from outside. Starting from the outer circle workshop, you can progress further in about five or six years, and you can touch something in more than ten years.


    This time is too long, much longer than a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a bachelor’s degree in engineering…


    ??Among the Cao family and the Xiahou family, it is easy to find someone to pretend to be a poor family, but it is not so easy to find a great craftsman who is proficient in skills.


    Even if they are really found, these great craftsmen are not named Cao. After all, it will take at least more than ten years to enter key positions. And within more than ten years, normally, the next generation will come out. If they bite the bullet, Stomping one''s feet and abandoning the wife, children and children here, wouldn''t it be...


    So we can only use someone from the Cao family and the Xiahou family, change the name, and find a way secretly. But such a person has to learn from scratch, and the difficulty is more than a little bit difficult? Therefore, before these people really master some skills, Cao Cao does not dare to touch people like Zhou Zhang and Wang Ming easily. Maybe if they do something here, the Qiusi will come back with revenge?


    Just like Cao Cao knows that there are some people who are the eyes and ears of the Hussars, and as long as he doesn''t go too far, Cao Cao will not say that they must be wiped out. General Fei Qian of the Hussars must also know that there are many people in Chang''an who are Sent from other regions…


    It is like the embassies of later generations.


    ??Do you really think that the main job of each embassy is to clean the **** of chartered flights for naughty kids? It was just done by the way, but in the end, some naughty children and their parents thought it was something the embassy had to do.


    Cao Cao sighed slightly again.


    Cao Cao used to think that Fei Qian was walking fast, just one step faster, so as long as he quickened his pace, he could catch up. But now he found that when he took a step, Fei Qian was also taking a step, and when he ran a step, Fei Qian was also taking a step. Take one step, and even walk more and further than yourself...


    ??This has to be said to be a very heavy blow to Cao Cao, who was extremely ambitious.


    Since Fei Qian has the courage to accommodate spies from various families, Cao Cao can certainly accommodate Zhou Zhang and Wang Ming here. If nothing else, at least Zhou Zhang and Wang Ming work seriously and don''t have bad intentions, which will definitely be helpful to Cao Cao.


    Fortunately, news came back from the eyes and ears in Chang''an that the Sanfu area of ??Chang''an was also severely affected. General Fei Qian of the Hussars even sent soldiers to assist the people in disaster relief...


    This is good news. If God really favors it, and only Jizhou and Yuzhou are severely affected, while the three auxiliaries in Guanzhong and Pingyang in the north are all fine, then my pledge to swear an oath will immediately turn from virtual to real, and the boat will burn. Make a last ditch effort!


    But now that both sides have suffered disaster, it can still be accepted, and we will slowly figure it out...


    ?This is also bad news. The hussar general Fei Qian asked his soldiers to assist the people in disaster relief, which will inevitably win over the hearts of a large number of ordinary people in Guanzhong. This is not a good thing for Cao Cao in future confrontations between the two sides.


    ?After this disaster, Fei Qian''s position in Guanzhong must have become more stable, and Cao Cao himself in Jizhou, has the distance from Fei Qian been shortened, or has it been widened again?


    ?This is what Cao Cao is really worried about, not just the two rulers on the table.


    ??Cao Pi was about to return the ruler, but was stopped by Cao Cao.


    ??Cao Cao looked at Cao Pi and said: "The hussar can measure the world at a short distance and travel across ten thousand acres of fields. What do you want and what do you want?" 』


    "ah? ” Cao Pi suddenly felt a little frightened and had a strong, bad premonition.


    “You can use this ruler to judge...” Sure enough, Cao Cao has never let Cao Pi down. “I’ll hand it over in three days!” Go! 』


    Cao Pi didn''t dare to show his face of mourning, and couldn''t show joy naturally. In the end, he could only maintain a "calm" expression. After agreeing, he walked out holding two rulers, but because of a slight He was distracted and almost collided with Dong Zhao, who was rushing over.


    “Ah, I have seen the young master...” Dong Zhao saluted Cao Pi.


    "There is no need to be polite when offering wine to Dong Zhao..." Cao Pi returned the gift, knowing that Dong Zhao must have something to do when he came, so he said, "Father is in the hall..."


    Dong Zhao then bowed his hands and left.


    Cao Pi did not leave immediately. He stared at Dong Zhao''s hurried back, his little eyes wandering around for several times. He knew that something must have happened to Dong Zhao in such a hurry, but if he followed him now... After thinking for a while, Cao Pi finally held back. Out of curiosity, he lowered his head and looked at the two rulers in his arms. He really wanted to throw them away from a distance immediately. Finally, he sighed and staggered away.


    On the other side, Dong Zhao hurriedly visited Cao Cao.


    明公! Great joy! What a joy! Dong Zhao said repeatedly.


    Where does joy come from? ” asked Cao Cao.


    “Ming Gong, please read...” Dong Zhao took out a letter from his arms and presented it with both hands.


    The law of lending orders? ” Cao Cao stared at it with eyes the size of soybeans, looked up and down, and then looked at it again from the beginning, and was silent.


    Dong Zhao cupped his hands and said with a cold light in his eyes: "If the hussars act according to this law, there will definitely be chaos!" "The flaws in the Law of Loan Order, in the eyes of Dong Zhao and others, are like a little girl wearing only fishing nets. Even if she is not wearing any clothes, she is still wearing them, but there are holes everywhere.


    Cao Cao put down the slip and said, "Is this serious? 』


    It’s absolutely true! Dong Zhao nodded and said, "It is said that this order has been widely distributed to the three assistants and will be sent to all places in Hedong soon..."


    ‘Well…’ Cao Cao couldn’t help but feel a little excited, but he suppressed it and started thinking.


    ??Is it that the Cavalry General Fei Qian has been too successful during this period, so he is drifting? Stealing people''s money is like killing their parents. If the Cavalry General really did this, how many parents would it be equivalent to killing?


    Or…


    "Gongren, please tell me about this..." Cao Cao knocked on the slips on the table and said, "Secretly scattered in Hebei and Henan..."


    Dong Zhao was slightly puzzled, "My lord, what you mean is..."


    ??Cao Cao smiled and said, "Just do it if you are fair and benevolent..."


    Dong Zhao rolled his eyes twice and had no choice but to bow his hands and step back without mentioning it.


    ??Cao Cao looked at Dong Zhao''s back. After a long time, he sighed slightly, "Hey... I am a filial piety..."


    (End of this chapter)