Chapter 451 People’s hearts are in turmoil
Jinan, Licheng.

During the spring ploughing season, Cao Cao drove out to inspect and supervise the work.

If possible, he also wanted to divide the land into official units and let officials at all levels cultivate the land.

But although Qingzhou had been roughly settled, bandits in various places had not yet been eliminated, and military preparations could not be relaxed, let alone allowing officials to leave the organization.

Guanzhong is different. It has experienced great destruction and chaos and is almost a blank slate.

Under the weeping willows beside the spring stream, Cao Cao was looking at the clear spring pool with his hands behind his back.

The sound of horse hooves was particularly crisp. Cao Zhen, who was accompanying him, strode away and stopped the messenger about thirty steps away to avoid disturbing Cao Cao's interest.

He asked the rider to deliver the secret letter and then took his horse to the side to rest.

Cao Zhen brought the letter to Cao Cao: "Mingsir, this is an urgent delivery from Jiangxia."

"What is it?"

Cao Cao didn't even turn his head and his tone was slightly unhappy.

Cao Zhen then opened the seal, took out the letter, shook it open and showed surprise: "It's victory news. Zhou Yu led 2,000 soldiers to attack Suicheng. Huang Zu and Huang She, father and son, set an ambush. If Taishi Ci hadn't fought to the death to rescue him, Zhou Yu would have had a hard time escaping!"

Cao Zhen looked at the writing and smiled: "More than 1,200 people were captured and killed, and more than half of Zhou Yu's troops were killed."

This was just a routine report. Cao Cao didn't see Cao Zhen saying anything else, so he asked, "How many of the Huang family's father and son were killed?"

“It was not mentioned.”

"Humph!"

Cao Cao snorted and laughed disdainfully: "So, the Huang father and son ambushed Zhou Yu, and the losses they suffered were greater than the gains they made."

Cao Zhen whispered, "Perhaps it is because Taishi Ci's troops are extremely fierce and their casualties are huge."

“It may be possible.”

Cao Cao echoed and said, "This victory report has no beginning or end, which shows that the war process is not going smoothly. But Zhou Yu was ambushed, what does this mean?"

"Mingsir, are you referring to Zhou Yu and his followers who are interested in the imperial court?"

"Think again."

Cao Cao turned around with a smile on his face, "How ridiculous that Zhou Yu and Fu Xun took over the foundation of Liu Jingsheng and his son. How can such a good thing happen in the world? Zhou Yu's ambush is a clear proof. The road ahead of them is getting more and more difficult. Especially the title and salary system made by my child. What will the rich and powerful people in Jingzhou think about this?"

Cao Zhen listened without saying a word, thought seriously, and nodded slowly.

Cao Cao was in high spirits. He looked at the clear spring in front of him and exclaimed: "Great! Great, great!~"

Then he shook his sleeves, swung his arms with a proud and arrogant attitude, and strode towards the carriage.

When Cao Zhen saw this, he hurriedly followed.

Xiangyang City, formerly the headquarters of the General Zhennan.

Fu Xun strolled around, put his hand on the corridor pillar, and slowly looked up at the lingering rain clouds in spring.

Liu Wang followed him, and after a while, Liu Wang could not help but say: "Cui Zhouping left the position of Chief Secretary, and the Cai family is uneasy. They also had a grudge with the Grand Marshal. Now Zhou Gongjin has just been defeated and trapped in Xinye, and the Huang family is rampant. At this time when people's hearts are in turmoil, how can we trust the Cai family?"

"But if we can't gain the trust of the Cai family, how can we convince the people of Nanjun?"

Fu Xun had been in Jingzhou for a long time and really didn't want to start a killing spree.

Especially when Peacefully acquired Nanjun from Liu Qi, he would turn against him and kill him at the slightest sign of trouble, which would cause great trouble to future diplomatic work.

Liu Wang advised again: "Even if the Cai family turns against us, what can they do to you? Xiangyang City is strong and has deep moats, and there are 20,000 strong soldiers around it. Even if all of Nanjun rebels, you can defend this city to the death. When the enemy's strength recedes and the Grand Marshal's reinforcements arrive, you can calmly wipe out Nanjun."

Seeing Fu Xun remained silent, Liu Wang could not help but whisper again: "Even if we gain the trust of the Cai family, it will only maintain the situation in Nanjun. For the shogunate, what benefit will this move have? The Cai family led the rebellion of the whole county. Your Excellency has taken Xiangyang and turned the tide. How can the shogunate ignore it?"

Seeing that Liu Wang, a Nanyang native, wanted to torture the Cai family, the big families in Nanjun, and the scholars to death, Fu Xun couldn't help but say, "If we can trust each other and live in harmony, wouldn't it be wonderful?"

"Mingfu, at this point, how can the shogunate allow the Nanjun nobles to break the law?" Liu Wang looked anxious and tried to persuade him: "The Grand Marshal braved the arrows and seized the plank road to enter Shu, but he stayed in Mianzhu and refused to go south. It took him a hundred days to gain the trust of Shu. If we indulge the Nanjun nobles now, wouldn't it encourage the arrogance of the Shu nobles? If you do this, it will definitely make the Grand Marshal unhappy."

Fu Xun listened in silence for a long time, and seeing Liu Wang trying to persuade him again, he knew that a decision had to be made immediately.

Zhou Yu was ambushed and the people of Nanyang suffered a small loss.

If they don't listen to the opinions of the people of Nanyang now, Wen Pin, who commands the Wanshan camp, and Huang Zhong, who is stationed in Yicheng, are very likely to act on their own.

But if he submits to the people of Nanyang like this, how will he have the dignity and prestige to rule a region in the future?
Seeing that Fu Xun was hesitant to express his opinion, Liu Wang took a small step forward to pretend to listen, then bowed deeply: "Yes."

Fu Xun opened his mouth in surprise, while Liu Wang quickly took three steps back and turned around, walking towards the corner of the corridor with fast steps, nodding fiercely to the supervisor and the chief clerk, "Arrange it immediately!"

"Here!"

The two men immediately bowed, turned around and left.

At this time, Fu Xun quickly caught up with him, staring at Liu Wang with stern eyes and a serious voice: "What do you mean?"

"I don't know what conditions Cai used to impress the Lord, but I must keep Xiangyang."

Liu Wang let Fu Xun grab his arm without struggling, and said calmly: "As long as Xiangyang is there, Nanjun will only be slightly injured. If Xiangyang falls into the hands of the enemy, will the people have any way to retreat?"

Xiangyang can control the Han River. Losing Xiangyang is equivalent to losing Jingzhou.

The rebels who control Xiangyang have high military confidence and will certainly continue to increase their investment, attracting more onlookers to join and dragging more innocent people into joining.

As long as Xiangyang was always under their control, Liu Wang believed that the so-called rebels were just a layer of sweat produced after strenuous exercise, which could be easily wiped off.

Fu Xun stared at Liu Wang, but Liu Wang refused to give in, and the two men became increasingly hostile.

In the end, Fu Xun decided to compromise. Even if he won the fight, it would not benefit him much.

Liu Wang was one of the seven hundred scholars who were tested. He was a person sent to Jingzhou by the shogunate, not an official he recruited.

Killing Liu Wang does not mean breaking with the shogunate, but it would be very troublesome to explain this matter.

Du Ji and Su Ze, two famous scholars and predecessors of the same age, are lessons for us. Although the Fu family has a Dongcao Fu Gan, looking at the rapid transfers of the two previous and current chief secretaries, we know that this Dongcao is unlikely to stay in office for long.

Although the officials recommended by Fu Gan to the Dong Cao had been comprehensively considered by the Grand Marshal and the Shogunate, these people still had to owe Fu Gan some favors.

The key county positions are not something Fu Gan can control at all.

But it is precisely the various unimportant positions that can really help the Fu family accumulate strength. Officials will be promoted sooner or later, but the favors owed cannot be easily repaid.

Therefore, Fu Gan’s Dong Cao will be adjusted soon if nothing unexpected happens.

Fu Xun weighed it for a long time, then let go of his hand and stared into Liu Wang's eyes: "Just this one thing."

"Thank you for your forgiveness, Mr. Ming."

Liu Wang straightened his robes and said calmly, "I suspect that Cai will assassinate you or hold you hostage during the banquet. If something unexpected happens later, please evacuate in time to avoid accidental injury."

"I am also good at swordsmanship, so don't worry."

Fu Xun responded dryly. Liu Wang just smiled, bowed and stepped back, but kept looking at Fu Xun.

After five or six steps, Liu Wang turned his back to Fu Xun.

Looking at Liu Wang who was leaving, Fu Xun raised his right hand, looked at the calluses on his hand, slowly pressed the hilt of the sword and drew out the sword.

He turned around, walked a few steps out of the corridor, then suddenly swung his sleeves and slashed horizontally with the sword.

The sword blade cut into the right column for more than three inches and then he pulled it out.

After observing that the blade was as smooth as a mirror, he sheathed the sword, shook his right hand, and walked towards the hall where he would meet guests.

(End of this chapter)