Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3206 Clothes

Yang Xiu, who returned to his small tent, also saw the somewhat angry look on his guard's face and couldn't help but smile.

The guard's surname is naturally Yang, and he and Yang Xiu are actually about the same age.

 Large families with big surnames always have the habit of placing children of the same age as their own children in the family and growing them up together with their own children. This kind of guard who has been trained since childhood will obviously be more loyal than ordinary guards, and can truly share weal and woe, life and death.

Not only Yang Xiu, but also most of the children of the aristocratic families have such guards.

If it is used to charge into battle, these guards will cover the left and right sides and cover the fight. But if it is used to insult good families in the street, these guards will also pull the curtains and help press hands and legs.

It can be said that these people are human-shaped tools. How to use them still depends on the person who uses them.

Yang Xiu is quite familiar with these personal guards because they have been with them all year round. Seeing the guard's expression, he thought for a moment, then smiled and said: "There's no need to be like this... In the past, Huaiyin could still endure the humiliation of the crotch. This thing about me is nothing..."

"Lang Jun," the guard saw that Yang Xiu had spoken, so he stopped hiding and pointed in the direction of Cao Cao's tent, "Who is that guy?" When it comes to being used by Mr. Lang..."

Yang Xiu waved his hand to stop the guard from complaining.

 Beyond the tent curtain, light and shadow swayed.

Yang Xiu gestured.

The guard just walked a few steps, opened the door curtain, poked his head outside to check, then retracted his head and lowered the door curtain, "Lang Jun, there is no one outside." 』

　　"Be careful what you say..." Yang Xiu ordered.

Not only must he be careful, but he will inevitably become irritated after hearing these words.

Perhaps to appease the guards, or perhaps to show his excellence, Yang Xiu was silent for a moment and then whispered: "Prime Minister Cao...will soon face a serious failure..."

"What? ! ” The guard was suddenly startled, “Mr. Lang’s intention is that... Prime Minister Cao is going to be defeated? ! 』

Yang Xiu frowned and said, "Lower your voice." 』

The guard then realized what he was doing and whispered in a low voice: "Why did Mr. Lang say such a thing?" 』

 ‘Huh…’ Yang Xiu leaned back on the cushion behind him. In fact, he was tired from running back and forth, not only physically, but also mentally. Now that he has returned to his small tent, he feels a little relieved, and there are also some young people who are drunk. I am alone in the literary youth, slowly Said, "The number of men and horses lost by the hussars is far less than that of the Prime Minister... The Prime Minister did not lead the attack before, but now he has strengthened his offensive. This can only mean one thing..."

The guard asked: "What's the matter?" 』

Yang Xiu smiled and said, "Prime Minister... there is a shortage of food." 』

"ah? "The guard was stunned, "How did Lang Jun know? 』

Yang Xiu laughed.

 As Yang Xiu, who was once a high-level government official, his understanding of politics is naturally far greater than that of his own bodyguard.

The political impact of the current problems Cao Cao is facing is far greater than the loss of strength. The psychological impact on the Shandong gentry is no less than that of the previous Xu County League, because they will only feel the most for their own kind.

They will not care how many poor people are killed or injured, but if a few nobles or high-ranking generals are killed, then they will be heartbroken, talk about it, and will never forget it for the rest of their lives.

 Now the facts are before our eyes. When fighting against the Guanzhong Hussars, not only the small soldiers will die, but also the high-ranking generals!

Although the people who died now are the Cao family and the Xiahou family, what about the future?

If the war continues, how many more people will be filled in such a flesh and blood mill?

When the Xiqiang rebelled, why were there no military generals from Shandong? On the one hand, Shandong might be slightly inferior to Bingliang in terms of physique, and on the other hand, there was no tall one among the short men. In the end, Dong Zhuo and other Xiliang soldiers The fact that the faction is powerful may not be due to the fact that the Shandong nobles are good at talking and their men are sparse in force.

So now we continue to fight against the Hussar, and the people of the Cao family and the Xiahou family will fill in. If we continue to need more lives of the nobles, how many of the Shandong nobles have the ambition and courage to imitate Ban Ding? Far?

 Obviously impossible.

Although Yang Xiu didn't know exactly how Cao Zhen and Xia Houyuan died at that time, and what the battle process was like, he was sure that with the precedent of these two generals, the Shandong nobles would feel guilty when they faced the Hussars. Because it's very simple. If the army is defeated, most of the generals in the army can escape for their lives. Even if they really can't escape, they can surrender to save their lives.

 But now, death appears.

This either means that the entire army was defeated and died in the chaos, or it means that the Hussar was angry because of this large-scale attack in Shandong and began to show no mercy and resorted to death.

"Lang Jun, this...I haven't heard of it before..." the guard said with some doubts, "What if Prime Minister Cao concealed it...hiding Shandong?" 』

　　　　You want it to be simple. Yang Xiu shook his head, "If only a group of people died, maybe we could hide something... But now... this matter cannot be covered up. Sooner or later, people in Shandong will know... By then, the Cao family will dominate the military and political affairs, which will not be good." Done...』

"Haha... this may not be bad..." the guard said with some gloating, "If the Cao clan suffers too much and Prime Minister Cao's reputation is damaged, I wonder if Lang Jun will have more opportunities... It won't be like now... Then Prime Minister Cao It’s hard to say that I still need to rely on my husband’s talent..."

Yang Xiu laughed and waved his hand.

After a while, Yang Xiu sighed, "This hussar... is really difficult to deal with... Even if I really lead the army into battle, I'm afraid... not to mention anything else, the gunpowder making tools alone are quite difficult..."

 In fact, facing the hussar, Yang Xiu was a little scared.

When the Western Qiang barbarians were in rebellion, they were also very fierce, but Yang Xiu was not afraid at that time.

Because they are simply fierce, there is not much threat, but now the Hussars feel to Yang Xiu, not just fierce, but more like an iron-blooded war machine, which makes him feel guilty.

In the Hussars, there are always new things coming out. Various gunpowder weapons and long-range weapons are so practical that Cao Jun has not yet found a suitable way to deal with them.

 Simply put, Yang Xiu is not afraid of fierce enemies, but he is afraid of enemies who don’t know how to deal with them.

 He is like this, and the sons of Shandong gentry are almost the same.

『Langjun, what should we do? ’ asked the guard.

Yang Xiu stood up and silently walked twice in the tent.

After a while, Yang Xiu whispered: "You find an opportunity to go back to Hongnong and report these things to my father... Then my father will know what to do..."

The guard said in surprise: "Then I'm leaving. Mr. Lang, you are here..."

Yang Xiu was silent for a while, then clicked his tongue, "I shouldn't be in any danger..."

Yang Xiu thought, he just came back from Pingyang. Although he didn't bring any good news to Boss Cao, he didn't bring any bad news. Moreover, he was in Pingyang and under the surveillance of Boss Cao's soldiers. , Yang Xiu's performance of "might cannot be surrendered, wealth cannot be lascivious", is more or less remarkable...

More importantly, if Boss Cao needs an envoy to make a trip or something, wouldn't Yang Xiu, a guy who is familiar with the road, come in handy again?

So Yang Xiu felt that he should still be safe.

Of course, more importantly, Yang Xiu must bring a message to the Yang family in Hongnong. In the final stage, if Cao Cao is defeated, he will inevitably plunder everything on the land he has already occupied, whether it is manpower or property, in order to make up for his own losses, and not give any resources to the enemy, that is, the hussars. It is equivalent to the effect of solidifying the wall and clearing the field. Therefore, the Hongnong Yang family must transfer their assets first, otherwise when they are kidnapped by the soldiers, it will be really difficult to separate the jade from the jade.

This matter cannot be left unattended and cannot be left on the pen and become evidence of crime in black and white, so it can only be replaced by a vague oral message. Even if the guard is caught, that is to say, some parents are short-sighted and want to report that they are safe or something like that, so there won't be anything to do with it.

The guard subconsciously looked at the tent door and whispered: "In that case... why don't you, sir... don't stay here for a long time..."

"Shut up. Yang Xiu suddenly turned his head and stared at the guard, who took a step back in panic. He said in a deep voice, "I've been asking you to use your brain more... Under the hussar, there are only nobles and no aristocratic families!" If there is no aristocratic family, how can the Yang family exist? What’s more...』

Yang Xiu seemed to be a little uninterested. After speaking halfway, he stopped and sighed, "Forget it...be careful on the road..."

The guard bowed his hands in salute, lowered his head, opened the tent curtain, and walked out.

 …

 …

 Cao Cao was not satisfied with Yang Xiu.

 The initial dissatisfaction was due to the fact that Yang, as a middleman, earned the price difference.

This is understandable in the first place. After all, as a businessman, making money is the first priority. But the key point is that Yang is flaunting himself as a heir of classics while desperately trying to make money in Shandong. What is the difference between picking up a bowl to eat and putting down the bowl to scold your mother? the difference?

 What’s more important is that Yang is trying to develop his own power!

Although it is understandable that Yang's move is an act of self-protection, what is the difference between this and breaking away from the supervision of the Han Dynasty? Oh, seeing that Fei has the potential to build Xijing, so Yang also wants to build Zhongjing, right? But I don’t want to think about all the foundations of Yang’s, where all the profits come from, and there is no industry at all. I just want to step on the right foot with my left foot, put my left pocket in my right pocket, add left lever to right lever, and leverage trillions out of thin air. big market?

 So, the smarter Yang Xiu is, the more Cao Cao feels that this person is not useful.

Especially after Yang Xiu went to Pingyang, he felt that he seemed to have fulfilled Cao Cao's request and delivered the letter of war. But in fact, Cao Cao didn't believe that Yang Xiu didn't know what Cao Cao wanted? ! Is Yang Xiu the only one under Cao Cao who can serve as the envoy?

Obviously not.

 But Yang Xiu obviously failed to complete Cao Cao's strategic layout, and even brought bad news in return.

This is almost equivalent to not only failing to get things done, but bringing back a bunch of **** for Lao Cao to clean up.

 Fortunately, Guo Jia blocked the gap in time and dumped all the leaked **** on the Hedong nobles. Otherwise, when other people reacted, it would have caused turbulence in the military's morale and a further collapse in morale.

Why do the nobles wear gorgeous and gorgeous clothes, just to cover up the **** on their bodies? If they wear the same short jacket as the poor people, with their hairy legs exposed, what dignity and magnanimity can they have?

And for Cao Cao, Yang Xiu did not "know everything and talk about everything".

 At least, Yang Xiu didn’t say anything about the clothes he brought...

 What Cao Cao cares about is not the piece of clothing itself, but the meaning behind it.

Cao Cao didn't believe that Yang Xiu didn't know this.

Yang Xiu didn't mention this matter at all when he reported it before. What does it mean?

In fact, Cao Cao could also guess a thing or two.

 Because such warm clothing mixed with fluff has been sold to Shandong very early, and many Shandong gentry children fell in love with this kind of clothing...

 So, Cao Cao asked Yang Xiu to come over to engage Fei Qian, and Fei Qian also sent Yang Xiu over to engage him.

 This is Fei Qian's counterattack against Cao Cao.

 Want to create a estrangement? Who wouldn’t?

It is not unusual for Fei Qian to resort to alienation tactics, but Yang Xiu kept it hidden...

 Who are you looking down on?

 Cao Cao snorted.

Is this Yang Xiu trying to play tricks on himself?

 Haha, Yang will never return home after all!

Cao Cao could also understand why Yang Xiu didn't mention this matter. After all, it was impossible for Cao Cao to arrest all the Shandong nobles who had worn or had such robes, so Yang Xiu simply pretended to be stupid.

 This is something that offends people. Yang Xiu is not afraid of offending the children of the Hedong noble clan, because on the one hand, he and Hedong can be said to be hostile at the moment, and on the other hand, Yang Xiu has a psychological advantage over the land of Hedong, but on the other hand, it is different.

But in Cao Cao's view, Yang Xiu's pretending to be stupid was like teasing him.

With Yang Xiu’s intelligence, couldn’t he find a suitable way to describe this incident?

Cao Cao's eyes were slightly cold.

Yang Xiu is afraid, unwilling, or unhappy?

Of course, there is another possibility...

 After a while, someone came in a hurry, worshiped Cao Cao, and muttered something.

 Cao Cao's face became increasingly gloomy.

　　　　Come here! Cao Cao said in a deep voice, "It is said that Yang Dezu is here!" 』

Yang Xiu came and greeted him in a formal manner. His etiquette and gestures were standard and full of rhythm and beauty.

Cao Cao sneered slightly, "Dezu, thank you for your hard work traveling around Pingyang." 』

Yang Xiu leaned forward, cupped his hands in salute, and said, "I have been entrusted by the Prime Minister, so I should naturally fulfill my duties and dare not say anything about my hardships." 』

"oh? ” Cao Cao stroked his beard and said, “So, can we get anything? Now here, it’s just you and me. If Dezu has anything to say, just say it! 』

Yang Xiu’s eyebrows jumped.

Boss Cao, what does this mean?

Yang Xiu did not dare to hesitate, and quickly recounted his journey to Pingyang and what happened in Pingyang.

Cao Cao was still stroking his beard and said unhurriedly: "What else?" Is there anything missing? 』

 Omission?

Yang Xiu took a breath.

 Is it still a problem with the clothes?

Yang Xiugong cupped his hands, pretending to have just remembered, and said: "Oh, there is one more thing... The hussar gave me a piece of clothing as a farewell gift, saying it would be used to keep out the cold wind and wind at night... This clothing was placed in the car and should be used as a baggage item at the moment. The back camp...』

Yang Xiu tried his best to make it as understated as possible, saying that he didn't care about the clothes at all, but only took them as a courtesy. He forgot them in the car when he came back, and didn't even take the clothes back to the tent...

 This should be all right?

Cao Cao smiled, beckoned for someone to get the clothes, and then said: "Just a piece of clothing, it's a small matter...Does Dezu have other things to report to someone?" 』

Yang Xiu's heart skipped a beat again.

This clothing, or a "little thing"?

So what is a big deal?

Yang Xiu re-examined the events in his mind, and then prepared to confirm what Cao Cao meant, he lowered his eyebrows and said submissively, "Prime Minister, I am..."

Cao Cao interrupted Yang Xiu's words, waved his hands with a smile and said: "Dezu will think about it again... don't be in a hurry, don't be in a hurry..."

　　　…

Cao Cao said this, Yang Xiu naturally couldn't ask.

Yang Xiu felt as if cold sweat was flowing down his back, and it was bone-chilling.

The kinder Cao Cao looked on the surface, the more timid Yang Xiu felt in his heart.

Looking at this, Cao Cao needs Yang Xiu to say something...

 But the question is, what can Yang Xiu say?

 Speaking of Pingyang’s strong soldiers and strong horses?

 Or is it that the nobles in Hedong have all turned their hearts to the Hussar?

Or maybe tell Boss Cao that Fei Qian has sufficient military reserves and is not afraid of Cao Cao's attack at all?

Of course we cannot say this. If we do, it would be suspected that Yang Xiu was instigated by Fei Qian to rebel and became a lobbyist sent by Fei Qian...

 So, these cannot be said.

So you told Cao Cao that Fei Qian was using a trick?

 It is said that Fei Qian is using this piece of clothing to express the deep connection between Guanzhong and Shandong?

Or, Lao Cao, please stop pretending. I've already guessed that the army is out of food and grass. Let's pack up and disperse?

 The same cannot be said about these things.

Yang Xiu was silent and lowered his head.

 Not long after, Cao Cao's entourage took the clothes and presented them to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao took it, stood up, shook his clothes with a smile, then put it on himself, and said with a smile: "Dezu, let's take a look at this clothes, does it fit me?" 』

Yang Xiu wanted to make a few perfunctory remarks, but when he saw the result, his expression suddenly changed.

Although the robes of the Han Dynasty did not have standard sizes like the clothes of later generations, and were relatively loose styles, there were still some differences in size and length.

 Obviously, the robe was cut and made according to Yang Xiu's height and weight, and as soon as Cao Cao put on the robe, it naturally seemed that the robe was too long...

To say it fits well is to tell lies.

　　If it doesn’t fit, how will you explain that the robe was cut according to Yang Xiu’s own height?

 Just a coincidence?

Yang Xiu quickly fell to the ground and said, "Prime Minister!" This is what the thief wants to do to me! 』

Cao Cao laughed, took off his robe, threw it on the ground, sat back again, and said with a smile, "Oh?" Want to harm you? Ha, haha, let's talk about it, I want to know, how exactly does this hussar want to harm you? ! 』