"Second brother was fine in the past, but since the Dong Zhuo affair, it has become more and more difficult for people to see through." Xiahou Dun shouted in the Yanzhou governor's mansion, his eyes almost staring out, "I am in Dongjun. The guards have only half a month of food. Whether to give it or not to give it, can you have a happy word?!"

His cousin Xia Hou Yuan also came to wait for food, but Xia Hou Yuan was calmer and squatted on the ground to cut arrows. "You have the ability, say so in front of Cao Zhonghua. See if she won't cut you to death."

At this time, whether it was the old acquaintances Xun Yu and Xun You, or later Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, Chen Gong, etc., one by one, they were deaf with the written slips.

Cao Cao knocked on several cases irritably: "As soon as there is a shortage of food, you can count on others for help. How can this be done? We have fully planted fields in the two states of Yan and Qing, and it has been three years."

"Brother, there have been many natural disasters in the past few years. If there were no farms, we would have eaten mussels like Yuan Shu's troops. It is true that this year's production has dropped by more than 60%, so we have to rely on the second brother. relief."

Cao Cao turned over this year's tax book and sighed again: "When it comes to farming and mulberry farming, no one can really compare to Zhonghua. Look, Weihai also suffered from drought, the same two Even without a drop of rain, she can still support herself. If it weren't for her students being too upright, I would really like to ask a few farm officials to come here, alas..."

Last year, when Yuan Shu was fighting against Yuan Shu, the war was very tight, and the army was eager to collect food and troops. In order to resist the forced recruitment, some medical officers and academic officers were killed in front of the gate of the county government office. Originally, Weihai Port's hands were very loose, and after this incident, it would not be transported without Cao Sheng's personal letter.

Even last year's agricultural tax in Weihai was delayed for two months, until Cao Sheng's letter of reprimand floated from Jiaozhou to Qingzhou, Weihai county magistrate Taishi Lang sent five Ten carts of dried dates and apples.

When it comes to Cao Sheng's students, the atmosphere between the advisers becomes more and more strange. Cheng Yu, who was in charge of the forced expedition at that time, lowered his head and pretended to be dead. Guo Jia secretly covered his face with a bamboo slip and pulled Xun Yu's arm.

"Although I have never met Cao Zhonghua, he is famous and rich, and he has a lot of talents. If such a brother is not well controlled, it will be a big trouble for the lord."

"

Guo Jia: "I'm not stupid either. Just look at the lord, do you still need someone to provoke? Separation in different places will easily lead to feuds, unless Zhong Huagong comes to Yanzhou in person. , otherwise the rift will only get bigger and bigger.”

The time they talked to each other was too long, and they caught the attention of Cao Cao. "Fengxiao, Wenruo, what are you talking about—forget it, I think you're talking about Zhonghua. Don't worry, Zhonghua doesn't agree with me using troops everywhere, but this time it's a severe drought in several states, and it's a matter of life and death, she won't. in spite of."

Cheng Yu, a few advisers who had only heard of Cao Sheng's reputation, became even more curious.

At this moment, the happy voice of the servant came from outside. "Master, master, a letter from Liaodong."

Cao Cao hurriedly stood up: "Hurry up." He took an envelope from the servant and tore it open. Inside was a piece of white paper with a few cursive scripts written in the form of dragons flying and phoenixes dancing: "On the reverse river, food arrives at Juan, come and pick it up."

I went upstream along the river and delivered food to Juancheng Ferry in person. Come and pick me up.

Full of arrogance.

Juancheng, the city where Cao Cao is now, has more than 400,000 troops. The soldiers' camp stretches to the Yellow River. This is not to send food to the nest, it is to send food to the face.

Cao Cao laughed out loud. "Okay, okay!" He looked around. "When the life-saving food arrives, everyone will greet you."

Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan were relieved. Cao Cao pulled Cheng Yu with one hand and Guo Jia with the other: "It's all documents that are short of food everywhere, don't look at them, go for a walk, go out for a walk."

So the civil servants and generals of Cao Ying rushed out of their nests, and took hundreds of tigers and leopards to the north of the city. Before we got to the river, we could see the shadows of three-story boats, densely lined up to the east, and it was hard to count how many boats there were.

When did the soldiers in the north ever see such a large ship, they all gathered in front of the camp at this time, some watching the fun, and some full of vigilance. It was not until Cao Cao's face appeared that he had the backbone, and they all made way.

The white rabbit flag was hoisted on the leading boat, and the cute rabbit made Cao Cao's eyes twitch. Well, to this day he still can't understand his sister's obsession with the white rabbit's honey.

No polite words or even titles were used. The intimacy between words was something Guo Jia had only seen in his life. He narrowed his eyes slightly.

On the boat there is a figure with a man's bun, just leaning on the side of the boat and leaning over makes it look beautiful and lovable. He looked down and looked at Cao Cao: "You restrain your soldiers, I'm going to unload the grain. Don't go to your family's grain manager, come and count the signatures."

Cao Cao laughed and scolded: "My family's food management is not Yanzhou Biejia, but Dongping Xiang Cheng Yu. You are free and easy overseas, and even the people under your brothers are confused."

A Sheng tilted his head: "You said Cheng Yu, I knew it, the conscription of grain scraped the ground three feet, the conscription of troops was conscripted on the head of the school teacher, and I owed two lives."

Cheng Yu’s back was cold, it’s not about going out, and it’s not about going back. I heard the people on the upper deck continue to say: "If you are in charge of your own affairs, he will come out and sign it."

He turned to look at Cheng Yu: "Zhong De..."

Cheng Yu is very interesting: "I have already brought out the scooter for transporting food, so I will take someone to count it."

Every time Yu took over a bag of food, he made a straight stroke on the blackboard. When the shipment of grain was finished, the leading grain-carrying soldier stood at attention and saluted:

"On the 28th day of September in the sixth year of Shaodi, Dalian in Liaodong sent to Juancheng, Yanzhou, the first shipment of grains totaling 8,000 shi of loose corn, 6,500 shi of sweet potato, and 3, 000 shi of millet. Six hundred stones of miscellaneous beans, please check with the Yanzhou grain officer.”

Cheng Yu took the sapphire paper origami handed over from the opposite side. On the first page, there was the food approving document handwritten by Cao Sheng, as well as the three-party seals of the governor of Liaodong, the governor of Nanhai, and the garrison of Liudao. The second page is the farmer's seal of a place called Liudao, the place of origin, and the third page is the record of reloading in Dalian. The last page is divided into 30 columns, corresponding to 30 ships of grain, waiting for his signature and seal. .

On the basis of this document, every link of the batch of grain from birth to transportation can be traced all the way, and the person in charge of decision-making, including Cao Sheng, cannot escape.

Cheng Yu was originally a legalist who advocated "respecting the code in troubled times". Facing this meticulous document, he was fascinated when he looked at it. "It's said that Cao Zhonghua is 'the Han Fei of the world'. It's really better to see it once you hear it."

The Liaodong grain transporter frowned: "Yanzhou grain officer?"

"Ah, oh." Cheng Yu returned to his senses and hurriedly signed the number of grains for the first ship, in duplicate.

The ration soldier received one of them and turned back to the deck. "Master, the first ship has a total of 18,110 stone, and the handover has been completed. It's almost noon, does Master get off the ship to eat, or wait for all the grain ships to be unloaded?"

A Sheng put on a thin black cloak: "It is your duty to hand over food."

The sun shines through the clouds and shines on the river surface, dyeing the river a yellow color that is completely different from the later generations. Ah Sheng took 40 of his personal soldiers and descended from the deck. He bumped into the excited Cao Cao, grabbed her hand and said loudly, "A Sheng, there are too many, too many. Thirty ships! Enough! Yanzhou has been eating for a year!"

"Brother, there are few millets in my place. These are mostly miscellaneous grains, such as potatoes and beans. You can adapt to it."

Cao Cao calmed down and held Ah Sheng's hand even tighter. "Miscellaneous grains are just miscellaneous grains. If there is something to eat, they are allowed to pick and choose? It's better than Cheng Yu's idea of ​​eating human flesh." He shaved his face. , it makes me ashamed of being a brother."

A Sheng closed his eyes and shook his head: "Agreement."

Only one Cheng Yu was left, and he was hungry and bitterly carrying food.

The remaining twenty-nine grain ships can’t be moved until it gets dark.

The youngest Cao Chun also sprinkled salt on the wound: "I persuaded you not to offend the second brother."

Cheng Yu: "If I read it right, she is a lady."

Cao Chun quickly covered Cheng Yu's mouth. "That is Cao Zhonghua, who is famous all over the world. "Cao's Arithmetic", "Cao's History", "Cao's Five Classics", "Acupuncture and Medicine Tongu" are all written by her word by word, even Zheng Xuan himself Sigh."

Cheng Yu went back silently to bring food: I'm afraid it will get cold.

When Cheng Yu was worried about his good head, Cao Sheng had already entered the Cao Mansion in Juancheng, an old converted mansion. The carvings of stone bricks are in the style of the Western Han Dynasty more than a hundred years ago. The interior furnishings are also quite simple, but the maid's appearance is on the high side. But on second thought, after all, Ding and Bian are both in Yanzhou, and it is not her turn to take care of them.

A Sheng only lost his mind for a moment, then turned his thoughts back to the main topic. Hidden in the south for nearly 20 years, corn and sweet potatoes have finally landed on the land of the Central Plains. What a historical event.

Selecting this time point to introduce new crops to the Central Plains is what Ah Sheng decided after repeated calculations.

There is a locust plague after the severe drought. The scope of this severe drought is too wide. According to the number of eggs in the Qingzhou sampling report, I am afraid that the locust plague will last for two or three years. If he doesn't plant relatively insect-resistant sweet potatoes in Yanzhou this year, Cao Cao will still have to rely on her for blood transfusions next year.

Now Cao Cao has a site and a team. It is not required that he can strictly control the seeds, and if he can spread it on his own territory first, his economic strength will be able to surpass Yuan Shao in the north.

"I brought the chef here today, how about I invite my brother and everyone to taste the multigrain feast?"

Cao Cao, who was short of food in his mansion, raised his hands in approval: "Just eat the multigrain feast! Hahaha, is there any better food than multigrain nowadays?"

A Sheng sat in the guest seat, quietly taking in the expressions on the faces of the advisors and generals. There was an old acquaintance, Xun You, on the table, and she smiled when she saw her. She was not good-looking enough to join her, and she was also a handsome uncle. Only the corners of the eyes are wrinkled.

Not to mention Xun You, Cao Cao also has crow's feet when he smiles. Your peers have reached this age.

Corresponding to this, there are many young and unfamiliar faces. The glances on the other side were not all friendly, but Ah Sheng pretended not to see it and clapped his hands.

The world is big, and the food is the biggest.

First course: corn and sweet potato porridge.

Second course: Roasted sweet potatoes.

Third course: Boiled corn on the cob.

Fourth course: salted cornmeal fries.

Fifth course: Butterscotch sweet potato mash.

End. The side dishes are nothing more than wild leaves.

Although the dishes are rudimentary, everyone at the table is still full of stomachs. The one with a smaller appetite is like Guo Jia, who didn't move his chopsticks for the last mashed sweet potato.

Guo Jia still had sweet potatoes on the corners of his mouth. Hearing this, he quickly wrapped the mashed sweet potatoes in oil paper and stuffed it into his arms. "The soldiers haven't had enough to eat for a long time, and they should also have a taste of being held up by sweet potatoes."

Unfamiliar food is not pleasing in the army. Fortunately, there are three thousand stone millet rice before the first meal. Guo Jia's meaning is to promote the eating method of new food in the army as soon as possible. Since Cao Sheng moved the corn and sweet potatoes to Cao Cao's banquet, I was afraid that the twenty-nine ships behind were full of miscellaneous grains, not even half a grain of millet.

"This counselor's mind is turning so fast." Ah Sheng boasted.

Cao Cao proudly introduced: "Yingchuan Guo Jia and Guo Fengxiao have only arrived this month. He has just been crowned this year, and he is already well-organized, no worse than a thirty-year-old." As soon as he turned around, Cao Cao's tone lowered again, "Zhicai is seriously ill, and he recommended Fengxiao to help..."

"Seriously ill? Can't the doctor heal?"

I immediately called the doctor who was beside Ding to come and question.

The great doctor knelt down under the corridor of the wide room of the banquet and bowed his head: "Master, in Shanyang County where Mr. Xi is stationed, the medical officer is Lou Chong, who died a year ago..."

Lou Chong, the passionate young man who was killed by a head-on fight against the levy.

A Sheng took a deep breath: "Lou Chong is dead, how about you? Can Mr. Xi stay in Shanyang?"

The big doctor suddenly raised his head and said loudly: "Mr. Xi is coughing up blood because of swollen lungs, but the infusion of a large amount of white powder [1] cannot save his life. Weihai has not sent white powder for a year in order to retaliate against Yanzhou. This point is to be reserved for Duke Meng and Mrs. Ding."

, all of which will be used by Zhicai.”

The advisors and generals in the house were also furious, and Chen Gong, the most anxious, even drew his sword.

A Sheng had already left the door, stood beside the great doctor and looked down at her, sighing softly, "You guys really make it difficult for me."

The little maid Chuan Tan followed her with a medicine box, gritted her teeth and reprimanded the doctor: "Although I am not a doctor, but I have followed the master for so many years, the most heard sentence is the kindness of the doctor. You have only been in the Central Plains for a few years, have you even changed your heart?"

The big doctor's eyes were red, and he raised his head and wept: "I'm a person from the old times, I just call myself a slave. Those children grew up in the South Island, which one is not the history of the classics, A talent who knows arithmetic and has broken thousands of scrolls in ten years. Even if it is compared to these people in the mansion, it is not necessarily inferior. Because of his passion for protecting the people, he has been despised among the people, and he has suffered a lot of grievances over the years."

She suddenly laughed frantically: "Hahaha, hahaha, these great talents, they don't even know what kind of medicine Baifen is, and they thought it was a kind of Wushi powder! It is said that we doctors are low-level professions. We are extremely ignorant, even worse than a frog in the bottom of a well. The owner uses the sky to illuminate Yanzhou, but he does not know that snakes and mice are as averse to light as thieves!”

With her accusation, the faces of Cao Cao's family turned pale. Cao Chun whispered: "Fortunately, Cheng Yu is not here, otherwise I would be bitten to death."

Only Ah Sheng watched the woman vent calmly until she finished speaking and began to repeat the last sentence meaninglessly. "Come on, lead the way."

"Master?"

"I am not the light of the sky, I am respected because I fear life. Lead the way."

The author has something to say: [1] In the setting of this article, penicillin coarse powder is called "green powder", and high-purity penicillin sodium is called "white powder".

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