A few days later, the Privy Councilor Wang Pu presented a plan for pacifying Jiaozhi, and Guo Shao was delighted.
Guo Shao forgot where he had seen a few words saying that politics is the art of compromise. He originally thought that it would be easy to deal with the Jiaozhi regime at this time, but Wang Pu's strategy seemed to be slow. After weighing the pros and cons, he thought it would be beneficial to try to reach an agreement with the ministers and agreed to Wang Pu's suggestion.
Prime Minister Li Gu then recommended Cao Bin to lead the southern deployment, and Guo Shao agreed. In his impression, Cao Bin was quite experienced in dealing with southern infantry, and it was he who conquered the Southern Han Kingdom.
When asked where Cao Bin was, he was not in Beijing, but was busy building a military office in the Liaoxi Corridor.
Guo Shao immediately issued an order, asking Cao Bin to put aside what he was doing and report to Tokyo immediately.
After receiving the imperial edict in Liaoxi, Cao Bin hurriedly packed up his things and prepared to ride back to Beijing.
A few days later, he arrived in Hebei and met a man who greeted him on the post road in the evening. Cao Bin asked him questions and looked at his face, and then he confirmed that it was Feng Jiye. The place he passed by was Feng Jiye's hometown.
Feng Jiye's face did not look friendly, and Cao Bin certainly knew what kind of person he was, but since this man had captured Li Yiyin in the northwest and was granted the title of founding marquis, Cao Bin had to give him some face.
Feng Jiye was very polite in front of Cao Bin, bowing and saying, "I know that Lord Cao has important matters to attend to, but it is getting late and Lord Cao has to find a place to stay. If Lord Cao does not mind, please stay in my humble home for one night, and I will not force you to stay tomorrow morning."
Cao Bin called himself a Confucian general and attached great importance to etiquette. After hearing what he said, he no longer refused and said immediately: "Then I'd rather obey your command than to be respectful. Thank you for your nagging."
Feng Jiye clapped his hands and said happily: "After all, Cao Gong is a military general. Please
When he arrived at Feng's house, Cao Bin saw a new farmhouse with all the fertile fields around it turned into grassland. When he asked, he found out that Feng Jiye was herding sheep in Hebei.
As Cao Bin followed him into the manor, he said: “General Feng has a good mood. He doesn’t care about fame and fortune, but loves herding sheep.”
Alas, Feng Jiye sighed, to be honest, although I have a title and receive a generous salary, I still have no mission. What else can I do if I don’t raise sheep
Cao Bin pretended to be surprised: Didn't General Feng serve in the Northwest before
Feng Jiye said: Zhe Dejian has the final say in the northwest. He didn't leave a place for me, so I can't do anything about it.
Cao Bin responded with a smile and made no comment.
When they arrived at the living room, a group of people came up to greet them. Feng Jiye introduced them one by one, including the local county magistrate, famous people from Yan and other places. Cao Bin was not interested anyway, so he just smiled and responded. He couldn't remember who they were.
The servant brought water for Cao Bin to wash his face. It was already late, so the wine and food were served soon.
A whole jar of rice wine, followed by roasted lamb legs, lamb offal soup, fried lamb, and a large plate of dumplings. After starting to eat, Cao Bin opened a dumpling and saw that it was stuffed with lamb. Cao Bin couldn't help laughing and said: General Feng is making a full lamb feast today!
Feng Jiye said: I raised it myself, come and try it. Eating mutton in this weather is a bit hot, but this thing is aphrodisiac and nourishing, everyone can find a young woman to get rid of the heat at night
Everyone laughed.
Cao Bin smiled but said nothing. He was the guest, and no matter what dish the host cooked, it would be bad to complain about it.
Cao Bin had no idea what talents the so-called celebrities at the banquet had, but he soon discovered that each of them could drink more than the other, and they could easily offer words of persuasion. Cao Bin felt that there were many heroic and generous people in Yan, but today he also saw many alcoholics.
Cao Bin was very drunk.
He was taken to the bedroom in a daze, unable to see the ground when walking, and was helped in. He fell asleep on the bed, not knowing where he was sleeping, but only vaguely smelled the scent of mosquito repellent and saw the embroidery on the bed curtains.
At this time, Cao Bin felt something smooth and icy on his body. When he opened his eyes, he saw a young woman whispering to him. Cao Bin struggled a little and refused, but he didn't understand what the young woman said. At that time, it was very common for wealthy families to use prostitutes to entertain guests. The government of the Tang Dynasty kept official prostitutes to entertain colleagues. Cao Bin didn't think it was a serious matter, so he agreed.
Cao Bin didn't wake up until the next day, when the sun was high in the sky. He opened his eyes and saw the bright sunshine outside the window. He immediately slapped his head and thought: I've been delayed.
Then he found a young lady with messy hair sleeping beside him. Cao Bin was stunned for a while, then vaguely remembered what happened last night, and didn't pay much attention to it. He looked for his clothes under the bed. The young lady woke up, her eyes were red and she was very embarrassed. She pulled the thin quilt to cover herself.
At this time, Cao Bin suddenly found some blood and was slightly surprised.
The young lady was very calm and spoke clearly: I am Alang's sister. I have long admired Cao Gong's heroism. I do not blame Cao Gong.
Cao Bin's eyes immediately widened, and he almost jumped up. Ah Lang was the nickname of the male owner of the family. Who else could this Ah Lang of the Feng family be but the founding marquis Feng Jiye
General Feng's sister Cao Bin asked with an exaggerated expression.
The young lady nodded slightly.
Cao Bin immediately became restless, thinking that no matter who Feng Jiye was, at least he was a founding marquis personally appointed by the emperor, and was among the nobles with military merits. But how could this fellow do such a ridiculous thing, using his unmarried sister to serve the guests
Cao Bin was very drunk last night, so how could he know who this woman was? But now that things have come to this, Cao Bin can't blame the woman.
He frowned and said: Madam Feng is pure and innocent, and the daughter of a rich family, but Cao has already married and had children. Wouldn't it be a shame for Madam Feng to be so rude
The young lady said: "I am not making things difficult for Lord Cao. If Lord Cao does not mind, I am willing to be your concubine and make your bed. If you do not mind, then just pretend that nothing happened. Anyway, I was willing last night."
Cao Bin paced for two steps, feeling that Feng Jiye had the final say in Feng family affairs, so he quickly put on his clothes and went out to find Feng Jiye.
When he arrived at the living room and waited for Feng Jiye, Cao Bin wondered whether this fellow would use this matter to blackmail him and cause trouble for him. Cao Bin felt very unhappy because he was a man who cared a lot about his reputation.
Soon, Feng Jiye came in with a smile on his face, clasped his fists and said, "Mr. Cao drank too much yesterday, so I didn't ask anyone to wake you up this morning. But it won't hurt to delay you for two or three hours. I'll ask someone to prepare some breakfast right away."
This guy didn't even mention his sister.
Cao Bin opened his mouth, but hesitated. He really couldn't speak, and he didn't know what to say after he opened his mouth. Cao Bin thought for a moment, and could only say: "Wait a minute, General Feng, I won't have breakfast. I came to the capital this time because I was summoned by the emperor, so I can't dawdle. Otherwise, if some well-fed official came up with a memorial, it would be bad for me to stay here to eat and drink."
After hearing this, Feng Jiye nodded seriously and said: "What Cao Gong said makes sense. I have prepared some dry food for you to eat on the way."
Cao Bin stood up from his chair, and Feng Jiye also stood up to say goodbye.
At this time, Cao Bin said calmly: General Feng is so brave and good at fighting. It is a loss to the court if he stays at home. I wonder if he is willing to come out and take up a post.
Feng Jiye was overjoyed and said immediately: "Of course I have. I am almost sick from idleness. I heard that Cao Gong is going to lead his troops south. If you don't mind, I am willing to serve you at your service."
Cao Bin said: What you heard is true, but the south is a wild and malaria-filled land. If General Feng really wants to go there,
Feng Jiye said: If you want to live comfortably, this newly built manor of mine, with fine clothes and delicious food, wouldn't it be comfortable
Cao Bin smiled, and then looked at Feng Jiye earnestly and said: "What I said just now is not a compliment. General Feng is brave and decisive, but his weakness is that he is too violent. Listen to me, this is not the era of the Five Dynasties, General Feng's temper must be changed."
Feng Jiye hurriedly clasped his fists and bowed solemnly: Cao Gong’s teaching is correct.
Upon seeing this, Cao Bin nodded and said: If you are willing to obey my orders on the battlefield and stop killing innocent people, I will recommend you as deputy commander after I go to Beijing.
Feng Jiye was overjoyed and bowed, saying: "Thank you, Cao Gong, for your kind words."
Cao Bin clasped his fists and returned the greeting: General Feng, see you later.
Cao Bin's entourage was ready, and they left the manor. Feng Jiye led the crowd to see them off to the gate.
As they traveled south along the post road, Cao Bin had a young man named Lü Duan who assisted him in his official duties. After many encounters, Cao Bin felt that this man was often confused, but he always had unique insights on important matters and would not follow the crowd, so he liked him very much.
Cao Bin called Lu Duan to catch up and said on horseback: What do you think of Feng Jiye
Lü Duan said without hesitation: Zhenguogong Shi Yanchao is violent and bloodthirsty, squinting and rude to others, but he is straightforward and loyal. Kaiguohou Feng Jiye is violent and bloodthirsty, but he likes to scheme.
Cao Bin frowned and asked: How do you know
Lu Duan said bluntly: Zhe Gong, who supported the entire northwest border affairs, did not catch Li Yiyin, but he caught him instead. Isn't it a great ability
Cao Bin was busy driving the horse and was silent for a long time. He then asked: There is always a time for people to correct their mistakes.
Lu Duan even uttered a vulgar word: A dog will always eat shit.
Cao Bin was stunned and stopped asking questions. He shouted and quickened the pace of his horse.
Cao Bin was in a very awkward situation, and he didn't like Feng Jiye. He slept with Feng's sister last night, and although Feng Jiye didn't use this to threaten him, Cao Bin felt bad for just walking away like that.
He had been in the battlefield for a long time and knew that it was rare to find a brave and capable person on the battlefield, but the more such a person was, the more flaws he had. As the saying goes, no one is perfect. Cao Bin weighed the pros and cons again and again and thought that if he brought Feng Jiye with him and trained him well, he would see some results.
If we can train a good general who is good at fighting for the court, it will benefit both the country and the people.
Two days later, Cao Bin and his companions crossed the Yellow River and stayed at Chenqiao Posthouse. Cao Bin asked Lü Duan again who he wanted, and Lü Duan recommended Zhang Jiankui. Thus, Cao Bin had already known about the personnel matters before he arrived in Beijing.