Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 55: Telling the truth sometimes hurts too much (As usual, there will be an extra chapter today, by the way, please read and vote)
Historically, Wei Zhen was an important official of Cao Wei. When fighting against Zhuge Liang, he served as the General of the Southern Expedition.

Afterwards, he was promoted to Guanglu Dafu, and was appointed to the positions of Sikong and Situ.

During the Zhengshi period, he was promoted to the Marquis of Changyuan County, and was given the title of Special Advancement, and was awarded the honor of being the same as the Three Officials.

He later died of illness at home and was posthumously awarded the title of Taiwei and the posthumous name of Jing.

Cao Yan looked at Wei Zhen and cast a spell of insight at him. Immediately, four entries appeared in front of him: one purple, one blue, one white, and one gray.

Wei Zhen is only sixteen years old now, and he is not a monster like Zhao Yun, but his potential is very good.

Wei Zhen is a capable official with first-rate intelligence and first-rate internal affairs. He is simply a worker chosen by heaven.

"If I bring him over and train him well, he can not only help share government affairs, but maybe even produce golden entries. That would be wonderful!" Cao Yan thought secretly.

When Cao Yan was planning to attack Wei Zhen, Mao Jie's voice sounded in his ears again.

"That man's name was Bian Rang, courtesy name Wenli, and he was from Junyi County, Chenliu Commandery. He had been an official under General He Jin and had also served as the prefect of Jiujiang. He resigned last year and returned home.

Bian Rang is a representative of the local nobles and powerful families. He is a wild and unruly person. I am afraid that if he comes here this time, it will be difficult for the lord to succeed."

"So this person is Bian Rang." Cao Yan nodded slightly and threw a Insight. He thought to himself, "One purple, two blue, one white, and one gray. Not much different from the sixteen-year-old Wei Zhen..."

The greatest "merit" of "Bian Rang" was that he scolded Cao Cao harshly, and was eventually killed by Cao Cao.

However, Cao Cao's killing of this famous scholar caused the morale of the Yanzhou clans and famous scholar circles to waver, and he lost the hearts of the Yanzhou gentry, which laid the hidden danger for Lu Bu and Chen Gong to join forces with Chenliu Prefect Zhang Miao to seize Yanzhou.

Cao Yan knew very well,
The reason why Bian Rang always opposed Cao Cao and surrendered the Yellow Turban Army was secondary.

The reason for this lies in the broad interests of the aristocratic class.

After Cao Cao occupied Dongjun, he began to measure the fields, promote military and civilian settlements, and compile a new household registration system, which was tantamount to competing with the aristocratic families for land and people.

Moreover, Cao Cao also valued scholars from poor families. Wouldn't it be a loss of self-esteem if he spent all day associating with a group of vulgar people?

While letting this side scolding feel good,
Cao Cao’s personal humiliation was a small matter; the fact that he had shaken the morale of the army and the people was a big deal.

So Lao Cao had no choice but to fire him.

What Cao Cao did not expect was that Bian Rang's death would make Chen Gong, another leading figure in Yanzhou, bear a grudge against him.

Afterwards, Chen Gong contacted the noble families in Yanzhou who were dissatisfied with Cao Cao, opened the door and let in the evil wolf Lu Bu.

"Alas..." Cao Yan sighed softly in his heart, muttering to himself, "Is this guy considered a celebrity who was accidentally killed by Lao Cao? Even if he is, it will be difficult to keep him alive!"

"Why is Cao Zhonglang sighing?" Mao Jie asked hurriedly when he saw Cao Yan sighing.

"It's nothing, Lord Xiaoxian, please continue..." Cao Yan replied.

At this time, Zhang Miao saw Cao Yan looking at him, snorted coldly, and turned his head away.

Cao Yan was confused, and then threw an [Insight] at Zhang Miao.

Upon seeing this, he unexpectedly discovered that this guy's favorability towards him was -78%. He immediately exclaimed inwardly:

"Holy crap?! Did I flirt with his wife and daughter, or what? Why is his favorability so low?"

But the strange thing is that no matter how hard Cao Yan racked his brains, he still could not find any memory of his feud with Zhang Miao.

As the saying goes, those involved are often confused, while those who are on the sidelines can see things more clearly. Mao Jie was at the scene at that time and understood why Zhang Miao disliked Cao Yan.

Mao Jie gently tugged at the hem of his sleeve, leaned slightly closer to Cao Yan, and lowered his voice to whisper in Cao Yan's ear, "Zi'an, do you still remember when Zhang Mengzhuo invited you and the lord to a banquet three years ago?"

After being reminded by Mao Jie, some fragments flashed through Cao Yan's mind, and he finally had some impression.

But he still didn't understand how he had offended the Chenliu prefect, so he bowed and said, "Xiaoxian Gong, please speak frankly." "I was also at the banquet three years ago, so I saw it clearly." Mao Jie lowered his eyes slightly, as if recalling something, "I still remember that when you were drunk, you saw the jade chain ring worn by Zhang Miao's concubine, and you laughed in front of everyone, saying, 'I've seen this thing in Brother Benchu's mansion. It's exactly the same as the pendant around his family's Dahuang's neck.'

But this jade chain was a token of alliance given by Yuan Shao to Zhang Miao, but you said it was an ornament for a dog's neck. All the nobles at the banquet covered their mouths and laughed.

Zhang Miao's face flushed the color of liver, but due to his relationship with his lord, he couldn't vent his anger, but the seeds of hatred were planted in his heart.

"Ah! I remember now!" Cao Yan suddenly realized, and then smiled and said, "I'm telling the truth, what's wrong?"

Then a thought suddenly flashed through Cao Yan's mind: "Could it be that Zhang Miao's subsequent scolding of Yuan Shao was due to this reason?!"

"You..." Mao Jie was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

"Also, Mr. Xiaoxian, next time you speak, just speak. Could you please not breathe into your ears?"

“…………”Mao Jie was speechless and completely defeated.

At least from here it seems that Zhang Miao is not a broad-minded person.

Cao Yan remembered that there was a record in some documents that before Cao Cao conquered Xuzhou, he told his family "if anything unexpected happens, go to Zhang Mengzhuo."

I never thought that Lao Cao was fighting fiercely on the front line.
Zhang Miao turned around and joined forces with Chen Gong and Lu Bu to take over Cao Cao's hometown of Yanzhou.

This is probably one of the reasons why Lao Cao no longer dares to entrust his true heart to others easily!
Zhang Miao's betrayal was actually the result of a combination of many reasons.

There is a kind of friend who is "afraid that his brother is suffering, and also afraid that his brother is driving a Land Rover."

Zhang Miao must be feeling bad that his former down-and-out younger brother has suddenly climbed over his head and become his immediate superior.

and also,

After Zhang Miao had a complete falling out with Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao ordered Cao Cao to kill him.

Although Cao Cao did not agree, there is no guarantee what he will do in the future.

After all, Zhang Miao has been operating in Chenliu for many years and has deep roots. If Cao Cao wants to completely control Chenliu County, he must first eliminate Zhang Miao as an obstacle.

In addition, Cao Cao promoted military farming, which conflicted with the interests of the gentry. Later, he killed Bian Rang, which shook the people's hearts... So Chen Gong's advice became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Zhang Miao actually stabbed Cao in the kidney from behind, almost taking his life.

Thinking of this, Cao Yan put his chin in his hands and thought to himself, "Since you and I have a grudge, I won't show mercy.

I hope you like the gifts I will give you later..."
-
Cao Cao hurried back to Dongwuyang with only Cao Hong and a few personal guards.

At a road junction more than ten miles away from Dongwuyang, a resolute and handsome man was waiting quietly on horseback.

Cao Cao took a closer look, a look of delight appeared on his face, and he shouted at the top of his voice, "Yun Cheng!"

Bao Xin also laughed out loud and said, "Brother Meng De, how are you?!"

The visitor was Bao Xin, a loyal fan of Cao Cao.

Before this, after Cao Cao defeated Xu He in Jiyin County and received a letter from Cao Yan, he found an excuse to send Bao Xin away.

Because what Cao Cao was going to do next might hurt Bao Xin's feelings, he simply sent him away to avoid embarrassment when they met.

Today, Bao Xin took the initiative to come and greet him, which made Cao Cao breathe a sigh of relief.

At least this fanboy's heart is still with me.

(End of this chapter)