Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 62 Yanzhou, a new chapter begins
Cao Cao, Cao Yan and others prepared to march south.

However, before leaving, they still had to meet someone - Zao Zhi.

Zao Zhi's reputation may not be as loud as Bian Rang's, but the role he actually plays is much greater.

In history, Zao Zhi was praised by Cao Cao as a great hero who "enriched military supplies, crushed the rebels, and conquered the world."

It is only because he died prematurely and did not get involved in the struggle for power that his personal deeds were rarely portrayed in literary works, and therefore he is not very famous.

Xun Yu has not yet assigned a specific official position to Zao Zhi, but Zao Zhi has been busy in the fields recently and is a down-to-earth person engaged in industry.

This is the spring plowing season, and it is also a good time for Zao Zhi to show his skills.

"Lord Cao!"

"Cao Zhonglang, you're here again!"

"Greetings to Lord Cao, Cao Zhonglang!!"

Along the way, the villagers greeted us warmly.

Whether it was the gentry and elders or women, children and young children, they all respected the Cao brothers.

The eyes of the women who were picking mulberry leaves and raising silkworms were full of excitement. They always wanted to take a few more glances at Xiao Cao, which made Cao Cao and Cao Hong beside him very jealous.

Some of the settlers who were former Yellow Turban surrendered soldiers would take the initiative to come forward and salute and express their gratitude when they saw Cao Cao and Cao Yan coming.

The young man's eyes were full of admiration.

The older people, on the other hand, sighed in their hearts: "If the officials back then in our hometown were as pragmatic and approachable as Cao Gong and Cao Zhonglang, we wouldn't have joined the Yellow Turbans and been branded as 'rebels'."

Because people were greeting him along the way, Cao Cao and his party did not walk fast.

At this time, a guard from the military farm came, followed by a middle-aged man with dark skin and rolled up trouser legs.

"Brother, that middle-aged man with dark skin is Zao Zhi!" Cao Yan reminded softly.

Cao Cao quickly dismounted and strode towards Zao Zhi: "Brother Zao, I am late in welcoming you. Please forgive me!"

This is the famous scholar that Yuan Shao tried his best to recruit. Now he comes to surrender on his own initiative. How can Cao Cao not be excited?

"Zao Zhi, nice to meet you, sir!" Zao Zhi saluted Cao Cao.

Cao Cao quickly supported Zao Zhi's arms, preventing him from bowing. "Brother Zao, are you getting used to your life lately? If you need anything, just tell Wen Ruo. I will ask him to meet all your needs!"

Zao Zhi suddenly smiled and said, "I want Zi'an, can you give it to me?"

Cao Yan and Cao Cao: “?”

"Zi'an's method of military farming still has room for improvement. I would like to discuss it in depth with him," Zao Zhi explained.

"I see…"

"You scared me..."

Next time, please finish what you want to say at once, otherwise it will be scary...

Cao Yan took the opportunity to say, "Actually, I only have some general ideas about the military farming strategy. There may be someone more suitable than me for the specific matters."

"Oh? Who is it?" Cao Cao and Zao Zhi asked curiously.

"Ren Jun, Ren Boda."

"Cavalry Commander, Ren Boda?" Cao Cao was slightly stunned when he heard this. He could never have imagined that Cao Yan would recommend Ren Jun.

"It's this person!"

"How do you know he knows about military farming?" Cao Cao asked curiously.

"Brother, you forgot that I know the art of physiognomy!" Cao Yan said with a smile.

"What else can you tell from a person's physiognomy that he is good at?" Cao Cao was full of disbelief.

Cao Yan was too lazy to explain to him and said, "Just call him over."

Although Zao Zhi was a little disappointed that Cao Yan did not come, he thought that the person recommended by Cao Yan would not be too bad.

Zao Zhi then bowed and said, "In that case, I would like to thank Cao Zhonglang for recommending me."

Cao Yan bowed in return. Cao Cao continued, "Dong'a currently has no county magistrate. How about you, Brother Zao, become the magistrate, and Ren Jun the county magistrate? You can both use this place to fully display your talents."

Zao Zhi pondered for a moment and felt that a place where he could display his ideas would be a good opportunity to show what he had learned, so he agreed: "I will follow your arrangements."

After bidding farewell to Zao Zhi, Cao Cao and his party went to Dunqiu to visit the brothers Cao Ren and Cao Chun who were recuperating from their injuries. Then they turned to Puyang and headed south to Changyi.

Changyi City is located in the southwest of Yanzhou and was the seat of Yanzhou during the reign of Emperor Liu Dai.

It borders Penghe River to the north and Yuzhou to the south. It is a transportation hub connecting the Central Plains and Shandong Peninsula.

The city was first built in the Warring States Period and expanded into the seat of Shanyang County in the Han Dynasty. The city wall is "six miles long and wide, and the outer city has a circumference of more than thirty miles." It is a typical military town.

Changyi is surrounded by the fertile plains of the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It was once an iron smelting and trade center during the Western Han Dynasty and still has the ability to store grain and fodder today.

However, because this place is located in a plain area and lacks natural barriers, it is easily attacked by bandits.

However, the Yellow Turban Army was not good at attacking cities, so they only looted the area around Changyi and did not attack the city.

After Xiahou Dun and Xi Zhicai led their troops to clear out the Yellow Turban bandits in Shanyang County, the Changyi garrison commander opened the city gates and welcomed them in.

At this point, the era of Liu Dai's rule in Yanzhou was completely over.

Outside Changyi City,

Upon learning that Cao Cao was coming, Xi Zhicai, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan and his party waited outside the city early.

Seeing Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun immediately rushed over and laughed, "Meng De, you're finally here!"

Cao Cao dismounted, went up to Xiahou Dun and hugged him, saying, "Yuan Rang, thank you for all the hard work."

"Chasing 'rabbits' all over the mountains and plains, how can it not be tiring?" Xiahou Dun made a joke.

"Brother, you have received a lot of credit this time." Cao Yan joked.

"It's just not difficult, not challenging, and not satisfying." Xiahou Yuan beside him said somewhat dissatisfiedly, "Zilong is not here, and driving away the Yellow Turbans every day is really boring."

Cao Yan suddenly smiled strangely and said, "Since you're itching to practice, how about letting my new bodyguard Dian Wei practice with you?"

When Dian Wei heard this, a gleam of light suddenly flashed in his eyes.

Xia Houyuan looked at Dian Wei's burly and oppressive figure, and couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

But how can a man say no?

Xiahou Yuan mustered up his courage and shouted, "Come on, come on! Brother Dian Wei, come with me to the training ground and fight!"

Dian Wei turned his head to look at Cao Yan and said, "My lord, I will be back soon."

Xiahou Yuan: “…”

While they were talking, Xi Zhicai also came over.

When Cao Cao saw Xi Zhicai, his eyes were filled with joy. He strode forward and took his hand: "Zhicai, it's been a long time since we last met. You must have missed me so much."

Xi Zhicai bowed slightly and said, "Greetings, my lord."

Cao Cao patted Xi Zhicai's hand and said, "Let's go find a place to have a good chat."

Everyone came to the lobby of the government office and sat down according to their status.

Cao Cao couldn't wait to ask, "Zhicai, how have you been doing recently in suppressing the remnants of the Yellow Turbans in Jiyin and Shanyang counties?"

Xi Zhicai's expression straightened, and he replied, "My lord, since we parted last time, General Yuan Rang and I have first cleared out the Yellow Turban bandits in Jiyin County, beheaded several of the bandit leaders, and captured many who surrendered.

He then went to Shanyang County and cleared out the remnants of the Yellow Turbans in the surrounding area.

Now that Jiyin and Shanyang counties have been largely pacified, the people have begun to resume farming and sericulture, and order is gradually being restored across the country."

"Those local nobles and gentry..."

"Those who resisted stubbornly and disobeyed orders, except for a few who were too powerful or famous, have all been dealt with by the Yellow Turbans."

Cao Cao nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction on his face: "Very good, you did a good job."

(End of this chapter)