Chapter 740: Xiao Qiang is in trouble and the situation changes

Author: Middle-aged paper tiger

Chapter 740: Xiao Qiang is in trouble and the situation changes

Jingzhao, Chang'an Prefecture.

Just the day before Pei Yuan was assassinated, he visited Cao Renzun's mansion in Ziting.

Even though it was already late at night, the lights in Cao Mansion were brightly lit, and servants in short-sleeved uniforms were constantly bringing delicacies from all over the place. Drums were playing in the venue, making it very lively.

Although cities like Jingzhao Chang'an Prefecture have basically implemented curfews since Zhang Gao led his troops out of the fortress, this did not affect figures like Cao Renzun.

Today is his sixtieth birthday. Not only can he not abide by the curfew, but even the governor of Guanzhong, Pingzhang of the province of Guanzhong, the stay of the Jingzhao mansion, and the abbot of the country, Qiao, the Duke of Cao Yuanzhong, all have to come to wish him a birthday in person after he invited him.

.

The reason is very simple. Before Cao Yuanzhong's father, Cao Yijin, became the governor of the Guiyi Army, he was called Cao Rengui.

This generation with the character "Ren" refers to the previous generation of the Cao family, that is to say, Cao Renzun is Cao Yuanzhong's uncle.

And it's not just as simple as my uncle. The Shazhou Cao family actually gradually retreated to Shazhou to settle down after the Tubo army captured Liangzhou.

At that time, the Cao family and his family were not the only ones who evacuated from Liangzhou. It was conservatively estimated that there were 200,000 to 300,000 people. However, in the end, only 30,000 to 40,000 people managed to reach Shazhou and stabilized.

In this horrific loss of nearly 80%, the Cao family was able to finally obtain a stable place to settle down because they merged with Sogdian Xicao, who had settled in Shazhou for a long time and had some trade routes and considerable savings.

The Han people who called themselves Qiaojun Cao hoped to survive by relying on Sogdian Xicao's power and territory on Shazhou.

Sogdian Xicao hoped that through this unification, he could completely get rid of his identity as a Sogdian and become a Tang Dynasty or even a Han who was considered "noble" at that time.

Of course, the biggest benefit is that after the two families merged, the population reached two to three thousand people, and they became a very influential family in Shazhou.

However, after Hezong, influenced by the tradition of non-marriage among Han people with the same surname, the Qiaojun Cao from Liangzhou and the local Sogdian Xicao did not engage in large-scale marriages.

This resulted in them not being very close in the decades after their union. Instead, the influx of a large number of Han people from Shazhou, which was already a very difficult place, resulted in a harsh living environment and competition with each other.

This situation did not change until Cao Yijin began to rise.

First, Cao Yijin’s grandmother and mother were both Sogdians, so they were naturally close to Sogdian Xicao.

Second, Cao Yijin was indeed very capable. As a junior high school student, he was able to marry the daughter of Suo Xun, the governor of the Guiyi Army at that time. His future seemed very bright.

So from then on, the two Cao families began to merge rapidly. By the time Cao Yijin won the power of the Guiyi Army, the Cao family was already the largest Han family in the Guiyi Army.

In particular, Cao Yijin, like Sun Quan, had a beautiful purple beard, obviously with Sogdian characteristics. In this way, no one dared to say that Sogdian Xicao was not a member of Shazhou Cao or a member of the Han people.

.

However, this small faction within the Cao family has not been completely eliminated. Therefore, although Cao Yuanzhong is nominally the patriarch of the Shazhou Cao family, in some respects, as the elder of the Sogdian Xicao family, Cao Renzun still controls the clan.

Great right to speak.

In particular, Cao Renzun can even be said to be the elder of the Cao clan in Shazhou, because now, Cao Renzun is the only one of Cao Jiaren's generation.

Just like Zhang Ji must be respected, at least on the surface, Zhang Huaiqing, the only remaining descendant of the Zhang family, Cao Yuanzhong still needs to lower his attitude when facing Cao Renzun.

For example, now, Cao Yuanzhong has issued a curfew himself, but he still has to attend Cao Renzun's birthday dinner.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Cao Renzun personally walked to Cao Yuanzhong's table holding a gold long cup with a copper tire pattern. Cao Yuanzhong stood up quickly, still speaking politely.

"Today is my uncle's birthday. How dare my nephew ask my uncle to treat me to a drink?"

Cao Renzun seemed to be a little drunk. He looked at Cao Yuanzhong who came over respectfully, and after a while he shook his big head with squinted eyes.

"I am able to hold a birthday banquet in Chang'an today, as well as have such a big house and so many servants. This is all your credit!"

Cao Yuanzhong didn't know why, but he suddenly felt a little uneasy. He didn't drink and just looked at Cao Renzun and said.

"My uncle is ridiculous. My nephew is mediocre and stupid. How could he bring the Cao family to this point? All of this is the blessing of the saint."

When Cao Renzun saw that Cao Yuanzhong was not drinking, he laughed, then turned around and looked at the Cao family members at the banquet and laughed.

"Of course a saint is a hero, but he can't conquer thousands of miles of mountains and rivers by himself!

This belongs to the Yijun family, but it belongs to our Cao family. Without the strong support of certain people named Cao, the saint could have entered Guanzhong so quickly."

Cao Yuanzhong's face suddenly changed color, and he turned around and put down the wine glass, "Uncle, be careful, I, the Cao family, are only able to achieve the glory and wealth we have today by following the footsteps of the saints. With or without the Cao family, the saints can rule the Central Plains."

"Look, look." Cao Renzun called a servant over and handed the wine glass to the servant.

The drumming in the field also stopped. A group of Cao family members and some old rebels invited by Cao Renzun, such as people from the Yin, Chen and other families, all looked at Cao Renzun and Uncle Cao Yuanzhong in silence.

nephew.

"This kid has been so sincere since he was a child. When the saint went to Khotan, it was the three thousand guan of silver given by our Cao family as his capital, right? This is three thousand guan!

Among the one hundred and eight generals from Yuan Dynasty, seventy-seven of them were given by our Cao family. Qu Wulang, Luo Yu'er, Luo Fengma and others are such sharp warriors in Jiedu. Even their armor and weapons are all white.

given out.

The King of the Jin Kingdom of Khotan is not only the uncle of the saint, but also the uncle of my Cao family.

After returning to Dunhuang, King Linggong gave all that should be given to Yuande to Zhang Erlang.

Tell me, among these four things, which one is not a great contribution? Why is it that Zhang Erlang gave us the wealth that our Cao family has now?"

Cao Yuanzhong's eyes widened suddenly, as if he didn't recognize him anymore, and he looked straight at Cao Renzun in front of him.

After being stunned for a long while, Cao Yuanzhong stretched out his trembling hand and pointed at the uncle whom he originally respected a lot.

He, Cao Renzun, even called out the title Zhang Erlang. What was he doing?

"Cao Renzun, have you lost your mind and gone crazy? If outsiders heard this, how resentful would the Cao family be?

Although our Cao family is indeed meritorious, we now have a queen and two concubines. The Cao family has as many as seven grandsons of princes, princesses, and the future prince will definitely be a grandson of the Cao family.

Aren’t you satisfied with this status? What are you talking about here?"

Cao Renzun looked at Cao Yuanzhong and snorted coldly, "Indeed, one queen and two concubines are indeed a sight.

But those are your daughters, Cao Yuanzhong, and you are a hereditary and irreplaceable duke. You serve as prime minister and assistant when you enter the court, and you serve as governor when you go out. Your son is even more glorious.

But what about the others? Elders like me only have one earl who cannot be hereditary, which is like sending away beggars. How many of the other Cao family children are in high positions?

It would be fine if we, the children of the Cao family, are not capable, but even if we are capable, you, Cao Yuanzhong, are preventing us from becoming high-ranking officials.

Then who is Pei Yuan? How can a vicious person who can only talk and talk be allowed to stay in Xijing, and now he is almost regent of the government? Why? "

As soon as Cao Renzun said these words, a buzzing sound immediately sounded, because Cao Renzun's words cannot be said to be wrong.

In the minds of the Cao family's children, Zhang Yan's rise was indeed as Cao Renzun said. Whether it was in terms of people, wealth or status, the Cao family gave extremely important help.

But now, although the Cao family has one queen and two concubines, they are both daughters of Cao Yuanzhong.

The virtuous concubine named Cao Yanmian (Queen Saktu) by Cao Yuanxin also worshiped Cao Yuanzhong as her father, and was actually Cao Yuanzhong's daughter.

Of course Cao Yuanzhong, Cao Yanlu and his son were famous, but compared to them, the benefits received by the other children of the Cao family were relatively limited.

In the eyes of many more extreme people, Cao Yuanzhong must have colluded with his son-in-law before Zhang Xi came back from Khotan, and Cao Yuanzhong got such benefits by betraying the Cao family.

Cao Yuanzhong felt a chill all over his body. He felt so wronged in every way, but he couldn't express it.

Because the Cao family is already so powerful in the harem, it is bound to be more restrained in the outer court.

Otherwise, with the Cao family's descendants numbering in the tens of thousands, if all of them share the profits, it will not take many years to form an extremely large group of relatives, similar to the Huo Guang family of the early Han Dynasty and the Liang Ji family of the later Han Dynasty.

This was something the emperor could never tolerate, and it was also the biggest reason why the emperor elevated Cao's daughter to such a status in the harem.

That means that among the concubines, the queen ranked highest is a daughter of the Cao family. She is noble, virtuous and virtuous. Two of the three concubines are Cao family daughters. I have given you the scenery of the harem, so don’t think about it anymore.

Taken power.

After Cao Yuanzhong knew the emperor's idea clearly, he kept a very low profile. Whenever a son of the Cao family wanted to be sent to a high position, he would stop him.

If the emperor insists on promotion, then listen to the emperor, but the emperor will generally agree with Cao Yuanzhong's opinion.

Well, looking like this, it does seem a bit hateful!

Cao Yuanzhong knew that no more explanations would be useful at this time, and he also felt something was wrong.

In the flash of lightning, he put his hands behind his back and gestured to his nephew Cao Yanshun, who served as his personal school captain. He also began to slowly retreat, intending to distance himself from Cao Renzun.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he moved, Cao Renzun jumped over and grabbed Cao Yuanzhong's sleeve.

"Sanlang, the situation of the saint's northern hunt is unknown now. Pei Yuan, Feng Dao and other treacherous ministers in the court have done many evil things, which aroused great anger among the people. Even Sanniang was forced to retreat to the capital of the gods with Xian Zai to protect herself.

You are the father-in-law of the current dynasty and the head of my Cao family. Why don't you raise your arms and take the Cao family and other children of the old rebel army out of Tongguan east to Qingjun's side!"

Cao Yuanzhong felt cold, and the most terrifying situation occurred. He waved his hand fiercely and directly shook off Cao Renzun's grasp.

Then he kicked the old man in the chest, causing him to flip over on the ground and run towards the door.

There was a clear sound of "choking", and a horizontal knife struck Cao Yuanzhong on the way to escape.

A strong man wearing a chainmail armor inside his outer robe and with fresh blood stains on his face, body and blade stopped Cao Yuanzhong.

"Jiuyilang, you. How can you get involved with them? Why?"

Cao Yuanzhong looked at the person who blocked him and was stunned. No, he should have broken through the defense directly.

Because Cao Yancun, Cao Twenty-one Lang, is a very capable being among Cao Jiayan's generation, Yun Wen Yun Wu.

Cao Yuanzhong also valued him the most and felt that he was most likely to become the backbone of the Cao family in the court in as short as five years or as long as ten years.
To be continued...