Just one day before Chen Caozhi and his party arrived at Luoyang, Dou Tao returned to Chang'an with more than ten followers. He first went to see his father Dou Lang. Dou Lang is now General Who Assists the State. Chief Clerk, when he learned that the marriage between his son Dou Tao and Pingyu Su Clan failed and returned without success, he frowned and said, "The prince sent envoys to lobby Huaibei Wu Wu, Su Family Fort should be the most promising to return, but things are not harmonious, which is really disappointing!"
Dou Tao blushed and defended. "Su Daozhi was already persuaded by me, but unexpectedly the envoy Chen Caozhi who sent me Qin State passed by Su Family Fort. This person seemed to know very much about Minister Wang's strategy of recruiting Huaibei's minions. In this case, how could Su Daozhi dare to join me Qin State again!"
Dou Lang waved his hand and said, "You go down and take a bath first, then follow me to see the prince at night and tell you everything about Su Family Fort."
Dou Tao retreated.
That night, Dou Tao followed his father Dou Lang to General Who Assists the State's house to meet Wang Meng. At that time, Wang Meng was holding six jobs. General Who Assists the State, Commandant of the Sili, Book of Documents Left Pushe, Chamberlain for the Heir Apparent, Palace Attendant, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Qin Lord Fu Jian obeyed him, and he was in power. Longyou, Guanzhong Han people were naturally happy that Wang Meng was in power Encouraged, but the Di Ren aristocrats resented Wang Meng for suppressing their privileges. However, because Fu Jian trusted Wang Meng, the Di Ren aristocrats were helpless. Wang Meng was also deeply vigilant and tried to stay in the middle when dealing with the conflict between Hu and Han. Last year Xiongnu left Right Worthy Prince Cao Gu and Liu Weichen rebelled. Fu Jian personally led the troops to quell the rebellion and moved Xiongnu's powerful Six Thousand Households to Chang'an for control. Xiongnu various ministries, Wang Meng are in charge of the arrangement of these six thousand Xiongnu powerful people. After more than a hundred days, they have finally been basically Anding. Tonight, they are with General of the Vanguard Yang An and General Who Displays Martial Prowess Yao Chang were discussing the matter of plundering Jingxiang. When they heard that Chief Clerk Dou Lang and his son Dou Tao were asking for an audience, they ordered someone to summon them in.
The General Who Assists the State mansion of Wang Meng is located in the west of Chang'an city. This place was originally the site of the Han Dynasty Shanglin Park. After the war, Shanglin Park, which originally had magnificent palaces and strange flowers and trees, was in ruins. Fifteen years ago, the capital of Di Qin was built by Fangtou After moved to Chang'an, most of the residences of Di Qin nobles and officials were built in the west of the city. Wang Meng was frugal, and the mansion courtyard was only a few acres. Dou Tao followed his father into General’s Residence. There were no lights along the road, and only a boy servant led the way with a lantern.
Wang Meng is thirty-nine years old this year. He is of medium height, has silky eyebrows and phoenix eyes, and a five-inch black beard under his chin. His expression is solemn and resolute, and he has the tendency not to be angry or self-confident. Dou Tao is wary. After seeing the ceremony, he will be Huaibei reported the details of his trip to Wang Meng. The discussion with Chen Caozhi was slightly omitted, and Su Ruolan's topic was not mentioned.
Wang Meng Nianxu muttered, "It's strange, how could Chen Caozhi know about my acquisition of Huaibei Zhuwu?"
General of the Vanguard Yang An who was present laughed and said, "Then Chen Caozhi must have seen Young Master Dou appear at Su Family Fort, and had doubts in his heart, so he tried to test him with words. Young Master Dou was young, so he was deceived."
Dou Tao was ashamed and angry, but he was ineffective in doing things and did not dare to defend himself, so he just swallowed his anger.
Wang Meng smiled lightly, Huaibei It would be great if the docks could be conquered, but it would not harm the overall situation if they were not conquered. Qin Army currently only plans to plunder the land of Jing and Shu. For Huaibei and Central Plains, it is best to let Jin Yan fight in a fight where both sides will lose.
Seeing Dou Tao's embarrassment, Wang Meng said warmly, "Lianbo nephew, this matter is not your fault. Who would have expected that Chen Caozhi would come to Su Family Fort! Just like this, my Great Qin's plan to conquer Huaibei Zhuwu will all come to nothing." He paused and asked, "Who does Lianbo the wise nephew think that Chen Caozhi is?"
Dou Tao was ashamed and resentful, and replied, "Chen Caozhi, Jiangzuo has a very strong habit of being conceited, boasting, and not knowing what to say."
Yao Chang's elder brother Yao Xiang used to be attached to Eastern Jin, but was not tolerated by Yin Hao, the powerful official of Eastern Jin at that time. Therefore, Yao Chang deeply hated and despised Jiangzuo's talkative people. He immediately echoed, "Jiangzuo is the only Huan Wen, and the rest are all incompetent people. Jiangzuo Wei Jie, hey, hey, he is a masculine man and is famous for his beauty. Minister Wang wants to negotiate with such people, it is a waste of words."
Wang Meng smiled slightly and said, "Otherwise, Wang is quite interested in this Chen Caozhi. This person comes from Cold Door, but he can make the family become Gentry Register, and he can be friends with Xie Xuan and Fan Ning, Sima Yu and Zhi Daolin are highly praised for his clear talk and hard work, but he can be reused by Huan Wen and Xi Chao. His pursuit of Lu Clan woman not only did not lead to ruin, but his reputation grew. This is really unexpected!"
That year Huan Wen From Northern Expedition to Ba Shang, Wang Meng, who had been living in seclusion at Mount Hua, came to see Huan Wen and talked about it, which was highly appreciated by Huan Wen, but Wang Meng did not follow Huan Wen in the end. When returned to Jiangdong, he considered that he was from a humble background and could not gain a foothold in Eastern Jin where there were many wealthy families. He could not use his literary and military skills to achieve a great cause, so he decided to stay in Guanzhong and wait and see the changes. It was not until Fu Jian came to power that Wang Meng came out. As a result, However, Wang Meng has always felt that his decision to stay in the north was a wise one, because Eastern Jin has no place for him. He holds a high position in Di Qin, holds great power, and is well aware of the major affairs of Eastern Jin's government and the public, Chen Caozhi Walking from Qiantang step by step, he Wang Meng could see it clearly like watching a fire from across the bank. He was quite surprised. It turned out that a Cold-Gate Commoner Children could also do something in Eastern Jin, so Wang Meng really wanted to see this Chen Caozhi.
Dou Tao said, "Minister Wang, then Chen Caozhi relies on calligraphy, painting, music, Fishing for Fame and Reputation. Jiangzuo only focuses on these pretense, but actually has no real talent."
Wang Meng glanced at Dou Tao and said calmly, "Last winter, Chen Caozhi achieved outstanding results in Kuaiji and Tuduan. They are not just talkative people. Moreover, Chen Caozhi and Gu Kaizhi achieved great results in Jiankang. Rumor has spread about the Buddha murals painted by Waguansi in the Northern Kingdom, Yan and Qin. Buddha believers traveled thousands of miles to Jiankang to watch the ceremony and returned with joy and admiration. Empress Dowager Gou also knew about this and learned about Chen Caozhi's future a few months ago. Chang'an, your Majesty wants to keep Chen Caozhi as an official in Qin, so that he can be the portrait of Buddhist Temple of Qin State, haha, so whether Chen Caozhi can return to Jiangdong depends on his own ability."
Dou Tao didn't dare to say any more, and thought to himself, "It would be interesting to leave Chen Caozhi in Chang'an, Empress Dowager Gou both believes in Buddhism and indulges in sexual desires. Will Chen Caozhi be included in Empress Dowager Gou's palace? Can General Who Guards the Army tolerate Chen Caozhi!"
General Who Guards the Army Li Wei is the lover of Empress Dowager Gou. This matter is known to both the government and the public. Moreover, when Fu Sheng was in power, he tried to kill Fu Jian several times, all thanks to Li Wei for his protection. Di people are more casual about matters between men and women, so Fu Jian is not interested in his mother Empress Dowager Gou and Li Wei just let it go, and Li Wei is like his father. Even Wang Meng is a brother to Li Wei and respects him very much. This Li Wei is different from those male favorites in history who have brought disaster to the country and the people. He treats Di Qin Fu Clan is loyal and loyal. He cooperates with Wang Meng in governing the country and has outstanding political achievements. No matter whether he is a Di or a Han, no one looks down upon him because Li Wei is the face of Empress Dowager Gou.
Late at night, Dou Lang and Dou Tao father and son said goodbye, Yao Chang followed suit, General of the Vanguard Yang An stayed to continue the conversation with Wang Meng. Yang An smiled and said, "Then Chang Yaomeng Minister Wang was summoned to the mansion to discuss matters. He was overjoyed. Minister Wang will reuse Yao Chang?"
Yang An had a close personal relationship with Wang Meng and knew Wang Meng's intentions. After Yao Xiang died, Yao Chang led Qiang to surrender to the Qin Dynasty. Wang Meng believed that Yao Chang did not surrender sincerely and would lead to chaos in the long run. He once secretly advised Fu Jian killed Yao Chang to eliminate future troubles. Fu Jian values benevolence and righteousness and refused to surrender. Wang Meng had no choice but to give up., but now, Wang Meng has to entrust Yao Chang with the important responsibility of Southern Expedition, so Yang An has this question.
Wang Meng smiled and said, "Now is the time to employ people, why can't I tolerate Yao Chang."
Yang An understood it and didn't say anything more. He just asked, "Since the Duke wants to negotiate peace with Jin, why do you want to attack Jingxiang?"
Wang Meng said, "The weapons brought by the Jin people last time were indeed excellent. Jin wanted to exchange them for my Qin State war horses. I gave them a strong gelding that can only be driven for five or six years and cannot have children. If Therefore, Jin has never been able to build up a strong cavalry and will not pose a threat to us Qin State. When I wipe out Powerful Yan, I will then try to Jiangdong the Kyushu to be unified and usher in a peaceful and prosperous age."
Yang An praised, "Minister Wang has great talent and great strategy, Marquis Wu of Zhuge cannot match it."
Wang Meng said modestly, and then said, "Chen Caozhi must have arrived at Luoyang at this time, Luoyang now only has Shen Jin's eight hundred soldiers left. Without reinforcements, in less than three months, Luoyang must be captured by Murong Ke. At present, all the land of Henan has been taken by Yan. After the isolated city of Luoyang is lost, Qin and Yan will confront each other in Hebei and Henan. This is not what I want."
Yan Kingdom has Murong Ke, and its momentum is rising, but Qin State is still busy appeasing the Xiongnu and Di and Qiang tribes in the north, and Zhang Tianxi of Liangzhou has not yet been destroyed., Tuoba Clan of Yunzhong may also cause trouble, so Wang Meng does not want to compete with the Yan Kingdom to the south of the Yellow River. He must first Anding the north, and then Xianbei Murong went to full-scale war, which is the main reason why Wang Meng is willing to negotiate peace with Eastern Jin, but if Eastern Jin cannot hold Luoyang and Henan belong to the Yan Kingdom, Yan Army can directly reach Tong Pass, and Guanzhong is dangerous.
Yang An said, "In that case, why don't I take Luoyang first?"
Wang Meng said, "Luoyang city is sparsely populated, and it is easy for me to take it. The reason why I stay and not take it is to let Jin and Yan compete. But now it seems that Huan Wen is determined to become the emperor of Jiangzuo, and I am afraid that he has no intention of saving Luoyang." Silkworm eyebrows frowned slightly, and said, "My life is General Who Establishes the Standard Deng Qiang has stationed troops Lingbao and Ruicheng, waiting for the opportunity. As for whether to take Luoyang first or others, we will decide after seeing Chen Caozhi."
The next day, Wang Meng ordered Senior Clerk of the State-Supporting General Dou Lang came out Tong Pass to greet Jin State's envoy Chen Caozhi. At this time, Chen Caozhi and his party of more than 300 people arrived at Luoyang. After a long talk with Shen Jin, Chen Caozhi sent out scouts to watch the movements of the Yan Army. Duan Si's domestic slave Duan Zhao was also sent by Chen Caozhi to Ye City to inquire about the information. Chen Caozhi also compiled two Children’s Ballads songs for Duan Zhao to remember, and then went to the countryside near Ye City to teach children to sing. Since Western and Eastern Han, Children’s Ballads has been inseparable from Chenwei. During the reign of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, Chang'an Children’s Ballads sang. "Thousand-Li Grass, He Qingqing, Ten-Day Divination, no life." Shortly afterwards, Dong Zhuo died.
On the occasion of Wei-Jin, from the princes and nobles to the common people, they all believed that Children’s Ballads was a prediction from God of the fortunes of the country and important people. Fu Jian was known as "Grass joins minister, and earth king rules Xianyang". Jiangdong So many people named after stones were also because of the song Children’s Ballads, Xie Anshi, Xie Wanshi, and Huan Shiqian. It was all for this reason. Since people at that time were so superstitious about Children’s Ballads, Chen Caozhi should of course be fully utilized.