Chapter 08 Planning for the Future ()

The thoughts of the ancients were actually far simpler than those of later generations.

Of course, simplicity does not mean stupidity, it involves a dialectics issue. In fact, Cao Peng never figured out what this dialectics was like until his death. Sometimes he felt that using dialectics to mix things up with dialectics is effective.

Wang Meng and Cao Ji are all very simple people.

Even though Wang Meng had been a coach of Qu, his thoughts were not complicated by nature.

Not to mention Cao Ji, who lived for more than 30 years, had almost never walked out of Zhongyang Mountain. In Cao Ji's eyes, Cao Peng was naturally pure filial; in Wang Meng's eyes, he was bold and meticulous. A thirteen-year-old child could sneak into someone else's mansion without knowing it, then take human life, and finally leave quietly... This kind of calmness and meticulous mind is definitely not comparable to ordinary people.

And such people are the ones who do great things!

After dawn, the two families had already left the scope of Zhongyang Mountain.

Originally, it only took a trip west to get from Zhongyang Town to Jiyang, and it took less than five days to arrive.

But Cao Peng believed that going west was too easy to be caught up. Moreover, the family of five was rushing on their way with legs; but if the Wuyin County government chased them, they would definitely be chasing them on horseback. The two legs were no match for four legs. Since this was the case, arrangements must be made early.

Therefore, Cao Peng suggested that you go south first, and you can enter the Biyang County government in about one day.

Biyang County is already under the rule of Liu Biao.

Even if the Wuyin County government discovers their whereabouts, it needs to be cautious.

Then, from Biyang County to travel west, you can reach Jiyang County in about five or six days... In terms of time, it seems that it will take two or three days more, but in terms of safety factor, it is undoubtedly much safer than going directly to Jiyang County.

"Dad, mom, uncle..."

While resting on the way, Cao Peng explained: "In fact, it may not take time to go to Biyang to Jiyang County."

Wang Meng was very interested in Cao Peng and couldn't help asking: "Afu, what do you say? If you walk Biyang, the journey has increased by at least one-third, so how can it not take time?"

"Biyang was under the rule of Liu Jingzhou. Over the years, it is said that it has been quite calm.

After we entered Biyang, we tried to buy a ox cart... and then we took the car to rush, which was always much more convenient than walking with both legs."

"Buy a ox cart?"

When Cao Ji heard this, he immediately shouted.

"You kid is simply whimsical... Do you know how much a ox cart costs? We don't have much money on it. In the future, when we get to your sister's side, it will cost to settle it. If you buy a ox cart, will it be possible to ask your sister to pay after going to Jiyang?"

After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, there was a shortage of plowing oxen.

The cost of this ox cart is not low, so Cao Ji naturally couldn't bear to spend such injustice.

Cao Peng sighed, "Dad, buying a ox cart is not just for the convenience of travel, but also involves a problem of face."

Wang Meng waved his hand and signaled Cao Ji not to speak, and asked curiously: "Afu, you told uncle, what are the benefits of buying a ox cart?"

"Dad, uncle... We have lost our time to join our sister, but we are not fleeing.

My brother-in-law is also a person with good looks in Jiyang. If our past was too shabby, even if he didn't care, it would be hard to guarantee that the Deng clan members would not care. But if he caught a ox cart, he would at least be glorious on the surface. My brother-in-law's face was better, and even if the Deng clan members were dissatisfied, they would not be too embarrassed.

Dad, it’s like you go to a relative’s house. No matter how good your relationship is, you will definitely not be treated the same as sitting in a beautiful cart. Besides, we can ride in a ox cart. Even if we don’t want it, we can sell it in Jiyang County.

With my brother-in-law here, are you still afraid that we will lose it?"

As the saying goes, poverty is in the downtown area and no one cares about it, wealth is in the deep mountains and has distant relatives.

In ancient times, this car was like a car from later generations. Even driving a Poussan could make people feel a little respect.

Wang Meng nodded repeatedly and praised: "Brother, Ah Fu thinks more thoughtful than us. In my opinion, just buy a ox cart."

Zhang felt sorry for his son even more!

After rushing all night, Cao Peng's little face turned yellow and he looked very tired.

In addition, he got five jin of money from Cheng Ji, and he had some confidence in his heart. So after Wang Meng made a statement, Zhang immediately agreed.

"You are just a friend's idea.

My friend is a person who has read books and is literate, so he will definitely consider it more thoroughly than you.

He was right. Although we were joining Annan, we were not fleeing. Not to mention anything else, we must protect only Annan's face and not let her be looked down upon in the clan."

Cao Ji is not a very opinionated person. If it were just Cao Peng, he might agree.

But since even Wang Meng said so, Cao Ji had to consider it seriously. He always respected Wang Meng, thinking that Wang Meng had a wide range of knowledge and strong ability. This time he was implicated because of his own family, so Wang Meng's opinions became particularly important... Yes, An Nan should not be underestimated!

"Okay, just decide."

After Cao Peng made up his ideas, he ran aside to rest.

With his current status, he can only give advice. As for whether he can be adopted? He believes that Wang Meng's insight can see the clues.

He and Wang Mai took a piece of cake and ate it in big mouthfuls.

"Afu, what are your plans in the future?"

"after?"

Wang Mai swallowed the pancake, wiped it on the clothes with his hands, looked at the adults next to him who were discussing things, and whispered: "I mean what do you want to do after Sister Nan has placed it?"

"And you?"

Wang Mai bit his lip, hesitated for a moment and said, "I want to join the army."

"Join the army?"

"Yes, a real man should hold the sword of murder and make a great contribution. Now Cao Gong is in charge of the emperor and set up the capital of Xudu, which is the time when we serve the country."

Cao Peng put down the cake and stared at the king for a long time.

He sighed softly, "Brother Hutou, are you willing to listen to my advice?"

"you say!"

"I know you have great skills and your intentions.

However, now is not the time for you and I to join the army... I think you and I should learn your skills now and make yourself stronger.

Learn civil and military skills and sell goods to the imperial family.

But if you are not good, you can't sell it at a good price.

Look at the heroes of the world, who are not capable? Not to mention the far-reaching ones, just talk about Wuyin County... A small county magistrate forced us to leave our hometown. Do you know the reason? Our abilities are not good enough, and our fame is not great enough. Otherwise, how could we be arrogant if we join the army now? Moreover, even if you and I join the army now, if no one recommends it, we can only start with small soldiers. When we are at the forefront of the war, we will not make much credit. In the long run, we will become a masterless soul without a single soul.

Brother Hutou, listen to me, let’s learn how many years of skills. When we get better and have a great reputation, maybe Gong Cao will come to us to do things in person. Think about it, is it better if you have been in a silent past or if someone invites you to go there?"

Wang Mai's eyes shining, showing excitement.

"Afu, will Cao Gong really come to invite us?"

"As long as we have real skills, Mr. Cao will definitely come and invite us."

Wang Mai couldn't help but giggle and nodded repeatedly.

Cao Peng closed his eyes and regained his energy... It seemed that he was very calm.

But in fact, Cao Peng's thoughts were coming one after another.

If you want to say that the most promising person in the future is Cao Cao. But it is not an easy thing to gain a foothold in Cao's camp...

Even if Cao Cao introduces the order to promote the wise in the future, if he does not have real skills, how can he gain a foothold?

It is really not a good opportunity to vote for Cao Cao now.

In history, Cao Cao's life was not very easy at this stage.

At least, Cao Peng knew that in the near future, Cao Cao would face a painful failure...

A thought suddenly flashed in my mind, but it only flashed and disappeared immediately! Now it is not the time to consider these things, so I should just place it in Jiyang first and then make plans. At the same time, Cao Peng also developed a strong curiosity about his sister and brother-in-law whom he had never met before.

Jiyang, Deng's family?

After a short rest, the two families set off again.

More than ten years have passed since the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the first year of Zhongping, but the wounds left by the war that year are still vaguely visible.

Walking along the main road, sometimes you often have to see people for an hour. In the barren land, you can see the exposed white bones from time to time... The weather is getting colder and colder. I heard that there have been several heavy snowfalls in the north like Guanzhong, and even Luoyang has ushered in the first snow.

The cold weather, the desolate wildness, and the shocking scenes of devastation...

Cao Peng lay on his father's back and felt endless desolation in his heart.

In his previous life, he lived in a "prosperous age" and had never experienced the baptism of war. Although he had seen some on TV and movies, it was not very real. But now, he really saw the trauma of war and couldn't help but sigh softly.

This may be very desolate!

But Cao Peng knew that the future would be even more miserable as it is today...

The Three Kingdoms' Triumphs are certainly an era of passion, but also endless disasters.

I remember reading a book in my previous life that recorded some data from the Three Kingdoms period. Before the Three Kingdoms Tripod, the population was about 4 million, nearly 800,000 households; after the destruction of Cao Wei, there were only 580,000 households and more than 2 million people in the north. Bashu also had a population of 30,000 in this period, but when Shu Kingdom was destroyed, there were only 280,000 households and 960,000 people; the situation in Jiangdong was relatively better. Before the Three Kingdoms Tripod, there were about 2 million people, and after the destruction of Eastern Wu, there were still 520,000 households left.

It sounds like Dongwu seems to be the best!

But in fact, if the Eastern Wu regime had not conquered Shanyue for years and plundered a large number of people, its population base might not have been stronger than Shu.

After the Three Kingdoms, the Five Barbarians invaded China...

It was also the darkest period in the history of the Han people. One out of ten Han people in the north was even used as food rations by those foreign Hu people and called them "two-legged sheep".
To be continued...