At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty

Maybe in time.

Chapter 1617 One thousand five hundred and thirty seven

The route Cao Lan chose for Guo Peng was the route Sun Jian used to go north to attack Dong Zhuo.

Thanks to the hard work of the local government over the years, the road is much easier to walk than before. Some sections of this route have also opened up water transport channels, which can save some time by boat.

The only regret is that Guo Peng originally wanted to stay in Jingzhou for a while to take a good look at the local customs and customs of Jingzhou, but under the current situation, he can't stay in Jingzhou for a long time.

Right now, I can only use Jingzhou as a stopover, and take a look around on the way - that should not be in the mood.

The original plan to go to Yangzhou to inspect the repair project of the Grand Canal and then go all the way north back to Luoyang was cancelled.

Compared with his calmness when he left, when he returned, Guo Peng's heart was always hanging.

Because he was too worried about Cai Yong, and it was a bit slow to take his wives and concubines on the road, he finally decided to head north and return to Luoyang alone with a guard team. Cao Lan and others could slow down and return to Luoyang slowly, otherwise they would almost A woman's body can't bear it.

Guo Chengzhi wants to go with Guo Peng.

"You are a man now, stay here and protect the eldest mother and the eldest aunts. This is the task that the eldest father gave you, and you must complete it."

Guo Peng touched Guo Chengzhi's head, and Guo Chengzhi decided to stay, and slowly returned north with Cao Lan and the others.

When they arrived at Jingnan together, Guo Peng quickly crossed the Yangtze River, and without stopping, he galloped all the way, skipped Xiangyang and entered the official road, camped in the wild for several nights, set off at dawn, and couldn't see the road clearly after dark Only rest.

In such a hurry, it took him seven days to reach Wuguan, another seven days to Sili area, and after passing Xuanyuan Pass, which was heavily guarded by soldiers, he arrived in Luoyang in almost a day.

After returning to Luoyang after a long absence, Guo Peng didn't feel much. He returned to the palace full of anxiety, and went directly to the South Study Room to meet Guo Jin without informing anyone.

Of course, there was no time to talk about the relationship between father and son after a long absence, so Guo Peng directly asked about Cai Yong's condition.

"What's going on? Why is Mr. Cai not feeling well all of a sudden?"

Guo Jin put away her surprise and looked a little hesitant.

"The son is not very clear, but it should be related to the death of Duke Shanyang. Before the news of Duke Shanyang's death came, others didn't pay much attention. Only Duke Cai came to ask his son how Duke Shanyang passed away. .

The son said that he died on a woman's belly. Cai Gong was very angry, saying that our father and son deliberately indulged him, raised him, and let him act recklessly, which caused such a tragedy. According to Cai Gong, this is all The problem of our father and son. "

After Guo Peng heard this, he was silent for a long time.

"Cai Gong really said that?"

"That's what it means."

Guo Jin nodded: "Father, what should I do now? Mr. Cai's illness is probably not good. I'm worried that Mr. Cai will have some troubles. Ah Wan, she..."

"I know I know."

Guo Peng sat down and sighed.

"I chose Liu Jian to be the emperor at the beginning. It was indeed out of my own selfishness. In order to become emperor, of course I couldn't choose an adult emperor, otherwise I would return to the government. If the child emperor was a child emperor, I could at least be a legitimate regent. Then when he was 14 years old Before you return to power, you will be able to proclaim yourself emperor."

"Father, don't talk about this kind of thing. It's meaningless now."

Guo Jin is not a child either, and has long been clear about the doorway here, including the reason for Guo Peng's connivance with Liu Jian all the time.

Guo Peng just shook his head.

"A Jin, in your opinion, what is Cai Gong's ability in politics?"

"Mr. Cai? Has he...been in charge of government affairs? My son doesn't seem to have heard of it."

"No."

Guo Peng shook his head: "Mr. Cai has never really been in charge of administration alone. He has done some political affairs, but he himself knows that he is not capable of governing. To be honest, after starting to be a father, he is very concerned about what Mr. Cai does. It’s also deeply ridiculous.”

"Father, this..."

"In the early days, although my father felt that Cai Gong was kind to my father, for a long time, I used Cai Gong's fame to do things, playing around with him like a doll, and let him use his fame to do things for my father. Endorsement of some things done.

In order to be the emperor, Weifu has done many things, and these things need the support of people with great reputation. This is the rule in the last years of the former Han Dynasty, and Cai Gong is the best supporter. He has always believed that Weifu Proclaiming emperor is a last resort. "

"…………"

Guo Jin gasped: "Mr. Cai really thinks so? Then why would he say such a thing?"

"As people grow older, some become more confused as they live, and some become more clear as they live. I think, Mr. Cai has understood what he should understand after so many years, and I don't need Mr. Cai to help me do anything for a long time. It doesn't surprise me at all that he said that."

Guo Peng looked at Guo Jin and said, "For heart disease, you need heart medicine. I am the heart medicine, but whether this medicine can save people or kill people, I don't know."

Guo Jin was very embarrassed.

"Father, Mr. Cai thinks he was cheated by you, so..."

"I don't know, but it shouldn't be that simple. I think Cai Gong should have understood it a long time ago. The reason why he didn't say it until now is probably because he put his last hope on Liu Jianjian, but Liu Jian messed around. ,died."

Guo Peng smiled wryly for a while, stood up, and let out a long breath.

"I'll go and see Mr. Cai."

"Father, do you need me to go too?"

"You don't want to go. I will go to see Cai Gong alone. Cai Gong should have been looking forward to my return. There must be a lot of questions for me. You are here to do what you should do, and leave the other things to me. .”

Guo Peng straightened his clothes, walked out of the south study room slowly, left the palace, and went to Situ Mansion where Cai Yong lived.

Situ Mansion is not far from the imperial palace, and it is not on the same street as the residence of princes, nobles and ministers, but on another street.

Because Cai Yong likes to be quiet and doesn't like to be noisy when he gets old, Guo Peng specially opened up a street for Cai Yong to build Situ Mansion and live there.

Cai Yong's people did not live in the capital, but in Chenliu's hometown.

Cai Yong did not allow his clansmen to seek employment in the capital because of him. In the early years, he rejected Guo Peng's idea of ​​appointing two or three members of the Cai clan as capital officials, and forced Guo Peng to change them to local officials.

Without real merit, one cannot occupy a high position. This is how Cai Yong treats his clansmen.

After Cai Wan married Guo Jin, Cai Yong read a lot of history books and absorbed a lot of experience of the failure of his relatives. He was afraid that the Cai clan would be bullied and reckless and cause the collapse of the Cai clan, so he wrote many times to ask the clan to reflect on themselves and restrain themselves.

Once he knew what the Cai clan had done badly, he would be very angry, and immediately wrote to reprimand the clan, asking the clan to strictly restrain themselves, otherwise he would go to the emperor and ask for punishment.

Therefore, the members of the Cai clan were cautious and did not dare to act recklessly.

It is true that the members of the Cai clan do not have great talents. So far, none of the members of the Cai clan has been an official in the capital. The highest official position is the prefect of Kuaiji.

But people at the time praised Cai Yong as a man of great virtue who would not abolish the public because of personal interests.

Such relatives are good relatives.

Because of this, Cai Yong's mansion only has his old wife and a group of servants except for those who occasionally visit him. Although the mansion occupies a large area, there are no people there. The whole mansion is like a garden, and Cai Yong walks through it every day to cultivate his sentiments. , complacent.

After having enough paper, Cai Yong insisted on writing articles every day, wanting to leave works about what he had learned. So far, he has completed more than [-] works, which are equivalent to his body.

It is this kind of living environment that allows him to live a long life. Guo Peng thinks this is the best reward for Cai Yong.

When Guo Peng arrived at Cai Yong's mansion, he happened to bump into Hua Tuo and others going out. Hua Tuo saw that it was Guo Peng, wiped his eyes, and thought he had made a mistake.

"The Supreme Emperor?"

"Well, I learned that Mr. Cai is seriously ill. I just came back. It's a good time for you to tell me about Mr. Cai's condition."

Guo Peng stretched out his hand to let Hua Tuo come over, Hua Tuo forcefully forced himself to recover, and explained Cai Yong's illness to Guo Peng in a low voice.

The more Guo Peng listened, the more his heart sank.

"So, you have tried your best?"

Hua Tuo thought about Zhang Ji's words, bit the bullet and told the truth.

"Yes, the Supreme Emperor, when manpower is exhausted, we are doctors, and we cannot do things that ghosts and gods can do. Mr. Cai's condition has not improved for a long time, and his body is getting weaker and weaker. The effect of medicine stones is limited. We can only do our best. "

Guo Peng was silent for a while.

"There are no ghosts and gods in the world. Birth, old age, sickness and death are natural laws that cannot be reversed by manpower. If so, just do what you can."

"According to the order."

Hua Tuo silently breathed a sigh of relief, bowed and slowly backed away.

Guo Peng rectified his mood, and entered the Cai Mansion with heavy steps.

Outside Cai Yong's ward, Guo Peng ran into Cai Wan who was attending to the sick himself.

She has not left Cai's mansion for five consecutive days.

Seeing Guo Peng coming, Cai Wan was very surprised.

"Father? Why are you back?"

"I rushed back from Jiaozhou. Your mother and Chengzhi will not come back for a while. I was worried about Cai Gong's condition, so I came back first. How is Cai Gong?"

Guo Peng asked hurriedly.

Cai Wan looked worried and said, "It's not very good."

"How could this be...Are you going to make medicine?"

Guo Peng looked at the herbs in Cai Wan's hand.

"Yes."

"It's fine to let the servants go, why do you have to go in person?"

"It's right to serve my father."

Cai Wan couldn't hide the haggard look on her face.

"Alright."

Guo Peng nodded: "Then you go to decoct the medicine, and I'll go and see Mr. Cai."

"Yes."

Cai Wan bowed and left in a hurry, while Guo Peng stepped into Cai Yong's ward.

Chapter 1618 One thousand five hundred and thirty-eight You have always been like this, and you have never changed!

When Guo Peng entered the ward, besides an old servant serving him, Cai Yong was the only one lying on the bed in Cai Yong's ward.

The whole room was filled with a bitter smell of medicine, and only one small window was opened, so the air was a bit turbid.

"The Supreme Emperor?"

The old servant and Guo Peng are also old acquaintances for many years. They served Cai Yong when they were in Luoyang, and now they are still serving Cai Yong at such an advanced age, which has won Cai Yong's trust.

Guo Peng nodded, looked at Cai Yong who seemed to be asleep, and asked in a low voice, "Is Mr. Cai resting?"

"Yes, after lunch, Bo Xi can be considered to have fallen asleep. These days, Bo Xi's spirit is not good, and he doesn't rest well at night. He can only take a short nap in the afternoon, and he wakes up soon."

The old servant sighed: "Bo Jie's health is getting worse and worse, he is still old after all, he is 84, and his spirit is not as good as before, so he still has to keep writing every day.

I told him not to write, but he refused to listen. He said he wanted to write more before he died. If he didn’t write now, he would have no chance in the future. No matter how I persuaded him, he refused to listen. He was still so stubborn, so stubborn. "

Guo Peng pursed his lips and looked at Cai Yong who was lying on the bed and sleeping quietly.

"Then I'll sit here for a while, and when Mr. Cai wakes up, talk to him."

"Okay, I'm going to make tea, the Supreme Emperor will wait."

The old servant hunched over and walked slowly outside the house, then turned around and closed the door.

Guo Peng sat quietly on the chair, looking at Cai Yong lying on the bed, his thoughts gradually drifted back to Luoyang 40 years ago.

In the end, before he could gain a firm foothold in Luoyang and begin to recall, Cai Yong suddenly turned over.

"Old Cai, water, I'm thirsty..."

His voice was hoarse and weak, as if he had lost all strength from his illness.

Guo Peng hurriedly stood up, looked at a kettle on the table, picked it up and poured a bowl of water, tested the water temperature, it was just right, so he sat on the edge of Cai Yong's bed, and helped Cai Yong who had his eyes closed Get up, let him lean against you, and bring the water to his mouth.

Cai Yong took a few mouthfuls of warm water in the bowl, swallowed slowly, and then took a breath.

"That's enough, help me to lie down."

"it is good."