Chapter 1154

Opposite them sat Cao Ren and Dian Wei.

"Lord Cao, I toast this cup to you."

Zhang Rao raised his wine cup and said to Cao Cao, "Fortunately, Lord Cao is magnanimous and does not hold grudges, taking us in."

"I wonder how Lord Cao plans to settle these million commoners?"

Cao Cao took a light sip of the wine in his cup, then looked at Zhang Rao and the many small Huang Jin commanders in the tent.

As early as when he learned that the million Huang Jin refugees from Qingzhou had entered Taishan Commandery, Cao Cao had already begun planning how to settle these million people.

Yanzhou had twelve commanderies, among which Dong Commandery's population was almost empty because of the rebellion of the Huang Jin commander Bu Si.

There was also a large amount of vacant land.

So Cao Cao's plan was to settle the vast majority of the young and strong in Dong Commandery.

Among these million Qingzhou Yellow Turbans, calculated by proportion, the young and strong were actually only three or four hundred thousand.

The rest were the old, weak, women, and children.

These Yellow Turbans carried their families wherever they went, and the majority were dependents.

As for the rest, Cao Cao planned to settle them separately in the other commanderies.

This included Taishan Commandery.

"This official intends to break these million refugees into smaller groups and settle them separately in Taishan, Dong, Jibei, Shanyang, Dongping..."

"I wonder what General Zhang thinks?" Cao Cao asked, looking at Zhang Rao.

Zhang Rao, holding his wine cup and listening to Cao Cao's words, nodded and said, "Indeed..."

Hm?

Cao Cao was suddenly stunned.

"Indeed?"

Cao Cao raised an eyebrow and said, "What do you mean by 'indeed', General Zhang?"

"Oh, oh."

"It's nothing."

Zhang Rao waved his hand hurriedly and said, "I meant that this is indeed the best way."

"Come, come, Lord Cao, and these two generals, let's drink, let's drink."

Zhang Rao again raised the wine cup in front of him and toasted Cao Cao, Cao Ren, and Dian Wei one after another.

Cao Cao and Cao Ren both raised their cups, but only Dian Wei did not.

"This general... does not drink?" Zhang Rao glanced at Dian Wei, then asked Cao Cao beside him.

Cao Cao chuckled and said, "This is a great general under my command, possessing the courage of ten thousand men; in the midst of an army, taking the head of a general is as simple as reaching into a bag."

"But his temper is a bit stubborn; he never drinks when following me out."

"General Zhang, don't mind him; let us drink."

Zhang Rao nodded. While raising his cup to drink, he quietly glanced at Dian Wei, a flash of wariness in his eyes.

After putting down the wine cup, Zhang Rao looked at Cao Cao again and said, "Lord Cao must also know that I am not the only one who makes decisions for these million commoners."

"Actually, before surrendering, I had discussed it with many commanders for a long time."

"Today, having received Lord Cao's definitive answer, it has dispelled their worries. Why not take advantage of today to call them all over and hear Lord Cao's plan for our settlement?"

"It can be considered settling this matter directly, and after tomorrow, we can be settled according to Lord Cao's instructions."

Cao Cao thought for a moment and nodded: "That should be done."

Zhang Rao looked at Xu He and said, "Xu He, go notify Commander Zhang Kai, and tell him that Lord Cao has arrived, so he should come to see Lord Cao."

Xu He, sitting below Zhang Rao, stood up immediately and nodded in agreement: "This subordinate obeys!" ===== CHAPTER 1156 =====