Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 139 Take care of your health and witness this peaceful and prosperous era.
In the first year of the Xingping era of the Han Dynasty (194 AD), the world was still plagued by frequent wars and constant flames of war.

Yuan Shao continued to fight fiercely with the Black Mountain Army and Gongsun Zan.

Yuan Shu is currently conquering Lujiang in Yangzhou, and his next step is to take over Pei, a slightly weaker state controlled by Liu Bei in Xuzhou.

Ma Teng, Han Sui, and others from Xiliang fought a major battle against Li Jue, Guo Si, and Fan Chou at Changpingguan. Han Sui and Ma Teng were defeated and retreated to Liangzhou.

Liu Fan (eldest son of Liu Yan) plotted to join forces with Ma Teng to attack Chang'an, but the plan was leaked and he was killed by Li Jue.

However, Yanzhou, located in the heart of the Central Plains, unexpectedly ushered in a long-awaited period of peace.

As Cao Yan said before, "A good start prevents a hundred more."

After Cao Cao successively defeated Yuan Shu, Lü Bu, Zhang Miao, and Tao Qian, the warlords of the land finally realized that Cao Cao had taken the lead among all the warlords.

He went from a children's table to the top table in just two years, a rise that was astonishing.

After defeating Lü Bu and Zhang Miao, Cao Cao completely controlled Yan Province.

Those powerful clans and gentry in Yanzhou who had once opposed him were completely wiped out.

While his supporters lost some land, tenant farmers, and other resources,

However, they were compensated in terms of official positions, the economy, and commerce, and their actual benefits increased rather than decreased.

This further solidified the support of prominent figures such as Bian Rang of Chenliu and the Wang family of Shanyang for Cao Cao.

As spring arrives, the earth awakens.

Bian Rang also returned to Yanzhou with a group of scholars and disciples.

Before the great battle, Bian Rang went to Jingzhou for refuge, while also harboring the intention of testing Cao Cao.

If Cao Cao couldn't overcome this hurdle, then all his ambitions would be in vain.

Now, Cao Cao has not only successfully overcome the difficulties, but has also demonstrated outstanding leadership and military wisdom, which gives Bian Rang hope for the establishment of a new order as envisioned by Cao Cao, Cao Yan and others.

To prove that he was not simply seeking refuge, Bian Rang used his exceptional eloquence to persuade Sima Hui, who was planning to go to Jingzhou, to return to Yanzhou together.

It has to be said that this guy can sometimes create some surprises, besides being a scare.

On the official road outside Juancheng, a blue cloth carriage rumbled along.

Inside the carriage sat a middle-aged scholar in a blue robe and an elderly man with white hair.

The middle-aged scholar in the blue robe was none other than Bian Rang, a renowned scholar from Yanzhou, while the old man with white hair and a youthful face, and peaceful and profound eyes, was none other than Sima Hui, who had served as the headmaster of Yingchuan Academy and was known as "Mr. Water Mirror".

Bian Rang sat upright, gently stroking the "Spring and Autumn Annals" in his hands, his gaze passing through the car window as he watched the busy farmers in the fields along the way.

At this moment, Bian Rang suddenly asked, "Brother Decao, what do you think of the people of Yanzhou compared to those of Jingzhou?"

Sima Hui lifted the other side of the carriage curtain, gazing at the orderly farming scene in the fields, and replied: "Although Jingzhou has fertile land for thousands of miles, the practice of powerful families annexing land is rampant, and most people are tenant farmers, living in poverty."

The farmers of Yanzhou all owned their own land, and their faces lit up with joy as they worked the fields, demonstrating the effectiveness of Cao Cao's new policies.

Bian Rang nodded slightly and said with emotion, "Back then, I had a fierce argument with Cao Zian, and he scolded me severely, saying that we scholars only knew how to talk about classics and were blind to the suffering of the people... At the time, I just thought he was young and arrogant and talking nonsense, but now it seems that the kid does have some ability."

Sima Hui smiled and said, "Cao Yan is the first person who can make you, Wenli, submit."

"What are you saying? Brother Decao, aren't you someone I've also praised? Hahaha!" Bian Rang said, unable to help but laugh out loud.

Sima Hui gazed at the county road under construction in the distance, and the children running and playing along the country lanes, lost in thought. "It's been so many years since I've seen such a harmonious scene..."

“Brother Decao,” Bian Rang’s voice interrupted Sima Hui’s thoughts, “Cao Zi’an once promised me that he would establish the Imperial Academy, set up county schools and elementary schools, and enlighten the people.”

If you and I can lend him a hand, this work of educating the people will be a great achievement that will benefit generations to come!

A hint of a smile flashed in Sima Hui's eyes as he asked, "Can Cao Zi'an's ingenious ideas really be realized?"

Bian Rang nodded: "I had a long talk with him last year. His proposals for the imperial examination system and the three-tiered education system were unprecedented."

The county school selects outstanding students to enter the prefectural school through examinations.

The state school then selected talents to enter the Imperial Academy through the imperial examination.

Regardless of their background or family circumstances, all children can attend the primary and county schools!

All exams will be conducted in complete secrecy to ensure fairness and impartiality.

In this way, even those from poor families and ordinary households will have the opportunity to rise above their circumstances.

Sima Hui clapped his hands in admiration: "If such a system can be implemented, it will truly be the foundation for all ages." As the two were talking, the carriage had already arrived at the foot of Juancheng.

At the city gate, a group of soldiers were checking passersby, but they showed no sign of being harsh or difficult.

Some civilians even tried to stuff vegetables and fruits into the guards' arms, but the soldiers politely declined them all.

Upon entering the city, one sees bustling streets, numerous shops, and people living in peace and contentment—a scene of prosperity that is strikingly different from the desolation and ruin of other places.

Sima Hui exclaimed, "Under Cao Cao's rule, the area is so prosperous that you can hardly tell that it had just experienced war."

Bian Rang nodded and said, "Such a scene is truly rare in this chaotic world."

The two went straight to the governor's mansion to request an audience with Cao Cao.

At that moment, Cao Cao was listening to Xun Yu, Mao Jie and others report on the recent governance achievements when he heard that Bian Rang had come to visit. He quickly got up to go out and greet him.

Before Bian Rang even entered the door, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Mengde, I want to introduce you to a great sage, why don't you come out and greet him quickly?!"

A person who can be called a great sage by Bian Rang must at least be a famous scholar or even a great Confucian scholar!

Cao Cao and Xun Yu exchanged a glance and quickened their pace as they walked out of the hall.

Cao Cao looked up and saw an old man with an extraordinary bearing following behind Bian Rang.

Xun Yu, standing beside him, exclaimed in delight, "Master!!!"

Sima Hui looked up and a warm smile appeared on his face: "Wenruo, it's been a long time!"

The renowned Yingchuan Academy in the late Eastern Han Dynasty was founded by Xun Shuang, Xun Yu's uncle, and Sima Hui.

Sima Hui, as the headmaster of Yingchuan Academy, was proficient in multiple fields such as military affairs, politics, literature and history, and metaphysics, and was hailed as a polymath.

Among the disciples he trained were Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and Chen Qun.

Cao Cao was also very knowledgeable. When he saw Xun Yu treat him with the respect due to a disciple and address him as "Master", and combined with the other party's age and Bian Rang's attitude, he immediately guessed that he was the reclusive sage known as "Master Water Mirror" and that he was Sima Hui!
Cao Cao quickly bowed and said, "I have long admired Mr. Shui Jing's name. Meeting him today is a great honor!"

After Sima Hui helped Cao Cao and Xun Yu up, he said, "General Cao, you flatter me. I am but a humble man from the mountains, nothing to boast about."

Bian Rang chimed in from the side, "Brother Decao, you don't need to be so polite with Mengde. He's a pretty easy person to get along with."

Cao Cao bowed again and hurriedly invited the two men to sit down.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Bian Rang asked, "Mengde, where is Zi'an?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao laughed and said, "Zian is now serving as the Prefect of Chenliu. He recently wrote to say that he wants to go to Yangdi in Yingchuan with Wenruo to visit Chen Changwen (Chen Qun) of the Chen family."

Bian Rang looked at Sima Hui, knowing that Chen Qun had once been Sima Hui's student.

As expected, Sima Hui nodded and said, "Chen Qun is extremely talented, only slightly inferior to Wenruo. Cao Zian's discerning eye is indeed well-deserved."

Upon hearing Sima Hui praise Cao Yan, Cao Yan beamed from ear to ear, "Yanzhou is in dire need of rebuilding and is exactly where we need talented people. We need someone as capable as Changwen to show his skills!"

Upon seeing this, Bian Rang stood up and said, "In that case, Brother Decao and I will head to Chenliu now and wait for Zian to return."

Cao Cao quickly dissuaded him, saying, "Brother Wenli, you and Mr. Shui Jing have had a long journey. Why don't you rest for a few days before you go?"

It's not a big deal for me to do it myself, but Sima Hui is indeed quite old.

He nodded and said, "Then let's rest for a few days."

Sima Hui suddenly suggested, "Since General Cao wishes to invite Changwen to serve in the government, I can write a letter to introduce him to you."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao immediately ordered someone to bring him writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Sima Hui gently stroked the Cao family's new paper, which was as white as snow and as smooth as skin, and couldn't help but sigh, "I can die without regrets if I can witness the birth of the Cao family's new paper in my lifetime!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao quickly advised, "Zi'an, you still have many brilliant strategies and plans that you haven't had time to implement. You must take care of your health!"

"Hahaha! Mengde is absolutely right. We must all take good care of our health so that we can witness the glorious era that Zian has described!"

Bian Rang laughed loudly.

He walked to Old Cao's seat on his own.

After rummaging around for a while, he pulled out a flask of wine...

(End of this chapter)