Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 451 The Tradition of Harmony

Cao Cao never used any hostages to threaten Liu Bei.

If Cao Cao had wanted to, he could have taken many hostages.

Xu Huang had family members in Weijun, Jizhou. When Xu Huang was stationed in Weijun to cultivate land, he moved his family members from Hedong to Weijun.

Chenliu is Cai Yong's hometown, and some members of the Cai family still live there.

Zhaoji's elder sister, Zhenji, married Yang Dao. Yang Dao took Zhenji with him to serve in Shangdang, and Cao Cao appointed Yang Dao as the governor of Shangdang.

These places were all under Cao Cao's control, but Cao Cao never harassed any of them. He even sent people with gifts to comfort Xu Huang's family, saying that Xu Huang was a meritorious official of the Han Dynasty for his expedition to the Eastern Yi. He had the intention of getting close to Xu Huang, but he really had no intention of taking hostages.

Although many powerful and influential families wanted to kill Liu Bei, Cao Cao did not regard Liu Bei as a mortal enemy.

Cao Cao simply wanted to gain a voice, since he now represented a large aristocratic group.

Xun You's suggestion was certainly more in line with Liu Bei's wishes, because it would cause Cao Cao's power to shrink and prevent the Yan and Yu gentry from causing trouble in Hebei.

This also means that Cao Cao might seek a negotiated solution to the power struggle for the throne in Chang'an.

Liu Bei simply didn't expect that Cao Cao would also lose Liu Xie.

……

A few days later, Xun You rode quickly to find Xun Yu.

When Xun You met Xun Yu, he still treated him with the respect due to a junior.

Xun Yu refused, saying, "We each serve our own masters, so it's inconvenient to treat each other as family. Let's just talk about official business. What urgent matter brings you here?"

Xun You then mentioned Lü Bu's attack on Pei State: "Yuan Shu and Lü Bu are both bandits by nature, only knowing how to plunder and not engaging in production. They are both scoundrels who bring chaos. Now these two traitors have invaded Pei State, and I fear that Yingchuan will be in danger soon."

"Both Xuande and Cao Cao have the desire to bring peace to the world. Although they have disputes, they are also disputes of ideals. Xuande wants to bring peace to the world first, and then they can discuss their ideals. Cao Cao should do the same."

"Lord Xuande has ordered Generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to clear the way, so that Cao Cao's troops can return south and join General Zhang Fei in attacking Lü Bu."

Xun You and Xun Yu were indeed like Liu Bei and Cao Cao, only with different ideas, and diversified investment was Xun's survival strategy.

Yingchuan is their common hometown, so of course they must protect it.

Xun Yu agreed with Xun You's words and immediately went to discuss it with Xiahou Dun.

Xiahou Dun and Guan Yu were both enemies and friends; he never wanted to fight Guan Yu, who was guarding Baima.

Similarly, Xiahou Yuan and Zhang Fei were both enemies and friends, and Xiahou Yuan did not want to fight Zhang Fei—he had not yet repaid Zhang Fei for saving him from prison.

Cao Cao ordered him to block Zhang Fei because Zhang Fei and Xiahou Yuan were old friends, and it would be difficult for them to develop personal grudges when they were facing off.

Upon hearing that Lü Bu was attacking Pei, Xiahou Dun also decided to return with his troops.

However, we must first consult with Cao Cao about this matter.

Xun Yu planned to go to Chang'an to persuade Cao Cao to make peace with Liu Bei.

The struggle for the throne can actually be negotiated in a way that is acceptable to both sides.

Xun Yu was well aware that Liu Bei had indeed had someone impersonate the emperor, and although Liu Xie was willing to do so, it still constituted deceiving the emperor.

Cao Cao did indeed forcibly take the emperor hostage, which was also a form of deceiving the emperor.

Both sides are criminals, and neither side has a legitimate reason to act; it's impossible to say who is right and who is wrong.

The political ideologies of both sides were essentially a struggle for the status of the aristocratic class. Neither side wanted to engage in a protracted war, and negotiation was the better way to resolve the issue.

Besides Cao Cao, the two people with the highest actual status in Cao Cao's forces were Xun Yu and Xiahou Dun.

Xun Yu was a partner, in charge of logistics and all administrative affairs, which meant he was the vice president. Cheng Yu, Mao Jie, Man Chong, Zhong Yao, and others were only department managers.

Xiahou Dun was the Grand Commander in charge of military affairs and Cao Cao's closest brother. They always rode in the same carriage, and only Xiahou Dun could directly address Cao Cao as "Aman." Most of Cao Cao's generals were recruited by Xiahou Dun, and Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, and Cao Hong were also under his supervision. Dian Wei, Han Hao, and others were also promoted by Xiahou Dun.

Li Qian was the only initial military partner, making him relatively special. He had autonomy in the Lihu and Juye areas, and the Li family troops were the only troops not subject to Xiahou Dun's control.

However, Li Qian could not interfere in Cao Cao's other affairs, and he also had some disagreements with the gentry of Yingchuan, as well as with the gentry of Yanzhou such as Cheng Yu and Man Chong. This was because Li Qian's army included a large number of remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, as well as remnants of Chen Gong and Bao Xin's forces.

Although Sima Fang was once Cao Cao's superior, after proposing to frame Guan Yu, Cao Cao appointed him as the governor of Bingzhou in recognition of his merits. This was considered to have given the Sima family sufficient status and benefits, but in reality, it had already excluded them from the highest decision-making level.

What Xun Yu and Xiahou Dun agreed upon, Cao Cao would inevitably make the same decision.

Since they needed to send a message to Cao Cao, the group decided to have Cao Ren lead his troops to deal with Lü Bu together with Zhang Fei. After receiving permission from Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun withdrew from Liyang and returned to his army.

After receiving Xun Yu's reply, both Xun You and Zhang Fei breathed a sigh of relief.

This meant that Cao Cao's troops withdrew from Ji Province, and relations between the two sides eased.

Zhang Fei yielded the road as promised, and Guan Yu no longer strictly guarded Baima Ferry.

Cao Ren retreated to Pei State first, while Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan began to pack up their camps and await news from Cao Cao.

Cao Cao sent back two messages in succession.

The two messages are different.

The first one says that Cao Ang was captured—at that time, Cao Cao did not mention Liu Xie, but only said that Cao Ang was accidentally taken hostage by Xin Ping.

In fact, Cao Ang had already escaped by meeting Dian Wei, but Liu Xie was still being held hostage.

However, Cao Cao's military order was sent back immediately while pursuing Xin Ping, at which time Cao Ang had not yet escaped.

For Xiahou Dun, the capture of Cao Ang was far more important than the attack on Pei State, so he immediately arrested the entire Xin family and imprisoned them along with Xin Pi.

Whether Cao Ang gets into trouble or is rescued, the Xin family will be wiped out.

The second message arrived just as the entire Xin family was arrested. It said that the emperor had fallen into the hands of bandits, and that Xiahou Dun should abandon everything and negotiate peace with Liu Bei in any way possible, and allocate all his troops to reinforce Zuo Fengyi.

This military order was issued after Cao Ang and Dian Wei returned to Cao Cao's army.

After returning to Cao Cao's army, Cao Ang immediately led Cao Cao to Ziwu Ridge, intending to rescue Liu Xie.

Taking advantage of the presence of Li Jue and Duan Wei's cavalry west of Ziwu Ridge, he didn't want Xin Ping to escape.

However, when Cao Cao led his army to Ziwu Ridge, he encountered not Xin Ping and Guo Tu's few hundred ragtag troops, but three thousand well-equipped elite soldiers.

Cao Cao forced himself to cross the river on rafts, but due to incomplete equipment and misjudging the enemy situation, he suffered a major defeat at Ziwu Ridge and was almost killed.

Those three thousand elite troops were Li Jue's army.

Li Jue and Duan Wei engaged in a skirmish west of Ziwu Ridge, both sides suffering heavy losses, but Duan Wei managed to repel Li Jue by disregarding casualties.

At this time, Yang Ding, the commander of the Yang family's troops, was unhappy. He felt that Duan Wei did not treat the Yang family members as human beings and that the losses were too great. Yang Ding refused to accept this.

Enraged, Duan Wei decided to part ways with the Yang family and go up the mountain to cause trouble for that small force.

But this outburst of anger led Duan Wei to become the hero who saved the emperor's life...

Duan Wei didn't know Liu Xie at first, but when Guo Tu learned that all ten people at the eastern intersection of Ziwu Ridge had died, he naturally dared not run eastward anymore.

The west side is the battlefield, and there's only one path along the Ziwu Ridge. Duan Wei is seen coming up the mountain to "attack" again...

Guo Tu felt he had no other way out, so he surrendered to Duan Wei.

Xin Ping had originally intended to take Liu Xie to Chang'an, but Duan Wei became the "hero who saved the emperor".

Duan Wei was initially skeptical, but since Guo Tu and Xin Ping were both renowned scholars, and they were heading to Chang'an—where Duan Wei also needed to rest—he quickly left.

When Li Jue learned that Duan Wei had parted ways with the Yang family, he led a large army to intercept Duan Wei. However, Duan Wei was no longer at Ziwu Ridge, and Cao Cao happened to lead his army to attack.

Li Jue thought Cao Cao was reinforcing Duan Wei, so he attacked with extreme ruthlessness...

Cao Cao's defeat was unjust, but it seems that his son's inaccurate intelligence cannot be blamed. The real reason was that the people of Guanzhong were too impulsive.

……

Jia Xu was still very well-informed, after all, he had been gathering information for a while.

Upon hearing that Duan Wei had escorted the emperor to Chang'an from Ziwu Ridge, Jia Xu did not go to see the emperor immediately, but instead rushed to Ziwu Ridge—he realized that Cao Cao was most likely nearby.

The reason Jia Xu didn't go to see the emperor was that he felt the emperor might not be the real emperor... what if Liu Bei didn't recognize him?
What if Jiang Ye himself denies it?

Jia Xu was very cautious and never took sides indiscriminately.

Moreover, at this time, Liu Bei's vanguard, led by Zhao Yun, had already arrived at Tongguan, while the emperor's carriage was moving slowly and was currently in Hongnong.

Thus, Cao Cao, who had suffered a defeat, lost Liu Xie, and was without military supplies, encountered Jia Xu at Ziwu Ridge.

"Mengde, where is the Emperor?"

Jia Xu went alone, but he was very confident and bold.

He is now Cao Cao's savior, so Li Jue will not attack Jia Xu.

"The emperor is naturally by the prime minister's side. I wonder where the prime minister is? Cao Cao wants to form a marriage alliance with the prime minister."

Cao Cao didn't hesitate at all and immediately changed his mind... The speed at which he changed emperors was astonishing.

Jia Xu was completely blocked and unable to make any moves.

This was the first time Jia Xu had a plan he couldn't execute.

"Ahem, never mind, come with me to see the Prime Minister."

Jia Xu shook his head, thinking there was a reason why Liu Bei could be both an enemy and a friend of Cao Cao.

……

Cao Cao and Liu Bei reconciled, but Cao Cao and Li Jue became enemies.

Just as relations between the two sides began to ease, Cao Cao devised a plan.

Actually, this is not a scheme, but a tradition.

For two sides to go from conflict to harmony, there must be some procedures to support it, such as a marriage alliance.

Cao Cao brought up an old story that Cao Ren had mentioned before—arranging for Xiahou Yuan and Zhang Fei to marry.

This matter was proposed to Xiahou Yuan.

In other words, Zhao Yun's side hadn't discussed it, otherwise Cao Cao would have tried to arrange a marriage between Zhao Yun and Cao Cao, since Zhao Yun wasn't married yet.

If Guan Yu didn't have a wife... or if Guan Yu and Xiu Niang's relationship were slightly worse, Cao Cao would definitely introduce beautiful women to Guan Yu every day, and they would definitely be from prestigious families.

If possible, Cao Cao would even be willing to give each of Liu Bei's generals a wife, and Cao Cao could personally act as matchmaker, guaranteeing that they would all marry daughters of powerful and wealthy families, and the dowry would be as generous as possible, as long as they could become the principal wife.

Of course, Zhang Fei was the most suitable, because Cao Cao knew that Liu Bei and Zhang Fei had an extremely good relationship, like brothers.

This appears to be an attempt to ease tensions between the Cao and Liu factions—from struggle to conflict, and then from conflict to a purely peaceful dispute.

We may have different ideas, but we can still have a good personal relationship.

This is indeed a tradition of both sides ceasing hostilities.

But in reality, this isn't necessarily out of good intentions...

Liu Bei's generals were all from humble backgrounds or commoners. Only Zhang Liao and Zhang He could be considered to be from powerful families—but even they were not much better, being the sons of minor officials, typical of those from poor families.

Zhang Fei could only be considered a commoner. He came from a merchant family, had money but no status, could not be called a scholar, and did not even have a proper family background.

The aristocratic families have always won over talented individuals from humble backgrounds in this way—through marriage, but without requiring them to change their allegiance, and they can remain loyal to their lord.

However, with a wife from a prominent family, this commoner is no longer a commoner.

People of humble origins ultimately yearn for the aristocratic class.

Even though Liu Bei created a new class of gentry through various academies, and even though he was constantly reforming the overall ideology, the prestigious lineage of the Han Dynasty was still alluring to everyone.

This is the kind of ideology we have these days... Actually, it's the same in modern times. Who doesn't want to be superior to others?
A self-made man who is single will not marry a woman from a poor family.

Even a great general like He Jin hoped that his family would become a true aristocratic clan, let alone others.
Generals from humble backgrounds or those from poor families often had few family members, and most of their relatives were illiterate and difficult to help. If they received an extraordinary dowry, it would be both moral and practical for most people to help their brothers-in-law or other relatives.

The powerful families of Yingchuan were able to use their many advantages to quickly ensnare Cao Cao, and even Liu Bei's generals were unable to escape their clutches.

Before long, his family's businesses will be taken over by his wife's family, who will have more experience and ability in managing them. Gradually, the military's influence will also be swallowed up by the wealthy wives' families.

Liu Bei's ideals were firm, and he already had a ruthless and bloodthirsty wife, Zuo Yuan, and their child was only six years old. Cao Cao could not attempt to form a marriage alliance with Liu Bei.

However, Liu Bei's generals were not so difficult to deal with.

If all of Liu Bei's generals marry into wealthy families, given time, most of Liu Bei's policies will be difficult to implement.

For example, military settlements—Liu Bei's military settlements were managed by the army. If all the generals in the army married women from prestigious families, the other soldiers would naturally follow suit.

Will this military settlement still be the same military settlement in a few years?

The generals in Liu Bei's army did not become officials through examinations. Instead, Liu Bei's army had a well-established military merit system where officials were promoted based on their military achievements. This was essentially a traditional model of promotion based on loyalty—since they already held positions, their children were unlikely to become soldiers who risked their lives.

If the families of generals and even soldiers are controlled by their wives' families and become aristocratic families, wouldn't they consider the future of their children?
The traditional recommendation system of the Han Dynasty was beneficial to meritorious officials and aristocratic families.

Liu Bei's examination system, on the contrary, would restrict the children of his soldiers, putting them on the same starting line as other commoners and making them inherently inferior to the children of those who took the examination to become officials.

If it were someone who had already become an official through the examination system, like Xu Shu, Cao Cao wouldn't have tried so hard to win them over, because these people who became officials through the examination system had clear ideological convictions and confidence in their abilities.

They know how to conduct examinations and how to do things to become officials. They are more likely to agree with the examination system for selecting officials and will pass on their methods to their children so that their children will have practical skills from a young age.

However, what was originally a fair examination becomes unfair in the minds of military generals who have earned their honors through military merit.

They might think, "Your father expanded the territory of the Han Dynasty by thousands of miles, so why can't your son receive special treatment in exchange for the bloodshed and fighting on the battlefield?"

They would think, "The Duke was ennobled for his military achievements, so why should the son of a duke or marquis have to compete fairly with commoners?"
They will become a wealthy family, and they will embody the mentality of the wealthy families they are today.

Even if they don't, their wives will; a little whispering in their wives' ears will surely stir up feelings of imbalance.

This is human nature.

Human nature is inherently evil.

Everyone has selfish desires, and when selfish desires conflict with public good, most people will choose to prioritize private interests over public good.

Even a general with great merit like Liu Bei could not restrict his brothers from marrying, nor could he treat them unfairly because of it.

He is a hero who has made great contributions to the country. If he is even restricted from marrying a wife, then who would still follow Liu Bei?
Of course, if we wait patiently, it might take until this generation has all grown old and died...

Therefore, Cao Cao wanted to quickly stir up the selfishness of the meritorious generals, and if possible, even bring them to his side.

Arrange marriages between wealthy families to quickly transform them into wealthy families themselves.

This matter was extremely secretive, and it could even help establish a good relationship with Liu Bei's forces.

This is the best way to compete with Liu Bei; ideological differences should be resolved through ideological debates, eliminating the need for war.

When Liu Bei heard that Cao Cao was trying to form a marriage alliance with Zhang Fei, he immediately thought of Xiahou Yuan's niece...

Wait a minute, that child is only nine years old. He can't be that beastly, can he?

(End of this chapter)