The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 275 Guo Jia's Suspicion: Could Yan Liang and Wen Chou Have Joined Liu Bei? (2 Updates)
Cao Cao loved Xiahou Yuan deeply, but he also held him in high esteem.

Xiahou Yuan's wife was Cao Cao's sister-in-law. In the past, Cao Cao committed a serious crime, and Xiahou Yuan took the blame for Cao Cao and went to jail. Later, Cao Cao managed to rescue him and save him from disaster.

Whether it was out of kinship or loyalty to take the blame, Xiahou Yuan was of extraordinary significance to Cao Cao.

The reason for punishing Xiahou Yuan so severely today is that we fear he might die a violent death in the future because of his arrogance.

Sending Xiahou Yuan to raise horses was also a way to temper his character.

Guo Jia was aware of Cao Cao's intentions, which is why he cooperated with Cao Cao to spare Xiahou Yuan's life.

Hearing Cao Cao's感慨 (expression/reflection), Guo Jia said gently, "Your actions today remind me of what Han Feizi said: 'A loving mother can have a spoiled son, but a strict family can have no good son.' General Miaocai's temperament is like a raging fire. If he is allowed to run rampant, he will eventually be defeated by his own strength. Your high position in ordering him to raise horses and temper his sharpness is like sheathing a sword, which can preserve his talent and protect his life. This shows your good intentions!"

Guo Jia knew how to praise people.

This praise resonated with Cao Cao without sounding obsequious.

Cao Cao laughed heartily upon hearing this: "Fengxiao, you understand me best!"

There was a pause.

Cao Cao then instructed, "I am worried that Miaocai may not understand this, so Fengxiao, you may privately advise him on my behalf."

Guo Jia nodded and withdrew.

Cao Cao stood up and looked at the hanging map of Hebei, a look of sorrow flashing in his eyes.

During his time at Shequan, Cao Cao did not forget to send spies to gather intelligence on Hebei. Although the intelligence that came back was that Yuan Shang had replaced the chancellors of Zhongshan and Changshan and had taken 8,000 soldiers from Changshan to Shangdang, Cao Cao still felt something was amiss.

Yuan Shang's seizure of power was too smooth, so smooth that it seemed as if he had no rivals in the world.

However, given the talents of Yuan Shang and his subordinates Shen Pei and Feng Ji, it would be difficult for them to devise strategies that were unmatched in the world, let alone in Hebei. In particular, Zhuge Liang, who was placed in Zhuo County by Liu Bei, was far superior to Yuan Shang and others.

Cao Cao was very wary of Zhuge Liang!
When Liu Bei left Xuchang, he only had a hundred or so brave men with him. Among them, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were good at fighting, and Jian Yong and Sun Qian were good at strategizing. This is one of the reasons why Cao Cao was willing to let Liu Bei accompany Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao to intercept Yuan Shu.

However, after Liu Bei met the exceptionally talented Zhuge Liang in Xiapi, he became the second most powerful force in Hebei after Yuan Shao within two years.

Whenever Cao Cao thought of this, he was very puzzled: how could a mere eighteen-year-old scholar from a poor family be so talented as to enable Liu Bei to achieve such great success?

Therefore, when Cao Cao learned that Yuan Shang had successfully captured Zhongshan and Changshan, he was not happy but had even deeper worries.

Cao Cao clearly understood that Zhuge Liang could not possibly remain indifferent in Zhuo County!
"There's no point in thinking too much. Let's wait for the spies to return." Cao Cao rubbed his aching forehead. The tiger has become a menace!

the other side.

Guo Jia carried the wine bag to the stable.

Seeing Xiahou Yuan engrossed in grooming his horse, Guo Jia leaned against the railing and shook his wine pouch: "General Miaocai, would you like to drink with me?"

Xiahou Yuan didn't even look up, vigorously brushing his horse: "Is Chief Minister Guo here to laugh at me?"

Guo Jia shook his head and chuckled: "General, why do you say that? I just pleaded for you."

Xiahou Yuan paused, then snorted coldly, "That's just how I am. If you, Advisor Guo, find it unpleasant, you may leave immediately. Since you've already punished me by making me tend horses, I'll do it. It's not like I've never done it before." Seeing Xiahou Yuan's insincere behavior, Guo Jia sighed softly, his tone gentle, "General, you've misunderstood me. Have you ever heard the saying, 'A good bow is difficult to draw, yet it can reach great heights and deep valleys; a good horse is difficult to ride, yet it can carry heavy loads and travel far; a talented person is difficult to command, yet they can bring honor to the ruler'? Your actions are not intended to humiliate me, but rather to protect yourself."

Guo Jia's words come from "Mozi: On Loving Scholars," and the gist is: A good bow is difficult to draw, but it can shoot higher and penetrate deeper; a good horse is difficult to ride, but it can carry heavy loads and travel far; outstanding talents are difficult to manage, but they can enable a ruler to achieve great things and be respected.

By highlighting the commonalities of bows, horses, and talented individuals—"difficult to use but outstanding"—the text metaphorically suggests that Cao Cao's rigorous training of Xiahou Yuan was an essential path to achieving greatness, consistent with the logic of the Han Feizi's saying, "A strict family has no enemies."

This is used to explain the deeper meaning behind Cao Cao's criticism of Xiahou Yuan for raising horses, which was actually a sign of his deep love and strict discipline.

Although Xiahou Yuan understood, he was still furious and snorted again: "I, Xiahou Yuan, have fought countless battles. If I die, I die. What is there to fear? Why should I protect myself?"

Guo Jia discerned the root of Xiahou Yuan's frustration and said with a smile, "General, do you perhaps think that the responsibility of tending the horses is less important than adding fifty more lashes?"

Xiahou Yuan immediately fell silent, then turned to Guo Jia, cupped his hands and said, "Since you have this intention, why don't you convey my message to the Lord? Tell him that I am willing to take another fifty lashes, just so I won't have to raise horses anymore! I am a general, after all, and I should be in charge of commanding and training troops, how can I raise horses?"

Guo Jia handed the wine bag to Xiahou Yuan, leaned against the railing and laughed: "'Governing an army is like herding horses.' One must observe their hunger and satiety and adjust their pace. This is a way to temper one's character. Fifty strokes of the military rod are my lord's punishment for you, while tending the horses is my lord's deep affection for you. How can you abandon my lord's deep affection and ask him to punish you again? How can you not know this, General?"

These words were like a ray of sunshine clearing away the clouds, making Xiahou Yuan see the light and understand the truth. The frustration he had felt earlier because of raising horses dissipated, replaced by joy at Cao Cao's "deep love and strict discipline."

Seeing Xiahou Yuan's face gradually brighten, Guo Jia nodded secretly and made as if to leave: "If the general really doesn't want to raise horses, I will go and ask you for permission."

"Wait a minute, Libationer Guo!" Xiahou Yuan, having figured out Cao Cao's good intentions, hurriedly called out to Guo Jia, then laughed heartily to cover his embarrassment: "I was just joking! Since Libationer Guo invited me to drink together, why did you leave before we even drank?"

Guo Jia raised an eyebrow: "Do you really want to drink?"

Xiahou Yuan said decisively, "Are you really going to lure them in?"

Guo Jia stopped, took the wine pouch again, took a big gulp, and said with satisfaction, "It is a great fortune that the general understands your good intentions. I should drink with you!"

After drinking with Xiahou Yuan for a while, Guo Jia asked about the details of Xiahou Yuan's defeat.

Xiahou Yuan didn't hide anything and frankly told Guo Jia the specific details. Guo Jia keenly noticed the key point: "General, you just said that Yan Liang and Wen Chou also participated in the encirclement? And they were extremely active? This doesn't make sense!"

Xiahou Yuan was slightly surprised: "What do you mean by that, Advisor Guo? When Liu Bei was in Hedong, Yan Liang and Wen Chou went with him. What's unreasonable about that?"

Guo Jia frowned slightly and instead of answering, asked, "If there were also rumors that you, my lord, were to step down as Minister of Works and hand over the position to Liu Bei, but your son was not convinced by Liu Bei, would you, General, help your son or help Liu Bei?"

Xiahou Yuan replied without hesitation: "Of course we should help your son, Lord Ming. How could we possibly help Liu Bei?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiahou Yuan immediately realized what was happening.

Yan Liang and Wen Chou were Yuan Shao's most trusted generals. After the two defeats at Baima and Yanjin, Yan Liang and Wen Chou were not punished by Yuan Shao. Instead, they were assigned by Yuan Shao to Ye City to be under Yuan Shang's command.

Now, Liu Bei is embroiled in rumors and has clashed with Yuan Shang, yet Yan Liang and Wen Chou are willing to serve him wholeheartedly. This seems completely illogical!

Xiahou Yuan couldn't help but whisper a guess: "Could it be that Yan Liang and Wen Chou have switched allegiance to Liu Bei? Or is it that Yuan Shao really intends to step down and hand over the reins to Liu Bei, and therefore has Yan Liang and Wen Chou obey Liu Bei?"

　Update 2 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)