Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 161 Fengxiao has already admitted it, Wenruo, what else do you have to say?
With local forces such as Duan Wei responding to the imperial court's call and promptly restoring order, the campaign against Li and Guo has become an inevitable trend.

Cao Cao, bearing the name of the Chancellor of Han and wielding the Emperor's sword, attacked the disobedient. During this period, he fought dozens of battles, large and small, and finally captured Chang'an.

They largely wiped out the remnants of Li and Guo, whose power had been greatly diminished by the Emperor's return to Luoyang, thus stabilizing the two capitals of the Han Dynasty.

The next step is to proceed step by step, gradually conquering the heartland surrounding Luoyang, the eastern capital, and Chang'an, the western capital, to restore the people's livelihood and revitalize the Han Dynasty.

With the Guanzhong Plain and the Luoyang capital region as its heartland, it carried the emperor to command the feudal lords and issued decrees throughout the land.

His youthful ideals, like the tomb of Cao Hou, the former General Who Conquered the West of the Han Dynasty, and the great cause of reviving the Han Dynasty three times, seemed to be right before his eyes.

However, for Cao Cao, who now holds the high position of Chancellor of Han and controls the court, is the title of Marquis of Cao really enough?
Just as Cao Cao recaptured Chang'an, feeling triumphant and returning to the capital, the bad news that Xun Yu had been forcibly suppressing came one after another.

"What? Ji Ling defeated Lü Bu in one move? He's unparalleled in the world, truly deserving of the title?"

Cao Cao gave Xun Yu a strange look and spoke in a rather odd tone.

"Was Wenruo joking?"

Xun Yu: "."

My lord, please don't disbelieve me yet. This is the news I've picked out that I think is the easiest for you to accept.

"This is no joke. Lu Bu was injured by Ji Ling with just one move. Everyone witnessed this."

Even Guan Yu, Guan Yunchang, exclaimed in admiration: "Ji Ling's skill in using hidden weapons has reached a level of divine mastery that makes him impossible to guard against."

Ji Ling is likely quite skilled in the art of concealed weapons; you must not underestimate him, my lord.

"Oh? Even Guan Yu is addressed like that?"

Hearing that even Guan Yu praised Ji Ling's hidden weapons, Cao Cao couldn't help but believe it to some extent.

In reality, for Guan Yu, if Ji Ling's hidden weapons weren't powerful, what would it look like if word got out that he had been defeated by Ji Ling in three moves?

This time, Lü Bu was caught off guard and suffered a loss, so it was a good opportunity to drag Lü Bu down with him and prove himself.

As it turns out, it wasn't that Guan Yu was weak, but rather that Ji Ling's hidden weapons were so skillful that they were impossible to defend against. Sure enough, even Lü Bu fell victim to them.

Cao Cao, having complete faith in Guan Yu's assessment, said to Xun Yu:

"Wenruo, rest assured, I am well aware of Ji Ling's prowess. Next time we meet on the battlefield, I will make sure everyone is careful of his hidden weapons."

Seeing that Cao Cao had accepted this first matter, Xun Yu sighed as if he wanted to say something but then stopped himself, and continued to explain to him in detail.

“Sun Qing’s more than 100,000 Black Mountain bandits disobeyed orders and scattered to plunder after entering Liang State. They were divided and annihilated by Yuan’s army, and defeated one by one.”

After a day and night of bloody fighting, suffering heavy casualties, Sun Qing led over ten thousand routed troops back to Meng County.

Cao Cao's expression changed, and he gritted his teeth.

"The Black Mountain bandits are truly a rabble. Sun Qing is a fool who has ruined my great cause."
One hundred thousand people!

Even if 100,000 pigs swarmed forward, they could still cause Yuan Shu to suffer a bloody head injury!
He's a scoundrel! A rat! He's ruined my plans; I won't associate with him!

However, before he could finish his anger, Xun Yu spoke again.

"The Xiongnu Left Wise King Huntuye led five thousand Xiongnu cavalry in a battle formation with their backs to the river, but was defeated by Yuan Shu's first adopted son, Sun Ce, who led cavalry and wiped out all the Xiongnu cavalry. A mound of Jingguan was built on the banks of the Sui River."

The decree stated: "The internal affairs of the Han Dynasty shall not be interfered with by foreign tribes; those who set foot on Han territory shall die!" Huh???
A desperate formation with their backs to the river?

Cao Cao is really about to start cursing!
Hun Tu Xie, are you even human? Leading cavalry in a battle formation with your back to the river, are you afraid you won't die fast enough? How did you even become the Left Wise King? Do you even understand military strategy?

Alright, alright, so the Xiongnu don't read Han military books, huh? Never mind then!
"A bunch of barbarians, utterly foolish!"
Wait, Sun Ce, the first adopted son?

Cao Cao was annoyed but also taken aback by what he heard. He knew that Yuan Shu's adopted son, Sun Ce, was well aware of him. Why was the word "first" added before his name? Did Wen Ruo's words have a hidden meaning?

Xun Yu did not explain, but only gave him a helpless yet intriguing look, meaning: I suppose you will understand if you continue to listen.

"Xu Huang, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, led four thousand infantrymen. He underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly. He encountered Yuan's cavalry, who had just returned victorious from the Left Wise King of the Xiongnu. Yuan's cavalry was defeated by Yuan's momentum, and Xu Huang barely escaped with his life."

"What? How is this possible! Xu Gongming is a great general. When he was dealing with me in the court, he was like a sharp sword in its sheath, its cold light hidden and not yet unleashed."

"With his abilities, how could he have suffered such a defeat?"

However, Xun Yu's words were subtle and pointed, each sentence striking straight to Cao Cao's heart.

"In Shouchun, he erected the Golden Terrace, indulging in the most extravagant and licentious ways in the world, and placed a thousand gold pieces on the terrace to buy the most capable people in the world to surrender."

Mao Jie was captured and surrendered to Yuan Shu, and has been taken to the Golden Terrace. Yuan Shu is currently treating him as an honored guest.

"That's impossible! Mao Jie confided in me and advised me long ago to use the emperor to command those who disobey him!"

Now that the emperor is in his hands and commands the feudal lords, would his unwavering loyalty lead him to surrender?

"Now that things have come to this point, it is no longer important whether Mao Jie truly surrendered. What is important is the change of heart that will occur after this matter spreads throughout the world."

In my opinion, Yuan Shu's mastermind is extremely adept at manipulating people's hearts and controlling the overall situation. Such a strategy is unlike that of my friend Guo Jia.

"I dare to boldly suggest inviting Guo Jia; I urge Your Excellency to consider this carefully, lest you act rashly and miss the opportunity to encounter such a talented individual."

When Xun Yu brought up the matter again, Cao Cao couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

Since he had already asked Xun You to find a way to get rid of Guo Jia, he was too embarrassed to tell Xun Yu directly. He should have kept it a secret from Xun Yu, even if everyone else knew.

Hearing Xun Yu's advice, he could only nod perfunctorily, "I understand Wenruo's meaning. Please allow me to consider this matter further."

As the two were talking, a servant came to report!

"Urgent report from Youzhou! Military Advisor Cheng Yu has sent an urgent message."

Upon hearing Cheng Yu's letter, it was clear that it involved the northern war between Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao, something that neither Cao Cao nor Xun Yu dared to underestimate.

Xun Yu hurriedly opened the letter and handed it to Cao Cao to read. Cao Cao took it and only glanced at it a few times before his anger rose from his heart!
"Gongsun Bogui, you have guts! I misjudged you before, I never thought you were such a person."

He then tossed the letter to Xun Yu, saying, "Wenruo, take a good look! Your friend himself has admitted that he is Yuan Shu's mastermind. So why are you still speaking up for him?"

Xun Yu took the letter and read it. He saw Cheng Yu's description of Guo Jia being captured by Gongsun Zan, and the subsequent dispute between the two sides, each sticking to their own version of events.

How could one not deduce that Cao Cao deliberately framed and tried to kill Guo Jia? However, Cao Cao had no intention of hiding these events at this point.

This is because Guo Jia himself admitted that he was Yuan Shu's strategist. Since they were already enemies and each served their own master, why couldn't Cao Cao eliminate him?

This also allows them to test Xun Yu's attitude and see if he is still of one mind with them.

(End of this chapter)