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

Chapter 180 Sima Yi: Lord Cao can take Shu for his own use!

The door was tightly closed, and the candlelight was dim.

Cao Cao stood tall and imposing, his gaze fixed on the young man who was bowing respectfully before him.

The young man's hawk-like eyes held a composure far beyond his years.

Only Sima Lang lay prostrate on the ground in alarm, at a loss for what to do amidst the confrontation between the two.

"Brother, you can go out now. Don't worry, everything is fine now. Cao Gongyi will take care of us."

"Zhongda."

Sima Lang called out softly, then glanced at Cao Cao. Seeing that Cao Cao acquiesced and that there was indeed no room for him to interfere, he sighed softly and respectfully took his leave.

After Sima Lang left, Cao Cao looked at Sima Yi with a gloomy gaze, then suddenly laughed, but his voice was as cold as ice.

"Sima Zhongda, I see you don't want to worship me as your lord, you know you're going to die."

Sima Yi looked at him and smiled, "If Lord Cao wants to kill me, he can issue an edict immediately."

Having traveled thousands of miles to seek out talent, surely you wouldn't return with a corpse, becoming a laughingstock to the world?

"That depends on whether the person seeking help is truly a great sage. If they are merely seeking fame and fortune, deceiving the world and stealing reputation, why hesitate to kill them?"

As Cao Cao spoke, his eyes were fixed on Sima Yi's face, as if if Sima Yi answered incorrectly the next word, he would be labeled as a fraudster.

Sima Yi.

You really don't think much of me, Cao Cao?

Sima Yi seemed completely oblivious to the danger in the conversation, engaging in a direct confrontation.

"Does Lord Cao think I should be optimistic about this?"

In the past, when Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou, Yanzhou was seized by Lü Bu, leaving only three cities. It was only through the wisdom of his ministers and the courage of his generals that they were able to reclaim their stronghold.

This year, Cao Cao welcomed the emperor, and the feudal lords rose up to attack him. Yingchuan was defeated by Yuan Shu, and Yuzhou was abandoned by Liu Bei.

Why were the people relocated to Luoyang at that time? It was because Cao Cao's strategists had devised a far-sighted plan!

They considered defeat before victory, thus planning for the loss of Yingchuan in order to rebuild their foundation in Guanzhong!

Subsequently, Cao Cao held the emperor hostage to command Liu Bei, intending to create a situation where two tigers would fight over food. However, the tiger turned out to be a dragon, and Liu Bei suffered a major defeat. His plea for help caused panic among the people of Luoyang.

Furthermore, the allied forces of 130,000 marched south, but were defeated, and Mao Jie, Yang Feng, and others surrendered to Yuan.

He then led 30,000 elite troops to capture Yingchuan, but was defeated again. Yue Jin and Xiahou Ba surrendered to Yuan.

I recently heard that Liu Bei, the governor of Jingzhou, was ordered by Cao Cao to launch a campaign against Yuan Shao, but he was still defeated and his general Huang Zu was killed.

Yi should ask Cao Cao at this point: Should I keep an eye on you?

After a series of defeats, heavy losses of troops and generals, the loss of territory and the surrender of vassals, beset by internal and external troubles, Cao Cao should ask himself: "Do you deserve to be favored?"

Cao Cao remained silent.

He wanted to refute, he wanted to get angry, but faced with the facts, he was speechless.

He realized that at this moment, in the eyes of scholars all over the world, he was just like Yuan Gonglu, who had once dominated Nanyang but suffered repeated defeats and fled to Huainan.

Yuan Gonglu, who was once regarded as a skeleton in a tomb, actually won one battle after another, sweeping away all the warlords with his own strength.

How did the public sentiment and the general trend of public opinion change so imperceptibly?
When did it start?
It was probably because Liu Yao was defeated last year that when he heard that Yuan Shu had seized the six counties of Jiangdong, he only regretted that his family business had been taken by Lü Bu and he was too busy to get away. Otherwise, how could he have allowed Yuan Shu to grow so powerful so easily?

The person who could bring about such a change in Yuan Shu was: Guo Fengxiao!
After Guo Jia personally admitted to Gongsun Zan that he was Yuan Shu's mastermind and that everything Yuan Shu had done so far was his plan, there was no need for further doubt.

One man's plan, unfathomable even to the gods and spirits, has come to this?
It's a pity that Heaven didn't grant him the honor of being filial; otherwise, why would he have to worry about not achieving great things?

Thinking of this, Cao Cao looked at the young man in front of him again, and his expression had changed.

Although he had many strategists under his command, Xun Yu was good at internal affairs, Xun You was good at military strategy, Cheng Yu was far away in Youzhou, and the others were outstanding figures of their time, but ultimately they could not reach the pinnacle of their era.

He urgently needs a wise man like Guo Fengxiao, who can anticipate his enemies' moves and control the overall situation.

And who else could this person be but Sima Zhongda, recommended by Xun You?
After being thoroughly reprimanded by Sima Yi, Cao Cao was not only not angry, but his contempt for Sima Yi vanished, and he bowed to inquire.

"The situation has come to this point, which is not what I wanted. I ask Zhongda for guidance."

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi's youthful face was filled with maturity and composure. He was unwilling to serve at this time, but since Cao Cao had already come to him, he had no other choice.

He had been looking up at the sky, seemingly lost in thought, but in reality he was pondering this matter.

It would be best not to worship the lord if possible, but if it is absolutely necessary, then Sima Zhongda would have to come up with a safe and complete solution.

To say that it can definitely help this lord achieve kingship and hegemony is a bit too arrogant.

However, if the goal was simply to ensure his lifelong peace and wealth, and at least to prevent him from going out to fight and being killed during his lifetime, Sima Yi still had some prudent methods.

But then he saw a young man, who chuckled and said to him.

"My lord, do not be discouraged. Although Yuan Gonglu has won every battle, his prosperity will eventually decline. Like oil being poured on a raging fire, he has incurred the wrath of the people and become the target of everyone's attacks. No one in the nine provinces is not wary of him."

He inherited the legacy of six generations of wise rulers from the pre-Qin period, and Yuan Shu benefited from the privileges of four generations of high-ranking officials. Among the prominent families in the nine provinces, he was the leader, and half of the outstanding figures in the world came from his lineage.

Once he works diligently to govern and shows the signs of a wise ruler, the people's hearts will yearn for change, and the momentum will be unstoppable. The achievements of his generations of planning cannot be stopped by the ruler in a short time. This is common sense!

However, he was arrogant and rebellious, usurped the imperial seal, and presumptuously claimed to be a regent. He was a Han official in name but a traitor in reality. He wanted to silence the world with his own words, but the feudal lords were watching closely and could not allow him to become the only one in power.

He has not achieved the prosperity of Qin, yet he acts with the tyranny of Qin. This year he has seized three kingdoms, next year he will seize three commanderies. Yuan Shu's greed is insatiable, and which of the other lords is not terrified?

At this time, although the lord had suffered repeated defeats, he could still persuade the emperor to uphold righteousness. Although he was repeatedly defeated by Yuan, his banner did not fall.

Liu Biao of Jingzhou and Liu Bei of Yuzhou are relatives of the Han dynasty. They were defeated by Yuan Shu in the past and are also his neighbors. They are in constant fear and anxiety. We can send the court to provide them with assistance and reassure them.

Lu Bu of Xuzhou is a righteous man who fought against Dong Zhuo and a loyal follower of the Han Dynasty. He was previously misled by Yuan Shu's marriage alliance. We can offer him great benefits to win his heart.

Your Excellency should use the Emperor's decree to raise the banner of resistance against Yuan Shikai, and unite with surrounding lords such as Liu Biao, Liu Bei, and Lü Bu, in order to emulate the Six Kingdoms in destroying Qin!

Even if we cannot completely destroy Yuan Shu at that time, we can still use the power of the other warlords to keep him in the south, so as to realize our lord's great cause!

Cao Cao considered it carefully and agreed wholeheartedly, then pressed him for an answer. "May I ask, Zhongda, how do you plan to accomplish this great undertaking?"

Sima Yi picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and then began to speak.

"Since Dong Zhuo, heroes have risen up one after another, and those who control multiple provinces and counties are too numerous to count."

The lord's territory encompasses Guanzhong, the capital region, and even Yanzhou, controlled by Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan in the northeast, Ma Teng and Han Sui in the northwest, Liu Biao and Yuan Shu in the southwest, and Liu Bei and Lü Bu in the southeast.

This is the heartland of the Nine Provinces, a place where the feudal lords fought on all sides, which is why it was able to maintain some peace.

This was because Yuan Shao was powerful in the north, and Tian Kai, Gongsun Zan, the Black Mountain bandits, and the Xiongnu were all at his disposal. He was too busy attacking them to take care of himself.

In the south, Yuan Shu was powerful and invincible, winning every battle and conquering every city. The other warlords avoided his advance and had no time to attack.

Now Shao has occupied four prefectures and commands a million troops; it is truly impossible to contend with him.

Shu possesses the Jianghuai region, enjoys widespread popularity, is wealthy and prosperous, has a well-trained army and ample provisions; he is truly not to be trifled with.
My lord, you hold the Guanzhong region, the heart of the nine provinces. You can use the emperor's authority to command the other lords to restrain the Yuan brothers in the north and south, and seize this opportunity to advance your own interests.

Yizhou is a strategically important and fertile land, a land of abundance. If one could control the Shu region and connect it to Guanzhong, one could sit back and observe the world's strife, and nurture the hopes of the people. This is how Emperor Gaozu established his imperial career, and why the pre-Qin period prospered.

Now, Liu Zhang is weak and incompetent, Zhang Lu harbors ulterior motives, the people are prosperous and the country is rich, yet no one cares for them. Intelligent people yearn for a wise ruler.

As the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty, you hold the Emperor hostage to command the feudal lords. You have a multitude of fierce generals and strategists.

If it spans the Shu region and Guanzhong, connects Wanluo and Yanzhou, passes Hangu Pass to cut off all directions, and cuts off Hulao Pass to separate the feudal lords.

He pacified the various tribes internally, subdued the southern barbarians, and commanded the feudal lords externally to resist the two Yuan brothers. He sat back and watched the outcome, waiting for the winds of change to blow.

When the world changes, I will order a general to lead the army of Yanzhou towards Qing and Xu, while you, my lord, will personally lead the troops of Yizhou out of Qin Chuan, and the iron cavalry of Guanzhong will advance to Yu and Yang.

What commoner would dare not prepare food and drink to welcome Your Excellency? If so, then the Han dynasty can be revived three times, and a great empire can be expected.

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao felt as if he had been enlightened, as if he were a fish in water!

On the surface, he used a fake imperial edict to command the feudal lords to resist the two Yuan brothers, but in reality, he temporarily avoided their sharp edge and took advantage of the feudal lords' restraint on the two Yuan brothers to secretly seize the Shu region.

At that time, due to the difficulty of the Shu Road, it will connect Guanzhong, Wanluo, and Yanzhou.

By simply sending elite troops to block the passes of Hangu Pass, Hulao Pass, Sishui Pass, and Huanyuan Pass, one can sit back and observe the world, waiting for the situation to change.

He didn't even use the emperor's edict, nor did he use the name of the alliance leader to remotely control the warlords of the nine provinces to attack Yuan Shikai and stir up the world.

Upon hearing Sima Yi's words and envisioning the future, Cao Cao, whose mind had been gloomy and depressed due to his previous defeats and the surrender of several trusted generals to Yuan Shao, suddenly felt enlightened and saw a bright future ahead!
Cao Cao then exclaimed "Excellent!" and appointed Sima Yi as his chief strategist, and they returned to Luoyang together.

Don't be fooled by Sima Yi's seemingly nice words; fate is fickle, and the situation is constantly changing.

Once you enter officialdom, there is no absolutely foolproof plan for victory. Only by not entering officialdom and not offering advice to others can you guarantee victory.

But things had come to this point, and he was forced to take up a post, so he could only devise a safer route for Cao Cao.

In his own opinion, with the natural defenses of Sichuan and the numerous strategic passes and fortifications that the Han Dynasty had built around Luoyang, the eastern capital, and Chang'an, the western capital, over the past four hundred years, Sichuan was a formidable region.

Instead of attacking others, they retreated into their fortified passes, hiding behind the other warlords, which was enough to outlast them in the warlord conflicts outside the pass.

Even if things don't go perfectly, with the eight passes of Luoyang and the five passes of Chang'an, plus the difficulty of the Shu Road, they can at least hold out until his lifetime. This is definitely the safest method so far.

Anyway, he's only seventeen, so let him endure it. When he's seventy, and both Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu have died of old age, and all the warlords have given up, he can lead Cao Cao's iron cavalry out of Guanzhong and his elite troops out of Shu, thus realizing the great cause he spoke of today!
Meanwhile, in Huainan.

As new decrees from Shouchun Palace were finalized and promulgated amidst the dark circles under Yan Xiang's eyes from working day and night.

People on both sides of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers became lively once again, discussing the upcoming Shouchun Grand Competition with great interest!

Originally, Yuan Gong wanted to select the best scholars and held an imperial examination at the Shouchun Academy. All those with knowledge and confidence in their talents from both sides of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers were welcome to come to Shouchun to take the exam.

When the list of successful candidates is passed, all of them will be among the top three, totaling 108 people. They will all be appointed as officials in various places, such as prefects, magistrates, or minor officials. Family background will not be considered; only talent will be selected.

This order caused an uproar in the Jianghuai region.

Everyone knows that this decree is problematic. The Han Dynasty has its own system for selecting and appointing officials. When did a high-ranking official like a prefect in a certain region become a general through examination and appointment?
However, the people on both sides of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers have almost gotten used to it by now, since their Lord Yuan's usurpation is nothing new.

It was impossible to appoint any governor of the nine provinces of the Han Dynasty, but as for the governor of the Jianghuai region, whoever caught Yuan Gong's eye, his appointment or removal was just a matter of a word.

That's the prefect!

In the heyday of the Han Dynasty, everyone had to first be recommended as a filial and incorruptible official, and then go to Luoyang to wait for an opening to become a court official and gain experience.
Even so, they still had to rush to send gold and silver to the eunuchs' favorites. If they were late and their families didn't have any connections, they could only wait.

But what about now?

If you take the exam and get first place, you'll have a chance to become a prefect directly?
In the four hundred years of the Han Dynasty, there has never been such a good thing!
Indeed, Heaven above is watching, and Lord Yuan has shown great mercy!
As for failing the exam?
joke!

Scholars often look down on each other. They may be humble in words, but deep down, no one truly believes they can't pass the exam before it actually begins.

Therefore, if Yuan Shu's previous policies were mostly good news for ordinary people, then...

This time, it was finally the turn of the aristocratic families in Jianghuai to cheer. As expected of Yuan Gong, who had served as a high-ranking official for four generations and was the head of the aristocratic families, he had not forgotten us and was indeed on our side.

After all, even landlords don't have surplus grain. Most aristocratic families can only prioritize sending their core members to official positions. Isn't this imperial examination a perfect opportunity for collateral branches that can only give way to their core direct descendants because other resources are insufficient?
Even if a direct descendant can rise to prominence in this imperial examination, the political resources saved by the family can help him advance further.

As for the negative impact of the imperial examination on aristocratic families? At this point, no one really can see it.

Because everyone who took the exam, regardless of whether they came from a poor or wealthy family, was from a prominent family.

Ordinary people, common folk who have never read books and can't read a single character, what can they possibly do by taking the exam?
So when Yuan Shu brought out the imperial examinations separately, the aristocratic families genuinely thought that this was the eldest brother of the aristocratic families, and that the head of the Yuan family, Lord Yuan, had come to give them benefits.

Meanwhile, renowned scholars from both the Jianghuai and Huaihe regions were rushing to Shouchun to take the imperial examinations.

There was a man who came from a wealthy and powerful family, was well-read, and was confident in his extraordinary talent. However, he lamented that his family's monopoly on power left him with no way to serve his country.

Upon hearing the news of the imperial examination in Shouchun, he hurriedly informed his mother of the good news. The family prepared carriages and horses, as well as gold and silver, and led dozens of servants to escort him to Shouchun to take the examination.

Before he left, his mother said to him:
"Zijing, you have always harbored great ambitions. It is only through the accumulation of the Lu family's wealth over the past century that we have been able to support a scholar like you."

It is a rare opportunity, unprecedented in four hundred years, to have Yuan Gong bestowed the imperial favor of holding the imperial examinations!
"I will take care of things at home. You just need to focus on your exams and not let everyone down."

Lu Zijing knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times.

"I don't know when I will return after this parting. Take care, Mother."

(End of this chapter)