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

Chapter 37 In those days, my days were numbered, and I alone surpassed all the wise men in the world.
As the sun rises, it illuminates the vast land!
Armored soldiers stood like a forest, vast and mighty, their banners billowing straight in the north wind. Cao Cao's whip hung in mid-air, his black cloak fluttering in the wind.

"Miaocai, how long until we can see His Majesty and the others?"

"Reporting to my lord, our army has been marching for over two days and is now approaching Hulao Pass, on our way to the Emperor's side."

Xiahou Yuan paused slightly, seemingly also finding the news difficult to express.

According to Cao Hong's latest letter, the emperor is currently being held hostage by a group of Yellow Turban rebels and is being pursued by Li Jue and Guo Si.

It is roughly estimated that they will arrive at the ferry crossing in about twenty days, at which point we can meet them on the other side of the river.

"Hulao Pass, it's been a long time."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao gazed at the majestic pass nestled among the distant, rolling mountains. The days when the eighteen warlords united to fight Dong Zhuo and the emperor moved the capital to Chang'an were still vivid in his mind.

As the long night gives way to dawn, the emperor returns east to Luoyang. After six years, he once again comes to Hulao Pass to protect the emperor and defend the king!
But now Cao Mengde controls two provinces, commands an army of 100,000, and holds great power.

Is he still the same Cao Cao who, six years ago at the alliance meeting, with only a few thousand soldiers, still wanted to support the Han Dynasty and called on the lords to pursue and kill Dong Zhuo in order to welcome the emperor, but no one paid any attention to him?
Or even earlier? On the day he assassinated Dong Zhuo, he was alone, but he was generous and heroic, sacrificing his life for righteousness, and became famous throughout the world as a loyal and virtuous man of the Han Dynasty.
He didn't know, but people generally do change, right?

He suddenly burst into laughter, “From Dong Zhuo’s chaos in the government, to Li Jue and Guo Si’s turmoil in Chang’an, and now even a few Yellow Turban rebels can control the government.”

"The emperor has fallen to such a miserable state; it seems that only I, Cao Cao, can restore the Han dynasty and save it from collapse!"

He laughed heartily, spurred his horse, and rode north to defend the emperor!
"Urgent report from Yanzhou!"

The feudal lords of the realm have formed an alliance to attack Cao in Yan and Yu. Lord Xun urgently requests that our lord lead the main army back to its aid!

Suddenly, an urgent report broke the silence, and a scout on horseback galloped from the direction of Yanzhou.

Cao Cao looked alarmed and hurriedly reined in his horse to turn around. The civil and military officials accompanying him, upon hearing the news, also gathered around with great concern, waiting for him to read the contents of the urgent report.

Amidst the tension and unease of the crowd, Cao Cao once again burst into laughter!
Xiahou Yuan was shocked!

My lord, you just heard that the emperor has been kidnapped by bandits and the central government of the Han Dynasty has fallen into the hands of the Yellow Turban rebels. You laughed about it, that's fine.

How can you still laugh now that all the feudal lords of the world have formed an alliance to attack us?
Seeing that everyone was puzzled, he shook his head and laughed, saying:
"I laugh at Yuan Gonglu for his lack of strategy and Yuan Benchu ​​for his lack of wisdom."

They actually appointed one as Grand General and the other as Prime Minister, and each issued a proclamation denouncing me as a traitor to the country, and said they would come to punish me, a loyal Han official who had served the emperor.

Why don't they declare themselves as the King of Huainan and the King of Jizhou?
Yuan Gonglu even stamped the Imperial Seal of the State on my edict denouncing the Emperor. Why didn't he go further and just declare himself Emperor? It's laughable!

The generals were speechless for a moment.

My lord! Is this the time to laugh at them? They are now a general and a prime minister, leading all the feudal lords of the land to attack you!

The ministers knew that their lord was trying to boost morale and stabilize the army, so they did not expose him.

Xun You, who was standing nearby, took the urgent report from Cao Cao and analyzed it on behalf of everyone.

"The matter of blocking Yuan Shao's envoys from contacting the emperor, despite Wenruo's best efforts to conceal, seems to have been delayed until now."

As expected, Yuan Shao arrived, ordering Wen Chou to lead an army of 120,000 to garrison north of the Yellow River, threatening the two provinces of Yan and Yu. This was something we had anticipated, and Wen Ruo should have made preparations for it long ago.

What we really need to be wary of is Yuan Shao leading his cavalry out of Bingzhou and trying to seize the throne before we can.

Um? "

Xun You's gaze paused slightly as he read the letter, his tone rather strange.

"Why is Yuan Shu here too?"
Yuan Gonglu personally led an army of 100,000 north to Yingchuan, issuing a general's order demanding that Yingchuan and the surrounding counties open their cities to welcome the emperor; otherwise, they would be considered rebels obstructing the emperor's rescue, and he would punish them on behalf of Heaven.

After these words were spoken, not only Xun You, but everyone else also felt strangely uneasy.

It is said that Yuan Shao wanted to welcome the emperor to Ye and use the imperial carriage to command the disobedient, so as to compete with them. Everyone could accept this. But why does Yuan Gonglu also want to welcome the emperor?

Who in the world doesn't know your nursery rhymes from both sides of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers?
【The one who replaced Han was Gao of Dangtu!】 The children's voices echoed through the streets and alleys, never ceasing.

Your intentions, Yuan Gonglu, are known to all. You come to welcome the Emperor? Does the Emperor dare to go with you?
"At present, the two Yuan brothers have issued imperial edicts and sent out proclamations to the world. Liu Bei of Xuzhou was the first to respond, leading 50,000 elite troops from Danyang to attack Lu State and advance on Shanyang, intending to cut off the connection between the east and west of my Yanzhou."

Lü Bu also responded, leading 7,000 Bingzhou wolf cavalry out of Xiaopei, their forces advancing directly towards Jiyin.

After explaining the current situation to everyone, Xun You sighed softly, "With four routes advancing simultaneously, totaling nearly 280,000 troops, it seems that the feudal lords of the world are truly unwilling to sit idly by and watch our lord obtain the emperor."

Cao Cao stopped laughing and asked the wise men in a deep voice for advice.

"Wenruo has asked me to lead troops back to reinforce the city. I am now obliged. What should I do?"

"The two Yuans have always been at odds, and this alliance is beyond our expectations. It seems that their pandering to the emperor has incurred the wrath of all the feudal lords."

With the troops remaining in Yan and Yu provinces, they are no match for the four powerful warlords. Wenruo's wise and prudent words suggest that now is absolutely not the time to welcome the emperor.

Cheng Yu's expression was solemn as he bowed deeply, saying, "I implore my lord to prioritize the foundation of our nation and lead the army back to our aid."

Xun You nodded slightly and offered further advice.

"If only the lord withdraws his troops and shows all the feudal lords that he no longer has any intention of welcoming the emperor, the alliance of feudal lords will collapse without a fight."

Afterwards, we can also issue a proclamation, appoint ourselves as Grand Marshal, and inform the world that Yuan Shao also has actions to welcome the emperor. This is a plan to divert the trouble eastward!

Even if this could not force the feudal lords to lead their troops north and cause Yuan Shao to bring disaster upon himself, it could still deter him from welcoming the emperor again.

This would maintain a balance among the feudal lords, preventing the emperor from falling into the hands of others, and allowing us to plan our next move later.

Although Cao Cao was unwilling, he knew that Xun You's suggestion was the best course of action and was about to follow it.

But then a young scholar, dressed in an elegant long robe and with a sickly pale face, slowly walked through the crowd.

"My lord, do not worry!"

I can personally lead the cavalry to welcome the Emperor, the feudal lords of the nine provinces, and their 280,000-strong army; I regard them as mere weeds.

Although his words were bold and unrestrained, his voice was weak, and he even coughed violently.

Upon seeing the man, Cao Cao hurriedly went to greet him and gently patted his back.

"Zhicai, you have been unwell recently, why are you not resting in your carriage? How can welcoming the emperor be more important than my Zhicai? The affairs of the feudal lords are also planned by the ministers."

You should take good care of your health and avoid overworking yourself.

Xi Zhicai coughed violently, but still managed to break free from Cao Cao's support, looked at him, and said:
"My lord should prioritize the greater cause; how can we halt our progress because of me alone?"
My lord, just stride forward! Of all the heroes under heaven, I alone will stand against them for you!

"Zhicai."

Cao Cao wanted to persuade him further, but when he met the radiant glow in Cao Cao's eyes, like the most brilliant light before a candle burns out, he finally sighed.

He waved the order!
"Xiahou Yuan will lead the cavalry with me to welcome the Emperor. All other generals will lead the infantry back to reinforce Yan and Yu, and will obey Zhi Cai's orders!"

The cavalry headed north, the infantry south. Xi Zhicai sat alone in his carriage, leaning over to look south. His thin body coughed violently. He glanced at the glaring red stain on the handkerchief in his hand and forced a smile.

"I ask all the wise men in the world, how many are even half as good as me?"

"Zhi Cai's words are too arrogant. If you think I can compare myself to all the wise men in the world, count me in."

Xun You broke away from the cavalry and rode south, with Cheng Yu following beside him. Though he remained silent, his presence spoke volumes.

Upon seeing this, Xi Zhicai laughed loudly, "Good, including Wenruo who is still in Yanzhou, the four of us will stand against all the feudal lords under heaven."

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(End of this chapter)