My Three Kingdoms is not right

Yuan Shao closed his eyes, and the faces of everyone in the hall appeared in his mind.

In fact, considering the relative strengths of both sides, either choice is correct.

This is the privilege of the dominant party.

What she needs to consider more is the internal situation.

The Hebei gentry, represented by Ju Shou and Tian Feng, had all their family lands, manors, disciples, and former officials rooted in Jizhou.

They desire stability and want to preserve their family's wealth and status. Therefore, a steady and cautious approach best serves their interests.

The core advisors, represented by Guo Tu and Shen Pei, were mostly "outsiders" residing in Hebei. Lacking a local foothold in Hebei, their power relied entirely on their own trust and military achievements.

These people dared to gamble with the resources of Hebei and were eager to expand their power and gain rewards through external wars.

Yuan Shao slowly opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in his phoenix eyes.

Each has its own reason.

They each had their own selfish motives.

This is the difficulty of being a ruler when faced with major decisions.

But overall, she was more inclined to accept the situation.

Low risk, high return. Ideally, we should wait for Cao Cao to defeat himself.

Just as he was pondering this, a respectful voice came from outside the door: "My lord, Guo Tu requests an audience."

Yuan Shao frowned slightly.

Even though it's so late, she still came.

I didn't want to meet them, but then I thought, since we're going to use Ju Shou's strategy, we need to appease Guo Tu and Shen Pei even more.

"Let her in."

Before long, Guo Tu bowed and went inside.

"It's so late, Gongze, haven't you rested yet?" Yuan Shao's attitude was very amiable.

Guo Tu bowed respectfully and said, "I have something to say, but it is something I cannot help but say and must disturb Your Excellency."

"Speak freely about matters of public interest."

"Ju Shou served as the military supervisor, overseeing both internal and external affairs. After Gongsun Zan's death, his prestige shook the three armies. Zhang He, Gao Lan, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou all maintained close relationships with him."

Guo Tu raised his head. "If Your Excellency were to entrust the war against Cao Cao to her as well, and her power were to grow, may I ask how Your Excellency would subdue her?"

Yuan Shao's face darkened: "Is Gongze trying to sow discord between the ruler and his ministers?"

"Your Majesty, I am only concerned for you. How could I dare to sow discord?" Guo Tu quickly bowed. "When you are in charge of the army, you should not know about the internal affairs. If Ju Shou, as the military supervisor, can still dictate the strategy within the court, he may eventually harbor unforeseen intentions."

Yuan Shao's expression shifted slightly, but he still waved his hand and said, "There's no need to say more. You can go back now."

Guo Tu did not immediately step down.

She stepped forward and lowered her voice: "In fact, we all think that what Geng Bao said may not be wrong."

Yuan Shao's pupils suddenly contracted.

Guo Tu continued, still keeping his head down: "But Ju Shou, Tian Feng, and others would often object in the name of righteousness, loyalty, filial piety, and moral principles, so no one dared to say anything more."

"Are they really behaving this way for the sake of the Han Dynasty?"

Guo Tu's eyes flickered: "In my opinion, although they talk about loyalty to the emperor and love for the people, they are actually worried that Your Excellency's authority is too great and will affect their ability to act tyrannically in Hebei."

Yuan Shao tapped his fingers lightly on the table without speaking.

Guo Tu spoke faster and faster: "Even if we listen to Ju Shou's plan and defeat Cao Cao, they will probably become even more arrogant and disregard your authority."

"On the contrary, as long as you personally command a great victory to defeat Cao Cao, you will have the highest authority in the army. At that time, whether it is the gentry of Hebei or the warlords of the world, who will dare to use any excuse to restrain you?"

The study fell silent.

The flickering lamplight cast shifting shadows on Yuan Shao's face.

After a long while, she gently closed her eyes.

"I see."

Guo Tu was secretly delighted, but remained respectful on the surface: "Your subject takes his leave."

After Guo Tu left, Yuan Shao sat alone for a long time.

The sound of the night watchman's drum came from outside the window; it was already past midnight.

She finally stood up and walked to the window. The city of Ye was silent in the night, with only the occasional sound of footsteps from patrolling soldiers.

Hebei gentry,

Yingchuan staff

Moral and social standing

Military authority

A variety of thoughts intertwined in my mind.

Finally, she recalled Ju Shou's confident and articulate demeanor during the meeting earlier that day.

Indeed, I had been too lenient with them in the past.

……

The following day, Yuan Shao ordered the mobilization of 100,000 elite troops from Hebei, divided into three divisions, with Ju Shou, Guo Tu, and Chunyu Qiong each commanding one army, in preparation for a campaign against Cao Cao.

The world was shaken.

-----------------

Xudu.

Liu Bei squatted by the vegetable patch, pinched the root of a weed with his fingers, and gently pulled it out, bringing out a small clump of damp soil.

Her movements were practiced; mud quickly filled her fingernails, but she didn't care at all.

Sunlight shone down from behind her, and this burly General Zuo looked like a pretty village girl working in the fields.

The vegetable patch wasn't big; it was planted with some turnips and chives and was tended to very carefully.

Each row was neat and tidy, and the seedlings were growing vigorously.

Her movements as she pulled the weeds were fluid, but she wasn't in a hurry, as if she was lost in thought.

Guan Yu stood at a distance under the eaves, holding a scroll of the Spring and Autumn Annals in his hands, not turning a page for a long time. Zhang Fei, on the other hand, squatted on the ground without any regard for his image, idly teasing the busy ants in the soil with a twig.

"General," a gatekeeper hurried over and bowed in the corridor, "General Dong Cheng has come to visit."

Liu Bei paused for a moment.

Guan Yu put down the scroll, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly. Zhang Fei also stood up, casually tossing aside the branch and brushing the dust off his knees.

"I'll go greet them." Liu Bei stood up and patted the mud off his hands.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei followed behind her, and the three of them went out to greet her together.

Dong Cheng greeted Liu Bei, and seeing her dressed in a short, coarse garment and covered in mud, he laughed and said:

"Xuande has such refined tastes!"

Liu Bei smiled modestly: "General Dong, you flatter me. I've been growing some vegetables in my spare time to amuse myself. Please come in, General."

The group entered the main hall and took their seats. Dong Cheng, seeing the servants withdraw, then spoke:

"With Xuande's talent, he should be galloping across the battlefield, bringing peace and serving the country. But now he's confined to the Left General's mansion, spending his days with mud and vegetables. To be honest, it makes me feel very bad."

Liu Bei shook his head helplessly: "General, you flatter me. I am merely a figurehead in this position of Left General. I would be better off growing vegetables and weaving shoes, which would at least bring me some benefit."

Dong Cheng sighed, "The world is in turmoil now, and it is precisely the time when the court needs talented people. It is a real pity that Xuande is forced to bury his talents here."

"Have you heard, Xuande? Yuan Shao has already mobilized his troops in Ye City and will soon march south."

Liu Bei nodded.

Of course he had heard about it. The news had spread throughout Xudu in the past two days, causing panic in the court and widespread discussion in private.

Could Dong Cheng's visit be related to this as well?

Unexpectedly, Dong Cheng's opening words were so straightforward:

"Yuan Shao marched south, and Cao Cao was preoccupied with his own troubles. This is a golden opportunity for us to restore the Han Dynasty."

Liu Bei was momentarily at a loss for words: "General Dong means..."

"Powerful ministers are in power, threatening the Han dynasty." Dong Cheng's gaze was fixed intently on her eyes. "Xuande is a member of the Han imperial family, and possesses the ambition to restore order to the world and the ability to stabilize the country. If we join hands and work together to eliminate these treacherous officials, after the deed is done..."

"The power of the world should be held by us, the loyal and righteous men."