Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

He looked at the map and said in a calm tone, "The matter of forging the imperial edict has been settled. The most important thing now is to decide who to send this proclamation to. There are dozens of governors, prefects, and governors in the country, and their qualities vary greatly. If we invite those with ulterior motives, not only will they not be able to work together to punish the rebels, but they will also ruin the whole thing. We must be extremely careful about this matter."

"Yuan Rang's question is absolutely correct."

Cao Cao walked to the map, picked up a charcoal pencil, and scanned the areas marked with prefectures and counties, saying:

"Today we will discuss and decide who in this world is worthy to join me, Cao Cao, in raising the banner of the campaign against Dong Zhuo."

He paused, then drew a circle in the air with his pen and said:

"The people I want to invite are nothing more than three types. First, leaders of powerful families who can command a large following, whose reputation will help me gather the power of the world."

"Secondly, there were the loyal and righteous governors who commanded strong troops and relied on their forces to confront Dong Zhuo head-on."

"Thirdly, there are renowned scholars and officials who uphold the integrity of the Han dynasty, using their upright character to vindicate us and let the whole world know that we are a righteous army that supports the Han dynasty, not a rebellious army that defies the emperor."

The first thing his pen touched was the territory of Youzhou.

"The first one must be the Prince of Yan, Liu Ce, also known as Liu Bolue."

Everyone looked at that name with mixed expressions.

Liu Ce, the Prince of Yan, the younger brother of the late emperor and the current imperial uncle, controls the three provinces of Youzhou, Jizhou, and Bingzhou, with an army that may number over a hundred thousand. He has numerous fierce generals and strategists under his command...

Not to mention the things he did a few years ago... He pacified the Wuhuan, destroyed Goguryeo, defeated the Xianbei, and sealed the Wolf Mountain. His martial prowess was renowned throughout the world.

If he is willing to come, the cause of opposing Dong Zhuo will be as secure as it can be.

But the problem is...

Cao Ren frowned and couldn't help but ask, "Mengde, the late emperor passed away recently, and the Prince of Yan sent out notices to all the governors, prefects, and governors, saying that for the sake of the greater good, he would definitely guard the northern frontier to prevent the Hu people from taking advantage of the chaos to invade the south. Now that we've invited him, will he come?"

Cao Cao tapped Liu Ce's name lightly with his finger and remained silent for a moment.

He knew Cao Ren was right.

He had read Liu Ce's obituary.

It's written in a grand and dignified manner, with phrases like "the northern frontier is a strategic location and should not be left lightly" and "the barbarians are watching us closely and we must not be negligent for a moment." But when translated, it boils down to one sentence: While you're fighting to the death in the Central Plains, I'll be watching the show in Youzhou.

But what could he say?

He is the Prince of Yan, the emperor's younger brother personally appointed by the late emperor. He controls three prefectures, has well-trained troops and ample supplies, and can fight or slack off whenever he wants. Who can stop him?

Whether he comes or not is his business.

"But if he doesn't come, we can't force him. If he comes, it's a favor; if he doesn't, it's his right. The northern frontier really needs someone to guard it. Those barbarians won't quiet down just because of the internal strife in the Central Plains."

Finally, Cao Cao continued, speaking calmly, "Whether we invite him or not is our stance. He is a member of the Han imperial family, an imperial uncle. Without his approval, the banner of the campaign against Dong Zhuo is ultimately illegitimate. We invite him not because we expect him to come, but to borrow his banner."

He paused, then circled Liu Ce's name with his pen and wrote:

"Even if he can't come, as long as he doesn't object, or even secretly provides some support, such as lending some grain or sending a few generals, that would be the greatest help to us."

Xiahou Dun nodded and said, "Mengde is right. Inviting him is a must. As for whether he comes or not... let's leave it to fate."

"Alright, it's settled then." Cao Cao moved his pen aside and placed it on the second spot.

"The second one is the former general... Yuan Shao, Yuan Benchu."

Cao Hong frowned and couldn't help but speak up, "Yuan Shao? Back in Luoyang, he clearly had the chance to turn against Dong Zhuo, but he just packed up and ran away, leaving the mess for others. Is this kind of blustering but cowardly person even worth inviting?"

"Zilian, you only know one side of the story, not the other."

Cao Cao smiled and emphasized Yuan Shao's name with his charcoal pencil:

"The Yuan family has produced four generations of high-ranking officials, and their disciples and former subordinates are all over the world. Now, seven or eight out of ten governors, prefects, and governors of various prefectures and counties in the Han Dynasty have received favors from the Yuan family. Although Yuan Shao is not a direct descendant, he has always been known for his chivalry and his prestige among scholars is unmatched. He is also the first person in the world to dare to confront Dong Zhuo to his face. His words, 'My sword has never been dull,' are still being circulated in Luoyang."

He paused, then said with a calculating edge:

"Now the whole world knows that Yuan Shao is a leading figure in the anti-Dong Zhuo movement. We invite him not because we expect him to lead the charge and kill the enemy, but to use his name. If Yuan Shao is willing to respond to the proclamation, half of the prefectures and counties in the country will follow suit and raise an army."

Xiahou Dun nodded slowly and said, "Mengde is right. Yuan Shao, though resourceful but indecisive, is unlikely to achieve great things. However, he is currently one of only two people who can win the hearts of the people. This second spot belongs to him without question."

Cao Cao circled Yuan Shao's name: "Moreover, he is in Chenliu. It would be strange if I didn't invite him."

......

The pen moved and landed on the territory of Nanyang County.

"The third one is Yuan Shu, the General of the Rear and Prefect of Nanyang."

Xiahou Yuan immediately curled his lip, looking disdainful, and said, "Yuan Shu? That arrogant and dissolute playboy? Apart from being born into a good family, he's good for nothing. Why invite him?"

Cao Cao didn't rush to explain, but instead looked at Wei Zi.

Wei Zi understood and continued, "Miao Cai, you may not know this. Although Yuan Shu is arrogant, he is a direct descendant of the Yuan family and holds the most prosperous Nanyang Commandery in the land. He has well-trained soldiers and ample supplies, and his power in the Huainan and Runan areas is immense."

"If we don't invite him, he will definitely harbor resentment. At best, he will hinder us from behind; at worst, he will start his own faction and diminish our momentum in opposing Dong."

Cao Cao nodded and added, "Inviting him to the alliance, even if he doesn't contribute, at least he won't ruin our plans, and it will further enhance the Yuan family's reputation. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks."

Although Xiahou Yuan still looked down on Yuan Shu, after hearing what the two said, he understood the implications and fell silent.

Cao Cao also circled Yuan Shu's name:

"Moreover, having both Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu in the alliance can actually create a balance of power. Since they don't get along, neither of them will dare to become the dominant power, and the position of alliance leader... will be more likely to fall into the hands of the person we want to give it to."

The group exchanged glances and exchanged knowing smiles.

...

The pen continued to wander, and landed on...

"The fourth one is Liu Chong, the Prince of Chen."

Cao Ren's eyes lit up when he saw the name. "Chen Wang Liu Chong? That member of the imperial clan who commands thousands of crossbows and over ten thousand men?"

"Exactly." Cao Cao drew a circle on the territory of Chen State with his pen. "Chen State possesses the rich land of the Central Plains. With the assistance of its prime minister, it has thousands of powerful crossbows and more than ten thousand troops. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, it single-handedly defended its fiefdom. It is powerful and loyal to the Han Dynasty."

He looked at everyone, his tone laced with calculation, and said:

"When our army rises up, provisions are of paramount importance. The State of Chen is located in the heart of the Central Plains and has abundant provisions. Inviting him to join the alliance will ensure the supply of provisions for the allied forces. Moreover, he is a member of the royal family and has a noble status. With him by our side, our righteous cause will appear even more legitimate."