Chapter 27: There is no way out

By the spring of the seventh year of Jian'an, two years had passed since the Battle of Guandu. After Yuan Shao's death, Hebei and the Central Plains had no clash again, and Guandong and Guanxi showed a strange and peaceful situation.

The two most popular heroes, Guo Jia and Cao Cao, seemed to have stopped their pace of expansion at this moment.

Xuchang Cao Mansion

In the spacious and bright study, Cao Cao taught a boy to write with his hands. Cao Cao, who was vulgar, showed a kind smile on his face. He held the boy's hand and wrote with great serious strokes. He told the child how to pay attention to the exquisiteness of calligraphy.

"Chong'er, do you remember?"

Cao Cao let go of his hand, and the image of a kind father was fully reflected at this moment.

This child, named Cao Chong, was born to Mrs. Huan. Although Cao Cao did not officially announce it to outsiders, after Cao Chong became sensible, Cao Cao had already made plans to make Cao Chong the successor in his heart. Perhaps, at the age of Cao Chong is only six or seven years old, Cao Cao may be misleading, but when facing his descendants, sometimes he does not need to observe for a long time, and sometimes he can tell whether it suits his wishes at first glance.

If Cao Cao was not a traitor in troubled times, he was at least a famous writer. It’s a pity that his image made him a bit shabby as a romantic talent.

He teaches his children more than enough in any field.

Cao Chong kept in mind the calligraphy principles taught by Cao Cao and started practicing by himself. The more Cao Cao looked at Cao Chong, the more joy he felt, the deeper he felt.

The sound of footsteps came from outside the study. Cao Cao was always very sensitive to the sound of the surrounding environment. He looked up and happened to see Xun You stepping into the room.

Xun You saluted him, and Cao Chong also raised his head, put down the pen in his hand, and greeted Xun You respectfully.

Cao Cao moved from the desk to Xun You. The two sat down in the host and guest seat in the hall. It was Xun You who Cao Cao sent someone to call him, so he went straight to the point.

"How are the two brothers in Hebei now?"

Xun You's face was calm and he whispered: "As always, we are supporting each other."

Cao Cao's face became a little gloomy.

The strategy of trying to get the Yuan brothers is not wrong, but the effect looks average at this time.

Yuan Shao has been dead for half a year, but the Yuan brothers still show no sign of division, which makes Cao Cao unhappy.

"You already understand the situation in the northwest, right?"

Xun You nodded.

There was a famine in the northwest. Although Cao Cao learned about Han Sui and Ma Chao borrowing grain from Guo Jia late, he saw through Guo Jia's plan at a glance.

"As I expected, there will be huge changes in the northwest this year, and the two Korean and Ma families may be destroyed by Guo Jia."

Cao Cao's expression became solemn.

If Guo Jia solved the worries of the northwest, then for him, there were almost no internal hidden dangers on both sides of the north and south. Even if Cao Cao wanted to use the same trick again, he would have no way to start, and he could not even find a person to sow discord. The thing he could do now was nothing more than the north and south Liu Biao could not provoke Guo Jia, especially after Guo Jia pacified the territory of southern Yizhou and expanded again.

Under such a background, Cao Cao needs to annex the north as soon as possible, otherwise it will be difficult to predict that Hebei will still be the flesh on his mouth after Guo Jia unifies Guanxi.

Xun You pondered for a while and advised Cao Cao: "It is better for the lord to lead his army to attack Liyang, create a strong attack, and then withdraw his troops after a stalemate for a few days, and then see how the Yuan brothers react."

Attacking Liyang means attacking Yuan Tan.

Cao Cao thought for a moment and figured out the reasons and purpose of Xun You's suggestions.

The Yuan brothers were guarding against Cao Cao, so Cao Cao never fought against Hebei. Even if the Yuan brothers wanted to kill each other, they were afraid that Cao Cao would come to reap the profits.

If Cao Cao doesn't fight for a day, they will be on guard.

Xun You's plan was to let Cao Cao take the initiative to remove psychological burdens for these two brothers.

Based on Cao Cao's current military strength and food, he could not swallow Hebei directly. Attacking Li Yang was a bluff and he called these two brothers. Then withdrawing the troops was a signal, a signal that Cao Cao could not conquer the three armies for a long time and was unable to fight again. In this way, the threat of Cao Cao, the most powerful enemy in the Yuan brothers, would be reduced a lot, and the external threat would be reduced, so that it would be when internal conflicts broke out.

"This plan is very good, but I still want to make a modification. I can't conquer Liyang, so I retreated to the south and feinted to attack Jingzhou!"

Cao Cao grinned, and Xun You smiled slightly without saying a word.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Cao Chong who was practicing calligraphy without distraction. Cao Cao put away his smile and was stunned.

Xun You stood up and said goodbye. Cao Cao came to his senses and went out with Xun You.

Walking on the courtyard aisle of the mansion, Xun You was not a talkative person, but when he saw Cao Cao's worries, he couldn't help but ask more questions.

"What's your concern for the lord?"

Cao Cao did not answer the question.

"I ordered someone to invite Zhongda from Sima's family. Has the people who went there come back?"

Xun You quickly said, "The officials were negligent in this matter and replied yesterday, but Sima Yi said he was sick."

Cao Cao sneered at the corner of his mouth, looked up at the sky, and said lightly: "Young and vigorous, and don't know the current affairs."

In terms of the gentry, the Sima family can be said to have established itself in the Central Plains before and after the founding of the Han Dynasty. Their ancestors had already had royal titles when the Chu-Han conflict. In the long history of the Han Dynasty for four hundred years, the Sima family produced many high-powered officials. However, in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, when the gentry formed cliques and private forces, the Sima family was not as good as the three masters of the Yuan family who reached its peak during this period. In the late Han Dynasty, when the emperors of the Chaogang were incompetent, the Sima family did not take advantage of the situation, but instead developed towards a decline.

The person who helped the Sima family stop this trend was Cao Cao.

Under Cao Cao's rule, no matter whether it was the Xun family, the Grand Tutor Yang Biao or the Zhong family, famous gentry, in terms of background and history, they were not as good as the Sima family.

The relationship between the Sima family and the Cao family, or the direct relationship with Cao Cao himself, is very important. Cao Cao's career in his early years was bumpy, and he went through ups and downs, exposing outside and adjusting internally, being promoted and demoted, etc. During this period, Cao Cao saw through the atmosphere of the Han court and also experienced the warmth and coldness of human feelings. At this time, the Sima family helped Cao Cao, and Cao Cao was recommended by Sima Fang, the Sima family!

Sima Fang's son Sima Lang is now an official under Cao Cao, and the Sima family has also gotten back on track and has not been lost in the storm of chaos in the world. Now, Cao Cao personally asked someone to ask Sima Fang's other son Sima Yi to come out.

Sima Yi is now a young man in his early twenties. He is very talented. Cao Cao can hear his name not from the people, but from Xun Yu.

The person recommended by others may be suspected of promoting the wings, but Xun Yu never recommends talents in front of Cao Cao easily. If he speaks, then this person must have extraordinary talents and Cao Cao will definitely attach importance to it.

But I didn't expect Sima Yi to reject Cao Cao.

Although Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu, the literati and poets who were prejudiced against Cao Cao from the beginning still criticized Cao Cao. Even if Yuan Shao died, he seemed to be a generous death for the country. Cao Cao actually confirmed the title of a traitor.

To be fair, many famous scholars are unwilling to serve Guo Jia, and the reasons why they are unwilling to serve Cao Cao are the same.

Putting aside the pedantic Confucian scholars’ words, many smart people can see the ambitions of Guo Jia and Cao Cao. They are named Han ministers but are actually Han thieves.

Since they have ambitions, they just set up a name to win over talents to serve themselves. When the time is right, they will inevitably become independent on behalf of the Han Dynasty. In this case, the civil servants and generals who followed Guo Jia and Cao Cao were a group of riots, who might become famous for a lifetime and would not be infamous for thousands of years. Therefore, the famous and talented men who seek fame would rather retain some meager reputation than take the risk of becoming people scolded and criticized by later generations in history books.

"He doesn't want to become an official, and I don't force anyone to do anything."

Cao Cao was not angry or lost by Sima Yi's rejection at this time. Sima Yi was only a young man in his early twenties. When Cao Cao had many outstanding strategists around him, Cao Cao would not invite him three or four for Sima Yi.

After seeing Xun You away, Cao Cao returned to the study and stood by the door. Cao Cao looked at Cao Chong who was focusing on practicing calligraphy, and his mood suddenly became complicated.

At least five percent of the world called him a traitor.

But now he has no way out.

Going forward is the peak of glory, and going backward is the abyss.

What ended in the end of one powerful minister after another in the past four hundred years of the Han Dynasty? Even if it was prosperous for a while, it would not be able to escape the end of the family being destroyed.

Cao Cao wanted to hand over military and political power and let the Cao family be a loyal minister and heroic soul of the Han Dynasty, but after the army was gone, what would the Cao family use to deal with political enemies? The bureaucratic class that was oppressed and attacked by the Cao family would swallow the Cao family like a hungry wolf.

Even if the flood is everywhere and the infamy after death is borne by the world, it is destined to be the same as everyone else in this life. Then, let’s go on that radiant road.

After two years of silence, the war between Central Plains and Hebei broke out again.

This time, unlike Yuan Shao’s spirit and spirit two years ago, Cao Cao led his army to go north with one hundred thousand!

The war is imminent and is about to break out.

The Kanto War Song reappeared. One month after Cao Cao's main attack on Hebei, the situation in Guanxi suddenly changed!

Han Sui led eight generals under his command to go out in full swing and sent troops from Wuwei to attack Jincheng!

Ma Chao has been on guard against Han Sui since last fall, and has been on guard for nearly half a year. But when spring and summer changed, Ma Chao let down his guard, but at this time, Han Sui was killed off guard.

All the territories to the north of Jincheng fell. Han Sui's generals burned, killed and looted, first severely damaged Ma Chao's garrison in the north of Jincheng, and then concentrated their forces to defeat Ma Chao's defense line around Jincheng one by one. Finally, they came to Jincheng, forming a siege against Jincheng!

Even though Ma Chao was brave, the tiger could not hold the wolves. Han Sui had been preparing for a long time. Ma Chao was caught off guard and did not sit in Jincheng to wait for death. Ma Chao led his army to break through successfully, but there were less than two thousand soldiers left by his side. Ma Chao, who was desperate, finally chose to go east.

Go to Chang'an and ask Guo Jia for help!
Chapter completed!