“Lord Cao, during the campaign against Dong Zhuo by the eighteen allied lords of Guandong, they fought tooth and nail over a jade seal, yet paid no heed to the Son of Heaven right before their eyes in Luoyang City. Only you, Lord Cao, led your troops in pursuit, only to fall into Xu Rong’s ambush at Xingyang and suffer a great defeat! Do you recall this past event, Lord Cao?”
Xun Yu proactively brought up this past incident…
Cao Cao’s eyes narrowed. This was also a matter he could never forget. It seemed he was the only loyal minister among the lords, while the others were all plotting.
In truth, one loyal minister could not save the Han. After that great defeat, Cao Cao had resolved to forge his own path! A path never before trod!
This was also a major step in Cao Cao’s internal transition from a “capable minister” to a “scheming hero.”
However…
What did all this have to do with opening the passage from Yanzhou to Luoyang?
“Commander Xun? The Son of Heaven… is always of utmost importance. But Luoyang City… it is merely the former imperial capital, a ruined imperial capital. It is no different from the Imperial Seal of Transmission. What use is it?” Cao Cao retorted…
In fact, what he wanted to express was that he was currently constrained by grain and provisions…
Frankly speaking, he was dirt poor. Luoyang would be truly useless to him; he couldn't afford to rebuild it!
“Hahaha…” Xun Yu stroked his beard and stated directly, “Lord Cao, why must you rebuild Luoyang? Even acquiring a ruin would be good. The former capital Luoyang and the Imperial Seal of Transmission seem like ethereal things, but in reality, they are different.”
“Luoyang City has been the imperial capital of the Han for hundreds of years. No matter how dilapidated, how ruined, it actually possesses a far greater use than the Imperial Seal of Transmission!”
“What use?” Cao Cao’s curiosity was piqued.
Xun Yu paused before exclaiming, “To attract the Son of Heaven!”
“The Son of Heaven was raised in Luoyang since childhood. He never left Luoyang for half a step before he was ten. Now… he has been abducted by Li Jue and Guo Si to Chang’an. He will surely yearn to return to Luoyang. As for Official Lu, who deduced using ‘Five Qi, Eight Movements, Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements,’ the drought in the Guanzhong region will continue for another year or so. Li Jue and Guo Si will also find themselves in a situation where two tigers cannot share the same mountain, leading to conflict. These are all opportunities for the Son of Heaven to return east!”
“There will surely be ministers loyal to the Han who will mediate, and there will be learned individuals who will assist the Son of Heaven in his eastward return.
“Under the great drought, Li Jue, Guo Si… and the various warlords of Guanzhong can barely protect themselves. How can they spare the effort to prevent the Son of Heaven’s eastward return? If, at this time, Your Excellency has already opened the passage from Yanzhou to Luoyang and can be the first to welcome the Son of Heaven, thereby commanding the lords… then…”
Huo…
Even though Xun Yu had deliberately not finished his sentence, every word resonated in Cao Cao’s mind, bringing him an overwhelming shock.
“Enforcing the Son of Heaven to punish the unrighteous;”
“Welcoming the Son of Heaven to command the lords.” Although it seemed like a mere few words apart, the energy contained within was immeasurable.
In the past, Lu Yu and Xun Yu proposed “enforcing the Son of Heaven to punish the unrighteous,” with the aim of actively establishing contact with the imperial court and acting in accordance with its directives to quell rebellions…
For this, Cao Cao had also gained immense benefits. The court legitimized his position as Governor of Yanzhou and even supported him in his campaign against Xuzhou…
This also helped Cao Cao rise rapidly within two years, with the banner of “Cao” planted in every corner of the eight prefectures of Yanzhou and the four prefectures of Xuzhou.
Today, this major strategic direction was about to undergo a change.
“Enforcing the Son of Heaven” was changed to “Welcoming the Son of Heaven;”
“Punish the unrighteous” was changed to “Command the lords.”
In Cao Cao’s view, this was not just a step forward, but a leap!
If he could welcome the Son of Heaven, then… wouldn’t the Great Han imperial court be under his control?
Anyone who attacked Cao Cao would be attacking the court and be labeled a traitor, condemned by all the noble families of the realm, and learned individuals would unite against them. Conversely, whoever Cao Cao attacked would be acting with legitimacy!
Imagine, in the past, attacking Tao Qian required borrowing the guise of his father’s feigned death and considerable effort…
But if the Son of Heaven were present, with any excuse, Tao Qian would be a rebel, and punishing him would be an imperial decree, the justice of the world!
In this way, he could use the Son of Heaven’s name to continuously expand his territory!
Brilliant… truly brilliant.
The more he pondered, the more Cao Cao felt the power of the Son of Heaven! The power of the imperial court!
This immeasurable power would make him almost invincible in this chaotic era.
“Wenruo, let me ask you, the situation in Guanzhong where one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, the drought in the Guanzhong region, the Son of Heaven’s eastward return – are these all deductions by Official Lu?”
Cao Cao deliberately inquired about this, as it was very important to him.
Xun Yu nodded. “That is correct. I merely proposed the idea of welcoming the Son of Heaven, and this… is merely a conception. Official Lu, with his insight and deductions from the Yin-Yang school, told me that these conceptions could all become reality!”
Hu…
Cao Cao exhaled a long breath.
With his keen perception, he immediately grasped the most crucial point.
Currently, Cao Cao’s biggest obstacle to welcoming the Son of Heaven was the vast distance between Yanzhou and Chang’an and the complex situation in Guanzhong. But… if the Son of Heaven were to return east, then… that would be a different story. His Yanzhou would be the closest place to Luoyang, apart from Yuan Shao’s Jizhou.
And the most, most, most, most critical point in the Son of Heaven’s eastward return was Yu’er’s deduction of the chaos in Guanzhong, the great drought in Guanzhong, and the mediation by loyal ministers!
If all of Yu’er’s deductions were correct…
Opening the passage from Yanzhou to Luoyang would be a brilliant move, a move that opened the heavens!
Upon the Son of Heaven’s eastward return, Cao Cao would immediately proceed to Luoyang, and then… welcome the Son of Heaven to command the lords, which would usher in an entirely new situation.
However…
For a fleeting moment, Cao Cao’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he harbored a trace of doubt.
The chaos in Guanzhong, the mediation by loyal ministers, the great drought in Guanzhong – while these deductions were all beneficial to Cao Cao, in reality, these deductions were esoteric. Even the slightest miscalculation…
If Cao Cao opened the passage to Luoyang, it would be in vain. This…
Hu…
Cao Cao exhaled again. He paced back and forth, and the atmosphere in the great hall suddenly became silent.
One breath, two breaths…
Ten breaths, twenty breaths! The only sounds that could be heard were Cao Cao’s footsteps and his heavy breathing. He was thinking, weighing, and making his final decision.
Xun Yu’s eyes also narrowed. He remained silent, knowing that whether it was him or Official Lu, as strategists and advisors, they could only propose strategies. Whether to adopt them or execute them depended on Cao Cao’s decision!
Thirty breaths!
Forty breaths…
Finally, Cao Cao stopped pacing. He had made his decision.
“Wenruo, I intend to immediately dispatch more spies to Guanzhong, and also send more envoys to contact the Son of Heaven and the court officials. Furthermore… I will have Zilian lead thirty thousand troops to clear the various checkpoints and bandit groups along the road from Yanzhou to Luoyang, making full preparations for the Son of Heaven’s eventual eastward return!”
With these words, Cao Cao had undoubtedly believed Lu Yu’s deductions…
Whether it was his judgment of the situation or the “Five Qi, Eight Movements” deductions of the Yin-Yang school.
This was a gamble, a high-stakes gamble!
But Cao Cao was willing to gamble, because… his Yu, in all previous assessments, analyses, and predictions of the situation, had never disappointed him, and this time would be no different!
“Lord Cao’s insight is brilliant!”
Xun Yu didn’t say much more. It could be said that Cao Cao had never disappointed him in his decision-making.
Cao Cao was never indecisive. What Xun Yu could see, Cao Cao could surely see as well, and thus make the most accurate judgment!
“Eldest Brother… Eldest Brother…”
Just then, Cao Hong rushed in, panting and laughing heartily.
Cao Cao turned to face Cao Hong. “Zilian, what is so urgent that you are laughing like this?”
“Hahahaha…” Cao Hong felt as if he was about to die of laughter. “I just received intelligence from Xuzhou. I rushed here to deliver it to Eldest Brother. Ah… Liu Bei has been quite lively lately…”
Hmm…
Liu Bei? Lively?
Cao Hong’s words immediately piqued the interest of Cao Cao and Xun Yu…
“How has it been lively?” Cao Cao quickly asked.
“It’s the drought, you see. The crops in Xiapi and Guangling cities have yielded nothing. So Liu Bei thought of a plan.” Cao Hong explained in detail, still unable to suppress his impending laughter. “He learned from Eldest Brother and had the common people eat locusts. He even secretly bought a lot of oil from us!”
Uh…
Cao Cao pondered. What was so funny about this? His method had been copied, and this indirectly helped Liu Bei overcome the drought.
Just as he had this thought, Cao Hong’s voice followed. “However, hahaha… hahaha… let me laugh for a bit, let me laugh some more…”
Cao Hong couldn’t help himself. He laughed again for a while. After twenty breaths, he patted his chest, trying to calm himself down as much as possible, before speaking:
“Ah, Eldest Brother… I don’t know why, but Liu Bei is truly bizarre. Our people ate locusts and were perfectly fine, but on Liu Bei’s side… everyone who ate locusts was poisoned. Even Liu Bei’s two sworn brothers are bedridden. If they hadn’t received timely treatment, they would likely have been as good as dead, hahahaha…”
Ah?
What’s going on?
Cao Cao was a bit bewildered. Xun Yu was also a bit bewildered? Weren’t locusts quite delicious and very nourishing? Why… would eating them poison Liu Bei’s side?
Before they could ponder further.
Cao Hong’s voice followed. “Now, the entire Xiapi City is in chaos. According to our spies, Liu Bei, with his chest bared and carrying thorns, is imitating some ‘carrying thorns for atonement’ act. He’s even saying, ‘My guilt is everywhere, and the guilt lies with me, Liu Bei alone.’ But… the common people aren’t buying it at all. If it weren’t for the soldiers holding them back, they might have beaten Liu Bei to death! This time… Liu Bei tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice… what’s that saying!”
Lack of education… that’s how it is. The words on his lips couldn’t be spoken.
Cao Cao and Xun Yu exchanged glances…
Xun Yu opened his mouth and reminded him, “Trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice, trying to beat a dog but getting bitten instead, drawing a tiger but it turning into a dog, trying to show off but getting… ahem…”
As he said this, Cao Hong’s eyes widened. Commander Xun was indeed a cultured man, spouting one saying after another… He was very impressed!
Of course, admiration aside, this did not detract from Cao Hong’s mockery and ridicule of Liu Bei!
In fact, Cao Cao also wanted to laugh, but…
He and Xun Yu both smiled faintly, a calm and unhurried smile, because… they still hadn’t figured out this matter.
Why were the people in the eight prefectures of Yanzhou and the four prefectures of Xuzhou fine after eating locusts? But… the people in Xiapi City and Guangling City were poisoned after eating locusts?
Could it be that Lu Yu, the descendant of the great Yin-Yang master… cast some spell?
He suddenly shook his head. This was too absurd.
“What do you think, Commander Xun?” Cao Hong was still laughing, but Cao Cao had already started to inquire actively…
However, he asked the wrong person. Xun Yu was not an agronomist, so how could he understand this?
“Lord Cao, how would I understand this matter? I’m afraid I can only ask Official Lu. Apart from him, this Yin-Yang master, no one else can provide an answer.”
In the past, Xun Yu thought the title of Lu Yu as a Yin-Yang master was just a superficial thing…
Now… after experiencing these events and seeing so many signs, Xun Yu felt… this Yin-Yang school was quite formidable!
Even… more formidable than their Confucian school!
“Hahahaha…”
Cao Cao burst into laughter. Regardless of the mystique, and regardless of his joy.
He was thinking more deeply. With the great drought prevailing, Yanzhou had temporarily stabilized the populace by consuming locusts. This matter… could not be kept hidden.
Other prefectures and counties would surely follow suit. But… on Liu Bei’s side… the poisoning from eating locusts, that… was very interesting.
Whether it was a curse or a charm from the Yin-Yang school, if only the locusts in the eight prefectures of Yanzhou and the four prefectures of Xuzhou were edible, and those in other prefectures were not, then Cao Cao would be overjoyed!
The feeling of not having others copy his homework was very satisfying!
“Eldest Brother, Eldest Brother… there’s more, there’s more?” Cao Hong held his stomach laughing for a while before finally realizing there were other matters and he couldn’t just laugh; it was time to talk business.
Xun Yu handed him a cup of tea to moisten his throat, urging him not to laugh himself out of breath…
“Eldest Brother… there’s another outrageous event in Xiapi City!”
Cao Hong announced loudly, “Everyone says Lü Bu’s concubine, Diao Chan, is a beauty of heavenly disposition, possessing a beauty that could eclipse the moon. Eldest Brother, guess what? Lü Bu actually had Diao Chan dance for Liu Bei… and in his private chambers! That’s not all. Zhang Fei, thinking Lü Bu was trying to seduce his Eldest Brother with his own woman, charged in with his stiffly held Zhangba Serpent Spear and got into a fierce fight with Lü Bu. If it weren’t for Liu Bei and Diao Chan stopping them separately, they might have pierced through and drawn blood!”
Ha, Cao Hong’s words made Cao Cao laugh heartily.
Had Yu’s earlier prediction of Xiapi City descending into utter chaos come so quickly?
Before, Cao Cao had indeed believed Yu’s prediction, but… he never expected it would be caused by the concubine Diao Chan leading to a dispute and a fight.
Speaking of which, Cao Cao had seen Diao Chan once at the Minister of Works’ mansion. Her posture, her appearance… most importantly, she was now Lü Bu’s wife. It seemed, as if, it was like, ah… thinking about it, if he could… cough cough… it would surely be soul-stirring!
Cough cough…
As if sensing he was straying, Cao Cao coughed lightly and continued to ask, “What happened afterward? After the fight? How did Liu Bei handle it?”
“He sent Lü Bu to Xiaopei, providing him with grain and provisions. However, Lü Bu, with his unchaste heart unchanged, said that his wife Lady Yan had died in Puyang City. Upon arriving in Xiaopei, he married Cao Bao’s daughter and held a grand banquet in Xiaopei! Tell me, this Lü Bu, he is simply a scoundrel! How can he have his concubine dance for someone one moment, and the next… before his wife’s remains are even cold, marry someone else’s daughter? What a scoundrel, he’s truly a scoundrel!”
Hiss…
From Cao Hong’s words, Xun Yu keenly caught some additional information.
He quickly reminded him, “Lord Cao, Cao Bao is the commander of the Danyang soldiers in Xiapi City and holds military power! Lü Bu holding a grand banquet in Xiaopei is a show of force towards Liu Bei!”
“Hahahaha… I know!” Cao Cao laughed heartily. “Official Lu has repeatedly mentioned before that Xiapi City is chaotic and the situation is complex. Liu Bei originally couldn’t control it, let alone with Lü Bu stirring things up… I just didn’t expect this chaos to arrive so quickly, like a gust of wind and rain, hahahaha… With his situation so chaotic, I can rest assured and shift my focus to Luoyang City.”
“Yes…” Xun Yu stroked his beard and also laughed.
Wait…
He suddenly thought of something. “Hasn’t Lord Cao forgotten? The intelligence just received this morning from the Huai River line?”
Hmm…
Cao Cao was slightly taken aback and immediately recalled the intelligence about Yuan Shu’s army movements along the Huai River line!
“Is Commander Xun referring to Yuan Shu assembling troops and intending to march north?”
“Precisely!” Xun Yu nodded. He lamented, “The chaos in Xiapi City is not just between Liu Bei, Lü Bu, and those entrenched local forces. If Yuan Shu gets involved, then it will truly be a chaotic mess!”
Hahaha…
Cao Cao immediately burst into laughter. Three women make a lot of noise!
Six forces in Xuzhou, are they about to form the Seven Warring States?
…Haha… With this burst of laughter, Cao Cao’s laughter was exceptionally clear.
And indeed, with the problem of locust poisoning, the populace in Xiapi City had already erupted in unrest.
Coupled with the father-in-law-son-in-law relationship between Lü Bu and Cao Bao, and the internal strife among the three factions in Xiapi City, if… Yuan Shu’s army were to arrive at the city gates, it would truly be too much for Liu Bei to handle!
As for the complex relationships between Yuan Shu and Lü Bu, Yuan Shu and Liu Bei, and Liu Bei and Lü Bu… Cao Cao would wait and see how chaotic the situation would become.
Thinking of this… Cao Cao, who intended to continue laughing, suddenly recalled something else, something that also greatly concerned him.
“Commander Xun…”
Cao Cao’s expression became a little more solemn. “How is the growth of the drought-resistant rice and paddy rice that Yuan Rang’s troops are planting?”
The issue of grain…
This was still Cao Cao’s most pressing concern. Eating locusts could only alleviate the immediate need, but… in the long run, it depended on the harvest of the rice.
Even the harvest of the rice determined whether there would be ample military rations. As the saying goes, “An army marches on its stomach.” To go to Luoyang and welcome the Son of Heaven also required sufficient grain!
It was now mid-July. If, according to Yu’s words, the rice could be harvested in August…
This…
Facing the question of the growth of the drought-resistant rice and paddy rice, Xun Yu paused slightly, then responded loudly with only eight characters, concise and to the point!
— “Lord Cao, rest assured!”
— “The growth is promising!”
…
…