"Young Master Lu Yu, pray tell, where lies the strategy for Cao Cao to break through his current predicament?" Cao Cao asked, posing the question that most concerned him.
To Wei Yu, this…
Finally, old Cao was showing some humility and a hint of the ambition that would herald his military reign.
Lu Yu mused that after a day of deep thought, the old Cao should have snapped out of his daze.
Of course, for Cao Cao, the solution to his predicament that had plagued him was… Lu Yu had already laid it all out in his mind.
As a history scholar, well-versed in ancient texts, and having consumed countless analyses of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," Lu Yu was already well-prepared for Cao Cao's current disadvantaged situation…
Otherwise, he wouldn't have come to serve old Cao!
After all, he intended to bring Sister Zhao Ji here to live a good life.
"Lord Cao, if we only talk about breaking through the predicament, the scope is too narrow. Why don't we first discuss the key pieces that allowed the Great Ancestor of Han to achieve his hegemony!"
"The Great Ancestor of Han slew the serpent and raised his banner. At that time, his situation was no different from yours, Lord Cao. He had few soldiers, little food, and a small territory. How did he, step by step, destroy Qin, destroy Chu, establish the Great Han, and achieve the great cause of kingship and hegemony?"
Hmph, the scope?
Cao Cao frowned slightly…
Feather has such grand ambition!
Avoiding the discussion of the immediate crisis and instead talking about the pieces for achieving hegemony and kingship – what a grand vision!
Cao Cao's eyes darted, and he immediately answered Lu Yu's question. "The Great Ancestor of Han had a group of brothers in his hometown who, though not of high status, were quite capable. For example, the clerks Xiao He and Cao Shen, the weaving and animal husbandry craftsman Zhou Bo, and the dog butcher Fan Kuai. These individuals all became the Great Ancestor's indispensable aids in achieving his hegemonic ambition. They can be considered the first piece of the puzzle!"
As soon as Cao Cao finished speaking…
Lu Yu's voice rang out, "As Lord Cao says, this is indeed the first piece of the Great Ancestor of Han's hegemonic endeavor. Brothers and relatives who grew up together, followed him from their hometown, and even shared blood ties… are often the most loyal and can be entrusted with great responsibility."
"Looking back at Lord Cao's situation, he raised troops in Chenliu, rallied heroes across the land to campaign against Dong Zhuo, pursued Dong Zhuo alone, exhausting his resources. Then, when he recruited soldiers in Yangzhou, he was betrayed by his trusted troops!"
"Now, those who follow Lord Cao to Yan Province are all the military men who initially came from Qiao and Pei – the great Han of the Cao and Xiahou clans. What does this indicate? It signifies that in this chaotic era, only blood ties can build a community of destiny! Therefore…"
Lu Yu paused here. "If Lord Cao wishes to achieve the great cause of kingship and hegemony, the first piece of the puzzle is the loyal and brave warriors from Qiao and Pei!"
Hmph…
As Lu Yu uttered these words, Cao Cao was stunned. It was a truly unique insight.
Indeed, Cao Cao understood the point Lu Yu made about relying on the Qiao and Pei warriors; he had always acted on it.
However… after Lu Yu's analysis.
Cao Cao's trust in these initial Qiao and Pei warriors undoubtedly deepened.
It could be said that from this moment on, the Qiao and Pei warriors, these brothers bound by blood, were deeply ingrained in Cao Cao's vision of his future empire, becoming the unshakeable backbone of his grand enterprise.
Of course, Lu Yu was unaware that he himself, sharing blood ties with Cao Cao, had also become one of these unshakeable backbone members.
"Young Master Lu Yu speaks well… Even if the world betrays Cao Cao, the Qiao and Pei warriors will never betray me!" Cao Cao's tone was firm, his words ringing with power.
"Lord Cao, let us continue discussing the Great Ancestor of Han," Lu Yu said with a smile…
Cao Cao pondered. The first piece of the Great Ancestor of Han's hegemonic map was his brave hometown companions, and for him, Cao Cao, it was the Qiao and Pei warriors. So… what about the second piece?
Cao Cao mused for a moment and then spoke, "It is the common people! The farmers at the grassroots… It is precisely because of them that the Great Ancestor of Han was able to quickly accumulate troops and supplies… becoming a force that could not be ignored in the struggle for the realm against the Hegemon-King of Chu!"
Wait…
Cao Cao suddenly thought of something!
As someone who had read history extensively, Cao Cao naturally understood this point. And now… guided by Lu Yu and making inferences, he suddenly understood!
His Cao Cao's second piece of the puzzle was also the common people at the grassroots!
"Yin Lin" instructing Cao Cao to take charge of Yan Province actually implied that Cao Cao should delve into the grassroots, into the farming households, into the impoverished populace, and even into every single soldier.
With the hearts of the people aligned, his blade would be unstoppable. With their opposition, Cao Cao would be unable to move an inch.
He understood. In an instant, Cao Cao understood it all.
"Are you saying, Young Master Lu Yu, that I should govern among the grassroots, unite the farmers, commoners, and good citizens of Yan Province, so that the hearts of the people are with me?"
"Yes and no!" Lu Yu nodded with satisfaction, then shook his head in confusion, his demeanor appearing profound and unfathomable.
This made Cao Cao extremely curious. "Young Master Lu Yu, please speak frankly. I, Cao, am already looking forward to it with all my heart."
"Delving into the grassroots is correct, but are the so-called grassroots truly just ordinary farmers, commoners, and good citizens?"
Lu Yu blinked his eyes, his tone suddenly becoming a bit more serious. "The thirty thousand Yellow Turban rebels currently within Yan Province, are they truly just rebels?"
"In my opinion… they are the people outside the estates of the powerful clans; they are the commoners under those who buy and sell offices from the emperor; they are the populace exploited and emptied by the eunuchs; they are the unfortunate souls displaced and homeless because the emperor wanted to build imperial gardens!"
"They have never appeared in the eyes of the emperor, the noble families, or the eunuchs. They, too, must fight for their own destiny!"
"They joined the Way of Supreme Peace out of necessity, became Yellow Turban soldiers out of necessity, and plundered everywhere in Yan Province under the notorious name of rebels out of necessity!"
At this point, Lu Yu stood up abruptly, his tone becoming even more solemn.
"Farmers and commoners at the grassroots… often have the most simple nature. As long as they can make a living, they will not cause trouble."
"However… they witness drought, flood, ice storms, locust plagues, and epidemics one after another, while barbarians repeatedly raid the borders. They are left adrift and without hope, to the point of cannibalizing each other!"
"On the other hand, the emperor, who claims the mandate of heaven, indulges in feasting and entertainment. The ministers, who have read extensively, own thousands of acres of fertile land. The eunuchs, who wield power, are still extorting the populace. Thus, they can only join the Way of Supreme Peace, become rebels, live by plunder, and oppose the government soldiers!"
"Lord Cao, I dare to ask, are they not the most downtrodden people? Will you, Lord Cao, also ignore their existence like the Son of Heaven, the noble clans, and the eunuchs?"
Such a grand speech made Cao Cao's hair stand on end, sending chills down his spine.
He understood Lu Yu's meaning…
These thirty thousand Yellow Turban rebels were once the most simple of people. They were forced into becoming rebels, but they had no grand ideal of changing the world. All they desired was a meal and a piece of clothing.
How could Cao Cao not understand? Yu'er meant for him to recruit these Yellow Turban rebels, and this… was the second piece of the puzzle for achieving hegemony and kingship that he hinted at!
Insightful, wise, clear.
What a worthy eldest son of my Cao family!
Cao Cao looked at Lu Yu in disbelief. Lu Yu had not stated things explicitly, but his words were enough for Cao Cao to understand and appreciate…
That's right, the Qiao and Pei warriors were the foundation for achieving hegemony and kingship;
And the thirty thousand Yellow Turban rebels, once utilized, would be the most powerful support from the grassroots;
Brilliant. Every word, every sentence of Lu Yu struck directly at Cao Cao's heart, penetrating deeply. For many years, Cao Cao had not felt such a sense of exhilaration.
Hahaha!
Hahahahaha!
If there was one thing more important than finding his son, whom he had searched for for fifteen years, it was that this son possessed the talent to govern the heavens and the earth, the talent of a unicorn!
Before, Cao Cao had been contemplating how to nurture this son…
But now, he realized he had worried unnecessarily. Yu'er was far more exceptional and outstanding than he had imagined. At one point, Cao Cao even felt inclined to compare Yu'er's talent to that of "Yin Lin"!
Of course…
These were merely the first two pieces of the puzzle. Next, Cao Cao eagerly awaited the "other pieces" hidden in Yu'er's heart, longing to know what they were!
…
…