Chenliu Commandery, Yan Province, the Wei Manor.
After a heavy rain, the stone tablet in the fields of the Wei Manor's backyard had grown by more than three inches, taller than it had in the previous three days.
This was because when there was ample moisture and the temperature was suitable, soybeans would sprout and grow at an accelerated pace.
Indeed, the recent heavy rain had become the best catalyst for soybean germination…
Watching the rain from under the eaves and then looking at the stone tablets that had been pushed up again, Xun Yu asked with a smile.
"Young Master Lu, the surrender of these three hundred thousand E-rebels is a foregone conclusion."
"But you remain silent on the strategies for their resettlement? This only makes me more curious…"
Xun Yu's topic always revolved around the resettlement of the Yellow Turban Army, but this issue, in Lu Yu's opinion… was not an issue at all.
How should they be resettled? Just resettle them!
He wasn't going to dig a pit and bury all three hundred thousand Yellow Turbans like Bai Qi, was he?
Besides, hadn't it reached that point yet?
A great man once mentioned in "On Contradiction" – "Analyze concrete problems concretely!"
"Mr. Xun, rather than discussing this, wouldn't it be better to discuss another topic? Lord Cao is waiting for you to solve an urgent problem for him!" Lu Yu smiled, directly changing the subject.
An urgent problem? Xun Yu narrowed his eyes. Although he knew Lu Yu was deliberately changing the subject, he was still curious as to what his words referred to.
"Lord Cao's urgent problem? Young Master Lu, I wish to hear the details!"
"Do the two Masters Xun know what a 'strategist' is? And what is a 'chief strategist'?" Lu Yu directly retorted…
This question was neither complex nor simple.
The curriculum of the Imperial Academy mentioned it. At that time, Xun You and Yuan Shao were in the same cohort, and their military instructor was 'Yang Qiu'…
And 'Yang Qiu' was adept at formulating strategies and reacting to situations on the battlefield, far more so than Cao Cao's cohort's military instructor, 'Duan Jiong'!
Furthermore, the military curriculum mentioned that strategists had specific divisions of labor and could not be generalized.
For instance, some were skilled at managing generals before battles; some were skilled at handling logistics in the rear.
Some were specifically tasked with monitoring the morale of our army's soldiers; some were specialized in surveying the terrain.
There were even those who specifically helped the commander analyze the characteristics of enemy generals.
Among these numerous divisions, there was to be only one 'chief strategist'. All opinions were to be pooled and brought to him, then exchanged with the commander to formulate battle formations and oversee operations.
However… how should this be answered?
Before Xun Yu and Xun You could speak, Lu Yu followed up with his questions. "Masters Xun, do you think you are qualified to serve as Cao Cao's 'chief strategist'?"
Hiss…
Xun Yu and Xun You fell silent.
The difference between a strategist and a chief strategist was just one word, but the gap between them was vast.
Xun Yu was more adept at internal affairs and macroscopic strategic projections;
Xun You, on the other hand, excelled at designing ingenious schemes and formulating strategies.
They both excelled at a specific "division of labor" within strategy…
…Being a specialized "strategist," or an advisor, was more than enough, but a "chief strategist" needed to perform more effectively during wartime, requiring exceptional on-the-spot adaptability.
Ancient texts recorded that when Cao Cao first met Guo Jia, he asked Guo Jia what the most important quality of a "chief strategist" was.
Guo Jia, at that time, calmly replied that war was like a game of chess; no war was planned beforehand. Reading military treatises was merely an introduction. The difference between a strategist and a "chief strategist" lay in on-the-spot adaptation.
That's right, it was on-the-spot adaptation!
In terms of strategists, let alone Xun Yu and Xun You, even Cao Cao himself… was a wise individual. He could plan in advance and strategize.
But why had they always suffered losses in past campaigns against the Yellow Turbans? Upon careful consideration, it was mostly due to a lack of on-the-spot adaptability. At critical moments, insufficient flexibility led to significant losses.
And this was something that neither Xun Yu nor Xun You could compensate for, nor could Lu Yu himself…
On-the-spot adaptation was no trivial matter; it could easily lead to becoming a Zhao Kuo who only talked about warfare on paper!
However, Lu Yu knew that in Yingchuan, there were two individuals… whose adaptability and improvisation skills were unmatched in the world. The first was Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao. However, at this moment, he was likely still serving Yuan Shao and not being fully utilized!
The second was Xi Zhicai. Although the records in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" concerning him were sparse, this brother's adaptability and improvisation skills were by no means inferior to Guo Jia's!
The later saying—if Zhicai had not died, Guo Jia would not have emerged; if Guo Jia had not died, Wolong would not have emerged—was not entirely groundless.
…
Hiss…
To be qualified as a "chief strategist"!
With Lu Yu raising the matter to this extent, how could Xun Yu and Xun You not understand?
Finding a "highly intelligent" chief strategist with outstanding adaptability was precisely Cao Cao's urgent need, wasn't it?
Hoo…
Upon realizing this, Xun Yu and Xun You exhaled in unison.
Indeed, they were worthy of the title "Hidden Dragon." Their perception of matters was so keen that even Xun Yu, who considered himself sharp-eyed, felt inferior.
"Since Young Master Lu puts it this way, you likely have a suitable candidate in mind, don't you?" Xun Yu asked with a smile…
"Well, that…" Lu Yu kept him in suspense.
Then he looked up at Xun Yu. "Why does Mr. Xun ask me?"
"Yingchuan has many talented individuals, and most of them have close relationships with you, Mr. Xun. Don't you already have a suitable candidate in mind?"
Wise people speak to the point…
Xun Yu stroked his beard, lost in thought for a moment…
Indeed, after Lu Yu's pointed suggestion, a name truly sprang to mind – the talented individual from Yingchuan – Xi Zhicai!
Exceptional wisdom, outstanding adaptability, who else could it be?
Just as he thought of this…
A clear and pleasant female voice was heard.
"My younger brother and the two Masters Xun seem to be having a pleasant conversation…" Cai Zhaoji walked over gracefully. "The meal is ready. My younger brother and the two Masters Xun might as well chat while eating."
"Gentlemen, this way please…"
Cai Zhaoji made a gesture of invitation, graceful and courteous.
When Lu Yu began conversing with Xun Yu and Xun You, she had deliberately kept her distance.
Deeply influenced by Confucian thought, Cai Zhaoji knew well that women should not meddle too much in political or military affairs, as it would bring ill fortune!
Therefore, she had specifically gone to the kitchen to assist the cooks… preparing a sumptuous meal for her younger brother Lu Yu and the two Masters Xun.
"Thank you, Miss Cai…"
Xun Yu and Xun You bowed to Cai Yan, then walked towards the dining hall with Lu Yu.
It wasn't that they had talked from the first light of dawn until dusk, enjoying the rain and the stone tablets… Time had passed quickly, and their stomachs were starting to rumble.
Just then.
"Young Master Lu, Masters Xun… please wait."
The master of the manor, Old Master Wei Hong, walked in from the courtyard, appearing somewhat hurried.
"Old Wei…"
Lu Yu, Xun Yu, and Xun You paused.
Wei Hong had already reached them.
"A great victory, a great victory on the front lines…"
"News just arrived, the three hundred thousand E-rebels are all shouting, 'Heaven's Mandate belongs to Cao, the Yellow Heaven has fallen'! It seems they… they are going to surrender!"
Excited, fervent, even Wei Hong's old bones trembled slightly…
The E-rebels had caused trouble for several years, and now… they were finally going to surrender. The clans and people of Yan Province would finally see better days.
Of course… while he was excitedly recounting the news…
Lu Yu, Xun Yu, and Xun You's expressions were surprisingly calm. To be precise, they seemed unfazed.
It was merely the expected outcome.
"By the way…"
Wei Hong suddenly remembered something. "Mengde is leading his troops towards Chenliu…"
"He sent an urgent dispatch, saying he will arrive tomorrow and invites Young Master Lu and the two Masters Xun to the yamen for discussions."
"According to the messenger, Mengde has also invited the major clans and renowned scholars of Yan Province… to discuss the resettlement of the three hundred thousand Yellow Turbans!"
Upon hearing this…
Xun Yu's eyes narrowed. He mused inwardly.
As expected… Cao Cao also realized that resettling these three hundred thousand surrendered soldiers was not as easy as it seemed! Three hundred thousand mouths to feed, three hundred thousand potential problems… a huge trouble!
However, Xun Yu's gaze fell upon Lu Yu. Today… what insights would the "Hidden Dragon," who had skirted around this issue three times, have?
…
…