This day, the yamen's grand hall was packed with people.
Cao Cao's army was due to return at noon, but early in the morning, renowned scholars and major clans of Yanzhou had all gathered in the yamen's hall.
By rights, Cao Cao had not invited so many people to attend the discussions, but news had already spread that thirty thousand Yellow Turban rebels had surrendered and Cao Cao intended to incorporate them.
Coincidentally, incorporating the Yellow Turbans… this matter had caused quite a few aristocratic families and prominent scions to frown.
Just as Xun Yu had mentioned to Lu Yu in the past, the foremost issue was that of grain. Thirty thousand Yellow Turbans meant thirty thousand mouths to feed. Even emptying Yanzhou's granaries would likely not be enough to sustain them.
Secondly, the Yellow Turbans were called "moth rebels" because it signified their eventual flight into the fire. Now, it was as if Cao Cao's official troops were about to deliver a fatal blow, yet they were changing their course to accept surrender.
What about the previous pillaging of Yanzhou's populace and the killing of Yanzhou's officials by the moth rebels…
Even the tragic deaths of the former Yanzhou Governor Liu Dai and the Administrator of Jibei, Bao Xin… could such grievances truly be resolved with a smile and forgotten animosities?
Thirdly, though the thirty thousand Yellow Turbans might have once been farmers, they were farmers who had rebelled.
The ancients placed great importance on this. Once someone had rebelled, it was as if they had a criminal record, their names forever linked to "rebellious ministers and treacherous subjects."
These "traitors" were not worth trusting. Should they waver in their loyalties, they might very well turn around and attack in the future, becoming a hidden danger to Yanzhou!
Furthermore, Yanzhou's clans and scholars prided themselves on their purity. How could they coexist under the same roof with these rebellious subjects?
Each of these three points involved the direct interests of Yanzhou's clans and scholars…
Therefore, they had come voluntarily to express their stance to Cao Cao.
Currently… the entire yamen was in an uproar. Essentially, the general sentiment among the aristocratic families and scholars was one of shared enmity towards the moth rebels, advocating for their complete eradication and rejecting surrender as the prevailing call.
Lu Yu was also present. He sat in the hall with Wei Hong, Xun Yu, and Xun You.
They did not engage in conversation, instead continuously listening to the views of each family!
Wei Hong took this opportunity to introduce the various families and scholars in the yamen to Lu Yu…
"Young Master Lu, look…"
Following Wei Hong's gaze, Lu Yu looked up and saw a middle-aged man of elegant demeanor and refined bearing.
Wei Hong's voice continued. "His name is Bian Rang, courtesy name Wenli. He is from Junyi County in Chenliu Commandery. He once served as a "Ling Shi" under General He Jin and also held the position of "Prefect of Jiujiang." He resigned last year and returned to his hometown. His family all perished in the Yellow Turban Rebellion, hence he has always harbored deep hatred for the moth rebels, wishing he could eat their flesh and drink their blood."
Oh… so this was Bian Rang.
Lu Yu nodded slightly. The name "Bian Rang" was not unfamiliar to Lu Yu…
Although it was not mentioned in "The Chronicle of Interpretations," he had written a significant chapter in ancient texts and documents.
As for his "glorious achievements," there was only one – he considered himself talented and did not regard Cao Cao with respect, looking down on and belittling Cao Cao!
Ultimately, he was naturally executed on the spot by Cao Cao…
Originally, all of this would have been insignificant. However… it was precisely because Cao Cao killed this one "scholar" that the entire circle of Yanzhou's clans and scholars began to waver, and Cao Cao lost the hearts of many in Yanzhou…
It also laid the groundwork for Lü Bu's later alliance with Zhang Miao, the Prefect of Chenliu, to plot the seizure of Yanzhou.
Thinking of this, Lu Yu shook his head slightly…
Through Wei Hong's introduction, Lu Yu could roughly understand that the reason Bian Rang opposed Cao Cao at every turn was, to put it bluntly, due to this issue of the Yellow Turban army's surrender.
Bian Rang harbored deep hatred, while Cao Cao was trying to establish his career. For this, Cao Cao could completely disregard the grudges of the former Administrator of Jibei, Bao Xin… so why would he care about a mere Bian Rang?
"Alas…"
Lu Yu sighed, murmuring to himself that it would be quite difficult to keep this fellow alive!
"Young Master Lu, why do you sigh?" Wei Hong, seeing Lu Yu heave a sigh, quickly inquired…
"Oh, Elder Wei, it's nothing…" Lu Yu directly raised his hand and subtly pointed towards a middle-aged man by the main seat, who seemed to hold the highest position here, even higher than Wei Hong. "Elder Wei, who is that person?"
"He, ah, is Zhang Miao, the Prefect of Chenliu!" Wei Hong introduced. "He was a fellow student at the Imperial Academy with Mengde. When Mengde took charge of Yanzhou, he also provided considerable assistance, making him one of Mengde's most trusted individuals, aside from the Administrator of Jibei!"
Trusted?
Heh heh…
Upon hearing Wei Hong say Zhang Miao was trusted, Lu Yu simply gave a "heh heh."
Lu Yu recalled that ancient texts recorded Cao Cao, when campaigning in Xuzhou, had instructed his family to seek refuge with this good fellow student and brother, Zhang Miao, should anything happen to him, as he would surely treat his family well…
But… while Cao Cao was fiercely fighting in Xuzhou, Zhang Miao, turning around, directly joined forces with Lü Bu to completely take over Cao Cao's base, Yanzhou.
It seemed that saying was entirely true: those you trust the most often hurt you the deepest.
Of course, from the discussions in the yamen now, Lu Yu could also discern some clues.
To put it plainly, historically… Zhang Miao's betrayal was related to the killing of the scholar Bian Rang, and the killing of the scholar Bian Rang was in turn related to the surrender of the Yellow Turbans. Yet, the thirty thousand Yellow Turbans were definitively going to surrender. This tragedy was truly difficult to avoid.
Thinking of this, Lu Yu propped his chin, even he… at this moment, could not help but feel troubled.
…
Just then.
"Esteemed Mr. Xun, I have long admired you!"
Behold, the scholar Bian Rang gracefully approached, first bowing to Wei Hong, then to Xun Yu and Xun You.
"So it is Wenli." Xun Yu rose and returned the bow. "Who does not know of Wenli's reputation for 'profound learning and eloquent discourse'? My nephew and I have long admired you, long admired you…"
At this point, Xun You added, "Your treatise, 'Ode to Zhanghua,' whenever I read it, I feel as if I have encountered a divine being. Today, to behold Wenli's true visage is the utmost honor. The utmost honor."
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, this kind of mutual flattery was popular…
The two scholars praised each other, and as word spread, both their reputations would soar.
Xun Yu and Xun You were naturally not stingy with such words.
"Hahaha…" Bian Rang stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
However, his brow soon furrowed, and his tone suddenly became much colder. "Wenruo, Gongda, have you heard that Cao Cao actually intends to accept the surrender of thirty thousand Yellow Turban rebels?"
Cao Cao? He addressed Cao Cao by his personal name?
Indeed, Bian Rang did not use respectful terms like "Lord Cao," "Governor Cao," or "Governor of Yanzhou," nor did he use a courtesy name like "Mengde." Instead, he directly addressed Cao Cao by name!
Among peers of similar age, directly addressing someone by their personal name was almost equivalent to an insult in ancient times, which emphasized etiquette!
How could Xun Yu and Xun You fail to notice the sharpness in his words?
Of course, it was understandable that Bian Rang, the scholar, had lost his family in the Yellow Turban Uprising and had some reservations about Cao Cao accepting the surrender of the moth rebels… but…
…to insult him was somewhat inappropriate!
Moreover, if Cao Cao were to achieve great things, how could he be hindered by personal sentiment?
Xun Yu and Xun You, from the bottom of their hearts, hoped that Cao Cao would overcome all objections and accept the surrender of these thirty thousand Yellow Turbans, using them as a foundation to build his career!
If they were to delay the greater cause due to the personal sentiments of the former Yanzhou Governor Liu Dai and Administrator of Jibei Bao Xin, then they, the talents of Yingchuan, would truly have chosen the wrong lord.
"Wenruo, Gongda, since you say nothing, I shall take it that you are aware of this matter."
Bian Rang narrowed his eyes and continued, "The Yellow Turban rebels massacred ten thousand of our Yanzhou officials and soldiers, and pillaged hundreds of thousands of Yanzhou civilians. The former Yanzhou Governor Liu Dai and the Administrator of Jibei Bao Xin were also brutally killed by them! Such fresh and old grievances? Cao Cao actually wants to accept their surrender? For us to recommend him as Governor?"
"Hmph, to step back, these Yellow Turbans are merely a group of treacherous rebels who waver in their loyalties. If we accept their surrender now, we still have to use our grain to support them. When Yanzhou's grain runs out, they will rebel again? And attack the commanderies and counties, what then?"
"In my opinion, we should emulate 'Lord Wu'an' and bury these thirty thousand moth rebels directly, thereby strengthening the might of our Yanzhou officials and avenging the hatred of our Yanzhou people!"
The "Lord Wu'an" Bian Rang mentioned was the historically famous "God of Slaughter" Bai Qi…
Bai Qi had buried four hundred thousand Zhao soldiers alive. Bian Rang intended to rally the various aristocratic families to urge Cao Cao to emulate Bai Qi and bury these thirty thousand moth rebels!
His words were sharp, and his discourse revolved entirely around the word "hate"…
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became much colder.
"Ho… bury thirty thousand Yellow Turbans?" Lu Yu couldn't help but whisper. "What immense malevolence. If Old Cao truly listened to you, he would probably be utterly doomed! Alas… no wonder 'Bian Rang' had to 'go offline.' He truly deserved it for not knowing his place!"
Lu Yu's voice was extremely low and faint, but unexpectedly, Bian Rang's ears had been sharp since childhood, and he heard it clearly.
Instantly, Bian Rang's expression turned extremely displeased.
"Since when can a mere brat of a dozen or so years participate in discussions about state affairs?"
Uh… brat?
As these words left his mouth, Lu Yu was stunned. At this moment, he was truly angry.
No wonder Old Cao didn't behead anyone but him. This fellow's mouth was truly unrestrained!
Lu Yu had initially been contemplating how to save him, but it turned out… he was actively seeking death, like a "hungry dog entering a latrine" – inviting his own demise!
…
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