Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3732 Do not indulge in deceit and treachery, but be cautious of the wicked; thus curb the tyranny of the invaders, and fear no one in the light.

The night wind howled, as if telling a story, or perhaps making a promise.

The torches flickered uneasily in the wind, casting shadowy and uncertain light on everyone's faces.

In one corner of the main tent, a map was hanging on the wall. Although the lighting made it difficult to see the details, the red and black markings on it still stirred the hearts of many people, causing their eyes to wander.

Cao Cao observed these people's reactions.

The fierce offensive of the Flying Cavalry, along with the expansion of the Guanzhong region and the increasingly solid foundation of the new policies, has become a sword hanging over Cao Cao's head, about to fall.

Xun Yu's phrase "vast land, sparse population" became the theoretical basis for Cao Cao's decision to launch this campaign.

"So few people...so few people..."

Cao Cao silently repeated these two words in his heart.

He turned his gaze to the aristocratic youths standing solemnly below him.

Most of them were young people, there were almost no older people, and some even looked only ten years old, with a very youthful appearance.

They all came from prominent families in Shandong.

The Chen and Zhong families of Yingchuan, branches of the Yuan family, and those from Qinghe and Langya...

Although not all of them were dressed in fine clothes, most of them carried the unique reserve and arrogance of scions of noble families in their brows.

What truly defines a "human being"?
Cao Cao sneered inwardly.

Fei Qian used the "Imperial Examination" as a pretext to open up avenues for commoners and merchants to rise in rank. He used the "Court of Law" to discuss laws and regulations, which weakened the "local opinions and public discourse" controlled by aristocratic families. He used the "Inspectorate" and "Directorate" to audit money, grain, and land, which shook the foundation of the manors on which the gentry depended for survival.

The so-called "people" under Fei Qian were those "lowly people" who longed to break free from the shackles of social class, those merchants who pursued profit, and those "new nobles" who were fed by Fei Qian with new laws, new positions, and new powers! He was using the fertile land of Guanzhong, this "vast" territory, to cultivate the seeds of "people" who would overthrow the four-hundred-year-old Han Dynasty!

But how many of these "newly rich" will stay true to their original aspirations and remain steadfast?

Just like four hundred years ago, wasn't Shandong also a land of "lowly people" yearning to break free from the shackles of social class?

At that time, Guanzhong was the domain of the Marquis of Guannei!

How many people went crazy for the word "inside the pass" back then?
And what happened next?

"Prime Minister..."

The whispered calls from the aristocratic youths below Cao Cao pulled him back from his turbulent thoughts.

Cao Cao raised his head, a smile spreading across his face. His calm aura spread out, allowing everyone present to feel his unwavering determination.

"After entering Guanzhong," he said, his gaze sweeping intently over every young face, "you should all bide your time and abandon all worldly vanities! Focus on your studies, not for the sake of endless scholarly pursuits, but to use the imperial examination system as a ladder to ascend to a higher position!"

The scholars below stared wide-eyed, holding their breath, somewhat puzzled.

Could it be that you, Prime Minister Cao with your thick eyebrows and big eyes—oh, small eyes—have also betrayed Shandong?

Cao Cao continued, each word ringing with conviction: "Since the Fei family has opened the gates of the Imperial Examinations, you should all go and take them! When they establish the 'Court of Law' to discuss and enact laws, you should all exert your utmost to secure a place! When they set up 'Directors and Supervisors' to manage finances, land, and auditing, you should all scheme and curry favor within their ranks! Wherever there are newly established government offices, newly appointed positions, or newly promulgated decrees, you should all flock to them like ants to carrion, striving to gain entry! Do not fear the insignificant, do not despise the trivial! A post station, a granary, a storehouse—all can serve as your foundation!"

Chen Xu hesitated for a moment, but finally could not contain himself and asked with his hands clasped, "Does the Prime Minister mean that we should emulate Su Qin and Zhang Yi of the Warring States period, employing diplomatic maneuvering to sow discord between the ruler and his ministers, and divide the upper and lower classes?"

This seems to be the strategy that these well-read, self-proclaimed wise and resourceful scions of the aristocratic families would most easily come up with.

"No!" Cao Cao shook his head decisively, his eyes deep and unfathomable, like an icy pool. "The art of diplomacy, relying on words and rhetoric, stirring up a temporary stir—it may seem lively, but it's like duckweed skimming the water, offering no real benefit to the foundation. It only easily arouses the suspicion of the Fei clan, leading to their swift and decisive annihilation! Remember! What I want you to do is substitute one thing for another! To usurp another's place! To undermine their very foundation!"

In the early days, Cao Cao also sent some people to cause sabotage, but he found that the sabotage was ineffective and instead the people were caught and arrested by the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, resulting in heavy losses.

Simply stirring up trouble and spreading rumors will only alert Fei Qian's men.

Now, Cao Cao has decided to change his strategy...

"You must rely on your family's scholarly traditions and your profound knowledge, along with the accumulated resources, connections, and cunning of your aristocratic families, to rightfully claim the top spot in the 'imperial examination' under the Fei family! Within their so-called 'legislative by popular vote,' you must strategically advance and secure key positions! Within their supposedly 'upright and honest' Supervisory Bureau, you must skillfully scheme and wield power! Your task is not to oppose the Fei family's laws, but to become the most dazzling 'talented individuals' under Fei Ziyuan's 'new policies'! To be the 'outstanding individuals' personally selected by him under his reformist system!"

Cao Cao's voice suddenly rose, carrying a seductive magic: "You should be like spring rain nourishing all things, silently and imperceptibly seeping into their very being, grasping their very essence! With the wealth accumulated by my aristocratic family over centuries, we will secretly smooth things over, win people's hearts, and cultivate our own faction; with personal connections, we will weave a net under the guise of being from the same hometown, classmates, or fellow graduates, exchanging messages and excluding dissidents; when necessary, we can fabricate charges and eliminate those ignorant and loyal officials from humble backgrounds who are out of touch with the times and loyal to the Fei family..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room like a blade, each word deliberate and menacing, "Whatever you require, simply send a secret letter, and I will spare no expense in the resources of Yan, Yu, Qing, and Xu provinces to pave the way for you! I will ensure that you quickly rise to high positions, wield real power, and control crucial positions in this new dynasty!"

This blatant command laid bare the ambition of "substituting one thing for another," and a collective gasp of suppressed anger rose from the audience.

The scions of powerful families were not ignorant of political maneuvering, but the scale, depth, and ruthless methods depicted by Cao Cao far exceeded their imagination.

This is no longer a simple battlefield confrontation, but a world-shaking scheme with the entire Guanzhong Plain as the chessboard, Fei Qian's new system as the game, and these "chess pieces" turning against the "chess players"!

however……

Not everyone was captivated by this grand plan; some noticed the problems within it.

Zhong Yu, a young scholar from the Zhong clan of Yingchuan, frowned deeply, his face filled with worry. Ignoring the suggestive glances from those around him, he stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Prime Minister, your wisdom and insight are truly admirable. However… I dare to speak frankly, though this plan is ingenious and timeless, I fear… it may be too slow to act in this urgent situation!"

"Too little, too late?" Cao Cao's eyes narrowed, but he was not angry. Instead, he looked at Zhong Yu with a hint of amusement.

"Exactly!" Zhong Yu exclaimed, quickening his pace. "The Generalissimo's forces are at their peak, their sweeping momentum is already established! Their land reclamation and irrigation projects in Guanzhong, along with their efforts to recruit displaced people, have solidified their foundation daily. Their new policies—the imperial examinations, legal reforms, the appointment of officials as governors, and the equal distribution of land—are being implemented more widely… While they have offended powerful families, they have won the hearts of the common people. Given time, the people will submit, and their foundation will be firmly established. If we, following the Prime Minister's orders, diligently cultivate our positions within the system, climbing step by step to a position powerful enough to shake their very foundations, I fear… I fear the Prime Minister…"

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he dared not utter the rest of the words, but the meaning was crystal clear...

I'm afraid Cao Cao won't live to see their success; he will be completely defeated by Fei Qian's military might, and his life and country will be destroyed!
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere inside the tent instantly plummeted to freezing point! It was as if even the candlelight had solidified.

All the scholars held their breath, cold sweat pouring down their backs. They stole glances at Cao Cao, fearing that this ruthless warlord, known for "killing in his dreams," would be enraged by his almost curse-like outburst.

It's one thing for Zhong Yu to be splattered with blood on the spot, but let's not let it involve others...

To everyone's surprise, Cao Cao was not angry. He was silent for a moment, then let out a slightly hoarse laugh that seemed to contain vicissitudes and magnanimity.

"Hahaha... Too late for an emergency? Well said!" Cao Cao repeated, but his gaze was not fixed on Zhong Yu. Instead, it was directed at the deep night outside the tent, as if piercing through the space and time before him and casting his gaze into the more distant depths of history.

As the laughter subsided, Cao Cao's voice became unusually calm as he slowly said, "Do you know that the Tian family once usurped the throne of Qi?"

Before anyone could answer, he began to recount his story: "Tian Huanzi used small measures to give in and large measures to give out, thus currying favor with the people; Tian Lizi provided relief to the poor, generously distributing aid while levying little, winning the hearts of the people; Tian Chengzi went even further, assassinating Duke Jian of Qi, seizing power, and eliminating all the Jiang clan's support. From Huanzi's small acts of kindness to Taigong Hezheng's formal usurpation of the throne from Qi, several generations passed, spanning over a hundred years! The Tian clan's usurpation of Qi was not achieved through the sharpness of spears and halberds, nor through the bravery of battle, but through the generosity of small measures and the wealth of the treasury, bit by bit, like ants eroding a dike, like fine rain wearing away stone, silently and imperceptibly hollowing out the pillars of the Jiang Qi dynasty that had stood for centuries, ultimately causing its magnificent edifice to collapse in a single day!"

At this point, Cao Cao's voice suddenly rose: "The Fei family of today, with their sharp military might and strong armor, may far surpass the Jiang and Qi families of the past; their new systems are ingenious, and their laws are strict, far exceeding the petty favors of the Tian family! They intend to replace generations of officials with common merchants; to replace 'local evaluations' and 'public opinion' with so-called 'legal provisions' and 'performance evaluations,' severing our gentry's power to judge people and control official careers; and to undermine the economic foundation of our aristocratic families and destroy the basis for our generations of survival with 'equal land distribution and limited slavery' and 'direct auditing by magistrates'! Their current power is like the sun at its zenith, dazzling and radiant. However, if their new policies succeed, the thousand-year-old tradition will collapse, and rites, music, and warfare will emerge from the 'new laws,' from the 'common families'! We, the gentry, generation after generation of officials, with our family tradition of poetry and books, will be ranked alongside peddlers and cart pullers, ultimately decaying like grass and trees!" 』

"You lot..." Cao Cao's gaze swept over them, "Are you content with this?!"

Chen Zhong and the others were all dumbfounded, and were also swayed by Cao Cao's words.

Cao Cao stood up, flicked his long sleeves, and raised his hands to the sky. A profound and sorrowful aura emanated from him, as if it would shatter the tent and tear apart the heavens. "Today I fought Fei Ziyuan on the battlefield, amidst the clash of swords and the carnage! Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war! Even if I am defeated, even if Yanzhou falls, Xuchang changes hands, and I die and my clan is exterminated, what does it matter? I will merely be recorded in history as a defeated general!"

Cao Cao's voice was like thunder, rolling and surging, carrying immense power, striking heavily into the hearts of every gentry member, instantly elevating their concerns about their personal future and the safety of their families to a matter of life and death for the entire social class!
"But if one day, within the General of the Cavalry's headquarters, the key to strategic planning is entirely in the hands of the talents of Shandong! If the seats of the Court of Judicial Review, wielding the power of legislation and interpretation, are held by the learned men of Qi, Lu, and Heluo! If the offices of the Prefectural Governors, controlling the lifeline of finances and taxes in Guanzhong, are all managed by the talents of Qing, Xu, Ru, and Ying! Even the key positions in the prefectural and county governments—criminal matters, finances, education, civil administration, military supplies, and granaries—are all in your hands! Then my defeat at Tongguan and the loss at Luoshui today will not be defeats! And the Fei family's conquests and expansion of territory will not be victories!"

His gaze was piercing, his words deliberate and forceful, each syllable seemingly imbued with prophetic power, surging with the curses of the deepest hell…

"When that time comes! Whom will Fei Ziyuan's 'New Dynasty,' built with his utmost effort and dedication, rely on? Whom will it depend on? Whose ways will it follow? What family's interests will it uphold? No matter how sharp its weapons, can it slaughter all the disciples and former officials of my gentry throughout Guanzhong? No matter how strong its armor, can it withstand the millennia-old accumulation of Confucian classics and literature by my gentry? No matter how new its 'new policies,' no matter how solid its foundation, it will be subtly and gradually transformed by your pens, words, and Confucian principles in the court of law, by the censors in the provincial government, by the officials in the county government, and by the secret determination of merit in the imperial examinations! Your 'newness' will ultimately be assimilated into the millennia-old traditions of my Shandong gentry! This is how the 'plum tree' replaces the 'peach,' and the 'Tian family' ultimately replaces the Jiang Qi dynasty!!"

Cao Cao's voice echoed within the tent.

The people inside the tent seemed to tremble with excitement at Cao Cao's words.

"Though the Guanzhong region was once known as the Fei Clan, it was in reality stained with the ink of Shandong! The Fei Clan's swift and decisive actions today, sweeping across the land, are invincible, and will ultimately become fertile ground to nourish the unshakeable foundation of our aristocratic lineage for eternity! What meaning do all their achievements, all their reforms, all their glory… hold before the eternal survival of our aristocratic clan?! This is the eternal foundation I have forged for you! For all the aristocratic clans of the world! Not for a single city or region, not for a single surname or dynasty, but for the perpetuation of our bloodline, the unbroken continuity of our lineage!"

After he finished speaking, there was a deathly silence.

Only the torches leaped and crackled wildly in the deathly silence, illuminating the faces of the people inside the tent, contorted with excitement.

The expressions on the faces of these young gentry underwent a dramatic transformation. Their initial fear, confusion, and anxiety about their own fate were violently impacted by the grand, sinister, and deadly alluring picture depicted by Cao Cao.

The Shandong gentry used Fei Qian's "shell" to achieve rebirth and ultimately take control of everything!
At that time, they can easily sow discord among those under Fei Qian's rule, escalate minor conflicts, turn Fei Qian's originally public institutions into their private lackeys, and render all of Fei Qian's efforts and the new systems he created utterly meaningless!
A near-religious fervor ignited in their eyes!
They saw the only hope for their class to survive in dire straits, a heavy sense of mission concerning the survival of their bloodline and future power, surging and boiling in their hearts like magma!
Chen Xu was the first to recover from the shock, prostrating himself as if overturning a mountain of gold and a jade pillar, his forehead touching the ground. His voice trembled violently with extreme excitement, "Prime Minister, your wisdom and foresight are profound, pointing directly to the foundation of ten thousand generations! You see through the rise and fall of a hundred years! I, your student, am dull-witted, like a frog at the bottom of a well, only today do I understand the Prime Minister's ambition to encompass the heavens and the earth! We... we are willing to be the Prime Minister's 'Li Shu' (a symbol of virtue), the Shandong gentry's 'Tian Shi' (a symbol of righteousness), even if we are shattered to pieces, we will not regret it even if we die a hundred times! After entering Guanzhong, we will definitely abandon all distractions, devote ourselves to learning, study diligently, cultivate relationships with officials, and infiltrate their power! We will certainly not fail the Prime Minister's trust, nor the high hopes of our ancestors!"

"I am willing to die for the Prime Minister! I will fight for the survival of the gentry!"

Without further hesitation, Zhong Yu's eyes flashed with determination as he followed Chen Xu in bowing down. He understood that this was no simple task, but a war without gunfire, a war far more brutal, concerning the life and death of an entire social class.

He may wear the skin of the Fei family, but his heart remains that of Shandong!

"I'm willing to give my all, even unto death!"

"I would gladly sacrifice myself!"

The other sons also knelt down, their vows resounding throughout the tent.

The initial hesitation, fear of the unknown future, and speculative mentality regarding potential failure that they once had in their eyes have now been replaced by an almost tragic sense of mission.

They were no longer simply spoiled brats from aristocratic families, but vanguard warriors shouldering the heavy responsibility of "usurping the country."

Cao Cao waved his hand, the movement heavy, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted, or as if he had exhausted his last ounce of strength. "Go. Act with utmost secrecy. There are established channels for communication. Remember, you are not fighting for any one person, but for your own bloodline, for the thousand-year lineage that has bequeathed to you!"

The scholars bowed deeply once more, their hidden ambitions swirling within them like shadows in the darkness, gradually fading away and disappearing into the shadows.

Inside the tent, only Cao Cao remained, sitting alone.

The noise subsided, leaving only desolation.

He closed his eyes, his brows furrowed with an overwhelming weariness, as if the impassioned speech had drained all his energy.

"Fei Ziyuan...you struck my armor and cleaved my territory with overwhelming force, your momentum unstoppable. But have you considered this? True victory or defeat cannot be decided on a single battlefield. You cast a new cauldron, seeking to overthrow the old order, but do you know who will ultimately cast the mold for this new cauldron? You dig new canals, intending to bring in fresh water, but do you know which land this fresh water will ultimately nourish?"

He paused for a moment, as if engaging in a dialogue across time and space with a far-off, ambitious rival.

"I will use the accumulated wealth of the gentry over a thousand years to erode the foundation of your new policies! Let's see if your blade is sharp and ruthless enough to cut through the thorns before you... or if the Shandong gentry, with their longevity and deep roots, can withstand the test of time. This game has just begun... the outcome will be decided a hundred years from now!"

"Someone..." Cao Cao's voice lowered, eventually turning into a murmur, "I once drew my sword... but I couldn't win... Now, it's your turn..."

The night is as deep as ink.

A long and insidious war of infiltration and corruption, which is without the smoke of gunpowder or the drums of war but concerns the future of civilization and the shift of power, has quietly begun with the westward journey of these Shandong gentry youths who are carrying the mission of "substituting one thing for another."

Their surnames are Chen, Zhong, Yang, or whatever. What they carry are not only the seeds of overthrowing a new regime, but also the spores of decay and corruption...

They prefer sunny locations and can also go dormant in low temperatures. They are drought-tolerant but intolerant of saline-alkali soil. They thrive in loose, fertile, and well-drained soil. They are susceptible to wind and rain during their flowering period and are strong grafters with rapid growth.

If you give them a piece of land like this, they will quickly grow into a sea of ​​blooming flowers...

beautiful.

fatal.