Ji Han Liu Zhang

Chapter 604 Moving the capital?

The ice and snow melted, and the earth came back to life. Cao Cao saw the ice and snow piled up in the corners getting lower day by day, the tender grass sprouting through the soil, and the big trees growing new green leaves. He suddenly felt refreshed, and the new year had arrived.

The dispute will begin again!

After looking at the spring-filled courtyard for a long time, Cao Cao finally asked, "Gongren, has Yuan Benchu ​​accepted the offer?"

Cao Cao asked Dong Zhao about the peace between Yuan and Cao and the fight against Guanzhong. As an angel, Dong Zhao had recently gone to Yecheng. He had just returned to Xudu when he was summoned by Cao Cao to the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Cao Cao did not hold high hopes for Dong Zhao's mission. He did not dream of forming an alliance with Yuan Shao to jointly fight against Guanzhong. He only sought to make peace with Yuan Shao and not give Liu Zhang the opportunity to reap the benefits.

Dong Zhao shook his head with a gloomy look on his face. He sighed and said, "I was ordered to go to Yecheng, but I didn't even get to meet Yuan Benchu ​​during this trip."

"Hmm?" Cao Cao looked helpless, he knew that it was Yuan Shao's character that was causing trouble. Yuan Shao always boasted in private that he was destined to succeed, but now he was blocked by the jade disc and defeated at Guandu. Yuan Shao, who was very concerned about his reputation, was unwilling or afraid to meet Dong Zhao. Ultimately, it was Yuan Shao's sense of shame that was at work.

"Have you seen important officials from Hebei such as Tian Feng and Ju Shou?" Cao Cao had to settle for the next best option.

Dong Zhao nodded and said, "I only saw Ju Su and got a few words from him. He gave me instructions on something. I think it was Yuan Benchu's idea, but he didn't make it public."

"Heh." Cao Cao snorted disdainfully. Yuan Shao, who cared about his reputation, acted so sneakily. He seemed quite petty and had no demeanor of a local overlord at all. "What's the matter?"

Dong Zhao paused, hesitated for a moment before responding: "According to Ju Su, Yuan Benchu ​​intends to test our sincerity first. If we can send Xu You to Yecheng, we can talk about reconciliation."

"This matter..." Cao Cao said resolutely, with a tone that left no room for doubt: "It is absolutely impossible."

"I think so too," Dong Zhao echoed. He gave his thoughts: "Let's not talk about whether Yuan Benchu ​​will make peace with us after sending Xu You to Yecheng. The matter is still uncertain..."

"Let's say Xu You is a meritorious official. If we send him to Yecheng, it would be like sending a sheep into a tiger's mouth. It would be like sending Xu You to death. This is a big mistake for us and the Prime Minister. As the Prime Minister said, there is no such thing as doing this."

"Yuan Benchu's demands are indeed a bit excessive. He has no sincerity in peace talks. Therefore, I think the peace talks can be delayed..."

"Delay it a while?" Cao Cao muttered to himself the advice given by Dong Zhao, frowned and began to think.

"Yes, let's delay it." Dong Zhao affirmed: "Now the King of Qin Liu Jiyu has seized the important places such as Taiyuan and Yanmen. The dangerous place of Bingzhou, Liu Jiyu and Yuan Benchu ​​will share it. Yuan Benchu ​​will soon feel threatened..."

"I understand. We need to delay it a little longer." Cao Cao nodded, indicating that he clearly understood what Dong Zhao meant.

Cao Cao then asked, "Did you get any other information during your visit to Yecheng?"

Dong Zhao pondered for a moment and replied, "During this mission, I stayed in Yecheng for half a month and did find out some inside information."

"Yuan Benchu ​​loves his youngest son Yuan Shang, and is not very close to his eldest son Yuan Tan. Now, the civil and military officials in Hebei Province either adhere to the etiquette and put the eldest son first, or flatter Yuan Benchu ​​and support Yuan Shang as the heir according to Yuan Benchu's wishes." "And here Yuan Benchu ​​is getting older and his appearance is declining. In the past few years, he has mobilized many troops but achieved little. He is inevitably depressed and unhappy, and he is getting older faster... Because of this, the civil and military officials in Hebei Province attach great importance to the issue of succession, in order to gain a successful position and be able to cling to the dragon and phoenix. The fight between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang is very fierce."

"Ridiculous." Cao Cao gave a comment. When Yuan Benchu ​​was still alive, the two princes were fighting each other fiercely. If Yuan Benchu ​​was no longer around, the brothers would probably go to war and the past struggle between Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu would reappear.

"How sad." Cao Cao added, brothers should treat each other with sincerity, but now they are fighting each other, which is indescribably sad.

Dong Zhao nodded: "What the Prime Minister said is true. The quarrel between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang is indeed ridiculous and pathetic."

Putting aside the matter of reconciliation with Yuan Shao for the time being, Cao Cao began to think about another matter. He summoned his strategist Xun Yu, intending to have a good talk with him to hear Xun Yu's opinions and whether they agreed with his.

"Move the capital?" Xun Yu's tone was full of disbelief, and at the same time it showed his attitude. He did not support or understand the move of the capital.

"Yes." Cao Cao nodded and said, "Now that Henan Yin has been captured by Liu Jiyu, the troops in Guanzhong are only 400 miles away from Xudu. If they march quickly, they can reach Xudu a hundred miles a day. They will be able to do so in a few days. The threat is great."

Xun Yu shook his head and gave his opinion: "Mingsong, there are many disadvantages to moving the capital."

"First, the emperor moved the capital to Xu County only a few years ago, and the ancestral temples and the country have just been stable for a period of time. If the capital is moved, the country will inevitably be in turmoil, and people from all directions will be uneasy. By then, I am afraid that the whole city will be in turmoil."

"Secondly, although Henan Yin is close to Xudu, the Yique Pass, Xingyang and other strategic passes are now in our hands. There is still a barrier between Xudu and Henan Yin to rely on, so we won't be caught off guard by three surprises in one day."

"Third, and related to the second point, Xudu is close to Yique Pass and Xingyang, and these passes are the passages that prevent the Qin army from going east. If these passes are not in our hands, the Qin army can sweep across the Central Plains without any difficulty. By establishing a capital in Xu County, we can provide support to these key passes nearby and make it easier to defend them."

"Fourth, moving the capital elsewhere would show weakness to Guanzhong. The two powers are in a stalemate, and the only way to survive is to hold their breath. Now, before the battle even begins, you are retreating in fear, which is very detrimental to the morale of the army. This is what we call abandoning your ambition to be king and hegemon."

"Therefore, I hope you will consider the matter of moving the capital carefully. Don't let a momentary mistake lead to a loss that will last forever."

Cao Cao was silent for a while, and then, as if he had suddenly realized something, he clapped his hands and sighed, "If it weren't for Wen Ruo, I would have made a big mistake... The matter of moving the capital must not be mentioned again. Anyone who mentions moving the capital will be executed immediately."

"My lord, you are quick to accept good advice, so there is no need to worry about not achieving your goal of hegemony." Xun Yu praised.

Cao Cao smiled and nodded, but there was a layer of gloom between his brows. Yuan Shao of Hebei and Liu Zhang of Guanzhong were powerful vassals in the world and heroes of the time. If he wanted to achieve the goal of becoming a king or a hegemon, he had to eliminate these two people.

But it is difficult.

Thinking of this, Cao Cao's composure revived. Things were difficult, but he really liked this feeling. Fighting with others was endless fun.

(End of this chapter)