Han officials

Go back to five days ago.

While the Wei army besieged Shouchun and was causing great suffering to Yuan's army, Kuaiji Commandery was also in constant turmoil.

Shanyin County, Prefectural Governor's Office.

Yang Dao had very mixed feelings about Xun You's uninvited visit.

Hesitantly, he neither expelled Xun You nor met with him.

Until Gongcao Yu couldn't bear to look anymore and advised:

As Mencius said, "Standing on the middle way, those who are capable will follow."

"If what Xun Gongda said is unreasonable, we can simply drive him away."

"Isn't this blatant indifference tantamount to admitting defeat and surrendering without a fight?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Dao hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing to see him.

However, when Yang Dao's men came to invite him, they found that Xun You was not at the post station at all.

Only after asking did I learn that Xun You had gone to visit a friend and had not been waiting at the post station at all.

After all, the State of Wei is now the most powerful in the world. Yang Dao is concerned about his family's reputation and is willing to risk his life, but others cannot.

No official with a brain in Kuaiji Commandery would dare to offend Xun You, let alone make things difficult for him.

When Yang Dao heard Yu Fan's report, his face turned extremely ugly.

Even though this was his territory, Yang Dao felt that Xun You was giving him a hard time.

However, after taking a deep breath, Yang Dao still didn't say anything, but simply asked:

Do you know where he went to visit his friends?

Shangyu County!

Yu Fan explained:
“Xun Gongda left a letter at the post station, saying that he was entrusted by Cai Gong to visit Gu Yong, the magistrate of Shangyu County.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Dao nearly choked on his breath.

It is important to know that the Zhejiang River (Fuchun River) is formed by the confluence of the Zhe River and the Gu River at the foot of Mount Fuchun.

Shangyu County is located downstream of Shanyin County, and the two are separated only by a narrow strip of water and are very close to each other.

Xun You's actions were undoubtedly telling him that Kuaiji Commandery was not his personal territory.

But Yang Dao couldn't say anything, since Cai Yong was not only his maternal uncle, but also Gu Yong's teacher.

He may disregard the bonds of respect between relatives and friends, but he cannot prevent others from fulfilling the proper respect between teacher and student.

Even if he were the governor, he could not do anything improper.

Not to mention that Gu Yong himself came from a prestigious aristocratic family, and the power of the Gu family in Wuzhong was not to be trifled with.

Thinking of this, Yang Dao sighed dejectedly.

"Fine, I'll send him a message in my name."

Tell Xun Gongda that I will be waiting for him at home!

……

That evening, Xun You arrived by boat.

Yang Dao was fully aware of Xun You's intentions.

Therefore, after the two had just finished exchanging pleasantries and sitting down, he spoke first:

"Today is a private dinner; we will not discuss business."

After saying this, Yang Dao offered Xun You a cup of wine and then drank it all in one gulp.

However, Xun You remained unmoved with a smile on his lips.

But after Yang Dao finished drinking, he said slowly and deliberately:

"In that case, I would like to ask you a question, Lord Prefect—what is public and what is private?"

It must be said that Xun You was indeed astute, seeing through Yang Dao's scheme at a glance.

If he were to follow Yang Dao's lead and talk at length about kinship and brother-in-law ties, Yang Dao would likely shut him down with principles of justice and morality, leaving him speechless.

Therefore, before Yang Dao could answer, Xun You looked at him sharply and said:

"Is the stability of Kuaiji a matter of public or private interests?"

"Is the peace in Yangzhou a public or private matter?"

"Is the order or chaos of the world determined by public or private interests?"

Faced with Xun You's relentless questioning, Yang Dao could only helplessly reply:

These are official business.

But Xun You didn't let him off the hook. Instead, he pointed to the delicacies of Jiangdong on the table and mocked:

"In that case, may I ask you, since you are the governor of Kuaiji, do you consider the safety of the people of Kuaiji more important, or the reputation of the Yang family of Mount Tai?"

Yang Dao could not answer, and could only silently drink another cup of turbid wine.

Seeing this, Xun You shook his head and did not press the matter further. Instead, he sighed softly and said:
"My lord once said: The affairs of the world are ruined by selfishness."

“When a ruler disregards the common people for his own selfish gain, the state is ruined.”

"Local officials disregard the suffering of the people for their own selfish interests, which is why the country is in chaos." "Some people, though they are well-educated and come from scholarly families, act like beasts."

"What honor is there in such a family reputation?"

Good heavens, Xun You's words were like a direct jab into Yang Dao's lungs.

Yang Dao had only drunk half of his drink when he became so angry that his blood rushed to his head and he choked and coughed repeatedly.

Yang Dao, who had only just caught his breath, immediately glared coldly at Xun You:
"Whom are you referring to? Please state yourselves."

"Although my Taishan Mountain Clan is weak, we will not tolerate such slander from petty people!"

At this moment, Yang Dao was so angry that he had already decided that if Xun You did not explain his words clearly, he would help Liu Yao pacify Yangzhou even if it meant his own death, so as to preserve the good reputation of the Yang family of Mount Tai.

However, seeing his reaction, Xun You was not afraid at all; instead, he smiled nonchalantly:
"Your Excellency is greatly mistaken!"

"There are too many hypocrites in this world, how can I decide with just a few words?"

"Even if I remain silent, history will judge for itself!"

At this point, Xun You picked up the ear cup on the table and slowly drank it down.

After swallowing the wine, he looked at Yang Dao with sincere eyes and asked again:
"Therefore, is the safety of the people of Kuaiji more important, or the reputation of the Yang family of Mount Tai?"

Without waiting for Yang Dao's reply, Xun You smiled and remarked:
"Your Excellency need not answer this question, nor do I need your answer."

"But what the Prefect has done will surely be recorded in history, and whether it is right or wrong will eventually be judged!"

"When our lord re-established the balance between righteousness and profit, he once said:"

"Those who use private interests to seek public gain deserve to be eliminated!"

Those who prioritize personal gain over public justice deserve to be condemned!

Upon hearing this, Yang Dao's expression finally changed.

After all, he valued the reputation his family had built up over generations more than his own life.

Now that Xun You was using what he cherished most to negate him, Yang Dao immediately lost his composure.

For a moment, Yang Dao's eyes were somewhat blank.

At this moment, he didn't even know what was right and what was wrong.

Yang Dao couldn't help but repeatedly ask himself:
Will his assistance to the State of Wei really damage his family's reputation and tarnish the Yang family's good name?
If he had helped Liu Yao pacify Yangzhou, would he have truly brought glory to his ancestors and been praised by future generations?

do not know!
He's really having a hard time being sure right now!

After a long while, when the food had gotten a little cold, Yang Dao finally looked up again, his eyes filled with confusion.

Upon seeing this, Xun You realized that his plan had succeeded.

This is called "using one's own spear to attack one's own shield," which targets Yang Dao's weak point.

At the same time, after pondering without success, Yang Dao finally looked at Xun You and asked:
"If that's the case, what justice and morality are left in this world?"

Xun You had been waiting for these words, and immediately replied solemnly:
"Of course there is!"

"The 'Four-Sentence Teaching of Chinese Classics' imparted by our lord at the academy is the eternal and unchanging righteousness for us!"

"If all of us scholars can put this aspiration into practice, we can face heaven and earth without shame!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Dao's bewildered gaze finally began to focus.

At this moment, he had to admit that he was truly convinced by Xun You this time!

After accepting Xun You's viewpoint, he felt a long-lost sense of peace, and the indecisiveness and anxiety he had felt recently disappeared.

Thinking of this, Yang Dao couldn't help but sigh deeply:

"Brother Gongda truly possesses the style of the ancient strategists of the Warring States period; I am convinced!"

"Very well, from this day forward, Kuaiji Commandery belongs to Wei!"

Xun You laughed heartily upon hearing this, not taking Yang Dao's criticism to heart, and immediately raised his cup with him, drinking it all in one gulp.

However, good things often come with difficulties.

Yang Dao had finally been persuaded by Xun You, but Liu Yao was restless.

Before the envoy from Kuaiji Commandery could even deliver the letter of surrender to Shouchun, Liu Yao, having received word of the attack, disregarded Xu Gong, who was still struggling in Qu'a County, and instead dispatched Yan Baihu to garrison troops in Qiantang to attack Yuji.

Liu Yao must have known that once Kuaiji Commandery also became part of Wei, even if he controlled the entire Wu Commandery, he would still be in a dead end with no hope left!
Xu Gong was on the verge of being wiped out, but Liu Yao's division of troops gave Xu Gong an opportunity to flee into Taihu Lake and put up a stubborn resistance again.

However, Xu Gong was lucky, but Kuaiji Commandery was unlucky.

Yang Dao himself was not skilled in military affairs, and he was really overwhelmed by Yan Baihu's sudden and fierce attack.

Although Xun You had already sent a letter by sea requesting reinforcements, it would still take some time for the reinforcements to arrive.

Fortunately, the clerk Yu Fan stepped forward in the crisis, leading the charge and killing Yan Baihu's younger brother Yan Yu in battle, thus stabilizing the situation in Kuaiji Commandery and preventing it from deteriorating.

Yu Fan was no ordinary man. He was the son of Yu Xin, the former governor of Rinan. The Yu family of Yuyao was a prominent family in Kuaiji Commandery. Otherwise, he would not have been appointed as a clerk by Yang Dao.

However, after this experience, Yang Dao realized that Yu Fan's martial arts and military strategy were also outstanding.

So, on Xun You's advice, he simply handed over the command of the county troops to Yu Fan, making him in charge of the entire county's military affairs.

As expected, Yu Fan did not disappoint the two men. While stabilizing the front line, he also persuaded the powerful clans in Kuaiji County and conscripted more than 3,000 private soldiers and clan troops.

As a result, on the very day that Shouchun fell and Yuan Shu hanged himself, Yu Fan inflicted a great defeat on Yan Baihu's troops outside Yuji. He not only routed Liu Yao's army but also launched a counterattack into Wu Commandery, capturing the three counties of Qiantang, Fuchun, and Yuhang in one fell swoop.

Liu Yao, who had initially been in a favorable position, suddenly found himself caught in a pincer attack by Xu Gong and Yu Fan, his life hanging by a thread... (End of Chapter)