Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 11 I get ruthless and even scold myself
When Cao Yan saw Xun Yu again,
Xun Yu was already a Sima of a separate army under Cao Cao.

Although many people in later generations believed that Guo Jia was Cao Cao's chief strategist,
There is even a rumor that "As long as Guo Jia is not dead, Zhuge Liang will not come out."

But in fact,

In terms of contribution to the Cao Group,
Xun Yu is the most worthy first counselor.

Its importance is equivalent to Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei.

As soon as they met, Cao Yan felt the kindness from Xun Yu.

[Xun Yu's favorability towards you has changed. Current favorability: 35%]

"Mr. Wenruo, are you adapting well recently?" Cao Yan was in a good mood and greeted Xun Yu with a smile.

Xun Yu was checking the military accounts. Upon hearing this, he looked up and smiled gently:

"Don't laugh, Zi'an. Compared to the intrigues in Yuan Benchu's tent, this place is much more comfortable and relaxed."

Putting down the bamboo slips in his hand, Xun Yu asked again, "How come you have time to come to me today?"

The Sima of the Separate Department is an important position in the army, but Xun Yu is now mainly responsible for coordinating military affairs in the rear.

It is not wartime now, and Cao Cao has only 6,000 soldiers under his command. Military affairs are not heavy, so Xun Yu is relatively free.

Cao Yan noticed this point, so he began to target this big shot whose political wisdom was almost full.

Cao Yan got straight to the point: "Although my elder brother asked you to take the position of Sima of the other department, I know that your strength lies in governing the country and the people!"

Xun Yu blinked and asked, "But what trouble did you encounter, Zi'an?"

Cao Yan immediately smiled bitterly and said, "Big Brother has many military commanders under his rule, but very few civil officials. I was forced into this position of County Magistrate by him."

Xun Yu laughed when he heard this and said, "Others can't get an official position, but you're so good at it that you think it's too hot to handle? In my opinion, you've done a very good job, at least surpassing the vast majority of officials."

"You don't have to comfort me. You've seen some of the details. What I did wasn't perfect."

"You are quite honest." Xun Yu smiled and said, "Do you want me to help you?"

"Please give me a helping hand, Mr. Wenruo!" Cao Yan said with a bow.

"You can ask me to help you, but you have to answer a few questions for me." Xun Yu rolled his eyes and put forward the conditions.

Cao Yan didn't expect that Xun Lingjun, who was usually gentle and polite, would actually be so cunning.

But in order to catch this strong man, he also risked his life: "Just ask."

After a moment's thought, Xun Yu asked, "My lord, I heard that you, Zi'an, taught the eldest son a certain military formation, and he was able to defeat the Black Mountain army of a thousand men with only a hundred soldiers?"

"You're talking about the Mandarin Duck Formation? I did teach Ang'er that," Cao Yan explained. "The Mandarin Duck Formation relies on coordination. That day, we simply took advantage of the terrain, and because they underestimated the enemy, we caught them off guard."

Know about military affairs!
Xun Yu nodded and silently labeled Cao Yan in his heart, then continued to ask:

"My lord, you also said that the work-for-relief program, the new military farming policy, and the reduction of land taxes in Dongwuyang City were all initiated by you?"

"It's just a trifle. I'm sorry to make you laugh, Mr. Wenruo." Cao Yan said modestly.

Understand people’s livelihood!
Xun Yu gave Cao Yan another label.

Then, he said solemnly, "I have three doubts, and I hope Zi'an will tell me honestly."

Cao Yan thought to himself, "What kind of rules are these? Are they trying to test me?"

"Sir, please feel free to ask any questions. I will tell you everything I know." Cao Yan bowed.

"First: Are the policies of taking in refugees and reducing land taxes from Zi'an's heart?" Xun Yu looked directly into Cao Yan's eyes, as if trying to see through his true intentions.

"Yes!" Cao Yan's eyes remained clear and bright as he answered, "The people of the Han Dynasty shouldn't have to live in such hardship."

Xun Yu pondered for a moment, then slowly asked, "Second question: I have always been puzzled as to why the Han Dynasty has come to this point since the Guangwu Restoration."

"Mr. Wenruo already has the answer in his mind, why bother testing me?" Cao Yan shook his head.

How could Xun Yu not know the accumulated problems of the Han Dynasty?

He was just holding on to a last glimmer of hope, hoping to get a different explanation.

Unexpectedly, Cao Yan's voice was cold and every word was like a knife.

"Emperors Huan and Ling were incompetent and incompetent, and the imperial relatives and eunuchs took turns to usurp power. The court was like a market, and official positions were sold for money.

When natural disasters occurred frequently, the powerful annexed land and the common people had to trade their children for food, but the imperial court was still busy minting small coins to extort the people's wealth.

So first there was the Yellow Turban Rebellion, then the Dong Zhuo Incident, and then many heroes rose up and the world was in chaos! "

Xun Yu's face turned pale and his Adam's apple rolled up and down.

With his knowledge and vision, how could he not understand these simple principles?

But when the bloody facts were revealed so bluntly by Cao Yan, those lies that covered up the truth in the past could no longer deceive themselves.

Could it be that the man he respected with all his heart was really seriously ill?

"There's one more thing." Cao Yan's tone suddenly softened, but it made Xun Yu's heart tighten.
"The aristocratic families exploit the interests of the country for their own benefit, caring only about themselves and forgetting about the world.

When there are too many termites, the trees will break; when there are brute force, people will rob and plunder!
While the rich wine and meat smell, the road with frozen bone!
It would be strange if the world were not in chaos."

The air suddenly froze.

Didn't Cao Yan's words imply an insult to both himself and Xun Yu?

I've seen cruel people, but I've never seen someone so cruel that he even curses himself...

Xun Yu's slender fingers turned a little white because he clenched them too tightly.

His face kept changing between blue, white, and red. It was obvious that Cao Yan's words had hit him hard in the heart.

After a long while, Xun Yu suddenly stood up and bowed, saying, "Yu, I am grateful for your guidance."

It was not until then that Xun Yu realized that his forehead was soaked with sweat.

"But...if the building is about to collapse, is it possible for Zi'an to remain unscathed?" After standing up, Xun Yu could not help but ask again.

"I'd like to keep myself safe... I do!" Cao Yan chuckled and shook his head, "But my elder brother thinks the Han Dynasty can still be saved, so I'll accompany him on this journey."

Xun Yu's pupils suddenly shrank, and he asked, revealing the hidden meaning in Cao Yan's words, "If the Han Dynasty is beyond saving, what will you do?"

When Xun Yu asked this question,
Cao Cao, who had been eavesdropping outside the door for a long time,

Nervous, I subconsciously pinched the corner of my clothes.

"The Han Dynasty began with Emperor Gaozu and flourished under Emperor Wu and Emperor Guangwu of Han. From then on, the Chinese people have had an eternal national title - Han people!" Cao Yan also stood up and looked directly into Xun Yu's eyes.

Different from the calm and clear eyes before, Cao Yan now has a hint of fanaticism in his eyes.
"In my opinion, no matter what the country's name is, even if it is changed to Tang, Song or Ming,

The only thing that will not change is the Han ethnic group.

The only thing that is certain is that the Han people are the orthodox ones!!”

"As long as the Han people exist, our Chinese civilization will not be cut off!

If you save the people but lose the land, both the people and the land will be saved; if you save the land but lose the people, both the people and the land will be lost.

You should understand this principle clearly."

What has been said has been made very clear, there is no need to break the last layer of window paper.

"The people..."

"Han people..."

"nationality……"

Cao Yan's words made Xun Yu and Cao Cao fall into deep thought at the same time.

Xun Yu looked at Cao Yan and suddenly realized: This person in front of him might really be able to turn the world upside down!

But his intuition told him that what Cao Yan said seemed to be a conclusion reached after thousands of years of sedimentation, and it made sense but was completely unreasonable!
But this was in sharp conflict with the Confucian idea of ​​"loyalty to the emperor and patriotism" that he had always accepted.

This made Xun Yu very painful.

But it gave Cao Cao, who was outside the door, an epiphany, and he saw the light through the clouds and found the path that truly belonged to him!

"I, Cao Cao, am loyal not to any particular emperor of the Han Dynasty!"

"I, Cao Cao, am loyal to the millions of people of the Han Dynasty!"

(End of this chapter)