Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 24: "Brothers" quarrel

I heard that 100,000 black soldiers joined forces with 10,000 Xiongnu cavalry and attacked Dongjun in three directions.

Yuan Shao asked himself, even if it were him, he would feel a lot of pressure.

"But Cao Cao used the tactics of besieging Wei to save Zhao and ambushing the enemy halfway to defeat the Black Mountain Army!" Xu You's words shocked everyone.

"How did Cao Mengde, with only a few thousand soldiers, defeat the Black Mountain Army and the Southern Xiongnu?" Guo Tu asked the common question in everyone's mind.

Yuan Shao frowned slightly, but he seemed not interested in this question.

Without waiting for Xu You's answer,

Instead, he suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Xun Yu actually went to serve under Cao Cao... Did I not treat Xun Yu seriously enough?"

There was a hint of suppressed anger in his voice.

"?"

"Xun Yu left?"

"He actually went under Cao Cao's command?"

"Why? Is he stupid?"

Ju Su, Tian Feng, Guo Tu, Shen Pei and others all looked at each other in astonishment.

They really can't understand.

A top-class wealthy family kid like Xun Yu,

Why would you lower yourself to seek refuge with a eunuch?
Moreover, he was a poor man with no soldiers or land, and was not even considered a prince.

"Alas... I once suggested to you, my lord, that you should grant Xun Wenruo an important position as soon as possible, but you..." Xu You sighed and said slowly.

Yuan Shao naturally understood the implication of his words.

Yuan Shao's face was somewhat gloomy, but he still tried to defend himself: "I invited Wen Ruo to serve as a guest official several times, but he refused each time."

"Guest..."

After hearing this, everyone couldn't help but shook their heads, thinking in their hearts:
"He's a talent who can assist the king! You just give him a guest official? That's too petty!"

"Oh no, it seems Xun Yu also married a descendant of a eunuch... No wonder!"

"Xun Wenruo is still a tainted person after all."

Everyone's eyes flickered, and as they exchanged glances, they suddenly understood.

Xu You continued without giving any face:
"But do you know what position Cao Cao gave Xun Yu?

The County Magistrate of Dongjun!

It’s an important position second only to the prefect of Dongjun!
Xun Wenruo had just arrived in Dongjun when Cao Cao dared to use him.

My Lord, you are ten times wiser than Cao Cao, so why do you still have concerns?

"The chancellor assists the governor,"
When the governor's position is vacant or he temporarily leaves office,
The county magistrate can perform the duties of the prefect and maintain the operation of the county government.

Simply put, Xun Yu was Cao Cao's second-in-command, a position previously held by his second younger brother Cao Yan.

Facing Xu You's merciless questioning,
Yuan Shao was about to explode.
But when he heard Xu You boast that he was "ten times wiser than Cao Cao", he immediately held back.

But he could never admit that he was not good at judging and employing people, as that would greatly undermine his prestige.

At this critical moment,
Suddenly, an idea flashed in Yuan Shao's mind.
Then he said calmly: "The Xun family of Yingchuan has produced many talented people, and Xun Wenruo is just an ordinary member of the Xun family.

From a certain perspective,

Xun Yu's brother Xun Chen was no less capable than Xun Yu.

Even in terms of strategy, he is better than Xun Yu!
Perhaps Xun Yu chose to leave because he saw that he could not defeat Xun Chen.

Xu You had not thought of this and was speechless for a moment.

To know,
It was Xun Chen who, under Yuan Shao's orders, persuaded Han Fu to offer Jizhou to Yuan Shao.

It is only natural that Yuan Shao valued Xun Chen.

When Yuan Shao saw that he had finally suppressed Xu You, a slightly smug smile appeared on his lips.

He continued, "I have already appointed Xun Chen as my chief strategist. If Cao Cao gets a Xun Yu, what harm will that do?"

"Master Strategist?"

His position as strategist is gone just like that?
Ju Su was stunned.

But Ju Su reacted quickly.

Yuan Shao must have been dissatisfied with his previous suggestion.

So they took the opportunity to deprive him of his position as chief strategist.

Although he was angry in his heart, he didn't dare show it on his face.

"Yuan Benchu, you are too narrow-minded to behave like this!" Tian Feng, who stood on the same side with Ju Su, couldn't help but curse in his heart.

Guo Tu, who had also keenly grasped Yuan Shao's intentions, took the opportunity to say sarcastically, "You and Ziyuan had strongly advocated for Cao Cao to be the governor of Dongjun. Now you've raised a tiger and it's become a threat, haven't you?"

Xu You saw that he was being drawn into trouble again, and immediately retorted:
"You are wrong, Gongze!

Although Cao Cao won, it was a pyrrhic victory.

Cao Ren defended Dongwuyang and was covered with more than ten wounds.

Cao Chun was covered in blood and fainted as soon as he entered the battlefield.

If Cao Yan had not succeeded in launching a surprise attack and lifted the siege of Dunqiu, the outcome of this battle would have been uncertain."

Tian Feng interjected, "Precisely because of this, my lord, you should recognize Cao Mengde's value.

Gongsun Zan was preparing his troops in Youzhou, Yuan Shu was eyeing him covetously in Huainan, and Tao Qian could cross the Yellow River and head north at any time.

Liu Dai was ambitious but incompetent, and his relationship with his lord was not as close as Cao Mengde's.
Moreover, he is a relative of the Han royal family and is not the same kind of person as us, so we have to be on guard against him.

Therefore, letting Cao Cao guard Dongjun will at least give us an extra barrier."

Ju Su had just been tricked, and his face looked a little ugly at the moment, so he chose to remain silent.

Yuan Shao took in everyone's reactions and then spoke in a murmurous voice, "How many troops does Cao Mengde have now?"

"Before the battle, there were 10,000 infantry and cavalry. Now there should be only 7,000, and they have to be dispersed to defend various parts of Dongjun," Xu You replied. "But he captured 3,000 war horses from Sui Gu and Yu Fuluo, and also captured several thousand Black Mountain soldiers. Given time, we should be able to expand our force to around 15,000."

Hearing this, Guo Tu's eyes turned and he suggested: "My lord, Cao's army has won a tragic victory, with heavy casualties, and they must have let down their guard. Why not take advantage of their unpreparedness..."

Yuan Shao raised his hand to interrupt Guo Tu's proposal and said with a slightly dissatisfied tone:
"What time is it? Gongsun Zan's army is already gathering towards Jie Bridge. Do you still have the leisure to plot against your allies?"

Guo Tu was choked and dared not say another word.

Yuan Shao paced the hall with his hands behind his back. After thinking for a long time, he said, "Yuan Hao is right. No matter how powerful Cao Cao is, he can only occupy a small corner of Dongjun. After we defeat Gongsun Zan, we can come back and deal with him. Now..."

He turned to look at Ju Su, Tian Feng, and Xu You and said, "Send a message to Yan Liang and Wen Chou to speed up the preparation of the troops. Also, have Chunyu Qiong escort the food and fodder to Jie Bridge first!"

"My lord, your judgment is wise." Although Ju Su was deeply unhappy, he suppressed his inner emotions and bowed. "Cao Cao's defeat of the Black Mountain Army has actually helped us suppress the threat from the south. Now that Dongjun is in ruins and his troops have been decimated, he is unable to expand his territory. He can serve as a shield for our army."

Yuan Shao finally cracked a smile and said, "Send orders to all places to strictly guard the passes to prevent the remaining Black Mountain troops from escaping. As for Cao Cao... send him a hundred jars of fine wine and tell them that I, Yuan Benchu, congratulate him on his great victory!"

After everyone left, Yuan Shao stood alone in the courtyard.

The little details of my childhood mischief and pranks with Cao Cao,

At this moment, it surged into my heart uncontrollably.

"Meng De, ah Meng De," Yuan Shao murmured to himself,

"If there is a battle between you and me,
Regardless of victory or defeat,

I hope we can finally sit down and drink a pot of wine together."

Yuan Shao knew that

Cao Cao wanted to be a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty.

The road between myself and Cao Cao,

It's getting further and further away.

(End of this chapter)