The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

No sooner had Cao Cao stepped out of his tent than his personal guards outside announced loudly that Xun Chen was requesting an audience.

Xun Chen lifted the curtain and entered, just as he passed Cao Cao's forlorn figure. He subconsciously turned his head to take another look, a subtle action that was noticed by Yuan Shao, who was seated at the head of the table.

Yuan Shao's self-satisfaction swelled even more. He enjoyed displaying his magnanimity and control in front of his subordinates, especially influential figures like the Xun family.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh. Mengde... sigh, he's still as stubborn as ever. I warned him long ago that Dong Zhuo's forces are too strong and we shouldn't pursue him lightly, but he wouldn't listen. Now he's suffered heavy losses and is in such a predicament, and he comes to me crying about it."

He shook his head and sighed as he spoke.

Xun Chen listened quietly, his face showing a mixture of surprise and sympathy. "My lord, you and General Cao have been friends since childhood. He doesn't show his embarrassment in front of outsiders, but he does so in front of you. This shows his dependence on and trust in the alliance leader."

Hearing this, Yuan Shao felt even more pleased. Indeed, even if Cao Cao hadn't given him face before, he still had to lower his stance when trouble arose.

With no one else in the tent at the moment, and a ready-made strategist present, Yuan Shao was happy to seek advice.

"Mengde has asked me for a piece of land to settle his remaining soldiers and those refugees. What do you think, Youruo?"

Seeing that Yuan Shao was somewhat interested, Xun Chen followed up, "However, this territory... all the prefectures and counties in the world have their own owners. If we rashly hand it over to General Cao, it may cause controversy."

Yuan Shao frowned again; this was precisely where his hesitation lay. He was reluctant to give up a piece of land for nothing, but if he didn't, it would make him, as the leader of the alliance, appear stingy, unwilling to even help his childhood friend.

Xun Chen seemed to see through his thoughts and slowly revealed his true purpose.

"I think there is a place that would be perfect for General Cao to visit."

"Oh? Where?"

"Dongjun".

Yuan Shao's face darkened. Although Dongjun was not a wealthy region, it was, after all, the gateway to Yanzhou and held a crucial position.

Before he could speak, Xun Chen changed the subject, his face showing worry: "I have something to say, but it concerns the prestige of the Alliance Leader. I don't know if I should say it or not."

"Speak freely," Yuan Shao said, waving his hand dismissively.

"Liu Dai, the governor of Yanzhou, arbitrarily killed Qiao Mao, the prefect of Dongjun. Did he ever consult you, the leader of the alliance, even once?"

Yuan Shao's expression darkened further. This matter had been a source of great anxiety for him lately, and Liu Dai's actions were tantamount to slapping him, the leader of the alliance, in the face.

"What's worse," Xun Chen lowered his voice, "Wang Gong, the former governor of Dongjun, had a very good personal relationship with Liu Dai. Now that Qiao Mao is dead, if Liu Dai were to install his cronies, wouldn't the entire Yanzhou become Liu Dai's personal fiefdom? Our anti-Dong Zhuo alliance is right next to his bed. If he were to harbor any disloyalty, the consequences would be unimaginable."

These words were like a needle, precisely piercing Yuan Shao's most sensitive nerve.

"Then, in your opinion..."

"Cao Mengde's forces are weak and his foundation is unstable. If he wants to gain a foothold in Dongjun, he will inevitably have to rely on the alliance leader's support. He and Liu Dai have a long-standing feud, and their competition will only weaken each other. In this way, neither of them can dominate Yanzhou. In the end, won't the overall situation in Yanzhou be decided by you, the alliance leader?"

"As for General Cao's temper..." Xun Chen smiled, "Alliance Leader, you are a man destined for great things, the banner of this anti-Dong Zhuo alliance. Your generals each have their own temperaments and personalities, which is what makes you so tolerant. Mengde is indeed a bit straightforward, but ultimately, he's on your side. Otherwise, why would he be the first to seek your help whenever he faces difficulties?"

These words enlightened Yuan Shao, and his displeasure and hesitation vanished instantly.

Turning a hot potato into a pawn for controlling others can also earn you a reputation for appreciating and cherishing talent.

This deal is a good one.

As for whether Cao Cao will become too powerful as a result?

Yuan Shao glanced at the dilapidated camp outside his tent, a look of disdain in his eyes. What could a bunch of stray dogs, barely able to support their soldiers, possibly possibly cause trouble?

"Very well! We shall do as Youruo suggests! I will now write a letter recommending Mengde as the Prefect of Dongjun!"

Xun Chen finally felt relieved. He bowed deeply and said respectfully, "My lord is wise."

He raised his sleeve and wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, feeling more tired than if he had fought a battle.

When talking to someone like Yuan Shao, you have to make sure every word hits the mark he likes, without making the slightest mistake.

If it weren't for those two troublesome fellows, Xun Yu and Xun Hao, who would want to do this job?

When the news reached Cao Cao's camp, the entire camp instantly erupted in excitement.

The soldiers cheered with joy, and the civilians who had followed them wept with happiness.

Inside the tent, Cao Cao was overjoyed. He grasped Xun Yu's hand and repeatedly praised him, "Youruo, you are truly a national hero!"

Upon entering the territory of Dongjun, Xun Yu immediately displayed his formidable abilities, which would later be hailed as those of a "king's advisor." Before the people could recover from the exhaustion of their migration, detailed proclamations to reassure them were already plastered inside and outside the city walls.

He worked almost non-stop, quickly and meticulously categorizing tens of thousands of refugees according to their original place of origin and clan.

From the local chronicles, he accurately located the unclaimed land in Dongjun and replanned farmland for the people.

Seeds, farming tools, and temporary shelter were all distributed in an orderly manner. What was originally a chaotic situation that would have overwhelmed any prefect was quickly brought under his command and brought into order in just a few days.

The hundreds of cartloads of books that were rescued from the fire were carefully moved into the prefectural governor's treasury, which was considered the most important part of the spoils of war.

Dozens of elderly scholars who had survived from Luoyang followed the convoy, stroking the recovered bamboo slips and weeping uncontrollably. They spontaneously organized themselves and, despite their advanced age, began to restore, transcribe, and organize these cultural treasures damaged in the war.

Cao Cao's reputation among scholars across the land was no longer limited to that of a eunuch's descendant, but had reached an unprecedented new height.

However, two heavy burdens remained in Cao Cao's mind: Xiahou Dun's injury and Xun Hao's illness.

On the third day after he returned to Dongjun, the man Kong Rong had sent to Beihai arrived at the prefectural governor's residence with a weary traveling physician. The man was about forty or fifty years old, with a thin face but exceptionally bright eyes. He carried a worn-out medicine chest and wore faded cloth clothes.

"This humble commoner, Hua Tuo, greets the General."

"Sir, there's no need for such formalities!" Cao Cao stepped forward personally and urgently led him to the backyard. "I have a brother who is as close as a sworn brother. In Luoyang, he was struck by a burning beam while saving someone and lost his left leg. I beg you, sir, to save him!"

Xiahou Dun's room was filled with a strong smell of medicine and the stench of burnt flesh.

He lay in bed, conscious, but his face was pale and his lips were cracked from the excruciating pain.