Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 948 Already had a plan

Xun Yu is a very contradictory person. He has far more things to consider than other subordinates of Cao Cao, because he now has to make a choice between being a subordinate of the emperor or a subordinate of Cao Cao. , these two identities were not contradictory before, but now with Cao Cao becoming a prince, Xun Yu can no longer strike a balance between the two.

In other words, Xun Yu may look the most carefree among them, but he is actually the one who can't let go.

Cao Cao's vassal, a close official of the emperor, an elder of the Xun clan, and a representative of Yingchuan scholars. The intertwined influence of these identities made Xun Yu at a loss in many matters and difficult to make a choice.

Now he was faced with the matter of Cao Cao's ennoblement, and he fell into great entanglement and uneasiness.

If Cao Cao really made him an official, he would have the power to establish ancestral temples and state affairs. This system was independent of the emperor's officials. If Xun Yu accepted the official position appointed by Cao Cao, it would actually be tantamount to completely betraying the emperor and standing on the side of the emperor. On Cao Cao's side.

Everything Xun Yu did before was to try his best to bridge the rift between the emperor and Cao Cao. This was due to Xun Yu's own fantasy and his own belief in supporting the Han Dynasty. However, the issue of Cao Cao's confederation Completely tearing apart all Cao Cao's previous cover-ups, as well as Xun Yu's efforts and expectations.

Xun Yu understood that Cao Cao was going to completely break with the Han Dynasty.

This made Xun Yu extremely painful. He didn't want to see this happen like this, but he was unable to reverse the current situation and could only watch it happen.

But Xun Yu never gave up his efforts. In his opinion, there was still a glimmer of hope.

These two people jointly wrote a letter openly supporting Cao Pi, which had a huge impact on the Yingchuan faction. This also led to Chen Qun's misjudgment and immediately followed up to support Cao Pi. Only later did he realize that it was contrary to Xun's choice. Only then did he hurriedly make amends.

Xun was Xun Yu's only daughter. She said cautiously: "This is your husband's order. My daughter dare not disobey."

However, to Xun Yu's expectation, the situation was gradually changing in a place he didn't know.

This is actually nothing. The key is that Xun You also showed a tendency to support Cao Pi, which made Xun Yu a little unbelievable and even more difficult to accept.

The reason for this is that Xun Yu, as the first representative of the Yingchuan faction to defect to Cao Cao, was initially trusted by Cao Cao. Many of the scholars and officials of the Yingchuan faction within Cao Cao were recommended by Xun Yu, including Xun You and Zhong Yao. , Chen Qun, even Xun Yue, Du Xi, Zhao Yan, and even Xin Pi all became Cao Cao's subordinates through Xun Yu.

But Xun Yu didn't expect that the boomerang would hit him so quickly. Chen Qun's choice undoubtedly gave him a loud slap in the face, making Xun Yu angry. Chen Qun was indeed a villain, and he and Cao Pi were probably not on the same page. Together!

Not to mention Zhong Yao, whom Cao Cao relied on very much, he openly wrote a letter to support Cao Pi, and Sima Fang also wrote a letter.

Now that the goal has been established, the next thing is simple. Xun Yu thinks that he still has some influence on the Xun family, and as the leader of the Yingchuan scholars, the Xun family can only seize the basic base of Yingchuan scholars. Now, the other forces that support Cao Pi will have almost no chance of winning!

Xun was so angry that he didn't dare to say anything. When Xun Yu saw this, he softened his tone slightly and said, "Now that we have taken a stand, we can't look back. Just keep walking."

Xun Yu sneered: "His wings are stiff, what else do you need to ask me for?"

In comparison, although Cao Zhi, who was less than ten years old, was young, he knew the book, observed etiquette, and spoke appropriately. Moreover, Xun Yu observed Cao Zhi's words and deeds several times and found that his views on the Han Dynasty were very different from Cao Cao and even Cao Pi. Same, in other words, Cao Zhi has a tendency to be close to the Han Dynasty!
Therefore, considering various factors, both public and private, Xun Yu would side with Cao Zhi on the matter of heir.

Sima Fang's position in Cao Cao's camp is extremely special. He is not only Cao Cao's leader, but also has another identity, that is, he once served as the prefect of Yingchuan.

First, the power of the Yingchuan scholars was too huge. As Cao Cao's status rose, he naturally began to secretly prepare for the Yingchuan faction to become stronger.

Cao Cao chooses his successor.

To be fair, Xun Yu bears a lot of responsibility here, because he actually doesn't think highly of Chen Qun. The marriage between the two parties is more due to political considerations of the Xun family. As for who his daughter marries, it is not a marriage, at least marrying Chen Qun. This kind of person who adapts to the wind may live a few more years.

Who is this guy?
Zhong Yao, Sima Fang, or Xun You?
He saw Mrs. Xun who was serving tea anxiously beside him, sighed and said, "Since you have married into the Chen family, don't come back home all the time. This will not be good for the reputation of both families."

When he was the governor of Yingchuan, he promoted many Yingchuan scholars. Therefore, although Sima Fang was born in Hanoi County, in the eyes of Yingchuan scholars, Sima Fang was a direct descendant of the Yingchuan faction, and he still had a transcendent status and qualifications. The kind who is the leader of the Yingchuan faction.

But now these people know that Xun Yu blatantly sided with Cao Pi when he chose Cao Zhi!
At this thought, Xun Yu felt a little cold. Was he really wrong, or did those people see something that he couldn't see?
He was not sure, but what was certain was that among these people, there must be one person who could connect them all.

When Cao Cao started his business, talents were rare, so he had to rely on the Yingchuan faction to unite the internal affairs, so both sides got what they needed and lived in peace. However, the current situation is different. Cao Cao captured parts of Jizhou and Jingzhou and recruited many people with good backgrounds. Celebrities from Jizhou and Jingzhou began to dilute the power of the Yingchuan faction.

On the other hand, the Yingchuan sect was not monolithic, because there were disagreements about the successor. In addition to the Xun family, several other families with a strong voice in the Yingchuan sect began to fully support Cao Pi.

In Xun Yu's view, Cao Pi must not be chosen as the heir, because Cao Pi has exposed all kinds of bad habits at a young age, which will inevitably lead the Cao family to a wrong path in the future, and he has no regard for the Han Dynasty or even the emperor and empress. In order to show respect, he has repeatedly done extremely ridiculous things. If this kind of person succeeds to take charge of the Cao family, what will he do to the Han Dynasty?

Mrs. Xun thought that Xun Yu was angry, so she quickly said: "For the sake of my daughter, can you give me a hand?"

Xun Yu shook his head, "That's not what I meant. He may not be wrong, and I may not have made the right choice."

"You should go back, he should understand."

Xun had no choice but to say goodbye to Xun Yu and go home.

Xun Yu sat quietly alone and smiled bitterly. It seemed that he was the one who betrayed his relatives and abandoned him? Regarding Cao Cao's enthronement, Xun Yu's psychology was extremely complicated. He did not expect that Cao Cao would reach this point, but this day was much faster than Xun Yu expected.

What did Cao Cao think and why was he so anxious?

Late at night, Cao Cao rolled over and sat up on the couch, groaning loudly. Concubine Ji beside him was so flustered that he wanted to call for a doctor. Cao Cao raised his hand to stop them, and took out a wooden box from the cabinet next to the bed.

Cao Cao opened the lid of the box and found pieces of halva inside. He picked up a piece and put it in his mouth to chew.

The sweet feeling spread from the tip of the tongue to the whole body, which slightly relieved the pain, but this time the headache was so severe that the short-term pleasure brought by the halva could not be suppressed. Cao Cao said to Concubine Ji: "Rub your head for me."

Concubine Ji quickly stretched out her fingers to massage Cao Cao's temples and forehead, but after a few presses, Cao Cao frowned and said, "It's so clumsy. Go and ask Mrs. Ding to come over."

The concubine quickly approved the clothes and went out. After a while, Mrs. Bian hurried over. When she saw Cao Cao's appearance, she immediately got on the couch and knelt down behind Cao Cao, stretching out her hands to massage him.

Mrs. Bian was born in a prostitution and was extremely skilled in her techniques. Immediately, Cao Cao felt that the pain was relieved a lot. He groaned in comfort and said, "You are still reliable, everyone else is clumsy."

Mrs. Bian said softly: "It is not a long-term solution to continue like this. Do you want to go find a famous doctor to look at your husband?"

Cao Cao shook his head, "It's not like I haven't seen it before. They are just quacks. This headache has become more and more severe in the past two years. This is why I am in a hurry to establish a successor."

He paused for a moment before Mrs. Bian said quickly: "My husband will definitely live a long life. I would rather not be able to choose an heir than hope that my husband can cure his headache."

Cao Cao didn't feel much joy when he heard Mrs. Bian's words. He couldn't help but nodded secretly and sighed: "Although they say so, life and death are determined. No one knows whether they can survive until tomorrow."

"So what if he is the emperor? Can he decide when he will die?"

"Don't look at my high position and great glory now. Once I die and my power falls apart, what will happen to you?"

"So while I'm still awake, I can settle the things that can be settled and eradicate all the unstable people and things, so that I can be worthy of you."

Mrs. Bian hesitated for a moment and said softly: "Having said that, is it too hasty to put the matter of establishing an heir and ennobling the duke together?"

"My husband has many servants who come to have a relationship with me in private. I am afraid."

Cao Cao snorted coldly, "I know you don't hide it from me, but I can't stop these things."

"As long as you are a human being, you will always choose a path. Just like when Yuan Benchu ​​and I were fighting each other, there were many people among the subordinates who secretly collaborated with the enemy."

His tone gradually turned cold, "There's nothing wrong with wanting to live, but if you don't want to pay the price later, that's a good idea."

"Every choice is a big wave. If they want to take advantage of me, they must pay something."

Mrs. Bian said softly: "I don't understand political affairs, but I also know that my husband wants to use this to see clearly the thoughts of the people below. However, the matter has not yet been decided. Will I be criticized for violating etiquette?"

Cao Cao sneered: "This is what I wanted to do!"

"If the emperor still has authority, and if the Han system can still restrict me, who would be willing to take a big gamble with me?"

"I did so many things before, weren't I destroying the Han system?"

"Not only am I doing this, but others are also doing it, especially the fierce tiger!"

Mrs. Bian was stunned, "Is there any?"

Cao Cao sneered: "Why not?"

"The emperor of the Han Dynasty took twelve daughters, like the twelve months, three wives and nine concubines; the princes took nine daughters, like the nine states, one wife and eight concubines; the ministers had one wife and two concubines; the scholars had one wife and one concubine."

"Do the math, how many concubines have he and I taken?"

"This in itself is a signal I deliberately sent to my subordinates and the people of the world. I believe the same is true for Fierce Tiger. Anyone with a discerning eye can understand it at a glance."

"Sooner or later Fierce Tiger will rebel. His subordinate officials and I have made our choice long ago!"

(End of this chapter)