The Three Kingdoms: The Cold Gate World

Chapter 303
In the spring of the seventh year of Jian'an, two years had passed since the Battle of Guandu. After Yuan Shao's death, Hebei and the Central Plains had no more confrontations. Both Kanto and Kansai presented a strangely peaceful situation.

The two most popular heroes, Guo Jia and Cao Cao, seem to have stopped their expansion at this moment.

Xuchang Cao Mansion
In the spacious and bright study room, Cao Cao is teaching a boy to write with his hands. The rough-looking Cao Cao has a loving smile on his face. He supports the boy's hand and writes every stroke with great care. He tells the boy how to pay attention to the exquisiteness of calligraphy. place.

"Chong'er, do you remember?"

Cao Cao let go of his hand, and the image of a loving father was fully reflected at this moment.

This child, called Cao Chong, was born to Mrs. Huan. Although Cao Cao did not officially announce it to outsiders, after Cao Chong became sensible, Cao Cao already had plans in his heart to make Cao Chong his successor. Perhaps Cao Chong is only six or seven years old now. In terms of age, Cao Cao may be misjudged, but when it comes to his children and grandchildren, sometimes he doesn't need to observe for a long time, and sometimes he can see at a glance whether he is in line with his wishes.

If Cao Cao is not a traitor in troubled times, at least he is also a famous writer, but it is a pity that his image makes him a bit shabby as a romantic talent.

He taught his children, no matter what field, is more than enough.

Cao Chong kept in mind the essentials of calligraphy taught by Cao Cao, and began to practice by himself. The more Cao Cao looked at Cao Chong, the more joyful feelings sprouted from the bottom of his heart.

Footsteps came from outside the study. Cao Cao was always sensitive to the noise of the surrounding environment. He looked up and saw Xun You stepping into the room.

Xun You saluted him, Cao Chong also raised his head at this time, put down the pen in his hand, and greeted Xun You respectfully.

Cao Cao moved from the side of the desk and came to Xun You, and the two sat down at the guest seat in the hall. Cao Cao sent someone to call Xun You, so he cut to the chase.

"How are the two brothers from Hebei?"

Xun You looked calm, and said softly: "As always, we are each other's horns."

Cao Cao's face darkened a bit.

Playing hard to get and want to make the Yuan brothers fight endlessly, this strategy is correct, but the effect looks mediocre at this time.

Yuan Shao had been dead for half a year, but the Yuan brothers still showed no signs of splitting, which made Cao Cao unhappy.

"You already understand the situation in the northwest, right?"

Xun You nodded.

There was a famine in the northwest, and although Cao Cao learned about Han Sui and Ma Chao's borrowing of food from Guo Jia late, he saw through Guo Jia's plan at a glance.

"As I expected, there will be great changes in the Northwest this year, and the Han and Ma families may be wiped out by Guo Jia."

Cao Cao's expression became serious.

If Guo Jia solves the worries in the northwest, then for him, there will be almost no internal hidden dangers in the north and the south. Even if Cao Cao wants to repeat the old tricks to cause Guo Jia's internal problems, he can't do anything, even a provocation No one could be found to alienate, and all he can do now is to go to the north, and it is impossible for Liu Biao to provoke Guo Jia in the south, especially after Guo Jiaping settled the territory of southern Yizhou and expanded again.

In this context, Cao Cao needs to annex the north as soon as possible, otherwise, after Guo Jia takes over Kansai, it will be difficult to predict whether Hebei will still be his favorite.

After pondering for a while, Xun You suggested to Cao Cao: "It's better to lead the army to attack Liyang, create a strong offensive and stalemate for a few days, then withdraw the army, and then see how the Yuan brothers react."

To attack Liyang is to attack Yuan Tan.

Cao Cao thought for a moment, and figured out the reason and purpose of Xun You's suggestion.

The Yuan brothers were guarding against Cao Cao, so Cao Cao never attacked Hebei. Even if the Yuan brothers wanted to kill each other, they were afraid that Cao Cao would come to reap the benefits.

If Cao Cao doesn't fight for a day, they will take precautions for a day.

Xun You's strategy is to let Cao Cao take the initiative to unload the psychological burden for the two brothers.

According to Cao Cao's current strength and provisions, it is impossible for him to swallow Hebei directly. Attacking Li Yang is a bluff, calling it to the two brothers, and then withdrawing the army is a signal, a signal that Cao Cao has been unable to attack for a long time, and the three armies are exhausted and unable to fight again. In this case, the threat of Cao Cao, the number one enemy in the hearts of the Yuan brothers, will be greatly reduced, and the external threat will be reduced, and then internal conflicts will break out.

"This plan is very good, but I still want to make a modification. I can't attack Liyang, and then withdraw the army to the south, pretending to attack Jingzhou!"

Cao Cao grinned loudly, but Xun You smiled lightly and remained silent.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cao Chong who was concentrating on practicing calligraphy. Cao Cao put away his smile and was dazed.

Xun You got up to leave, Cao Cao came back to his senses and went out with Xun You.

Walking on the aisle in the courtyard of the mansion, Xun You was not a talkative person, but seeing Cao Cao's preoccupied look, he couldn't help but ask a lot.

"What's on your mind, my lord?"

Cao Cao didn't answer the question instead.

"I ordered someone to invite Zhong Da from Sima's family. Has the person who went there returned?"

Xun You hurriedly said: "The lower officials were negligent about this matter, and they replied yesterday, but that Sima Yi said he was ill."

A sneer appeared on the corner of Cao Cao's mouth, he looked up to the sky, and said indifferently: "Young and vigorous, ignorant of current affairs."

In terms of the gentry, the Sima family can be said to have established a foothold in the Central Plains before and after the founding of the Han Dynasty. Their ancestors already had kings when the Chu and Han were fighting. There were few high-ranking officials, but at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when the gentry formed a huge political group for private interests, the Sima family was not as good as the Yuan family, who reached the pinnacle during this period. The Sima family did not take advantage of the trend, but instead developed towards a somewhat declining trend.

The person who helped the Sima family stop this trend was Cao Cao.

Under Cao Cao's rule, whether it was the Xun family, Taifu Yang Biao, or the Zhong family and other well-known noble families, in terms of background and history, they were all inferior to the Sima family.

The origin of the Sima family and the Cao family, or the direct relationship with Cao Cao himself is very important. Cao Cao had a bumpy official career in his early years. , At the same time, I also tasted the warmth and coldness of human relationships. At this time, the Sima family helped Cao Cao, and Cao Cao's appointment as Luoyang City Captain was recommended by Sima Fang of the Sima family!
Sima Fang's son Sima Lang is now an official under Cao Cao, and the Sima family is back on track, and has not been lost in the turbulent waves of chaos in the world. Now, Cao Cao personally ordered someone to invite Sima Fang's other son, Sima Yi, to come out of the mountain.

Sima Yi is now a young man in his early twenties, and his name is not small. Cao Cao can hear his name, not from the people, but recommended by Xun Yu.

People recommended by others may be suspected of being promoted, but Xun Yu never recommends talents in front of Cao Cao easily. Whenever he asks, then this person must have extraordinary talents, and Cao Cao must value it.

I just didn't expect Sima Yi to reject Cao Cao.

Although Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu, the literati who had prejudiced against Cao Cao from the beginning still criticized Cao Cao. Even if Yuan Shao died, he seemed to die generously for the country.

In all fairness, many celebrities do not want to work for Guo Jia for the same reasons as they do not want to work for Cao Cao.

Putting aside the words of those pedantic Confucian scholars, many smart people can see the ambitions of Guo Jia and Cao Cao. They are called Hanchens, but they are actually Han thieves.

Since you have ambitions, you are trying to attract talents to work for you. When the time is right, you will definitely stand on your own in place of the Han. Achievements have been stigmatized for thousands of years, so celebrities and talented scholars who seek fame and fame would rather retain a little meager reputation than take the risk of becoming someone who will be scolded and criticized by later generations in history books.

"He doesn't want to be an official, and I don't want to force others."

Cao Cao was not angry or disappointed by Sima Yi's refusal at this time. After all, Sima Yi was only a young man in his early twenties. Now that Cao Cao had many excellent advisers by his side, Cao Cao would not go to ask for Sima Yi three times and four times. .

After seeing Xun You off, Cao Cao turned back to the study and stood by the door. Cao Cao looked at Cao Chong who was concentrating on practicing calligraphy, and his mood suddenly became complicated.

At least five people in the world called him a traitor.

But now he has no way out.

Going forward is the glory of the peak, and going forward is the abyss.

What is the end of one power minister after another in the past 400 years of the great man?Even if it was prosperous for a while, it could not get rid of the ending of family ruin.

Cao Cao really wanted to hand over the military and political power, and let the Cao family be a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty, but without the army, what would the Cao family use to deal with political enemies?The bureaucratic class oppressed by the Cao family will devour the Cao family like hungry wolves.

Even if there is a torrent of floods behind him, and he will bear eternal infamy after death, and he is destined not to be lost to everyone in this life, then, let's walk on that radiant path.

After two years of silence, the war between the Central Plains and Hebei broke out again.

This time, unlike Yuan Shao's high-spirited army going south two years ago, Cao Cao sent an army of [-] to go north!

The war is imminent, and it is about to break out.

The battle song of the Kanto was revived. One month after Cao Cao's main attack on Hebei, the situation in Kansai changed suddenly!

Han Sui led eight generals under his command to attack Jincheng from Wuwei!

Ma Chao had been on guard against Han Sui since last autumn, and had been guarding against Han Sui for nearly half a year. When spring and summer changed, Ma Chao let down his guard, but at this time, Han Sui killed him by surprise.

All the territories to the north and west of Jincheng fell. Han Sui’s generals burned, killed and looted. First, they severely damaged Ma Chao’s garrison in the north of Jincheng. trend!

Even though Ma Chao is brave, the tiger can't stand the pack of wolves. Han Sui has been preparing for a long time, but Ma Chao was caught off guard and did not sit idly by in Jincheng. and headed east.

Go to Chang'an and ask Guo Jia for help!
(End of this chapter)