Chapter Ten: Pacifying the People with Great Talent

  Xuzhou, Lower Pi City.

  At this moment, Xu Zhou's governor Tao Kui was lying weakly on the bed, his face full of illness and haggardness, his eyes dull and his breathing rapid. At this time, his eldest son Tao Shang was sitting at the head of the former bed, carefully taking care of him.

  The weak eyes moved slightly, looking at his own son, Tao Qian sighed and said: "This time... Zhang Kan killed Cao Cao's father Cao Song and took the wealth away. At this moment, I'm afraid Cao Cao... cough... already knows..."

  At this moment, the pottery merchant knew what his father wanted to say, and he indeed wanted to comfort him but didn't know where to start. He just sat silently beside him.

  Tao Qian continued to speak in a gasping tone: "I had originally wanted to take advantage of Cao Cao's visit to Xuzhou to form an alliance with him, but who would have thought it would turn out like this... Alas! Cao Cao has always been eager to take over Xuzhou, but was hesitant due to... cough, cough... the lack of a just cause for war... cough, cough, cough. If he were to bring his army to attack this time... what could I do? Cough, cough, cough, cough!" He spoke until the end, when he suddenly burst into violent coughing, looking as if he was on the verge of death.

  "Father, don't be like this!! Don't be like this!!" Seeing the former's emotional agitation, Tao Shang's face suddenly changed greatly, and he hastily stepped forward to support Tao Qian, while comforting him by saying: "Father! The current plan can only be to borrow troops from all over the place. Apart from this, there is no other way to keep Xuzhou peaceful..."

  After slightly calming his breath, Tao Qian lay back on the couch and said weakly, "Borrow troops? From whom?"

  "Hmm... Go to Beihai? Ask Beihai Xiang Kong Rong to send troops to assist?"

  "No, although Kong Beihai is a man of benevolence and righteousness... worthy of praise, he has few soldiers and generals. Even if he came, he would not be Cao Cao's match..."

  "What... Gongsun Zan? Han Fu? Kong Rong?"

  "I have no relationship with these three people, and they will not offend Cao Cao, such a great enemy, because of me..."

  "What about your father, Yuan Shao?"

  Upon hearing Tao Shang's words, the weak and dim eyes of Tao Qian suddenly shone with a hint of light, and his face flashed with a glimmer of hope as he hastily said:

  "This plan is feasible, now today only Yuan Gong can keep Xuzhou peaceful, hurry up...hurry up and tell Zou Rong to set off immediately, tell him that if Yuan Gong agrees to send troops, I will give the Yuan army 50,000 taels of silver and 1 million stones of grain every year until my death!"

  At this time, when Cao Cao still did not know that Cao Song had already died in Xuzhou, Tao Qian had long since sought help from Yuan Shao, and the upper and lower reaches of Xuzhou were already making preparations for war.

  *

  The camera then cuts to the other side.

  Yuzhou Provincial Capital, Xuchang City Council Chamber.

  Cao Cao sat upright in his high seat, his eyes slightly narrowed as he gazed at the crowd of civil and military officials below, his face expressionless. Yet, it seemed that a hint of profound and unfathomable meaning was subtly revealed through those half-narrowed eyes, making people involuntarily feel a sense of awe at his majestic aura.

  At the banquet, the one sitting in Wen Chen's seat was a slightly ill-looking scholar. At this moment, the pale scholar seemed to be thinking deeply and spoke first: "Your Excellency, this rebellion in Ren City is a small disturbance, but I think it's not that simple."

  Cao Cao's eyes were still slightly narrowed, his gaze fell on the pale scholar, but he couldn't help but admire him in his heart. He smiled and said: "Feng Xiao's thoughts are meticulous, often with astonishing words. Are you wondering if I shouldn't have let Cao Ang lead the army to attack Rencheng?"

  This was called the pale scholar of filial piety by Cao Cao, no need to guess, it was Cao Cao's first strategist, Guo Jia, also known as Guo Gongxia.

  At this moment, when Cao Cao spoke, Guo Jia smiled and bowed to the one in front of him, saying: "Guo Jia dares not, but the young master is only 17 years old. Although he followed the lord on campaigns east and west from a young age, after all, he is still young and does not understand the essentials of military strategy. This time, although he brought 5,000 troops, if there is no support, I am afraid he will be defeated... Furthermore..."

  He stroked his beard and smiled: "Speak freely."

  As soon as the words fell, Guo Jia hurriedly put away his smile and did not speak immediately. Instead, he looked at the middle-aged scholar beside him and nodded.

  This man was Xun Yu, also known as Xun Wenruo.

  Suddenly, he saw Guo Jia looking at him, and Xun Yu also nodded in understanding. He then turned to Cao Cao, cupped his hands together and said seriously: "Your Excellency, the other day I discussed this with Fengxiao, and I suspect that Cao's rebellion is being instigated by someone behind the scenes..."

  As soon as this was said, everyone in the hall was shocked, and Cao Cao asked suspiciously: "Who is it?"

  "Chen Liu Zhang Shuai." Xun and Guo said in unison.

  "Zhang Ji." A hint of surprise clearly appeared on his face, but Cao Cao remained expressionless after hearing this, only quietly gazing at Guo Jia and Xun Yu, silent for a long time.

  Just as the conference hall fell into a brief silence, Cao Cao burst out laughing without warning, suddenly startling everyone.

  "Haha, Zhang Miao is an old friend from my youth. When I escaped from Luoyang back then, Zhang Miao even took me in for a few days. It's impossible."

  "What the lord says is reasonable, but we two have misspoken." Guo Jia and Xun Yu had originally wanted to retort, but after all, having followed Cao Cao for many years, they deeply understood his temperament. At this moment, they also did not dare say much more. After all, they knew that as a subject, speaking out one's own suggestions was what one should do. As for those who would die arguing against their lord like some corrupt Confucians, Guo Jia and Xun Yu would never do such a thing to shake authority.

  "My lord, should we send reinforcements to help the eldest son attack Ren City?" At this time, among the military officers, Xiahou Dun stood out and said loudly.

  Guo Jia and Xun Yu also nodded in agreement, Cao Cao agreed: "Alright, although Rencheng is not a concern, but to use 5,000 people to attack, it will take some time. You can bring your troops to assist him."

  "I will obey orders!" Xiahou Dun's body shook, and he nodded in acceptance, ready to turn around and leave.

  "Report! Good news ahead!"

  Suddenly, at this moment, outside the conference hall, a hurried footsteps accompanied by a loud shout came abruptly.

  But it was a shock to everyone, and Xiahou Dun was slightly stunned. Suddenly, he saw a scout rushing in from outside the gate, and judging by the scout's expression, it seemed like something good had happened.

  "It's strange, apart from Ren City, there shouldn't be any other place with war, but these 5,000 people attacking Ren City and marching at this speed would take half a month, yet it's only been five days... Where did this swift report come from?" Cao Cao hesitated for a moment, but everyone present was thinking the same as him, and even Guo Jia and Xun Yu on the couch were exchanging skeptical glances, as if they didn't dare to believe it either.

  At this time, the scout had already dismounted and came to the council hall, kneeling on one knee and saluting Cao Cao: "Your Excellency, we have good news from the front."

  "Think." It seemed like there was some impatience in his heart, Cao Cao couldn't help but hastily ask.

  At that moment, the scout shouted loudly: "Yesterday, the Grand Duke broke through Rencheng, and the defender Cao Miao was killed. Deputy General Cao Huan surrendered, and the Cao army won a great victory."

  As soon as this was said, the whole hall burst into an uproar, but Cao Cao suddenly stood up from his seat and rushed to the front of the scout, asking repeatedly: "Do you know how Cao Ang was broken?"

  He was startled by the sudden movement, but he didn't dare to be vague. He immediately took out a letter from his bosom and presented it with both hands, hastily saying: "This is a letter that the young master wants to present to your lordship, please take a look!"

  Cao Cao took the letter from the scout, but did not open it immediately. He stroked his beard thoughtfully, then suddenly turned to a scholar in the tent and said, "Cheng Yu, you read..."

  The scholar named Cheng Yu, upon hearing this, did not dare to be slow and hastily came forward to receive the letter, opened the envelope, and read it.

  "Father, I am writing to you. I have no great talent... The usual phrases were spoken at the beginning, the main idea is to thank Cao Cao for giving him this opportunity to lead troops, of course, these are all nonsense, but later on, everyone was more and more frightened as they listened."

  “…… Elder brother Anmen presented a plan, letting Ang lead only 800 cavalry to Rencheng, and had Ang have a conversation with Cao Miao in front of the formation. After that, he ordered Ang to write a letter full of ink marks to Cao Miao. When Cao Huan saw that our army was small, he began to suspect Cao Miao. In the end, it caused Cao Miao and Cao Huan to turn against each other, leading to the mutiny in Rencheng. Cao Huan beheaded Cao Miao and fell into our army, while Ang's 5,000 soldiers did not suffer a single loss, without losing one soldier or horse.

  "Father's wisdom is clear, brother An Min has great talent, I only understand now..."

  Everyone in the hall was stunned and speechless upon hearing this.

  But it was unknown how long had passed when Guo Jia was the first to come back to his senses at the table.

  "What a wonderful plan..."

  *

  PS: Feeling powerless and desperate, help!!!!