Chapter 1 The Crown Prince

  Cao Cao is also in a dilemma.

  On this day, Xun Yu entered the palace to ask for the position of Taizi Shao Fu. Cao Cao actually knew about it, but he just took out some time every day to teach the crown prince.

  Cao Cao also listened and followed him.

  However, Xun Yu was not appointed as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince. Instead, Emperor Xian ordered Jia Xu to take up the position. Unaware of the reason behind this, Cao Cao immediately sent someone to summon Xun Yu.

  In the study of the Prime Minister's mansion, Cao Cao and Xun Yu sat facing each other.

  "Why did Wenruo enter the palace to ask to be appointed as the junior tutor of the crown prince but was unsuccessful, and instead Emperor Xian appointed Jia Xu?" Cao Cao expressed his puzzlement to Xun Yu, finding this too strange.

  Jia Xu and Liu Xie, these two people shouldn't have sparked off each other.

  "This, I also don't know. After entering the palace, I recommended myself as the junior tutor of the crown prince, but the emperor did not permit it and argued with me. I didn't dare to pressure him too much, so I retreated. Who would have thought that the emperor actually appointed Jia Wenhe?" Xun Yu said. To be honest, Xun Yu was lying, but he spoke with a straight face and an air of confidence, and outsiders couldn't detect anything unusual.

  "Jia Xu." Cao Cao was taken aback.

  "Doesn't Wen know what the Emperor intends to do?" Cao Cao couldn't figure it out, no matter how hard he thought about it, so he asked Xun Yu again.

  "Your subordinate doesn't know. This matter is too strange." Xun Yu said shaking his head.

  "What does Sī Kōng think about Jiǎ Wén's appointment as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince?" Xún Yìn asked immediately.

  "Jia Xu may not have sufficient virtue and prestige, and is being attacked by the world, but his talent and learning are still extraordinary. It's enough for him to be appointed as the Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince." Cao Cao said after a moment of hesitation.

  This is the result of Cao Cao's repeated deliberations. The crown prince killed the junior tutor, damaging the prestige of the Han court. If another person like Jia Xu were to be appointed as the junior tutor, people all over the world would despise him.

  The prestige of the Han dynasty will inevitably decline again, which is what Cao Cao hopes to see.

  Of course, Cao Cao also knew about Xun Yu's feelings towards the Han dynasty, so he spoke more tactfully.

  "But his virtue." Xun Yu argued.

  "In these chaotic times, ability is paramount, and moral integrity takes a back seat." Cao Cao shook his head.

  "This." Xun Yu intended to argue again, because he knew that if it were in the past, he would definitely argue. Now although he has already subtly approached Liu Feng, what should be done must still be done, and cannot let Cao Cao discover.

  Although Xun Yu was not a person who could hide his emotions, now that identities and stances have become extremely sensitive, Xun Yu had to conceal his true nature and deal with Cao Cao.

  "Are there any other official documents that need to be processed? You can go down first." Cao Cao did not suspect anything, so he found an excuse and planned to send Xun Yu away.

  When Cao Cao said this, Xun Yu slightly lowered his head, narrowed his eyes and shot out a thread of sharp light. Then he immediately returned to normal, stood up and said: "Then I will take my leave first. The matter of the Crown Prince's tutor is related to prestige, please consider it carefully, sir."

  "Hmm." Cao Cao nodded his head and softly made a sound of agreement.

  Xun Yu nodded and turned away.

  "The Crown Prince's junior tutor, Jia Wenhe, is using me for his own good. But will there be any sinister plot in this?" After Xun Yu left, Cao Cao fell into deep thought once again.

  Because he still felt puzzled. Logically speaking, it was impossible for the Emperor to use Jia Xian as the Crown Prince's teacher.

  From this matter, Cao Cao began to think of another thing. Zhao Yun, what kind of person is he? If Liu Xie's intention cannot be seen from Jia Xu, then find a breakthrough on Zhao Yun's body.

  "Someone, bring General Wei Chen Ken over."

  After a moment of contemplation, Cao Cao spoke up.

  "Agreed."

  The guard outside the door promised and immediately took action.

  The Wei General is one of the nine ministers, responsible for guarding the imperial palace. Other officials with similar responsibilities include the Hu Ben Zhonglang Jiang, the Executive Gold Wu, and the Middle Lieutenant, etc. However, currently only the Wei General Chen Ken has real power and was planted in the palace by Cao Cao.

  Chen Ken was of humble origin, but he was a good friend of Cao Cao's when they were in Qiao County. The two had a very close relationship. After Cao Cao rose to prominence, Chen Ken also changed his role from being a good friend to becoming a loyal and dedicated general.

  Until Cao Cao welcomed the Son of Heaven to Xu, he began to serve as a Wei general. Ostensibly protecting the Han Emperor, in reality he was Cao Cao's eyes and ears. Every movement within the palace did not escape Chen Qun's notice.

  Cao Cao's orders were always effective. Even if the other party was General Wei, it could be said that they were more effective than the emperor's orders. Soon, the guard led Chen Ken in.

  "My lord." Chen Kun came in and immediately paid his respects to Cao Cao, saying.

  "Sit." Cao Cao nodded and pointed to the seat where Xun Yu had just sat.

  Chen Ken nodded and sat down.

  "This time I asked you to come over and ask, what has happened in the palace recently? Especially about Zhao Yun's affairs." Cao Cao asked.

  "Zhao Yun?" Chen Ken hesitated for a moment before saying to Cao Cao, "As for this person, I'm afraid what I know is not less than what Sir Sima knows."

  "Let's talk and see." Cao Cao insisted.

  "This Zhao Yun, during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, protected his hometown's safety. Later, at the request of the villagers, he led a crowd to surrender to Gongsun Zan. He was chosen as the chief captain, but possibly foreseeing that Gongsun Zan would inevitably be destroyed by Yuan Shao, he excused himself and returned home. From then on, he remained a commoner." Chen Ken said.

  This news was obtained by Chen Ken after he learned that Zhao Yun had been appointed as the chief of a local military unit, and found out through Cao's intelligence network. These things, Cao Cao must also have known about.

  "Hmm." Cao Cao nodded slightly, somewhat disappointed. He indeed knew all of these things already.

  "What other strange things happened in the palace?" Cao Cao asked, still unwilling to give up.

  "Strange things indeed exist. The Prince's Household Orders have commanded the Taizi to flee to Hebei, and he brought back six pure white donkeys. This Zhao Yun was also brought back by the Taizi."

  Chen thought for a moment and said.

  "A pure white donkey? Zhao Yun returned with it?" Cao Cao's eyes revealed a thoughtful expression, he really didn't know about this matter.

  It's not that his web isn't good enough, it's just too small. The prince's home is too inconspicuous, so no one will notice.

  "By the way, the Emperor also ordered a cart to be built, specifically for those six white donkeys to pull, saying it was for the Crown Prince's vehicle." Chen Ken suddenly remembered another strange thing and couldn't help but say.

  Cao Cao was taken aback by the words, this pure white donkey, it turned out that someone really wanted to use it. This made Cao Cao think of Emperor Ling of Han, who was absurd and unruly.

  The absurd emperor who almost buried the Han Dynasty.

  The carriage of the heavenly master was also pulled by six pure white donkeys. Very dazzling.

  "Is this prince really so arrogant and proud? Perhaps he inherited the blood of Emperor Xiaoling, and truly has this hobby?" Cao Cao's heart was filled with doubt.

  At least this matter has been explained a bit.

  It's possible that after Crown Prince Zhao's household manager, Fu Dian, went to Hebei, he saw that Zhao Yun was a brave warrior and recruited him as a general on behalf of the Crown Prince. At least, Zhao Yun was also a general under Gongsun Zan in the past, so his abilities were probably there.

  This seems to have nothing to do with Jia Xu anymore. But why was Jia Xu chosen as the Crown Prince's tutor? This puzzle, Cao Cao did not solve.