The Eastern Expedition to Conquer Wu was such a major event, and relying on Zhang Yun's Jingzhou sailors alone was naturally far from enough. Therefore, Cao Cao's military order to transfer troops south soon spread from Xiangyang to Xudu. This day coincided with Sima Lang's duty in the palace. When he received a military order from Xiangyang and learned that Cao Cao was determined to transfer troops to attack Wu, the water level of the leaky pot had already passed the Yin hour. It is true that the sky outside the window is still dark, but Sima Lang does not dare to slack off for a moment. I saw that he quickly put the military order in his sleeve, and at the same time hurriedly sent someone to prepare a car for travel.

The person Sima Lang was anxious to see at the moment was not Liu Xie, but Shangshu Ling Xun Yu, who stayed in Xu Capital. Since the outbreak of the Edict Incident, Cao Cao moved his shogunate from Yecheng back to Xudu, and completely hollowed out the Han Emperor in the palace into a clay tire and wood plastic. Now the defense of Xudu is also in charge of Cao Ang, the eldest son of the Cao family, and the government affairs are fully entrusted to Xun Yu. Therefore, in the face of Cao Cao's sudden change in strategy, Sima Lang's first thought was to go to Xun Lingjun to discuss countermeasures.

However, before Sima Lang could get on the ox cart, he ran into his brother Sima Yi head-on. At present, Sima Yi has been recruited by Cao Cao to be transferred to the Prime Minister's Mansion as a literary scholar, specializing in serving articles. On weekdays, Sima Yi is modest, low-key, and rarely gets involved in things other than his duties. But at this moment, seeing that the eldest brother, who had always been steady, was rushing to travel with a solemn expression at the fifth watch, Sima Yi still couldn't help but step forward and ask, "Brother, is this ......?"

Sima Lang looked around and saw that there were no idle people waiting, so he led Sima Yi aside and said in a low voice, "The prime minister is determined to go east to conquer Sun Ce, and he is now transferring troops south. ”

"Crusade Sun Ce?" Sima Yi was slightly stunned. I was stunned on the spot.

In fact, Mo said that it was Sima Yi, and Sima Lang had a similar reaction the moment he saw the military order just now. You must know that in the past three months, Cao Jun's main direction of attack has always been Liu Bei, and now he suddenly turned to attack Sun Ce. Not to mention that all the previous preparations may be in vain. Sun Ce's supplies for the Eastern Expedition alone were not a small amount.

Thinking of this, Sima Lang couldn't help but sigh and shook his head and said, "This matter is very important, and Xun Lingjun must be told immediately to persuade the prime minister to take back his life." ”

As soon as Sima Lang's words fell, Sima Yi grabbed his sleeve and stopped, "Brother, don't go to Xunfu!" ”

"Why did Zhong Da say that?" Sima Lang frowned suspiciously.

Sima Yi stepped forward and lowered his voice and said, "The prime minister is the most taboo to form a party. The elder brother and Zhong Yuan often planned to take the city. Later, he and Xun Wenruo discussed the military order. How will the prime minister feel after hearing the news? ”

Faced with his younger brother's rhetorical question, Sima Lang suddenly found that he was speechless for a while. He has been an official in Cao Ying for many years, and he knows very well that his lord is good at everything, but he is a little suspicious by nature. Especially after the change of the edict, Cao Cao was extremely taboo about the formation of factions between civil and military bureaucrats. Although Sima Lang had close contacts with Xun Yu, Zhong Xuan and others during these days, it was to seek to annex the state for Cao Cao. However, many of their actions were not approved by Cao Cao in advance. Therefore, if someone really wants to provoke this matter, Sima Lang and others will really be unable to escape the suspicion of forming a party.

Seeing that the elder brother opened his mouth and did not refute. Sima Yi further persuaded in Sima Lang's ear, "The prime minister's military order can be delivered by his servants, so why bother my brother to go out in person." Don't you hear that a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall? ”

If Sima Yi's previous views on "forming a party and connecting the masses" were a kind reminder, then his description of Xun Yu and others as a "dangerous wall" at this moment is a bit sensational. It must be known that Cao Cao only married his daughter to Xun Yu's eldest son Xun Yun last year. In the eyes of outsiders, it is the time when the scenery is infinite. How can there be a dangerous wall? However, Sima Lang neither refuted nor questioned, but handed it over to his henchmen and servants to send him to Xunyu's mansion according to Sima Yi's general order. Because Sima Lang knew that his second brother would never be alarmist casually, he must have observed some signs before making such a judgment.

Facts have proved that Sima Yi's statement is not chasing after the wind. Xun Yu, who received the military order, was not optimistic about Cao Cao's attack on Wu like Sima Lang. So, as in the past, he took up the pen and repaired the book to persuade Cao Cao not to rush down Wu because of Sun Ce's provocation. But this time, Cao Cao's response made Xun Yu have mixed feelings.

"The father of the above cousin is the Marquis of the Long Live Pavilion? The prime minister treats his father like a national soldier! Xun Yun, the eldest son of Xun Yu in the study, looked at Cao Cao's autograph and was overjoyed. It must be known that since Cao Cao welcomed the Son of Heaven into the Xu Capital, Xun Yu was the first Cao Ying general to be recommended by Cao Cao personally. This honor is that Cao Ren, Xiahou Yuan and other generals who are related to Cao Cao by blood are not yet able to enjoy it. It shows that Xun Yu's status in Cao Cao's heart is extraordinary.

However, Xun Yu, as a party concerned, did not have the slightest joy on his face. At this moment, Cao Ying's whole body is still in full swing preparing for the Eastern Expedition to Sun Ce. In other words, Cao Cao rejected Xun Yu's admonition, but this time the way of rebuttal changed from a heartfelt correspondence to a luxurious title of Long Live Pavilion Marquis.

Once upon a time, Cao Cao knew everything about Xun Yu and said everything. Xun Yu still remembers every letter Cao Cao wrote to him during the most difficult years of the Battle of Guandu, and those letters had Cao Cao's complaints. There are Cao Cao's worries, and even Cao Cao's fears. And Xun Yu used his wisdom and tolerance. Tong Guò wrote letters that constantly comforted and encouraged Cao Cao to survive those dark days.

In the past he was his lord, he was his ovary.

Today, he is the prime minister, and he will also be made a pavilion marquis.

Jun is still a king, a minister is still a minister, a qiē seems to have not changed, but it seems that things are people. In fact, the seeds of estrangement were planted long before the Son of Heaven issued the edict. Originally, Xun Yu thought that Cao Cao let the edict happen in order to wipe out the imperial party around the Son of Heaven. But in the end, he found that Cao Cao's plan was much more than that.

The most direct evidence is that not long after the edict incident, someone secretly accused the auxiliary general Fu Wan of rebelling with Dong Cheng and others. Fu Wan is the father of the current queen, and anyone with a discerning eye can see that the so-called whistleblower is coming for the abolition. At that time, the rumors about Cao Cao's murder of Concubine Dong's mother and son had already spread, and if he was forcibly deposed, it would undoubtedly completely anger the world. After all, Fu Wan is cautious on weekdays, and Fu Hou is also known for being virtuous and benevolent in the palace. So Xun Yu, together with Wu Shuo, Kong Rong and others, wrote a book to intercede for Fu Wan. Cao Cao didn't insist much, and it didn't take long for him to let go of the ambush on the grounds that there was no evidence. It's just that since then, Xun Yu has found that Cao Cao is no longer close to him. and began to gradually deviate from the strategic policy he had set for Cao Cao.

It is important to know that Cao Cao did not have a clear understanding of the future situation when he started his army, but wandered around like many small warlords. During this period, he first killed the Jiujiang celebrity Bian Rang in Yanzhou, and then attacked Tao Qian to slaughter Xuzhou because of his father's revenge. thus offended a large number of families in the Central Plains, and finally caused the change of Chen Gong and Zhang Miao to welcome Lu Bu into Yan. In the face of such a critical situation, Xun Yu decisively prescribed the right medicine, proposed to Cao Cao the strategic policy of "deeply rooted in order to control the world", and elaborated on the tactical arrangements for defeating Lu Bu. It didn't take long for him to help Cao Cao expel Lü Bu from Yanzhou. After this battle, Cao Cao began to follow Xun Yu's strategy of "deep roots and solid foundation", and collected troops in Yan and Henan, and set up Tuntian. Solicitation of scholars. In particular, the two measures of coordinating relations with the great clans and sending envoys to the customs to pay tribute made Cao Cao's reputation increasingly prominent. And finally stood out from the many separatist forces and became the overlord of the princes of Fengtianzi.

However, after the defeat of Yuan Shao, Cao Cao began to use vigorous and resolute measures to rectify the local tyrants, which caused the relationship between him and the family to deteriorate. In a sense, the incident can also be regarded as a rebellion against Cao Cao by the powerful family. It is true that the Cao father and son finally quelled the incident by thunderous means. But the illustrious families of those times will not rest on their laurels. In Xun Yu's view, Cao Cao continuously mobilized troops to conquer Wu when the rear was not stable. It is undoubtedly inconsistent with the strategy of "deeply rooted to control the world". But no one tried to dissuade Cao Cao, and even Gongda chose to compromise.

Meng De, Yu is still your son Fang Hu - a silent wry smile floated on Xun Yu's lips. Immediately, he put Cao Cao's recitals together with a bunch of recitals that had not been released on the side. The so-called stay in the middle does not send it refers to the emperor leaving his subordinates' recitals in the palace forbidden, and does not discuss or approve. At present, the Han Emperor Liu Xie has become a caged bird, so the actual reviewer of the chapter has become Xun Yu.

Of course, Xun Yun knew what it meant to put the chapter there, and he blurted out in great confusion, "Father, this is ......"

"If you don't send it in the middle, you won't receive it on the table." Xun Yu said as he spread a piece of Donglai paper on the case.

I saw that my father was really laying paper and researching ink. Stunned, Xun Yun couldn't care less about honorifics and asked repeatedly, "Why?" ”

Xun Yu took the pen and looked at the white paper for a moment. Fang Cai sighed faintly, "I can't deserve it." ”

Five days later, Xun Yu's handwritten letter was transmitted to Xiangyang. With the first cicada chirping in early summer, Cao Cao sat in front of the carved pane, stretched out his hand to stroke the rows of familiar handwriting, and his thoughts drifted away like rising green smoke all the way to the past.

Cao Cao especially remembered that Xun Yu was the first famous person to come to him. At that time, all the strategists who had a little talent and a little background rushed to take refuge in Yuan Shao, who was born in the fourth and third dukes. Very few people will notice him as a eunuch. Even Cao Cao himself bluntly admitted in the "Let the County Clarify Its Own Ambition" that "the ambition is limited" and that "it is often self-harming". But Xun Yu just switched from Yuan Benchu's account to his Cao Mengde.

There were no grandiose words, complicated etiquette, at that time, Xun Yu, who was in Tsing Yi and wide sleeves, just stood quietly in front of the gate, and Cao Cao felt that the whole world was like a spring light. Overjoyed, he grabbed Xun Yu's hands and smirked, "My son's room is also!" ”

It turns out that Xun Yu did God give him Cao Mengde's Zhang Zifang. From "deeply rooted" to "serving the Son of Heaven to order the princes", Xun Yu pointed out the direction for Cao Cao again and again with his ingenuity. In particular, the measure of welcoming the Son of Heaven into Xu Du completely solved the embarrassment of Cao Cao's "redundant and ugly" background.

It is important to know that the Han Dynasty and the Han Dynasty lasted for hundreds of years, advocating Confucianism and education, which made scholars pay special attention to honor. Therefore, no matter what Cao Cao's background is, as long as he supports the Han Emperor, he can have the name of righteousness, and the scholars who follow him can also avoid the worry of losing his temper.

However, whether it is to worship the Son of Heaven or to coerce the Son of Heaven, it is not an easy task. Han Tianzi's tool is used well, although it can get twice the result with half the effort; If it is not used well, it will be notorious. Before Cao Cao, Dong Zhuo, Li Dao, Guo Yan and others had held the Han Emperor hostage, but in the end, instead of receiving praise, they were spurned by the world for insulting the Son of Heaven.

Fortunately, Cao Cao is not Dong Zhuo, Li Dao, Guo Yan and the like, and there is Xun Yu by his side to coordinate the relationship between the Han court and the Cao family. Thanks to Xun Yu's efforts, Cao Cao's act of welcoming the Son of Heaven had a wide impact in Shilin. Under the inspiration of the orthodoxy of the Han Dynasty, scholars from all over the country returned to Xudu, thus presenting a grand occasion of "the new capital of Xu is the time, and the wise men and doctors come to gather from all directions". As for Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Liu Biao and others, they have been reduced from celebrities to tyrants and disobedience in an instant. In Cao Cao's view, Yuan Benchu set himself up as emperor regardless of the current situation, most of which was also related to the inability to swallow this breath.

It's a pity that this kind of time of harmony between monarchs and ministers is always short-lived. As the Han Emperor grew older, the call for the Son of Heaven to govern also increased. From Dong Cheng and other imperial relatives to the big families everywhere, they all accused Cao Cao of being autocratic and disagreeing with the thief Dong Zhuohun. Cao Cao scoffed at this. At present, how can Liu Xie's little child afford such a divided country. Therefore, Cao Cao ignored the criticism of the outside world and deliberately lured the snake out of the hole to induce the Han Emperor to conspire with Dong Cheng. After killing Dong Cheng and punishing the ugly people, Cao Cao took advantage of the change of clothes and edicts to slaughter Liu Xie's relatives all the way, until he pointed the bloody blade at the end, only to find that Xun Yu had stood opposite him at some point.

"The seventh generation of the Fu family is an official, and he can't move...... If you are good at killing the loyal and good, it will make the Shilin angry and the people will be resentful! …… Don't forget, in the past, a husband worked hard and raised the state with one voice, so he bowed to Xu Fang and took the land from Lu Buhu? ”

Xun Yu's bitter persuasion was summed up as if he was born in a noble family, and killing him would offend other families. And without the support of the family, he Cao Cao may repeat the mistake of being seized by Lu Bu in Yanzhou. But in Cao Cao's view, the reason why the Han court has fallen to this point today is entirely the evil result of the family of foreign relatives forming a party and fighting for power and profit. Only by sacrificing the iron fist of the Han military in the past can we cleanse the filth attached to the Han Dynasty. What's more, Cao Cao is conceited, and his strength has long been different.

"Prime Minister, the sailor is ready to go." The sound of the general outside the door interrupted Cao Cao's thoughts.

Cao Cao, who had come back to his senses, carefully folded the letter into his arms, and immediately stood up and strode forward to push open the door.

If Wen Ruo, he can't be supported by the family, and he can dominate the world alone! (To be continued......)