In the study.

Cao Cao asked Xun Yu, who was standing in front of him, "Wasn't Fourth Brother Wen Ruo under Yuan Tan earlier?" also helped Yuan Tan recruit Yuan Shang's remnants everywhere, why did he go to Zirong? Not only that, but now they are still here asking to see me. ”

"My fourth brother has already served the eldest son." Xun Yu replied: "It's the eldest son who considers that if Yuan Tan doesn't have many soldiers and horses, he will definitely not dare to be an enemy of the Cao family. The fourth brother was ordered by the eldest son to go to help, and he recruited soldiers and horses for Yuan Tan. ”

"I didn't expect there to be such a festival among them." Cao Cao smiled and asked, "He wants to see me in private, what is the matter?" ”

"Isn't that what the eldest son meant?" Xun Yu said: "It's the eldest son who has some things that can only be told to Cao Gong in private, and it is inconvenient for him to come in person, so he has to ask the fourth brother to come to see Cao Gong." ”

"After occupying Qingzhou, Zirong is very busy." Cao Cao smiled slightly: "Since it is Wen Ruo's fourth brother, it is not an outsider, let him in." ”

"Thank you Cao Gong!" Xun Yu thanked him and retreated.

In just a moment, he took Xun Chen back to the study.

Seeing Cao Cao, Xun Chen bowed and made a big salute: "Xun Chen has seen Cao Gong." ”

"Xun Gong doesn't have to be polite!" Cao Cao raised his hand and asked, "I heard that Xun Gong voted for Zirong, and he didn't help him in Qingzhou, what are you doing here?" ”

"I was ordered by the eldest son to come to see Gong Cao." Xun Chen replied.

"What good does he expect from me?" Cao Cao asked.

Xun Chen was a little embarrassed by his question.

It seems that Cao Shuo has received a lot of benefits from Cao Cao before, otherwise Cao Cao would not have asked as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Actually, it's not a benefit." Xun Chen said: "The eldest son just wants to ask Cao Gong for the entire Youzhou. ”

"The whole Youzhou?" Cao Cao frowned slightly: "What does he want Youzhou to do?" ”

"Youzhou is close to the north and adjacent to the northern aliens." Xun Chen replied: "The eldest son often says that those who are not of my race must have different hearts, and he is always wary of other races. ”

"I know that." Cao Cao said: "If it weren't for his vigilance against foreign races, he wouldn't have led a large army into the Hetao earlier. It's just that what does this have to do with him begging for Youzhou? ”

"It's a big deal!" Xun Chen replied: "I already said just now, Youzhou is adjacent to foreign races. If you fail to do a good job of arming in Youzhou, in the future, Cao Gong's army will go south, and it is likely that the alien army will invade. By that time, there was a lot of fighting in front, but there was a fire in the backyard in the back. Dare to ask Cao Gong, what are the chances of leading the army to fight in such a situation? ”

Cao Cao frowned slightly: "If you don't give Youzhou to Zirong, I can also do it by delegating someone else." ”

"That's what Cao Gong said." Xun Chen replied: "It's just that you are delegating Youzhou to others, how much can Cao Gong put his mind at ease?" ”

"What does this mean?" Cao Cao grinned: "All the people under me are enough to reassure me." ”

"I have no doubt about the loyalty of the people." Xun Chen said: "But Cao Gong counted the people, how many people like the eldest son have the experience of fighting a decisive battle with the Huns?" ”

Cao Cao pinched his chin and did not answer.

None of his men had ever fought against the Huns.

In addition, only Cao Shuo has accumulated enough qualifications to fight with foreign races.

"You just said that I gave Youzhou to Zirong, how much benefit can I get from it." Cao Cao asked Xun Chen.

"There are too many benefits that Cao Gong can get." Xun Chen said: "Youzhou is a bitter cold place, and in winter, it will be covered with ice and snow, and it can be said that there is nothing to be done in the whole winter." Ji Hou decided that the grain in Youzhou should be less produced in you, and sent a large army to defend it, and the military food alone may not be self-sufficient. In addition, once the alien race invades, Cao Gong will divide his troops to guard it, and the military strength of the conquest of the south will also be contained. No matter how you calculate it, Cao Gong can't draw it with Youzhou in his hands! ”

"I'm asking what the benefits are." Cao Cao said: "Can't these be the benefits? ”

"These are certainly benefits." Xun Chen said: "If you don't suffer a loss, you are begging, didn't Cao Gong even think about such a truth?" ”

Cao Cao waved his hand and said: "Although what he said is reasonable, I still want to know what I can get from it if I hand over Youzhou to Zirong." ”

"Childe's temperament, Cao Gong should be very clear." Xun Chen said: "He has always liked to find something to do, and the alien race has not come to trouble him, he often has to find something more than others." Cao Gong tried to think that whether it was the Huns, the Qiang, or the Wuhuan people, which one did not raise many horses. In the future, if the eldest son sends troops to the north and snatches horses from other races, is there any reason why he will not send some to Cao Gong? ”

"That's a good thing." Cao Cao smiled: "But I still think it's less." ”

"Does Cao Gong just want to get the Central Plains?" Xun Chen suddenly asked.

Cao Cao asked him, "What do you mean by this?" ”

"Return to Gong Cao." Xun Chen said: "The eldest son once told me that the Central Plains is not the only one in the world. For us Han people, the place where we were born and raised was in the Central Plains, but the world was too big, and if the Cao family wanted to restore the Han Dynasty, they had to lay down a territory that was broader than the previous territory of the Han Dynasty. ”

"Zirong has never thought that it is okay to conquer foreign races, but now that the Central Plains is undecided, all kinds of heroes are fighting each other." Cao Cao said: "If he mobilizes his troops and horses to the north, what will happen in the future if I go out to the south unfavorably? ”

"There's always something to be prepared for conquering other places." Xun Chen replied: "The eldest son wants Youzhou, just to prepare early. When Cao Gong was conquering the Central Plains and Jianghuai, he could send troops to assist. By the time the Central Plains was mostly pacified, Youzhou was already different from today, and at that time, the eldest son would send troops to the north again, and he would definitely be able to lay a large territory for Cao Gong. ”

"It's not about making territory for me." Cao Cao said: "It is to lay down the territory for the Han Dynasty. ”

"It's because I made a mistake in my words, and Cao Gong forgives my sins." Xun Chen hurriedly confessed.

"Let me think about it." Cao Cao said: "You step back first, I think I understand, and I will let Wen Ruo go and talk to you." ”

"Cao Gong can think slowly, it's nothing if I stay in Yecheng for a few more days." Xun Chen bowed and bowed.

Xun Chen retreated, and Xun Yu also planned to leave, but Cao Cao stopped him: "Wen Ruo, wait a minute, I have something to say to you." ”

Cao Cao asked Xun Yu to stay, and Xun Chen had to leave alone.

When Xun Chen exited the room, Cao Cao asked Xun Yu, "What do you think about this matter?" ”

"Cao Gong's own family, I can't say more." Xun Yu said: "Promise or not, isn't it Cao Gong's thoughts?" ”