In the second year of Jian'an (197), Cao Cao's first crusade against Zhang Xiu failed, but at this time, someone dared to look at Cao Cao's jokes, who is this person? At this time, who has the courage to watch Cao Cao's joke of "coercing the Son of Heaven and ordering the princes"? Who qualifies for that?

At that time, I am afraid that only Yuan Shao dared to do this, qualified to do this, what would he do.

After Cao Cao welcomed the Son of Heaven, he had a grudge with Yuan Shao, which led to the external environment being very unfavorable to Cao Cao at that time.

Yuan Shaoxiong lives in the north, after the two fell out, the original ally has become the biggest threat to Cao Cao, and Gongsun Zhan, who was originally an enemy of Yuan Shao, is now only surviving in Yijing, and is about to be wiped out, and after Gongsun Zhan, who else can Yuan Shao's next target besides Cao Cao?

Lü Bu in the east is Cao Cao's old enemy, in the battle of Yanzhou, Lü Bu gave Cao Cao a headache, and finally relied on the advantage of military strength to repel it, Lü Bu left Yanzhou and captured Xuzhou from Liu Bei, and now it is still eyeing Cao Cao, which is one of the biggest hidden dangers in Cao Cao's rear.

Although Cao Cao seized Yuzhou from Yuan Shu, Yuan Shu, who had seized the Huainan generation, still occupied Shouchun, the original seat of Yangzhou, and there was a tendency to join Lu Bu, and Yuan Shu's interest in Yuzhou was still undiminished, and the war between the two sides could break out again at any time.

Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao in the south united, Liu Biao is Yuan Shao's ally, Cao Cao has suffered a big loss under Zhang Xiu's hands in Wancheng, and now Zhang Xiu is united with Liu Biao again, is a strong enemy in the southwest of Cao Cao, directly threatens Xuchang, for this nail, Cao Cao has the need to pull out.

And although the multi-road princes of Guanzhong and Liu Zhang, who occupied Yizhou, have no grudges with Cao Cao, there is also the possibility of being co-opted by Yuan Shao, if this happens, then the situation cannot be worse for Cao Cao.

At this moment, Yuan Shao immediately wrote a letter to humiliate Cao Cao after learning of his fiasco in Wancheng, and Cao Cao was extremely angry after reading it, and he was deeply worried about his current situation.

At this moment, Cao Cao's mastermind Xun Yu stood up and once again helped Cao Cao solve his doubts and problems with a tirade.

At that time, Yuan Shao gloated after learning the news of Cao Cao's defeat, and when he wrote a letter to Cao Cao, his words were rude and arrogant, and Cao Cao was half dead, and even his behavior was different from usual. So Zhong Yu asked Xun Yu about this, but Xun Yu knew more about Cao Cao, and immediately said: "Cao Gong is a smart person, and he will definitely not chase the past, maybe he is worried about other things."

So Xun Yu went to Cao Cao to inquire about this, and Cao Cao showed Yuan Shao's letter to Xun Yu, saying: "I want to crusade against injustice now, but my strength can't match him, what should I do?"

Xun Yu said: "In ancient times, if you are really talented, even if you are weak, you will become strong; If you are a mediocre person, even if you are strong, you will become weak. The survival of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu is enough to make people understand this truth. Now the only person who competes with you in the world is Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao seems to be tolerant and narrow-minded, but the appointment of talents is too suspicious, you are clear and accessible, not informal, only to move, only to use, this is better than Yuan Shao in measurement; Yuan Shao hesitates when encountering things, rarely decides, often misses good opportunities, you can decide big things, improvised, unconventional, this is better than Yuan Shao in strategy; Yuan Shao's military discipline is not strict, the law can not be established, although there are many soldiers, but it can not be skillfully appointed, your laws and regulations are strict, rewards and punishments must be carried out, although the soldiers are few, but they all fight to the death, which is better than Yuan Shao in the use of soldiers; Yuan Shao with his famous nobles, pretending, playing small skills and win reputation, so the lack of talent among the scholars and the preference for false names are mostly attached to him, you treat people with benevolence, sincerity, do not seek vanity, act strictly and self-denying, and do not hesitate when rewarding meritorious people, so the world's loyal and upright, pragmatic scholars are willing to serve you, which is better than Yuan Shao in virtue.

With the advantages of these four aspects, assist the Son of Heaven, support justice, and conquer rebellion, who dares not to obey? What is Yuan Shaoqiang's use? ”

After Xun Yu finished speaking, Cao Cao was very happy. Xun Yu said again: "If you don't attack Lü Bu first, Hebei will still not be easy to get."

Cao Cao said: "You are extremely right. What puzzled me was that I was worried that Yuan Shao would intrude on Guanzhong, causing the Qiang and Hu people to rebel, and seducing Liu Zhang in Shu and Hanzhong counties to the south; In that case, I will fight against five-sixths of the world's forces in Yan and Henan alone, so what should I do? ”

Xun Yu once again solved Cao Cao's doubts: "There are thousands of generals in Guanzhong, and no one can unify them, only Han Sui and Ma Chao are the strongest. When they saw that there was a war going on in the area east of the Kushan Mountains, they must have each supported their own troops. Now, if you appease them with kindness, send messengers to communicate with them, and maintain peace, even if it cannot be stable for a long time, at least until you pacify Shandong, it will be enough not to change. The affairs of Kansai can be entrusted to Zhong Hyun, so you can go out with peace of mind. ”

Xun Yu's words relieved Cao Cao's worries about Yuan Shao and the princes of Guanzhong, and clearly put forward the strategic policy of Cao Cao's group in the near and medium term.

Xun Yu used Cao Cao's four victories over Yuan Shao in terms of measurement, strategy, use of soldiers, and virtue, as well as the examples of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, to tell Cao Cao's powerful philistine Yuan Shao is not terrible, he is completely defeatable for Cao Cao, Cao Mengde is Liu Bang, and Yuan Benchu is just the next Xiang Yu, although Yuan Shao is very strong, as long as the correct strategy is implemented, it can be completely changed from weak to strong, and it will be defeated, as the monarch Cao Cao only needs to have firm faith.

At the same time, Xun Yu believed that in order to fight Yuan Shao, it was necessary to pacify Lü Bu first, stabilize the rear, and take Lü Bu as the next target of the entire Cao Cao group. Xuzhou Mu Lu Bu himself is at odds with Cao Cao, he is an old enemy, and the people in Xuzhou also have a deep hatred with Cao Cao, plus the connection between Lu Bu and Yuan Shu. Therefore, Xuzhou is uneven, and the rear is unstable.

On the other hand, although Lu Bu is known as a "flying general" and is brave in his own right, he is not an excellent lord, he is too self-centered, and he can't convince his subordinates, so compared to Zhang Xiu and others who are united with Liu Biao, Lu Bu is also easier to defeat.

But it's a pity that Cao Cao can't forget the defeat of Wancheng last time, and the pain of losing a son is not something that can be forgotten by talking, so Xun Yu's words did not make Cao Cao transfer his hatred for Zhang Xiu and others.

At the same time, after Cao Cao returned from Wuyin, some counties in Nanyang and Zhangling rebelled again and attached themselves to Zhang Xiu. Cao Hong withdrew his troops and was stationed in Ye County, but was attacked by Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao many times.

So in October of the same year, Cao Cao decided to crusade against Zhang Xiu again!