In fact, Cai Yan told Guo Jia the truth, and the same is true for future generations, many young Junyan who have great ambitions and vow to make a difference, before walking out of the ivory tower, most of them are looking forward to a better future, the pillars of the country, opening up the future, building homes, and becoming famous, but the gap between reality and dreams has worn out their ambitions, and they have to bow to power, and their enthusiasm and talent are only used in the pursuit of fame and fortune.

Although many of the children of the scholar clan are flying eagle lackeys and tyrannical people, there are always people who are full of poetry and books, full of talent, these people will not be born to survive for the interests of the family, and the words of the sages make them succumb to power before they are also based on self-cultivation and self-cultivation to rule the country and level the world, who doesn't want to become a national warrior who benefits the country and the people?

As long as Guo Jia can make the children of the scholar clan who have real talent and lofty aspirations useful, he can not only set an example for the Shi clan in the world, but also divide the Shi clan within the world, but this beautiful blueprint will be implemented, I am afraid it will have to be considered again and again, and it must not be hasty.

The next morning, Guo Jia summoned his advisers to discuss in the mansion, and when he just wanted to open his mouth to discuss the countermeasures to suppress the scholars with the advisers, Zhen Yan, who was belated, frowned and stepped into the hall, and after saluting Guo Jia, he first reported the latest news.

"My lord, after Dong Zhuo moved the capital to Chang'an, he announced to the world and ordered the princes of the Eighteenth Route to attack Yizhou."

The strategists in the hall lowered their heads and smiled secretly, without the slightest hint of panic, Guo Jia sat on the main seat and shook his head and chuckled.

In fact, Dong Zhuo's Zhao'an envoy had already come once half a month ago, but was rejected by Guo Jia.

Dong Zhuo wanted to join forces with Guo Jia to resist the Kwantung coalition army, so after entering Chang'an, he first recruited Guo Jia, but he did not succeed, and now he was in a hurry, but ordered the princes of the Eighteenth Route to attack Yizhou.

"The edict of Taishi Dong in the name of the fake Son of Heaven must have been issued without consulting with the staff. It seems that Mrs. Dong hates me to the core, and his mind is not clear. ”

Guo Jia, who stood up from the main seat, laughed heartily, pacing back and forth among the strategists, and the laughter just couldn't be stopped.

The strategists tacitly showed a faint smile, and Guo Xiu said with a smile: "Presumably, if Master Dong calms down, he will definitely regret it." The Kwantung coalition army and Dong Taishi fought fiercely for half a year, the soldiers were tired and tired, the consumption of grain and grass was serious, and everyone had already left in their hearts, the lord took Yizhou, and the princes clapped their hands and said that it was reasonable, because they had more reason to return to the territory to strengthen themselves in order to suppress the thieves and quell the chaos, but Dong Taishi ordered the princes to attack Yizhou's edict, if the princes obeyed, they would inevitably use this as an excuse to use the Guanzhong, if Dong Taishi did not let go, it would be equivalent to going back on his word, Dong Taishi borrowed the road to the Kwantung princes, hehe, the first to be exterminated was Dong Taishi himself, It's really shooting yourself in the foot. ”

Originally, Guo Jia was still a little worried, but he didn't expect Dong Zhuo to do him a big favor.

"I want to thank Dong Zhuo, in the face of this edict in the name of the Son of Heaven, if the Kwantung princes obey, it is recognized that Dong Zhuo can command the world by stealing the Dragon Court, and if the Kwantung princes do not obey, they will naturally not come to Yizhou. The princes of the Eighteenth Route are known as hundreds of thousands of people, the carriages and horses are tired, and the supply of grain and grass is the top priority, and now even if the princes of Kwantung really want to crusade against Yizhou, they are powerless. ”

There was laughter in the hall, and Xi Zhicai shook his head and said: "This Dong Taishi is really ridiculous one after another, first sealed himself a Xiangguo, and then called himself Taishi, and now he has begun to build Hewu in the west of Chang'an, it is said that he wants to move his family to it, hoard decades of grain and grass and countless treasures, and even say that he is not ashamed, if he can't dominate the world, he will enjoy his life in Hewu." This, this, isn't this just digging a grave for yourself? ”

Everyone laughed, it was ridiculous that a tyrant should come to this point and do such a stupid thing.

Guo Jia gradually put away his smile, changed to an indifferent look, looked out of the door with his hands, and asked, "Yuan Zhi, in your opinion, am I now firmly in Yizhou?" ”

Xu Shu turned his back to Guo Jia and said loudly: "There is Dong Zhuo in the north of Yizhou, since Dong Taishi has started to dig the mausoleum for himself, he will naturally not go south to attack Yizhou, and before Dong Zhuo is defeated, the north of Yizhou will rest easy." East of Yizhou, Jingzhou is still in chaos, although Yuan Shu is entrenched in Nanyang, but he is still recruiting troops and buying horses, before the strength is completed, Jingzhou is in Yizhou, even if there is a hero to attack Yizhou through Jingzhou, Zhang Liao 60,000 soldiers and horses sit in Hanzhong, and the two counties of Badong Fuling into a horn of the momentum, if there is a big enemy to attack, advance can attack, retreat can defend. The Kwantung Alliance is about to be dissolved, the powerful princes are all in the north, and there is no great enemy outside Yizhou. However, Yizhou has internal worries, and if the scholars and wealthy families do not take precautions as soon as possible, sooner or later there will be trouble. ”

Guo Jia's face remained unchanged, and he continued to ask, "Then how can I prevent it from getting worse?" Or cut it off? ”

Xu Shu returned to the queue, silently, Zhen Yao came out of the queue with an expressionless face, and said in a deep voice: "The lord has two choices in the current situation, rule or kill. The first treatment is to uproot the foundation of the scholars to avoid future troubles. The first attack is to hold the soldiers, horses, money and food, and the warriors are false and wrong, and then the great rule will be carried out after the world is pacified. ”

In fact, everyone understands the choice in front of them, but not everyone dares to offer advice, priorities, a little carelessness, it will backfire, and Guo Jia's hard-won capital will probably be gone.

"What are the pros and cons of treating first or cutting first?" Guo Jia closed his eyes and asked in a deep voice.

Zhen Yao held his head high, and continued to answer with an indifferent expression: "First rule, Yizhou can be completely controlled in his hands, and there are no hidden dangers in the territory, but it is not conducive to the lord's progress in the world." In the first attack, the lord can ease the relationship with the scholars, and the resistance to the outward attack is reduced, but there is a worry about the enemy on the back. It is difficult to weigh the pros and cons of the two, and it depends on how the lord decides. ”

This is a very awkward situation, the lesser of two evils, but which of the two is the least harmful? Can't weigh it up.

This is also the reason why the strategists do not dare to make rash suggestions.

Guo Jia, whose voice was a little cold, asked softly: "Everyone, who can tell me how I, Guo Jia, can make the Shi clan sincerely serve me?" ”

Everyone wanted to speak and stopped, but it turned into a sigh.

They wanted to say that they would give power to the scholars and give them enough benefits, which was a realistic statement, but after thinking about it, everyone was silent, because in the face of Guo Jia, the scholars would not have a day of sincere service, no matter what Guo Jia did.

In the silent meeting hall, Guo Jia suddenly smiled self-deprecatingly, turned around to look at the strategists, and slowly walked towards the main seat, talking as he walked.

"In their eyes, I Guo Jia is a rebellious thief, from a humble background and a low status, even if I hand over the entire Yizhou to the Shi clan to govern, let them be in a high position, let them use their power for personal gain, and let them do whatever they want, but they still won't be grateful to me, and they will still try to get rid of me. No matter whether the scholars are long-term or near-term, internal or external, they will not surrender to me after all. ”

This is the gap in identity, if it is Cao Ying or Yuan Shao, or even Yuan Shu, Tao Qian and other princes, they give their privileges to the scholars, I am afraid that the scholars will happily embrace them, the same approach, Guo Jia to implement, the scholars will also be ecstatic, but they will still be scheming to get rid of Guo Jia, and will never support him.

Everyone was silent, and they all understood the decision made by Guo Jia, the contradiction between Guo Jia, who had become the ruler, and the ruled scholar class, the sharpness of which was irreconcilable, so a game of life and death would inevitably break out between the two.

Xi Zhicai hung his head and said lightly: "If the lord wants to suppress the scholars, the first priority is to deal with the aftermath, after all, the local government affairs in Yizhou are governed by the scholars, and we must first prepare to stabilize the local government affairs without chaos, and then consider how to suppress the scholars." ”

That's what a counselor does.

Start with the result first, and after accurately grasping the direction of the situation, come up with a perfect strategy to ensure that the final result is beneficial to the lord, as for the means of suppression, it is not important.

On the other hand, many princes act, and the first thing they think about in the face of the enemy is how to attack the other party, and the means are endless, and the tricks are unfathomable, but in the end, they are in a hurry and do not know how to end the battle.

"Yuan Zhi, have all the township children and children been brought to Chengdu?"

Guo Jia suddenly asked about such a thing.

Xu Shu understood and guessed what Guo Jia meant, and replied: "It has been connected to Chengdu from various counties, and Guo Ping has been properly settled in the city." ”

Turning his gaze to Guo Ping, who was not good-looking, Guo Jia then asked: "Guo Ping, among the children and daughters of the township, regardless of martial arts, how many people are talented in literature?" ”

Guo Ping, who had a calm face, said calmly after coming out of the ranks: "More than 170 people." ”

Ten years ago, Guo Jia only took in a few refugees, teaching only 100 poor children, after ten years of accumulation of virtue, can have more than 170 people stand out, it is rare, these people can not have the talent of the world, but it is certainly better than too many filial piety scholars to be superb in literature and virtue.

Guo Jia was still thinking deeply, and Guo Ping continued: "My lord, the Zhen family has also taught some poor children for several years, and they secretly moved to Yizhou in the two years that the lord was planning, and if the lord needs them, they will all be recruited into Chengdu within a month. ”

A look of surprise flashed, and Guo Jia remembered that Zhen Jiang had told him that he would follow his example to teach poor children to read and reason, and with the strength of the Zhen family, he would definitely be able to teach more talents.

"Does the lord want to select talented people from these poor children to take over the Yizhou scholars to govern the place?"

Zhen Yan asked with a frown.

Guo Jia nodded, did not hide it, and said: "I do have this idea, but the key to the problem is not to remove the officials of the Shi clan in Yizhou now, but how to cut off the way of survival of the Shi clan." ”

If the symptoms are not cured, it is like scratching the itch in the boots, and the scholars will always resurge.

All the strategists in the hall suddenly raised their heads and looked at Guo Jia in shock, and they all understood the meaning of Guo Jia's words in their hearts.

Do we want to abolish the system of selecting officials through filial piety?