Chapter 307 Xun Yan's Suggestion

Cao Cao and his two companions returned to their temporary residence in the dark.

"Thank you..." Cao Cao wanted to thank the warrior for saving him, so he took a closer look under the light.

Hey!
Isn’t this Chen Gong’s confidant? Why is he back?
Suddenly, the thrill of doing something bad in Cao Cao's heart disappeared completely.

The confidant came back, but Chen Gong didn't. Any normal person would know that something went wrong.

"What happened?"

Cao Cao frowned and asked in a deep voice, "Did Gongtai send you here, or did you escape back?"

Chen Gong's henchman glanced at Chen Deng, who understood and clasped his fists to Cao Cao, saying, "It's getting late, Meng De, I'll go back first."

Cao Cao nodded and said, "Go slowly."

After Chen Deng left, Chen Gong's confidant took out the letter and said, "After meeting the general, the master has not shown up for many days. He only sent a handwritten letter."

Cao Cao frowned even more tightly. No matter how hospitable the host was, he would not keep someone in his home for so many days without showing up.

There must be something fishy in it!

Sure enough, when Cao Cao opened the letter, the more he read, the more he felt something was wrong.

Cai Wenji's imitation of the handwriting was impeccable, and the content directly stated that Chen Gong had been under house arrest.

Nothing else was said.

Originally, when Cao Cao heard from his confidant, he suspected that Chen Gong was under house arrest, but now Chen Gong also mentioned this matter in his reply.

As the saying goes, "two negatives add up to a positive", and given Cao Cao's suspicious nature, he began to suspect that Chen Gong was cheating him.

It is very likely that he joined Jinmao and will never come back.

This letter was only to reassure Cao Cao and prevent him from harming his family.

But this doesn't make sense.

For a moment, Cao Cao couldn't understand the deeper meaning of this. Although he was annoyed, he didn't show it in front of outsiders. He waved his hand and asked Chen Gong's confidants to go down and rest.

The most uncomfortable part is that there is no one around to talk to.

As Qingzhou was captured, Cheng Yu, Chen Qun and others were sent out by Cao Cao to govern the local area, leaving only Xun Yan, who was released by Jin Mao, by his side.

After the last incident, Cao Cao no longer used Xun Yan and only gave him the position of Tuntian Sima, which was far from the position of county governor like Cheng Yu.

On the one hand, Cao Cao was suspicious.

On the other hand, Xun Yan, a gentleman, did not explain much and just wanted to protect Xun Chen, Xun Yan and other members of the Xun family.

The next day.

Cao Cao stayed awake all night, had a splitting headache, and his mind was a mess.

"Somebody come!"

"Tell Xun Yan to come see me!"

Helplessly, Cao Cao could only turn to Xun Yan for help, as he could not do without Chen Gong.

Outside the mansion.

Xun Yan straightened his vermilion military officer's robe. Since he was appointed as the Sima of Tuntian, he would not go beyond the rules and wear a civil officer's robe to show off the Xun family's influence.

Arriving at the gatehouse, Xun Yan folded his hands and said, "Please tell everyone that the military farm commander Xun Yan is here."

There was no servant by his side, which showed how difficult Xun Yan's life was during this period.

The gatekeeper of Cao Cao's temporary residence had received orders long ago. When he saw the tall and handsome Xun Yan, he immediately went out to greet him and said, "Please come in, Xun Jun. Lord Cao is waiting for you in the meeting hall."

Xun Yan bowed slightly before stepping in, which startled the doorman.

"Mr. Xun is a true gentleman!" the doorman couldn't help but sigh.

Cao Cao's temporary residence also had three courtyards. Xun Yan walked through the front courtyard before arriving at the meeting hall in the middle courtyard.

"Tuntian Sima Xunyan greets the lord."

Cao Cao was enjoying a head massage in the arms of a maid in the hall. He jumped up immediately after hearing this, and rushed down with a big laugh, shouting, "Xiuruo is here, why are you being so distant with me?"

"Please come in quickly!"

Xun Yan saw Cao Cao running to the door without even wearing shoes, and he was very touched. He bowed again and said, "Thank you, my lord. The etiquette cannot be abolished."

"Well said!" Cao Cao smiled and grabbed Xun Yan's arm and pulled him into the hall, saying as he walked, "If Xiu comes, I will have a solution to my troubles."

"Come on, sit down first."

Cao Cao pressed Xun Yan to his left, and without his command, the maids served him tea and placed it on the table.

Xun Yan did not drink the tea, but stood up and bowed, saying, "My lord, what is troubling you?"

Cao Cao's headache had not yet healed, and the behavior he just did was all due to habits accumulated over the years.

Now that his true colors were revealed, he stopped being polite and took out Chen Gong's letter to show Xun Yan.

"Look, the general has placed me, Chen Gong, the governor of Jiyin County, under house arrest. Isn't this too much?"

Xun Yan took the letter with both hands, read every word carefully, and then returned the letter to Cao Cao.

"My lord, there is something fishy about this matter."

"That's right!" Cao Cao took the letter and slammed it on the table in the main hall. "I also think this is strange, but no matter how you look at it, this matter is not good for me."

This is an open conspiracy. No matter what Cao Cao thinks, Chen Gong must be rescued, otherwise, how can he survive in the future?

Although Xun Yan did not have the talent of assisting the king like Xun Yu, he still had some talent of a county.

However, Xun Yan's perspective on things was different from Cao Cao's. There were some things he had to say even if it offended Cao Cao: "The lord broke his oath first, and the general detained Chen Gongtai later."

"There is nothing wrong with this."

"The strange thing is how Chen Gongtai could send back the letter."

Cao Cao's face was full of displeasure. It was difficult for him to control his emotions now, and he showed whatever he felt.

Even if what Xun Yan said was all true, it would be of no use if Cao Cao just wouldn't listen.

"Don't be suspicious. The person who delivered the message is a close confidant of Gongtai. There is nothing strange here!"

Xun Yan sighed inwardly and asked, "What do you want, lord?"

Cao Cao clapped his hands and spread them out, saying, "If I knew, why would I have asked you to come?!"

Then, Cao Cao immediately realized that his emotions were not right. Without waiting for Xun Yan to speak, he covered his head and said, "Damn it, this headache comes back again."

"Don't be surprised."

"I just said it unintentionally."

Xun Yan folded his hands and bowed, saying, "My lord, if you want to rescue Chen Gongtai, you need to discuss this matter with the general in person."

When Cao Cao heard this, his brows furrowed and a complicated look flashed in his eyes.

He knew very well that what Xun Yan said was true, but the pride in his heart that made him unwilling to be controlled by others made him hesitant.

After a moment of silence, Cao Cao stopped pretending to have a headache. He slowly turned around, walked to the window, looked at the lush greenery outside, and said in a deep voice: "To have a meeting with the general is tantamount to putting yourself on the chopping board and letting others slaughter you."

"However, Gongtai and I are like brothers, and I cannot just watch him fall into the hands of the enemy."

“What a dilemma!”

Xun Yan couldn't bear to look at Cao Cao's desolate back.

He took a few steps forward and stood beside Cao Cao, and said in a gentler but firmer tone: "My lord, your mind is full of the world and your ambition is far beyond the reach of ordinary people."

"Xun Yan knows that you are not only worried about the safety of Gongtai, but also the stability of the overall situation and the direction of the future. But please think carefully, meeting with the general may not be a disadvantage."

"First, this move can show the sincerity and magnanimity of the lord, and let the world know that you are not only brave and good at fighting, but also wise and responsible." "Second, although the general has a large number of troops, he also has concerns in his heart. Perhaps he is taking this opportunity to test the lord's intentions. The two sides may take this opportunity to reach some kind of tacit understanding and turn hostility into friendship."

"Thirdly, if we can really rescue Gongtai, not only will we preserve the brotherhood, but we will also establish prestige in the army, letting the soldiers see that no matter who they are, as long as they are loyal to the lord, they will not be easily abandoned."

Cao Cao understood these principles, but he did not turn around and waited for Xun Yan's next words.

Xun Yan continued, "I heard that Liu Biao, the former governor of Jingzhou, once opened up his garrison to the general in order to obtain Nanyang County."

Cao Cao turned around suddenly, staring at Xun Yan with his eyes like hooks.

There was no fear on the latter's face.

Before Xun Yan said this, he had thought about the consequences. Since he dared to say it, he was not afraid of Cao Cao becoming suspicious.

He continued, "Although Liu Biao failed at the last minute, the process was very smooth. During the heyday of the Jingzhou army, the army went from wearing 20% ​​armor to wearing 5 layers of armor. It can be said that the army was strong."

"My lord, you can also follow Liu Biao's example and have the general station troops in Huailing County for a meeting."

"This way, you can show your magnanimity and save Chen Gong from danger."

Cao Cao's eyes changed when he looked at Xun Yan, and he asked coldly, "I'm afraid this plan was not from you, but from your younger brother Xun Yu, right?"

"That's right." Xun Yan admitted very frankly that he did not have such a strategic vision and he also knew that Xun Yu had bad intentions.

But the strategy depends on who uses it. In Xun Yan's opinion, how can people like Liu Biao be compared with Cao Cao?

He pressed, "If Liu Biao can do it, why don't you give it a try, my lord? Are you afraid?"

"Hehe!" Cao Cao laughed twice grimly, and then burst into laughter. The sound was so loud that it scared away the annoying headache.

"Hahaha!"

"That's the funniest joke I've ever heard!"

"There is nothing in this world that I, Cao Cao, dare not do!"

Cao Cao's eyes sparkled as he said, "I just want to know whether Xiu Ruo is a minister of the general or a minister of Cao Mengde?"

Xun Yan walked out of the desk and came to the hall, knelt down and kowtowed, and said solemnly: "My lord, if you doubt my character, you might as well take my life!"

"I! Xun Yan will not bring disgrace to the Xun family!"

Xun Yan almost shouted this sentence, shocking Cao Cao so much that he took a step back.

This was a very serious accusation. Xun Yan was different from the famous historical scholar Bian Rang. He sincerely cared about Cao Cao but was suspected. He would rather die than do this.

Cao Cao hurried to the hall again, knelt down and bowed to Xun Yan, wanting to kowtow and apologize, but Xun Yan grabbed Cao Cao's arms forcefully, preventing him from kneeling.

"It is righteous for a subject to worship the king, but it is unrighteous for the king to worship the subject. My lord, are you trying to frame me?"

Xun Yan smiled and said that Cao Cao's behavior was enough to explain everything.

The king and his minister held each other's arms and laughed out loud, and all their doubts and grudges disappeared.

The two men helped each other to stand up. Cao Cao was half a head shorter than Xun Yan. He tilted his neck and asked sincerely, "What good ideas do you have?"

Xun Yan said: "My talent is not as good as Wen Ruo's, but I think what Wen Ruo said makes sense."

"Wen Ruo once said that Yuan Shao's occupation of Jizhou was the foundation for his domination of the world. In the future, the general will be unable to control the country by dividing the river."

"I was just wondering, why is it that only Yuan Shao can occupy Jizhou, but not you, my lord!?"

Cao Cao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he had a vague guess in his mind. He took a step back, bowed and said, "Please don't elaborate!"

Xun Yan also bowed in return and said, "My lord, you can follow Liu Biao's example and borrow the general's power to regroup."

"So what if Huai Ling is lost? The general can have all of Xuzhou!"

"By then, the Lord will have occupied the three states of Qing, Ji, and You!"

"To the west, we can see Liang and Bingzhou, and to the south, we can explore Sili and Yanzhou. When we are fully equipped, we can break away from the control of the general and compete for the Central Plains!"

At this moment, Cao Cao's eyes were as bright as light bulbs.

"Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!"

He exclaimed three times in succession, not expecting that Xun Yan would have such a brilliant plan.

So what if it was derived from Xun Yu’s scheme?
As long as they can implement it step by step according to what Xun Yan said, Cao Cao will accept it even if it is a trap.

After all, the land of Hebei is different from the land of Henan (the Yellow River is divided into north and south).

Its population, arable land, minerals, technology, and war horses are all leading the country, much better than Yanzhou and Xuzhou.

By then, Cao Cao will be able to form a super infantry and cavalry army, and will have the capital to challenge Jin Mao.

Everyone in the world knows that the general is good at fighting on foot and on water, but not at fighting on horseback.

You want to destroy me without cavalry?
The sky is high and the birds can fly freely; the sea is wide and the fish can jump freely!
Who could control Cao Cao at that time?

Besides, there are many benefits to doing so.

First of all, Cao Cao would not have to pay back the 200,000 shi of grain and fodder he borrowed. He was already his younger brother, and if he still cared about such a small amount of supplies, it would be a great loss of face for the general.

There is no need to say more about Chen Gong's return. Cao Cao can borrow another batch of food and grass to get through this cold winter. When his strength is restored next year, he will have autonomy again!
No matter how you look at it, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

only.

"Will the general really agree?"

Cao Cao still had doubts: "What if the general only wants to occupy the land and does not want to support?"

Xun Yan's cunning smile flashed across his face, and Cao Cao secretly thought it was a pity that it would be so difficult to see it again on this gentleman's face.

"My Lord, don't be proud. I understand Wen Ruo just as Wen Ruo understands me."

Xun Yan showed a far greater wisdom than usual, and said: "Since he dared to instigate me to propose it to you, it is enough to prove that this is the general's intention. Otherwise, Xun Yu would not dare to make the decision boldly!"

"Haha!" Cao Cao laughed and said, "General, you have Wen Ruo, and I have Xiu Ruo, that's enough!"

"What a shame." Cao Cao said with a painful look on his face, "It would be better if You Ruo was here too."

Xun Yan did not answer. His two younger brothers were indeed better than him, but he was not willing to live under their shadow forever.

Soon, Cao Cao calmed down.

When performing normally, Cao Cao is still very powerful and can control his emotions freely.

"Since the general wants to take Xuzhou this time, he must release Youruo!"

Cao Cao said firmly: "If either of us is missing, I won't agree. At worst, we'll go to war!"

There was some element of show in this, and only Cao Cao knew how guilty he felt when he said this.

Xun Yan nodded and reminded, "My lord, you must be careful to hide the good horses and armor. With so many requests, the general will definitely ask for more horses and armor."

"That's right!" Cao Cao called out, "Someone come here!"

"Pen and ink are at your service."

Soon, the servants brought a whole plate of blank bamboo slips, brushes, and inkstones.

Cao Cao liked taking notes very much, and while Xun Yan was still around, he wrote down many details.

In addition, Cao Cao would not just listen to one side of the story, and he had to pass it on to Cheng Yu, Chen Qun and others for joint consultation.

Only by working together can we get things done.

Xun Yan didn't think too much about it and told him all the details he had thought about in the past few days.

The king and his minister talked by candlelight at night.

Poor Xun Yan, it was the first time he enjoyed such treatment.

(End of this chapter)