Chapter 77: Xun Cao's Meeting (Emergency Request for Sanjiang!)

  Xun Yu's expression turned gloomy, and he didn't say much more. He knew his brother had grievances in his heart. Xun Chen didn't have a good impression of Yuan Shao, and coming to Yuan Shao's side was an arrangement made by the family, not his personal choice. Now seeing Yuan Shao being superficial, this life might be wasted, it's unrealistic to say that Xun Chen didn't have any grievances.

  A family can't put all their hopes on one person to survive in a chaotic world, diversifying investments is the most normal choice. But for individuals, choices are not made by themselves, once they make a wrong choice, they have to bear the loss by themselves. It's hard not to say that this is a tragedy.

  For the sake of family prosperity, someone will always be sacrificed.

  It now appears that Xun Can was probably the scapegoat.

  Xun Yu walked out of the tent, his mood not very good. He didn't recover until he arrived at Cao Cao's main camp, where he regained his composure and calmness. He reported his name and requested to see General Cao.

  Cao Cao is now appointed by Yuan Shao as the acting Xingwu General, where "acting" means proxy. A miscellaneous general number, not formal yet, from which we can see Cao Cao's position in Yuan Shao's mind. Cao Cao's big camp was also on the edge of the various armies' big camps, a very inconspicuous corner.

  Xun Yu walked over from the hillside, having already looked down at the overall layout of Cao Cao's large camp. Cao Cao's camp was set up very neatly and could be said to be the most neat among all the camps. This gave Xun Yu a few more points of favor towards Cao Cao. Now standing in front of Cao Cao's camp, he could see through the fence into the interior where the officers and soldiers were stationed, giving him a more intuitive impression of Cao Cao's military leadership abilities, and he couldn't help but nod his head in secret.

  In just a few months, he was able to turn some of his household slaves and retainers into a well-disciplined army, which is no surprise given Cao Cao's experience on the battlefield. Among the warlords in Shandong, he is one of the most notable figures. Compared to those who only know how to talk, Cao Cao looks more like a general.

  "Xunzi, does my camp still look good to you?" Along with a loud and clear laughter, Cao Cao walked out from inside. Although he was not tall, half a head shorter than Xun Yu, but when he walked, he was majestic and powerful, his armor clanking loudly, exuding a unique aura of valor.

  Xun Yu knew Cao Cao, but he didn't expect him to come out in person, so he was taken aback for a moment. He hastily paid his respects and said: "Xun Yu of Yingchuan pays his respects to General Cao."

  "Hey, a certain general has something extraordinary to say, but it's better not to mention it." Cao Cao waved his hand and said disapprovingly: "Mr. Xun, is this something to be discussed inside the camp or...?" He pointed to the mountains and forests outside. The meaning was clear. If Xun Yu wasn't afraid of Yuan Shao's suspicion, he would invite Xun Yu to discuss it inside the camp; if Xun Yu worried about causing unnecessary suspicion or didn't want to get too close to him, he would accompany Xun Yu in talking outside, and later when Yuan Shao asked, they could say it was an accidental encounter.

  Cao Cao's courtesy delighted Xun Yu. He smiled and said: "The general's camp is so well-ordered, I should like to see it for myself; may I?"

  Cao Cao burst out laughing and hastily extended his hand in invitation: "Well, I just so happen to have found two jars of fine wine. Today, let's drink and make merry with you, sir. We won't part until we're drunk!"

  Xun Yu and Cao Cao walked shoulder to shoulder into the big camp, behind them a hundred or so paces away, a figure quietly disappeared into the mountains.

  ……

  "Xun Yu has gone to see Cao Cao?" Yuan Shao put down his wine cup, his face looking somewhat unpleasant.

  Xun's family is a prominent clan in Yingchuan, and Xun Yu is the most outstanding talent of his generation. He was also Yuan Shao's most trusted advisor. The famous scholar He Yong once said that Xun Yu was a talented individual who could assist an emperor. Now that the Yuan family has risen up in arms, the whole country is responding to their call, and the Xun family has also sent out young and brilliant men to respond, but Xun Yu himself has not made an appearance.

  Xun Yu arrived at Xiangyang from Luoyang, Yuan Shao had known about it for a long time but didn't say anything, he was waiting for Xun Yu to come and visit him. Unexpectedly, Xun Yu didn't come to see him, instead went to ask for an audience with Cao Cao, this made him feel very humiliated.

  Guo Tu, who was standing aside, said in a calm tone: "As the saying goes, 'same sound responds, same breath seeks'. The two of them sitting together must have a lot to talk about. Who knows, they might even lament the downfall of Eunuch Wei with a few sighs."

  Yuan Shao couldn't help but laugh, and his unhappy mood dissipated. Cao Cao was a eunuch's descendant, and his reputation had always been bad. Xun Yu was a young genius, but he also had an indelible stain: his mother, Tangshi, was the daughter of the eunuch Tang Heng.

  Tang Heng was once known as one of the Five Marquises, along with Shan Chao and others. He was also known as Tang Liangduo, a notorious eunuch. Tang Heng had set his sights on Fu Gongming, a renowned scholar from Ru'nan, intending to marry his daughter to him, but was rebuffed by Fu. He then shifted his target to Xun Si.

  Xun Yu feared Tang He's power, and had no choice but to compromise and marry a woman of the Tang family. He then gave birth to Xun Yu brothers, and as a result, his reputation was ruined, and even Xun Yu brothers were somewhat unable to hold their heads up.

  Guo Tu said that Xun Yu and Cao Cao were both eunuchs, with a similar stench, and could be described as birds of a feather. However, Yuan Shao did not intend to extend the topic further. He himself was clear in his mind that the Xun family was also forced into it. Political struggles are all dirty, and no one's buttocks are clean, including the Yuan family itself. Yuan Ti and the Central Servant Yuan Rong had already acknowledged their own family.

  "Gong Ze, Sun Jian's army was defeated at Liang County, and the governor is besieged in Luoyang. Now that three of our armies have been eliminated, only mine remains. A major battle is imminent. Do you have any clever plans?"

  Guo Jia smiled: "The alliance leader, when the troops come, we will resist; when the earth comes, we will flood. The alliance leader is here to nurture his spirit and wait for the right moment. Isn't he waiting for a grand battle with the Emperor? Cao Cao's vision is shallow and can't see through the alliance leader's intentions, that's okay. But Xun Yu, who is known as a talented assistant, also can't see through it, which is really unexpected. The two of them will get together and must have a harmonious conversation."

  Yuan Shao furrowed his brow and said nothing. Guo Tu saw this, hastily changed the subject, and stopped attacking Xun Yu.

  "The alliance leader, Dong Zhuo has left Luoyang and is heading west. The imperial court's army is now only 30,000 to 40,000 men, which is less than one-third of our forces." Guo Tu continued: "The eastern provinces are the wealthiest regions in the country. With the alliance leader's strong army and abundant supplies, if the Emperor loses control of the eastern provinces, it would be like a child being cut off from its mother's milk. Without a single battle, within a few months, he will fall into chaos due to lack of supplies. At that time, the fierce and ferocious soldiers of Li Jue and Guo Si will scatter in all directions, Luoyang will be on the brink of collapse, how can they not welcome the alliance leader's righteous army with open arms?"

  Yuan Shao's expression slightly cleared, and he nodded slowly: "Although it is said that way, but Huangfu Song is not an ordinary person to compare with. If we don't win the war, I'm afraid the people of Luoyang will be disheartened. Moreover, many of our generals' families are in Luoyang, if we can't rescue them as soon as possible, people's hearts will be uneasy."

  "The alliance leader, the grieving soldiers must win, this is exactly what the alliance leader relies on. Guo Yu was indignant and exclaimed: "Why didn't the emperor execute the families of the generals? Isn't it because he's afraid of stirring up public outrage and being unable to contain it? Who can compare to the loss of Taifu's death? For the sake of the great Han dynasty, Taifu sacrificed his own life!"

  Yuan Shao let out a long sigh, slammed his fist on the table and rose to his feet, tears streaming down his face. "You're right," he said. "I should take advantage of this opportunity to defeat that tyrant and rescue the people from their suffering, to comfort my uncle's spirit in heaven."

  Third update, seeking recommendations, seeking three rivers, seeking collection!

  Still ranked first in Sanjiang for now, but the ones behind are getting closer and closer, it seems that I'm about to be overtaken. Requesting everyone's support, move your little hands, cast a vote for Lao Zhuang.

  Please!