Chapter 236: Managing the World, Big Goal [Vote Request]

The people in the study are all resourceful and resourceful.

Jia Xu only mentioned Yuan Shao's son, and after a moment's silence, they roughly guessed what he meant.

Yuan Shao had three sons: Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Shang.

According to traditional history, before Yuan Shao's death, it was not clear who would succeed him.

So after his death, the Yuan brothers started to quarrel and fight for power. After several years, they were defeated one after another and were killed.

But Yuan Shao did not clearly designate an heir.

But in history, he adopted his eldest son Yuan Tan to his deceased brother Yuan Ji.

In front of others and behind their backs, the two of them called each other uncle and nephew.

The second son, Yuan Xi, was exiled to Youzhou.

Only the youngest son, Yuan Shang, had a handsome face and was said to be most like Yuan Shao when he was young, so he was kept by Yuan Shao's side.

Yuan Shao’s meaning is actually very clear.

He favored his youngest son, Yuan Shang.

And Yuan Shang did not disappoint Yuan Shao's trust.

Among the three sons, he is the most strategic and courageous.

In history, after Yuan Shao's death, Yuan Shang once contacted the troops of Liang Province to fight against Cao Cao.

Even Cao Cao was almost tricked by him.

He gathered the remaining forces of Yuan Shao and resisted Cao Cao in Jizhou for several years.

At this moment, Yuan Shao had just been defeated.

The assassins and spies trained by the Yuan family are scattered all over the place.

Some old ministers and aristocratic families, either openly or secretly, were scattered in Jizhou, Youzhou, Bingzhou and Qingzhou.

In Bingzhou alone, when Yuan's former subordinates found that they could not defeat Zhao Yun head-on, they dispersed and hid in local counties, occupying the mountains and becoming bandits. Some of them turned from open to covert, and even superficially surrendered to Cao Cao. There were countless people who were secretly ready to make moves.

If you want to completely eliminate these anti-Cao forces, conventional methods will take at least several years.

How to gather these people together and catch them all in one fell swoop?
Jia Xu meant to make use of Yuan Shao's remaining two sons.

The second son, Yuan Xi, was taken away by the Wuhuan people.

The youngest son, Yuan Shang, was in Cao Cao's hands. He was nearly twenty years old and had previously helped Yuan Shao in managing government affairs.

By releasing him and recruiting his father's former subordinates, Cao's camp would have the opportunity to eliminate him altogether.

Yuan Shang was not a mediocre person, but was quite useful.

If there is some secret push, for example, let Yuan Shang contact Ma Teng and Han Sui in Liangzhou according to historical trajectory to seek cooperation.

Cao Cao can then attack Liangzhou together.

This is also the development direction of Caoying in the next stage.

This strategy is very applicable at present time and achieves multiple goals at one stroke.

Cao Cao had this plan already.

When he captured Yuan Shang and refused to return him, he had considered today's situation.

As for whether he would let the tiger return to the mountains and release Yuan Shang, which would lead to a big disaster.

That is impossible. The power that Cao Cao holds and the strategic planning and combat capabilities of his civil and military officials are absolutely beyond the reach of Yuan Shang.

If he goes out, no matter how he jumps around, he will just be a pawn.

Yuan Shang could just inherit Yuan Wei's position and become Cao Ying's chief "assistant".

After a brief discussion, Cao Cao and others quickly perfected the plan to release Yuan Shang and gather Yuan's former subordinates.

Guo Jia secretly thought it was a pity.

This is indeed the fastest way to deal with Yuan’s old subordinates and eliminate their remaining forces.

He had originally thought of this strategy and asked Jia Xu to tell it.

"Since we have decided to do this, the governor should send a message to Zilong to slow down the deployment of troops in Bingzhou. Leave a place for Yuan Shang, otherwise it will be difficult for him to find a place to stay and gather people."

Guo Jia added:
"Bingzhou is adjacent to Liangzhou. Putting him in Bingzhou will facilitate contact with Liangzhou and cooperate with us in the next step of controlling Liangzhou and occupying Hexi."

Cao Cao nodded slightly.

Everyone moved on to the next thing.

"Sun Ce's younger brother, Sun Zhongmou, has arrived."

"In addition, envoys from all parties came to visit. They brought many gifts, including fine horses and beautiful maids."

Guo Jia said with a smile: "Liangzhou Ma Teng and Han Sui sent a few girls from the far west. They are quite different from our Han girls. They have big eyes and their skin is white."

These words were full of Guo Jia's unique unruly style.

If we talk about Cao Cao's confidant, it has to be Feng Xiao.

"Make a list of the good horses you have. You can give them to everyone based on their merits later. I don't want any."

Cao Cao glanced at Guo Jia and said, "Feng Xiao has already mentioned this. Remember to give some foreign women to Feng Xiao immediately... Wait, he is not strong enough. Forget it. Don't give them to him. Let's separate them."

Guo Jia's face just showed joy, but then he was stunned.

He reached out and took out the small medicine bottle he carried with him, and subconsciously took a sip.

I wonder if it’s too late to treat the disease on the spot?

Jia Xu said: "We have already found out that the emperor wrote a secret decree before we fought against Jizhou. So Kong Rong and others will help Liu Bei pass on the message."

The people who discussed the matter were all his confidants. Cao Cao did not hide his emotions, and a trace of murderous intent appeared between his brows:
"The Emperor thought I didn't dare to kill him..."

Before Cao Cao finished speaking, he saw Xun Yu's face change slightly and he wanted to speak.

Cao Cao was already in a very difficult position when he knew that Xun Yu had followed him in rebellion.

Not directly harming the emperor is Xun Yu’s bottom line.

Cao Cao slowed down his tone and said: "Wenruo, don't be anxious. Don't kill him. When the situation stabilizes and Liangzhou is captured, we will find a chance to send the emperor to another family."

Xun Yu was obviously relieved and swallowed back what he was about to say.

"Liu Biao of Jingzhou has sent someone to ask for peace."

"He is willing to cede the city, and other demands can also be discussed."

Xun Yu: "The envoy from Jingzhou is in Yecheng."

Now thinking about negotiating peace... Cao Cao said:

"First drag the envoys from Jingzhou and don't see them."

Xun Yu added: "The ceremony of enthroning the generals is already under preparation. But we have to wait for some time until the wars on all sides are settled and the troops can be gathered back."

After the meeting was over, Xun Yu, Xun You and others left one after another.

Jia Xu did not leave, and neither did Guo Jia. Jia Xu said, "Regarding Jingzhou, the governor may as well reply to Liu Biao and ask him to bring Liu Bei's head, and we will agree to stop the war. Let's see how he and Liu Bei respond!"

This strategy is great.

Even if Liu Biao disagreed, the news would have alienated the relationship between him and Liu Bei.

What's more, now that Cao Cao has freed up his hands, he poses a huge threat to Jingzhou.

Out of fear, Liu Biao might have agreed to kill Liu Bei in exchange for stability on the northern front.

This is a tactic to win over people's hearts and minds.

All the strategies Jia Xu proposed were methods of killing people without being seen.

The suggestion just now to release Yuan Shang was also a vicious plan.

Guo Jia felt a pain in his heart and was almost angered to death by Jia Xu.

Because he stayed, he also wanted to offer advice to alienate Liu Bei and Liu Biao.

Damn it, Jia Xu said it again.

Guo Jia then said: "I am in charge of Yanzhou and I need to make preparations for the long term."

"In the future, will the governor of the state consider Luoyang as the central capital, or Yecheng? Or after taking Liangzhou, will he consider Chang'an?"

Geographically, the capital must be located in the heart of the country, with depth, for greater safety.

From Guo Jia's tone, we can tell that he intends to make Luoyang the future administrative center of Cao's camp.

It is too early to consider this matter now, but Cao Cao has already controlled seven states and his might has already been revealed.

It is right to prepare in advance to avoid being rushed when the time comes.

Cao Cao: "For a long time to come, my army will be stationed in the north, facing foreign tribes head-on. Let's see which foreign tribe dares to go south to attack me."

What he meant was that Yecheng should be the center of affairs.

Taking Yecheng as the capital and building the Bronze Sparrow Tower palace will be put on the agenda... Cao Cao thought to himself.

Building a large palace takes at least several years.

This has nothing to do with extravagance. Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang also thought about saving money.

But Xiao He once explained: Without magnificence, one cannot strengthen his prestige!
If the palace is not magnificent, people coming to pay homage to the emperor from all directions will not be able to feel the emperor's majesty.

The war in Yanzhou also cost a lot.

Building a palace would be another huge expense.

Cao Cao thought that if he went to ask for the money from his family's slush fund, the slush fund would probably be heartbroken.

Then we can only open the tomb.

After everyone left, Cao Cao wrote a letter and asked someone to deliver it to Yuan Shao's son Yuan Shang to confirm what had just been discussed.

Yuan Shang, who had been imprisoned by Cao Cao for a year, was in an independent courtyard in Yecheng, surrounded by solemn soldiers and heavy security.

Cao Cao's letter was delivered.

Yuan Shang looked at it and showed an expression of disbelief.

In the letter, Cao Cao said that Yuan Shao’s last request was to leave a trace of Yuan family bloodline and promise to let Yuan Shang go.

Let me go... Yuan Shang's heart was filled with joy, exploding.

Night fell.

A carriage was sent out of Yecheng.

Yuan Shang sat in the carriage, opened the curtain and looked back at Yecheng.

As soon as he left the city, a sinister look flashed in his eyes: If Cao Cao lets me go today, it will be the biggest mistake of his life!

"Sir, where are we going?"

The driver was also a captured soldier of Yuan's clan, and was also released to Yuan Shang.

Yuan Shang thought for a moment and said, "Go north."

He had been following Yuan Shao before and knew many of Yuan's secret arrangements.

Cao Cao is currently very powerful, and it is impossible for him to achieve anything in the Han heartland right under his nose.

Yuan Shang remembered that his father had some arrangements in the northern border town.

There is also a group of Yuan's spies in the north of Jizhou.

He can take over when he goes there, and from then on, the tiger will return to the mountain, and when he has enough power, he will come back to fight...

Carrying Yuan Shang's carriage, they headed north.

It gets dark.

The lights had just been lit in Cao's mansion.

Dian Wei poked his head out and said, "The ladies sent someone to ask if the governor will come back to have dinner with them. The inner chambers are waiting for him to come back."

"I'll be back shortly."

Cao Cao was thinking about something.

Youzhou is currently deploying troops and will be under our rule soon.

Only Liangzhou remained in the north.

Among the prefectures and counties that Cao Cao had controlled, Sili Prefecture was formed by the merger of Sizhou and Yongzhou before the end of the Han Dynasty, with a total of seven prefectures and 116 counties.

Nanyang County in Jingzhou governed 36 counties, and Nan County governed 17 counties.

There are 98 counties in Yuzhou, 100 counties in Jizhou, and 95 counties in Youzhou.

Adding up the seven states, Cao Cao controlled more than seventy "counties" and nearly six hundred counties.

Cao Cao breathed a sigh of relief. It had been almost five years since he arrived in Luoyang.

Before I knew it, I had achieved some small success.

Throughout the history of Han civilization, most of the top emperors took ten to thirty years to pacify the world.

Relying on plug-ins and memories from time travel, Cao Cao's goal is to establish his rule over the country, defeat foreign tribes, and expand his territory within ten years.

In this era, if the country's borders are too vast, it will be difficult for government orders to be implemented.

But it’s not that there is no solution.

Cao Cao recalled the gains and losses of the past few years and gave himself a score of 95, which was not too much.

All kinds of thoughts flashed through his mind, and he asked his personal soldiers to call Ling Jin over.

After the big war, we were a little short of money.

He planned to open a huge tomb that contained the most gold in his memory and would be known to everyone in later generations.

This time, there was no need for an entry to point out where the tomb was, he knew where it was in his memory.

Ps: Please vote~
(End of this chapter)