In September of the second year of Taiwu, Xuzhou, Langya Kingdom.
The north wind raged southward, fueling the fireworks here and burning up half of the sky.
At this time, on both sides of Mushui in Langya Kingdom, fires were blazing into the sky, and there were killings and wailing everywhere. Mushui, the mother river that should have nourished the land along the coast, was now full of corpses and blocked by water.
Thick blood flowed into the water, and even the thick blood could not be melted away. The corpses in the river were piled on top of each other, layer by layer, all the way to the shore.
In the wilderness, there are still corpses scattered, including those of officials, officials, and even nobles. These people were very different in life, but after death they were equally devoured by wild beasts.
There was a strong smell of corpses swirling in the air, and the whole world was like the stomach of a giant beast, acidifying, stinking, and digesting these corpses.
The flames are still raging and the killing continues.
In just one month, the Qingzhou Army in the north launched a brazen attack on Xuzhou. They moved south from Beihai and tore through the Xuzhou Army's defense line. Then they quickly moved south along the Wulian Mountain Pass and broke through the Mushui defense line.
The Wulian Mountain Passage is the middle passage between the south-central Shandong hills and the eastern Shandong hills. It is the only way from Qingzhou to Xuzhou.
Previously, the Zang Ba Corps, which was responsible for the defense of this section, did not invest too many troops in this defense line, but invested most of its resources and manpower in the defense of the Nimeng Passage.
Nimeng Passage is the most important passage in the northwest of Langya. It is sandwiched between Nishan Mountain and Lushan Mountain. It has also been the most important passage into Xuzhou from the Central Plains since ancient times.
This passage was controlled by the Guan Yu Division of the Taishan Army, and in order to prevent them from going south, Zang Ba spent his greatest efforts here.
But no one could have imagined that the Qingzhou Army, which had always been in alliance with Xuzhou, would suddenly move south to attack them.
In just one month, the Qingzhou Army had occupied most of the Langya Kingdom and quickly advanced toward the hinterland of Xuzhou along the Yishui and Mushui rivers.
Xuzhou is in danger.
This time, the Qingzhou Army in Qingzhou was responsible for the main attack on Xuzhou. This army, composed of the Yellow Turbans of the former Qi Kingdom, was vigorously reorganized by Cao Cao after being tempered by the previous Jinan War, and its combat effectiveness was completely transformed.
As the first army to conquer Xuzhou, he plundered every place he passed and destroyed every city he destroyed.
It can be said that the Qingzhou Army's tiger-wolf nature was fully demonstrated in this battle.
And the Qingzhou Army, which fully unleashed its instincts, achieved brilliant results.
They first broke through the Gumu, then broke through the counties, then forced Dongguan, and finally fought a battle with the Xuzhou army in Ju County. In the end, more than 10,000 Xuzhou soldiers and 50,000 people were massacred, and Mu Shui did not flow.
As a separatist army, the Langya army retreated again and again when the battle was unfavorable, handing over the entire Langya to Cao Cao.
Later, in September when the autumn wind came back again, the Qingzhou Army finally captured Donghai County and surrounded Tan County, the prefectural government of Xuzhou.
At this time, it seemed that no one could stop the Qingzhou Army.
…
In the northeast of Tan County, on the narrow river between Yishui and Mushui, there are endless military tents scattered throughout.
This narrow strip of land was originally the most fertile place in Xuzhou. Thanks to the water resources of Yi and Mu Rivers, agriculture here has always been developed, and thousands of hectares of fertile farmland have been reclaimed outside the city.
It is now September, which is supposed to be the harvest season, but there is no one harvesting outside the city, so Cao Jun can only take advantage of it.
In the camp of Cao Jun outside the city, Cao Cao stood on his horse in a rare suit of fine armor. He looked at the fertile land and saw his followers smiling happily in the heavy wheat fields.
Cao Cao couldn't help but said to Xun Yu next to him:
"Xuzhou is really rich. Most millets are grown in other places, but wheat is grown here. In the past, there was a popular way of eating wheat in Jinan, which was to shell the wheat into powder and then make noodles. It is said that it was made by King Zhang in Taishan.
It was invented at that time, and later spread to the Jinan area. After a while, this new wheat was recovered, and we will try it in this way."
Xun Yu did not respond directly. He just looked at the northeast of the camp, which was the upper reaches of Mushui, where tens of thousands of corpses were lying on the bank. He was not in the mood.
What kind of person Cao Cao was. When he saw Xun Yu acting like this, he knew what he was thinking. He was silent for a moment and then said:
"Wen Ruo, what do you think of our army's journey here?"
Xun Yu sighed and spoke concisely:
"It's too terrible to look at."
Cao Cao seemed to be defending, but also seemed to be sarcastic:
"Wen Ruo, in today's world of great strife, princes are fighting each other and killing people. Wen Ruo, you are a humble gentleman and as gentle as jade. You can't bear the beasts to fight. But the battle for Xu was also proposed by Wen Ruo. I still remember Wen Ruo
Above the high hall, he has the grace to strategize. But now he can say it but cannot do it?"
Cao Cao's attitude towards Xun Yu has always been very close, and it is rare for him to say such words with strong sarcasm at this moment.
Xun Yu smiled lightly and did not defend himself.
Cao Cao felt guilty and said again:
"There is no immortality in war. I also wanted to avoid death. I went to Hantao Qian several times to ask him to follow me eastward, but he kept trying to prevaricate me. What can I do? Time is not waiting for me. You also know about the changes in the Northern Kingdom, Gongsun
Du's side must not be able to hold on any longer. If I don't take the opportunity to unite Qing and Xu, then it's not just that I can't bear to see Xuzhou suffer, but Qingzhou will be littered with corpses."
Of course Xun Yu knew Cao Cao's explanation. He didn't deny it, he just said:
"Ming Gong is a very human being, so he naturally does extraordinary things. And when doing extraordinary things, of course there are no taboos and no restrictions on trivial matters. But Ming Gong, Xun Yu has to ask, are the people of Ju County really destined to die?"
Facing Xun Yu's bright and honest eyes, Cao Cao finally relented:
"Of course the people of Ju County do not deserve to die. Even if I can have deeper restraint on the Qingzhou soldiers, they will not die. Wen Ruo, you often say that the king's teacher is benevolent and righteous. I naturally know that you are right. I
I also want to do this. But actually? I can’t do it!”
As he spoke, Cao Cao pointed to the north, feeling a little frustrated:
"Who is better between me and the north? No matter how arrogant I am, I know that I am not worthy of a single blow. Previously, the north had only two armies, Guan Yu and Ding Sheng, and we, Qingzhou, were unable to support them, let alone their main force? Now they are seeing that they want to take over everything.
In the North, if I, Cao Cao, still only have Qingzhou, then next time you and I will be slaves facing the north."
"As a weak person, one must have the self-consciousness of a weak person. The Taishan Army can talk about benevolence and righteousness, but I can't. I can only use all my means and effort to seize it. As for my posthumous reputation, if I lose, then Naturally, I can be painted over by others, but if I become successful, I will naturally have great scholars to embellish it for me."
"So, Wen Ruo, this is a time of great struggle. The strong will win, and the weak will be defeated. When swords and soldiers are at war, can you survive by shouting about benevolence, righteousness and morality? In the past, Song Xianggong raised his army with benevolence and righteousness, but was defeated by Hongshui. Smiling for the world. Do I, Cao Cao, want to follow his humiliation?"
Who was Xun Yu? He was not shaken by what Cao Cao said. He just asked seriously. This time he called him by his name:
"Mengde, do you still remember our past ambitions and original intentions?"
Cao Cao took a deep breath, looked at Man Ye Mai and said this:
"Of course I have not forgotten it. I raised the army to help the Han Dynasty, to rescue people in danger, and to gather the wisdom of the world to find a new way for the world."
"but……"
As he spoke, Cao Cao pointed to the wild wheat fields and said with emotion:
"But what are the inevitability of the original intention, means and results? Wen Ruo, you see those wheat fields in front of you. They are all high-quality seeds picked up by farmers, and they are growing vigorously now. But who cares whether they are made of flesh and blood or this Watering it. Does anyone care? When people in the world eat this wheat, will they ask where it came from?"
In fact, it can be seen from this that Cao Cao is very sensitive to Xun Yu's attitude. This is not because he is not confident, nor is he anxious, but because Xun Yu is too important to Cao Cao.
Xun Yu is not only a political talent in today's Qingzhou, but also a flag. Under this flag, talented people from Yanyu continue to come to him from far away.
It is also because of Xun Yu's existence that Cao Cao's talent reserve is almost as good as Yuan Shao, who has all the Central Plains.
From this, we can see the importance of Xun Yu to Cao Cao.
Therefore, Cao Cao could not and would not accept Xun Yu's doubts about him.
Regarding what Cao Cao said, Xun Yu just sighed and then said this:
"Since ancient times, those who have achieved great things must be criticized. Those who talk about the most virtuous people are not in harmony with the common people. Just a simple sentence, Mengde was at a loss. Why? Correct your original intention, Mengde, you still think that what you did is wrong. The morals you learned in the past constrain you and guide you. That’s why you think this is wrong.”
Cao Cao was still about to explain when he suddenly heard Xun Yu say something that shocked him.
I heard that Xun Yu was very serious and even said to Cao Cao with a sense of preaching:
"Mengde, now you have to abandon these. Since you are the most important person in the world, the honor, disgrace and morality of that person have nothing to do with you. You are already very human. Now I alone don't understand you. Why don't you explain why millions of people slander you and slander you?" You, criticize you, do you have to explain one by one? And when thousands of people criticize you, won't your past morality make you afraid? But Meng De, I want to tell you, you have to forget all of these. "
At this time, Xun Yu pointed to the west, which is the location of Kyoto, and said with emotion:
"In the past few years, the world has been in ruins, and heroes have risen together to compete for the throne. The emperor has divided the capital into two capitals, the heroes have fled, the head of Guizhou has lost his home, and the country has lost its support. How can there be tens of millions of people who have died during this period? But the number of people who died in Ju County is only three.
Compared with the latter, forty million lives, who is less important and who is more important? This judgment is of course shocking to the world, but Meng De, you bear the hope of the world and bear the great responsibility of the country, you have to think like this."
Cao Cao was a little dumbfounded. He never expected that Xun Yu, who had always been a gentleman and as gentle as jade, would say such a thing.
For a moment, he couldn't figure out why Xun Yu said these iron-blooded words.
And Xun Yu finally sighed:
"Mengde, if you and I can live up to our past wishes, then we should sweep away the princes, revive the eight wastelands, and unite the nine states. Why? Strengthen the army, use the army, and sharpen the army. If the army is strong, the world will be united. If the army is weak, the world will be alienated.
As for benevolence, righteousness, morality and Meng De, we have long been criticized."
"So, Mengde, do you still care about what future generations will say about you?"
Cao Cao clasped his hands together and laughed so loudly that he couldn't laugh more happily:
"If you can make the world melt into war and return to peace, why should you be afraid of everyone's disapproval?"
With a long mouth, swaying in the bathing water, the era of iron and blood has begun.