In September of the second year of Taiwu, Xuzhou, Langya Kingdom.
The north wind raged southward, fueling the fireworks here, burning half of the sky.
At this time, on both sides of Mu Shui in Langya Kingdom, fires shot into the sky, and there were killings and wailing everywhere. Mushui, the mother river that is supposed to nourish the land along its coast, is now filled with corpses and choked with 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.
There are still corpses scattered in the wilderness, including those of officials, officials, and even nobles. These people, who were very different in life, were equally reduced to beasts to eat after death.
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 attacked Xuzhou brazenly. 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 Army, which was responsible for the defense of this section, did not invest too many troops in this defense line. Instead, it 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 is also the most important passage into Xuzhou from the Central Plains since ancient times.
This passage was controlled by the Guan Yu Department 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.
It first broke 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 slaughtered, 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 should 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 armor. He looked at the fertile land and smiled happily at his followers in the heavy wheat fields.
Cao Cao couldn't help but said to Xun Yu beside 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 it into noodles. It is said that it was made by King Zhang in Mount Tai It was invented at that time, and then spread to the Jinan area. After a while, this new wheat was recovered, and we also tried 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 said:
"Wen Ruo, what do you think of our army's journey?"
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, the 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 fight for Xu Yiluo was also proposed by Wen Ruo. I still remember Wen Ruo Above the hall, he has the charisma of strategizing, but now he can’t do it? ”
Cao Cao's attitude towards Xun Yu has always been very close, and it is rare for him to say such strong mocking words at this moment. Xun Yu smiled lightly and did not defend himself.
Cao Cao felt guilty and said again:
"There is no such thing as death 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 will definitely not be able to hold on any longer. If I don't take the opportunity to unite Qing and Xu, I won't be able to bear to see Xuzhou suffer, but Qingzhou will be littered with corpses."
Of course Xun Yu knew Cao Cao's explanation, and he didn't deny it, he just said:
"Ming Gong is a very human being, so he naturally does extraordinary things. And doing extraordinary things must of course be without taboos and not stick to trivial matters. But Ming Gong, Xun Yu, let me ask, is it true that the people of Ju County must die?"
Facing Xun Yu's bright and honest eyes, Cao Cao finally let go:
"Of course the people of Ju County do not deserve to die. Even if I can have a 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 want to do that too, but actually I can’t!”
As he said this, Cao Cao pointed to the north and felt 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 blow. Previously, the north could only send out Guan Yu and Ding Sheng's two armies, and our Qingzhou was unable to support it, let alone its main force? Now they are seeing that they want to take full control. In the North, if Cao Cao still only has Qingzhou, then next time we will be slaves facing the north.”
"As a weak person, you must have a weak consciousness. The Taishan Army can talk about benevolence and righteousness, but I can't. I can only use all my means and exert all my efforts 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 be decorated by great scholars.”
"So, Wen Ruo, this is a time of great struggle. The strong will win, and the weak will lose. 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 live in his disgrace?"
Who is Xun Yu? He was not shaken by what Cao Cao said. He just asked seriously. This time he called him by his first name:
"Mengde, do you still remember our past ambitions and original intentions?"
Cao Cao took a deep breath, looked at the ripe wheat in the fields, 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 original intention, means and results? Wen Ruo, look at those wheat fields in front of you. They are all high-quality seeds picked up by farmers, and they are now growing vigorously. But who cares whether they are made of flesh and blood or this Watering. 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 from far away to join him.
It is also because of Xun Yu's existence that Cao Cao's talent pool 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. Yu just said a simple sentence, and 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 his jaw.
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 don't understand you alone. Please explain why tens of millions of people slander you and slander you." You, criticize you, are you going to explain it one by one? And when thousands of people criticize you, won't your past morality scare you? But Meng De, I want to tell you, you have to forget all of this. ”
At this time, Xun Yu pointed to the west, which was 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 is divided into two capitals, the heroes have fled, the head of Guizhou has lost his home, and the country has lost its support. How can tens of millions of people live and die during this period? But the number of casualties in Ju County is only three Forty thousand. Compared with the latter, who is less important? This judgment is certainly shocking, but Meng De, you have the responsibility of the world and the great responsibility of the country, so 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 truth.
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 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 and morality, 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 hard that he couldn't laugh any more happily:
"If you can bring peace to the world and bring peace to the world, why should you be afraid of everyone's wrongdoing?"
Youyou's mouth swayed in the bathing water, and the era of iron and blood began.