newbobooks Chapter 22 Yuan Shao and Cao Cao's Meeting! Is Yuan Shao trying to take Cao Cao hostage?
Chapter 22 Yuan Shao and Cao Cao's Meeting! Is Yuan Shao trying to take Cao Cao hostage?
Night falls.
After returning to the main camp.
Cao Cao publicly praised Zhao Yun.
Cao Cao's talent for winning people's hearts was at its peak.
But Cao Cao knew that without Su Yu, he would never have discovered such a super general as Zhao Yun.
Therefore, although Cao Cao praised Zhao Yun, he was even more grateful to Su Yu.
Seeing the moved look on Old Cao's face, Su Yu smiled and said:
"My lord, there is no need for further words."
"If you really want to thank me, why don't you find me a few more beautiful women?"
"I have heard that Diao Chan, the adopted daughter of Minister Wang Yun, Cai Zhaoji, the daughter of Gentleman Cai Yong, and Dong Bai, the granddaughter of the old scoundrel Dong Zhuo, are all beauties of their time."
"If my lord is so determined, I can seize it for him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Cao burst into laughter.
Su Yu was just exactly to his liking.
Cao Cao also liked beautiful women, but only those from opposing forces.
But Su Yu is different.
Su Yu's favorites are all beauties who have never been "opened" (i.e., have never been sexually assault
Cao Cao then solemnly said:
"Don't worry, Ziyi, I, Cao, will definitely win you the beauties like Diaochan, Cai Zhaoji, and Dong Bai!"
Su Yu smiled.
As an ordinary person from later generations, Su Yu actually had little interest in becoming an official.
But Su Yu still has a great interest in beautiful women and wealth.
after all.
Having finally made it through time, how could we not enjoy it to the fullest?
Just then, the messenger outside the door suddenly walked in and reported to Cao Cao:
"Reporting to my lord, Alliance Leader Yuan requests your presence in his tent for a meeting."
"Yuan Shao?"
Did he invite anyone else?
Cao Cao inquired.
The messenger quickly bowed and replied:
"I haven't heard that Alliance Leader Yuan invited anyone else; it seems he only invited you, my lord."
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao subconsciously turned his gaze to Su Yu.
Su Yu stroked his chin, deep in thought:
“Yuan Shao’s visit late at night must be about Bai Tianzi’s killing of Hua Xiong.”
"My lord, there is no need to worry. I will accompany you to Yuan Shao's tent."
Cao Cao felt much more at ease.
Regardless of Yuan Shao's current motives for seeking him out.
With Su Yu by his side, Cao Cao had the confidence to face any challenge head-on.
of course.
The two of them alone are not enough.
Su Yu then summoned Zhao Yun, Xiahou Dun, and Xiahou Yuan.
In this way, even if Yuan Shao wanted to harm Cao Cao,
With these three fierce generals around, Yuan Shao dared not make any rash moves.
……
at the same time
Yuan Shao's Camp
Yuan Shao poured Xu You a cup of wine, and the two sat down to drink together.
Xu You took a small sip of the rice wine in his cup and said meaningfully:
"My lord, Cao Cao's actions today are probably not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a premeditated plan."
"He first had Zhang Fei fight under the banner of Yuan Shu's camp, and he knew that the warm wine his lord gave to Zhang Fei was poisoned."
"In this way, he can send Zhao Yun to take Hua Xiong's head."
"This move not only made Zhao Yun famous, but also ruined our lord's plan to kill Pan Feng!"
"Hehe, this Cao Cao is just like he was in his youth, a cunning fellow!"
Yuan Shao narrowed his eyes slightly.
According to his original plan, once the poison took effect, Zhang Fei would be killed by Hua Xiong.
In this way, Yuan Shao could take the opportunity to send Pan Feng to fight Hua Xiong again.
At that time, Zhang Fei and Pan Feng will both die at Hua Xiong's hands because they drank the poisoned wine.
However, due to Cao Cao's intervention, Pan Feng survived, which undoubtedly thwarted Yuan Shao's plans.
and.
Yuan Shao was very unhappy.
Cao Cao, this "little brother," actually wanted to use poisoned wine as leverage to blackmail his elder brother!
Yuan Shao, who was used to smooth sailing, could not stand this humiliation.
thus.
He decided to take advantage of the night to send someone to summon Cao Cao and teach him a lesson.
At the very least, we need to make Cao Cao realize who the real king is!
But compared to Yuan Shao, Xu You was undoubtedly more ruthless.
Xu You then smiled and said:
"My lord, why not use Cao Cao as leverage to command his army?"
"In this way, Cao Cao and his army will become your complete vassals."
"From now on, we can only follow your lead, my lord, and will not be able to cause any trouble!"
As the flower petals fell, Yuan Shao's gaze gradually shifted toward the map of the prefectures and counties beside him.
For Yuan Shao, the significance of Cao Cao's forces was to restrain Yuan Shu!
Otherwise, Yuan Shao was north of the Yellow River, separated from Yuan Shu by the natural barrier of the Yellow River.
Once Yuan Shu annexed the vast territory of the Central Plains, even if Yuan Shao unified the four provinces of Hebei, he would still find it difficult to contend with the powerful and resource-rich Yuan Shu.
Don't underestimate Yuan Shu.
If it weren't for Cao Cao's forces...
In the past, Yuan Shu was almost unstoppable in the entire Central Plains!
Relying on Lü Bu?
Or should we rely on Liu Bei?
To put it simply, if it weren't for Cao Cao...
Before Tao Qian ceded Xuzhou to Liu Bei, Yuan Shu had most likely already launched an attack on Xuzhou.
Lü Bu would become Yuan Shu's subordinate.
As for whether they will betray us in the future, that's another story.
But anyway.
Relying on Lü Bu and Liu Bei, two men with shallow foundations, was simply not enough to stop Yuan Shu's tens of thousands of troops.
Furthermore.
Historically, Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shu were allies!
In other words, without Cao Cao, Yuan Shao would most likely have faced a pincer attack from both Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shu.
No matter how strong Yuan Shao is, he will likely run out of options when faced with the combined attack of two powerful warlords.
This is the real reason why Yuan Shao supported Cao Cao and placed him in Yanzhou!
After the coalition of feudal lords disbanded, the various feudal lords would inevitably enter a phase of warfare and separatist rule.
With no one to stop the aggressive Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao's days are numbered!
After much deliberation, Yuan Shao still refused Xu You's suggestion:
"Just scare that scoundrel Cao Cao."
"Take him hostage? There's no need for that."
Upon hearing this, Xu You said urgently:
"Cao Cao was cunning by nature."
"Even if he feigns submission to our lord, he will turn against us one day!"
however.
No matter how Xu You tried to persuade him, Yuan Shao remained unmoved.
Helpless, Xu You could only sigh and give up the idea of persuading Yuan Shao to take Cao Cao hostage.
Soon.
The guard outside reported:
"Reporting to my lord, Cao Cao has arrived at the camp gate."
"Besides himself, he also brought his strategist Su Yu, as well as Zhao Yun, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan and two others who requested a meeting."
Upon hearing that Cao Cao had brought Su Yu and three fierce generals with him, Yuan Shao angrily said:
"This Cao Cao is so wary of me!"
Xu You coughed awkwardly.
In fact, Cao Cao's precautions were not wrong.
If Yuan Shao had truly intended to implement Xu You's "coerce Cao Cao" plan, and Cao Cao had come alone, it would have been tantamount to suicide.
But now, Cao Cao has come with his trusted advisor Su Yu and several generals, which indicates that Cao Cao already knows that Yuan Shao may be a threat to him.
This move does not mean that Cao Cao intended to lead Su Yu and three generals to fight against Yuan Shao's army.
Rather, it's if Yuan Shao makes a move.
The generals Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Yue Jin, Li Dian, and others who remained in Cao's camp would relay the news to the other warlords as quickly as possible!
By then.
Yuan Shao might as well give up being the leader of the alliance and just disband the coalition!
Unless Yuan Shao no longer cares about his reputation, he would never hold Cao Cao hostage again!
Xu You understood that his plan had been foiled by Cao Cao and Su Yu.
In the upcoming talks between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, Yuan Shao will be at a complete disadvantage!
……