si-mexico Chapter 238 Xu You is a loyal subject of Yuan Shao! Liu Biao marries his daughter to Zhang Xiu?
Chapter 238 Xu You is a loyal subject of Yuan Shao! Liu Biao marries his daughter to Zhang Xiu?
The trigger for Xu You's downfall was a letter that Shen Pei, who was stationed in Ye City, suddenly sent to Yuan Shao.
The above records evidence of the crimes committed by Xu You's clansmen in using Xu You's name to amass wealth!
But this issue needs to be analyzed step by step.
Doesn't Shen Pei know that there's a war going on at the front?
Didn't you know Xu You was a frontline staff officer?
How could someone who stays behind the lines year-round to manage logistics and provisions not know these things?
Let's look at how Xun Yu from Cao Cao's camp handled similar situations.
During the war, any matter discovered in the rear of Xuchang other than treason was downplayed and ignored!
But the review and matching process is being made a mountain out of a molehill.
This is absolutely not because he lacks the ability to judge and match; it's because he did it on purpose!
His goal was to put pressure on Yuan Shao and restore the military power that Ju Shou had been stripped of by Yuan Shao because of Wen Chou's death in the Battle of Yan Jin!
This move is reminiscent of Cao Cao being on a campaign when Xun Yu suddenly writes to him, telling him it's time to relinquish power to Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie.
Imagine if such a thing really happened, how could Cao Cao continue fighting on the front lines with peace of mind?
Unfortunately, the matter of Xu You became common knowledge among the Yuan army soldiers at the Guandu front.
Xu You has incurred the wrath of the masses.
While our soldiers are sweating and bleeding on the front lines, your clansmen are openly embezzling in your name in the rear.
Isn't this trampling on the hard work of our soldiers?
Under these circumstances, Yuan Shao had no choice but to punish Xu You.
Under normal circumstances, the embezzlement by Xu You's clansmen would be no big deal!
However, due to the obstruction of many of Ju Shou's followers at the front lines, Xu You never had the chance to meet Yuan Shao again.
(The Biography of Xu You in the Records of the Three Kingdoms clearly states that before Xu You defected, he attempted to meet Yuan Shao but was prevented from doing so, ultimately leaving him with no choice but to flee.)
For Cao Cao, Xu You's defection was a timely boon! It was a product of the infighting within Yuan Shao's camp!
But to my surprise, Xu You actually had his heart set on Yuan Shao!
Why do you say that?
Because Xu You led Cao Cao to Wuchao.
Chunyu Qiong of Wuchao did not get drunk as depicted in the novel.
Instead, they had made preparations in advance, arranging their troops outside Wuchao, ready to fight Cao Cao to the death!
As the sun sets, Chunyu Qiong, wearing a cow-horned helmet, clad in armor and wielding weapons, dressed in the armor of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden, is the greatest irony to Cao Cao.
Old colleagues unexpectedly engaged in a fateful duel in this very place.
Outside Wuchao, war raged.
Either Chunyu Qiong dies, or Cao Cao perishes!
Cao Cao's army was once at a disadvantage, Cao Cao himself was nearly killed, and Xu Chu, Zhang Liao, and Xu Huang were all seriously wounded! (Recorded in the biographies of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao)
But Chunyu Qiong died without ever receiving the reinforcements he longed for…
As for why Cao Cao didn't just kill Xu You directly.
First, he had no direct evidence that Xu You had leaked the secret to Chunyu Qiong.
Secondly, Xu You's head is a treasure, and a treasure should be used wisely!
Xu You died around 204 AD, after Cao Cao captured Ye City and pacified Ji Province.
The powerful families of Ji Province were both enemies and shareholders of Yuan Shao.
But for Cao Cao, this was not an enemy.
Especially after the deaths of Ju Shou, Shen Pei, Feng Ji, Tian Feng, and others.
The powerful families of Ji Province have become allies that Cao Cao can win over!
He wanted to curry favor with the powerful families of Ji Province, so naturally he needed something to appease their resentment.
That was Xu You's head!
(I'll stop here for now. Actually, writing these kinds of supplementary settings that aren't in the original novel is the most tiring part, because it's exhausting to organize the language and make it understandable to a wider audience; but if I put it in the author's notes, many readers simply won't read it.)
(In the future, these settings will be integrated directly into the main storyline and appear in the text through dialogue, instead of being supplemented back and forth like this, to avoid being accused of padding.)
……
Right now
In the residence of the Prefect of Ye City
Everyone waited quietly for Ju Shou to give his orders.
Ju Shou first looked at Qu Yi and asked with a smile:
"Qu Yi, how's the training going for the new recruits of the Vanguard Death Squad?"
Qu Yi grinned and said:
"Don't worry, Mr. Ju."
"This general adopts a mentorship model, where experienced soldiers guide new recruits. With the help of veterans, the new recruits adapt to the daily training rhythm at the fastest speed."
Ju Shou nodded and said:
"At the latest, we must eliminate Gongsun Zan by next autumn harvest."
Everyone understood that Ju Shou was serious now.
Next, the powerful families of Ji Province, with Ju Shou at their core, will undoubtedly increase their assistance to Yuan Shao.
After speaking of Qu Yi, Ju Shou turned to look at Feng Ji:
"There's no problem with Liu Biao."
"But I've heard that Zhang Xiu's troops are stationed in Wancheng with the support of Liu Biao?"
Feng Ji replied respectfully:
"Not entirely."
"For example, most of the supplies such as weapons, armor, and warhorses belonged to Zhang Xiu himself."
"But a large portion of the provisions were provided by Liu Biao."
Ju Shou clicked his tongue twice.
Liu Biao wasn't the only one raising wolves.
Yuan Shao is currently also raising [something].
Just a few days ago, Lü Bu followed Yuan Shao to attack the Black Mountain bandits and personally beheaded two of their leaders!
But when raising wolves, never forget that you are raising wolves, not dogs.
It's okay to feed wolves, but don't let them turn on you.
“Yuan Tu, if Zhang Xiu surrenders to Cao Cao, the area north of Jingzhou will be in danger.”
"I, Ju, intend to cause Cao Cao a disaster in Wancheng, and it would be best if he died in Wancheng!"
Upon hearing this, everyone straightened their clothes and waited for Ju Shou to continue.
Ju Shou paused, then added:
"But this requires Liu Biao's support."
"We need to find a way to force Zhang Xiu to go to war with Cao Cao!"
"I have already come up with a plan, all that's left is to communicate with Liu Biao."
Feng Ji understood that Ju Shou wanted to send him as an envoy to Jingzhou.
Therefore, he volunteered to serve as an envoy.
Feng Ji's sensible and reasonable nature greatly pleased Ju Shou.
In fact, Feng Ji was not originally from Jizhou, but he had already been turned to the side by Ju Shou in the face of Ju Shou's vast network of influence.
Apart from Guo Tu, Xun Chen, and Xin Ping, who were from Yuzhou.
Among the high-ranking members of Yuan Ying's camp.
Yuan Shao's remaining veterans and loyal followers were only a handful of people, including Xu You, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and Chunyu Qiong.
Who among the rest does not rely on Ju Shou's whims?
……
"What!?"
"You want me to secretly marry my daughter to Zhang Xiu?"
Xiangyang
In the council chamber
Liu Biao slammed his fist on the table and stood up.
Feng Ji, however, calmly smiled and said:
"This is also for the sake of the bigger picture."
"Liu Jingzhou should also know that after Cao Cao swallowed up Yuan Shu's forces, the next person he would most likely deal with is Zhang Xiu of Wancheng."
"If Zhang Xiu betrays you and joins Cao Cao at this critical juncture, the loss will be enormous."
"Moreover, it's not as simple as just getting Liu Jingzhou to marry his daughter to Zhang Xiu."
"Besides this, Mr. Ju has other countermeasures."
"Zhang Xiu will definitely become the number one loyal minister in the cause of resisting Cao Cao, rather than someone who surrenders to Cao Cao!"
……