There is always a reason when a person makes a certain choice, and if the choice is embarrassing, he may find an external reason other than his true inner thoughts.

To be fair, there is actually no problem with Yuan Shu marrying his daughter. He was already at the end of his rope, so what if he married a daughter? And this kind of thing is very common in troubled times when people's hearts are lost.

Historically, Sun Zhongmou, the great emperor of Sun Wu next door, married his cousin's daughter as Mrs. Xu in the early stage in order to stabilize his rule; in the middle stage, in order to satisfy his own evil taste, or of course to repay a favor, he married Yuan Shu's daughter.

The youngest daughter was Mrs. Yuan; in the later period, in order to gain political allies, she married her own sister to Liu Bei, a hero of the same generation as her father, and she was Mrs. Sun.

In troubled times, it is difficult to survive. When a plague comes, half the people in the county will be killed. When a famine comes, they will lose their children. When a war comes, everyone will be destroyed. If you want to maintain some nominal ethics and morals in such an environment, it will be a bit demanding for perfection.

It can only be said that those who maintain ethics and morals are more worthy of respect.

Naturally, there were a lot of reasons for switching to Lu Bu... First of all, the chaos was imminent, and he really needed to grasp a force after wandering around. The county magistrate was not as good as taking charge now, and Jiangxia was right in front of him; secondly, he was alone outside, and he also

There is indeed a lack of security and the need for a reliable ally; thirdly, the relationship network of the Yuan family in Runan is still very useful in the south, and this recognized famous family is even more important to Lu Bu, a warrior from Jiuyuan border county.

It is an unquestionable ladder of life; fourthly, it is even more nonsense to say that breaking one's trust and betrayal will bring disaster, because he learned this from Jia Xu, and you don't know that Jia Xu sold him to Lu Bu but he could rise to great heights, and he Lu Bu

I have been honest for half my life but can only be lonely and idle. In this case, why not imitate it?

All these reasons were given when he was explaining to his brother-in-law Wei Xu and a bunch of old subordinates. I have to say, they are quite reasonable and at least they can convince him.

Unlike Yuan Shu, who broke the pot and broke the pot, Lu Bu kept looking for reasons to convince himself that unlike his old troops, the actions of another person or group seemed much more justified.

After the father dies, the son takes over, and the family is the same. Since ancient times... why not?!

Shouldn't it be more shameful for someone like Cao Cao and Liu Bei to bully orphans and widows before his sworn brother's body is even cold?

"Oh, I didn't expect that one day, I, Cao Cao, would become a despicable person taking advantage of the situation." In Xu County, Yingchuan, Cao Cao led 10,000 troops here. As soon as he settled in the official temple, he received a sincere private letter, but it was to him.

Xun Yu, who arrived here in the same car, as well as Cao Ren, Xu Chu and others who accompanied him shook their heads and sighed.

This letter came from his prospective son-in-law Sun Ce. In the letter, the newly crowned Marquis of Wucheng described in detail to his father-in-law and sub-father the shock in the hearts of the three counties after his father's death, and told about himself as an eighteen-year-old boy who could not obtain an official position.

How the heir worked hard to support the family business before his father's death, told the shameless betrayal of people from all walks of life in the three counties, how his widowed mother was heartbroken at the funeral, and how his infant sister was

The outside world has no idea... In the end, the letter stated that he hoped that Yafu Cao Cao and uncle Liu Bei would come to stabilize the situation for him. At that time, he originally intended to hand over Yingchuan to Yafu to handle it, and Runan to his uncle Liu Bei to control it on his behalf.

"This letter from Mr. Sun...every word is full of tears. It really makes people sigh." After a while, in the Xu County official temple hall, Xun Yu finished reading the letter and shook his head for a while. "I can only say that Mr. Sun has a good literary talent.

Already."

"Literary talent is a piece of shit!" Cao Cao sat in the lobby of Xuxian County with a solemn look on his face and mocked him coldly. "If this kid hadn't been raised in my home for a long time, I would have almost believed him... Wen Ruo didn't know,

This guy A Ce is obviously a little mad dog. He looks very much like his father when he was young. He is frivolous and fearless, committing life and death! If you say that he can kill people at the age of 18, you are looking down on him; if you say that he can kill people, you are looking down upon him.

I have no qualms about being able to kill a general at the age of eighteen and revive his father's martial prowess; he is just pretending to show off his misery and mourn for me... Let me put it bluntly, if he really wrote this letter, then

All I can say is that this is definitely not Sun Wentai’s fault! This letter was most likely ghostwritten by people like Zhu Zhi, Huang Gai, and Wu Jing. At most, he had no objection.”

Xun Yu was neither happy nor angry, and calmly placed the letter on the desk in front of Cao Cao, and then said seriously: "Although it is true that the son resembles his father, according to his subordinates, he is still young after all, and his knowledge is still far inferior to his father's.

...Sun Polu was very knowledgeable and open-minded before his death. How can one of his underage sons compare with a group of subordinates who are unwilling to give up their wealth?"

"Yes!" Cao Mengde felt sad for a moment after hearing this. "It's really a pity for my brother Wentai... Just from his last words, we can tell that he is no longer the man under the Wu Dynasty in the past. In time, he may not be able to be like Gongsun Wenqi."

Gradually, the sharp edge was absorbed within, and the toughness became stronger, but unexpectedly, it died at the hands of a villain!"

At this point, Cao Cao himself paused: "Actually, if he hadn't died at the hands of a villain, he wouldn't have woken up. It's just that now that things have happened, I occasionally think about it, and it was also the situation when we made an appointment together on the Fengshi Mountain to do things after death.

Just thinking about it makes me feel sad, so I don’t want to think too much about it.”

Many civil and military officials accompanying him in the hall were silent for a moment.

In this way, after a long time, Cao Cao still sat motionless. Everyone had no choice but to look at Xun Yu and Cao Ren, but Xun Yu just kept his hands motionless. As for Cao Ren, he was no longer the naughty boy he used to be. Where did he come from?

That courage?

Having nothing to say that day, Cao Cao also declined the kindness of Xu County Magistrate Du Xi and Du Zixu to give up his official temple, and instead went to stay in the capital pavilion outside the city gate... It was autumn, the sky was high and the air was crisp, but Cao Mengde was in the capital

But it was difficult to fall asleep in the pavilion for a long time, until Xun Yu came alone with his clothes undressed and fragrant.

"Is Wen Ruo here to persuade me to be at ease?" Cao Cao was wrapped in a cloak and sat on the porch of the pavilion facing the rustling wind of the autumn night. He did not raise his head. He just smelled the fragrance and knew that Xun Yu was here.

Xun Yu stood behind Cao Cao with his hands clasped, and said slowly: "Ming Gong, I know that you and Sun Polu are brothers and sisters, and share life and death. But the problem now is, where is the overall situation of the world? If the Central Plains cannot be integrated, how can we talk about it?

Will the Han Dynasty be supported in the future? And if you want to maintain the unity of the Central Plains, the three counties of Runan, Yingchuan, and Nanyang can be in the hands of anyone, but they cannot be in the hands of the Sun family... I also ask Ming Gong to think more about it and consider the overall situation.

Heavy."

"I understand." Cao Cao became more and more sad. "I understand, it is best if both Nanyang and Yingchuan are in my hands... It's just Wen Ruo, people are not grass and trees, how can we be ruthless? The overall situation of the world is one thing, this

Why are personal feelings nothing? Moreover, my brother has just died. If I persecute too much, what will the world think of me? Will there be heroes and heroines who hate me because of this? How can things in the world be either/or?

Woolen cloth?"

Xun Yu's heart moved slightly: "Is Duke Ming worried about Liu Yuzhou?"

"Xuande is a hero, a real dragon lying on the Huaihe River..." Cao Cao said sincerely. "I am worried that he is good, but I am not worried that he will lead the Huainan people to Nanyang first, but I am worried that he will abide by his duty.

...If he takes over Runan in the name of Yuzhou Governor and just turns around and retreats with this letter, then I will be roasted on the fire."

"My subordinates have other opinions." Xun Yu replied calmly. "If Liu Xuande was really a hero, he would not have really retreated after receiving the letter."

"You mean he will go get Nanyang?"

"Maybe, but maybe he will sit in Runan without saying a word, so as not to lose his reputation of benevolence and not to embarrass Duke Ming."

"Why did he do this?" Cao Cao finally turned around.

“Because if he is a true hero, he should understand what the overall situation is!”

"I understand." Cao Cao nodded slowly, but suddenly stood up. "Wen Ruo, go on your own, I want to rest too..."

Xun Yu bowed to leave, and Cao Mengde also turned around and returned to the pavilion. However, when it was dawn at dawn, he couldn't help but get up. He didn't bring his guards or call anyone, just wrapped in a cloak.

Shivering, he walked out of the capital pavilion located next to the city gate of Xu County. He wanted to take advantage of the morning light above his head to go to the military camp on the edge of the city. However, as soon as he left the pavilion, he saw a small pond not far away.

Just strolled towards the lake.

By the way, the time has come to the end of July and the beginning of August, and the autumn harvest has begun. If the daylight is good, the mountains and fields will be full of green and yellow colors, making people forget their worries. At this time, Cao Mengde originally wanted to see

I wrinkled a pond of autumn water, but unexpectedly when I came to the pond, I found that although the autumn water was there, it was already covered with green and yellow fallen leaves, and the pond was full of wrinkles without wind... Cao Mengde stopped here and did not move for a long time.

In fact, Cao Cao knew better than anyone else that the death of Sun Jian was like the collapse of Mount Tai for the Sun regime entrenched in the hinterland of the Central Plains. And as Xun Yu said, since Sun Jian died, anyone could occupy the hinterland of the Central Plains, only Sun.

The clan's regime is not qualified to continue to be maintained.

This is natural... not only because Sun Ce is just 18 years old and does not have any prestige or wings, nor is it just because it is still at war, and the enemy Liu Biao, who has the power of the six counties of Jingxiang, is in front of him, and sooner or later he will

To get rid of the constraints and exert force, the more important point is that the Sun regime itself is too dependent on Sun Jian himself.

This is true from the inside out.

Internally speaking, although this regime maintains a seemingly stable rule on the surface, it cannot help but be turbulent on the inside... They control the most heartfelt and most elite land of the former Han Empire, but they are the same as Yuan Shu before him.

Unable to absorb the essence of this land and truly integrate with it, everything is like a building without a foundation.

The main body of their regime consisted of rangers, bandits, powerful men, and old pawns from the Jianghan and Xuyang areas, with the Sun family as the core. Perhaps they later included scattered local powerful figures, but there were not many local scholars who systematically participated.

In the construction of the main body of the political power, being able to maintain the momentum depends entirely on the success of continuous external expansion;

They held all the official positions in the local area and theoretically commanded everything, but they did not really control the local people and material resources through farming and bribing powerful people. The ability to keep these people in a trembling and obedient state was actually all thanks to Sun Jian and others who were rampant in the Central Plains. The force of his subordinates deterred him;

They do have a strong and capable army, but it was formed by Sun Jian with his personal charm and qualifications. Moreover, it is too complex and chaotic inside. What's more terrible is that compared to the locals, this is still a foreign army.

In addition to the inability of the regime to effectively control local areas internally, Sun Jian's death was a simple and direct blow to the maintenance of the regime from the outside... The Sun regime can become one of the four strongest powers in the Central Plains, and can compete with Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Tao Qian and others. Forming an alliance and being able to reach a tacit agreement not to fight with Gongsun Xun was all because of Sun Jian himself!

The sworn brother of Cao Cao and Liu Bei is Sun Jian, and it is Sun Jian that Gongsun Xun recognizes and appreciates. Tao Qian, the west shield that Zhu Jun relies on is still Sun Jian, Liu Biao is afraid of him, and Lu Bu is afraid of Sun Jian... Who are the others?

The entire Sun family's regime has a vast territory, a large population, and a powerful army, but it is like a castle in the air. From the beginning, it relied entirely on Sun Jian's personal prestige, ability, personal friendship, and seniority to maintain it. But now that Sun Jian is dead, the Sun family's regime will collapse. I'm afraid it's just around the corner.

In fact, Sun Wentai himself was clearly aware of this before his death, so he asked his children's family to help their souls go to Jiangdong, and openly allowed his subordinates to seek refuge with Cao Cao and Liu Bei... This is a leader and a man who can serve his subordinates and family before his death. Everything done!

If his family leaves everything and returns home in accordance with this last wish, no force in the world will do anything to his family. Liu Biao will probably send gifts along the way, and Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Zhu Jun will do their best to take care of them; if his If the subordinates defect to Cao Liu according to this last words, then Cao Cao and Liu Bei will definitely be happy with it, and there will be no gap between the two sides similar to "surrendering generals".

However, Sun Wentai has been away at war all year round and has not returned home for a long time. He does not know that although his son is only eighteen years old, he already has his own thoughts, and his subordinates are not willing to accept it... The reason is simple. Sun Wentai could realize that the situation was irreversible, but how could his subordinates and the eighteen-year-old Sun Ce understand it?

Even if they understand, who can easily give up such a large territory?

It's just that some things in this world are too important and precious, and you can't just decide to keep them in your hands if you don't want to let them go... Cao Mengde stood on the bank of Qiutang and watched for a long time. He didn't know that Xu Chu had secretly followed him and stood behind him. He didn't realize that the sun was rising gradually in the east, and he didn't know that countless generals and local officials came to visit him but were blocked by Xun Yu and Cao Ren.

At three o'clock in the morning, he finally turned around and returned to the capital pavilion, where he began to grind ink, lay paper, and write a letter to his good son-in-law and godson.

This letter has no literary grace at all. The entire letter is more like a popular official announcement in Hebei, which can be said to be without any flaw:

First, I mourn the death of my brother Sun Jian;

Secondly, he reiterated Sun Jian's last words and the legitimacy of his taking his old homeland;

Thirdly, he bluntly stated that Sun Ce was less than 18 years old. According to the Han system, there was no reason to be awarded an official position of more than two thousand shi. He had no right to command so many officials based on his title alone, nor was he qualified to arrest so many court officials. What he is doing now Everything is an act of violence;

Later, it was pointed out directly and clearly that during the autumn of chaos, the Sun regime had neither the support of local scholars nor the ability to effectively control the local powerful and common people. In a word, it was usually unpopular, but now it has

It is impossible for a foreign regime to continue to gain a foothold in this immoral act;

Finally, Cao Cao bluntly stated that it was known to the whole world that he, Sun Jian and Liu Bei were brothers and agreed to entrust his wife to him. Now that Sun Jian is dead, he and Liu Bei will not handle Sun Jian's affairs. Who will handle it? Sun Jian had previously shouldered the most important responsibilities in the world, and he

If Liu Bei doesn't bear the burden, who will? Therefore, he will go to Wancheng in person with Liu Bei, the governor of Yuzhou, to preside over Sun Jian's funeral, bury him in Jiangdong, and adopt his wife. Together with Liu Bei, he will serve as his father and uncle.

Sun Ce made an explanation to the people of Nanyang for his reckless behavior.

As for the public opinion, whether it is Sun Jian's previous harsh rule in the territory that caused him to be unkind, Cao Cao's reputation for taking his brother's family property, or the public resentment caused by Sun Ce's wanton behavior, Cao Cao has always been

He is responsible for it...because he is Sun Jian's adopted brother, Sun Ce's sub-father, and a powerful general of the Han Dynasty. Sun Jian's unkindness is due to his failure to persuade Cao Cao, and Sun Ce's cruelty is due to his failure to educate him well. As for the integration
To be continued...