Chen Xi scratched his head as he read the latest intelligence report. It seemed that Yuan Shu's retreat could be considered a strategic withdrawal rather than an outright failure.
"Zijian, make sure we've taken everything valuable from Runan. If there's anything left, we need to take it now," Chen Xi said, setting the report aside. Although Yuan Shu had returned, the likelihood of him retaking Pingyu was almost nonexistent.
"We've already taken everything worth moving. Meng Kang has transported all the goods back. We've stripped Runan of its resources," Hua Xiong replied with great satisfaction. He had managed to secure quite a bit of profit from this operation, and even his soldiers had gained a few extra pounds.
"In that case, send Yuan Shu a letter that allows both sides to save face," Chen Xi said casually. He felt no real pressure from Yuan Shu. If Yuan Shu had successfully captured Jiangling and hadn't been cut off by him, Liu Ye, Cao Cao, and others, then perhaps all of China would be wary of him. But now, if a conflict were to break out, although it might benefit others, it certainly wouldn't benefit Yuan Shu.
On the other side, in Yingchuan, where all his generals had gathered, Cao Cao finally relaxed after receiving the latest report on Yuan Shu. The final step of his strategy to disrupt the Central Plains could now be implemented.
"My lord, can you rest easy now?" Xun Yu asked with a smile.
"Without the efforts of all of you, how could I, Cao Mengde, possess such a prosperous land?" Cao Cao laughed heartily, not forgetting to acknowledge the strategists who had helped him design this plan.
"My lord should quickly march on Wancheng. Now that Yuan Shu's morale is shaken, we should lock down Wancheng, capturing half of Nanyang's fertile lands. With that, we will have the resources to conquer the world!" Cheng Yu advised, stroking his beard.
"Good. I will muster the troops and march on Wancheng at once. If we seal off that area, Nanyang will be divided into northern and southern parts. The northern lands, close to Yingchuan, will become ours. However..." Cao Cao, now in his thirties and at the height of his ambition, was known for his swift and decisive actions.
"My lord need only focus on taking Nanyang. Zhong Yao is one of our Yingchuan kin," said Chen Qun, who had recently joined the circle of strategists, reassuring Cao Cao with a smile.
Yingchuan was truly dominated by the Xun and Chen families. With Chen Qun siding with Cao Cao and the Xun brothers, Xun Yu and Xun You, also in his camp, it took only a minor exertion of influence by these three to bring all of Yingchuan under Cao Cao's control. The local officials in Yingchuan had deep, entangled connections with these two families.
Cao Cao glanced at Xun Yu, who was seated nearby. Xun Yu gave a slight nod, and Cao Cao, whose mind was already sharp, instantly grasped the entire plan.
On the map, the territories under Cao Cao's control were not contiguous, but Chen Qun's words strongly hinted that Zhong Yao was making moves in Chang'an, possibly leveraging the influence of court officials. This would give Cao Cao a legitimate reason to intervene in Zhang Yang's territory and enter Yongzhou and the capital region under the guise of supporting the emperor.
The capital region, ravaged by Dong Zhuo, was now a desolate wasteland, while Cao Cao, who had taken control of Yanzhou, gathered tens of thousands of Yellow Turban soldiers, annexed southern Yu Province, and merged it with Yingchuan, was thriving.
Moreover, with Liu Bei's stronghold fortified in strategic locations, defending against Cao Cao would be the wisest course of action. In the plains of Yanzhou, it would be nearly impossible for Cao Cao to defeat Liu Bei. Without cavalry, occupying Yanzhou was already stretching Cao Cao's lines too thin, worsening an already precarious situation. As Chen Xi had previously said, under the right circumstances, Zang Ba's three thousand cavalry could wreak havoc across Yanzhou, thoroughly embarrassing Cao Cao.
For this reason, Xun Yu was not optimistic about the situation in Yanzhou. However, despite his concerns, life had to go on. Xun Yu constantly calculated the balance of power between the two sides and finally found a path forward. Certain less critical areas of Yanzhou could serve as a buffer zone with Liu Bei. After relocating the population, the resulting uninhabited zone, stretching hundreds of miles, would pose a significant challenge for any invader.
As for where the relocated population would live, Xun Yu had already devised a solution—developing the capital region. This had been part of Xun Yu's plan for some time. The land in the capital region was fertile, and although the area had been devastated by war, the local noble families had lost their power to resist. This made the region ideal for land distribution.
Xun Yu also had his eye on the elite troops left behind by Dong Zhuo—the Xiliang cavalry. Although the constant warfare in the capital region had turned these soldiers into battle-hardened veterans prone to skirting their duties, they had seen real combat. If Cao Cao could absorb the entire Xiliang cavalry and retrain them, they would become a formidable force capable of challenging any warlord in the land.
Moreover, Xun Yu harbored a thought he had yet to voice: the development of Taishan was happening too quickly. Liu Bei's power was growing at a pace that drew the attention of the entire country. Xun Yu's instincts told him that Liu Bei might eventually become Cao Cao's greatest rival.
With these considerations in mind, Xun Yu was compelled to act early. What was initially planned as a war of conquest to be waged years later had to be launched immediately. Similarly, the planned actions against the capital region and the Xiliang cavalry had to be moved up to the present. Although acting this early was risky, it was better than being caught unprepared. By taking this path, there was still hope of unifying the land.
In truth, Xun Yu knew he was being somewhat hasty. If Cao Cao could fully absorb Yanzhou, all of Yu Province except for Taishan, and half of Nanyang, he would control over five million people. With such a base in the heart of China, blessed with wise ministers and fierce generals, and abundant resources, Cao Cao would have the strength to challenge any warlord, even Yuan Shao. There was no need to rush.
"Wenruo, are you unwell?" Cao Cao asked with concern. His current prosperity was due in large part to Xun Yu's efforts. If something happened to Xun Yu, chaos would likely ensue across his territories.
"Thank you for your concern, my lord. I am fine. I was merely thinking too deeply," Xun Yu replied, shaking his head. He did not mention the specifics of his thoughts, but he did not notice the faint smirk on Chen Qun's lips.
Chen Qun had originally intended to delay his entry into public life, preferring to travel and observe the various warlords up close. However, Chen Xi's actions—defeating a million Yellow Turbans, pressing Yuan Shao in Jizhou, and seizing Nanpi—had shaken the Chen family to its core. Under such circumstances, Chen Qun could no longer afford to maintain his aloofness.
Upon seeing Chen Xi's accomplishments, Chen Qun understood why Chen Xi had acted as he did—because Chen Xi was just like him, equally proud! When Chen Qun saw the report detailing Chen Xi's achievements, he recognized that Chen Xi deserved to be placed on the same level as himself. Chen Xi had earned the right to be proud.
This was a chaotic era, and it had its own rules. In this time, noble status was no longer determined by blood alone but by raw power. Whether they were bastards, cadet branches, or distant relatives, anyone with the right lineage had the right to claim leadership of their family.
Chen Qun had no intention of relinquishing what was rightfully his. Even if he did not care much for the position of family head, if Chen Xi wanted to take it from him, he would have to fight for it. They would see who was truly the stronger between them!