Chapter 132 Prepare for a Rainy Day

Hearing Yuan Xi say this, the girl seemed somewhat unconvinced, retorting, "Father has a very good reputation among the scholars of Qingzhou. Everyone says he is a famous scholar of this era."

Lady Kong Rong quickly tugged at the girl's sleeve and whispered, "Don't say anymore."

Yuan Xi smiled slightly, "It's alright. Your daughter is quite interesting. I rather like girls who reason things out."

Upon hearing this, the girl's face turned slightly red, and she shrank closer to her mother.

Yuan Xi raised a finger, "Does the young lady think that the reputation of the Yuan family of Runan is greater, or that of Master Wenju? If scholars were to evaluate both sides, who would be more accurate?"

The girl hesitated for a moment, "It should be the Yuan family of Runan? But I think Father is probably about the same."

Yuan Xi said, "Then what if the Yuan family is combined with the Yang family of Mount Tai? And then with the Xun family of Yingchuan?"

Only then did the girl realize and stammered, "How can you calculate it like that?"

"Wouldn't that be very unfair to Father with so many families?"

Yuan Xi smiled, "But just now, the young lady said that Master Wenju's reputation among scholars was also elevated by the scholars together."

Lady Kong Rong seemed thoughtful upon hearing this.

"So, the reputation of scholars may be just a one-sided view. Even if many people share the same one-sided view, it is still one-sided and has nothing to do with whether it is correct or not."

The girl hesitated, "Does the young master mean that the reputation among scholars cannot be used as a standard for judgment?"

"Not necessarily, and it's not to say it's definitely not possible," Yuan Xi said, "My meaning is just that words and actions are not necessarily consistent."

"Then are the rumors about the young master in Ye City all false?" The girl was very happy. She recalled the unsavory rumors about Yuan Xi among the aristocratic families and thought that they were indeed all rumors. The young master had a dignified appearance, so how could he bully orphans and widows!

"No, most of them should be true."

Upon hearing this, the girl was so frightened that she shrank back again.

Lady Kong Rong put her arm around the girl, looked at Yuan Xi with some resentment, and said, "Young master, please don't scare my daughter."

She said softly, "I know that the young master is quite disdainful of my husband abandoning my daughter and me."

"But even if my husband really did something wrong, I can only accept it."

"This matter does not violate etiquette, and the world has no reason to criticize it, but I am still very grateful to the young master."

Only then did the girl understand, and she couldn't help but open her eyes wide.

Yuan Xi thought that Lady Kong Rong was indeed intelligent, sighed, and said, "I acted impulsively."

He called out, and the carriage stopped. Yuan Xi closed the car door, asked the guard for a horse to ride, and the convoy started moving again.

Lady Kong Rong hugged her daughter, thinking that this Second Young Master Yuan was indeed just acting impulsively.

She felt somewhat resentful.

If you had always been so daring, it would have been fine to go to Tancheng, but now that you're stuck in between, what is this supposed to be?

Although Yuan Xi's trip was very secretive, news of the trip to Xuzhou still reached Juancheng in Dong Commandery.

Now, inside Cao Cao's residence, Cao Cao sat at the head, and counselors and generals sat below, discussing the truce with Lu Bu.

After receiving Yuan Shao's soldiers and food, Cao Cao finally drove Lu Bu back again, blocking him between Chenliu Commandery and Dong Commandery.

Now that both sides were exhausted, they began to secretly contact each other to temporarily stop the war and start bargaining.

The chief strategist was still Xi Zhicai, but the atmosphere among the counselors was somewhat tense.

Ever since Xun Yu learned that Cheng Yu had secretly bound Guo Jia and sent him to the other party in order to meet Yuan Xi's conditions during the negotiations in Dongwuyang, he was very angry and mentioned this matter again.

He snorted coldly, "Zhongde, I really misjudged you!"

"How could you do such an unrighteous thing?"

Cheng Yu's expression remained unchanged, "It's just a Guo Jia, using him to exchange for the heir of the lord, what's wrong with that?"

Xun Yu said angrily, "You are using unscrupulous means!"

"If this matter spreads, the lord's reputation will inevitably be damaged!"

Cheng Yu said coldly, "This matter was done by me alone and has nothing to do with the lord."

"If the world has criticism, it will be directed at me alone."

"I heard that Wenruo is familiar with that Guo Jia, could it be personal feelings, abandoning public affairs for personal reasons!"

Xun Yu became even more angry after hearing this, "Zhongde, you have changed. You didn't used to do things so bottomlessly!"

Cheng Yu also became angry, "It's useless to say these words. I have a clear conscience, and everything I do is for the sake of the lord."

Xun Yu wanted to say more, but Xi Zhicai suddenly coughed violently a few times, and both sides quieted down after hearing it.

Xi Zhi coughed for a long time before slowly calming his breath and said, "Don't argue anymore. Now that things have come to this, we can only look forward."

"I'm afraid I won't live long. In the future, assisting the lord to achieve great things will still depend on you all."

The counselors all felt uncomfortable after hearing this.

Xi Zhicai slowly said, "Now we have both internal and external troubles. If we can't work together, I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to continue in the future."

"Yuan Shao in the north has always wanted to annex us. Lu Bu in the west is asking for a high price. Tao Qian in the east has been replaced by Liu Bei. Although we occupy most of Yuzhou in the south, we are also surrounded by Zhang Xiu, Liu Biao, and Yuan Shu, so it is difficult to expand further."

"The reason why I summoned you here this time is to hear everyone's opinions on what to do next?"

Everyone looked at each other, and Xun Yu said, "Now it is difficult to attack both north and south. The two easier paths are to completely defeat Lu Bu or attack Xuzhou."

The counselors nodded.

Xi Zhicai said, "Since that's the case, which one is easier?"

Everyone was silent.

Some time ago, everyone unanimously believed that Yanzhou should be pacified first, because this was the foundation of Cao Cao's career.

That's why Cao Cao didn't hesitate to send his family to Ye City to exchange soldiers and money with Yuan Shao, wanting to defeat Lu Bu in one fell swoop.

But after fighting to this point, Cao Cao's counselors were surprised to find that Lu Bu's preparations were much more sufficient than they had imagined!

According to the news sent back by the spies, Zhang Miao and Lu Bu seemed to have foreseen the future and hoarded a large amount of grain in advance, so the losses were small when the locust plague came.

In contrast, Cao Cao's side was much more embarrassed. If Yuan Shao hadn't lent them food, they would have collapsed long ago.

Moreover, although Cao Cao's army was united and defeated Lu Bu several times, the other party didn't know why, but seemed to have taken a reassurance pill. Instead of being reckless and counterattacking rashly, he firmly guarded Chenliu, making Cao Cao feel that he had no way to start.

Later, Cao Cao's counselors received news that Lu Bu seemed to have a master to help him!

Cheng Yu said, "Is the rumor of that Hidden Tiger true?"

"There really is a master who can foresee the future, predict the locust plague, and the death of Governor Tao?"

Everyone felt even more uneasy. If this was the case, wouldn't the other party know their movements like the back of their hand? How could they fight a war?

At this time, Cao Cao, who was at the head, spoke for the first time.

"I only hate that I can't let this person be used by me."

The counselors felt even more uncomfortable.

Xi Zhicai said with a solemn expression, "Now it seems that Lu Bu cannot be defeated in the short term."

"Another way is to negotiate a truce with him first and then fully attack Xuzhou."

"Although Liu Bei has now obtained Xuzhou, he cannot suppress the Danyang soldiers. Moreover, he was just defeated by Yuan's army and is at his weakest, making him much easier to deal with than Lu Bu."

"When the time comes, we will occupy the land of Xuzhou, and we can attack or defend. What do you think about turning around and dealing with Lu Bu?"

Xiahou Dun also said, "Although the hatred for my eye has not been avenged, I also agree to attack Liu Bei first."

A few days ago, he was shot in the eye by Lu Bu's army while rescuing the three cities, which made the generals quite regretful.

Xiahou Yuan said hatefully, "That Liu Bei is indeed cunning. I don't know what means he used to take Xuzhou, and now he is secretly negotiating peace with the Yuan family!"

"If he really succeeds in the negotiation, wouldn't we lose the excuse to attack!"

"I also heard that the one who went to Xuzhou to negotiate peace is that fierce tiger of the Yuan family!"

Everyone looked at each other after hearing this, because Yuan Xi's name had gradually spread privately within Cao Cao's camp.

This person's reputation was not obvious at first. He was just an unknown illegitimate son of Yuan Shao, but he rose like a meteor, causing Cao Cao to suffer several silent losses!

First, he rescued Cao Song in Xuzhou, destroying the excuse to attack Xuzhou and snatching a large amount of wealth. Then, he became famous in the battle of Qingzhou, defeating Tian Kai and Kong Rong, helping Yuan Tan occupy Qingzhou, and expanding Yuan's territory to Xuzhou!

Moreover, during the negotiations, he humiliated the Cao family. Guo Jia was insignificant, but the key point was that Yuan Xi actually wanted Lady Huan and her daughter and kept them in his mansion. Doesn't this amount to putting a hat on the lord?

Thinking of this, everyone dared not look at Cao Cao. Although Lady Huan was the widow of Bian Rang, she had already been taken as a concubine by Cao Cao. Now that the fierce tiger was doing this, it was simply a naked slap in Cao Cao's face!

Only Cao Cao took other people's wives and daughters, and no one had ever seen his wife and daughters being taken away by others. Thinking of this, everyone tried their best to suppress the expressions on their faces, lest Cao Cao be furious.

Cao Cao sighed, "I really didn't expect that this son of Benchu would be so capable."

"If Ang'er could be like him, what else would I have to worry about?"

"If he can really be used by me, what's the harm in sending him a few concubines?"

Everyone thought that he was indeed a wise lord and was indeed generous.

Xi Zhicai's expression was solemn, "This son is deeply hidden and must be guarded against. News has come that he is almost at Xiapi and Tancheng, and he is likely to negotiate with Liu Bei."

"Now, there is not much time left for us to use our troops against Xuzhou."

Cheng Yu said decisively, "Zhicai is right. If the Yuan family and Liu Bei make peace, we will have no excuse to use our troops against Xuzhou!"

"I suggest that we immediately negotiate peace with Lu Bu, and then quickly attack Liu Bei and occupy Xuzhou!"

Xun Yu hesitated, "Is there no other way?"

Xi Zhicai said in a deep voice, "The current situation is very bad."

"The purpose of the Yuan family is to keep us busy so that they can fully attack Gongsun Zan next year."

"If Gongsun Zan fails, the Yuan family will definitely expand southward. Whether it is from Xuzhou in the east or Sili in the west, we will have no place to stand in the future and can only be trapped in Yanzhou and Yuzhou, with no chance of turning over."

"If Yuan and Liu reconcile in Xuzhou, we can only seize the last chance."

Cao Cao asked, "What opportunity?"

Xi Zhicai said decisively, "No matter what the Yuan family does next year, as long as their army attacks Gongsun Zan and the two sides are at a stalemate in Yijing, we will only have one choice."

"Gather all our forces, cross the Yellow River, and attack Ye City!"

"Strike first!"