With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 221, Which side is Xun Yu really on?

The emperor is in front, and the ministers are behind.

If the emperor was faster, Xun Yu would be faster; if the emperor was slower, he would be slower, and the distance between them would always remain the same.

Xun Yu's respect for the emperor was ingrained in his very being; it had become a habit in his words and actions.

However, this respect for the emperor and loyalty to the emperor do not seem to be equal!
If Liu Xie hadn't pointed it out, Xun Yu would have been upset. Now that Liu Xie had revealed to his face that he was Cao Cao's man, Xun Yu wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

"Your Majesty, minister..."

Xun Yu tried to speak with difficulty, wanting to explain and express his loyalty, but the words wouldn't come out.

He wasn't as open and carefree as Guo Jia, because Guo Jia's stance remained consistent; he firmly stood on Cao Cao's side.

Xun Yu was caught between the Han Dynasty and Cao Cao, and both sides held significant weight in his heart.

On the one hand, he admired Cao Cao's abilities and felt that only a hero like Cao Cao could quell the chaos. On the other hand, Xun Yu also respected and cared about the Han Dynasty and did not want the four-hundred-year-old Han Dynasty to be ended.

Xun Yu stammered, sweat beading on his forehead. Despite his exceptional wisdom, he was too embarrassed to speak, and his face gradually turned red.

Liu Xie laughed, "Wenruo, don't overthink it. If I really wanted to hold you accountable, I would have punished you in court. Haha, Cao Cao has done me a great service, and you are no exception. Although I hold grudges, I also know how to be grateful."

Xun Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

Even though the emperor was so magnanimous, there was still a reason why he was wary of Cao Cao.

But a warm feeling welled up in Xun Yu's heart.

Liu Xie only touched on this topic casually, without delving into it further with Xun Yu.

Should we question him about why he was two-timing? Why couldn't he be wholeheartedly loyal to the emperor?

Smart people don't waste time on meaningless things.

"Wenruo, what's past is past. Once I've spoken, I will keep my word."

Xun Yu was both moved and remorseful, and said from the bottom of his heart, "Your Majesty's magnanimity is rare throughout history. Even the King of Qin and Emperor Wu of Han probably couldn't match it."

Liu Xie laughed heartily, "Although I don't like to hear praise and flattery, I am still very happy to hear you say that today."

"Your Majesty, how do you think the Secretariat should operate in the future?" Xun Yu couldn't help but ask after walking for a while.

The current situation is as clear as it gets.

With the emperor in charge of governance, and everything decided by him, Xun Yu of the Ministry of Personnel felt there was no need to continue.

Xun Yu continued, "I believe that from now on, all matters, large and small, can be discussed and decided in the court."

Liu Xie shook his head and said, "Everything can remain the same. Of course, if Wenruo wants to return to Cao Cao's side, I will not stop him. I can select another capable person to serve as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat."

Xun Yu was capable, and the Secretariat was functioning normally, so Liu Xie was still willing to continue to maintain this system.

He had to oversee everything himself and do everything personally. Even if Liu Xie was young and strong, he probably couldn't handle that kind of high-intensity work style.

Those below are responsible for doing the work, while those above are responsible for personnel management. Liu Xie preferred this approach.

Xun Yu was stunned; the emperor actually wanted him to return to Cao Cao's side.

Although Liu Xie only mentioned it half-jokingly, it still made Xun Yu very conflicted.

So, how do I get back?

Cao Cao was currently holding the official title of Minister of Works, but he did not have his own fiefdom.

Xun Yu, a high-ranking official and leader of the Xun clan of Yingchuan, is he going to set up a tent in Guandu to work?

Even Cao Cao himself is now like a piece of duckweed adrift on the water, with nowhere to settle.

Cao Cao was the Minister of Works, and wherever the imperial court was located, the Minister of Works had to stay there.

Cao Cao's base was in Xuchang, but now the emperor of Xuchang was in charge, and even Cao Cao himself didn't know where he would settle down in the future.

Even if Xun Yu fled from Xuchang to Cao Cao's side, he would only be strengthening Cao Cao's "wandering army."

If Cao Cao had truly been granted a fiefdom, such as becoming the Duke of Wei, perhaps some people would have been willing to go and serve as his subordinates. But if that had actually happened, Xun Yu would not have gone there.

Because, deep down, Xun Yu did not approve of Cao Cao being granted the titles of duke and king.

Therefore, it is illogical to send Xun Yu to follow Cao Cao, no matter how you look at it.

Wherever the imperial court was located, Xun Yu had to stay there.

This was Xun Yu's destiny!

Xun Yu would never have done something like abandoning his position as a Han official to become Cao Cao's subordinate.

"Wenruo..."

Seeing that he remained silent, Liu Xie sighed, somewhat reluctantly. "It's not that I'm forcing you, but because I am the Emperor of the Han Dynasty. From the moment I ascended the throne, I have shouldered the mission of restoring the Han Dynasty. If a subject is no longer a subject, and an emperor is no longer an emperor, is this world still my world? Is this world still the world of the Han Dynasty? I don't want to be a figurehead or a mere decoration, nor do I want you to go astray."

Not far ahead was Xun Yu's house, and Liu Xie walked straight in as if he were visiting his own home.

The gatekeepers all knew the emperor, so naturally they didn't stop him.

Xun Yu sighed heavily, dragging his heavy legs as he followed. His legs moved forward mechanically, as if his energy had been drained and his soul had been lost.

Is it wrong for an emperor to want to be a true emperor?
Is it wrong for the emperor to want his ministers to be loyal?

Liu Xie's words just now, "If you want to return to Cao Cao's side, I will not stop you," almost cost Xun Yu his life.

Since the upheaval in Xudu, Xun Yu has been restless and unable to eat or sleep, and his mind is in turmoil every day.

It's hard to be a good person, and it's even harder to be a loyal subject.

When Xun Yu entered the front courtyard, Xun Yun was talking to Liu Xie.

Liu Xie smiled and inquired about his studies, asking what books he was reading recently and who was teaching him.
Xun Yun was already 11 years old and no longer liked toys. Influenced by his father, he was very fond of the classics, history, philosophy and literature, and would read for several hours every day.

Liu Xie examined it for a moment and praised it repeatedly, "Not bad. I will rebuild the Imperial Academy soon and select a group of outstanding students to enter. You must work hard and strive to bring honor to your father and glory to the Xun family."

Xun Yun nodded earnestly, "Your Majesty, I will definitely study hard and not disappoint my father."

Liu Xie patted him on the head with satisfaction. "Very good. I came in a hurry and didn't bring any gifts, so I'll just give you a poem called 'Exhortation to Learning.' I hope you will keep it in mind and always strive to learn."

Xun Yun stared with bright eyes, clapping his little hands with anticipation.

Xun Yu also stopped and listened with curiosity.

Up to this point, Xun Yu only knew that the emperor was very intelligent, magnanimous, and resourceful, but he had never heard of any poems written by the emperor.

Liu Xie did not intentionally seek fame; he simply saw Xun Yun reading and, moved by the sight, decided to urge him to maintain his habit of diligent study.

Liu Xie strolled slowly in the courtyard, reciting a poem by Han Yu of the Tang Dynasty, "Exhortation to Learning," as he walked.

The Yangtze River flows on, its waves pushing the one before it; the people of today surpass those of the past. If we let our lives pass by in vain, we will only have regrets in our old age.

Ambition knows no age; without ambition, one lives a wasted life.

If you don't work hard when you're young, you'll regret it when you're old... Ice is born from water but is colder than water; indigo comes from the plant but is bluer than the plant itself. You never know how hard something is until you've experienced it.

A knife left unsharpened will rust; a person who doesn't learn will fall behind. Diligence is the path to knowledge, and hard work is the boat to navigate the boundless sea of ​​learning…

This poem is catchy and easy to understand. Xun Yun understood its meaning after listening to it only once.

Xun Yu stopped and savored the moment, secretly admiring it in his heart.

The emperor is truly a man of great talent, who would have thought he possessed such abilities.

Xun Yu hurriedly had someone bring him paper and pen. "Your Majesty, you may repeat it again. I want to write it down and post it in my son's room to urge him to study diligently and study hard."

Liu Xie had no choice but to repeat it again, and Xun Yu hurriedly wrote it down word for word.

Liu Xie didn't care about Xun Yu and his son's surprise and admiration. After staying there for a while, Liu Xie went next door to visit Xun Yue, and Xun Yu followed him.

Xun Yu's residence was right next to Xun Yue's, while Xun You's residence was diagonally opposite. Since they were all close relatives, they were very close to each other, making it convenient for them to visit and look after each other.

Xun Yue was just sick. He had heard about what had happened in Xuchang these past few days. When he saw the emperor come to visit him in person, he was so excited that he hurriedly got out of bed.

Despite Liu Xie's gesture to stop him, Xun Yue still knelt respectfully on the ground, bowing and paying his respects, "Your Majesty, this old minister pays his respects to you."

Before she could finish her sentence, Xun Yue burst into tears.

Xun Yu stood at the door, deeply moved. After hesitating for a moment, he stepped inside.

Xun Yue had a square face and a short beard. Although he was only over fifty, he looked very old.

On the one hand, he spent years buried in official documents and busy studying classics, which consumed too much of his energy; on the other hand, he was worried about the country and had many grievances against Cao Cao, which accelerated his aging.

Liu Xie helped him sit down again, took his hand, and comforted him, saying, "Please take good care of yourself. In a few days, when you are fully recovered, I will entrust the affairs of the Imperial Academy to you."

Liu Xie highly values ​​the importance of schools.

Xun Yue had studied classical texts for many years, and Liu Xie often consulted him in the past.

He can interpret complex scriptures in a simple way.

In terms of scholarship, reputation, and ability to manage the Imperial Academy, Xun Yue was more than qualified.

In the Eastern Han Dynasty, the person in charge of the Imperial Academy was called the "Chancellor of the Imperial Academy," while in the Western Jin Dynasty, the Imperial Academy was also called the "Imperial Academy."

The term "principal" originated in the Qing Dynasty, but Xun Yue's role was equivalent to that of the principal of the Imperial Academy.

His role as a libationer was completely different from Guo Jia's.

Xun Yue immediately agreed, his face full of excitement, and said, "To be able to see Your Majesty wield the divine weapon in my lifetime, this old minister has no regrets even if I die. Your Majesty trusts this old minister, and this old minister with his frail body will certainly do his utmost to serve Your Majesty."

Unlike Xun Yu, Xun Yue never intended to take sides and support Cao Cao; he always stood firmly on the emperor's side.

Initially, Cao Cao intended to give Xun Yu an important position because of his respect for Xun Yu. However, after several attempts, Cao Cao lost heart because he discovered that Xun Yue was loyal to the Han Dynasty and his mind was always on the emperor's side.

"Alright, I understand your loyalty. You should take good care of yourself and I will come to visit you again in a few days."

Being too excited would be bad for recuperation, so Liu Xie offered a few words of comfort and then got up and left.

Liu Xie appreciated such loyal ministers and did not need to spend too much effort on them.

You just need to make him understand that you trust him enough.

Xun Yu watched and listened the whole time. He noticed that although the emperor did not stay for long, he always addressed Xun Yue with respect, using "you" instead of "you".

You only do this if you genuinely respect someone.

Although it was just a small detail, Xun Yu could see that his elder brother, with his integrity and loyalty, was the kind of person the emperor liked and respected the most.

"His Majesty."

No sooner had Liu Xie left Xun Yue's house than Chen Gong walked over from the opposite side, his steps quick and his face anxious.

Upon approaching, Chen Gong glanced at Xun Yu, hesitated, and dared not speak.

Liu Xie waved his hand, "Speak frankly, Lord Xun is no outsider."

Xun Yu felt his heart bleed. When have I ever not been an outsider?

His Majesty just said I was one of Cao Cao's men.

Even Xun Yu himself is now a bit confused, unsure of which side he's on.

If it's on the emperor's side, even if the emperor has seized power, he won't be happy at all.

If he were on Cao Cao's side, he should immediately contact Cao Cao and help him devise a countermeasure.

However, Xun Yu has not contacted Cao Cao in the past two days, and he does not even want Cao Cao to contact him.

Because no matter what Cao Cao asked him to do, he would be in a difficult position.

Chen Gong glanced at Xun Yu again before speaking: "Che Zhou raised his banner in Xuzhou and gathered 5,000 men to support Guandu; Wang Zhong also organized 3,000 men in Chenliu to respond; Cai Yang from Yuzhou also sent troops; and the grain originally intended to be transported to Xudu has been changed direction, with all the grain being transported directly to Guandu."

Liu Xie nodded, muttering to himself, "Che Zhou of Xuzhou, Wang Zhong of Yanzhou, Cai Yang of Yuzhou... I'm afraid that soon, places like Hanoi and Sili will also respond."

Liu Xie gave Xun Yu a meaningful look and praised, "As expected of Lord Cao, his prestige is well-established, and he commands a hundred responses with a single call."

Xun Yu's eyebrows twitched uneasily; Cao Cao's reaction was not unexpected.

He knew Cao Cao too well; he knew Cao Cao would definitely retaliate and would never willingly return to Xuchang to obey the emperor's orders.

Chen Gong sighed helplessly, thinking to himself: What kind of time is this, that His Majesty still has the mind to praise Cao Cao?

Chen Gong said again, "Your Majesty, Cao Cao is forcing the emperor to abdicate. Che Zhou and his men are ostensibly supporting Guandu, but in reality, they have surrounded Xuchang and cut off our supplies."

Xun Yu noticed that Liu Xie's smile quickly disappeared, and his gaze turned slightly cold.

The situation was indeed very bad. Although Cao Cao would not directly turn against him, this stalemate was clearly a huge threat to Liu Xie.

Without provisions, Xuchang would have a problem just feeding its 40,000 surrendered soldiers.

Even if the State of Chen has enough grain to transport over temporarily to alleviate the immediate crisis, it is not a long-term solution.

Liu Xie glanced at Xun Yu and sighed, "I'll stop talking to you for now. Cao Cao isn't idle, and neither am I."

Before Xun Yu could say anything, Liu Xie left.

Xun Yu stood there, his gaze blank and somewhat dazed. Which side am I on? What should I do?
Alas! After a while, Xun Yu let out a heavy sigh.

Liu Xie went directly to Yang Biao's residence, and Ju Shou and Jia Xu were soon invited to Yang's residence as well.

(End of this chapter)