My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 210 Cao Cao is crowned Duke and the Kingdom is named Wei! Xiao He: We must make progress together. The general is also promoted to Duke!
Liu Bei was greatly encouraged.

What is Xun Yu's status in Cao's camp? It is equivalent to the status of Xiao and Zhuge Liang on his side.

The key point is that this person also supports Han!
Even if such a heavyweight figure is unwilling to be his subordinate, even if they become his allies, it will be of great benefit.

"What good plan does Bo Wen have to stop Cao Cao from killing Xun Yu?"

Liu Bei asked anxiously with a look of joy on his face.

Xiao He smiled and said slowly:
"Xun Yu had made great contributions. Cao Cao wanted to kill him, but he probably didn't dare to do it himself. To be more precise, he probably wanted Xun Yu to commit suicide."

"So, what He meant is that the general should quickly send Deng Zhi north..."

The strategy is revealed.

Liu Bei suddenly understood and said happily:

"Okay, okay, let's follow Bowen's plan. After tonight, you will arrange for Deng Bomiao to go north."

After the discussion, Liu Bei looked apologetic:
"Bowen, today is your big day. I feel really bad for keeping you away for so long because of work."

"Go and do your thing quickly, don't keep the new lady waiting."

Xiao He could only scratch his head and smile back.

The banquet ended and all the guests left.

Xiao He was already about 70% drunk, and had to be supported by his maid before he could stagger back to the bridal chamber.

"Wait!"

Just as he was about to push the door open and enter the bridal chamber, he was stopped by Guan Yinping at the door.

"Husband... Madam?"

Xiao He's heart couldn't help but tighten.

Throughout the wedding banquet, Guan Yinping, the principal wife, was decent and generous, showing the demeanor of a lady of the house.

At this critical moment of entering the bridal chamber, she suddenly stopped me. Could it be that she was finally jealous and wanted to stop me from entering the bridal chamber?

"Look at how drunk you are. How can you do anything serious in the bridal chamber? It's your wedding night, and you're going to neglect Sister Lian~~"

Guan Yinping complained a lot, then took the soup bowl from the maid.

"This is the hangover soup I asked the chef to prepare for you in advance. Drink it while it's hot. It won't be too late to come in after you sober up."

As she spoke, Guan Yinping took the bowl of soup and personally brought it to his mouth.

Xiao He suddenly understood.

His wife was not jealous and stopped him from entering the bridal chamber. Instead, she was worried that he would get drunk and ruin the wedding night.

Xiao He held the bowl of soup in his hand, feeling filled with emotion, and was deeply moved by Guan Yinping's magnanimity.

"What are you waiting for? Drink it while it's hot~~~"

Seeing him staring blankly at the bowl of soup, Guan Yinping smiled and urged him.

Xiao He finally reacted and drank it all in one gulp.

Guan Yinping was relieved, and leaned close to his ear and said:
"My dear, when we go in later, you must be restrained. Don't eat too much or you will tire yourself out. You will have more time to relax later..."

Xiao He's eyes widened.

I haven't had enough to eat, I'm exhausted, I'll take a long time to...

What kind of talk are these?
Xiao He really didn't expect that this tiger girl from the Guan family, who used to look aloof and wouldn't even blink an eye when she attacked someone, seemed to have become a different person after getting married.

She remains aloof in front of others, always displaying the majesty of the mistress of the house, but once the door is closed, she transforms into a wolf-like and ferocious person, making it difficult for people to resist.

After giving the instructions, Guan Yinping gave a charming look, a meaningful smile, and turned away.

Xiao He looked at her graceful back as she walked away. The charming smile in front of him could not be shaken off. Her fierce words echoed in his ears, and his heart was pounding.

If he hadn't remembered that there was someone waiting in the room, he would have really wanted to chase after her and sleep in Guan Yinping's room tonight...

It was not until the maid's reminder sounded behind him that Xiao He came back to his senses.

"With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for..."

Xiao He sighed with relief, then collected his thoughts, turned around, pushed the door open and stepped into the bridal chamber.

...

Five days later, Cao's camp in Xiangcheng.

Inside the military tent, Xun Yu was reading by candlelight at night.

Although he kept the book in his hand, his eyes were dazed and his attention was not focused on the scroll in his hand at all.

The scenes of the showdown with Cao Cao in the prime minister's residence that day kept appearing before his eyes.

"From the day you allowed your son to commit regicide, I should have known that you were determined to usurp the Han Dynasty. It's ridiculous that I still had a lucky glimmer of hope."

"Xun Yu, oh Xun Yu, do you regret joining Cao's camp and helping him reach his current position?"

Muttering to himself, Xun Yu shook his head and sighed bitterly in self-mockery.

Just then, a personal attendant came to report that a scholar had visited him late at night, claiming to have come to save his life.

Xun Yu was shocked, and suspicion suddenly appeared in his eyes.

"Save my life?"

After a slight hesitation, Xun Yu immediately ordered the person to be brought in.

After a while.

A young scholar stepped into the tent and bowed politely:

"I am Deng Zhi, a secretary to General Han, and I pay my respects to Lord Xun."

Xun Yu was shocked.

He had originally guessed that the visitors were most likely old friends and acquaintances from Runan County. They knew about his showdown with Cao Cao and were worried about his safety, so they took the opportunity of his visit to Runan to comfort the troops and came to visit him.

But unexpectedly, the people who came were Liu Bei's subordinates.

After being surprised, Xun Yu's face darkened:
"Deng Zhi, you are so bold! Since you are a subordinate of Liu Xuande, how dare you come here and fall into my trap?"

"Aren't you afraid that I'll immediately tie you up, hand you over to General Cao, and execute you on the spot as a spy?"

Deng Zhi showed no fear, and said calmly:

"Since Zhi has dared to come to see you on my lord's orders, you have made up your mind to never return. Even if you die, you have nothing to fear!"

"Zhi was just a minor figure, his death was not a pity. Xun Lingjun was famous throughout the world, had the talent to assist the king, and had the ambition to support the Han Dynasty. If he were to be killed by Cao Cao like this, wouldn't it be a pity?"

Killed by Cao Cao!
When these five words were uttered, Xun Yu's body started to tremble, and a hint of surprise immediately appeared in his originally cold eyes.

"I am the current Chancellor of the Imperial Court and Prime Minister Cao's advisor. How could the Prime Minister harm me?"

"Deng Zhi, if you came here today to sow discord, then you've come to the wrong place."

Xun Yu quickly calmed down and retorted with disdain.

Deng Zhi raised the corner of his mouth slightly and sneered:

"Throughout the north, from Xudu to the prefectures and counties, everyone is submitting petitions to the false emperor, building momentum for Cao Cao to establish a kingdom and be granted the title of Duke."

"Cao Cao's intention to usurp the Han Dynasty is known to everyone!"

"My military advisor Xiao told our general that the only remaining Han loyalist in Xudu is Lord Xun. Lord Xun will definitely rise up against Cao Cao's title of duke and prevent him from taking the crucial step of usurping the Han throne."

"However, Cao Cao has already made up his mind to usurp the Han Dynasty, and will not be swayed by your opposition. In this way, your Majesty has become the only stumbling block on his path to usurp the Han Dynasty."

"Cao Cao would rather let me betray the world than let the world betray me. Anyone who dares to stand in his way will be killed by him."

"You, Xun Lingjun, are no exception!"

"Now he has transferred you out of Xuchang in the name of entertaining the troops, just to make it easier for him to take action."

"Your Majesty, your death is nigh, and yet you are unaware of it!"

Xun Yu's expression changed drastically, and his eyes changed from disdain to shock.

Xiao He!

Liu Bei's strategist who was far away in Yingtian could actually see through Xu Du, which was thousands of miles away, and could see through Cao Cao's thoughts and motives.

Even his opposition to Cao Cao being granted the title of duke was already calculated.

What a terrifying insight!
Xun Yu took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his inner fluctuations, and pretended to be nonchalant:
"Your military advisor Xiao is truly self-righteous. Does he really think he's a god on earth and knows everything?"

"Yes, I, Xun Yu, am a Han official. I am against the Prime Minister being granted the title of Duke."

"But he said that the Prime Minister wanted to kill me, Xun Yu, because I opposed his title of Duke. He really underestimated the Prime Minister and me, Xun Yu!"

What Xun Yu meant was that he didn't believe Cao Cao would be so heartless as to disregard his contributions and the twenty years of relationship between master and subject and want to put him to death.

After the sarcasm, Xun Yu sneered and asked:

"Since Xiao Bowen is such a brilliant strategist, I'd like to know how he figured out how the Prime Minister was going to kill me, Xun Yu?"

Deng Zhi seemed to be waiting for this sentence and said without hesitation:
"Cao Cao will naturally not kill you personally. He will send you a food box and force you to end your life."

Xun Yu was stunned.

It is not surprising that Xiao He was able to calculate that Cao Cao might kill him given his wisdom.

But Xiao He could even figure out the details of how Cao Cao was going to kill him. Isn't that a bit unbelievable?
Even more incredible is that the details Xiao He deduced were that Cao Cao could force him to commit suicide with just a food box! Isn't that absurd?

After a moment of stunned silence, Xun Yu raised the corner of his mouth to sneer:

"Your military advisor Xiao is a brilliant thinker, but Deng Shuzuo, don't you think what he said to you is ridiculous and child's play—"

The words have not yet fallen.

A personal attendant outside the tent came to report that Cao Cao had sent someone from Xudu overnight to give him something.

As he spoke, the attendant placed a bundle on Xun Yu's desk.

The sarcasm on Xun Yu's face disappeared, his breathing became heavier, his expression became nervous, and he couldn't help but glance at Deng Zhi.

"The Prime Minister really gave me something. Could it be that Xiao He really guessed it right?"

"This is impossible. No matter how clever he is, how could he be so wise?"

Xun Yu's thoughts surged like a tide. He held his breath and slowly opened the bundle.

Deng Zhi smiled.

Xun Yu gasped, fell to the ground, and his eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost.

"That Xiao Bowen, actually——"

Xun Yu raised his head tremblingly and looked at Deng Zhi in disbelief.

If he was seeking answers from Deng Zhi, how could your military advisor be so foresighted?
Even such trivial matters can be calculated.

Is that human being?
After all, Xun Yu was a man who had experienced many storms. After being shocked for a long time, he finally recovered.

After taking a few deep breaths, he pretended to be calm and said:
"Having calculated that the Prime Minister would send me a food box, Xiao Bowen's reputation as a foresighted strategist is truly well-deserved."

"But I'm also very curious, how can the Prime Minister force me to commit suicide with just this food box?"

Deng Zhi looked calm and pointed at the food box.
"Our military advisor Xiao said that the food box Cao Cao gave to Lord Xun was an empty one."

"When Xun Lingjun sees this, he will naturally end his own life."

Xun Yu's heart was shocked again.

He lowered his head, his heart full of hope and doubt, and tremblingly opened the food box.

Empty!

Xun Yu fell down and sat down, his body frozen again, his face filled with shock and horror beyond words.

Xiao He was right again.

What Cao Cao gave him was indeed an empty lunch box.

Eater, Lu Ye.

Cao Cao was telling him in this way that he was eating his salary, Cao Cao's, not the Han Dynasty's.

If I don't give you food, you will starve to death!

You only have two choices: either surrender to me and beg for food, or starve to death.

Starving to death means ending one's own life.

Cao Cao is giving him an ultimatum: either support me in making him a duke and establishing a country, or commit suicide. Don't force me to do it myself!

"How can there be such an omniscient god in this world?"

"How can there be such a cold-blooded and heartless person in this world?"

"This this……"

Xun Yu clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and his face was twisted into an extremely complicated expression.

Disappointed, shocked, confused, bewildered...

He was both shocked by Xiao He's ability to predict the future as if he had opened his clairvoyance, and disappointed by Cao Cao's ruthlessness and cold-bloodedness in forcing him to commit suicide.

For a moment, this once wisest man in the north fell into despair and confusion.

"Lord Xun, there's no need to despair. My general has said that you only need to remember your original intention of supporting the Han Dynasty."

"Cao Cao wanted to overthrow the Han Dynasty and usurp the throne, but the general was determined to support the country and revive the Han Dynasty."

"Cao Cao cannot accompany you, but the general would like to invite you to join him, so that we can walk together until the day when the world is unified and the Han Dynasty is revived."

After a lengthy preparation, Deng Zhi finally extended an olive branch, lighting a beacon of hope in front of Xun Yu at his most desperate moment.

Xun Yu's body was shocked, and he looked up suddenly at Deng Zhi in surprise.

How could he not understand that Liu Bei was trying to recruit him?

"The original intention of supporting the Han Dynasty, the original intention of supporting the Han Dynasty..."

"He's right. I defected to Cao Cao because I wanted to use his power to support the Han Dynasty."

"Since Cao Cao has betrayed his oath to support Han, why can't I choose another wise leader who will support Han?"

Xun Yu's heart was in turmoil, and he seemed to have realized something.

After a moment, he shook his head and sighed:
"Although Lord Xuande and I share the same ideals, he wants me, Xun Yu, to abandon everything and go to Yingtian to join him. How is that possible?"

Deng Zhi looked calm, as if he had expected Xun Yu's answer.

Because Xiao He once said that Xun Yu supported the Han Dynasty, but that did not mean he would not take into account the interests of his family.

Besides, Xun Yu still wants to save face.

It is obviously unrealistic for him to abandon the Xun family, give up his current reputation and status, and come to Liu Bei alone and in despair.

"My general knows that you are in trouble, and he doesn't force you to cross the river to the south right now."

"The general said that your lord must neither commit suicide nor submit to Cao Cao. All he needs to do is resign his post, return home, and wait for his opportunity."

"Given your merits, Cao Cao would never dare to kill you unless you commit suicide."

"All you need to do is endure humiliation for a few days. When our general leads his army north and reaches Yingchuan, you can raise your arms and call on the people of Yingchuan to respond, so that they can help the general recover the Central Plains and welcome the emperor back to the old capital!"

Deng Zhi slowly explained the clear path that Xiao He had pointed out to Xun Yu.

Xun Yu stood up, paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, pondering in silence.

Ideals, honor, family, face...

All kinds of factors, like a tangled mess, were entangled in his mind.

Now he has to sort out all the mess and make the second major choice in his life.

Just like back then, he chose to betray Yuan Shao and join Cao Cao.

Now he has to choose whether to end his life under the pressure of Cao Cao, or to endure humiliation and wait until Liu Bei launches a northern expedition to the Central Plains before joining a new master.

Pace for a long time.

Xun Yu suddenly stopped, and when he looked back, his eyes were as determined as iron.

"boom!"

He slammed the open food box shut.

...

Ten days later, Xun Yu finished his visit to the troops and returned to Xudu to report. He then submitted a letter of resignation and requested to return home.

Cao Chong's plan failed, and Xun Yu did not choose to commit suicide, which surprised Cao Cao.

However, Xun Yu's voluntary resignation made him feel relieved.

This means that Xun Yu chose to escape. He neither supported him in establishing a country and enfeoffing him as a duke, nor stood up to openly oppose it.

He moved the biggest obstacle on the road to the side of the road.

Cao Cao then gave up the idea of ​​killing Xun Yu and focused on promoting him for the public good.

A few days later, the "Son of Heaven" officially issued an edict, conferring the title of Duke on Cao Cao.

Cao Cao flatly refused.

After a series of refusal and request, Cao Cao finally accepted the emperor's edict of nobility under the emperor's firm refusal and the officials' earnest persuasion.

Seven days later.

Cao Cao was officially granted the title of Duke, and his fiefdom was named "Wei". He was given the Nine Gifts and the ten counties and kingdoms including Jizhou, Hedong, Henei, Weijun, Zhaoguo, and Zhongshan were made the territory of the Dukedom of Wei, and Yecheng was made the capital of Wei.

In the spring of that year, Cao Cao was promoted to Duke of Wei!

...

Ten days later, Yingtian.

Early morning, Xiao Mansion.

Xiao He, who was having breakfast with Guan Yinping and Bu Lianshi, his wife and concubine, received the latest intelligence from the north that Deng Ai hurriedly delivered.

As he expected, Xun Yu resigned from his official position and returned home, saving his life.

With no stumbling block left, Cao Cao was finally able to establish a country and be granted the title of Duke, becoming the Duke of Wei he had always dreamed of, and taking the most crucial step in usurping the Han Dynasty.

Looking at the information in his hand, Xiao He smiled coldly:
"Cao Cao took the lead and became the Duke of Wei. How can our general fall behind? It's time to improve along with Cao Cao..."

(End of this chapter)