Chapter 407

Chapter 407

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Kingly Ambitions, Unification of the World, Chapter 407: Evaluating Merits and Faults

If the news of Wang Kuang’s escape and the change of power in River North County had already struck Yuan Shao with a sudden and critical blow, then Xu You’s article was the icing on the cake, adding insult to injury.

Back in the day, when Xu You was at Dingzhong Temple critiquing Qiao Yan’s “Discourse on Feudalism,” he said her analysis was decent but her criticism of Liu Yan wasn’t sharp enough. This gives you an idea of his style.

Even before the article reached Yuan Shao, he could imagine the scathing words Xu You, whom he had abandoned in such a manner, would use to attack him, seeking revenge for nearly losing his life and being escorted to Chang’an for trial.

But what puzzled Yuan Shao was that when he received the sample of the monthly publication distributed by the messenger, on the page written by Xu You, there were a few words prominently displayed:

“A Brief Biography of the Merits and Faults of Yuan Shao, Grand General of the Later Han.”

Yuan Shao: “…”

The term “Later Han” clearly comes from the perspective of the Han Dynasty’s fall.

But with the Ye City court still standing, such a term appearing as if Qiao Yan already had victory in her grasp.

And a “brief biography” should only appear after someone’s death, yet here it is!

Xu You, that scoundrel, didn’t write a letter severing ties with Yuan Shao or a proclamation against the Yuan Clan, but what he wrote is even more sarcastic.

Moreover, think about it: the March issue of the Leping Monthly Report exhaustively documented Qiao Yan’s coronation, and now the yet-to-be-released April issue refers to the Han Dynasty as the former dynasty. The irony is palpable.

Even though Xu You began by describing Yuan Shao’s family background, praising the Runan Yuan Clan as “influential across the world” and Yuan Shao himself as “majestic and dignified,” it didn’t make Yuan Shao let his guard down.

Sure enough, in the second paragraph, Xu You wrote that Yuan Shao had foreseen the chaos and secured Bingzhou for the Yuan Clan’s long-term prosperity, helping Zhang Yi become the Governor of Bingzhou.

Unfortunately, Zhang Yi failed Yuan Shao’s expectations during the locust plague in Bingzhou and was ousted by the Da Yong Emperor.

However, this failure didn’t deter Yuan Shao from ensuring the Yuan Clan’s high position.

Taking advantage of the selection for the Diao Liao General in the fourth year of Zhongping, Yuan Shao inserted his protégé Han Fu into the competition and helped him stand out. Many like Han Fu were among the Eight Commanders of the Western Garden.

“The Yuan Clan’s wealth and power are unparalleled, all part of the plan.”

“When Emperor Ling was about to die, intending to execute Grand General He Jin, Yuan Shao advised He Jin to summon fierce generals and heroes from all directions to the capital to intimidate the Emperor. Chen Lin and Zheng Tai argued against it, but Yuan Shao insisted, claiming Dong Zhuo wasn’t a rebel but just a commoner from Xiliang. He Jin agreed.”

“…Yuan Shao and his brothers plotted to burn the North Palace in Luoyang, forcing the eunuchs and princes to flee. Lu Zhi led troops to support the capital, and Yuan Shao helped Dong Zhuo enter the city to control the Northern Army. Lu Zhi retreated and fled, but Dong Zhuo caused havoc, and Yuan Shao also fled.”

These words are indeed objective, even reminding Yuan Shao of the situation in Luoyang when Emperor Ling was about to die.

But such “facts” shouldn’t be recorded in a newspaper with such historical accuracy!

Thinking about the many enlightened people under Qiao Yan’s rule due to the rapid education and the considerable circulation of this monthly report, Yuan Shao felt his vision darken.

In Xu You’s description, he seemingly didn’t make any direct judgments about Yuan Shao, but his account of Yuan Shao’s advice to He Jin and his help in securing Dong Zhuo’s position in Luoyang was enough to tarnish Yuan Shao’s reputation for eternity.

And this was just the beginning of what Xu You wrote.

The delays in the war against Dong Zhuo and borrowing grain from Qiao Yan, the plan to welcome the Emperor to Ye City to command the world’s heroes…

And that failed battle in Yanzhou.

Xu You didn’t exaggerate how Yuan Shao promised various noble families grand rewards or how he decided to attack, but at the end, he wrote with calm yet sharp words:

“Fleeing soldiers passed under Dingtao City, where Cao Ren was stationed. Yuan Shao, unable to defeat him, seized Xu You’s horse and fled into the Ji River, returning to Ye City.”

“What happened afterward, I did not witness and cannot speculate.”

“You have your path, I have mine. We owe each other nothing. This biography recounts the past without distorting the facts, for future generations to judge.”

For future generations to judge…

What future generations? Probably those who will write history.

With the widespread circulation of the Leping Monthly Report, it could indeed serve as a historical reference.

This sentence is truly vicious!

Words that kill without drawing blood—nothing surpasses Xu You’s work.

When everyone finished reading the article, the room fell into an almost suffocating silence, with even the sound of swallowing saliva becoming painfully clear.

They all instinctively turned their gaze to Yuan Shao’s face.

Since Yuan Shao had taken the newspaper from the messenger, he wasn’t standing at the front facing the Emperor but rather facing them, making his expression easy to see.

His already unpleasant complexion had turned completely ashen, and the veins on his temples bulged momentarily.

If they weren’t in the Ye City court, one might suspect he would tear the Leping Monthly Report in half in a fit of rage.

Unfortunately, Yuan Shao didn’t have Qiao Yan’s printing methods or her years of building the monthly report’s reputation, so whether it was the debt repayment, Tian Feng’s undercover mission in Bingzhou, or today’s “documentary literature” by Xu You, he couldn’t retaliate in a similar manner.

Even more terrifying, every detail Xu You wrote had witnesses.

No one expected this long-time loyal strategist to deliver such a fatal blow at this moment.

Among the surrounding gazes, besides curiosity about how Yuan Shao would counter, there was inevitably some doubt about the Grand General.

Yuan Shao couldn’t miss this silent sentiment.

He clearly knew that if the losses in Yanzhou, Yuzhou, and River North County were the direct battlefield losses, then the lengthy article in the Leping Monthly Report was the indirect battlefield.

He had already lost the first battle; he couldn’t afford to lose the second!

Whether it was his dignity, his position, or the interests of the noble families he represented, he couldn’t back down in this already weakened state!

As the surging anger reached his lips, he suddenly suppressed it and turned to the messenger, asking, “Thank you for informing us of this article’s existence. May I ask your name?”

When he spoke, Yuan Shao’s demeanor inexplicably rose a level, making people suddenly realize he hadn’t completely lost his dignity and Grand General’s authority despite the opponent’s blows.

Yang Biao frowned slightly. If he heard correctly, Yuan Shao’s words seemed to imply he would trouble the messenger to indirectly intimidate Qiao Yan.

But the young messenger, seemingly oblivious to Yuan Shao’s threatening demeanor, replied calmly, “I am Liu Ziyang from Huainan. May I ask what the Grand General wishes to instruct?”

The moment the name was spoken, Yuan Shao’s eyes narrowed.

Liu Ziyang, Liu Ye?

How could it be him?

If Qiao Yan sent most of her subordinates to Ye City as envoys, Yuan Shao could deal with them without顾忌 under the charge of Da Yong overthrowing the Han. But Liu Ye was different.

Because he was a member of the Han imperial family!

A descendant of Liu Yan, son of Emperor Guangwu of Han!

As long as Yuan Shao still upheld Liu Bian as the Emperor and claimed to follow Han traditions, he couldn’t harm a member of the Han imperial family.

Moreover, Liu Ye wasn’t just any Han imperial relative.

When Xu Shao fled south, he had praised Liu Ye as having “talent to assist the world,” no less than the “talent to assist a king.”

Even though he hadn’t been involved in politics before, Xu Shao’s praise had already bestowed upon him the aura of a renowned scholar.

Making him someone Yuan Shao couldn’t touch.

Yuan Shao didn’t know that Liu Ye’s appearance was because Qiao Yan had encountered him while searching for Xu Shao and brought him to Luoyang. When Xun Yu received Qiao Yan’s order to thank Yuan Shao three times, Liu Ye volunteered for the task.

All Yuan Shao knew was that his attempt to vent his anger was blocked again, and the long-standing frustration in his chest surged, almost bringing a taste of blood to his throat.

With great effort, he asked in a calm tone, “Ziyang, as a descendant of the Han imperial family, why do you serve the rebels?”

Liu Ye replied, “Instead of refuting whether what Xu You wrote is true or false, you ask why I serve the rebels. If this isn’t putting the cart before the horse, then who the rebels are seems clear, doesn’t it?”

He bowed to Liu Bian above, “The thanks have been delivered. I won’t linger here any longer. Farewell.”

Yuan Shao stood frozen like a statue.

Liu Ye’s parting words, “Who are the rebels?” struck like a dagger to the heart.

His words inevitably made the text Xu You wrote in the Leping Monthly Report flash through Yuan Shao’s mind again, criticizing him even more sharply and leaving him utterly disgraced.

In this trial, Yuan Shao didn’t even have time to order Liu Ye’s interception.

Only after the court session ended, as he was being helped back to the Grand General’s Mansion, did Yuan Shao barely snap out of his daze.

Guo Tu seized the moment to ask, “In your opinion, should we arrest Xu You’s family and hold them accountable?”

    要说许攸的亲戚里能被光明正大问罪的还真不在少数。


    许攸他贪嘛，不仅仅是他贪，他的亲戚也贪。


    可袁绍哪里还有这个追究的心情！


    人人也都会在此时看着他在收到许攸那张文字后的表现。


    朝堂上他面对刘晔发问的哑口无言，并不代表着他会彻底认下这些罪状。


    可他若是在经由了许攸的背刺后当即将他的家人给拿下了，只怕人人都会觉得，这是他在被人揭开了短处后的恼羞成怒举动。


    他瞪了一眼郭图，回道：“不必管许攸这混账的家人，但也休想让他来将家人接走，除非他自己亲自前来！”


    但许攸怎么会在彻底得罪死了袁绍之后，做出这等回返邺城的送死举动呢？


    “还有那王公节……也别找了。”袁绍一字一顿地说道。


    在今日之前，袁绍是真不知道，曹操兵临平丘城下的兵卒里居然还有河内郡的人手，又因兖州的易主，让王匡在惊惧之中选择了遁逃。


    可他到此时才知道这个消息还有什么用！


    王匡的失职竟已令张郃与辛毗在孤立无援中不得不投敌求生！


    也成为了刘晔作为使者羞辱于他袁绍的把柄！


    再找王匡有什么用，难道要在将他找到后做出问责，以图河内的丢失有罪人可论吗？


    放眼这双方对峙的局面，此举和自取其辱当真没有什么区别！


    与其做这种无谓的时候，还不如一面增派魏郡与河内郡交界线上的守军，一面……


    “告诉陈孔璋，我要的那篇檄文，三日之内必须出现在我的面前！”


    早在乔琰登基的消息传到邺城之时，袁绍便已经给他下达了这条命令，甚至在刘辩的聚众议事中说，必定让刘辩能凭借着陈琳写下的声讨乔琰之词，有着更胜一筹的声威气势。


    但因他之前的兖州一行，便难免疏于关注此事。


    现在却不能在拖了！


    “三日……”陈琳收到这条消息后喃喃道。


    以陈琳这等锦绣文章尽在心中的才华，要写下一篇檄文根本不需要三日。


    他只是在此刻难以避免地想到许攸的那篇文章。


    当年引四方军阀入京的建议的确是由袁绍提出的，彼时他还以“即鹿无虞”之说提出了辩驳，可惜袁绍在何进心中的分量显然是要比他们重得多，哪里能劝说得住他变更决定。


    如今重叙旧事，倒是觉得这等自欺欺人的行事作风，早在当年便已有了征兆。


    他刚想到这里，执笔的那只手便不由一抖。


    一滴墨痕当即晕开在了他面前的纸张上。


    “不，不能这么想了。”


    他既然还站在袁绍的立场上，也相信汉室尤有兴复的可能，就不该在这撰写檄文之时有这样的质疑。


    若让这等情绪干扰到他的书写，他交出的会是一份何等不伦不类的答卷！


    他伸手一把将面前的纸张团作了一团，丢在了一旁的纸篓之中。


    望着面前那张重新归于洁净的纸张，他又停顿了良久，这才落下了手中的笔。


    而此刻的长安城中，比起陈琳那头的落笔犹豫，乔琰在写下那封对新近投诚而来之人的委任之时，便堪称是落笔如飞。


    无论是谋夺兖州，将曹操给劝降，还是拿下河内收复张郃，虽然这背后都有着若干意料之外的因素在其中干扰，让其过程并不能完全为乔琰所预测到，但这等荡平天下的进程中都已是时局之必然。


    对曹操和其下属谋士的安排，连带着对张郃的安排，都已在她的心中有了一番思量。


    昨日她还和程昱针对此事做出了一番商榷，最终将其敲定。


    张郃为北方战将，要适应起这样的环境，显然要比其他人容易。


    这出二选一里的任何一项都伴随着可以预见到的战功，对张郃来说都不算苛待。


    至于早已表达了臣服之意的辛毗，还是暂时留在长安为好。


    辛毗是已投降了，可辛评还在袁绍麾下呢。


    固然眼下的情形和田丰彼时的情况不同，袁绍遇此危局，也绝不能因辛毗的“被迫”投敌而对其做出惩处，让自己本就在许攸这出打击之下开始溃散的士气再遭到一次重伤，辛毗也还是不要明目张胆地做个军师为好。


    反正长安城中弘文馆选拔取士尤在筹备之中，辛毗这等与本为敌方谋士的存在，反而比大多数人都合适于做个出题人。


    等到天下归于一统，四海之间尤有征战之地，也不愁没有他的用武之处。


    而后便是曹操和他的下属。


    陈宫和那些兖州世家的罪名清算，都已在乔亭主理、黄琬督辖的情况下开展。陈宫既不愿意效忠于她，变更其对于道义君臣的认知，那乔琰也只能成全他以身殉道的想法。


    总归曹操和其宗族，以及满宠、枣祗、乐进、钟繇等下属能顺利被纳入她的麾下，便已是一笔堪称丰厚的财富。


    枣祗这位在兖州地界上的屯田校尉，完全可以随同田畴一并效力在秦俞这位大司农手下，为明年依然酷烈的天灾提前做出筹备。


    满宠在此番兖州之变中表现出的决断分析能力让人尤为惊喜，因袁涣不适合出任豫州刺史的缘故，乔琰其实属意于由满宠担任。


    但满宠的年龄和履历难免让人质疑他能否坐稳这个位置，故而先将其调入廷尉麾下作为属官，再打磨上两年后再行外派。


    至于同属文官的钟繇，乔琰意在令其南下荆州协助于刘表整顿荆州境内事务，分薄荆州世家在其中的影响力。


    而作为曹操族人的曹洪、曹仁、曹纯、夏侯惇与夏侯渊，正如曹操此前所猜测的那般，将会被分派到各州补充戍防力量，余下的乐进于禁李干李典等人，则协助郭嘉和改任兖州别驾的袁涣完成兖州的防卫之事。


    最后，便是曹操的安排了。


    乔琰提笔，在敕封诏书上写下了末尾的一行字——


    【以讨逆事拜车骑将军，非战时除，屯兵河内，侯诏兵进冀州。】


    不是她令郭嘉和曹操说的“征西不晚”里的征西将军，也不是当年沈亭会见之中乔琰以玩笑的口吻所说的征东将军，而是一如曹操在邺城朝廷的那个官职。


    车骑将军！


    对于降将来说，这是绝对的高位！


    但这并不代表着，乔琰打算令邺城朝堂上的所有人都能在转投到她麾下之时沿袭其原本的职务，若当真如此的话，等到攻破邺城的那一刻，朝堂上的情形可就要乱套了。


    在那句“非战时除”里，已暗藏了乔琰的第二重态度。


    她对曹操是仍有一番考验的。


    车骑将军主掌征伐背叛之事，若非汉末这等动乱的环境，本不是个常设的军职，如今她也只是恢复了其原本的规则，在有具体战事时候才做出委任罢了。


    在非战之时，具体将其安放在何种位置上，就看曹操的表现了。


    程昱在听闻她的这出安排后问询于她，为何并不介意于将曹操安放在这攻伐冀州的位置上。


    这份荡平天下最后二州的战功，无疑会令曹操的身上多出一份立足于大雍朝堂的资本。


    对此乔琰是这么回复。


    她有这个自信，兖州或许会是更倾向于曹操的兖州，但将她送上这天子宝座的大雍子民却是心向于她乔琰的。


    她若连放手令曹操出战沙场的底气都没有，又何必让郭嘉用这样一句“英雄惜英雄”的话去说服曹操来投！


    这天下一统的最终战，她无惧于任何人的围观。


    只因攻入邺城王庭的第一步，必定由她亲自迈出！