Chapter 348 Cao Cao’s Hesitation

In promoting the imperial examination this time, Lu Bu was not just facing his subordinates. The imperial edict was sent to all counties and counties in the world. The princes had just suffered a defeat. In addition, Lu Bu was passing the edict to the world in the name of the emperor. At least on the surface, there was no No one dares to refute Lu Bu's reputation. The current Lu Bu is not something that any of the current princes can handle.

In Juancheng, Cao Cao read the edict silently, then handed it to Xun Yu and asked, "What do Wen Ruo think?"

He was unable to gain favor in Nanyang before, but after returning, Yuan Shu ordered people to give him heavy gifts and took the initiative to give in. In addition, Yuan Shao helped speak, making Cao Cao very passive now.

Cao Cao didn't know what Yuan Shu had in mind. Sun Ce was dead. Yuan Shu was interested in other people's territory and wanted to take the opportunity to capture Jiangdong. But if Yuan Shu captured Jiangdong, Liu Bei would be caught between him and Yuan Shu. Liu Bei Obviously he doesn't want Yuan Shu to grow stronger again.

However, Liu Bei obviously does not have the ability to get involved in Jiangdong. No matter in name or in terms of naval capabilities, it is difficult for Liu Bei to cross the river. Therefore, Liu Bei's strategy is to unite Jiangdong and restrict Yuan Shu so that Yuan Shu cannot take Jiangdong by force. This is Liu Bei's current situation. The only thing that can be done is if it goes too far, Cao Cao can also use the name of helping Yuan Shu to contain Liu Bei.

As for Yuan Shao, although the two Yuan had a fierce rivalry before, now that Yuan Shu has completely given in to his brother and is willing to surrender to Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao naturally has no reason to watch others beat his own brother, but he also does not want Yuan Shu to grow stronger again. Therefore, Yuan Shao's attitude on this matter is the most ambiguous.

Sometimes Cao Cao also felt very upset. Obviously everyone saw the pressure brought by Lu Bu, so now all the major princes in the Central Plains are frantically trying to expand their power, but they are afraid that their actions will be too big and attract Lu Bu again.

If Lu Bu conquers the East, it will be difficult for the Kanto princes to unite again, so this time the territory left behind after Sun Ce's death has become a trigger. Even if he knows that internal strife at this moment will only damage the Kanto forces, there is no way, if they cannot integrate Strength, it will be more difficult to face the integrated Lu Bu in the future.

"This is..." Xun Yu looked at the edict with complicated eyes, and after a long time he said: "If this method is implemented, Lu Bu will not have to worry about no one available within a hundred years. This is to abolish the imperial examination system and establish a new system belonging to Lu Bu."

"What will happen in a hundred years?" Cao Cao asked curiously. He could also see that Lu Bu wanted to abolish the old and establish the new, but he had not yet seen the disadvantages after a hundred years.

"It's hard for me to say, after all, the imperial examination is still a method of using people. If there are laws in this world, there will be loopholes. If the king can control the situation, in all fairness, the imperial examination method is better than the imperial examination system. However, the rule of law is nothing more than the rule of men. A hundred years later, the new nobles in the court will become like the powerful people today. If the talents from the imperial examination system want to climb up, they will still have to go through these powerful people in the court. By then, there will be no difference between the imperial examination system and the imperial examination system. " Yu sighed and said: "Perhaps it is better to have the inspection and examination system."

"The rule of law is nothing more than the rule of men. It is difficult to have a perfect system in this world." Cao Cao shook his head and said: "Besides, you and I won't live for a hundred years, so what's the point of being so leisurely? I mean, the imperial examination system is now in place. how?"

"At least Lu Bu won't have anyone available." Xun Yu met Cao Cao's gaze and said, "As long as Lu Bu doesn't blindly advance, this imperial examination system will be enough for him to recruit talents from all over the world."

It's not that all the talented people in the world will go to Lu Bu, but those who have talent and ambition who are not reused due to various reasons under the rule of the princes will probably be attracted to Lu Bu.

Lu Bu's biggest problem has always been that there is always no one available under his account. Even if there are top talents such as Jia Xu, Guo Jia, Fazheng, Li Ru, and Xun You, the middle and bottom levels have always been insufficient.

Especially after taking Shu, Lu Bu's shortage of talents became even more serious. This is also the reason why Lu Bu had clearly outnumbered the others before but did not seize too much territory. It's not that he didn't want to, but he couldn't manage it even if he took it. The originally efficient operation of the court turned into difficulties.

As soon as the imperial examination comes out, as long as Lu Bu is not too impatient and develops in Guanzhong for ten years, people may form a consensus that those with ability will go to Guanzhong and those with family background will stay in Guandong. When this consensus is formed, Lu Bu will not There will be a shortage of talent.

This is undoubtedly very dangerous, but it is also unsolvable, because if Kanto does not want to be sucked away by Lu Bu, it must do the same thing.

But the imperial examination can be done in Guanzhong, and no one will object. Those who would object are basically unable to speak out, but it cannot be done in Guandong. This is tantamount to cutting the roots of the aristocratic family. Will this aristocratic family be willing?

Obviously not, even if it is known that it will be beneficial to the overall situation, it will not be like this. What is the difference between Guandong and Guanzhong? Why do I still support you?

Lu Bu did not have the support of aristocratic families from the beginning. He worked his way out like this. In fact, Jiangdong could have taken this road if Sun Ce was still there, but other princes, including Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Liu Bei, and Liu Biao, could not take it. .

This is just like the reason why all the talents from various countries went to Qin during the Warring States Period. It's not that the countries don't want to retain these talents, but that the country can no longer provide these talents with a future.

Cao Cao looked at the edict again, shook his head and said: "When I saw Lu Bu in Luoyang in the past, although he was majestic, he was just a reckless man. Now it seems that he was underestimated back then. This man has a deep scheming and is unparalleled in the world." rare."

Cao Cao actually agreed with Lu Bu's imperial examination method, and he had always paid attention to attracting talents from poor families, but he had never been able to find a way to abolish the imperial examination system like the imperial examination.

As for a hundred years from now... a system that has maintained its prosperity for a hundred years is enough to prove its excellence. As for a hundred years from now, that is a matter for future generations. Just like the imperial examination system today is impacting the imperial examination system, we cannot build a road today that will not survive a hundred years from now. Tinkering can still make a big difference, right?

Xun Yu nodded silently. Lu Bu was among the best in the world in terms of ability and courage. The achievements of other princes, including Cao Cao, depended more or less on family affairs, but they did not rely on family affairs and only relied on ability to reach this point. Looking at the world, there are only two One is Lu Bu and the other is Liu Bei, but in comparison, Lu Bu is obviously better.

It's just that Xun Yu couldn't understand. Lu Bu's behavior before he defected to Dong Zhuo can be said to be a brainless man. The murder of Ding Yuan may be an eternal stain on Lu Bu. After he defected to Dong Zhuo, his performance at Hulao Pass can only be said to be that he was a fool. A top general, not even a handsome man, but when he arrived in Guanzhong and became independent, Lu Bu seemed to have changed as a person. He grew from a military general to an overlord in one go. His ability and courage were completely matched. If this is the case, If there is progress, it is progressing too fast. What were you doing in the early years?

"Do you think he will advance rashly?" Cao Cao suddenly looked at Xun Yu. Now he really hoped that Lu Bu would be stupid and advance rashly, because Cao Cao knew very well that unless Lu Bu made his own mistakes, the imperial examination was almost inevitable, and even if the Guanzhong family objected, they would not Yong, from the moment when the princes joined forces and were beaten back by Lu Bu, in fact, to a certain extent, it was equivalent to the family losing.

The officials in Guanzhong have had little say under Lu Bu's control over the years. There may be people who can't see the situation clearly and want to resist, but it is impossible to shake Lu Bu's position in Guanzhong. As for Shu... what Cao Cao is most worried about is Lu Bu took this opportunity to suppress Shu. In this way, unless he instigated rebellion against Lu Bu's frontier officials like Gao Shun and Zhang Liao, Lu Bu's rule would be almost monolithic.

"It's difficult." Xun Yu shook his head and said only one word.

Tsk~

Cao Cao leaned back helplessly. He felt his head hurt. He frowned and said, "Go and call the doctor quickly."

Xu Chu went to call the doctor.

Cheng Yu thought for a moment and said, "My lord, even if the imperial examination went smoothly, after this imperial examination, Lu Bu might not be able to leave immediately. I thought that since I couldn't stop Lu Bu from taking the imperial examination, I might as well take advantage of Lu Bu to sort out the internal affairs. Integrate the Central Plains, and we will have enough troops to fight again in the future!”

The last attack on Nanyang was due to the strength of Nanyang's army, but it was also one of the reasons why Cao Cao did not dare to mobilize heavy troops. If there were only Cao Cao in the Central Plains without Liu Bei and Yuan Shu, then Cao Cao would have mobilized more than 100,000 troops to Nanyang instead of tens of thousands. Then Under such circumstances, even if Nanyang has strong troops and horses, he will definitely be able to destroy it.

There are still too many princes in the world. If there are only three, two, or even just one Cao Cao among the princes in the world, then why should we be afraid of Lu Bu?

Cao Cao looked at Cheng Yu and nodded with a smile: "Zhongde's words are in my opinion, but now that Yuan Shu has invaded the south, Yuan Shao will definitely be dissatisfied if I fight him."

Cheng Yu stroked his beard and said with a smile: "My lord, you can secretly join forces with Yuan Shu to seize Xuzhou."

"Why do we need to secretly cooperate?" Cao Cao asked with a smile.

"If Ming and Yuan Shu form an alliance, once Xuzhou is defeated, Yuan Shu will be able to swallow up Jiangdong. By then, my lord will be caught between the two Yuans..." Cheng Yu looked at Cao Cao and also smiled.

To defeat Liu Bei, you can use other excuses. For example, the alliance in the past was held back. In short, there is a reason. But if it is a blatant alliance with Yuan Shu, then it will not be good for Yuan Shu in the future. What Cheng Yu means is First attack Liu Bei so that Yuan Shu doesn't worry, and then after annexing Xuzhou, secretly unite with the Sun family in Jiangdong to support the Sun family's rise to power, and even transfer Jiujiang County and Lujiang County to Jiangdong. By then, Yuan Shu will be left with Runan.

After so many years of war, Runan was no longer as densely populated as it was back then. By then, Yuan Shu would have completely withdrawn from the world war.

As for the Sun family in Jiangdong, even if they secure Jiangdong, they will not be able to cross the river and go north in a short time, so the overlord of the Central Plains will naturally become Cao Cao.

The structure of the world is basically the three heroes of Cao Cao, Yuan Shao and Lu Bu competing against each other. At that time, it may not matter whether they join forces with Yuan Shao to attack Guanzhong, or they may sit back and watch Guanzhong fight with Yuan Shao. In short, Cao Cao can advance and attack, retreat and defend. Invincible territory, when the time comes the top three territories will intersect with each other, but Cao Cao can develop towards Jiangdong.

Cao Cao looked at Xun Yu, then at Cheng Yu, nodded and said, "Who can tell me about Yuan Shu?"

"Let's go down." Cheng Yu stood up and said. He was the one who came up with this plan. Others may not know the deeper meaning of it. If a hot-headed person directly forms an alliance with Yuan Shu, it will be bad...