Chapter 7: A Comprehensive Discussion of the World

What does Wen Jie mean by this? At this time, Cao Cao was merely a valiant cavalry lieutenant, and even among the eighteen warlords who were mobilizing against Dong Zhuo, he ranked relatively low. He had not yet exhibited the dominance of later years when he would hold the emperor hostage to command the lords. Hearing such high praise directed at him, he felt somewhat unaccustomed.

Wen Jie is well aware of the affairs of the world, and Xuande admires him! Reflecting on his own arduous battles, yet only obtaining a trivial position as the county magistrate of Anxi after a long time, and having to resign due to offending the postal supervisor, Liu Bei felt a wave of bitterness, which also showed on the faces of Zhang Fei and Guan Yu.

What does Wen Jie Gong mean by this statement? Ultimately, it is Liu Bei who is more concerned about the safety of the Han dynasty. He currently has almost no foundation, and the only thing he can use to speak to others is his identity as a descendant of the Jing King of Zhongshan and a member of the Han royal family. If the Han dynasty cannot be restored, his prospects will naturally be bleak

If it were only this, it would be fine! The situation has not deteriorated to the extent of the time of Emperor Zhou. If there were one or two capable leaders, the Han dynasty could still be revitalized! However, the Ten Eunuchs lured and killed He Jin, and Yuan Shao and others led troops to eliminate the eunuchs, resulting in a civil strife that exhausted the last strength of the Han dynasty; subsequently, they invited the wolf into the house by summoning the Xiliang governor Dong Zhuo to march into the capital, and from then on, there was no hope for the revival of the Han dynasty!" Li Youan comforted Liu Bei for a moment and continued, "The deposition of Emperor Sha and the establishment of Emperor Xian, the concentration of power in the court and the public, and Dong Zhuo's tyrannical actions led to the joint campaign of the eighteen warlords, which also swept away the accumulated prestige of the Han royal family over hundreds of years! Even if our great army could drive away Dong Zhuo, who would fear a mere child? What Dong Zhuo could do, could not Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu do as well?"

As for Liu Bei, it is even more exaggerated! He is currently merely the magistrate of Pingyuan County, and his identity as the emperor's uncle has not yet been recognized by the court! Compared to Han Fu, the Inspector of Jizhou, and Cao Cao, the Cavalry Commandant, he is indeed far behind; with his current mindset, it would be sufficient for him to lead a province and serve the Han dynasty loyally, completely lacking the ambition to sweep through the states of Wu and Wei in the future; suddenly being addressed this way by Han Fu, one of the feudal lords, left him greatly changed in expression, not knowing how to respond.

"Minister Wenjie is indeed a benevolent person!" The last words of pity for the common people spoken by Li You greatly impressed Liu Bei, who rose from behind the table and bowed deeply. Guan Yu, who came from a commoner background, also cupped his hands in salute to him. Zhang Fei was momentarily taken aback, but quickly followed his two elder brothers in paying respects to Li You

The Han dynasty's realm has become riddled with wounds due to the Yellow Turban Rebellion! The local lords are increasingly strengthening their military forces, while the court continues to decline. Can relying on the weak to support the strong be a long-term solution? Currently, the majority of the military power in the world is in the hands of the lords, and the court lacks any means of checks and balances. If this continues, it is certain that troubles will arise.

As soon as the words were spoken, Cao Cao stroked his beard in contemplation, while Liu Bei's face showed signs of worry. Perhaps they had previously harbored such thoughts, albeit vaguely, but had never seriously considered them. Now, awakened by Li You's remarks, they could not help but fall into deep reflection

Emperor Xian of Han currently has no troops at his disposal, and given his young age, he is unable to command respect from others. Even with a few loyal ministers like the Prime Minister Wang Yun, what can be accomplished? Both Cao Cao and Liu Bei are exceptionally wise individuals; with just a little thought, they can clearly understand Li You's words. Cao Cao could not help but ask, "In your view, Lord Wenjie, what will the world look like in the future?"

Those who can drive out Dong Zhuo, restore the Han dynasty, and enable the common people to live and work in peace can be called heroes! Liu Bei's response remained cautious

"The brilliance of the literary program is like a torch, penetrating the minutiae; I cannot compare!" This admiration from Cao Cao is a different matter altogether. He harbors a vague yet subtle feeling about the future of the Han dynasty, but it is not as clear as what Li You has articulated. Listening to this discourse is like a sudden awakening, leaving him unable to disengage. The thought of leading troops to battle in a chaotic world ignites his blood and stirs his spirit.

If Li You were to permanently remain in the world of the Three Kingdoms, he would certainly choose to establish his base in Jizhou, attracting talented individuals, recruiting generals such as Zhao Yun and Tai Shici into his ranks, enlisting strategists like Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang under his command, and bringing beautiful women such as Daqiao, Xiaoqiao, Diao Chan, and Zhen Mi into his harem

The chaotic times are approaching! It is time for heroes like Brother Xuande and Brother Mengde to use the world as a chessboard and engage in fierce battles!" Li You rose and approached the entrance of the main tent, lifting the curtain and pointing to the dense array of flags outside, saying, "You two should take a look, in another twenty years, I fear that this renowned coalition of eighteen warlords will be reduced to a mere fraction! It is only the unfortunate common people in the fields who, due to your entanglements, will spill their blood and flesh upon the earth, nourishing vast expanses of mugwort!"

Only those who can pacify the four corners of the world, uphold the state, and establish unparalleled achievements can be called heroes. Cao Cao pondered for a moment and replied, after all, he is Cao Cao; his response was exceedingly bold, and his lifelong ambitions had already begun to reveal themselves.

Once a hero draws his sword, it brings about a decade of calamity for the common people! Indeed, the Three Kingdoms is a stage for heroes, where those valiant generals and astute strategists can freely showcase their talents and firmly etch their illustrious names into the annals of history. However, for the ordinary populace, it is a tremendous disaster

Cao Cao, upon hearing these words, nodded repeatedly, further solidifying his resolve to recruit soldiers and gather talented individuals; whereas Liu Bei, upon reflecting on the current chaotic situation, could not help but feel a surge of sorrow, with tears streaming down like rain

"From the perspective of Mengde and Xuande, what kind of person can truly be called a hero?" Li You retorted

However, since this time is merely a fleeting visit and there is no way to compete with Cao Cao and Liu Bei, I can only put on a grand display in front of them. Of course, if one of them could unify the realm sooner, it would spare the Han people some suffering and help avoid the tragic events of the Five Barbarians invading China and the migration of the gentry to the south in the future.

During the reign of Emperor Ling, eunuchs held power, and the common people suffered greatly. Coupled with the chaos caused by the Yellow Turbans, the imperial army was filled with fear at the mere mention of them. Li You began to reflect on the political landscape of recent years, stating, "In order to resist the Yellow Turbans, various local lords hastily recruited soldiers. It was during this time that my brother Meng De was appointed as a cavalry commander and followed General Huangfu Song to achieve a great victory over the Yellow Turban army. My brother Xuan De also joined the army of Liu Yan, the governor of Youzhou, and defeated the Yellow Turbans in Zhuo County and again in Qingzhou. It is a pity that the court was unjust and failed to grant my brother Xuan De the rewards he deserved."

Because Li You's words today were far-sighted and insightful, Cao Cao's tone also became noticeably more respectful

"Unfortunately, it is ultimately the clam and the snipe that vie for profit, while the fisherman benefits. The tyranny of King You led to the calamity of the Qiang, and the chaos at the end of the Qin dynasty allowed the Xiongnu to grow strong! If no one can unify the realm within twenty years, I fear that the people of the Central Plains will be exhausted, and the remaining will become slaves to the barbarians!" After speaking, Li You deeply bowed to Cao Cao and Liu Bei, "I hope both of you will consider the plight of the people of the Central Plains and bring an end to this chaotic era soon!"

The magnanimity of Brother Mengde is truly impressive!" Li You raised his wine cup to Cao Cao and drank to victory once more, then turned to Liu Bei, "Brother Xuande, in my view, Dong Zhuo is easy to eliminate, but the Han dynasty is difficult to restore!