"Yuan Zhi, what you said is wrong."
Yang Ling said innocently,
"I have never threatened you with your maternity."
"I just said in the letter that your brother has passed away and your father is old and needs someone to take care of him."
"Where can I say anything threatening?"
Hearing Yang Ling's sophistry, Xu Shu couldn't laugh or cry, so he had to say,
"Okay, just pretend that the general is not threatening me. Then why do you think I will serve you?"
Yang Ling did not answer, but asked with a smile,
"Then Yuan Zhi, please tell me first, why do you work for Liu Bei?"
Xu Shu was stunned for a moment and said in deep thought,
"Uncle Liu Huang is a clan member of the royal family. He is a corporal, respectful to himself and others. He only wants to revitalize the Han Dynasty. He is even more kind to me!"
"What a coincidence. Now I am also a corporal of Lixian. I plan to re-employ Yuan Zhi. I wonder if Yuan Zhi is willing to work for me?"
Yang Ling asked with a smile.
"this……"
A look of embarrassment appeared on Xu Shu's face.
"Yuan Zhi feels that I have no heart for the Han Dynasty, but is helping Cao Cao to abuse him, so he doesn't want to work for me, right?"
Xu Shu was slightly shocked when he heard Yang Ling's words.
He didn't expect that Yang Ling would speak so straightforwardly, and he didn't know how to answer for a while.
"I dare to ask Yuan Zhi, in your heart, which one is more important, the Han Dynasty or the common people?"
Yang Ling asked again.
"Of course it's the common people!"
Although the Confucianism Xu Shu accepted emphasized loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, he was more inclined to the view that the people were the most important, the country was second, and the emperor was despised.
"Then let me ask Yuan Zhi again. In the early years when Emperors Huan and Ling were in power, all the people in the world were attracted to the Han Dynasty. What was the result?"
"Eunuchs interfering in politics bring disaster to the party!"
"Selling officials and conferring titles, the government's politics are dark, so that the people are in dire straits, and this inspires the Yellow Turbans to rebel!"
"If King Wei really returns power to the Emperor, but at the cost of returning the world to the turbulent period of the Yellow Turban, would you be willing?"
Xu Shu was speechless by Yang Ling's words and didn't know how to respond.
Yang Ling smiled and continued, minding his own business,
"Actually, for me, it doesn't matter who becomes the emperor. What matters is that the people are healthy, the Han Dynasty is strong, everyone from all directions submits, and there are no invading enemies. This is enough!"
In ancient times, the imperial power was supreme. Yang Ling's last words were quite treacherous and shocked Xu Shu!
Upon seeing this, Yang Ling did not immediately ask Xu Shu to express his position.
After all, he said so much, Xu Shu also needed time to digest and think.
However, he was still very confident that he could convince Xu Shu.
After all, most scholars long to be able to serve in officialdom and realize their ideals and ambitions.
Xu Shu was later able to serve as the Youzhonglang General and Yushi Zhongcheng in Wei State, and was included in Cao Pi's persuasion list in the name of Xu Fu, which also proves that he is not a rigid person!
as expected.
After a moment of silence, Xu Shu sighed and said with a bitter smile,
"But before I came, I promised Uncle Liu Huang..."
"You won't give me any advice, will you?"
Yang Ling asked with a smile.
Xu Shu looked at Yang Ling in surprise and nodded.
"good."
"It doesn't matter, Yuan Zhi doesn't have to give me advice."
Yang Ling smiled nonchalantly and said,
"You just need to use your talents and manage political affairs for the court."
"And I promise you, I won't need your help when I deal with Liu Bei!"
Xu Shu hesitated again and again, and finally nodded,
"Okay, I'm willing to serve the general!"
"That's very good! I will arrange a banquet later to cleanse you from the wind and dust for Yuan Zhi."
Yang Ling smiled.
"Thank you, General, for your kindness."
Xu Shu thanked him.
The two talked for a while, and then Yang Ling got up and left.
Looking at his leaving figure, Xu Shu couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Originally, before he met Yang Ling, he had made up his mind not to do anything for Yang Ling.
But he didn't expect that Yang Ling could persuade him with just a few words.
Is it because my will is too weak?
Or is Yang Ling known for his eloquence and charisma?
Xu Shu shook his head, not thinking about anything.
…
That night.
Yang Ling specially organized a banquet to entertain Xu Shu.
During the banquet, all the generals and counselors under him also became acquainted with Xu Shu one after another.
While the atmosphere was in full swing, everyone couldn't help but talk about the current war in Jiangling.
"I wonder what Mr. Yuanzhi thinks of our attack on Jiangling?"
Gao Rou asked calmly while playing with the delicate jade cup in her hand.
Xu Shu had just arrived and had never shown his abilities, but Yang Ling valued him so much, which naturally made everyone in Cao camp a little unconvinced.
Yang Ling also heard some hostility from Gao Rou's words.
However, he just looked at Xu Shu calmly, without any intention of dissuading him.
After all, in this situation, only by allowing Xu Shu to show his abilities can everyone's dissatisfaction be quelled.
Xu Shu put down the wine glass in his hand and smiled slightly.
"The city of Jiangling is strong, with elite soldiers and generals, and countless supplies of food, grass, and baggage. Outside, there are Wuhou from Jiangdong to provide assistance."
"If the general wants to capture Jiangling, it will be almost as difficult as climbing to heaven."
"But this is only in the short term. If we look at it in the long term, Uncle Liu Huang and the others will definitely lose!"
As soon as these words came out, everyone was slightly stunned.
Xu Shu didn't think highly of Liu Bei. Could it be that he said this deliberately to please Yang Ling?
"Why did Yuan Zhi say this?"
Yang Ling smiled.
"The reason is very simple. Even Uncle Liu, Jingzhou Mu, and Wu Hou combined are far less powerful than King Wei."
Xu Shu smiled bitterly.
There were thirteen states in the Han Dynasty, and Cao Cao dominated nine states, making the country very powerful.
Not to mention Liu Bei, Liu Qi, and Sun Quan, even if Zhang Lu, Liu Zhang, and Jiaozhou Shixie were added to the forces, they would not be able to compete with Cao Cao.
"Even if Uncle Liu Huang and the others can gain a temporary advantage, it will be of no use."
"Unless the King of Wei destroys the Great Wall, there will be a big strategic mistake."
"Otherwise, with strong strength, one day, even if it is not the King of Wei, it will be the Crown Prince or someone else who will rule the world."
Xu Shu sighed.
These remarks made everyone look at him with admiration.
Especially Yang Ling's eyes lit up.
Xu Shu's view is similar to the direction of history.
Historically, the Sima family relied on Cao Wei's strong capital to finally annex Shuhan and unify the world!
"Mr. Yuan Zhi is really talented. No wonder the general attaches so much importance to him."
Gao Rou no longer had the previous hostility and said solemnly.
"Mr. Wen Hui is overly praised."
Xu Shu said modestly.
"Come, let's drink this cup together for Yuan Zhi's eloquent talk!"
Yang Ling smiled and picked up the wine glass.
Everyone also picked up their wine glasses and drank them all in one gulp.
Yang Ling had just put down his wine glass when he saw Zhou Cang walking in quickly, cupping his hands and saying,
"General Qi, General Annan has just arrived and is heading this way."
Hearing this, Yang Ling was stunned.
When Wancheng was defeated badly and Cao Cao withdrew his troops, he left Cao Ren to guard Duyang and appointed him as the general to conquer the south, that is, he served as the acting general to conquer the south.
