When Cao Cao heard this, he had a splitting headache.
He clearly had an absolute advantage, but because Liu Zhang moved his troops to Xin'an, the entire Central Plains forces were in turmoil!
Since Cao Cao became prime minister, the four major Yingchuan families headed by Xun Yu, Xun, Zhong, Chen, and Han, all had quarrels with Cao Cao.
Especially after Liu Zhang proclaimed himself a duke and made Xun You the minister and servant of the military adviser, it seemed that the mentality of the Yingchuan family had changed slightly.
During the Battle of Guandu and the Battle of Cangting, the Yingchuan clan asked for soldiers and grain, and they tried their best to help Cao Cao.
But since Liu Zhang became Duke and Cao Cao became Prime Minister, everything has changed!
Even Zhong Yao and Chen Qun, who had always been close to Cao Cao, were doing their usual routine and did not give any opinions or suggestions for this trip to Hebei.
As for Xun Yu, let alone that, his attitude was turned upside down.
Cao Cao needed food and fodder for his northern expedition, but Xun Yu only had two words, and he didn’t have any!
We don’t need money, we don’t need food, we don’t need soldiers!
Therefore, the Cao troops currently stationed in Hebei are all Qingzhou soldiers recruited by Cao Cao.
The grain supply of the entire Hebei was also changed from the supply of the Yingchuan family in Henan to the supply of Yanzhou and Xuzhou.
Cao Cao still remembered how he and Xun Yu broke up on bad terms before the expedition.
"Fengxiao, is there any news within the Guo family?"
The Guo family that Guo Jia belongs to is also from the Yingchuan family, and has extremely close relations with the four major families.
"Prime Minister, I am just the last member of a side sect. They will not discuss matters that are too secretive within the family with me..."
"But there is really news circulating within the Guo family. It seems that Guo Tu and Liu Zhang are very close."
Cao Cao couldn't help but smile contemptuously when he heard this.
"Guo Tu? Such a flattering villain, can Liu Zhang like him?"
Although Cao Cao looked down on Guo Tu, he was still very grateful to him.
Without Guo Tu, how could we win the Battle of Guandu?
"Prime Minister, you must not underestimate this matter! Moreover, the disaster is not just that, more of it lies with Xun You."
"Liu Zhang valued Xun You too much. He and Jia Xu were the number two figures in the Qin State."
"For the Yingchuan family, as long as the emperor is surnamed Liu, anyone can do it!"
"At this sensitive time, it is inevitable that the Yingchuan family will not contact Xun You secretly..."
Guo Jia is the undisputed last member of the Guo family, and Xun You is also a well-deserved side branch of the Xun family.
Xun You's father died young, leaving Xun You's family with little contribution to the entire Xun family.
Xun You's father is even more incomparable to Xun's Eight Dragons.
This also led to the mother and son being quite depressed after Xun You's father died early.
Therefore, even though Xun Yu's grandfather and Xun You's great-grandfather were brothers, their statuses were still very different.
However, for side branches, bloodline is not the only factor in judgment.
As long as the surnames are the same, they are naturally a family under certain circumstances.
The decisive factor that determines the close relationship between branches within the clan and the family is entirely ability.
As long as his ability is good enough, he can get the family's investment in him.
A very simple example is Xun You and Guo Jia.
As members of the family branch, if they were not capable, no one would take a second look at them.
If there was no Guo family operating behind the scenes and there were so many talented people with lofty ideals, why would Xun Yu recommend Guo Jia to Cao Cao?
It's just that Guo Jia's character is more rebellious. Unlike other Yingchuan clans headed by Xun Yu, his focus is more on Cao Cao.
Guo Jia was rebellious, but Xun You was not.
It is very common for aristocratic families to invest in other forces.
The Yingchuan family not only invested in Cao Cao, but also invested in Yuan Shao in Hebei.
Typical examples are Xun Chen and Guo Tu.
Xun Chen and Guo Tu's status in their respective clans is very high, far beyond what Xun You and Guo Jia can compare with!
The Guo family used Guo Tu to invest in Yuan Shao, which was planned and purposeful.
However, the Xun family's investment in Liu Zhang was a complete accident, or it was not voluntary at all.
Xun You did not report or discuss with the clan at all, and ran away with his mother!
Maybe the Xun family didn't take Xun You seriously at all at that time.
It doesn't matter in the first place, just run away.
Unexpectedly, Liu Zhang became bigger and bigger, taking over Yizhou, Liangzhou, and Yongzhou one after another, and even proclaimed himself the Duke of Jianguo and founded the country!
Xun You was even more extraordinary. He became Liu Zhang's most trusted and relied-upon mastermind. In the Qin State, he was one person below ten thousand people!
Can the Yingchuan family remain unmoved by this situation?
And the current Xun Yu is only the link between the Yingchuan family and Cao Cao.
He cannot represent the Yingchuan family, or even decide the Xun family's final decision.
If the Yingchuan family wanted to join Liu Zhang, Xun Yu would not be able to stop him.
Guo Tu contacted Liu Zhang, Chen Qun, and Zhong Yao without warning and alienated Cao Cao one after another. Xun Yu refused to provide military rations and even had open conflicts with Cao Cao.
There are traces behind all these things and their origins can be traced.
Guo Jia had to be alert, all of this was inextricably linked!
When Guo Tu went to Guanzhong, was it the Guo family's intention, or did the entire Yingchuan faction have this intention?
Or maybe the Yingchuan faction feels that Cao Cao is too ambitious and wants to find another partner to cooperate with?
The fog in front of him and the complicated situation in Hebei made Guo Jia feel physically and mentally exhausted.
"Fengxiao, it's good to have you..."
The only thing Cao Cao was lucky about was that a very smart person like Guo Jia was helping him wholeheartedly.
If Guo Jia also puts the family's interests first, there may be huge changes.
"Prime Minister, this is a serious matter and we must not take it lightly!"
"If the Yingchuan family changes sides, the Central Plains will be defeated by Liu Zhang in a short time!"
"Don't forget that Wuguan is still in Liu Zhang's hands!"
Cao Cao suddenly felt cold. If Guo Jia hadn't reminded him, he would have forgotten that Liu Zhang still had another way to attack.
If he enters Nanyang from Wuguan, Liu Zhang can go directly to Xuchang City!
Once the Yingchuan family rebels, then... . .
Cao Cao didn't dare to think about it anymore. This was a devastating blow!
"Immediately dispatch a large army to garrison the junction of Henan Yin and Nanyang!"
"In addition, we need to send more manpower to monitor the Yingchuan family. They must not be allowed to cause trouble!"
The rebellion of the Yanzhou clan in the past was still vivid in Cao Cao's mind, and he would never allow such a thing to happen again!
"Prime Minister, you can dispatch Cao Ren and Cao Hong to lead elite troops to garrison, and let Xiahou Dun return to Xuchang."
"Okay, just follow Fengxiao!"
Cao Cao nodded and immediately agreed to Guo Jia's suggestion.
The Cao family has always used clans to control military power. It is these clans that make Cao Cao not worry about rebellion.
Guo Jia turned to look at the sky outside, which was exactly the direction to the west, and at the same time there was a burst of fighting spirit in his eyes.
Liu Zhang, come on!
Let's see if you can unite with the Yingchuan family to defeat me, or if you let me wipe out all your conspiracies and tricks!
If Liu Zhang and the Yingchuan family learned of this, they would definitely cry out for injustice.
Cao Cao and Guo Jia were all just imaginary. He had neither contacted the Yingchuan family, nor had the Yingchuan family contacted him!
Guo Tu's actions were completely spontaneous.
The changes in Xun Yu, Zhong Yao, and Chen Qun were entirely due to their previous dissatisfaction with Cao Cao!
Liu Zhang could only bear all the blame silently. . .
