106. An Irresistible Request

Whether in terms of personal temperament or his imposing presence, Xun Yu radiated the aura of a man from a distinguished lineage. This impression stemmed from his twenty guards, all at the pinnacle of the "refining essence into energy" cultivation stage, as well as his impeccably tailored garments and, more importantly, his graceful demeanor. It was a holistic sensation, from the external to the internal; the moment he stood there, one instinctively felt he hailed from a noble house.

This elegance and wealth had nothing to do with power or status; it was a quality etched into his very bones—a trait Cao Hong perceived as an unyielding pride.

Unlike the superficial, boisterous arrogance of Yuan Shu, Xun Yu’s pride was introverted, hidden within his humble gestures. It would be impossible to detect without eyes that could peer into the depths of a soul. Yet, Cao Hong possessed such eyes. Every elite mercenary is a master of assassination and protection, and both crafts require the ability to observe the minutiae of human nature. Thus, Cao Hong saw at a glance the pride deeply buried within Xun Yu’s heart.

In history, when Cao Cao ascended to the rank of Duke of Wei, Xun Yu expressed his opposition. Cao Cao was displeased, and during a campaign against Sun Quan, he acted out of character by ordering Xun Yu, who had been stationed in the rear, to join the army. Historical records state that Xun Yu, filled with anxiety and fear, soon died of melancholy.

Whenever Cao Hong encountered accounts in history books of figures dying of "melancholy" or "sudden illness," he was deeply perplexed. How could a healthy person suddenly perish? For example, Cao Cao’s second son, Cao Zhang, a man of great valor and military skill, died inexplicably at home shortly after Cao Pi ascended the throne. Or take Xun Yu, a man of such immense wisdom, who supposedly died of melancholy at the age of fifty.

Whether these accounts were fabrications by historians who did not know the truth, or if they concealed secrets too difficult to reveal to posterity, Cao Hong could not be sure. However, observing the world today, filled with masters, he realized that these "sudden deaths" were cloaked in a sinister hue. Perhaps these people had to die for a reason; in other words, their deaths were man-made. It was simply that the historians could not criticize the "great men" who caused these deaths, so they had to use subtle or eerie phrasing to draw a period at the end of their lives.

Cao Zhang’s death was due to his command of military forces and his status as Cao Cao’s son, which posed a significant threat to Cao Pi. As for Xun Yu, his death was clearly due to that unyielding pride—the pride that compelled him to hold fast to his original intention in joining Cao Cao: to restore order and support the Han Dynasty. Therefore, he opposed Cao Cao’s elevation to the rank of Duke of Wei. To Cao Cao, who at that time held absolute power, this was the ultimate provocation.

In that case, Xun Yu had to die.

At this moment, Cao Hong spurred his horse forward, stopping a few hundred meters from Xun Yu. He could now clearly see the man’s appearance. He looked to be twenty-eight, handsome and dashing, with a towering build, sword-like brows, starry eyes, a high nose bridge, and lips of perfect proportions—a true beauty of a man. Standing over eight feet tall, he was on par with Cao Hong, his physique near perfection.

Dressed in a pale cyan robe, the sleeves fluttering in the wind, he stood beside his carriage, exuding an indescribable charm.

Xun Yu bowed from a distance, smiling at Cao Hong. For some reason, Cao Hong felt an inexplicable affinity toward him. Suddenly, an entirely unrelated thought popped into his mind: Sheng Meizhen seemed to be nearing her time of labor...

What the hell? Why was he thinking about his wife? As he pondered this, a crucial detail from his past readings of history surfaced: the young son of this very Xun Yu, named Xun Can, was historically the husband of Cao Hong’s daughter. The two families were in-laws.

Even more fascinating was the touching legend involving Xun Can and Cao Hong’s daughter. His daughter was a great beauty but frail and sickly. Once, in the depths of winter, she fell gravely ill, and Xun Can stripped himself naked to warm his frozen wife with his own body heat.

Cao Hong had only skimmed this tale before and had no deep impression of it, but seeing Xun Yu now triggered a chain reaction, and he recalled it vividly. He also remembered that Xun Can had died of grief shortly after his wife passed, at the mere age of twenty-nine—a testament to the depth of his affection.

With Sheng Meizhen about to give birth, and he, Cao Hong, happening to run into Xun Yu at this exact moment—was this the inevitability of history? If they met here and reached Dongwuyang, and his wife gave birth, could they arrange a betrothal based on their connection? Thus, would he and Xun Yu forge a deep bond?

"I wonder if Sheng Meizhen will have a boy or a girl. If it’s a girl, a marriage alliance wouldn't be out of the question. After all, the Xun family are descendants of Xunzi, and their mastery of the I Ching is unparalleled. Although Xun Yu would later be viewed with suspicion by Cao Cao, his descendants produced many outstanding figures, one of whom, Xun Yi, even became the Grand Marshal of the Jin Dynasty. Furthermore, the four great families of Yingchuan have always acted in unison; key Cao Wei ministers like Zhong Yao, Chen Qun, and Xun You all hail from these families. By linking myself to the Xun family, I would gain a powerful ally within the Cao Wei group."

As Cao Hong calculated this, he reached a point ten paces from Xun Yu, dismounted, and cupped his hands in greeting. "Cao Zilian of Pei Kingdom greets Master Wenruo."

Xun Yu assumed his own page had informed the man of his name, so he was not surprised. Before arriving in Dong Commandery, he had researched Cao Cao’s subordinates. This Cao Zilian, in his early twenties, was a pivotal general under Lord Cao. Two things stood out in Xun Yu’s mind: first, he was the son-in-law of the renowned scholar Sheng Xian from Wu Commandery, a man of great reputation who had close ties to Kong Wenju, the descendant of Confucius. Being his son-in-law meant his character was beyond reproach. Second, this man had sold all his assets in Wu Commandery to support Cao Cao’s comeback—a monumental feat. Seven or eight out of every ten pieces of military equipment in Cao Cao’s army were supplied by this young man.

It could be said that Cao Zilian’s position in Lord Cao’s heart was paramount. Moreover, he was a kinsman of Lord Cao. Xun Yu couldn't help but marvel at his own good fortune. He had hoped to find a general under Lord Cao to serve as an introducer, but he had stumbled upon such a heavyweight right away. His status was likely comparable only to that of Xiahou Yuan or Xiahou Dun, who had followed Lord Cao since the early campaigns against the Yellow Turbans.

With this in mind, Xun Yu bowed with a smile. "General, you are too kind. I am but a mere scholar; how could I deserve such a gesture from you? I have come to Dong Commandery to seek service under General Fenwu, Lord Cao, in hopes of contributing a modest effort toward restoring order. Along the way, I learned that Lord Cao has reached Dongwuyang County and was heading there. Seeing your banner, I took the liberty of seeking an audience, but I never expected the General to come personally. I am truly overwhelmed!"

His words were courteous and refined, displaying the grace of a true Confucian scholar. However, Cao Hong, not fully grasping the underlying intent of this meeting, replied politely, "Master, you are too modest. The Xun family’s study of the I Ching is peerless, and the Eight Dragons of the Xun family are the exemplars of the literati. Although I am not fond of books, I am literate enough to hold great respect for men of talent. As a scion of the Xun family and bearer of the title 'Talent for Assisting a King,' meeting you is like meeting Zhang Liang himself. How could I possibly wait for you to come to me?"

Xun Yu was taken aback and immediately gained a newfound respect for Cao Hong. This general spoke so properly, and the comparison to Zhang Liang was... it was profoundly gratifying! To be likened to Zhang Liang was truly...

As Xun Yu savored the compliment, he naturally did not realize that Cao Hong had simply preempted Cao Cao’s famous remark, "He is my Zhang Liang." Xun Yu bowed repeatedly and said, "I dare not, I dare not. My talents are shallow, and while I wish to serve Lord Cao, I fear lacking an introduction. Meeting you here is truly fate. Might I trouble the General to introduce me to Lord Cao?"

Introduce you? You need an introduction? Cao Cao will be a hundred times happier to see you than he was to see Liu Ye! Liu Ye is indeed a member of the Han imperial clan, but his reputation cannot compare to your "Talent for Assisting a King"! Furthermore, Liu Ye was a lone operator, but once you arrive, men like Xi Zhicai, Guo Jia, Chen Qun, and even Zhong Yao—all of whom have ties to you—will flock to Cao Cao.

Does a man like this need an introduction? Cao Hong was puzzled, but he knew that if he introduced Xun Yu after having introduced Liu Ye, Cao Cao would be grinning from ear to ear, surely regarding him as a bringer of supreme good fortune.

Faced with such a golden opportunity, would you refuse?