Chapter 19 Seeking Support from Yuan Shao

"Dongjun!" Lin Yu said slowly.

"Go to Dongjun? Why is that?" Cao Cao's eyes widened, full of confusion.

The Prefect of Dongjun, Qiao Mao, had just been killed by Liu Dai, and his troops had also been incorporated by Liu Dai. It wouldn't be long before Dongjun was likely to be completely annexed by Liu Dai. At this critical moment, going to Dongjun would probably lead to an immediate conflict with Liu Dai.

Moreover, warfare is somewhat like playing the game of Go, with the saying that the corners are like gold, the sides like silver, and the center like grass. Dongjun is located in the central area of the Han Dynasty. To its west is Henei Prefecture under the jurisdiction of Zhang Yang, to the north is Jizhou occupied by Yuan Shao, to the east is Qingzhou where Kong Rong is, and to the south is the territory of Liu Dai. Not only is it surrounded by enemies on all sides, but there are also the remaining forces of Qiao Mao inside. Given such a dangerous situation, choosing Dongjun as the base is really not a wise move.

Facing Cao Cao's question, Lin Yu calmly smiled and said, "Don't worry, Lord Cao. Please listen to me carefully."

"Dongjun has an excellent geographical location and well-developed transportation. It allows one to march northward to Jizhou, southward to Yanzhou and Yuzhou, westward to Sili Prefecture, and eastward to Qingzhou. Moreover, Chenliu is adjacent to Dongjun, and Zhang Miao, the Prefect of Chenliu, has a good relationship with Lord Cao. They can support each other."

Naturally, what Lin Yu mentioned were only the superficial factors. In fact, historically, Cao Cao patiently developed after entering Dongjun. When the Yellow Turban Army from Qingzhou rushed into Yanzhou and killed Liu Dai, he was welcomed by the officials of Yanzhou as the Governor. After defeating the Yellow Turban Army, he finally managed to establish a firm foothold.

"But under what pretext should we enter Dongjun?" Cao Cao stroked his chin and asked doubtfully.

If he forcibly entered Dongjun, he would probably immediately clash with Liu Dai. As the governor of a prefecture, Liu Dai had a strong army and was quite powerful. With the remaining troops in Cao Cao's hands, he could hardly compete with Liu Dai.

"That's easy. Lord Cao only needs to ask Yuan Benchu for help and ask him to submit a memorial to the imperial court, requesting the court to appoint you as the Prefect of Dongjun." Lin Yu smiled and said, "With his support, even if Liu Dai is reluctant in his heart, he wouldn't dare to do anything to you openly."

Although after the campaign against Dong Zhuo, the various feudal lords no longer took the imperial court seriously. But after all, everyone was still nominally a subject of the Han Dynasty. Only with an official document from the imperial court could things be done justifiably.

Hearing Lin Yu's suggestion, Cao Cao couldn't help but smile bitterly and said, "Although I had a good relationship with Yuan Benchu in the early years, that was in the past. Now, asking him to stand up for me and support me, how is that possible?"

Among adults, it's not about friendship but about pros and cons. Without any benefits, how could Yuan Shao come forward for Cao Cao?

"That's true, but what if Lord Cao gives the Imperial Seal to him?" Lin Yu smiled mysteriously.

"The Imperial Seal?!" Cao Cao was stunned for a moment, and then he saw Lin Yu take out a vermilion wooden box from his bosom. When it was opened, a small imperial seal was lying quietly inside.

It was exactly the Imperial Seal!

"Sir, this... isn't this in the hands of the Son of Heaven? Why is it here?" Cao Cao's eyes widened, looking at Lin Yu in disbelief.

"A few days ago, Zilong and I led our troops to put out the fire in Luoyang City and accidentally discovered the Imperial Seal in a dry well. I just hadn't had the time to tell you, Lord Cao." Lin Yu explained.

Cao Cao didn't say anything, his eyes fixed on the Imperial Seal.

This was the imperial seal symbolizing the power of the Son of Heaven. Only by obtaining it could one be considered a legitimate and orthodox monarch. If he kept the imperial seal for himself, wouldn't he be able to...

Thinking of this, Cao Cao's eyes were full of fanaticism, excitement, and greed!

Lin Yu naturally noticed his expression and quickly reminded him, "An innocent man can be incriminated if he is in possession of a valuable object. Lord Cao, after all, this imperial seal is just a lifeless object. Without absolute strength, keeping it would only be a huge hidden danger!"

Cao Cao then came to his senses. He reluctantly moved his eyes away, took a deep breath, and then forced a smile and said, "Sir is absolutely right. Do you mean you want me to give this thing to Yuan Shao?"

"Yes. Keeping this thing in our hands is just like a chicken rib." Lin Yu nodded and said, "You can give it to Yuan Shao in exchange for his strong support! Only in this way can we have a chance to establish a firm foothold in Dongjun!"

Cao Cao's eyes lit up. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Okay, let's do it as you say!"

...

In Yuan Shao's Camp.

"Hehe, Mengde, why are you so free today?" Yuan Shao greeted Cao Cao with a smile and asked him to take a seat.

"Yesterday, I led my troops to pursue Dong Zhuo, but I was badly defeated. I'm feeling quite depressed, so I came to see you, Benchu, today to relieve my depression." Cao Cao sighed.

Hearing this, a hint of disapproval flashed in Yuan Shao's eyes, and a faint sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

All the feudal lords refused to continue sending troops, but you, like a reckless young man, foolishly went to pursue Dong Zhuo. Who else would be defeated if not you?

"Victory and defeat are common in military affairs. Mengde, don't take it to heart." Yuan Shao comforted softly.

"Benchu, you are absolutely right." Cao Cao nodded sincerely and continued, "To be honest, besides coming to ask for your help today, I also have a precious item to present to you."

"Oh? What precious item is it?" Yuan Shao asked somewhat casually.

The Yuan family had been prominent for four generations with three dukes, and now he occupied Jizhou with strong power. What kind of precious items hadn't he seen?

"Please have a look, Benchu." Cao Cao stood up and took out an imperial seal from his bosom and handed it to Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao glanced at it casually at first, but this one glance made him stand up abruptly!

"This... this is the Imperial Seal?!" Yuan Shao's face changed drastically, somewhat unable to believe his own eyes. "How did this thing come into your hands?"

"To be honest, a few days ago, when the soldiers under my command were putting out the fire in Luoyang City, they accidentally got this thing." Cao Cao explained. "After thinking it over, I think such an important thing is most suitable to be entrusted to you, Benchu, for safekeeping."

Yuan Shao's face was uncertain, and his eyes flickered with strange lights.

He had been able to develop to his current position not only because of his powerful family background but also due to his personal abilities. After this campaign against Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao realized that the Han Dynasty was on its last legs and thus developed ambitions in his heart!

Cao Cao's presenting the Imperial Seal today was really a great temptation for Yuan Shao!

After a long silence, Yuan Shao pretended to be calm and smiled and said, "Mengde is right! Such a precious thing will be temporarily kept by me."

"After we retrieve the Son of Heaven from the hands of Dong Zhuo in the future, we will return this thing to the Son of Heaven!"

Sure enough, as Mr. Lin Yu had said, Yuan Shao couldn't resist the temptation of the Imperial Seal. Cao Cao thought to himself, while still smiling on the surface and saying, "That's excellent!"