Chapter 59

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Cao Cao no longer held back, nodding repeatedly: "How should we handle it?" Shi Xun replied, "In the fourth year of Emperor Wu's Yuanshu reign, he issued an order for military farming. Do you remember it?" Cao Cao, upon hearing this, suddenly realized: "You mean we can gather the million Yellow Turbans for military farming to support the army?"

Shi Xun smiled slightly: "Emperor Wu implemented military farming. Now, we can implement both civilian and military farming. Select the able-bodied men from the Yellow Turbans for military farming, working the fields during busy times and training during idle times. In a year, we can have a hundred thousand elite soldiers, and there will be no shortage of food and fodder. The rest can engage in civilian farming, with the government providing seeds, tools, and even oxen. They can keep enough for their own consumption and the next year's seeds, and the government can take over 50% of the harvest. This has three benefits: first, we gain soldiers; second, we gain food; third, by organizing them into military units and concentrating on reclamation, with supervision and monitoring, we can prevent them from rebelling again. In three to five years, we can transform the civilian farming into regular households. By then, the population and land of Yanzhou will be prosperous, providing a solid foundation for you to eliminate the warlords and restore peace to the land."

Cao Cao's rise to dominance in northern China was largely due to military farming. However, military farming was not implemented immediately. In the original timeline, after subduing the million Yellow Turbans, he kept a hundred thousand soldiers from Qingzhou and sent the rest back to farm. However, due to a lack of tools and seeds, the initial harvest was poor. Later, when he attacked Xuzhou and Lu Bu, he had to stop and start because of food shortages. It wasn't until four years later that Zao Zhi proposed the military farming plan, and he and Ren Jun were assigned to implement it, with agricultural officials set up in various regions. The first year saw a great harvest, and Cao Cao drove Yuan Shu out of Yuzhou to Huainan.

Now, Shi Xun had proposed the military farming plan early. Cao Cao and Xi Xian exchanged glances, their eyes filled with uncontrollable joy. Cao Cao grabbed Shi Xun's hand and shook it: "You are truly a great talent! However, I have one question. How can we organize military farming when we lack the necessary resources, such as food, tools, and oxen?"

Bingo, congratulations on getting it right!

Why did Cao Cao wait four years after subduing the million Yellow Turbans to start military farming? Was it because no one had thought of this brilliant plan before? It's possible, as the Yuan brothers and other warlords didn't think of it. When Cao Cao had already reaped the benefits of military farming for two years, Yuan Shao's army in Hebei was picking mulberries, and Yuan Shu's army in Huainan was catching clams, all starving. However, a significant factor was that military farming required initial investment. Without capital, nothing could be done.

Cao Cao not only subdued the Yellow Turbans of Qingzhou but also subdued a large number of Yellow Turbans in Runan years later. The Yellow Turbans in Runan were not as fierce as those in Qingzhou, so they had suffered limited attacks. They not only roamed and plundered but also farmed wherever they went, retaining many tools and livestock. Cao Cao used the oxen seized from the Yellow Turbans in Runan to start military farming.

Now, the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou had no oxen. Even if they had, they would have been slaughtered for food. Moreover, Cao Cao, the landlord, had no surplus food. How could he start military farming?

Shi Xun smiled slightly and patted his chest: "As long as Cao Gong agrees to one condition, the oxen and seeds will be provided by me."

"Ah~" Cao Cao's voice dragged on, revealing his surprise and joy. He had just heard about the military farming plan and was worried about the lack of capital. He thought, "Mr. Hongfu's idea is good, but it doesn't fit the current situation. How can we conjure up the necessary resources out of thin air? Let me ask a question. If he gets stuck, I can regain the upper hand." But unexpectedly, Shi Xun confidently said everything was fine, as long as he agreed to one condition. What condition? Was it to pay for it? He would have to ask his father, who had plenty of gold and silver, but might not be willing to part with it. However, where could he find enough oxen and seeds, and who would be willing to sell them? He quickly asked, "What is the condition, Mr. Hongfu?"

Shi Xun smoothly transitioned to the next topic. With the upper hand, his words flowed like water, continuous and unbroken, much like Zhuge Liang's "Longzhong Plan." He wondered if future generations would condense his words into something like the "Suixiang Plan" or "Zhangzhong Strategy."

He said, "I have an elder who once offended Cao Gong but now wishes to sincerely join. If Cao Gong can forgive him, just as Emperor Gaozu forgave Yong Chi, it will win the hearts of the people, and the oxen and seeds will follow."

Cao Cao frowned slightly and asked, "Who is it?" He thought, "I have many enemies, but I can't think of anyone with enough influence. Who is this young man talking about?"

Shi Xun then revealed his hand: "I recently arranged a marriage, and my new bride is a daughter of the Cao family from Qiao County in Pei, currently in Xuzhou."

This was clear enough. Cao Cao's face immediately darkened. Shi Xun thought, "Is the enmity that deep? I laid so much groundwork, and you still won't budge?" Just as he was about to persuade further, Cao Cao's expression suddenly changed. His small eyes narrowed, his sparse beard twitched, and his face broke into a smile: "Ah, we're all family! I almost sent my brother-in-law to be executed. What a silly mistake... I'm sorry, brother-in-law, ignorance is no excuse."

Shi Xun's heart skipped a beat. He thought, "Why bring up the execution? Is this a warning or a threat?" But it seemed Cao Cao was willing to budge—indeed, he was a cunning hero, changing his face like turning a page.

Cao Cao then asked, "Do Zhonghui and Shuyuan have enough grain and resources? Are they willing to help me?"

Shi Xun thought, "He's quick, very quick. He's already calling them 'uncles.'" He shook his head lightly: "Although they have extensive land and property in Xuzhou, it's like a drop in the bucket for Cao Gong." Cao Cao was confused: "Then what do you mean, Mr. Hongfu?"

Shi Xun replied, "My family is originally from Beihai but moved to Xuzhou to avoid war. My brother married the sister of Mi Zizhong, and my younger sister married Chen Yuanlong as a second wife. Now, I am also marrying into the Cao family..." He noticed that Cao Cao and Xi Xian exchanged glances again. Cao Cao was fine, but Xi Xian drew a sharp breath.

He continued, "The Xuzhou army has occupied Hua, Fei, and Rencheng, and it's difficult to retreat. Cao Gong can send an envoy to Tancheng to question Tao Gongzu. Tao Gongzu will likely say he is temporarily holding the city to defend against the Yellow Turbans. At that point, Cao Gong can propose conditions, asking him to provide tools, seeds, and oxen. This year, Xuzhou has a good harvest, and the granaries are full. I don't think he will refuse."

Cao Cao finally understood. It seemed the four families had already joined forces and controlled the political situation in Xuzhou. As long as he extended an olive branch and made some demands, they would be willing to persuade Tao Qian to leave Gongsun Zan's camp and even avoid joining Yuan Shao, instead forming an alliance with him. "Mr. Hongfu is truly remarkable. This is a series of interconnected plans, making it impossible for me to refuse. I need to probe further to see what else he has in mind."

"Why don't I just send troops to Xuzhou and demand the resources directly?"

Shi Xun had anticipated this test and revealed his last card: "Zang Ba is in Hua and Fei, and Cao Bao is in Rencheng, blocking the way. With a tired army and limited supplies, can Cao Gong guarantee victory? Tao Gongzu is old and has little time left. Why be in a hurry?"

Cao Cao understood. He thought, "It's good that you have this in mind." He asked, "As Mr. Hongfu said, Yanzhou is a strategic location. If we cannot strengthen ourselves, we will be broken by outsiders. If we cannot take Xuzhou, where will we go next year when our army is strong and well-supplied?"

This question was outside Shi Xun's plan, but it didn't stump him. After all, his understanding of the current political situation was better than that of most scholars: "We cannot contend with Hebei. Cao Gong can take Yuzhou and attack Yuan Shu. If we control Yanzhou and Yuzhou, with Xuzhou securing our flank, we can advance into Henan and restore the capital. At that point, with the authority to command the nation, even Yuan Jiuzhou would not dare to oppose you directly." Of course, this was just a beautiful facade. In reality, after controlling Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Xuzhou, and the Imperial Region, Cao Cao would face Yuan Shao, who controlled Hebei, Qingzhou, Youzhou, and Bingzhou, with more territory and troops. But that was a future concern, and it couldn't be fully discussed—first, some things sounded too much like prophecy or sorcery, and second, some things could still change with the small butterfly effect.

The conversation had reached this point, and it was getting dark. If they continued, they wouldn't have time to go and subdue the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou, and Guan Hai would go hungry again—whether he could survive the night was uncertain, and the longer the night, the more likely a traitor might assassinate him or he might take his own life in despair.

So, Shi Xun quickly reached into his robe: "There are two letters to present to Cao Gong..."

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