Chapter 61

As Guan Hai and others were pushed out of the tent, Shi Xun's face involuntarily showed a look of shock and anger. Cao Cao understood his thoughts and grabbed his hand, lowering his voice to say, "Hongfu, don't be suspicious. Since I promised you, I won't go back on my word. I just want the soldiers to keep a good watch on Guan Hai and the others, so they don't run away secretly."

Shi Xun glanced at Cao Cao's eyes and reluctantly believed him—now that Guan Hai, this "pig," had fallen into the tiger's mouth, even if he didn't trust, there was no way to reverse the situation.

This time, when accepting the surrender, Cao Cao had arranged for the main generals and advisors who were besieging the Yellow Turbans to return. Cao Cao then held Shi Xun's hand and introduced them one by one—there were the Zhizhong Cishi Mao Jie, the Dongjun Cishi Lu Qian, the Jibei Cishi Li Qian, who were subordinates of the Inspector of Yanzhou; and the Bubu Sima Lixiong Xiaowei Cao Ren, the Bubu Sima Cao Hong, the Zhechong Xiaowei Xiahou Dun, the Jun Jia Sima Xianzhen Duwei Yue Jin, the Jun Sima Yu Jin, as well as Ren Jun Ren Boda and Xi Xian Xi Zhicai, who were subordinates of the Acting Vigorous Martial General.

Shi Xun greeted each of them. The one he most wanted to see was the famous "Xun Lingjun," but unfortunately, he was not present—probably still in Dongwuyang, helping Cao Cao guard the main base.

While introducing his subordinates and generals, Cao Cao continuously praised Shi Xun, calling him "mature beyond his years," "full of wisdom," "unmatched in strategy," and so on. Shi Xun repeatedly bowed, saying he was not worthy—knowing his own capabilities, he didn't dare to be carried away by such flattery. Finally, Cao Cao said, "My father's life was saved thanks to Hongfu's protection, allowing him to return to Yanzhou—come, Quji, let's thank Hongfu together for his kindness."

Shi Xun then noticed that Cao De was sitting right next to Cao Cao—dude, were you there from the beginning, or did you slip in halfway? Sorry, I didn't notice...

Seeing that the Cao brothers were about to kneel and thank him, Shi Xun quickly held them up. Cao Cao stood up with just a slight push, making Shi Xun inwardly criticize: with your strength, if you really wanted to kneel, could I have held you up? Please at least put up a bit of a struggle, your acting is too fake, not at the same level as when you wanted to cut me down yesterday.

Cao Cao tightly held Shi Xun's hand, his expression especially sincere, and said, "According to Quji, you, Hongfu, have not yet entered the service of Tao Gongzu and are still a commoner. If so, don't return to Xu Province, come and help me instead. Whether it's a state official, a county magistrate, or a military advisor, you can choose any position. Even a prefect or a governor can be negotiated."

Shi Xun thought to himself, you really dare to make such promises. I am just a commoner, not even a Xiaolian, and if I suddenly rise to a 2,000-dan position, the spittle of the scholars would drown me, and it would drown you too—Liu Bei, for example, first served as the magistrate of Pingyuan before becoming the governor. Cao Cao's intention to recruit him was within his expectations. Even before he came to Cao Cao's camp, he had noticed that Cao De had this intention. As long as Cao De mentioned it to Cao Cao, Cao Cao would definitely summon him. However, without the dramatic and thrilling persuasion, Cao Cao wouldn't offer such high positions, at most a state clerk.

So he had already made up his mind. He smiled faintly and said, "It's not that I am unwilling to serve Cao Gong, but I came here with nothing..."

"Coming with nothing" is a reference. When Han Gaozu Liu Bang was founding his empire, Chen Ping left Xiang Yu and came to join him. Liu Bang valued him highly, appointing him as a Duyu and making him a military advisor. However, soon he received reports that Chen Ping was accepting large bribes from the generals, giving good positions to those who paid more and bad positions to those who paid less. Liu Bang summoned Chen Ping to question him, and Chen Ping said, "I came with nothing, and without accepting bribes, I would have no means to live. The salary you give me is not enough to live on."

Here, "coming with nothing" does not mean Chen Ping came naked and bare, but that he had no assets, so if he didn't accept bribes, he couldn't survive, as the salary you gave me was not enough to live on. Now, Shi Xun meant the same thing: if Cao Cao wanted him to stay in Yanzhou, it was fine, but his family was in Xu Province, and his relatives and assets were there. If he came alone, how would he survive?

He had already made up his mind. Since he had already joined Cao Cao, he wouldn't return to Xu Province—living alone was much more comfortable than staying at home and having to please several older brothers, which was a million times better. Moreover, he planned to sell his assets in Xu Province. If Tao Qian ever realized what was happening, he would be the second Zhang Song... no, the first. It was better to leave first and let Chen Deng and Cao Hong deal with the problems in Xu Province.

"Hongfu, rest assured," Cao Cao quickly said, "You saved my father's life. Even if my father gives you all his wealth, it would be justified..." Shi Xun thought, it might be justified, but the old man has to agree. He hasn't died yet, and you haven't inherited his estate. Empty promises are useless. Of course, Cao Cao wouldn't just talk about his father's wealth. He immediately promised that if Shi Xun stayed, he would not lack for property and land.

Shi Xun seized the opportunity and said he had one more request for Cao Gong. Cao Cao said, "Speak, as long as I can do it, I will agree."

After bringing Cao Song and Cao De back last night, the Cao brothers slept side by side and talked all night. Cao De told his brother about the journey and his and Shi Xun's various speculations. Cao Cao immediately picked up the water cup from the bedside table and threw it at the wall, shattering it—"Yuan Shu, I will not share the sky with you!"

Cao Cao and Yuan Shu had a long-standing friendship, not as close as with Yuan Shao, but still at the level of "entrusting one's wife and children." There were three people with whom Cao Cao had such a relationship: Yuan Shao, who once entrusted his family to Cao Cao; Zhang Miao, who was entrusted with Cao Cao's family when he first attacked Xu Province; and Yuan Shu, who helped protect Cao Cao's family when he fled from Dong Zhuo and eventually returned them to Cao Cao in Chenliu.

However, when the Yuan brothers fell out, Cao Cao sided with Yuan Shao and became enemies with Yuan Shu, but they had not yet completely broken ties. Now, Cao Cao thought, "A gentleman does not speak ill of a former friend, and one person's crime should not affect their family." Yet you have gone so far as to send assassins to kill my father several times! "Wait until next year when the grain is sufficient, and I will raise a large army, advance to Yingchuan, capture Nanyang, and cut off that dog's head!"

So today, Cao Cao was sincerely grateful to Shi Xun, and he was determined to keep him. Whatever conditions Shi Xun proposed, as long as they did not affect his territory or power, he would agree.

Thus, Shi Xun stood before everyone and raised three fingers: "This time, I came to help Cao Gong accept the surrender of the Yellow Turbans from Qingzhou for three reasons: one, to restore peace to Yanzhou and end the war as soon as possible; two, they are all Han citizens, misled by the powerful and deceived by Zhang Jue, leading them to the wrong path. With a million people, mostly women and children, who would bear to see them die in the ditches? Three, Guan Hai has a favor to me, so I came to save his life."

Cao Cao was surprised: "How did Guan Hai do you a favor?"

Shi Xun then recounted the events on Fuzheng Mountain—of course, he altered the slogan Guan Hai made them shout, only saying that Guan Hai wanted them to worship Zhonghuang Taibai. He concluded by saying that he had lost his voice from crying over the loss of his lord and father, and it was only thanks to Guan Hai's scare that he recovered. Not repaying a favor would be inhuman.

Cao Cao stroked his beard: "So, Guan Hai knows to respect filial sons and great scholars, he is not without merit."

Shi Xun took the opportunity to plead: "Therefore, I request that Cao Gong grant Guan Hai to me. Since I have agreed to stay in Yanzhou, I need servants and slaves, and I hope Cao Gong will let me choose from the Yellow Turban captives. This way, Guan Hai will be under my supervision, and if Cao Gong trusts me, you should believe that Guan Hai will not rebel again."

Cao Cao laughed: "Of course, I trust you, Hongfu. So, you agree to stay? What position do you hope to take?"

Shi Xun understood Cao Cao's meaning: if you really stay to help me, giving Guan Hai to you is no problem. You won't be able to escape from under my control. If you just want to take these Yellow Turban remnants and run... well, we'll have to see what your intentions are.

Shi Xun replied, "I am a dull person, only good with words, not military affairs. How can I dare to join your staff?" I'm not going to fight on the battlefield with you; that's too dangerous. I'd rather stay in the rear—"Moreover, I am not a Xiaolian, how can I compare with the gentlemen here? Cao Gong is like the sun, and the gentlemen here are like the stars and the moon, while I am just a firefly. A secretary is enough."

Cao Cao looked at Shi Xun and thought, this kid is good, young but very savvy. Shi Xun's words were first a show of modesty, then a reminder to Cao Cao with the words "not a Xiaolian": you are the governor of a state, capable of recommending talents to the court, so I entrust my Xiaolian qualification to you; finally, he praised the gentlemen present, saying he dared not compare with them. Shi Xun had done a great favor to the Cao family, but his contributions to Cao Cao's camp were not yet significant (the alliance between Xu and Yanzhou was not yet finalized). If he suddenly rose to the same level as these veterans who had followed Cao Cao for years, it would inevitably cause dissatisfaction, and Shi Xun himself would be excluded, and Cao Cao might also face secret complaints from his subordinates.

Cao Cao did not know that if you add up Shi Xun's age from both his past and present lives, he was older than Cao Cao. In terms of practical ability, Shi Xun was average in his past life and even less capable in this life, but in terms of social experience, he definitely surpassed the average scholar. Moreover, he had thought about the relevant issues for a long time, not making a decision on the spot, so how could he not consider everything comprehensively?

He said, "A secretary is enough." A "secretary" is like a secretary or a clerk. Secretaries are divided into different levels. The "secretary orderlies" under the Three Excellencies and the Grand General have a rank of 100 stones, with a low salary but much higher value than the subordinates appointed by the Inspector. Shi Xun did not want such a position, and Cao Cao could not offer it. His meaning was: I will do some clerical work for you.

"Isn't that too much of a waste for Hongfu?" Cao Cao persuaded, then leaned in and asked, "How about temporarily appointing you as a state official to help me reconcile with Tao Gongzu?"

Shi Xun was startled: No, I don't plan to go back!

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