Chapter 142: Rebuking Xun Yu

In the distance, Shen Chen was standing on a small hill—though calling it a hill was a stretch, as it was merely an earthen mound less than two meters high. Sitting on horseback gave him a slightly broader field of vision as he commanded the soldiers to form ranks and slowly press forward.

Immediately afterward, he spotted a middle-aged man in flowing robes riding out from Ren Jun’s army in the distance. A moment later, the man arrived at the opposite bank of the trench, stopping less than a hundred meters from Shen Chen’s forces.

This distance was already within the maximum range of archery, meaning the man was in an extremely perilous position.

"Go have a look."

Shen Chen instructed Shen Tao to investigate the situation.

Shen Tao immediately spurred his horse forward and shouted, "Who goes there?"

Xun Yu cupped his hands and replied, "I am Xun Yu, humbly serving as the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and I wish to seek an audience with General Shen."

Prefect of the Masters of Writing?

Shen Tao knew who he was. He looked him up and down, chuckled, and turned back to report.

After a short while, upon learning that Xun Yu had personally come to the front lines, Shen Chen was quite surprised. However, figuring there was nothing to fear from a mere scholar, he rode over until they were separated only by the trench, about seven or eight meters apart.

"Lord Xun?"

Shen Chen sized up Xun Yu. He was dressed in a wide black robe and wore a sideways-slanted official cap. His expression was scholarly and refined, and he was looking at him with a faint smile.

"General Shen."

Xun Yu cupped his hands in salute from his horse, a bitter smile appearing on his face as he said, "The General is a youthful hero, truly admirable."

Shen Chen said, "I know Lord Xun is here to persuade me, or perhaps to buy time, but please turn back. Cao Cao's elite forces are all occupied in the north defending against Yuan Shao, and I will not let slip this opportunity to welcome the Emperor."

Xun Yu pondered for a moment before speaking. "Does the General know that if Lord Cao is defeated and Yuan Shao moves south, with his massive forces, people like Liu Jingsheng will simply be unable to resist? When that time comes, even if you escort the Emperor to the south, you will never be able to hold Jingzhou. Do you truly wish to sit by and watch the Han Dynasty perish and the empire fall into Yuan's hands?"

True to his reputation as a renowned strategist of the Three Kingdoms, Xun Yu did not begin by discussing life philosophies or moral values with Shen Chen; instead, he spoke purely in terms of interests.

Cao Cao’s position at Guandu was already hanging by a thread, and Yuan Shao’s overwhelming strength exerted pressure on him from nearly every direction, leaving him gasping for breath.

Moreover, Shen Chen was launching a surprise attack on Xuchang from the rear, wearing Cao Cao down to the point of exhaustion. Once Cao Cao was defeated, Yuan Shao’s hundreds of thousands of troops would push southward, bringing the entire region east of the passes under his control.

Perhaps even before the thirteenth year of Jian'an—as early as next year or the year after—Yuan Shao would possess a force even more formidable than Cao Cao's before the Battle of Red Cliffs.

By then, even if Shen Chen took Liu Xie to Jingzhou, facing Yuan Shao’s terrifying military might of a million men in armor, defeat and destruction would likely be their only fate. The world would truly belong to the Yuan clan.

This, in truth, was the very dilemma that had always troubled Shen Chen.

Although he knew Yuan Shao would die within a couple of years, that was largely due to the devastating blow the Battle of Guandu had dealt him.

If Yuan Shao won the Battle of Guandu and claimed the entire eastern region without suffering that setback, and happened to live a few more years, it would indeed spell disaster for the current situation.

Therefore, it was undeniable that Xun Yu was right. From a strategic perspective, the north must not be unified; neither Cao Cao nor Yuan Shao could be allowed to win—the best outcome was for both sides to suffer mutually.

Yet, another problem remained: as a ruler, Cao Cao's capability was clearly far superior to Yuan Shao's.

Conversely, if Yuan Shao ruled the north, his personal ability was not nearly as great as imagined. The larger his domain, the weaker he became; and even if he lived a few more years, the abilities of his sons were far inferior to those of Cao Pi and the others, meaning there might be no turning point for the better.

Thus, Shen Chen pondered for a moment and said, "What Lord Xun says is indeed reasonable. I have considered this concern myself. Yet, compared to Yuan Shao, Cao Cao possesses grand strategies and immense ambitions, making him an even greater threat. I would rather see Yuan Shao prevail in the north."

Xun Yu smiled bitterly. "It is truly difficult to speak with someone as intelligent as you. I have been to Yuan Shao's camp, and his talent is indeed inferior to Lord Cao's; thus, perhaps you are right. However, I ask you to consider the Emperor. At least Lord Cao has welcomed the Emperor. Once Yuan Shao takes the north, I fear he will declare himself emperor."

"Does Lord Xun believe Cao Cao would not?"

Shen Chen sneered. "Cao Cao merely lacks the courage to declare himself emperor at present. If he defeats Yuan Shao and secures the north, he could style himself a duke or a king. Even if he cannot become emperor, he could slaughter the ministers of Han to pave the way for his son's ascension. I refuse to believe Lord Xun is unaware of Cao Cao's ambitions."

"I am unaware."

Xun Yu shook his head. "I only know that when the Emperor suffered disaster, it was Lord Cao who welcomed His Majesty. Without Lord Cao, the foundations of the Han Dynasty would have already crumbled into dust. Therefore, I will assist Lord Cao, and when the realm is clear and bright, return state power to the nation."

"A fine ideal."

Shen Chen nodded, sighing, "At least you are someone willing to strive for the fortunes of the Han Dynasty. What a pity; your path is ultimately the wrong one."

Xun Yu then asked him, "Then, in General Shen's eyes, what kind of path is the right one?"

"Naturally, it is to eradicate the likes of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao."

Shen Chen replied without hesitation. "Those who bring disaster to the world are none other than these warlords. Slaughter these warlords completely, return a clear and bright sky to the mortal world, and only then can the Han Dynasty stand tall in the world once again."

"If you do that, how would the General differ from Cao Cao and Yuan Shao?"

Xun Yu raised his doubt. "The General speaks of welcoming the Emperor and claims to support the state, yet what you do is no different from what Cao Cao and Yuan Shao have done. Who can guarantee that the world will not eventually belong to a 'Shen'?"

Shen Chen grinned, pointing at himself. "I am different."

"How so?"

Xun Yu asked.

Shen Chen replied, "I do not eat human flesh, nor do I slaughter cities. I know the difference between humans and beasts, and I understand the sufferings of the common people. Therefore, I will steadfastly act according to my ideals, putting into practice my philosophy of 'the unity of knowledge and action,' striving to build a nation without hunger, without poverty, and without war!"

Xun Yu smiled and praised, "The General's ambitions are lofty and admirable. But does such a country truly exist?"

"Lord Xun believes it does not exist only because the world you see is too small."

Shen Chen said, "The sages have long since exhausted the methods of governing a state, yet the people of this world still fail to understand these truths. Just as Lord Xun believes only Cao Cao can restore the Han, yet you do not realize that there are countless kind and talented people in this world. Why must we find someone like him instead of seeking out a virtuous person?"

Xun Yu shook his head. "I do not believe the General is right. Lord Cao may have committed mistakes in the past, but he has changed now. He has many unavoidable grievances, and many things must be done this way; otherwise, he too would face defeat and ruin."

"Indeed, on that point, I have nothing to say."

Shen Chen said. "Yet you must also acknowledge that his slaughter of the living souls in Xuzhou should never have happened. Did the hundreds of thousands of common folk in Xuzhou somehow threaten his life and death?"

This was Cao Cao's greatest flaw.

He had two reasons for slaughtering Xuzhou: one was to avenge his father, and the other was to intimidate Tao Qian.

Perhaps there were other hidden strategic motives within it, such as plundering grain or turning Xiapi into a no-man's-land to prevent Yuan Shu from moving north and seizing Xuzhou.

Yet regardless of the reason, none of them necessitated the slaughter of Xuzhou. Take grain plundering, for instance: at the time, he slaughtered two hundred thousand people in Xuzhou, only to run out of grain after merely a hundred days of stalemate with Lü Bu upon returning. This proved that the two hundred thousand people he killed had brought him virtually no grain at all.

Furthermore, he had no way of knowing at the time that Chen Gong and Zhang Miao would betray him in the rear. If Lü Bu had not come, relying on Yanzhou to supply grain, Cao Cao himself would not have lacked food. Thus, this was by no means a justification for his massacre in Xuzhou.

When all was said and done, it stemmed from Cao Cao's innate cruelty and his disregard for the lives of the common people. Therefore, to some extent, Cao Cao cared nothing for the common folk; he cared only for power in his hands.

Xun Yu was silent for a moment before speaking. "That, too, was done out of unavoidable necessity."

"It seems Lord Xun is not a virtuous man either."

Shen Chen was somewhat disappointed.

Xun Yu had always valued his pristine reputation and immediately demanded, "Why does the Lord say such a thing?"

Shen Chen suddenly asked, "Lord Xun, is life bitter?"

Xun Yu was momentarily startled, quite surprised by Shen Chen's sudden inquiry. But since the other man was willing to stall for time, why wouldn't he play along? He nodded and said, "Bitter."

"Is it bitter for Lord Xun as well?"

Shen Chen asked. "I have heard that the Xun clan is a prominent family in Yingchuan, with tens of thousands of estates and fields, swarms of servants, and entourages of carriages and horses. Lord Xun was born into luxury, never having to worry about food or drink. Why do you still find life bitter?"

Xun Yu smiled bitterly. "In times of chaos, human lives are like blades of grass. Whether one is a high minister, an aristocrat, or a common peasant, a single misstep can turn one into a ghost beneath the sword. How could life not be bitter?"

"Indeed."

Shen Chen sighed. "Life is bitter indeed. The common folk struggle to survive, constantly plundered by those warlords, facing the very real possibility of a tragic death. Heaven shows no compassion for the masses, the aristocratic clans view the people as mere grass, and there are those like Lord Xun who assist a tyrant in his wickedness, while no one like Taigong Wang steps forward. How wretched are the masses!"

Xun Yu frowned and said, "How have I assisted a tyrant in his wickedness?"

Shen Chen replied, "Human status may be divided into high and low, but in terms of being 'human,' all people should be equal. You and I are both 'human'; we speak the same, eat the same, walk the same, and understand propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame. Lord Xun, do you think what I am saying is right?"

"Incorrect."

Xun Yu declared, "There is a distinction between the noble and the base, an orderly hierarchy between the superior and the inferior."

Before he could finish, Shen Chen interrupted, "Lord Xun, I think you have misunderstood. I am saying that status has distinctions of nobility and baseness, but as human beings, you and I are both people. Setting status aside, are we not both human? Or perhaps, are there certain people you do not consider human? Please point them out."

"This..."

Encountering such a logical conundrum, Xun Yu was momentarily taken aback, but after a moment, he nodded and said, "Yes, we are all 'human'."

Shen Chen then stated, "Your ancestor, Master Xun, once said: 'Therefore, that which makes a human human is not merely having two feet and no fur, but having distinctions. Now, monkeys and apes can smile in human-like form, and they also have two feet and fur; yet gentlemen drink their broth and eat their meat.'

"Yet I believe that a human is human because they know how to think, understand propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame, and know how to elevate their moral character through self-cultivation. This is what distinguishes them from beasts.

"In essence, whether one is the Son of Heaven or the lowliest pariah, both are human. The difference is merely that the Son of Heaven was born fortunate, arriving in the royal household, so he is the Son of Heaven. The pariah was born into a humble family, struggling to survive for two meals a day, using up all their strength merely to stay alive.

"Lord Xun was born into a great and noble family, never lacking food or warmth, and you know nothing of the suffering of the common folk. When Cao Cao slaughtered hundreds of thousands of living souls in Xuzhou, in Lord Xun's eyes, they were nothing more than numbers. You do not realize that they were once living, breathing people who had known laughter in their time.

"When a man slaughters his fellow human beings like this for his own selfish desires, he is utterly devoid of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame, and is no different from a thinking beast. In my eyes, Cao Cao is a beast consumed by animalistic desires.

"I came outside the walls of Xuchang today simply to ask those people whether they ever regarded those common folk as human beings. But having arrived here and met Lord Xun, I am deeply disappointed.

"For I see only that Lord Xun feels no shame, but instead speaks up to defend Cao Cao. This is because, in Lord Xun's eyes, the common folk killed by Cao Cao do not count as human beings. That is why Lord Xun exhausts all his efforts to protect Cao Cao, and now even shamelessly tells me that Lord Cao acted out of unavoidable necessity.

"I wish to ask Lord Xun: if among those slaughtered living souls in Xuzhou were your own flesh and blood, your brothers, your friends, could you still speak as casually as you do now, saying that 'Lord Cao was also acting out of unavoidable necessity'?

"When all is said and done, it is simply because Lord Xun was born into a great aristocratic family, holding a lofty position where you need not worry about food or clothing, nor fear being slaughtered, and where you are respected wherever you go and treated as a man of virtue.

"Yet those 'humans' who are your equals were merely living ordinary lives in this world, swinging their hoes and struggling for a single day's sustenance, only to be wantonly slaughtered by someone like Cao Cao, aided by someone with an ugly heart like Lord Xun. How tragic are they? And how hypocritical are you!"

By the end of his speech, Shen Chen was shouting with righteous anger: "People say, 'Though a city falls, one merely dies. Jade may be shattered, but its whiteness cannot be destroyed; bamboo may be burned, but its joints cannot be ruined. Though the body perishes, one's name can be inscribed in history—what is there to fear?' How does someone like you, who assists a tyrant, deserve to retain a pristine reputation?"

"Sigh."

Xun Yu let out a long sigh, cupped his hands in salute to Shen Chen, and said, "General, I take my leave."

Cao Cao's slaughter of cities was an undeniable fact.

No Confucian scholar with a conscience could refute Shen Chen's words.

Even Xun Yu himself only continued to serve Cao Cao because the Emperor of the Han was in Xuchang, leaving him with no other choice.

If not for the fortunes of the Han Dynasty, he would never have stood in opposition when Cao Cao later styled himself the Duke of Wei.

Given his status of having given his all for Cao Cao for over twenty years, had he chosen to emulate those aristocratic clans and urged Cao Pi to usurp the Han, the Xun clan's standing in Cao Wei would surely not have been lower than that of the Xiahou clan.

Therefore, Xun Yu was a man of conscience. Faced with Shen Chen's condemnation—accusing him of serving a brutal beast—he could not brazenly argue back.

Thus, he could only choose to endure the scolding and take his leave.

Watching Xun Yu's departing figure, Shen Chen said nothing more. He knew Xun Yu might be a man of moral integrity, but such integrity was not directed toward the common people; rather, it was loyalty to the fortunes of the Han Dynasty.

As a man of later times, Shen Chen had never cared about emperors or monarchs. He too came from a humble background, having witnessed far too much of the ancient commoners' suffering, and desired only to champion the people.

If not for the necessity of raising the banner of the Han Dynasty for the sake of righteousness—making it impossible to overthrow the feudal system as the Xinhai Revolution would—Shen Chen would have rebelled long ago.

Xun Yu, however, cared only for his Han Dynasty, and at present, the one most capable of restoring the Han was Cao Cao.

Therefore, he would only stand on Cao Cao's side.

Shen Chen, on the other hand, held the masses in his heart, hoping to build a world where everyone was equal, where everyone had clothes to wear and food to eat. Perhaps this path would be exceedingly long, but he had to strive along it nonetheless.

Thus, he and Xun Yu were destined never to walk the same path.

"Charge!"

Shen Chen raised the ring-pommel saber in his hand and shouted, "Welcome the Emperor and serve the ministers! March straight on Xuchang, restore the state! Resist the Cao bandit, save the millions! Freeze to death rather than tear down a house, starve to death rather than plunder!"

"Charge!" 1

The army behind him erupted into a heaven-shaking roar!

(End of this chapter)