Hearing Xun You mention Cao Cao, Cui Cheng could not help saying, "The Yuan Family of Runan has produced Three Excellencies for four generations. Since their great-great-grandfather, every generation has held the lofty rank of Three Excellencies, second only to the Yang family of Hongnong with its Five Generations of Three Excellencies. Could they not learn from Mount Taihang Person?"
"The Yuan Family of Runan indeed has an immensely deep foundation. But their roots run deep and tangled throughout the Imperial Court and among the scholars, whereas Mount Taihang Person's methods make no distinction in teaching and strike directly at the scholars' nerves. If they learned from Mount Taihang Person, they would inevitably offend the scholars." Xun You shook his head. "I am certain the Yuan Family will not adopt them. If they gain Ji Province, they will surely suppress them viciously."
"They will not obtain Ji Province. They have already lost the advantage of timing." Xun Chen, who would later become Yuan Shao's foremost strategist in his early years, suddenly shook his head.
Xun Yu and Xun You both nodded.
Cui Cheng was still somewhat confused. "Why is that?"
"Because Mount Taihang Person commands twenty thousand elite troops and has also bought off many prefects in and around Ji Province, You Province, and Bing Province, planting his own people among them. Meanwhile, the Yuan Family of Runan is still arranging matters in the Imperial Court. Their reach falls short—far short. They miscalculated. In truth, I miscalculated as well. The future of Great Han lies in the provinces, not in the Imperial Court." Xun You admitted it decisively.
Indeed, in history, Xun You had intended to accomplish something. He had tried to kill Dong Zhuo, seize control of the Capital Region, support the royal command, and command the realm.
He