"The Minister of Works might capture Wei Commandery, Guangyang Commandery, and Pingyang Commandery, but he could never take Ye City in a short time."
"Yuan Shao has long since fortified Ye City until it is as impregnable as a golden rampart and boiling moat. Even the City Defense Army alone could hold out until Lü Bu and Zhang Liao arrive with reinforcements from Qing Province."
"In my view, attacking Ye City now would be nothing short of squandering a splendid opportunity in Yang Province!"
Xu You spoke with righteous conviction on the surface, but deep down, he was profoundly anxious.
He feared both that Cao Cao had lost his mind and would throw everything into attacking Ye City, and that Cao Cao's influence would expand into Yang Province.
With Lü Bu withdrawn from Yang Province and Liu Biao holding his troops in place, the greatest beneficiaries would be none other than Sun Quan and Cao Cao.
He wanted to see neither of these rebellious traitors grow powerful.
What he most wanted was for Cao Cao to hold his troops in place, just like Liu Biao.
But that was clearly impossible.
After hearing Xu You's analysis, Cao Cao nodded and turned to Xun Yu and his nephew Xun You.
"Wenruo, Gongda, what do you two think?"
Xun Yu considered for a moment. Although he was at odds with Xu You, he agreed with his views this time.
He said, "I believe Xu Ziyuan is right. The complete fall of Qing Province is already a foregone conclusion. All Lü Bu and Zhang Liao have left to do is clear the battlefield and mop up Yuan Tan's scattered, defeated troops."
"The campaign in Qing Province has gone far too smoothly. If Lü Bu and Zhang Liao's armies were locked in a bitter struggle,