Chapter 9: Mercy Is the Most Valueless Thing
Cao Cao increasingly felt that Chen Zhou was to his taste.
However, he had yet to decide whether Chen Zhou could be reused, needing further observation before deciding whether to retain him.
When Xun Yu heard Chen Zhou’s bold remarks, he initially thought Cao Cao would be angered. But to his surprise, Cao Cao’s face was full of excitement, showing no sign of anger. This left Xun Yu astonished.
Cao Ren also felt that Chen Zhou’s words were too bold.
“What’s the difference between the Yellow Turbans and Cao Cao?”
“The Yellow Turbans were driven by immediate needs and might not necessarily kill the common people to the last.”
“But Cao Cao’s slaughter of Xuzhou was indeed a complete extermination. He wouldn’t leave even a single grain of food, digging up every inch of the land.”
“As a treacherous hero, one should be as ruthless as necessary. Cao Cao carried this out thoroughly, though it is a tragedy for the ordinary people in the chaotic world.”
Chen Zhou continued, noting that Cao Cao’s actions were indeed bold but were also one of the stains on his life.
Later generations often compare Cao Cao’s massacres with Liu Bei’s benevolence.
Knowing the truth behind the massacre of Xuzhou, Cao Ang was stunned and found it impossible to accept his father’s actions. This wasn’t just about avenging his grandfather but was cruel and unjust slaughter, contrary to moral principles. He asked, “I see that you seem to agree with Cao Cao’s practice of massacring the city for military gain?”
Chen Zhou thought for a moment and said, “There is some degree of appreciation, but slaughtering a city is cruel. Is it less cruel if you don’t?”
“Without slaughtering the city, other solutions could be considered.”
Cao Ang didn’t believe that slaughtering the city was the only option.
Chen Zhou thought that the young master Cao Ang, protected by the Cao family, had not experienced the harshness of the chaotic times and had a simple mindset. He continued, “If the city isn’t slaughtered and the surrendered Yellow Turbans have no food, there will be two outcomes: first, millions will die of starvation; second, the surrendered Yellow Turbans will rebel against Cao Cao, leading to another massive revolt in Yan Province, which would also result in many deaths!”
If the Yellow Turbans were to rise again in Yan Province, whether Cao Cao could withstand the onslaught of starving rebels was uncertain.
Moreover, with the Yellow Turbans embedded deep within Yan Province, they would know the military layout of the region and create more severe disturbances.
“Then we can borrow grain.”
Cao Ang suggested.
“Borrowing grain would change the nature of the surrender,” Chen Zhou explained. “If Cao Cao couldn’t stand on his own and was still controlled by Yuan Shao, he would be constrained.”
“Wang Kuang had done so much for Yuan Shao, yet Yuan Shao still wanted to kill him. Cao Cao feared that if he became useless, Yuan Shao might do the same with him.”
“If Cao Cao failed, would the Cao family still have a good life? What he did was not only to become a warlord but also for the family’s sake. He couldn’t turn back now.”
Hearing Chen Zhou’s words, Cao Ang’s feelings eased considerably.
He could no longer so easily reject the idea of the city’s massacre.
Outside, Cao Cao felt deeply that Chen Zhou understood him best.
True friends are hard to find!
“Earlier, you mentioned that if you were Cao Cao, you would kill some of the Yellow Turbans until you could support them,” Chen Zhou said. “Why are you showing mercy now that it’s about slaughtering cities?”
Cao Ang felt embarrassed and said, “I wanted to kill because the Yellow Turbans are bandits.”
He had no qualms about killing bandits.
But slaughtering civilians was unacceptable.
Although the Yellow Turbans were once common people, once they became bandits, they could no longer return to being civilians.
Thus, Cao Ang had no psychological burden about slaughtering them during the Xuzhou massacre.
“Yesterday, I said that in chaotic times, sympathy and saintliness are worthless.”
“Saintliness and mercy are the least valuable things in such times.”
“If you want to have a certain position in the Cao family, like Cao Ren and Cao Hong, you must abandon these traits.”
“This is an era where people eat each other without spitting out the bones.”
Chen Zhou spoke earnestly.
Unless one could use benevolence to its utmost like Liu Bei.
Cao Cao was once again moved.
These words struck him deeply.
If he had been a merciful person, he would have long been devoured by others and would have nothing left.
He would not have achieved his current status.
Cao Cao felt that Chen Zhou’s teachings were excellent.
Cao Ang usually lacked ruthlessness and could not inherit his father’s harshness. Benevolence in chaotic times was like poison—it would kill oneself.
“Zi Xiu is indeed not ruthless enough!”
Cao Ren agreed quietly.
In his view, everything Cao Cao did was right.
If they weren’t ruthless enough, even more ruthless people would swallow them up, leaving nothing behind.
Xun Yu was at a loss for words.
He wasn’t sure how to evaluate the situation.
But Chen Zhou’s words made sense. Given Cao Cao’s position, being more ruthless was indeed necessary.
However, standing outside and listening for a long time, his legs were aching. It seemed that the conversation would continue for quite a while.
“Sir Chen is right!”
Cao Ang momentarily put aside his thoughts on slaughtering cities and the question of cruelty.
Perhaps in the current environment, it was an unavoidable measure.
Chen Zhou raised another question, “Can you think of why Cao Cao chose Xu Province?”
Cao Ang replied, “On the surface, it was to avenge his father, which is one reason.”
“That’s right!” Chen Zhou agreed with this reason.
Cao Ang continued, “Besides Tao Qian, Cao Cao couldn’t beat anyone around Yan Province. He could only choose the weakest Tao Qian to attack.”
“Unfilial son!”
Cao Cao heard this and became displeased again.
Although it was the truth, he wished it were said more diplomatically!
“I hope the Lord doesn’t get angry. Be careful not to alarm the person inside,” Xun Yu soothed.
Worried about being discovered, Cao Cao had to endure.
“Cao Cao indeed couldn’t beat anyone.”
“Yuan Shao is Cao Cao’s superior, so he definitely wouldn’t dare to attack him.”
“Yuan Shu is the direct line of the Yuan family, the real Yuan family’s four generations and three dukes. If Cao Cao dared to attack him, he would die even faster.”
“Lü Bu is a tough opponent, difficult to handle.”
“North of Jizhou, Tian Kai is under Gongsun Zan, and his military strength is not weak, making him hard to defeat.”
“Thus, around Yan Province, only Qing Provinc’s Kong Rong and Xu Province’s Tao Qian remain as the two softest targets. But which one to choose?”
“Of course, it’s Xu Province.”
Chen Zhou’s analysis left Cao Cao feeling quite wounded.
“Additionally, Xu Province is affluent.”
“Tao Qian wasn’t great militarily but was skilled in managing the economy.”
“During that time, a large number of refugees from Guanzhong fled to Xu Province, which Tao Qian could still support.”
“Dong Zhuo’s small fortune had ruined the economy of the Han Dynasty, but Xu Province still had wealthy figures like Mi Zhu.”
“Plundering Xu Province once would yield more grain and resources than plundering Qing Province ten times.”
“Xu Province was also a critical strategic location for future military expansion.”
“Yesterday, I mentioned that Tao Qian was allied with Yuan Shu, and Cao Cao was allied with Yuan Shao. This can be seen as part of the struggle between the two Yuans. Before this, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao had even teamed up against Xu Province and had long-standing grudges with Tao Qian.”
“Even without the death of Cao Song, Xu Province would have faced disaster.”
Chen Zhou concluded that the attack on Xu Province was inevitable.
This battle was bound to happen. It was unavoidable.
To expand his power, Cao Cao would inevitably seek to conquer and strengthen his forces until he could challenge his former superior Yuan Shao.
“Without Sir Chen, I still wouldn’t understand these matters.”
Cao Ang sighed, thinking that his father had even kept secrets from him. How distant it felt.
Fortunately, Mr. Chen had clarified these issues.
The path to the Cao family’s rise was indeed fraught with difficulties!
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