Chapter 180

Naturally, he had to lay the groundwork early.

"Everything here is entrusted to you; I hope you will not disappoint me!"

"Additionally, later, when new recruits graduate from the Dark Guard training base, I will constantly send them to assist you;"

"You yourself must also pay attention to recruiting peripheral members, infiltrating the imperial palace, the Wang clan... and other internal circles, and collect first-hand information as much as possible."

Finally, Su Xuan exhorted Jia Yi.

"Understood!"

Jia Yi bowed solemnly: "I have noted everything the Lord has instructed; I will absolutely not fail the Lord's trust."

"That is good!"

Su Xuan nodded with satisfaction.

Soon, half a day passed,

and in the afternoon, Su Xuan and his party exited the East Gate of Luoyang, preparing to leave.

"Brother Boyuan! Leaving already? Why not stay for a few more days? You only need to arrive at your post within a month!"

Cao Cao hurried over, looking reluctant.

"I am naturally aware of that!"

Su Xuan smiled, dismounted, and said: "But since I joined the war, I haven't been home for nearly half a year. Isn't it just on the way to go back and stay for a few days before going to take up my post?"

"Coincidentally, Nanjun is not far from my hometown, Deng County."

"What about you, Brother Mengde? When do you plan to go to Qingzhou to take up your post?"

Cao Cao was momentarily stunned: "That is true! I forgot that you haven't been home for quite some time, and it is on the way."

"As for me? I will wait another half a month!"

"There are still some matters here that need to be handled!"

"Since Brother Boyuan has made up your mind to leave, Cao will not keep you any longer. Take care on your journey! I hope we will have a day to meet again in the future!"

With a good friend about to travel far, Cao Cao also felt some sadness and emotion.

"We will! I even believe that day will not be too far off!"

Su Xuan also returned the salute with a smile, saying this with deep meaning.

Then, he remounted his horse and led his men away from Luoyang, rushing toward Hulao Pass.

"Tsk tsk!"

Cao Cao watched the retreating backs of Su Xuan's party, smacked his lips, and said with surprise: "I had overlooked this before, or perhaps I was misled!"

"I didn't expect that Boyuan had already established a relationship with the Xun clan;"

"Furthermore, even Gongda has already joined under Boyuan's command."

"This is somewhat strange; why does the Xun clan think so highly of Boyuan, even letting Gongda acknowledge him as his lord?"

It is simply unbelievable.

"Could it be that the Xun clan does not think highly of the Han's future situation, feeling that the world will fall into great chaos? Or even, that a true era of chaos will appear?"

Otherwise, there is no way to explain the Xun clan's actions and choices.

"How could that be? Could the Han heavens collapse?"

"That is absolutely impossible!"

Cao Cao was momentarily amused by his own thoughts.

But as he laughed, his expression became grave again.

"Sigh! I hope this worst-case scenario does not occur!"

On the journey,

"Lord! This Cao Mengde is not a simple character!"

"In the future, if the warlords contend for hegemony, this person will likely become one of our greatest enemies."

Seeing Xun You You couldn't help but remind Su Xuan.

"Indeed!"

Cheng Yu, who was to the side, also nodded: "Although we haven't had much contact these past few days, one can feel from his speech and demeanor that this person's character, talent, and strategy are not those of an ordinary person;"

"Living in an era of chaos, this person will inevitably rise rapidly;"

"Of course, this person also has a suspicious side, so it is not easy to judge for now."

Regarding the grasp of human nature, although Cheng Yu was not top-tier, he was not bad, and he could still see quite a few things.

At this time, Xi Zhicai also spoke: "However, his background limits him;"

"Because of the label of being the descendant of a eunuch, Cao Cao's official career has not been smooth these years, and there are many who look down on him;"

"He seems to have a stronger background than the Lord, but now, facing the Lord, he not only has no advantage, but even a significant disadvantage;"

"However, his choice to cling tightly to Yuan Shao's thigh is indeed a correct one;"

"With the Yuan clan's current status and prestige among the scholar-official class, Cao Cao can minimize the negative impact brought by his identity."

"Besides this Cao Cao, the Lord should also pay attention to Yuan Shao;"

"Although this person seems to have the flaw of being indecisive, his family background is too thick;"

"His students and former subordinates are all over the world;"

"In the future, when the warlords truly rise, his appeal will also be terrifyingly strong; one must be on guard."

The Yuan clan will inevitably become a great mountain in the hearts of all warlords in the future.

A mountain that must be moved.

"Why didn't Zhicai mention Yuan Shu? Does he not think highly of him?"

"You must know, Yuan Shu is the legitimate second son, while Yuan Shao is born of a concubine!"

Su Xuan asked with a light smile.

"The Lord is teasing me!"

Xi Zhicai shook his head with a smile: "I don't believe the Lord cannot see that Yuan Shu is ambitious but lacks talent, is unlearned, and has a volatile personality, being overly impulsive;"

"Although this person cannot be fully judged based on current understanding;"

"But I feel that this person is merely a skeleton in a tomb!"

Seeing Xun You You and Cheng Yu, who were to the side, both nodded in agreement: "Indeed, Yuan Shu is not to be feared in the future; one only needs to be carefully guarded against him in the early stages."

"Oh?"

Su Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Has the title of 'Skeleton King' for Yuan Shu already appeared?

Sure enough, character details determine destiny!

"What about Sun Jian? What do you think of this person?"

Su Xuan asked again.

"Sun Jian?"

The three of them frowned slightly upon hearing this.

Xi Zhicai spoke first: "This person might become one of our great rivals in the future;"

"This person is brave and resolute, a talent of a great general;"

"However, he is easily broken by his rigidity and lacks political strategy; it is not easy to judge this person's future;"

"It still depends on his encounters in the next few years."

Currently, Sun Jian has not yet been appointed as the Administrator of Changsha.

That will have to wait until 3 years later, in 187 AD, when Qu Xing rebels and he is appointed as the Administrator of Changsha.

"Indeed!"

Seeing Xun You You also nodded: "Sun Jian is a fierce tiger, but unfortunately, he is also limited by his background, and his future official career is destined not to be so smooth."

"Background, ah!"

Cheng Yu couldn't help but sigh: "How many talents have been defeated by these two words;"

"Thinking back, weren't Zhicai and I the same?"

"If it weren't for meeting the Lord, an enlightened master who does not focus on background, who knows what our future would have been!"

"If one day, the selection of officials is no longer based on background, wouldn't that be good?"

"That kind of world must be very good, right?"

These words exhausted the hardships and grievances he had suffered over the past few decades.

Hearing this, Xi Zhicai also nodded in empathy: "Yes! If there really is such a day, this world will be completely different." ===== CHAPTER 182 =====