Chapter 1481: The Wrong Path

After quelling the rebellion triggered by Zhao Yun and others, Cao Cao and Gu Yi did not immerse themselves in the joy of victory but immediately devoted themselves to a more arduous task—rebuilding trust and consolidating peace. They knew well that to truly achieve long-term stability, relying solely on military suppression was far from enough; they must solve the dissatisfaction and resentment in people's hearts from the root.

One day, Cao Cao summoned all the generals and court officials to hold an unprecedented debate conference in the main hall. The purpose of this conference was not only to expose the truth of Zhao Yun's rebellion but also to listen to the voices of all parties and jointly explore how to build a more fair and harmonious society.

"All you ministers, today we gather here, not to celebrate victory, but to seek the way of long-term stability." Cao Cao's voice was steady and powerful, penetrating every corner of the hall. "Although the rebellion of Zhao Yun and others has been quelled, what it left us, besides the smoke of the battlefield, is a profound lesson. We must face up to those undercurrents hidden under the appearance of peace to ensure the long-term stability of the country."

Gu Yi continued to speak, his tone more gentle but equally firm: "Peace is not a work of one day, nor can it be achieved by one person's strength. It requires the joint efforts of every one of us, requires us to start from the heart, and understand and satisfy everyone's reasonable demands. Today, I hope everyone can speak freely; whether it is dissatisfaction with the government or expectations for the future, please say it without reservation."

In the hall, there was a flurry of discussion for a time; some accused officials of corruption, some worried about the unfairness of military rewards and punishments, and some raised the issue of unequal land distribution. Cao Cao and Gu Yi listened patiently, nodding from time to time, or raising questions, or giving explanations, striving to create an open and inclusive discussion atmosphere.

Among them, an elderly general stood up; his voice was slightly trembling but filled with deep emotion: "This old man once followed the Prime Minister south and north, witnessed countless life and death, and knows well that peace is not easy to come by. But peace should not just be the absence of war, but the peace of the human heart. This old man dares to request the Prime Minister and Minister Gu to pay more attention to the lives of low-level soldiers and commoners, letting everyone feel the warmth of the country."

Hearing this, Cao Cao's expression was solemn; he slowly stood up, walked to the old general, and personally helped him up: "The old general's words are reasonable; it is our negligence. From now on, I will work with Gu Yi to devote ourselves to improving the lives of the military and the people, ensuring that every contribution can receive the return it deserves."

Subsequently, Gu Yi proposed specific reform plans, including establishing special institutions responsible for collecting and handling the opinions and suggestions of the military and the people; adjusting the military reward and punishment system to ensure fairness and reasonableness; and pushing forward land reform to guarantee the basic rights and interests of farmers. Every proposal went through fierce discussion and debate and was eventually supported and passed by the majority.

After the debate conference ended, Cao Cao and Gu Yi did not stop their steps; they personally went deep into the military camps, ate and lived with the soldiers, listened to their inner voices, and solved their difficulties. They also visited the countryside, communicated with commoners face-to-face, understood their needs and requests, and adjusted policies in time to ensure that reform measures could truly benefit everyone.

In this process, Cao Cao and Gu Yi not only demonstrated excellent leadership talent but also demonstrated deep feelings for the people. With their actions, they proved that peace was not a high-sounding slogan, but an ideal that needed to be cared for with the heart and practiced with actions.

As time passed, a series of reform measures gradually showed results. The dissatisfaction within the army was effectively alleviated, and the morale of the soldiers was greatly boosted; the living standards of commoners also had obvious improvements, and their sense of identity and belonging to the country were increasingly strengthened. The Central Plains land glowed with vitality again.

However, the path of peace was never smooth sailing. Just as the country was gradually moving toward stability, external forces began to stir, attempting to take the opportunity to harass the borders and sabotage this hard-won peace. Facing new challenges, Cao Cao and Gu Yi did not retreat; they quickly mobilized troops, strengthened border defenses, and at the same time dispatched envoys to actively seek ways of peaceful coexistence with other countries.

In one diplomatic negotiation after another, Cao Cao and Gu Yi demonstrated superb wisdom and negotiation skills. They both adhered to principles and were flexible, successfully resolving multiple border conflicts through mutually beneficial cooperation, winning valuable time for the country's peace construction.

Domestically, Cao Cao and Gu Yi continued to deepen reforms, pushing forward the comprehensive development of education, culture, technology, and other fields. They encouraged innovation and advocated for openness, making the Central Plains land a hot land full of vitality. Commoners on this land not only enjoyed material wealth but also felt spiritual fulfillment and freedom.

The names of Cao Cao and Gu Yi gradually became symbols of peace and prosperity. Their stories were passed down by later generations, becoming precious spiritual wealth that inspired one generation after another to pursue peace and maintain peace. Under their efforts, the Central Plains land not only realized short-term peace and stability but also laid a solid foundation for long-term development. And all these achievements stemmed from their firm belief in peace and unremitting efforts and struggle.

After the rebellion failed, the fate of Zhao Yun and his accomplices became the focus of everyone's attention. For those who once harbored ambition and dreamed of rewriting history through force, Zhao Yun's failure was undoubtedly a heavy blow. However, in the eyes of Cao Cao and Gu Yi, this was not just the quelling of a rebellion, but an opportunity for profound reflection and reconstruction.

After Zhao Yun was captured, Cao Cao did not immediately impose the death penalty on him but chose a sunny day to have a face-to-face dialogue with Zhao Yun in the main hall. This dialogue was not only to interrogate Zhao Yun but also to explore the deep-seated reasons behind his rebellion and how to better maintain the country's peace and stability through these lessons.

"Zhao Yun, you were once a fierce general under my command; why did you walk to this step today?" Cao Cao's voice was mixed with disappointment and incomprehension, but his gaze was exceptionally firm, as if he were looking for an answer.

Zhao Yun lowered his head and was silent for a long time before slowly opening his mouth: "Prime Minister, it is not that I do not know the preciousness of peace, but in this long peace, I feel that I have lost my direction. The military achievements and glory of the past seem to have dissipated with the passage of time. I longed to prove myself again, but could not find an exit. Thus, I chose this wrong path." ===== CHAPTER 1482 =====