Chapter 162

If Kong Rong could be made into a pen-knife beside him, it sounded like a good proposal.

However.

As a transmigrator, Gu Yi knew exactly what kind of character Kong Rong had!

This person could be called the greatest "jinx" of the late Han and Three Kingdoms era!

People close to him would become unfortunate because of him.

As everyone knows.

When Kong Rong was young.

He once became famous all over the world because of "Kong Rong yielding the pears."

But few know that.

After Kong Rong grew up.

His older brother and younger brother both met tragic ends because of him!

Besides that.

In history, Kong Rong in the first year of Jian'an (196 AD) encountered attacks from Yuan Tan and Yan Liang, and was forced to flee from Beihai in Qingzhou to Xuchang in Yuzhou, defecting to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao gave him a pretty good official position and also arranged a large mansion for him.

He thought that this scoundrel Kong Rong would spend his later years peacefully in Xuchang.

But who knew that this scoundrel would stand up every few days to oppose the government decrees issued by Cao Cao!

Especially in the confrontation between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.

Kong Rong, from beginning to end, kept persuading Cao Cao to surrender as soon as possible.

That would be fine, after all, Cao Cao’s hard power at the time was indeed not as good as Yuan Shao’s.

But this scoundrel Kong Rong, taking advantage of Cao Cao’s absence on an expedition.

Openly wrote several articles similar to "surrender theory" to incite the hearts of the people.

After Cao Cao won the Battle of Guandu, considering Kong Rong’s status, he did not take action against him.

But those Han officials who were close to Kong Rong were executed one after another.

From this, it can be seen that one should not get too close to Kong Rong, as it will bring misfortune.

And later.

On the eve of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Kong Rong kept preaching that Cao Cao would undoubtedly be defeated if he went south.

If anyone else had said this, I fear Cao Cao would have turned against them on the spot.

But this scoundrel Kong Rong, relying on his status as the twentieth-generation grandson of Confucius, did not give Cao Cao any face at all.

Finally, after returning from the defeat.

Cao Cao could no longer tolerate it and found an excuse to kill Kong Rong!

And what is worth pondering is.

Among the charges Cao Cao set for Kong Rong.

The most prominent one was that Kong Rong was not filial to his parents and elders.

Why did Cao Cao add this charge?

Was it just to disgust Kong Rong?

The truth is already unknown.

But what people must remember is.

Never get close to Kong Rong.

Because it really will bring misfortune!

Thinking of this.

Gu Yi told Fa Zheng about Kong Rong’s attribute of "harming those around him," and asked Fa Zheng with a smile:

"Xiaozhi, are you sure you still want to spend effort to recruit this scoundrel Kong Rong?"

Fa Zheng shook his head repeatedly and waved his hand:

"No, no, Mr. Linzhi."

"It’s better to deal with a disaster like Kong Rong."

"Don't ever keep him in Chang'an!"

Looking at Fa Zheng’s fearful appearance.

Gu Yi tapped his fingers on the table and said:

"Actually, for people like Kong Rong, we can change our thinking."

"Since he is useless in Chang'an, it’s better to let him go and harm others."

"Of course, before sending Kong Rong away, we must make him feel profound fear in his heart!"

In history, the reason Kong Rong kept nagging that Cao Cao couldn't beat Yuan Shao and persuaded Cao Cao to surrender as soon as possible.

Was not because he was a mole sent by Yuan Shao.

But because Kong Rong was scared by Yuan Tan and Yan Liang!

He was afraid that he would encounter the scourge of war again!

Sometimes, the role of public opinion is very important.

Like this poisonous milk Kong Rong.

If used well.

Dropping him into the territories of Cao Cao or Yuan Shao might have unexpected effects.

Besides Kong Rong.

There were three others captured by Zhang Liao this time.

They were Zhang Yang, Gao Lan, and Cao Hong.

Cao Hong doesn't need to be mentioned much.

He can be considered a die-hard general of Cao Cao.

He certainly cannot be recruited.

If he is killed directly, it won't be of much use.

Therefore, it’s better to lock him in a cell first and use him to disgust Cao Cao in the future.

As for Zhang Yang, like Kong Rong, he was originally one of the Guandong warlords.

But Zhang Yang’s territory was in Shangdang, Bingzhou.

Now, with the speed of Lu Bu, Zhao Yun, and others, the fall of Shangdang is only a matter of time.

However.

It is worth mentioning that.

There was some friendship between this scoundrel Zhang Yang and Lu Bu.

In history.

When Lu Bu was besieged by Cao Cao in Xiapi.

Zhang Yang was the only warlord willing to send troops to rescue him.

But very awkwardly.

Zhang Yang had been holed up in Shangdang for more than ten years, but his prestige was not even as high as Yuan Shao’s.

Zhang Yang had a subordinate general named Yang Chou.

After this person learned the news that Zhang Yang wanted to send troops to rescue Lu Bu, he immediately contacted Yuan Shao.

Subsequently, Yang Chou killed Zhang Yang, intending to offer the entire Shangdang Commandery to Yuan Shao.

The miserable Zhang Yang just like that received his lunch box.

And now.

Facing the captured Zhang Yang.

Gu Yi simply sent him to Chang'an to be imprisoned first.

If Lu Bu pleads for mercy, his life can be spared.

But if Lu Bu is indifferent to this, then Zhang Yang can die, it doesn't matter.

After dealing with Cao Hong and Zhang Yang, the only captive left was Gao Lan, who could be considered a person of relatively heavy weight.

However, there was a significant difference from the other three.

This scoundrel Gao Lan was not captured after being defeated.

But before he was completely defeated, he had already thrown away his weapons and chosen to surrender.

Regarding this, Gu Yi was quite interested.

And Fa Zheng, standing beside him, also felt very curious.

Therefore, after obtaining Gu Yi’s consent, Fa Zheng asked Gao Lan:

"General Jingzhi, as a great general under Yuan Shao, are you willing to submit to our army and serve the Chancellor?"

He thought Gao Lan would refuse.

But to Fa Zheng’s surprise.

Before his voice had even fallen.

Gao Lan had already taken a step ahead, turning his head to look at Gu Yi beside him.

And answered calmly and composedly:

"This general will listen to your every command and leave it to Mr. Linzhi to deal with."

Hearing this.

Fa Zheng couldn't help but feel even more curious, and he continued to ask:

"General Jingzhi, you are one of the top three generals under Yuan Shao."

"And your family, the Gao family of Hejian, is also a great clan that can be ranked in Jizhou."

"By surrendering just like this, won't Yuan Shao, in his anger, take it out on your family?"

Hearing this, Gao Lan answered with a smile:

"Our Gao family, along with other great clans in Jizhou, such as the Ju family, Shen family, Wang family, and Han family, are all of one mind."

"Even if it is my old lord Yuan Shao, how would he dare to touch our Gao family?"

Yes, it was just these few simple sentences, but they were enough to show Gao Lan’s confidence!

The world is never just about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and worldly wisdom.

Is Yuan Shao awesome?

The head of the world’s clans, four generations and three dukes.

But even if he possesses these identities, so what?

As the saying goes.

A strong dragon does not suppress the local snake.

On that one-third of an acre of land in Jizhou, the people who really count are those great clans of Jizhou, not Yuan Shao!

As everyone knows, in history, after Shen Pei was broken in Ye City by Cao Cao, he swore to the death not to surrender.

But this does not mean that the Shen family declined just like that.

The Shen family lost Shen Pei, and their strength was reduced to a certain extent, but their foundation remained.

Several other important figures in the family were still granted official positions by Cao Cao to show solicitation and appeasement.

Why did Cao Cao do this?

Because he deeply knew how great the influence of the great clans was in various places!

To quickly control Jizhou, he had to appease these clans who originally followed Yuan Shao.

Compared to the Guandong clans who were arrogant and conceited!

The Guanxi clans were like country bumpkins.

Fa Zheng’s family could also be called a clan.

It’s just that his hometown was in the Sanfu area.

In that land of Sanfu, Fa Zheng’s family still had some influence.

But if compared to those top-tier great clans in Guandong.

The Guanxi clans were at most an enhanced version of a powerful clan.

They didn't count for anything!

This is also the important reason why Dong Zhuo could start his career in Guanxi but could not quickly expand his influence to Guandong.

Guanxi clans and Guandong clans are completely two different concepts.

Because the Guanxi region is close to the frontier, coupled with the blessing of historical factors, it appears mixed, and is not the one-man show of the clans.

And what about the Guandong region?

The reason why Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu was able to defeat Wang Mang back then, did you really think he was some chosen son and archmage?

In reality, the most important reason he was able to counter-kill Wang Mang was that he received the full support of the Guandong clan group!

Some of Wang Mang’s policies deeply touched the interests of the Guandong clan group.

They urgently needed to support a Han spokesperson to lead them to overthrow Wang Mang.

Liu Xiu was as showy as his name.

It just so happened that he became that lucky person.

Of course, besides the full support of the Guandong clan group, Liu Xiu himself was also a dragon among men.

If he were a thorough loser, the Guandong clan group naturally would not have bet on him.

And after that, Liu Xiu successfully overthrew Wang Mang.

And these clans, as shareholders of Liu Xiu, naturally had to receive dividends.

As they divided them, they gradually became too big to be controlled, becoming the true masters of the Guandong region!

Even as strong as the former Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, he had to consider the interest demands of the Guandong clan group in various policies.

Let alone Yuan Shao today?

(PS: Liu Xiu’s hometown is the same as Yuan Shao’s, also Jizhou.)

Looking at the slightly confused Fa Zheng.

Gu Yi smiled slightly.

Immediately, he reached out to Gao Lan and said:

"Since General Gao has such courage, our army naturally welcomes General Gao’s joining."

Gao Lan also reached out to respond.

This move was considered officially joining Dong Zhuo’s army.

Clan survival rule: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Specifically, you can refer to families like the Xun family of Yingchuan, the Zhuge family of Langya, and the Wang family of Taiyuan.

Xun Yu and Xun You of the Yingchuan Xun family followed Cao Cao in history.

Xun Chen of the Yingchuan Xun family followed Yuan Shao.

Zhuge Jin of the Langya Zhuge family followed the "King of Wu of Great Wei" Sun Shiwan.

Zhuge Liang of the Langya Zhuge family followed Liu Bei.

Zhuge Dan of the Langya Zhuge family followed Cao Pi and Cao Rui, and later followed Sima Yi and Sima Shi.

However, this scoundrel Zhuge Dan was quite a troublemaker.

When Sima Zhao was in power.

Zhuge Dan wanted to turn things around and become the boss himself.

Therefore, under the banner of reviving Great Wei, he launched the third rebellion in Huainan, and was finally suppressed by Sima Zhao.

And the Taiyuan Wang family, that was even more incredible!

Wang Yun wanted to overturn Dong Zhuo’s rule and replace Dong Zhuo as the true controller of the imperial court.

After his death, the Taiyuan Wang family chose to bet on Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.

One part of the clan followed Yuan Shao to conquer the four provinces of Hebei.

The other part of the clan went south to defect to Cao Cao.

Wang Yun’s nephew Wang Ling became a veteran minister of the four dynasties of Cao Wei in history, ranking among the three dukes.

Even Sima Yi had to call Wang Ling "older brother."

If the rebellion hadn't failed in the end.

It’s not certain that Wang Ling would have replaced Sima Yi’s status.