Chapter 1769: Vulnerable

Seeing Cao Cao insist on his own views, Yuan Shao felt a bit restless. He paced back and forth, his voice carrying a hint of urgency: "Mengde, do you know that history is written by the victors? If we cannot act quickly, I fear we will be forgotten by future generations in these chaotic times. The Han Dynasty has been in decline for a long time, and what the people crave is a strong leader, not endless waiting!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's expression remained steady. He stood up, walked to Yuan Shao, and looked at him with firm eyes: "Benchu, of course I understand the importance of unification, but what is the foundation of unification? It is the hearts of the people, the stability and prosperity of the country. If we blindly pursue speed and ignore these fundamentals, even if we unify the world, how long can it last? Qin Shi Huang unified the six states but perished because of tyranny; is this not a lesson from the past?"

Yuan Shao paused in his steps after hearing this and fell into deep thought. Seeing this, Cao Cao's tone softened slightly, and he continued: "We should learn from Gao Zu Liu Bang. Although he started his army from humble beginnings, he was able to win the world because he knew how to conform to the hearts of the people and employ people according to their talents. What we need now is patience, to gradually build the people's trust and support for us."

The tent fell into silence for a time, and everyone was thinking about Cao Cao's words. Suddenly, a strategist spoke softly: "General Cao's words are absolutely right. The hearts of the people are the foundation of the country. But Yuan Shao's worries are not unreasonable; we really cannot give the enemy a chance to breathe. Perhaps we can find a balance point, neither missing the opportunity nor ignoring the hearts of the people."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao's eyes lit up, and he turned to look at Cao Cao: "Mengde, what do you think?"

Cao Cao nodded slightly, revealing a hint of appreciation: "This plan is feasible. We can implement a series of pro-people policies while advancing unification, such as reducing taxes, encouraging farming, and building water conservancy, so that the people can truly feel our sincerity and efforts. In this way, we can maintain morale and win the hearts of the people."

After hearing this, Yuan Shao's brows gradually relaxed, and he patted Cao Cao on the shoulder: "Mengde, you are still the most thoughtful. Let's act according to this strategy, neither eager for success nor delaying the opportunity."

The two reached a consensus again, and the atmosphere in the tent eased. In the following days, while advancing territory, the coalition army began to implement a series of pro-people measures. The people's lives gradually improved, and their support for the coalition army increased day by day. ===== CHAPTER 1770 =====