The tent was dimly lit,the flickering shadows of the oil lamp casting a somber mood over the discussion.Lin Yu's voice cut through the silence,his words hanging in the air like the threads of fate,entwining and unraveling with each breath.

"Dongjun!"he pronounced the name slowly,each syllable a riddle waiting to be deciphered.

"Go to Dongjun?But why?"Cao Cao's eyes widened in bewilderment,his face etched with confusion.The Prefect of Dongjun,Qiao Mao,had met a tragic end at the hands of Liu Dai,and his troops had been mercilessly incorporated by the latter.It seemed inevitable that Dongjun would soon be entirely swallowed by Liu Dai's ambition.To venture into Dongjun at this precarious moment was like walking into the jaws of danger,likely to spark an immediate and violent conflict with Liu Dai.

Moreover,warfare was much like the ancient game of Go.There was a saying:the corners are as precious as gold,the sides as silver,and the center as common as grass.Dongjun lay in the very heart of the Han Dynasty's territory.To its west was Henei Prefecture under Zhang Yang's rule,to the north was Yuan Shao's Jizhou,to the east was Qingzhou where Kong Rong held sway,and to the south was Liu Dai's domain.It was not only besieged on all sides by potential foes but also had the remnants of Qiao Mao's forces within its bounds.In such a perilous situation,choosing Dongjun as a base seemed a most unwise decision.

In response to Cao Cao's query,Lin Yu smiled serenely and said,"Have no fear,Lord Cao.Pray,listen closely."

"Dongjun boasts an excellent geographical location with a highly developed transportation network.From there,one can march northward towards Jizhou,southward to Yanzhou and Yuzhou,westward to Sili Prefecture,and eastward to Qingzhou.Furthermore,Chenliu is adjacent to Dongjun,and Zhang Miao,the Prefect of Chenliu,shares a cordial relationship with you,Lord Cao.They can provide mutual support."

Naturally,these were but the surface-level factors Lin Yu presented.In truth,historically,Cao Cao had patiently developed after entering Dongjun.When the Yellow Turban Army from Qingzhou surged into Yanzhou and slew Liu Dai,the local officials welcomed Cao Cao as governor.After vanquishing the Yellow Turban Army,he finally managed to establish a stable foothold.

"But under what guise should we enter Dongjun?"Cao Cao stroked his chin,his brow furrowed with doubt.

If he were to force his way into Dongjun,he would surely collide head-on with Liu Dai.As a governor of a prefecture,Liu Dai commanded a formidable army and held significant power.With the meager number of troops remaining under Cao Cao's command,he could scarcely hope to match Liu Dai's might.

"That's simple.Lord Cao need only seek Yuan Benchu's assistance and request him to submit a memorial to the imperial court,asking that the court appoint you as the Prefect of Dongjun,"Lin Yu said with a mysterious smile."With his support,even if Liu Dai begrudges it in his heart,he would not dare to act against you openly."

Although after the campaign against Dong Zhuo,the various feudal lords had begun to disregard the imperial court,they were still,in name,subjects of the Han Dynasty.Only with an official document from the imperial court could their actions be justified.

Hearing Lin Yu's proposal,Cao Cao couldn't help but smile wryly."Although I once had a good relationship with Yuan Benchu in the past,that is long gone.Now,asking him to advocate for me and offer support,how could it be possible?"

Among adults,decisions were often driven not by friendship but by self-interest.Without any benefit in sight,why would Yuan Shao come to Cao Cao's aid?

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"That's true.But what if Lord Cao were to offer him the Imperial Seal?"Lin Yu smiled enigmatically.

"The Imperial Seal?!"Cao Cao was momentarily stunned.Then he watched as Lin Yu retrieved a vermilion wooden box from his bosom.When opened,a small imperial seal lay quietly within,as if holding the secrets of the ages.

It was the very Imperial Seal!

"Sir,this...how did this come to be in your possession?Isn't it supposed to be in the hands of the Son of Heaven?"Cao Cao's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Lin Yu.

"A few days ago,Zilong and I led our troops to extinguish the fires in Luoyang City.It was there that we chanced upon the Imperial Seal in a dry well.I simply hadn't had the opportunity to inform you,Lord Cao,"Lin Yu explained.

Cao Cao remained silent,his eyes locked onto the Imperial Seal.

This was the imperial seal,a symbol of the Son of Heaven's power.Only by possessing it could one claim legitimate and orthodox rule.If he were to keep it for himself,wouldn't he be able to...

Thoughts of power and grandeur swirled in Cao Cao's mind,and his eyes filled with fanaticism,excitement,and a touch of greed!

Lin Yu,of course,noticed the change in his expression and quickly cautioned,"A man can be unjustly accused when in possession of a precious and coveted object.Lord Cao,after all,this imperial seal is but an inanimate thing.Without absolute strength,keeping it would be a colossal hidden danger."

Cao Cao snapped back to reality.Reluctantly,he tore his gaze away,took a deep breath,and forced a smile."Sir,you are quite right.Do you suggest that I give this to Yuan Shao?"

"Yes.Keeping this in our hands is like having a useless chicken rib,"Lin Yu nodded."You can offer it to Yuan Shao in exchange for his robust support!Only in this way can we have a chance to firmly establish ourselves in Dongjun."

Cao Cao's eyes brightened.After a moment of contemplation,he said,"Very well.Let's proceed as you suggest."

...

In Yuan Shao's Camp.

"Hehe,Mengde,what brings you here today?You seem to have some free time,"Yuan Shao greeted Cao Cao with a warm smile and gestured for him to be seated.

"Yesterday,I led my troops in pursuit of Dong Zhuo,only to suffer a crushing defeat.I'm feeling rather downcast,so I came to see you,Benchu,hoping to lift my spirits,"Cao Cao said with a sigh.

Hearing this,a flicker of disapproval flashed in Yuan Shao's eyes,and a faint sneer tugged at the corner of his mouth.

All the feudal lords had declined to continue the pursuit,yet you,like a headstrong youth,blindly charged after Dong Zhuo.Who else but you would end up defeated?

"Victory and defeat are common in military affairs,Mengde.Do not let it weigh too heavily on your heart,"Yuan Shao offered his consolation,his tone soft yet somewhat insincere.

"Benchu,you are quite right,"Cao Cao nodded earnestly."To be honest,besides seeking your help today,I also have a precious item to present to you."

"Oh?What precious item could it be?"Yuan Shao inquired,a somewhat casual air about him.

The Yuan family had enjoyed four generations of prominence,with three members attaining the rank of duke.Now,he held sway over Jizhou with great power.What manner of precious objects had he not already seen?

"Please have a look,Benchu,"Cao Cao rose to his feet and retrieved an imperial seal from his bosom,handing it to Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao initially cast a nonchalant glance,but that one look jolted him to his feet!

"This...this is the Imperial Seal?!"Yuan Shao's face drained of color,his expression one of disbelief."How did this come into your hands?"

"To be honest,a few days ago,when my soldiers were putting out the fire in Luoyang City,they stumbled upon this by chance,"Cao Cao explained."After careful consideration,I believe such an important item is best entrusted to you,Benchu,for safekeeping."

Yuan Shao's face was a mask of uncertainty,his eyes glittering with strange and conflicted emotions.

He had risen to his current position not only due to his powerful family heritage but also through his own capabilities.After the campaign against Dong Zhuo,Yuan Shao had sensed the Han Dynasty's impending doom and had begun to harbor grand ambitions in his heart.

Cao Cao's offering of the Imperial Seal today was an irresistible temptation for Yuan Shao.

After a long and tense silence,Yuan Shao composed himself and forced a smile."Mengde is right.Such a precious item shall be kept by me for the time being."

"Once we rescue the Son of Heaven from Dong Zhuo's clutches in the future,we will return this to its rightful place,"he added.

Just as Mr.Lin Yu had predicted,Yuan Shao could not resist the allure of the Imperial Seal.Cao Cao thought to himself,maintaining a smile on his face as he said,"That's wonderful."