Inside the prison at Wuyan.
“Uncle!”
After hearing the full story of Xun Yu’s imprisonment, Xun You felt a chill run down his spine and said in disbelief, “Did Zhang Yuheng really say, ‘In times of chaos, any outstanding talent who will not serve me must be killed by me’?”
Xun You had never imagined that the main reason his uncle had been imprisoned was because of this.
If that was the case, then coming to Yanzhou himself was practically walking into a trap.
“That’s right.”
With a complicated expression, Xun Yu replied, “Such words are a hundred times more extreme than anything my lord has ever said. Other than the leaders of the Yellow Turbans, who in this world would dare utter such madness?”
“…”
Only then did Xun You realize the gravity of the situation.
With a bitter smile, he said, “Then we’re in trouble.”
No wonder he had been locked up the moment he arrived.
They had never intended to let him leave.
Yet he had foolishly thought that five thousand shi of grain would be enough to buy him a meeting with Xun Yu.
“…”
Xun Yu also fell silent.
Thinking of everything he had endured, he struggled internally for a long moment before saying solemnly:
“Gongda, join the Yellow Turbans.”
“Uncle!?”
Xun You’s mind went blank.
Looking at Xun Yu, his eyes were filled with astonishment.
The Yellow Turbans were rebels.
Even if they had renamed themselves the Qihuo Army, they were still rebels.
How could they cease to be rebels?
Only by receiving recognition from the Imperial Court.
Someone like Zhang Yan, for example, at least possessed an official title granted by the court.
Who was Xun Yu?
Xun You knew better than anyone.
Yet such a man was actually urging him to serve rebels.
“Gongda.” A faint smile appeared on Xun Yu’s face, though it was a cold one.
“There is no Han salary within the Yellow Turbans. Do you know what I’ve been eating during this period?”
“What is it?” Xun You frowned deeply, his heart tightening.
“Jerky.” Xun Yu pointed toward a corner and said flatly, “The ingredients came from them—or from prisoners who refused to enter service.”
“What!?”
Looking toward the five lumps of matter piled in the corner, Xun You’s eyes widened instantly, and his stomach began to churn.
At first, he had assumed the foul smell in the prison was normal.
After all, he had spent time in prison in Chang’an before and could be considered a repeat visitor.
His adaptability was fairly strong.
“Urgh—!” But the moment he saw what lay in the corner, he could no longer endure it and rushed aside to vomit.
Only after he had thrown up until his face turned pale and his body felt weak did he look again at Xun Yu, who stood in the neighboring cell watching him.
In Xun Yu’s eyes, he saw utter grief and despair.
And at that moment, he finally understood why his uncle had urged him to serve the Yellow Turbans.
“Uncle!” Xun You’s face darkened as he said with difficulty,
“Killing is one thing, but how could they treat you like this?”
“Because there is no Han salary here.”
Xun Yu’s tone was heavy, as though he was speaking not only to Xun You, but also trying to convince himself.
“What Wenruo says is true.”
At that moment, Cheng Yu strode in with a calm expression.
“How could there be Han salaries within the Qihuo Army? My lord once gave you a chance, but you were simply too stubborn.”
“Xun You of Yingchuan greets Mister Zhongde.”
Xun Yu remained silent, while Xun You immediately recognized the visitor and respectfully introduced himself with a bow.
“Xun You, courtesy name Gongda. Excellent.”
Cheng Yu nodded before turning to Xun Yu.
“Mister Wenruo, we meet again. Counting this time, it should be the third meeting, correct?”
“Mister Zhongde has a good memory.”
Taking a deep breath, Xun Yu finally replied.
“Someone!” Cheng Yu ordered, “Though there are no Han salaries in the Qihuo Army, Gongda has brought five thousand shi of grain today. I can at least make the decision to treat the two of you to a bowl of hot porridge.”
“As you command!” A young officer respectfully acknowledged the order.
“Hot porridge?”
Xun You was momentarily unable to process what he had heard.
He had delivered five thousand shi of grain, and yet the chief strategist of the Yellow Turbans had personally come to see him only to offer him a bowl of porridge?
Was this a joke?
How could it be this absurd?
“There’s no need for such surprise, Gongda.” Xun Yu sat down calmly inside the cell and said, “At present, everyone in the Qihuo Army—including its leader, Zhang Yuheng—survives on hot porridge every day. If the Qihuo Army cannot hold out until the autumn harvest, it will inevitably fall into chaos from within.”
“Mister Wenruo’s memory remains sharp indeed.”
Cheng Yu had a mat set up outside the prison cell.
After taking his seat, he sipped some tea broth and said calmly:
“But I guess I’ve let you down.”
“After my lord defeated Cao Cao, he swept across all of Yanzhou and obtained eight million shi of grain, along with hundreds of thousands of gold coins.”
“Through commercial trade routes, he also purchased nearly three million shi of grain from across the realm.”
“Although we still face a grain shortage, the immediate crisis has been resolved. What remains is merely the grain needed for spring planting.”
“Even if it isn’t enough, we can simply reduce the amount reserved for sowing.”
“After the autumn harvest, our army will no longer have any concerns about grain supplies.”
A shortage of grain still certainly existed.
However, Cheng Yu knew there was still time.
As long as another four million shi of grain could be acquired before April, there would be no problem.
It was only mid-February.
There was still a month and a half remaining.
If grain truly ran short, they could divert some of the seed grain, allowing both the army and the people to endure until the autumn harvest.
“Mister Zhongde is truly talented.”
Looking at Cheng Yu, Xun Yu’s eyes were filled with mixed emotions.
Though they stood on opposing sides, Cheng Yu’s abilities were beyond question.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring cell, Xun You’s expression also became extremely serious.
His view of the Yellow Turbans changed as well.
He realized that he had greatly underestimated them.
“Mister Gongda,” Cheng Yu looked at Xun You and said, “When my lord failed to recruit Mister Wenruo, he once remarked that Wenruo was overly rigid. In truth, I could tell that my lord thought very highly of him.”
“My lord also said this:
‘The Han salary that Wenruo speaks of is nothing more than the people’s sweat and blood.’”
“Had Liu Bang, who accepted Qin salaries, possessed even a fraction of Wenruo’s loyalty, there would never have been four hundred years of the Han Dynasty.”
“Today, the common people of the realm can barely survive.”
“Yet Wenruo still insists on eating Han salaries. That is somewhat rigid—not only laughable, but also tragic.”
Upon hearing this, Xun You looked toward Xun Yu with a trace of emotion.
At the same time, Cheng Yu’s words moved him as well.
With a calm gaze fixed on Xun You, Cheng Yu slowly asked:
“Mister Gongda, may I ask whether you have come here seeking to eat Han salaries as well?”
“…”
Xun You fell silent.
Beside him, Xun Yu also turned his gaze toward him.
“Very well. Let us drink the porridge first.”
Just then, the young officer delivered bowls of hot porridge to the three men, and Cheng Yu no longer pressed the matter.
His thinking was the same as Zhang Jing’s.
When it came to talent, if it could not be used, it should be eliminated.
If Xun You refused to serve today, there would be no mercy.
And Xun Yu would be sent on his way as well.
“Mister Zhongde.” Watching the other two calmly drinking porridge in such surroundings as though completely at ease, Xun You took a sip himself.
Immediately, he frowned and looked up at Cheng Yu.
“Does the refined white salt come from Yanzhou?”
As a member of what had once been one of the foremost aristocratic clans, Xun You was quite familiar with luxury goods.
Although the Xun clan had not cultivated disciples as aggressively as some other great families, it still possessed enormous wealth.
Xun You was unwilling to spend more than ten gold pieces on a piece of warming jade (soap), but he did use refined white salt.
The taste of white salt was distinctly different from that of ordinary green salt.
Thus, the moment he tasted the porridge, he recognized it.
If the white salt had not been produced in Yanzhou, then given Yanzhou’s circumstances, they would hardly have spent a high price importing it.
Hearing this, a trace of confusion flashed across Xun Yu’s eyes.
“Correct.” Taking another sip of porridge, Cheng Yu replied calmly:
“Not only white salt, but the warm jade as well originates from Yanzhou.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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