Chapter 44: Guo Jia's Argument

  Cheng Yu saw Guo Jia still in doubt, and spoke out: "Fengxiao, don't ask any more questions. The lord really has the Taiping method, and the book records in detail how to remove the toxins from your body. So for this period of time, you can't drink wine anymore, nor can you approach women, let alone take Wushi powder or Jindan. Take good care of yourself for a while and nurse your body back to health."

  Guo Jia gave Cheng Yu a stern look and said, "You're going to drink yourself to death!"

  Guo Jia let out a loud howl, his eyes turned to Wang Can, and he said to Wang Can: "My lord, I can give up on women, but I cannot do without fine wine. This is my only request, my lord will not make things difficult for me, will you?"

  Wang Caiyi waved her sleeve, exerting the master's advantage, and ordered: "Feng Xiao, we are not asking for your opinion, but telling you that you cannot drink wine, cannot get close to women, do you understand?"

  Cheng Yu and Xun You both nodded in agreement with Wang Can's statement.

  "I understand"

  Guo Jia heard this and knew that the matter was impossible, so he immediately became disheartened. Wang Can, Cheng Yu, and Xun You did not support him, and even his comrades in the same trench were against him, what's the point of resisting?

  "Sir, may I borrow the Taiping Classics for a look?"

  Guo Jia suddenly thought of Taiping's tactics and also had the idea of browsing through them.

  "Here, it's yours."

  Guo Jia took over the Taiping Yizhan, and when he opened the book to see the first volume of Tianwen Dili, his lazy expression instantly became serious. He read quickly, and soon finished reading Tianwen Dili. When he saw the second volume of Medical Divination and Astrology, he was already deeply immersed in the Taiping Yizhan, especially in divination and astrology, which made Guo Jia dizzy with excitement, nodding his head repeatedly.

  "Hoo-hoo~~~"

  After a long time, Guo Jia finally lifted his head and said: "My lord, may I borrow it for a few days to take a look?"

  Wang Can glanced at Guo Jia, then looked at Xun You with an expectant expression in his eyes. He made a decision and said: "Alright, since both of you are interested in the Taiping Classics, let each of you copy one set. Whatever content you want to see, just copy that content. What do you think?"

  Xun Yu heard this and was overjoyed, and he went to Wang Can's court to thank him, saying: "Thank you, sir."

  Wang Can hastily lifted up Xun You and said, "The contents of the book can be copied by you two at any time, as these are just minor details. The most crucial thing now is to remove the toxins from Feng Xiao's body, this is the top priority."

  Cheng Yu also nodded and said: "What the master said is very true, the sooner the better for treating the toxins in Feng Xiao's body."

  Xun Yu released his grip on Guo Jia's hand, stood up and said: "My lord, the prescription for removing toxins from Feng Xiao's body as described in the Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang is already memorized by me. I will now go to the pharmacy to fetch medicine for Feng Xiao, and at the same time bring back the medicine prescribed by Zhou Zheng and Zhou Taiyi for Feng Xiao to take."

  After finishing speaking, Xun Yu left.

  Guo Jia also put aside the Taiping Yulan in his hand at this time, looked at Wang Can and asked: "When is the lord going to meet Dong Zhuo?"

  Wang Can replied: "Tomorrow afternoon, I and the teacher will go to the Tai Shi Fu together to visit Dong Zhuo. Feng Xiao, what's wrong? Is there something wrong?"

  Guo Jia shook his head and asked: "What official position does Lord Cao expect to obtain by paying respects to Dong Zhuo?"

  Wang Can thought for a moment and said, "Of course, you will be the governor of Yuzhang County, in charge of Yuzhang County."

  Guo Jia heard this and suddenly laughed, asking: "Is the lord so confident that he will become the governor of Runan County, or has the lord already obtained Dong Zhuo's consent, and Dong Zhuo is willing to let the lord become the governor of Runan County?"

  Wang Can shook his head and said: "Of course, there is no guarantee. Whether or not I can become the governor of Yuzhang County depends on Dong Zhuo's whim."

  Guo Jia smiled and asked: "Does the lord have a map of Yuzhou and its surrounding areas?"

  Wang Can was puzzled in his heart and didn't know what Guo Jia wanted the map of Runan for. However, he happened to have a well-drawn map of Runan County on him, which was a gift Wang Can had prepared to present to Dong Zhuo.

  A map, very important.

  Apart from the imperial court, there are very few detailed maps of local provinces and counties.

  This is not only to prevent local officials from having maps and affecting the court's military operations, but also for the court to better control the local areas. As long as the court has detailed geographical maps of the local areas, it can dispatch troops at any time to accurately attack any place.

  Wang Can pulled out a sheepskin map from his sleeve and said, "This is the detailed map of Junan County and its surrounding areas."

  Cheng Yu saw this and joked: "Your Excellency, you have a lot of treasures on your body. Not only is the Taiping Taoist technique placed close to your chest, but also the maps of Yuzhang County and its surrounding areas are carried on your person. If some robbers come to rob you, their gains will be great."

  Cheng Yu only saw Wang Can take out Taiping Yulan and a map of Junan County.

  If they knew that Wang Can still had a volume of the True Martial Secret Manual on him, they would probably be even more shocked.

  The medical astrology, military deployment and geography in the Taiping Yulan can be taken out for his advisors to study, but the true martial arts manual is impossible to share. This is Wang Can's last trump card, it is the foundation of Wang Can's safety and career.

  Wang Can placed the map on the bed and spread it out in front of Guo Jia.

  Guo Jia pointed his finger on the map and a hint of contemplation flashed in his eyes.

  After a long time, Guo Jia finally let out a sigh and said: "Your Excellency, without discussing the use of this map of Runan for now, just the location of Runan Prefecture is not something that Your Excellency currently has the power to possess. Runan Prefecture belongs to Yuzhou, and Yuzhou is one of the nine provinces. Runan is located in the center of Yuzhou, hence it is called 'the center of heaven'."

  "Since Qin and Han dynasties, Ru'nan has always been the center of Yu Province, not only the capital of Ru'nan Prefecture but also the provincial capital of Yu Province."

  "Yu Nan is the center of the nine states, radiating in all directions, south to Tianzhong Mountain, north facing Yinghe River, with a very important geographical location."

  "Look at the map, my lord. To the north of Junan County is Yingchuan County, and through Yingchuan we can march our troops past Tiger Trap Pass and threaten Luoyang. To the south there are no strong fortifications, just a single elite army is needed to take Jingzhou. To the west lies Wan City, which is the gateway to the western capital of Chang'an; if we can occupy Wan City, we will have the possibility of threatening Chang'an. To the east lies Yangzhou's Shouchun, but Junan County is close to the Ying River, and with a naval force, we can sail straight down to Shouchun and enter Yangzhou."

  "Occupying Runan would give you the opportunity to go north to Luoyang, south to Jingzhou, west to Chang'an and east to Yangzhou. The city of Runan has such an important geographical location that Dong Zhuo will not let my lord stay in Runan, even if Dong Zhuo is muddle-headed and wants my lord to return to Runan, I'm afraid Li Ru, the first strategist under Dong Zhuo's command, would not allow my lord to continue staying in Runan."

  Guo Jia's words were impassioned and eloquent, causing Wang Can to nod his head repeatedly in agreement.

  Wang Can's expression changed, his eyebrows furrowed, and he said: "So to speak, Dong Zhuo will definitely dispatch a general under his command to garrison Runan, while I may be transferred to another place or detained in Runan, becoming a puppet who appears to control Runan."

  Guo Jia nodded and said: "What you say is reasonable, however, in Guo Jia's opinion, it is likely that the lord will be transferred away from Runan."

  "Oh, is that why?" Wang Can asked.

  Guo Jia said: "The lord has been stationed in Runan for a long time, and even if Dong Zhuo sends troops to garrison Runan, it's likely that the situation will be difficult to control. You can't command the army of Runan. Dong Zhuo will definitely transfer the lord away from Runan and send him elsewhere to prevent him from controlling the Western Liang army."

  Wang Can listened and felt a sense of urgency in his heart. He asked: "Does Feng Xiang have any plan to stay in Runan?"

  "Lord, the four battles of Yuzhou are like a chicken rib to you - it's tasteless to eat and a pity to discard. Rather than staying in Yuzhou, why not leave and open up a new territory?" Guo Jia said solemnly: "Whatever Dong Zhuo arranges, as long as we don't stay in Luoyang, Lord can agree to it. As long as you can occupy one side and hold real power, there will be opportunities for rise."

  Wang Can nodded in agreement, he also thought so in his heart.

  Occupying one side, then plotting for the world.

  PS: It's Monday, asking for flowers, hoping everyone can give some support, give some love, spend a little time, collect it, thank you.