Xun Yu (荀彧), courtesy name Wenruo, was born in one of the most prestigious clans in the world at that time, the Yingchuan Xun clan, the representative figure of Confucianism in the Warring States period, Xun Zi, was the thirteenth ancestor of Xun Yu, Xun Yu's grandfather Xun Shu was known for his profound knowledge and high character, and was known as the "Divine King", the official to lang ling marquis, Xun Shu had eight sons, Xun Shuang was a servant, dong Zhuo entered Luoyang, and began to spare no effort to be a celebrity from the Bajie family family.
Xun Shuang as the key object of solicitation, at that time Yingchuan talents, famous people gathered, there were many people who were officials outside, such as Jizhou Mu Hanfu was a Yingchuan person, he had specially sent people to take Xun Yu to Jizhou, so Xun Yu said to his fellow villagers that Yingchuan was the land of four wars, it was easy to be affected by war, we should move to other places as soon as possible, and soon Dong Zhuo did send Li Dai and others to the Kwantung, Yingchuan's soldiers were robbed and even killed, only the Xun family did not suffer losses due to early relocation, because Xun Yu's brother Xun Chen made a great contribution. Yuan Shao attached great importance to the courtesy of the guests, and Yingchuan County, a gathering place of talents that would influence the historical direction of the late Han Dynasty, began to gradually surface, although Yuan Shao admired Xun Yu's talent.
However, Xun Yu believed that Yuan Shao's character was indecisive and doomed to become a major event, and Cao Cao, who was stationed in Dongwuyang at that time, was nominally a vassal of Yuan Shao, and only after defeating the Black Mountain Army did he become the Taishou of Dong Commandery under yuan Shao's recommendation. Barely a foothold. Xun Yu, who was as bright as a torch, was keenly aware. Although Cao Cao was temporarily discouraged, he was more talented than Yuan Shao, so he resolutely left Yecheng and came to defect. At this time, Cao Cao's soldiers were small and weak.
One person also serves as a taishou, commander-in-chief, staff officer, and logistical support. Military quartermasters, political discipline inspectors and other positions. He cultivated Cao Cao's comprehensive personal ability, because there was not even a staff officer around him, so the business of platooning and strategizing was basically based on Cao Cao's own brain activities. As for the military generals, only Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Xiahou Huan and a few other clan members supported the field. Coupled with Cao Cao's status after the eunuch, it can be said that it is not attractive to the talents of the warrior clan at all.
It was not much stronger than the later grassroots class leader Liu Bei. Therefore, for Cao Cao, Xun Yu's joining is of extraordinary significance. Because Xun Yu was not only a talented courtier, but also a representative of the Yingchuan Shi clan. Xun Yu's arrival made the world's celebrities begin to notice Cao Cao, who was still unknown at this time. As a result, the small military clique represented by Cao Cao has undergone qualitative changes and sublimation. The most crucial turning point was ushered in. Therefore, Cao Cao was overjoyed after seeing Xun Yu, and took his hand with tears in his eyes and said, Wen Ruo, you are my Zhang Liang. This year Xun Yu was twenty-nine years old.
From then on, Cao Cao began to focus his main energy on the battlefield, and entrusted all the big and small affairs behind him to Xun Yu to dispatch and plan, and from then on, Cao Cao and Xun Yu cooperated sincerely. Together, the basic military structure was created. It is mainly the Group of Military Generals represented by Shi Zhuo and others.
And the Yingchuan Moushi group represented by Xun You, Guo Jia, Zhong Xuan, Chen Qun, Du Xian, Zhao Yu and others, these two groups were the cornerstones of Cao Cao's ability to maintain his rule in the Central Plains, so for Cao Cao Xun's identity was more like a partner than a subordinate. During the Eastern Expedition against Tao Qian, Chen Gong, Zhang Fu and others rebelled. Cao Cao was defeated by Lü Bu in the front, and the rear lost its base area, and also caught up with the famine that had not been encountered in a hundred years. Forced to use human flesh as military food. It was Xun Yu who was in danger and defended the city alone to save Puyang for Cao Cao through those difficult years.
When Tao Qian died, Cao Cao wanted to abandon the conquest of Lü Bu and instead attack Xuzhou. Under Xun Yu's analysis, Cao Cao woke up like a dream. Abandon this erroneous strategic plan. Only then was he able to defeat Lü Bu and retake Yanzhou. After Emperor Xian fled from Chang'an to Luoyang, it was Xun Yu's words that made Cao Cao determined to serve the Son of Heaven, and Cao Cao leapt from a prince who had cut off the land and became a king who held the power of the world. It was precisely because of Xun Yu's support that Cao Cao dared to set the capital at Xu County, Yingchuan County. Let Xun Yu serve as Shang Shu Ling. And the earliest trial tun tian in Yingchuan County, when the Central Plains were plagued by wars, the fields were barren, ten rooms and nine empty, and the grain and grass materials needed for the Cao army to conquer.
It was only under the multi-pronged financing of Xun Yu and the bitter support of Yingchuan County that it was able to maintain its operation with difficulty. Before the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao was afraid of Yuan Shao's power, and it was Xun Yu who helped Cao Cao analyze the weaknesses of Yuan Shao's clique in time. Accurately pointing out the shortcomings of Yuan Shao himself and his subordinate generals established Cao Cao's confidence in daring to fight, being able to fight and winning battles.
During the stalemate stage, Cao Cao's army ran out of food and his mentality was on the verge of collapse, and it was Xun Yu who urged Cao Cao to stick to it and dare to use a strange plot while mobilizing the people of Yingchuan to unite to help the old and the young to support the front line, so that Cao Cao survived the darkest night and waited for the dawn to come. After the victory at Guandu, Cao Cao believed that Yuan Shao's strength was still stronger than his own, so he was unwilling to venture north and planned to attack Liu Biao from the south first, and it was Xun Yu who calmly helped Cao Cao analyze the post-war situation. He once again pulled Cao Cao back from the wrong strategic direction and helped Cao Cao pacify Hebei in one fell swoop.