This is what Cao Cao said

Only those who are talented will be recommended, and I will use them: as long as they are talented people, I will recommend them. When recommending talents, recommend them based on their talents. Only talented people are appointed and recommended.

From: Cao Cao's "Order for Seeking Talents" in the Three Kingdoms Wei Dynasty: "The second and third sons help me with my humbleness, but only their talents can help me, and I can use them."

Only talents can help me. The benefits brought by this move to Cao Cao: The Battle of Guandu was the biggest test to determine whether Cao Cao could gain a foothold in the world. If he did not eliminate this powerful enemy, both military and political, Cao Cao would not be able to live in peace for a day, and he would not even be able to sleep well.

Moreover, Yuan Shao's counselors, such as Xu You, Jusue, Shenpei, and Guo Tu, are also first-rate "think tanks".

Therefore, the battle between Cao and Yuan was also a battle of counselors. As a result, due to Yuan Shao's "suspiciousness and indecisiveness", his counselors were divided into gangs, and there were disputes. A winnable battle, Also lost.

It should be said that Cao Cao's victory largely benefited from the clever countermeasures of his counselors.