Shuhan

Youzhou.

Guangyang County.

Ji County gradually woke up in the dim light of morning.

In the center of the city, a magnificent mansion stands proudly, as if it is the most dazzling pearl on this land.

Inside the mansion, a three-story building rises from the ground. It is entirely constructed with precious wood. Every piece of wood has been carefully polished by craftsmen and exudes a faint wood fragrance.

The tall buildings are magnificent, with walls inlaid with colorful gems that sparkle brightly under the sunlight. The curtains are made of Shu brocade brought from far away Shu. The patterns are intricate and exquisite, and you can feel the delicacy and luxury with a gentle touch.

On the top floor, Gongsun Yuan was wearing a gorgeous brocade robe, his sleeves swaying gently in the wind. He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes penetrating through the layers of clouds and mist, as if he could glimpse every flower, grass, and tree in the entire Ji County, and even every move of the people in the city.

At this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence on the top floor, and Yang Zuo hurriedly walked in with a serious expression.

He stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said in a deep voice: "My lord, the envoy of Wei State has sent a letter asking for the list of counties in Youzhou. At the same time, the envoy of Han State has also arrived and requested to see my lord."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Yuan frowned, and a complex emotion flashed in his deep eyes.

Although he occupied Youzhou, in this chaotic time with divided forces, he could not fully control the place and still needed to rely on the support of Wei to maintain the status quo.

However, once the list was handed over, it would mean that Wei would have clear control over every inch of land and every person in Youzhou. Without these as the basis for taxation, how could he afford such a huge army?

Gongsun Yuan was silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in his mind, and finally spoke slowly, his voice low and firm: "Tell the officials of Wei that when the Xianbei were causing trouble in Youzhou, the list was unfortunately burned. Within three years, a new detailed list must be drawn up for Wei and submitted to Luoyang."

When Yang Zuo heard this, he was obviously stunned, and then he was hesitant.

He knew very well that this move might anger the State of Wei and further strain the already delicate relationship.

"If this happens, I'm afraid the Kingdom of Wei will have a problem with you, my lord." He reminded carefully.

Hearing this, Gongsun Yuan curled up his lips in a sneer, and an unruly light flashed in his eyes.

"As long as we are strong enough, what does it matter if Wei State has objections?"

Seeing this, although Yang Zuo had some concerns in his heart, he also understood that his lord's decision could not be questioned.

He nodded and was about to leave, but then he remembered something else and asked, "How should we respond to the Han envoy?"

Gongsun Yuan turned around and looked into the distance, as if thinking about something.

After a moment, he slowly said, "It's not a big deal to meet the Han envoys. Maybe we can get some useful information from them, or find new allies."

The decision was made, and Gongsun Yuan signaled Yang Zuo that he could leave and prepare to welcome the Han envoy.

Yang Zuo took the order and left, but he couldn't help feeling a little nervous about the upcoming meeting.

That afternoon, the Han envoys were led to the lobby of the mansion.

The envoy was dressed in gorgeous clothes, wearing a tall crown, had a dignified face, and his manners revealed a gentle and elegant temperament.

Holding a scepter in hand, he walked into the hall, glanced around, and secretly marveled at the luxury of Gongsun Yuan's mansion.

Gongsun Yuan slowly stood up from his high seat, smiling, and walked steadily towards the envoy, saying as he walked, "Your Excellency, you have come a long way, thank you for your hard work. Please take a seat."

The envoy politely returned the greeting and then sat down at Gongsun Yuan's invitation.

The two men began to exchange polite greetings. Gongsun Yuan remained calm on the surface, but in his heart he was carefully observing the envoy, trying to capture the true intentions of the Han Dynasty from his words and actions.

During the conversation, Gongsun Yuan skillfully brought up the core of the topic: "I wonder why your country sent an envoy here this time?"

The messenger smiled slightly, took out a secret letter from his sleeve, and handed it to Gongsun Yuan with both hands: "His Majesty has heard that Lord Gongsun is famous and has sent me here. I am willing to abide by the alliance, jointly resist foreign enemies, and share the world."

Gongsun Yuan took the secret letter, read it quickly, and thought to himself.

He could gain certain benefits by joining forces with the Han State, but he had to consider whether there was a deeper conspiracy behind it.

He pondered for a moment and slowly said, "I am aware of your country's sincerity, but this matter is of great importance and requires long-term consideration. Please stay here for the time being, and I will make a decision after discussing with my advisers."

"General Gongsun." The messenger spoke. His voice was not loud, but every word was clear and penetrated the entire hall.

"I understand your thoughts. In the past, you needed the help of the Han State to survive in this chaotic world. Now that Youzhou is in your hands, you naturally don't want to be someone else's servant anymore. However, the world is like a chess game, and each game is new. Your former friend may become your enemy today."

When Gongsun Yuan heard this, a barely perceptible smile appeared on his face, but his heart was filled with turmoil.

"Your Excellency is right, but the current situation is volatile and cannot be completely controlled by human power. The strength of Wei is known to the world. If I do not obey Han, will Wei let me go? However, the general trend of the world is that after a long period of division, it will eventually unite. Han also has the ambition to unify. How can I, Gongsun Yuan, sit and wait for death?"

The messenger smiled slightly, as if he had already expected Gongsun Yuan to ask this question.

"General, you are right. Wei will not give up, but under the threat of our Han, they dare not act rashly in the short term. However, once the situation in the world stabilizes, you will not be able to support the country alone. Our Han aims to conquer the world. If you follow the general situation, you can be crowned the King of Youzhou and enjoy prosperity for generations. If you persist, the fate of Sun Quan of Wu will serve as a lesson for us."

At this point, the messenger's eyes became sharp, like a sharp sword, piercing Gongsun Yuan's heart.

Gongsun Yuan was shocked. He thought of Sun Quan. Sun Quan had ruled Jiangdong for three generations and was much stronger than him. However, his country was eventually destroyed because he resisted the Han Kingdom.

A complex emotion surged in his chest, anger, unwillingness, fear...all these emotions intertwined together, making his face gloomy.

The envoy saw this and knew that his words had worked, so he changed the subject and said with a firm tone: "General Gongsun, it is up to you to decide where to go. I have conveyed the sincerity of the Han Dynasty, and I hope you will reconsider it."

After saying this, the messenger immediately turned away with firm steps and without the slightest hesitation.

Gongsun Yuan looked at the messenger's back, anger gradually showing on his face, and he clenched his fists as if trying to suppress the rage that was about to burst out.

However, in the end, he just snorted coldly, and that voice contained too much helplessness and unwillingness.

Gongsun Yuan felt mixed emotions. No matter whether it was Wei or Han, the day when they unified the world would be the end of him, Gongsun Yuan.

Only by maintaining the status quo and playing both sides can we survive in the cracks.

"If Han is strong, I will help Wei; if Wei is strong, I will help Han. This is the only way to gain a foothold in this chaotic world. Once I have completely stabilized Youzhou, maybe I can even compete with Han and Wei for the world!"

As he thought, Gongsun Yuan's gaze became firm. He stood up and walked to the window, looking at the endless mountains in the distance, a feeling of pride surged in his heart.

This road is full of thorns, but he, Gongsun Yuan, has never been a coward.

It’s just a hundred miles away.

Zhuo County, the city wall is majestic.

In the city, inside Prince Yan's mansion, the atmosphere was solemn. Prince Yan Cao Yu sat behind a tall desk with a furrowed brow and a gloomy face.

His eyes were deep, as if he could see into people's hearts, but they also revealed a bit of helplessness and fatigue.

Beside him, several staff members were either standing or sitting, with different expressions, but all revealing their worries about the current situation.

"Your Majesty, Gongsun Yuan dared to openly disobey your orders and refused to hand over the Youzhou list."

A general in iron armor spoke in a deep and powerful voice, his tone full of dissatisfaction and anger towards Gongsun Yuan.

He clenched his fists, as if ready to charge into battle at any time and capture Gongsun Yuan to bring him to justice.

Upon hearing this, Cao Yu snorted coldly. There was a hint of disdain and coldness in his voice, but it also revealed his inner helplessness.

Gongsun Yuan is a cunning and resourceful man who commands a large army. He is definitely not an easy person to deal with.

He slowly raised his eyes and scanned everyone present, as if looking for a suitable solution.

At this time, an aide in a scholar's robe stepped forward, bowed, and said in a low and magnetic voice: "Your Majesty, Gongsun Yuan is really difficult to tame. Why don't we find a way to lure him into Zhuo County, and then..."

He had not yet finished speaking, but his meaning was clear. He was obviously proposing to lure Gongsun Yuan to his death in order to eliminate the threat from the Gongsun clan in Youzhou.

Hearing this, Cao Yu frowned even more tightly. He shook his head and said in a low but firm voice: "No, no, no. What if it fails? Although I, Cao Yu, am not a great talent, I also know that if this matter is not handled properly, it may cause greater turmoil."

He waved his hands repeatedly, seemingly unimpressed by his staff's suggestions.

Cao Yu pondered in his heart that in order to balance the power of the aristocratic families, Emperor Cao Rui of Wei had recruited a large number of clan members. Although he was the son of Cao Cao, his talents were average, and now he was pushed to the forefront of this storm.

When he arrived in Zhuo County, he wanted a smooth transition, but unexpectedly he encountered the thorny problem of Gongsun Yuan.

He knew very well that if he could not handle the matter properly, he would have a hard time explaining to His Majesty.

"Just report this matter to Luoyang." Cao Yu pondered for a moment and finally made a decision.

"If it really doesn't work, let General Yan Rou make the decision. He has been guarding Dai County and Shanggu County for many years and is familiar with the situation in Youzhou. Perhaps he can come up with a better solution." Upon hearing this, the staff looked at each other, but could only nod in agreement.

Although Cao Yu's talents are average, he is cautious and steady and will not take risks easily.

Now in Youzhou, Zhuo County is ruled by Cao Yu, Dai County and Shanggu County are guarded by Yan Rou, and the rest of the counties are in the hands of Gongsun Yuan.

As long as Gongsun Yuan did not openly rebel, Cao Yu could turn a blind eye. When his term of office was over and he returned to Luoyang, the affairs here would have nothing to do with him.

However, Cao Yu was not completely worry-free.

Gongsun Yuan's ambition and strength should not be underestimated. If he is allowed to become powerful, it may pose a threat to the rule of Wei.

Therefore, although he decided to report to Luoyang, he was secretly thinking about how to deal with Gongsun Yuan's provocation.

As night falls, the lights in Zhuo County dim.

Cao Yu sat alone in the study, holding a military book in his hands, but he had no intention of reading.

His thoughts drifted far away, as if he was thinking about the future situation and direction. His eyes were sometimes solemn, sometimes confused, revealing the complexity and contradiction in his heart.

Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the study.

A guard hurried in and bowed, "Your Majesty, Gongsun Yuan sent an envoy to request an audience."

Cao Yu raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and thought to himself, "What is Gongsun Yuan's intention in sending an envoy here at this time?"

He pondered for a moment and finally decided to meet the envoy to find out what Gongsun Yuan was up to.

The messenger was brought into the study. He was thin and had a stern face, but his eyes revealed a bit of cunning and shrewdness.

He bowed and said in a deep and powerful voice: "Your Highness, Prince of Yan, my master, Gongsun Yuan, is willing to work with you on important matters, and has sent me here to show his sincerity."

Hearing this, Cao Yu sneered in his heart: "Conspiring for something big? I'm afraid they have other intentions."

His expression remained calm as he asked calmly, "Oh? I wonder what your master meant by the 'big event'?"

The messenger smiled slightly, took out a secret letter from his bosom, and presented it with both hands: "My master's intention is all in this letter, please take a look, Your Highness."

Cao Yu took the secret letter and slowly unfolded it. His eyes swept across the letter paper and his brows gradually frowned.

In the letter, Gongsun Yuan spoke sincerely, saying that he was loyal to the State of Wei and that he had no choice but to accept the matter of the list, and asked him to speak well of him in front of His Majesty.

However, Cao Yu knew very well that Gongsun Yuan was not an easy person to deal with, and his surrender was probably just a temporary expedient.

As for the roster?

Ah!
Burned?
I just don't want to pay.

Cao Yu hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke slowly: "I understand your master's intention. However, Youzhou is the territory of Wei State. How can you take it at will? Go back and tell Gongsun Yuan that as long as he sincerely surrenders, Wei State will treat him well. But if he has second thoughts, I, Cao Yu, will never tolerate it!"

When the messenger heard this, his expression changed slightly, but he didn't dare to say much.

He bowed and hurriedly left.

Cao Yu looked at his back and thought to himself: "Gongsun Yuan, oh Gongsun Yuan, what exactly are you planning? Although I, Cao Yu, am not a man of great talent, I am definitely not someone who can be manipulated by others. If you truly surrender, I will welcome you; but if you have evil intentions, I will never let you succeed!"

And thousands of miles away.

Hedong.

Jie County.

As the dawn breaks, the sky is tinged with a light blue, and a large number of slave soldiers have assembled here.

This army, like a strong wind on the grassland, brought together warriors and sinners from various tribes, most of whom were Xianbei people. The warriors of the Tufa tribe were tall and strong, with traces of wind and frost on their faces. Their eyes showed a desire for the unknown, but also a hint of imperceptible worry.

Following closely behind were the warriors of the Kebinen tribe. They were more agile and had eyes as sharp as eagles, as if they were ready to pounce on their prey at any time.

The Huns, Qiang, Di and Jie people were mixed among them, each with its own tribal characteristics. Some wore animal skins, while others showed their identity with strange tattoos. Although their attire was different, their common feature was that they were one man and several horses. Although they did not have elite armor to protect them, their wildness and unruliness could not be underestimated.

More than 20,000 men and horses formed a black mass, with the sound of horse hooves and whispers interweaving together, forming a force that could not be ignored.

In this tense and expectant atmosphere, military envoy Guan Ping, wearing silver armor, stood on a high platform. The sunlight shone on his armor, reflecting a dazzling light, as if he himself was the sun in the army, leading everyone forward.

Guan Ping's gaze slowly swept across the slave soldiers below the stage. His eyes were both majestic and mixed with a bit of imperceptible compassion.

He knew that among these people there were many poor souls who had lost everything due to tribal feuds and wars, as well as desperate criminals who had been expelled from their tribes for committing crimes. But at this moment, they were all soldiers under his command and important chess pieces for him to realize his great cause.

"I don't care what you were before or what sins you committed."

Guan Ping's voice was steady and powerful, penetrating the morning mist and reaching the hearts of every soldier.

"You are now soldiers of the Nuer Army, soldiers under my command. This time we are deep in the enemy territory, and there are many dangers. If you don't obey my orders, I will kill you without mercy!"

Having said this, he deliberately paused, letting the weight of this sentence weigh heavily on everyone's heart.

Then, his tone softened slightly, but still firm: "At the same time, if you go deep into the enemy territory, all the loot will belong to you. I won't ask for a single cent. If you want to get rich, you must use the sword in your hands; if you want to live, you must obey orders!"

These words instantly ignited the fire in the soldiers' hearts, and their eyes began to flash with greed and desire. It was a yearning for wealth and a persistence in survival.

As soon as Guan Ping finished speaking, the slave soldiers under the high platform seemed to be inspired by some invisible force. They raised their weapons and shouted loudly: "Kill, kill, kill!"

The sound was deafening, echoing in the wilderness outside Jie County, and even the mountains in the distance seemed to be shaking.

Guan Ping looked at this scene, an imperceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. Although these slave soldiers were cannon fodder, they were also an important step for His Majesty to divide the grassland and consolidate the border.

When the tribes on the grassland see that even former sinners or losers can receive such generous rewards under the command of the Han people, will they still willingly obey their chieftains instead of choosing to surrender to the Han people?

Just as Guan Ping was deep in thought, the sound of hurried horse hooves interrupted his thoughts. Deputy General Pei Jun rode over on horseback with a look of anxiety on his face.

"General Guan, the spies reported that the enemy has set up a defense line 20 miles ahead of Wenxi, and it seems that they are prepared."

Guan Ping frowned slightly when he heard this, but he quickly regained his composure.

"That's fine. That's exactly what I want. Pass the order down. All troops should get ready and set out immediately. Remember, our goal is to disrupt the enemy and seize supplies. Don't fight too long."

As Guan Ping's order was issued, the Nuer Army quickly took action. The sounds of horse hooves and armor colliding came one after another, and the entire military camp was instantly filled with the atmosphere of battle.

Guan Ping and Pei Jun stood side by side, looking at the army that was about to embark on the expedition, both of them had determination in their eyes.

During the march, Guan Ping kept observing the surrounding terrain and thinking about tactics in his mind.

This action was not only a test for the Nuer Army, but also a test of his leadership ability.

He must prove that even a ragtag army composed of various tribes can become a force that cannot be ignored under his leadership.

Finally, the enemy's defense line came into view. At Guan Ping's command, the Nuer Army rushed towards the enemy like a tide, and the battle was about to break out.

Amidst the swordplay, Guan Ping led the charge, his silver armor gleaming in the sun, making him the most dazzling presence on the battlefield.

Under his leadership, the slave soldiers were brave and fearless. Every charge was accompanied by earth-shaking shouts, as if they wanted to pour out all the grievances and unwillingness in their hearts.

The battle was extremely fierce, but Guan Ping remained calm throughout. He commanded the troops flexibly, took advantage of the terrain, and continuously divided and surrounded the enemy forces, defeating them one by one.

Every time a soldier fell, there would always be more people rushing forward, their eyes filled with desire for victory.

After a fierce battle, the enemy was finally defeated and the slave soldiers cheered. Not only did they seize a large amount of supplies, but more importantly, they proved their own worth.

Guan Ping's eyes were sharp.

They bypassed Yubi City and attacked Hedong, Taiyuan and Shangdang.

Depend on the enemy for food.

The losses of their group were losses, but as Taiyuan, Hedong and Shangdang were attacked, the logistics of Yubi City were cut off.

If a city cannot be taken by force, there is no need to attack it; let it collapse on its own!

PS: Thanks to the book friend 20200428212934429 for the Qidian Coin reward ~ (End of this chapter)