Shuhan

Ji County.

On the city wall, a few tattered flags swayed gently in the breeze, as if telling the vicissitudes that this city has experienced.

The envoy from Wei State, dressed in luxurious brocade robes and riding on tall horses, slowly passed through the city and headed straight for Gongsun Yuan's mansion.

Gongsun Yuan was sitting in the study at this moment with a serious look on his face.

Although the furnishings in the study are not luxurious, they reveal a calm atmosphere. The landscape paintings hanging on the wall add a touch of elegance.

When the footsteps of the Wei envoy sounded outside the door, Gongsun Yuan raised his eyes slightly and a barely perceptible sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The envoy entered the study and presented Wei Ting's imperial edict with both hands, his attitude respectful yet dignified.

Gongsun Yuan took the imperial edict, gently stroked the golden silk with his fingers, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

He slowly unfolded the imperial edict and read every word on it carefully, with a faint smile on his lips all the time.

However, when the messenger turned and left and the door closed gently, Gongsun Yuan's face suddenly became gloomy, as if the sky was covered with dark clouds and a violent storm would erupt at any time.

He waved his hand violently and threw the imperial edict casually on the ground. The golden silk drew a graceful arc in the air and finally fell weakly on the cold ground.

Gongsun Yuan's eyes were wide open, as if he wanted to pour out all the anger in his heart.

He shouted to the servants standing by his side: "Call Yang Zuo and order him to come here immediately!"

The servant did not dare to delay and left in a hurry.

Soon, Yang Zuo, a burly man dressed in military uniform, walked slowly in.

He bowed to Gongsun Yuan and said in a steady and powerful voice: "I wonder what is the matter that the lord has summoned you so urgently?"

Gongsun Yuan did not answer immediately, but signaled Yang Zuo with his eyes to look at the imperial edict on the ground.

Yang Zuo's heart trembled. He bent down to pick up the imperial edict and looked at it carefully in his hand.

After just one look, his brows furrowed tightly, as if he had encountered some difficult problem.

"My lord, this..." Yang Zuo hesitated to speak. He was well aware of the importance of this imperial edict, and he also understood the crisis contained in it.

Gongsun Yuan snorted coldly, his voice revealing endless anger and helplessness: "Wei State asked us to send 20,000 troops to assist them in attacking Qingzhou. But you and I both know that the soldiers under my command, including the newly recruited ones, only have about 20,000 people in total. These are my direct subordinates. If we send them all out, can't Wei State directly come to recapture Youzhou?"

When Yang Zuo heard this, he felt bitter.

He was well aware of Gongsun Yuan's difficulties, and he knew that this matter would directly affect the future of Youzhou.

He lowered his head and was silent for a while, then looked up at Gongsun Yuan and said in a low voice: "My lord, if we disobey orders, the consequences will be disastrous. I heard that Wei has made considerable progress in Qingzhou, and Gongsun Gong is already in the Wei camp. If we resist, Wei will do its best to suppress us. We are not strong in Youzhou, and I am afraid it will be difficult to resist the cavalry of Wei."

When Gongsun Yuan heard this, a fierce light flashed in his eyes.

He stood up, walked to the window, looked at the gradually darkening sky outside, and an indescribable grief and anger surged in his heart.

As the lord of Youzhou, only he himself knows how heavy the burden on his shoulders is.

Han and Wei
You really have to survive in the cracks.

However, facing the strong pressure from Wei State, what should he choose?

"Are we just going to let others manipulate us and watch Youzhou fall into the hands of Wei?"

When Yang Zuo heard this, his heart was also excited.

He was silent for a while, then slowly said: "My Lord, perhaps we can find other ways out. For example, we can unite with the Han Kingdom and jointly resist the Wei Kingdom. Or, we can just capture 20,000 able-bodied men and send them to Taiyuan."

Yang follows yin against yin.

Doesn't that count as disobeying orders?
Gongsun Yuan's eyes flickered in the dim candlelight, like the brightest stars in the night sky, yet hiding an elusive depth.

He spoke slowly, his voice deep and powerful: "The Han army commander must have known about this news a long time ago. They have eyes and ears all over the world, so what can escape their eyes?"

After saying that, he gently stroked the map on the table, his fingertips sliding across the borders of Wei, Han, and Youzhou. There was both determination and helplessness in his eyes.

Yang Zuo stood aside with a sad face and a furrowed brow, like a mountain about to collapse.

"My Lord, what you said is very true, but what will be Han's attitude towards this matter? In the past, when we were on good terms with Wei, we turned a deaf ear to Han's overtures and even broke the alliance to show our loyalty. Now, Wei wants to cut off our support, how should we deal with it?"

There was a hint of unwillingness and anxiety in Yang Zuo's tone, his hands were clenched into fists, and veins were visible.

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Yuan curled up the corner of his mouth in a sneer, which contained both self-confidence and a deep insight into the fickleness of the world.

"The world is bustling, all for profit. In the past, I betrayed the Han Kingdom because the Han Kingdom could not provide the benefits that the Wei Kingdom could. Now, I am stirring up trouble in Youzhou, in fact, I am also helping the Han Kingdom to contain the Wei Kingdom. How can they not understand the interests involved?"

There was unquestionable firmness in his words and a cunning gleam in his eyes, as if he had already seen the future direction of the situation.

Hearing this, Yang Zuo's brows gradually relaxed and he nodded thoughtfully.

He stared at Gongsun Yuan, secretly admiring his lord's foresight.

"My Lord, your words are absolutely correct. This analysis does make sense. So what should we do next?"

There was a hint of urgency in Yang Zuo's tone, as if he couldn't wait to verify Gongsun Yuan's strategy.

Gongsun Yuan stood up, walked to the window, looked at the dark night sky outside, but his heart was bright.

"The Wei army wants to recruit our troops to support Taiyuan. This is our chance. We obey on the surface, but we are secretly plotting. Dai County is the throat of the Wei army's northward advance. If we can sneak attack and break through, Youzhou will be in our hands. By then, both Wei and Han will have to look at me with new eyes."

And now, even if we have the opportunity to go to Taiyuan for support, how can we not pass through Dai County?
That old villain Yan Rou will definitely not be too cautious.

And if the Han Kingdom could be persuaded to let the Xianbei move south, Yan Rou would not be a problem.

Upon hearing this, Yang Zuo's eyes flashed with surprise, and he quickly complimented, "My lord is wise, this plan is great! It can not only avoid direct conflict with the State of Wei, but also take the opportunity to strengthen itself. It is really a strategy that kills two birds with one stone."

Gongsun Yuan turned around, staring at Yang Zuo with a sharp gaze. "We must be cautious in this matter, and not let any leaks happen. You must immediately gather your trusted generals and discuss this matter. Remember, our goal is Dai County. Only by taking Dai County can we truly gain a firm foothold and deal with Wei and Han."

Yang Zuo took the order and left, while Gongsun Yuan stayed alone in the study, staring at the map on the wall, silently calculating every detail in his mind.

The chances of winning this gamble are not great, but only in this way can he gain a place in this chaotic world.

His fingers gently slid across the map, as if he was touching the future destiny.

The next day, Gongsun Yuan summoned all his trusted generals to a secret room to discuss the plan to attack Dai County.

The candlelight flickered in the room, and everyone's face was filled with seriousness and determination.

Gongsun Yuan stood in the center, his eyes as sharp as lightning, scanning everyone.

"Today's matter concerns the survival of Liaodong. The Wei army wants to recruit our troops, but in fact they want to weaken our strength. If we sit and wait for death, we will be destroyed by the Wei army. Only by taking the initiative can we turn the tide."

Upon hearing this, the generals expressed their willingness to follow Gongsun Yuan to the death and jointly attack Dai County. Seeing this, Gongsun Yuan felt a little relieved.

In the following days, Gongsun Yuan, Yang Zuo and others were busy preparing for the attack on Dai County. They secretly mobilized troops, strengthened training, and sent scouts to spy on the movements of the Wei army.

Gongsun Yuan secretly sent envoys to the grassland.

Half a month later. Grassland.

The Xianbei king's tent.

Inside the tent, the flickering flame of the sheep oil lamp illuminated everyone's face, adding a bit of warmth to the cold night.

Gongsun Yuan's envoy, dressed in luxurious brocade robes and wearing a jade crown, walked slowly into the tent with a look of arrogance and expectation on his face.

He held a letter of alliance in his hand, which was wrapped in exquisite silk and looked solemn and mysterious.

The envoy stopped and looked around at everyone present. Finally, he fixed his sight on Tufa Shoutian and Jiang Wei. He slowly unfolded the alliance letter and said in an unquestionable tone: "Han is about to attack Bingzhou. My lord Gongsun Yuan is willing to help. All we need to do is send troops from the grassland to harass Dai County. After my lord seizes Dai County, we will immediately send troops south to harass Wei's Jizhou and work together for the great cause. What do you two think?"

When Tufa Shoutian heard this, a barely perceptible doubt flashed across his brows. He glanced at Jiang Wei beside him, with a look that contained both inquiry and expectation.

Jiang Wei's eyes were deep, as if he could see into people's hearts.

He walked forward slowly, his hands behind his back, his tone calm but with a force that should not be underestimated: "Gongsun Yuan is known for his cunning and fickleness. How can I easily believe his promise?"

The envoy seemed to have expected this question. He smiled faintly and replied calmly, "My master is willing to send a hostage to Chang'an as a pledge to show his sincerity."

After saying this, he paused deliberately, as if waiting for the other party's reaction.

Jiang Wei shook his head slightly, with a sneer on his face, obviously not satisfied with this condition: "Although a hostage is good, if there is no substantial exchange of interests, how can a hostage alone bind Gongsun Yuan's wolf-like mind?"

The envoy's eyes changed slightly when he saw this, but he immediately regained his composure and continued to add: "Not only that, once Dai County is captured, my lord will immediately send troops to help the Han Dynasty capture Bingzhou!"

His eyes were burning, full of temptation and determination, as if this was the last bottom line Gongsun Yuan could give.

The atmosphere in the tent suddenly became solemn, and everyone held their breath, waiting for Jiang Wei's response.

Jiang Wei's eyes flickered under the light, as if he was weighing the weight of every word.

Opportunities often coexist with risks. If we can seize this opportunity, we may be able to open up a new path for Your Majesty to restore the Han Dynasty.

Finally, Jiang Wei laughed loudly. His voice was bright and firm, breaking the silence in the tent. "Your Majesty, you might as well agree to his request. Although Gongsun Yuan is cunning, he will weigh the pros and cons when it comes to interests. We just need to be fully prepared, and we can gain the upper hand in this game."

Upon hearing this, Tufa Shoutian nodded.

He turned to Gongsun Yuan's envoy and said in a steady and powerful voice: "We have agreed on a date. In half a month, my 50,000 Xianbei soldiers will march south to Dai County to discuss great matters with Gongsun Yuan!"

The messenger smiled with satisfaction upon hearing this, bowed and said, "In that case, I will go back and report to my master, and wait for good news."

. . .

the other side.

In Qingzhou, the sky is filled with flames of war and the drums of war never stop beating.

Cao Zhen, wearing heavy armor and holding a long sword, stood on a high slope, staring with sharp eyes at the breached city of Ju County below.

The city was filled with smoke, and among the broken walls, the flags of the Wei army were flying high, announcing their victory.

However, behind this victory are the blood and lives of countless soldiers. Although there were heavy casualties, the balance of victory finally slowly tilted towards him.

Time is like the sand in an hourglass, flowing silently but steadily.

The war in the south never became serious, and Xuzhou finally had enough energy to support Qingzhou.

Reinforcements from Langya County, Taishan County, and Donghai County poured in like a tide, and with the help of Youzhou's elite troops, the strength of Cao Zhen's troops expanded rapidly and reached nearly 100,000.

If we add the civilian laborers who followed the army, the total number would reach as high as 200,000.

Such a huge force was like an insurmountable mountain, suffocating the enemy.

Relying on his tiny territory, Hao Zhao managed to delay Cao Zhen's army for a long time.

At this point, he had no other choice.

now.

He stood on the city wall, ragged and haggard, but the indomitable light in his eyes had never been extinguished.

He knew that he could not resist the overwhelming enemy forces on his own, but he was also aware that as a general, it was his unshirkable responsibility to guard the city and protect the people.

"General Hao, how long can we hold on?" A soldier's voice sounded in Hao Zhao's ears, with some trembling and uneasiness.

Hao Zhao turned around, looked at the soldier with a determined gaze, and said softly: "As long as you have a breath left, you must defend to the end."

However, the general trend cannot be reversed by human power.

The nobles who had originally submitted to the Han Dynasty, seeing that the situation was becoming increasingly critical, chose to turn against the Han Dynasty in order to protect themselves.

This unexpected change undoubtedly made Hao Zhao's situation worse.

He stood on the top of the city wall, looking at the figures in the distance who had once fought side by side but were now going in opposite directions, and an indescribable sadness and anger surged in his heart.

Zhao Yun, Wen Pin and other generals saw that the situation was not good. Although they were unwilling, they had no choice but to accept the reality.

They gathered around Hao Zhao, looking solemn, discussing their next plan. "General Hao, we can't go on like this. We must retreat and conserve our strength until the opportunity arises."

Zhao Yun's voice was steady and powerful, and his eyes revealed an unquestionable firmness.

Hao Zhao was silent for a moment and finally nodded.

This is the only option at this time.

So they began to prepare for evacuation overnight, retreating hundreds of miles and boarding a ship at the port.

As night falls and the sea breeze howls, warships quietly leave the Qingzhou coast and head towards the depths of the vast ocean.

Zhao Yun, Hao Zhao, Wen Pin and others stood at the bow, looking at Qingzhou which was gradually going away, their hearts filled with complicated emotions.

There were tens of thousands of people coming and tens of thousands of people leaving.

It seems that the number of people has not decreased.

But among the tens of thousands of people who left, half were from Beihai and Donglai, which means that half of the Han army was buried in Qingzhou.

But they are still useful.

At least it exhausted the State of Wei and attracted a large number of Wei troops, preventing them from going to the frontal battlefield.

Now, although they are sailing on the sea, they only choose to rest temporarily on the island. Once the Wei army retreats, they will definitely go ashore again. Cao Zhen’s 100,000 troops must not think of going anywhere else.

They are just dog-skin plasters that will stick to Cao Zhen until he has nowhere to go!

. . .

PS: Thanks to Wen Yue, the seventh ship of the Mutsuki-class destroyer, for the Qidian coins reward. (End of this chapter)