Shuhan

The news that the Han army was moving southeast from Liaodong did not cause much stir in Youzhou at first.

However, as the war progressed, a series of shocking news of victory quickly spread to every corner of Youzhou like a spring breeze.

The first thing to come was the news that the Han army had defeated the Xianbei army led by Tufa Shoutian.

Tuoba Shoutian, the famous Xianbei Khan on the grassland, once made his enemies tremble in fear with his bravery and fighting skills.

However, when facing the fierce offensive of the Han army, he seemed powerless and ultimately ended up in a miserable defeat.

It is said that the battle was so intense that the sky was dark and the sun and moon lost their rays.

The Han army soldiers were like tigers descending from the mountains, unstoppable.

They were armed with spears, wearing armor, charging into battle and were invincible.

The Xianbei army of Tufa Shoutian was like lambs to be slaughtered. They were defeated by the Han army and fled in all directions.

This victory not only demonstrated the powerful strength of the Han army, but also greatly inspired the morale of the people in Youzhou.

People talked about it and called the Han army "heavenly soldiers and generals", and the heroes who saved them from the water and fire.

What came next was the news that Gongsun Yuan was fleeing in a panic.

This hero who once called the shots in Youzhou is now like a stray dog, fleeing everywhere in an attempt to avoid pursuit by the Han army.

His miserable appearance became a laughing stock among people.

Gongsun Yuan's defeat and escape undoubtedly brought great shock to all parts of Youzhou.

People originally thought that he could compete with the Han army with the troops and territory at his disposal.

However, facts proved that he was no match for the Han army.

His defeat and escape not only meant his personal destruction, but also meant that Youzhou was about to usher in a new era.

As the news spread, the nobles and common people from all over Youzhou began to take action.

Some of them surrendered to the Han Dynasty, while others waited for the right time and prepared to welcome the new ruler.

Gongsun Yuan's sphere of influence is constantly shrinking, and his end is just around the corner.

In this great historical change, everyone is struggling for his or her own future.

Some hope to gain a position under the new ruler, while others hope to keep their family and property.

In any case, they all understand that a new era is about to come, and they will have to face the challenges and opportunities of this era.

On the Han army side, Zhao Yun was not complacent or conceited.

Zhao Yun knew very well that although victory had been achieved, stabilizing the territory and appeasing the people were more arduous tasks.

Therefore, he decided to learn from his previous lesson in Qingzhou of ignoring the interests of local gentry and adopt a conciliatory policy.

Zhao Yun changed into casual clothes, took only a few close followers, and quietly stepped into the heart of Youzhou.

He first came to Yuyang, an important town in Youzhou where the power of the aristocratic families was deeply intertwined.

In Yuyang City, quaint mansions are scattered around. Zhao Yun and his party walked on the stone road, attracting many curious eyes.

They first visited Li Yuan, the patriarch of the Li family, a prominent family in Yuyang.

Li Yuan was nearly sixty years old, with white hair and beard, but his eyes were sharp, revealing a majesty that should not be underestimated.

When he saw Zhao Yun, although he appeared polite on the surface, he could not hide his wariness between his brows.

"General Zhao has honored me with his presence. I am sorry for failing to welcome you in person. I hope you will forgive me." Li Yuan bowed, but there was a hint of alienation in his words.

Zhao Yun smiled and returned the greeting, saying sincerely, "Mr. Li, you are too kind. I am not here to fight, but to seek peace. The Han Kingdom wishes to seek common development with the Youzhou nobles. I hope Mr. Li can lend me a helping hand."

After saying this, Zhao Yun took out a secret letter from his sleeve, which detailed the Han Dynasty's promises to the surrendered gentry, including protecting their land and trade routes, and reserving places for their children in the Han Dynasty's Military Academy to cultivate future talents.

Li Yuan took the letter and read it carefully. His brows gradually relaxed and a hint of surprise and emotion flashed in his eyes.

"Are you serious, General Zhao?" Li Yuan's tone became more serious.

Zhao Yun said solemnly: "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. The Han Kingdom must honor its promise."

Li Yuan was silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "Okay, Li is willing to serve the Han Kingdom, and I hope General Zhao can keep his promise and keep Yuyang peaceful."

With Li Yuan's surrender, other gentry in Yuyang City also responded. Zhao Yun then visited Youbeiping, Liaoxi and other counties one after another. Wherever he went, he personally met with the leaders of the gentry, treated them with sincerity, promised them great benefits, and at the same time emphasized the Han Kingdom's determination to maintain local stability.

Thanks to his efforts, these areas gradually stabilized, respected the Han Dynasty as the orthodox, and the people began to have hope for the new rulers.

Hundreds of miles away.

Zhuojun.

On a cold winter day, the sky seemed to be weighed down by thick leaden clouds, and snowflakes fluttered like countless tiny ice blades, ruthlessly cutting the air and every inch of exposed skin on the earth.

Outside the city of Zhuo County in Zhuo County, everything was covered in silver. In the biting cold wind, the Wei army, which had been recruited from Qingzhou, Jizhou and even farther places, was slowly gathering here in the snow.

Their figures were looming in the snow, like giant black dragons, winding and twisting, gradually converging into a force that could not be underestimated.

Large tents were built one after another, stretching for more than ten miles, like small cities standing in this land of ice and snow.

The tents were tightly connected with thick ropes and wooden stakes, forming an indestructible line of defense.

Inside the tent, the fire was blazing, creating an inviting warmth that contrasted sharply with the severe cold outside.

The soldiers sat around the fire, some sharpening their weapons, others talking in low voices, and occasionally a few hearty laughs broke the silence of the winter.

Various supplies and grain were piled up like mountains. The tall grain stacks looked like small hills, covered with thick snow, with only a few scattered yellow spots, which was the color of the straw mats.

The horses were moaning, the vehicles were creaking, and transport teams were coming in an endless stream, delivering batches of food, weapons, medicines and other war necessities here.

The sounds of Wei army soldiers training were endless. They were either swinging swords to chop, or raising shields to block, or aiming arrows. Every movement revealed their rigor and concentration.

The earth-shaking shouts and cries seemed to be able to penetrate the cold wind and reach the sky.

In a spacious mansion in Zhuo County, Cao Zhen sat on the main seat, wearing heavy armor, a fox fur coat on his shoulders, his face serious and steady.

His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and he glanced at the people below from time to time. He had the temperament of a veteran who was intimidating without even getting angry.

In front of him, a logistics officer stood trembling with his hands clenched, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead, obviously in awe of the majesty of the general.

"Have all the rewards been issued?" Cao Zhen's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, revealing unquestionable majesty.

The grain officer quickly replied: "The rewards have been distributed, and every soldier has received his fair share. General, please rest assured."

Cao Zhen nodded, a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, but then he returned to his previous seriousness.

"Are there enough food and fodder for follow-up, and are all the cotton-padded clothes ready?" There was a barely perceptible worry in his tone. After all, in this cold winter, it would be a pipe dream to win the battle without enough supplies.

The grain officer immediately said: "The follow-up grain and grass are being replenished continuously, and now there is enough for one month's expenses. The cotton clothes have all arrived, and the soldiers can get enough warmth."

Hearing these words, Cao Zhen's brows relaxed slightly and he finally felt relieved.

War is not only a contest of military strength, but also a competition of logistics and preparation.

As long as there are sufficient supplies and the soldiers can eat and dress warmly and maintain their combat effectiveness, the balance of victory will tilt towards them.

At this moment, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, and then a personal guard rushed in, with snowflakes on his body falling off with his movements.

He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands together, and said to Cao Zhen nervously, "General, urgent news from Youzhou!"

Cao Zhen's eyes froze instantly. He reached out to take the secret letter handed to him by his personal guard, opened it, and his brows were furrowed, and his face became increasingly gloomy.

The letter stated that the Han army on the border of Youzhou had defeated the Xianbei and Gongsun Yuan and had taken the initiative in Youzhou. Gongsun Yuan in Ji County was on the verge of collapse, and now was a critical moment in the fight for Youzhou.

"Hmph, these barbarians dare to provoke us at this time!" Cao Zhen was furious, but he remained calm on the surface.

He looked up at the generals present and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, Youzhou is in danger. As the Wei army, we should step forward to defend our country. Gather the troops immediately, and tomorrow morning, we will set out to capture Youzhou!"

Upon hearing this, the generals stood up and responded in unison: "As you command, General!"

Cao Zhen nodded and swept his eyes over the crowd again, which was a silent encouragement and trust.

This battle is not only for Youzhou, but also for the dignity and glory of Wei State.

And it concerns the general situation of the world.

He stood up, strode out of the mansion, looked at the snow outside, and felt a surge of ambition in his heart.

In the city of Ji County, Guangyang County, the cold wind blew through the hall, carrying with it an unspoken aura of solemnity and murder.

Inside the government office, the candlelight flickered, illuminating Gongsun Yuan's livid face, his eyes filled with resentment and anger. Since the defeat in Ji County, bad news had been coming like a cold winter wind, one wave after another, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

Gongsun Yuan clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from excessive anger.

He recalled the scenes during the retreat, where the army struggled forward in the wind and snow, and the soldiers' faces were filled with fatigue and despair.

There were many deserters along the way, and many soldiers fled at night, so that the originally mighty army was less than half of its size when it returned to Ji County.

What made him even more heartbroken was that the soldiers' eyes no longer had the fighting spirit they once had, and were replaced by dead silence and confusion.

The situation in the counties and prefectures of Youzhou made him even more disheartened.

The officials he carefully appointed, who should have been his representatives in the local area, were now killed one by one by the local gentry and people, as if they were mocking his incompetence.

These places all surrendered to the Han Dynasty, causing his sphere of influence to shrink rapidly.

And Dai County, the place he had conquered at the cost of countless manpower and resources, actually rebelled!

When Gongsun Yuan thought of this, he felt a surge of blood in his chest, almost bursting out.

He looked at Yang Zuo who was standing beside him and asked in a low voice, "Are there enough food and grass in the city?"

When Yang Zuo heard this, he was startled. He understood that Gongsun Yuan was preparing to defend the city.

He hesitated for a moment and replied, "One year is enough."

Gongsun Yuan nodded, a look of determination flashed in his eyes, and then said: "Speed ​​up the construction of city defense equipment, I am afraid that the Han army will arrive soon."

Upon hearing this, Yang Zuo frowned and looked at Gongsun Yuan worriedly.

The situation now has become extremely critical.

There was turmoil in Youzhou, and the army was caught between Han and Wei. If they were not careful, they would be doomed.

He hesitated for a moment, but could not help but say: "My lord, Youzhou is in turmoil now, and our army is being attacked by Han and Wei. The situation is very critical. Either surrender to Han or surrender to Wei, to keep a chance of survival. If you do not surrender to either, you must abandon Ji County and leave, to have a chance of survival!"

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Yuan snorted coldly, with a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.

He looked at Yang Zuo and said in a cold voice: "No need to say more! Ji County has high walls and thick walls. I will defend the city and watch the two countries of Han and Wei fight each other. Who owns Youzhou is still unknown!"

His voice echoed in the government office with an unquestionable firmness.

Yang Zuo looked at Gongsun Yuan's resolute expression and felt helpless.

He knew that Gongsun Yuan was an extremely conceited person and would never bow to others easily.

However, the current situation does not allow them to hesitate any longer.

He opened his mouth, wanting to give more advice, but ultimately swallowed his words back.

He understood that Gongsun Yuan had already made his decision and it was useless for him to persuade him.

Gongsun Yuan looked at Yang Zuo's helpless expression, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.

He knew that the current situation was critical, but he was unwilling to give up.

He spent so much money to build this empire, but now he has to give it up to others. He is really unwilling to accept this!
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions.

Then, he looked at Yang Zuo and said firmly, "Yang Zuo, go and arrange for the defense of the city immediately. No matter what, we must hold on to Ji County and wait for the opportunity."

Upon hearing this, Yang Zuo had no choice but to nod and turn away.

Gongsun Yuan looked at Yang Zuo's departing back and felt an inexplicable sense of loneliness in his heart.

He chose this path himself, and he will have to bear the consequences no matter what they are.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly opened them.

A determined light flashed in his eyes again.

In the following days, Gongsun Yuan and Yang Zuo worked closely together to speed up the production of city defense equipment and strengthen the city's defenses in preparation for the upcoming Han army.

This is a tough battle, but they also believe that as long as they unite as one and hold on to Ji County, they will be able to wait for a turning point.

However, as time went on, the food and grass in the city gradually depleted, and more and more bad news came. Not only did the Han army send troops, but the Wei army also sent troops.

The morale of the soldiers was also getting lower and lower.

Gongsun Yuan looked at all this and felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart.

The successive bad news made Gongsun Yuan nervous.

Gongsun Yuan's mood was as if shrouded by dark clouds, and the pressure was as heavy as a mountain.

After such a defeat, his inner resentment and unwillingness spread like wildfire, difficult to quell.

In order to relieve his depression, he made a jaw-dropping decision - to search for women in Ji County and bring them into his mansion for his day and night enjoyment.

is the day.

Inside Gongsun Yuan's mansion, the lights were on brightly, the sounds of stringed instruments were incessant, and the lascivious music floating in the night sky seemed particularly harsh.

Inside the mansion, Gongsun Yuan sat beside a gorgeous desk, wearing a brocade robe and a jade crown on his head, but his face looked a little distorted.

His eyes were full of desire and madness, as if he wanted to swallow up the whole world.

Beside him, groups of gorgeously dressed women were sitting or standing, their faces showing expressions of fear, helplessness, or numbness.

These women were recruited from all over Ji County. They were forced to leave their families and imprisoned in this magnificent cage, becoming tools for Gongsun Yuan to vent his lust.

Among them, some have beautiful faces, skin as white as cream, eyebrows like distant mountains, and eyes full of autumn water; some have graceful figures and walk lightly, like catkins in the wind.

However, no matter how beautiful they are, they cannot hide the fear and despair in their hearts.

Gongsun Yuan's eyes wandered over these women, as if he was picking out precious toys one by one.

He stretched out his hand and gently stroked a woman's cheek. The woman trembled all over but did not dare to avoid him.

Gongsun Yuan raised his lips to an evil smile. He pulled the woman into his arms and began to play with her wantonly.

The attendants and musicians around seemed not to notice what was happening. They continued to play music and dance, adding a weird atmosphere to this absurd banquet.

At the same time, the atmosphere in Yang Zuo's mansion was particularly solemn.

As Gongsun Yuan's brother-in-law, Yang Zuo should have stood in solidarity with Gongsun Yuan, but at this moment, he felt unprecedented fear and anxiety.

He looked at the dark night sky outside the window, feeling mixed emotions.

Gongsun Yuan is so dissolute that he will sooner or later bring about a catastrophic disaster.

And as Gongsun Yuan's confidant, he probably couldn't escape.

Yang Zuo paced back and forth in the room, his brows furrowed and his face haggard.

He didn't want to die with Gongsun Yuan. He longed to live and enjoy the beauty of the world.

However, he was involuntarily drawn into this vortex and couldn't extricate himself.

Finally, Yang Zuo made up his mind.

He summoned his personal guards and whispered, "Go find the people from the military headquarters in the city. I want to talk to the Han army."

Upon hearing this, the guard was stunned for a moment, then took the order and left.

They knew that Yang Zuo's move was undoubtedly a betrayal of Gongsun Yuan, but they also understood that the world situation was now leaning towards the Han Kingdom, and if they followed Gongsun Yuan, they would probably have no way to survive.

Yang Zuo sat beside the desk, his hands clenched into fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms.

There was determination and firmness in his eyes, as if he had already prepared for the worst.

Once this step is taken, there is no turning back.

But he also knew that this was his only chance to survive.

The guard came back soon, bringing with him a man dressed in black with a stern face.

The man was a spy for the Han army, responsible for gathering intelligence and instigating rebellion within the enemy country.

He looked at Yang Zuo with a hint of surprise in his eyes. He obviously did not expect Yang Zuo to come to him on his own initiative.

The ownership of Ji County seems to have been determined. (End of this chapter)