Shuhan

Ji County.

The night was as dark as ink, and the snow was falling everywhere, covering the already quiet city with a layer of silver.

The wind was freezing cold and the streets were empty. Even the night watchmen were afraid of the cold and hid in their warm homes. The whole world seemed to be frozen by ice and snow, with only the occasional sound of the wind breaking the silence of the night.

Gongsun Yuan was lying on a luxurious bed at this moment, with several abducted beauties scattered around him. Their clothes were disheveled or their hair was messy, and their faces were full of fatigue and helplessness.

Gongsun Yuan's body emanated a strong smell of alcohol, and he seemed to be extremely drunk, but upon closer inspection, a gleam of light occasionally flashed in his tightly closed eyes, revealing that he was not truly intoxicated.

Beside the bed, the candlelight flickered, illuminating his slightly pale face with a barely perceptible sneer on the corner of his mouth.

Each of these beauties is outstanding in appearance. Some have skin whiter than snow, eyebrows like distant mountains, and eyes full of autumn water; some are plump, with red lips and white teeth, and are full of charm.

They were originally daughters of ordinary people, but were abducted here due to war and became playthings in the hands of Gongsun Yuan.

At this moment, they were either huddled in a corner or barely holding up their bodies, with fear and despair in their eyes.

Although Gongsun Yuan seemed intoxicated, his hands wandered unconsciously over their bodies, as if he was confirming his "trophies".

When it was late at night and all the beauties were asleep, Gongsun Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. They were clear and there was no sign of drunkenness at all.

He stood up gently, his movements as light as a cheetah, and moved silently in the night.

He walked slowly towards the study, every step seemed so calm, as if everything was under control.

In the study, the candlelight was dim. Gongsun Yuan walked to the desk and his eyes fell on the seemingly ordinary pen holder.

He turned it lightly, and the mechanism under the pen holder started quietly. The bookshelves slowly moved to both sides, revealing a secret passage.

This passage leads directly to the military camp outside the palace and was secretly built by Gongsun Yuan to deal with emergencies.

He walked into the secret room, turned around to restore the bookshelf, and then walked along the corridor towards the military camp step by step.

In the passage, there was a dim light every few steps, illuminating the way forward.

Gongsun Yuan walked steadily, without any panic on his face.

In his mind, he was thinking about the overall situation, a battle of life and death.

Soon, Gongsun Yuan arrived at the military camp.

Here, the lights were bright and the soldiers were on full alert, obviously waiting for his arrival.

Several military generals had been waiting for a long time. When they saw Gongsun Yuan, they immediately came forward with respectful expressions.

Although they had doubts in their hearts, they had more trust and respect for Gongsun Yuan.

"My lord, you are here." A general said in a low voice, with some concern in his eyes.

Gongsun Yuan nodded, his expression grim, and asked, "Did Yang Zuo see the Han envoy?"

Gongsun Yuan naturally knew what Yang Zuo had done.

The reason why Yang Zuo was still kept was naturally because Gongsun Yuan wanted to use him to make some things.

The general nodded and replied, "My Lord, I have already met him. Yang Zuo also tried to win us over and promised us a lot of benefits."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Yuan sneered and plotted secretly in his mind.

Yang Zuo's move was just to divide his forces and pave the way for the invasion of the Han Kingdom.

But how could Gongsun Yuan be so easily manipulated by others?

"When will the Han army arrive?" Gongsun Yuan asked again, his eyes as sharp as torches, as if he could see through everything.

The general shook his head, looking embarrassed: "This... Yang Zuo didn't tell us, he just told us to be prepared and on standby at any time."

Gongsun Yuan pondered for a moment and had a plan in mind.

The reason why Yang Zuo did not tell him the specific time of the Han army's action was that he was afraid that he would make preparations in advance and ruin his plan.

But how could Gongsun Yuan just sit there and wait for death?

He had already laid a tight net, waiting for the Han army to fall into it and never return.

"Good job Yang Zuo, he has a good plan." Gongsun Yuan cursed in his heart but his face remained expressionless.

Today, the Han and Wei countries, like two dragons playing with a pearl, are engaged in a fierce competition in the vast Central Plains.

The Han State, relying on its powerful national strength and elite army, was at its peak and unstoppable; while the Wei State, due to years of war and its declining national strength, seemed unable to keep up.

Gongsun Yuan, the lord of Youzhou, has hidden ambitions in his heart.

He was once a local overlord, commanding a large army, owning a city, and enjoying honor above everyone else.

However, the situation was unpredictable and the rise of the Han Dynasty made him feel an unprecedented threat.

He knew very well that once the Han completely defeated the Wei, he would have to surrender, which would undoubtedly be unacceptable to a former lord.

Therefore, a bold plan came to his mind - to find a balance between Han and Wei, to help the weaker one, so as to maintain his independent status.

The general handed over a cup of sobering tea.

Gongsun Yuan gently picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then slowly said, "Have you contacted the envoy from Wei?"

A general immediately stepped forward and whispered, "My lord, the envoy of Cao Zhen is already in the military camp. This matter was done very secretly and no one else knew about it."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Yuan nodded, with a barely perceptible smile on his face.

He put down the teacup, stood up, and looked out the window with a determined gaze, as if he could see through the wind and snow and see the future situation.

"Bring him here." He gave the order briefly and forcefully.

Soon, an envoy dressed in Wei military uniform was brought into the study.

He is tall and strong, with a strong face and a gleam of wisdom in his eyes.

As soon as he saw Gongsun Yuan, he gave a standard military salute and said in a loud voice: "I am the envoy of General Cao Zhen, greeting General Gongsun."

Gongsun Yuan nodded slightly and motioned for the envoy to sit down.

He went straight to the point, his tone revealing an unquestionable firmness: "Now I want to lure the Han army to Ji County, does your general have the courage to play a big game with me?"

The messenger's expression changed slightly when he heard this, but he quickly regained his composure.

He knew very well that Gongsun Yuan's plan was extraordinary, and he also understood that this would be a crucial step in changing the situation.

after all
Being able to pretend to be dissolute and immoral in order to paralyze Yang Zuo must have some plan.

So, he nodded solemnly and said, "General, if you are willing to restore order, then my general is naturally willing to form an alliance with you to jointly deal with the Han Kingdom! However, I wonder what specific plans the general has?"

Gongsun Yuan was secretly satisfied when he saw this.

He walked slowly to the map, his fingers lightly running across the mountains and rivers of Youzhou, as if looking for something.

Suddenly, he stopped, turned to look at the messenger, and slowly told him his plan.

"I want to pretend to be dissolute and indulge in wine and women in order to confuse the Han army.

At the same time, I will deliberately spread the news to make the Han army think that I, Gongsun Yuan, am no longer a threat, so as to lure them to attack Ji County.

As for you, the Wei State, you need to send out troops at this time, and cooperate with me to attack the Han army from both inside and outside. In this way, the Han army will surely be defeated. "

After hearing this, the messenger's eyes flashed with surprise and admiration.

He didn't expect Gongsun Yuan to have such a far-reaching plan.

So he immediately expressed his opinion: "General's plan is really perfect! My general will fully cooperate. Once the news from the Han army arrives, it will be time for you and me to raise troops to deal with it!"

Gongsun Yuan felt relieved when he heard this.

In the following days, Gongsun Yuan began to implement his plan.

He deliberately indulged himself, indulging in wine and sex, and even put several beauties captured from various places on his bed and played with them day and night.

His actions soon spread throughout Youzhou and even reached the ears of the Han Kingdom.

Yang Zuo, a general of the Han State, was delighted to see that Gongsun Yuan was becoming more and more licentious and immoral.

He thought Gongsun Yuan had completely fallen and become a worthless waste.

So he immediately asked the Emperor of Han for permission to lead a large army to attack Ji County and eliminate Gongsun Yuan's forces in one fell swoop.

However, what Yang Zuo didn't know was that all this was Gongsun Yuan's plan.

What he didn't know was that behind Ji County, the Wei army had quietly gathered, waiting for the Han army to arrive, and then they would attack together with Gongsun Yuan's army to annihilate the Han army in one fell swoop.

Another night.

Gongsun Yuan met with his trusted military generals through a secret passage.

"You continue to monitor Yang Zuo's every move. If there is any disturbance, report to me immediately. At the same time, strengthen the security of the military camp and do not let down your guard at all."

The generals took the order and left, but Gongsun Yuan stayed alone in the barracks, looking at the heavy snow falling outside the tent, with an inexplicable sense of pride in his heart.

This battle will be the most important one in Gongsun Yuan's life. If he wins, he will rule the world; if he loses, his head and body will be separated. But when has Gongsun Yuan ever been afraid?

As the night deepened, the lights in the military camp remained bright.

Gongsun Yuan sat at the desk, playing with a jade pendant in his hand, which was the amulet he had worn since he was a child.

His eyes were firm and deep, as if he had already seen the future victory.

In this game of thrones, he, Gongsun Yuan, vowed to be the one who laughs last.

. . .

Yuyang City.

Government office.

Zhao Yun was dressed in brocade clothes, and his expression revealed extraordinary heroism and calmness.

He stood in front of the window, gazing at the mountains looming in the distance, with a deep light flashing in his eyes, as if he could penetrate layers of fog and see through all the vanity in the world.

"General Wen Pin, have you heard about what Gongsun Yuan has done recently?" Zhao Yun's voice was low and powerful, as if every word contained a thousand pounds of weight.

Wen Pin, a burly general with a resolute face, immediately stepped forward upon hearing this, clasped his hands and replied: "Reporting to General Zhao, I have indeed heard that Gongsun Yuan has been dissolute in Youzhou and has lost the support of the people. There are also rumors that Yang Zuo intends to take Ji County and surrender to the Han Dynasty. If this is true, it is a godsend opportunity for our army."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun curled up the corner of his mouth into a barely perceptible smile, a smile that showed both his keen insight into the situation and his deep understanding of human nature.

"General, how true or false do you think this matter is?" There was a hint of testing in his words, and he looked at Wen Pin sharply.

Wen Pin pondered for a moment and said solemnly, "Your Majesty once said that Gongsun Yuan is a great hero of his generation, with deep scheming, and he will never admit defeat easily. I think there must be a trick here, and Gongsun Yuan may be taking this opportunity to set a trap and lure our army deeper."

At this time, Hao Zhao, who was tall and had a resolute face, interrupted and said, "General, why don't you let the people from the Military Affairs Department find out the situation first? After all, seeing is believing, hearing is not."

Zhao Yun smiled gently, and his smile revealed a bit of open-mindedness and confidence.

"Cao Zhen has sent troops to Ji County. The situation is critical. Although we know there may be an ambush, opportunities often coexist with risks. Even if it is an ambush, we cannot easily give up such a good opportunity."

There was an unquestionable determination in his words.

Wen Pin and Hao Zhao looked at each other, both with doubts on their faces, but they did not dare to refute easily.

They knew that Zhao Yun was both wise and brave, and had extraordinary strategies, so they asked in unison: "What does the general mean?"

Zhao Yun covered his beard and laughed heartily. His laughter was so hearty that it seemed to be able to dispel all the haze.

"Although Ji County is a place of controversy, it is not a place to decide victory. If Gongsun Yuan is plotting, we will take advantage of his trick. First, send an army to Ji County and pretend to fall into the trap to confuse the enemy; second, the main force of the army will attack Zhuo County directly, cut off Cao Zhen's retreat, burn his food and supplies, and make him collapse without a fight!"

After hearing Zhao Yun's plan, Wen Pin's brows furrowed involuntarily, as if two deep grooves were carved on his weather-beaten forehead.

He stared at Zhao Yun, his eyes showing both doubt and admiration, and said in a low and powerful voice: "General, this plan may be difficult to implement. If we want to launch a surprise attack on Zhuo County, we need to take a detour to Dai County, which is a long way, hundreds of miles away. It is difficult to move quietly with a large army, and once we are discovered, we will probably be surrounded by the enemy."

Zhao Yun laughed when he heard this. His laughter was hearty and confident.

He patted Wen Pin's shoulder gently, his tone full of firmness and calmness: "General Wen Pin, I have already considered your concerns.

This is indeed a problem, but it is not unsolvable. I intend to send elite cavalry to carry out a surprise attack, with each person equipped with five horses, and there is no need to be stingy with horsepower.

In this way, we can advance rapidly at a speed of 100 miles a day and reach Zhuo County within five days.

Even if the whereabouts were discovered by the Wei State, it didn't matter.

As long as we march fast enough, Cao Zhen won't have time to react. Once we cut off his retreat and burn his food and supplies, everything will be over."

Now that Zhao Yun has obtained the Xianbei people’s war horses, he will never be short of war horses!
As he spoke, Zhao Yun's eyes became sharp and deep, as if he could penetrate time and space and see the battlefield of the future.

Wen Pin looked at Zhao Yun, and the doubts in his heart gradually dissipated, replaced by an inexplicable trust and admiration.

Wen Pin nodded, a hint of relief in his voice: "If that's the case, this plan is indeed feasible. General Zhao, you are indeed both wise and brave, which is admirable. However, the road to this surprise attack is difficult and dangerous. Whether the soldiers can withstand such a high-intensity march still needs to be considered carefully."

Zhao Yun smiled slightly, he knew that Wen Pin's worries were not unnecessary.

"General, rest assured. When I, Zhao Yun, lead troops, I will never let my soldiers blindly die. I have prepared to select the most elite cavalry. They have all undergone rigorous training, are physically strong, and have amazing endurance.

Moreover, I had ordered the Youzhou nobles to use the forts along the way as supply points early on to ensure that the soldiers could get enough rest and supplies.

In addition, I have already sent scouts to explore the way to ensure that our marching route is safe."

After hearing what Zhao Yun said, Wen Pin's worries finally disappeared completely.

"With the general here, I, Wen Pin, feel relieved. I am willing to lead a troop of soldiers and horses as a vanguard to clear the obstacles ahead for the general."

Zhao Yun laughed when he heard this. He patted Wen Pin on the shoulder and said, "General Wen Pin, I, Zhao Yun, will always remember your courage and loyalty. However, this surprise attack is difficult, so I need you to stay in Yuyang and guard the rear to ensure that our foundation is stable. I have already made other arrangements for the vanguard."

As he spoke, Zhao Yun's eyes became profound.

"We must go all out in this surprise attack and not slack off in the slightest. Only in this way can we defeat the powerful enemy and achieve the final victory."

Wen Pin looked at Zhao Yun's determined eyes, and an indescribable sense of pride and ambition surged in his heart.

"General, rest assured. I, Wen Pin, will definitely guard Yuyang well and ensure the safety of the rear."

Zhao Yun nodded, and his eyes were full of trust as he looked at Wen Pin.

With Wen Pin guarding Yuyang, he could go to the front line and fight with peace of mind.

Now the world is a game, but who can be more skilled?
It is still unknown! (End of this chapter)