The Three Kingdoms: The Cold Gate World

Chapter 271
Zhang Yan returned to Chengdu to return to his mission, and Guo Jia held a banquet for him that night to celebrate his success. Although Zhang Yan, as the protagonist, faced congratulations and praise from his civil and military colleagues, the careful Guo Jia could still see that Zhang Yan was forcing a smile.

After the feast ended, Zhang Yan was not drunk but his face was flushed. He smiled at everyone and cupped his hands to relieve his sorrow with wine. Zhen Yan, who was walking out with Zhang Yan, was suddenly pinned down by someone's arm, and he twisted doubtfully. Turning his head, the person holding him back was Guo Jia. Just as Zhen Yan was about to speak out, Guo Jia said first, "Let me give Feiyan a ride."

Guo Jia replaced Zhen Yan to support Zhang Yan. At this time, Zhang Yan was three points sober, and immediately straightened up and let go of Guo Jia's hand, but Guo Jia forcibly pulled her back.

"My lord, this..."

Zhang Yan was a little panicked, he drank too much, his head was a little dizzy, and now he woke up with a start, afraid that he would offend Guo Jia if he made a slip of the tongue or behaved after drinking.

Guo Jia supported him steadily and walked out of the mansion, and said as he walked, "I have a few words to say to Feiyan."

Hearing what Guo Jia said, Zhang Yan stopped talking, and let Guo Jia support him to move forward. After leaving the gate, civil and military officials scattered their things, and the streets became cold in the middle of the night. Guo Jia helped Zhang Yan go. Two streets, not far behind Zhang Ren has been accompanied by guards.

"If you offend the lord by your words and deeds after drinking, please forgive me."

There was no one around, Zhang Yan didn't look at Guo Jia, and seemed very frustrated.

Guo Jia stopped. Zhang Yan's mansion in Chengdu was awarded by Guo Jia after he entered Yizhou. It was not far from here. Guo Jia almost sent Zhang Yan to his door.

But now, Guo Jia held Zhang Yan's arm two points heavier, and asked lightly, "Is Feiyan blaming me?"

When Zhang Yan heard this, he turned his head to look at Guo Jia. He couldn't see Guo Jia's joy or anger, nor could he guess what Guo Jia meant by asking this question, but he was indeed somewhat dissatisfied with Guo Jia in his heart.

He is also a general, he thinks he is no worse than anyone else, other generals can fight on the battlefield, Zhang Yan can do it too, even if he is arrogant, he will die in battle without complaint or regret.

"The end will not dare."

Zhang Yan turned her head away, said these four words in a thick nasal voice, apparently suppressing the excitement in her heart.

Let go of Zhang Yan's arm, Guo Jia put his hand on his shoulder, and said softly: "Feiyan, a good fighter, stand invincible without losing the enemy's defeat. Today, I don't want to Jingzhou, ten Liu Biao together, I am not afraid. I don’t need the Central Plains. Even if Yuan Shao wins the championship, his life will not survive the day when I will be wiped out. Enjoy a lifetime of happiness in Chengdu. However, I can give up Jingzhou, Central Plains, and Guanzhong, but I can never lose Yizhou. No matter where my hometown is, Yizhou is my foundation now. How can you lead the army without any worries? Feiyan, that's all I said, if you still can't figure it out within three days, you can come and tell me. I will order Yan Yan to stay in Yizhou and take you north."

Under the dark moonlight, Guo Jia, who was wearing a dark red brocade robe, quickly disappeared into the night.

On the empty street, Zhang Yan stared at the direction of departure for a long time.

why?
In fairness, Zhang Yan thinks he is not as brave as Xu Chu Dianwei, nor as smart and wise as Zhang Liao, Gan Ning, but at least he is not inferior to generals like Yan Yan, Wu Yi and Meng Da, right?

But why did Guo Jia never take Zhang Yan to expand abroad?

This is Zhang Yan's heart disease. He may think it is the reason of ability, but it is not the reason, it is precisely loyalty.

Yizhou is Guo Jia's stronghold, and troubles can happen anywhere, but Yizhou is not the only place where Zhang Yan stays in Yizhou. If there is a change, his role will be very important.

In other words, if Zhang Yan is unfaithful to Guo Jia, he can cause serious damage to Guo Jia at any time. On the other hand, it just reflects Guo Jia's trust in Zhang Yan.

Yan Yan is from Yizhou, and Wu Yi is Liu Yan's former subordinate. Guo Jia has no doubts about employing generals like this, and will reuse them. He will never be perfunctory. However, Zhang Yan, who followed Guo Jia to Shu, was an important figure Guo Jia entrusted to the rear.

If Zhang Yan can't figure out the key point, Guo Jia will be very disappointed.

Marching and fighting look at the front, but the stability of the rear must be guaranteed as the foundation. Zhang Yan's stay in Yizhou is by no means worthless like having nothing to do.

When Guo Jia's words had come to this point, Zhang Yan's mind suddenly opened.

Trust is never equal, especially when there is a choice, Guo Jia handed over the weakest link of his wealth and life to Zhang Yan. This trust is indescribably deep.

The drunkenness completely disappeared, and under the dark night, Zhang Yan ran all the way, chasing after Guo Jia.

He fully understood Guo Jia's painstaking efforts.

It seems that the question that has been vague for many years has been answered. Why do other generals have so few soldiers, but he always has [-] to [-] soldiers? The time is ripe for Guo Jia to cut his military power. Years later, Zhang Yan's military power could be easily seized, but Guo Jia has never implemented a check and balance strategy against Zhang Yan.

Zhang Baiqi rebelled, if Zhang Yan was also instigated, let alone Chengdu, the whole Yizhou would fall, but Guo Jia always believed in Zhang Yan, and Zhang Yan also repaid Guo Jia with actions.

This is the real value and trust, just like Zhang Liao became the commander-in-chief of the three armed forces at a young age and commanded [-] soldiers and horses to sit in Hanzhong. Guo Jia's trust is expressed through actions, not words.

Zhang Yan's invitation to fight is not only his own wish, the young Deng Zhi is also full of enthusiasm, hoping to follow in Guo Jia's footsteps to conquer the world, but it is a pity that Deng Zhi, who was looking forward to it, did not wait for the good news from Zhang Yan.

Deng Zhi was as lost as Zhang Yan at the beginning, but after Zhang Yan's explanation, Deng Zhi understood the significance of staying in Yizhou with Zhang Yan, and realized that the burden on their shoulders was actually the heaviest. Yizhou is peaceful, and naturally everyone is happy. If there is a change, if Zhang Yan and Deng Zhi cannot deal with it comprehensively, Guo Jia will even be wiped out. This is by no means alarmist.

Facing the upcoming battle between Yuan and Cao, Guo Jia's strategy is to feign a high-profile attack on Jingzhou, and to station troops at Hangu Pass in a low-key manner, waiting for an opportunity.

After Liu Biao learned of the movements of the Yizhou navy, his nerves immediately became tense, and he immediately ordered Cai Mao and Zhang Yun to lead the navy to deploy defenses on the river. Can't escape the fate of being a pawn in this game of chess.

Yuan Shao's soldiers and horses are stationed on the north bank of the Yellow River. Seeing that the army is about to be dispatched, many people are frightened by the overwhelming momentum.

At least [-]% of the officials in the Xuchang court advocated surrender, and there were not a few people who secretly encouraged Yuan Shao and spread unfavorable remarks about Cao Cao in the court, such as Kong Rong.

The gentry who were suppressed by Cao Cao wanted to raise their heads, so they naturally catered to Yuan Shao. As the leader of the Shandong clan, there were very few gentry in the Guandong who did not support him.

The mouth of the people is better than that of Fangchuan. Public opinion cannot be controlled by killing alone. Cao Cao is patient, and the panic inside the court, Cao Cao keeps in mind those who watch the fire from the other side or those who fall into trouble, and turn a blind eye on the surface.

Cao Cao wanted to make these people despair, blood is not enough to imitate others, the only way is to defeat Yuan Shao.

When Yuan Shao stationed troops on the north bank of the Yellow River and could cross the river down the river at any time, Cao Cao made an unexpected decision.

Hit Xuzhou, hit Xuzhou stolen by Liu Bei.

Cao Cao who made this decision was against all opinions, no matter how others persuaded him to concentrate his forces to fight Yuan Shao first, he would fight Xuzhou.

For Liu Bei, Xuzhou gained and lost, and lost and regained. The repeated experience did not make his soldiers so strong. His army is still pitifully small, and many of them were fought with Lu Bu and Yuan Shu before. Yes, and he occupied Xuzhou City just because he took advantage of the unpreparedness of the chariot and succeeded in a sneak attack. He didn't have many soldiers and horses to dispatch.

Cao Cao came with his army, and Liu Bei fled in anticipation. This time, Cao Cao was not polite to him. He used to respect Liu Bei as a hero, but now Cao Cao, who saw through Liu Bei, only regarded him as a treacherous villain.

Even if Cao Cao didn't have the grace of not killing Liu Bei, he could have a clear conscience, but Liu Bei stole Xuzhou after becoming the emperor's uncle, and even opposed Cao Cao under the banner of the Han Dynasty, which made Cao Cao furious.

How could Liu Bei, who had never been to a "military academy", be Cao Cao's opponent?

This time, Liu Bei was even more embarrassed. Not only was his wife separated again, he even lost his two righteous brothers.

Taking hundreds of people who were still following him with all their heart, Liu Bei fled to Hebei to join Yuan Shao's tent.

Liu Bei is a hero, and in Guo Jia's eyes, he is also a spineless hero. He can lick his face and vote for Lu Bu, and he can also live with Yuan Shao when he has nowhere to go.

Did Liu Bei and Yuan Shao have an intersection?
Have!
But it is by no means the matter of the Kwantung Army's attack on Dong Huimeng Suanzao in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

The intersection of Liu Bei and Yuan Shao is due to Gongsun Zan. When Liu Bei was still a guest general under Tian Kai's tent, he had confronted Yuan Shao and was an enemy on the battlefield.

Under such a background, Liu Bei once again turned to his former enemy, so Guo Jia felt that Liu Bei had no backbone, or maybe Guo Jia himself was too superficial, and the realm of the city was not yet to the point where he could bear the burden of humiliation.

When Yuan Shao saw Liu Bei coming to vote, he was in a good mood and showed extraordinary generosity. Not only did he ignore the past, but he put aside the fact that they were enemies, and even went out of the city for two hundred miles to meet him!
There were only a few hundred people around Liu Bei, not even soldiers, but Yuan Shao received him grandly.

It is because of Liu Bei's status.

At this time, the political appeal and status of the down-and-out Liu Bei were unimaginably huge.

He was Uncle Liu Huang, and he was on Yuan Shao's side, and Yuan Shao's declaration of war with Cao Cao was even more justifiable.

Liu Bei, who has lost a lot of battles, is displaced, but there are always people following him who cannot be ignored. This is the popularity of the people, and Yuan Shao naturally wants to use Liu Bei's name to win the hearts of the people.

Yuan Shao couldn't help being overjoyed at Liu Bei's arrival, but Liu Bei's thoughts on Yuan Shao's heart are unknown.

Cao Cao beat Liu Bei, and Yuan Shao had a godsend opportunity to send his army south.

However, when Tian Feng suggested that Yuan Shao send his army across the river to attack Xuchang, Yuan Shao was busy taking care of his sick young son.

Tian Feng's persuasion failed, and in the end he could only lament: "The general trend is over."

(End of this chapter)