Mid-August, Yan Province.
Outside Wuyan City in the Kingdom of Dongping.
Zhang Jing was inspecting the Southern Camp with Guo Jia and the others, while Yu Du accompanied them.
“Word has come back from Yuan Shu.”
Zhang Jing said as they walked.
“He’s preparing to launch a campaign against the Kingdom of Chen. What do you all think the Taiping Prefecture should do in this campaign?”
“I believe the Kingdom of Chen must fall.”
Xi Zhicai spoke first.
“From the Taiping Prefecture’s perspective, the stronger Yuan Shu becomes and the more territory he acquires, the more beneficial it is for us.”
“If he becomes bogged down in a prolonged campaign against Chen it will only work against the Taiping Prefecture.”
Everyone present knew the grand strategy.
Accordingly, all of their considerations were based upon it.
And Yuan Shu himself was precisely one of the key pieces in that larger strategy.
“Zhicai makes a good point.”
Guo Jia said with a smile.
“However, Liu Chong commands more than one hundred thousand elite troops, possesses several thousand powerful crossbows, and enjoys the wholehearted support of the people of Chen.”
“Even for the Taiping Prefecture defeating him would be no easy task.”
“Therefore, I believe trying to seize Chen through a direct military confrontation is not advisable.”
“Instead, we should break it from within.”
Committing a large army to a head-on battle with Liu Chong did not serve the Taiping Prefecture’s interests.
After all, any territory gained would belong to Yuan Shu.
“Break it from within, hm?”
Zhang Jing gave Guo Jia an amused look before smiling.
“I’ll suggest it to Yuan Shu.”
“I doubt he’ll refuse.”
“The Kingdom of Chen is a juicy prize.”
“Even I’m sorely tempted by it.”
Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Liu Chong had steadfastly protected Chen.
For more than ten years, the kingdom had remained stable— an exceedingly rare feat in these turbulent times.
It was precisely because of that stability that Liu Chong had attracted countless refugees and built an army of over one hundred thousand men.
Unfortunately all Zhang Jing could do was covet it.
For now, he could only suppress his desires and see whether he could claim a share of the spoils.
“Haha!”
Guo Jia burst into laughter.
“My lord can simply consider it a temporary loan to Yuan Shu.”
“Well said, Fengxiao.”
Zhang Jing chuckled before adding, “That said, there’s something I’ve been wondering.”
“It’s been quite some time now.”
“Why hasn’t the imperial envoy from the court arrived yet?”
He had already ordered his men to sharpen their blades in anticipation.
Yet nearly half a month had passed and there was still no sign of the envoy.
In this era, information did not travel instantly.
By the time Cheng Yu had received the news, the court in Chang’an had already released the proclamation at least seven or eight days earlier.
In other words, if the envoy had departed immediately nearly twenty days had already elapsed.
Even with the two places separated by a thousand li, the envoy should have arrived by now.
After all, an imperial mission consisted of only a small party and could travel relatively quickly.
“My lord…”
Guo Jia said with a peculiar expression.
“Have you considered another possibility?”
“That Yang Biao never intended to come and proclaim the imperial decree in the first place?”
“That can’t be true, can it?”
Xi Zhicai froze in surprise.
Even he found it difficult to believe.
“If that’s really the case then that’s just plain disrespectful.”
Zhang Jing’s face darkened.
His tone was filled with gritted-teeth indignation.
He had been fully prepared to kill the imperial envoy.
Yet despite being officially appointed to the position no one had even bothered to come deliver the decree.
That was simply shameless.
It left him with the strange feeling that someone had gotten what they wanted from him without paying anything in return.
“Pfft—!”
Guo Jia had just taken a mouthful of water.
The moment he heard that, he completely lost his composure and sprayed the water all over Xi Zhicai’s face.
“…?!”
Xi Zhicai, who had also been on the verge of laughing, shot Guo Jia a fierce glare before snatching the waterskin out of his hands.
………….
Two days later.
Yu Province.
After receiving Zhang Jing’s letter…
Yuan Shu pondered it for several hours.
In the end, he actually came up with a plan.
He immediately summoned Yan Xiang.
“Yan Xiang.”
With his back turned, Yuan Shu said calmly, “After days of careful deliberation…”
“I’ve concluded that the Kingdom of Chen must be taken through strategy rather than brute force.”
“Your Lordship is most wise.”
Yan Xiang was inwardly astonished and respectfully bowed.
“I have a plan that will secure the Kingdom of Chen!”
Turning around, Yuan Shu looked at Yan Xiang, his face brimming with confidence as though victory were already in his grasp.
“Your Lordship has a plan as well?”
Yan Xiang swallowed nervously.
His composure was beginning to crumble.
Every strategy his lord had ever devised had somehow managed to produce the exact opposite of its intended effect.
“Of course!”
Yuan Shu declared with complete seriousness.
“This strategy is called ‘Borrowing a Road to Conquer Guo.'”
“Once my worthy younger brother stations his troops along the borders of Liang Kingdom…”
“I’ll dispatch Li Feng with five thousand soldiers to reinforce him.”
“When they pass through Chen County they’ll catch Liu Chong and Luo Jun off guard and kill them both on the spot.”
“Once Chen is left leaderless it will fall into our hands in no time.”
“My lord!?”
Yan Xiang’s face filled with helpless despair.
“How is this Borrowing a Road to Conquer Guo?”
“This is nothing more than an underhanded assassination plot!”
He truly had to hand it to his lord.
He never should have placed any hope in Yuan Shu’s “strategies.”
“I don’t care!”
Yuan Shu replied stubbornly.
“This strategy is Borrowing a Road to Conquer Guo!”
“A few days ago, Liu Chong drove away the envoy I sent to collect grain.”
“His rebellious intentions are obvious for all to see.”
“Why should we spare such a traitor?”
“Yan Xiang, You tell me.”
“Can this plan kill Liu Chong?”
“And can it recover the Kingdom of Chen?”
“……”
Yan Xiang opened his mouth to argue.
But then he suddenly realized he couldn’t.
Because if they truly carried out the plan, with one side prepared and the other completely unsuspecting— Liu Chong and Luo Jun would almost certainly be killed.
After all, the two sides had not yet openly fallen out.
“Enough!”
Seeing Yan Xiang at a loss for words, Yuan Shu felt immensely pleased.
With a wave of his hand, he declared, “I’ve already come up with the strategy.”
“Now it’s your job to refine it.”
“When the time comes, we’ll carry it out accordingly.”
“My lord, please reconsider!”
Still unwilling to give up, Yan Xiang bowed and pleaded, “Such a vicious scheme is beneath a true hegemon.”
“I’m afraid it will only tarnish Your Lordship’s honor.”
“What utter nonsense!”
Yuan Shu barked.
“Since when did ‘Borrowing a Road to Conquer Guo’ become a vicious scheme?”
“Liu Chong refuses to acknowledge my authority.”
“Am I not allowed to deal with him?”
“Besides, how can I, Yuan Shu, allow Liu Chong to sleep soundly beside my own bed?”
“If you have a better plan, I’ll gladly adopt it.”
“But if you don’t then keep quiet!”
“Once Liu Chong is eliminated, not only will all of Yu Province be united under my rule…”
“…I’ll also gain tens of thousands of soldiers, along with countless stores of grain and military supplies.”
“When that day comes who in the realm would dare contend with me?”
The abundant resources of the Kingdom of Chen were coveted not only by Zhang Jing, but by Yuan Shu as well.
After all, it was a rich, fertile land that had remained largely untouched by the devastation of war.
“This subordinate accepts the order.”
Seeing that persuasion was hopeless, Yan Xiang could only bow and comply.
He did not blame Yuan Shu for lacking wisdom.
Instead, he blamed himself for being incapable of changing his lord’s mind.
Upon further reflection, if they succeeded in taking the Kingdom of Chen then so be it.
Their territory and strength would undoubtedly increase.
As for everything afterward they would simply have to take things one step at a time.
………….
Late August.
After receiving another letter from his pen pal Yuan Shu, Zhang Jing finished reading it and thought to himself, As expected of the Forklift Emperor.
His way of doing things is certainly… unconventional.
“Pan Zhang.”
After putting the letter away, Zhang Jing turned to Pan Zhang, whom he had recently recalled.
“Immediately notify all civil and military officials.”
“We’ll convene in the main hall for a council meeting at the third quarter of the Hour of You.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Pan Zhang clasped his fists respectfully before hurrying off.
“Liu Chong…”
Zhang Jing rose and walked over to the campaign map.
His gaze settled on the Kingdom of Chen, bordering Chenliu Commandery.
Murmuring softly, he said, “What a pity…”
“In this era, apart from Liu Bei, he may well be the most capable warrior among the Han imperial clansmen.”
“And with the strength under his command, he was in no way inferior to the great warlords of the realm.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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