“I’d like to hear your reasoning.”
By now, Zhang Jing was already somewhat persuaded.
He found himself wondering whether he should strike Ji Province first after all.
“The key lies with Yuan Shu.”
Xun You’s expression turned grave.
“If Yuan Shu learns that Yuan Shao has a chance to seize You Province, while Your Lordship launches a campaign against Yuan Shao, how do you think Yuan Shu will react?”
“Conversely…”
“If Your Lordship first conquers Qing and Xu Provinces before going to war with Yuan Shao, will Yuan Shu still remain a mere spectator?”
“If the Taiping Prefecture and Yuan Shu were to join forces against Yuan Shao, there would naturally be complications.”
“But if Yuan Shao succeeds in persuading Yuan Shu to form an alliance instead, then with the prestige of the Yuan clan—four generations occupying the Three Ducal Offices—their coalition would undoubtedly be formidable.”
“Well said, Gongda.”
Zhang Jing nodded in agreement.
Xun You’s analysis was absolutely correct.
He could almost feel cold sweat forming on his back.
Then, adopting a serious expression, he said, “If the Taiping Prefecture marches on Ji Province now, Yuan Shu might even provide us with grain and supplies.”
Their alliance with Yuan Shu could never last forever— at most another three to five years.
Besides, Zhang Jing was still waiting for Yuan Shu to proclaim himself emperor.
The day Yuan Shu ascended the throne would also be the day their friendship came to an end.
And that day was not far off.
“Haha! Your Lordship is truly wise!”
Xun You laughed as well.
He had long been familiar with the feud between the Yuan brothers.
“Pan Zhang.”
Zhang Jing issued an order.
“Gather the Central Army immediately. In one hour, we return to Wuyan.”
“At once!”
Pan Zhang clasped his fists in acknowledgment.
“Yu Du.”
Zhang Jing turned to another officer.
“You will command the remaining troops. Depart tomorrow.”
“This general obeys!”
Yu Du accepted the order respectfully.
The fifty thousand troops of the Taiping Prefecture all belonged to the Southern Camp.
Unlike the Central Army, they couldn’t simply pack up and leave at a moment’s notice.
………………
Outside Wuyan City, Dongping State
Northern Camp of the Qihuo Army
Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai stood atop a watchtower, watching the soldiers below sweat profusely as they drilled with trebuchets.
The two spoke quietly between themselves.
“Gentlemen.”
Just then, Yu Jin climbed the tower.
After bowing to the pair, he asked curiously, “Has something important happened recently?”
This area served as the trebuchet training grounds.
Since operating the machines produced tremendous noise, few people ever came here.
For Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai to appear together today was a first.
Out of curiosity, Yu Jin had come to see whether a military campaign was imminent.
After all, the Southern Camp had already marched out.
The soldiers of the Northern Camp were equally eager for action.
“Greetings, Commandant Yu.”
The two strategists returned his salute.
Then Xi Zhicai replied, “You’re correct. Something significant has indeed occurred. Both Fengxiao and I believe the Taiping Prefecture will likely go to war within the next few days.”
“We’re really going to war?”
Yu Jin’s eyes lit up.
Realizing he had become a little too excited, he quickly composed himself and asked with concern, “Is it because of the fighting in Chen State?”
“No, no.”
Guo Jia smiled reassuringly.
“There is no campaign in Chen State. The operation Zhicai refers to is against Ji Province.”
As military advisers within the Military Intelligence Bureau, both men naturally had access to reports from You Province.
After careful analysis, they had independently reached the same conclusion:
Yuan Shao absolutely could not be allowed to take You Province with ease.
Otherwise, it would be disastrous for the Taiping Prefecture.
It could only be said that the upheaval in You Province had come at the worst possible moment.
“Against Ji Province?”
Yu Jin froze for a moment, his face full of surprise.
“That’s right—Ji Province.”
Xi Zhicai nodded and explained, “A few days ago, Liu Yu of You Province led an army against Gongsun Zan…”
“Hiss…”
After hearing the whole story, Yu Jin couldn’t help sucking in a sharp breath.
He had never imagined that Gongsun Zan could be so terrifying— routing Liu Yu’s army of one hundred thousand with only a few hundred cavalry.
“Fengxiao.”
Xi Zhicai hesitated for a moment.
“Do you think our lord will actually agree to send troops?”
“He will.”
Guo Jia looked up at the sky, his expression full of confidence.
“Our lord is an enlightened ruler. Now that the heavens have shifted in You Province, the balance of power has fundamentally changed. If the Taiping Prefecture does nothing, Hebei will soon produce a supreme hegemon.”
……………
The following day — Chen State
Stationed in Chen County,
Yuan Shu received a letter sent by Zhang Jing.
Inside the government hall, Yuan Shu sat in the seat of honor, reading the letter in his hand.
The expressions on his face shifted one after another, making for quite a spectacle.
Standing below, Yan Xiang had long since grown accustomed to such scenes.
Also present was a young man dressed in luxurious robes, who couldn’t help complaining inwardly.
He had ridden through the night to pledge his service to Yuan Shu.
Everything had seemed perfectly normal at first.
Yet the moment Zhang Jing’s letter arrived, he had been completely ignored.
He also found himself increasingly curious about the relationship between Zhang Jing and Yuan Shu.
“Hahaha!”
“Liu Yu really is a complete fool!”
“He had an army of one hundred thousand!
A full one hundred thousand men!”
“Even if they were a hundred thousand flatbreads, those few hundred men under Gongsun Zan would need two and a half years to finish eating them!”
“With an imperial clansman like that, it’s a miracle the Han dynasty hasn’t already fallen!”
“Hmm… Gongsun Zan is just a brute.”
“Hmm?!”
“Yuan Shao—that bastard-born son—is trying to take advantage of the situation?”
“How can that be allowed?”
“Brother Yuheng is right. That bastard needs to be taught a lesson. He’s gotten so full of himself that he’s practically forgotten his own surname is Yuan!”
“No!”
“How can I, Yuan Shu, sit this one out when it’s time to beat up that bastard?”
Listening to Yuan Shu mutter to himself, the two men in the hall couldn’t help feeling that they’d just overheard something they were never meant to hear.
After quite some time—
“Yan Xiang!”
Yuan Shu put away the letter and turned to Yan Xiang.
“I intend to send troops into Ji Province and attack that bastard of the Yuan family. What do you think?”
“…”
Yan Xiang’s vision nearly went black.
After calming himself, he cupped his hands and said, “My lord, Chen State has not yet been fully pacified. Yang Province is still plagued by the Shanyue tribes. You also intend to campaign into Jiaozhou. This is hardly the time to wage war against Yuan Shao. I beg Your Lordship to reconsider.”
Serving a lord who acted entirely on impulse was utterly exhausting.
“Yan Xiang.”
Only then did Yuan Shu seem to remember something.
He handed over the letter in his hand.
“Read this first, then give me your opinion.”
“As you command.”
Yan Xiang looked at Yuan Shu, bowed, and accepted the letter.
He began reading.
“Nephew Bofu.”
After taking a sip of honeyed water,
Yuan Shu turned to Sun Ce with a warm smile.
“Your father was one of my most trusted generals. Now that you’ve come to serve me, I certainly won’t treat you unfairly.”
“How about this? I’ll order Qiao Rui to assign you a portion of his troops. For the time being, you can lead them in suppressing the unrest within Chen State.”
Yuan Shu was quite fond of the handsome young Sun Ce.
After all, Sun Ce’s father had once served under him.
Although Yuan Shu had obtained the Imperial Seal from Lady Wu, he had never treated her or the rest of the Sun family particularly harshly.
In Yuan Shu’s eyes, that was all a trivial matter.
“This nephew thanks Lord Yuan!”
Sun Ce’s face lit up with delight as he respectfully clasped his fists.
“Good.”
Yuan Shu nodded slightly, his face full of expectation.
“I hope you’ll follow in your father’s footsteps, establish great achievements, and live up to the name of the Tiger of Jiangdong. When that day comes, I certainly won’t be stingy with my rewards.”
“I am willing to brave fire and water for Lord Yuan!”
— The end of the Chapter–
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