“My lord, perhaps we should just lend it to him.”
Another middle-aged official stepped forward and bowed.
“General Gongsun Zan is an outstanding commander with countless hardened veterans under his command.”
“He’s not someone we should provoke lightly.”
“If conflict breaks out, it’ll still be the people of You Province who suffer.”
“My lord, you absolutely must not lend it!”
“You’re the Governor of You Province!”
“That’s right! We mustn’t give in.”
“We should send men to arrest Gongsun Zan and bring him to justice!”
“Gongsun Zan has truly overstepped his bounds!”
“…”
“Enough.”
As the officials continued arguing among themselves, Liu Yu raised a hand.
“I have already submitted a memorial to the imperial court detailing Gongsun Zan’s offenses.”
“Once the court issues its decree, I shall fulfill my duty as Governor.”
No matter what Liu Yu thought of Gongsun Zan…
The man had, after all, fought for You Province and participated in the campaign against Dong Zhuo.
Liu Yu was still reluctant to resort to force against him.
“My lord is wise.”
Although many officials were dissatisfied, they all knew Liu Yu’s character.
They could only bow respectfully.
All they could hope for now was that the imperial court would formally condemn Gongsun Zan.
If that happened, even Liu Yu would have no reason to spare him.
“My lord!”
At that moment, A young officer hurried into the hall.
His helmet was tucked beneath his arm.
His face was bruised and swollen, smeared with dirt and grime.
Dropping to his knees, he cried out pitifully, “My lord, I beg you to uphold justice for me!”
“That Gongsun Zan has become utterly lawless.”
“While I was completely unprepared, he seized the grain convoy I was escorting.”
“The three thousand soldiers under my command suffered heavy casualties.”
“Even I was beaten and humiliated by Gongsun Zan himself.”
“My lord, you must seek justice for me!”
The young officer had never imagined that he could be robbed within You Province itself.
And by the very man who robbed him— Gongsun Zan.
Was there no justice left?
Was there no law anymore?
Those two questions had echoed through his mind the entire journey back.
“What did you just say?!”
Liu Yu flew into a rage.
At the same time, disbelief filled his face.
“Xianyu Fu!”
“Explain yourself clearly.”
“Are you saying, that Gongsun Zan seized the fifty thousand shi of grain I intended to send to the Wuhuan?”
“Are you certain it was Gongsun Zan?”
“It wasn’t Zhang Yan of the Heishan Bandits?”
For a moment, Liu Yu wondered whether he had somehow misheard everything.
He simply couldn’t believe that Gongsun Zan would dare lay hands on him.
“It was Gongsun Zan!”
Xianyu Fu answered bitterly.
“I was personally wounded by him.”
“Hiss…”
The officials could no longer maintain their composure.
Quite a few quietly sucked in sharp breaths.
No one dared speak.
“This is rebellion!”
“This is outright rebellion!”
Liu Yu shot to his feet in fury.
“Gongsun Zan has become completely lawless!”
“This is insubordination!”
“This is contempt for the imperial court!”
“Zhao Gai!”
“I order you to muster the troops immediately!”
“In three days—”
“My lord, I beg you to restrain your righteous anger!”
Before Liu Yu could finish speaking, an elderly official hurried forward and bowed deeply.
“His Majesty has already moved west to Chang’an.”
“The empire stands on the brink.”
“Officials throughout the realm harbor different ambitions.”
“Countless men covet the imperial throne.”
“You, my lord are a kinsman of the imperial family.”
“And the hope of the people.”
“If the Han is ever to be restored, you cannot do without capable ministers and loyal generals.”
“Gongsun Zan possesses both civil and military talent.”
“He is a man of great ability.”
“Though he has committed certain minor offenses, I ask that you tolerate them.”
The elderly man was Wei You, the Eastern Office Assistant of the Governor’s administration.
He shared Liu Yu’s ideals and enjoyed his complete trust.
Seeing Wei You display such heartfelt concern for the nation…
The assembled officials— Including the kneeling Xianyu Fu— could only stare in stunned disbelief.
An indescribable frustration welled up in their chests.
Yet none of them could vent it.
“This…”
Conflict flashed across Liu Yu’s face.
He opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
“…Very well.”
In the end, he let out a long sigh.
Looking toward his Chief Clerk, Zhao Gai, he ordered, “After this meeting, issue an official proclamation strongly condemning Gongsun Zan.”
“Warn him not to continue acting recklessly.”
“Otherwise, the Governor’s Office will have no choice but to send troops against him.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Zhao Gai bowed and accepted the order.
“My lord is wise.”
Wei You visibly relaxed and bowed respectfully once more.
“My lord is wise.”
The other officials followed suit.
Yet many of them wore expressions as though they had just swallowed something foul.
Staring at Wei You’s back, Xianyu Fu cursed inwardly, “Damn that old bastard!”
…………..
Ji Province, Wei Commandery.
Ye City — Provincial Governor’s Residence.
As was his custom, Yuan Shao had gathered his civil and military officials to discuss state affairs.
“Gentlemen, Let us deliberate this matter once more.”
Yuan Shao looked down at the assembled civil and military officials, his expression solemn.
“Given the current situation, what path should Ji Province take?”
They had debated this very question for several days.
Yet they still had not reached a satisfactory conclusion.
Or rather, Yuan Shao simply wasn’t convinced by any of the strategies they had proposed.
“With your permission, my lord.”
Tian Feng stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
“May I ask, Do you wish to take You Province?”
“I do!”
Yuan Shao’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Of course I do!”
“I think about You Province day and night.”
“It’s never far from my mind.”
“But…”
“Lord Bo’an is there.”
“Lord Bo’an is a member of the imperial clan.”
“He is a man of immense virtue and prestige, one of the most respected scholars in all the realm.”
“So what if I want You Province?”
“Without a righteous cause, If I attack You Province, I will only become the target of universal condemnation.”
“That is something I absolutely cannot do.”
Under the current circumstances…
Capturing You Province would benefit Yuan Shao even more than taking Qing Province.
As for Bing Province, He had no interest in it at present.
Much like Lü Bu, Yuan Shao viewed Bing Province as little more than a hopeless mess.
Of its nine commanderies, six were already in the hands of the Xiongnu and other foreign tribes.
Even if he captured Bing Province, He would have to station a massive army there.
Worse still, He would constantly have to worry about being stabbed in the back by the imperial court.
You Province, despite also being a northern frontier region was vastly superior in both strategic position and overall importance.
Yet just as Yuan Shao had said, the presence of Liu Yu made it an exceptionally troublesome target.
“If that’s the case…”
Tian Feng said confidently, “I have a strategy.”
“It will allow you to seize You Province outright without earning yourself a reputation as a villain.”
“Please enlighten me, Master!”
Yuan Shao was immediately invigorated.
His eyes shone with anticipation as he looked at Tian Feng.
“My lord…”
Tian Feng’s vision nearly went black at Yuan Shao’s reaction.
Speaking with deliberate meaning, he said, “As the ancients have said…”
‘Success depends upon secrecy; loose words lead to failure.’
“Yuanhao is right.”
Yuan Shao nodded seriously.
Turning toward everyone else, he announced, “That concludes today’s meeting.”
“The rest of you may withdraw.”
“As you command.”
The assembled officials rose, saluted, and departed.
The military officers didn’t think much of it.
They were simply pleased to be dismissed early.
The strategists, however cast subtle, meaningful glances toward Tian Feng as they left.
“My lord.”
Once everyone had gone, Tian Feng no longer concealed his thoughts.
“According to the information I’ve gathered, there has long been deep discord between the White Horse General, Gongsun Zan, and Lord Bo’an.”
“I believe we should employ a strategy of sowing discord.”
“I’m listening.”
Yuan Shao nodded in agreement.
He had also heard reports about the strained relationship between Liu Yu and Gongsun Zan.
“My lord.”
Tian Feng continued, “All we need to do is dispatch an envoy to the Heishan forces to keep Zhang Yan pacified, while concentrating a large army in Zhongshan…”
— The end of the Chapter–
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