Mid-September, AD 193
Wei Commandery, Ji Province
Ye City, Governor’s Residence
Inside a pavilion, Yuan Shao carefully cradled an infant in his arms.
With a gentle smile full of fatherly affection, he softly crooned, “Sleep now, little one. Your father is getting tired holding you. Sleep now, little one. Your father…”
“My lord, wonderful news!!”
At that moment, Tian Feng hurried into the pavilion, his face beaming with excitement.
“Wonderful news! The greatest of news!”
“Waaah…!”
The instant Tian Feng finished speaking, the baby in Yuan Shao’s arms snapped his eyes open and burst into loud sobs.
Yuan Shao slowly lifted his head to look at Tian Feng.
His face was as black as thunder.
The murderous look in his eyes was impossible to hide.
“My lord…”
Realizing he had made a terrible mistake, Tian Feng could only steel himself and lower his voice.
“It truly is good news. Our agents in You Province have sent word. On the eleventh day of the ninth month, Liu Yu led one hundred thousand troops against Gongsun Zan. However…”
Ever since Tian Feng had proposed his previous strategy, Yuan Shao had entrusted him with all affairs concerning You Province.
Any significant development in the lands of Yan and Yun would reach Tian Feng first.
“Outside.”
Before Tian Feng could continue, Yuan Shao carefully handed the crying infant to an attendant, rose to his feet, and walked out of the pavilion.
Some time later, after hearing the entire account from Tian Feng, the wisdom and confidence that normally characterized Yuan Shao returned to his face.
Filled with ambition, he declared, “Yuanhao, issue my orders immediately. In one hour, all civil and military officials are to assemble in the main hall.”
“This subordinate obeys.”
Tian Feng bowed respectfully.
……………
One hour later
Governor’s Residence, Main Hall
All of Yuan Shao’s civil and military officials had gathered.
Tian Feng sat calmly in the third seat on the left.
“Yuanhao, do you know what’s happened?”
Asked by his old friend Ju Shou, who sat immediately to his left.
Seeing Tian Feng’s composed expression, Ju Shou knew he was keeping something significant to himself.
“Something has happened in You Province.”
After glancing around, Tian Feng replied succinctly, “Lord Bo’an marched against Gongsun Zan. He was defeated and captured.”
“What?!”
Ju Shou’s face was filled with shock.
He drew a sharp breath, causing the surrounding officials to turn toward them.
Sitting in the second seat on the left, Guo Tu frowned thoughtfully.
“So it truly is enormous news…”
Recovering from his surprise, Ju Shou’s expression grew solemn.
Their lord had long coveted You Province.
He had even stationed heavy forces in Zhongshan, waiting for precisely such an opportunity.
Now, it could truly be called a gift from Heaven.
The only thing Ju Shou couldn’t understand was this:
Liu Yu had clearly been the one to launch the attack.
How had he suffered such a catastrophic defeat?
“Greetings, my lord!”
Before Ju Shou could think further, Yuan Shao emerged from the inner hall.
Everyone immediately rose and bowed respectfully.
“At ease.”
Yuan Shao strode confidently toward the seat of honor.
With a wave of his hand, he said, “Yuanhao, tell everyone what has happened in You Province.”
“This subordinate obeys.”
Tian Feng stepped forward and bowed.
“According to reports from You Province…”
A wave of commotion swept through the hall as Tian Feng finished his report.
“Damn… that’s unbelievable!”
“It truly defies belief!”
“Gongsun Zan is nothing but a reckless brute! He actually imprisoned Lord Bo’an right in front of the imperial envoy!”
“Gongsun Zan has brought disaster upon himself…”
The assembled officials all wore expressions of astonishment, breaking into animated discussion.
“My lord, this is a golden opportunity!”
Xu You stepped forward with delight and bowed.
“This is a heaven-sent opportunity!”
“My lord!”
Guo Tu also stepped forward and saluted.
“As Ziyuan has said, this is a gift from Heaven. We should immediately dispatch troops into You Province, rescue Lord Bo’an, and execute the traitor Gongsun Zan!”
“This subordinate agrees!”
Even Xun Chen, seated in the place of honor among the officials, stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
“This general requests permission to fight!”
“We request permission to fight!”
The military officers all stepped forward, cupping their fists and shouting in unison.
“Chen Lin!”
Seeing his civil and military officials united in opinion—a rare occurrence— Yuan Shao felt his spirits soar.
“After this meeting, draft immediately a proclamation denouncing the traitor!”
“Yes, my lord!”
The middle-aged scholar Chen Lin bowed respectfully.
“Tian Feng!”
Yuan Shao continued in a deep voice.
“Draft official orders at once. Command Wen Chou, stationed in Zhongshan, to lead fifty thousand troops as the vanguard. Within the coming days, he is to march on Zhuo Commandery!”
“Yes, my lord!”
Tian Feng bowed in acknowledgment.
“Send messages to Yuan Tan in Bohai, to Zhu Ling in Qinghe…”
As Yuan Shao issued one military order after another, the curtain slowly rose on the war between Ji Province and You Province.
……………
Meanwhile, in You Province…
Guangyang Commandery
Attendant Minister Duan Xun left Ji County with his head hanging low, looking as though he had just lost both of his parents.
Earlier that day, Gongsun Zan had forced him to issue an imperial order commanding the execution of Liu Yu’s entire family.
That night, outside Ji County
By the banks of the Ju River, the military camp that had once belonged to Liu Yu had now been occupied by Gongsun Zan.
Inside the central command tent—
“Zilong, have you truly made up your mind to leave?”
Gongsun Fan looked at the young officer standing before him, whose expression was one of unwavering resolve.
His heart was filled with reluctance.
The young officer’s name was Zhao Yun.
A native of Changshan in Ji Province, he had joined Gongsun Zan’s army two years earlier, bringing with him a dozen or so brave young men from his hometown.
Because of his exceptional martial ability, he had been selected to serve among the elite White Horse Volunteers.
He now held the rank of tunzhang (company commander of roughly one hundred men).
Within the White Horse Volunteers, he had already become one of their indispensable backbone officers.
Naturally, Gongsun Fan hated to see him leave.
“A letter has arrived from my hometown.”
Zhao Yun’s face was filled with grief as he respectfully cupped his fists.
“My elder brother passed away from illness a month ago. Only my young sister remains at home, with no one to care for her. I respectfully ask that you grant me leave, General.”
In truth, Zhao Yun had received news of his brother’s death several days earlier.
At that time, however, he had not yet resolved to depart.
Everything changed when Gongsun Zan ordered the execution of Liu Yu’s entire family that very day.
The horrific scene caused Zhao Yun to begin seriously questioning his own actions.
He no longer knew whether continuing to serve Gongsun Zan was right or wrong.
So he decided to return home—to sort out his thoughts, and because he had come to believe that Gongsun Zan was not the enlightened lord he had once hoped for.
“Zilong…”
Gongsun Fan tried once more to persuade him.
“You know as well as I do that General Fenwu has only recently taken control of the situation, and this is precisely when he needs talented men. You come from the ranks of the White Horse Volunteers. Once the General expands the army, I’ll personally recommend you for promotion to Military Sima. How about it?”
Although Zhao Yun was only a tunzhang, his achievements spoke for themselves.
He possessed no influential background.
He had served for only two years.
Yet despite that, he had already become a company commander within the elite White Horse Volunteers.
That alone demonstrated just how extraordinary his abilities were.
Gongsun Fan’s promise was clear.
Their lord’s power was on the rise.
As one of Gongsun Zan’s trusted core officers, if Zhao Yun stayed, he would likely receive two promotions in rapid succession.
“I respectfully ask that you grant my request, General.”
Zhao Yun remained completely unmoved.
The enlightened lord he sought was someone like Brother Xuande— Liu Bei— a man who cherished benevolence, cared for the common people, and possessed lofty ideals and ambitions.
Not someone like Gongsun Zan, who pursued endless warfare, thinking only of military campaigns while disregarding the lives of the people.
Zhao Yun did not know whether Gongsun Zan’s methods were ultimately right or wrong.
But he was certain of one thing: the two of them did not share the same ideals.
“Very well… Go back for now and await my reply.”
Seeing Zhao Yun’s determination, Gongsun Fan let out a helpless sigh.
“You command one hundred elite cavalrymen of the White Horse Volunteers. Whether you stay or leave is not a decision I can make on my own. Allow me to seek the General’s approval first. I’ll inform you of the result afterward.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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