Late September, Yan Province.
That very night after returning to Wuyan City in the Kingdom of Dongping, Zhang Jing summoned Cheng Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, and Xi Zhicai to discuss military affairs.
“I assume you’ve all heard the news.”
Seated at the head of the hall, Zhang Jing began, “The upheaval in You Province concerns the entire situation in Hebei. According to Gongda’s assessment, the Taiping Prefecture should launch a campaign against Ji Province. If we simply stand by and do nothing, Hebei will soon produce a formidable enemy.”
“What do you all think? What course should the Taiping Prefecture take?”
Ever since Zhang Jing established the Qihuo Army, he had regarded Yuan Shao as his greatest adversary.
Even Cao Cao, Yuan Shu, Liu Biao, and the others posed far less of a threat in his eyes than Yuan Shao.
People often said that Yuan Shao was good at making plans but poor at making decisions.
Zhang Jing, however, did not share that opinion.
In his view, Yuan Shao’s defeat at the Battle of Guandu had not been due to Cao Cao’s superior ability alone, but rather because of Xu You’s betrayal.
Before Guandu, Yuan Shao had been virtually unstoppable.
He had swept through campaign after campaign, winning nearly every battle he fought.
Faced with such an opponent, Zhang Jing naturally dared not underestimate him in the slightest.
“My lord.”
With a solemn expression, Cheng Yu rose to his feet.
“Now that You Province has undergone such a sudden upheaval, time is not on our side. I believe the Taiping Prefecture should dispatch its army into Ji Province immediately.”
He had been one of Zhang Jing’s earliest followers.
The two often discussed the state of the realm, and he knew that conquering Qing and Xu Provinces had originally been the safest course of action.
But the dramatic changes in You Province had forced Cheng Yu to abandon that plan and instead recommend immediate military action.
“My lord, we concur.”
Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai exchanged a glance before rising almost simultaneously to bow toward Zhang Jing.
“Very well.”
Zhang Jing nodded with a smile.
“Since you all agree that we should go to war, I assume you’ve already given it considerable thought. Zhicai, you go first.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Xi Zhicai bowed before stepping forward.
“In my opinion, the Taiping Prefecture should coordinate this campaign with Zhang Yan of the Heishan Army and Shan Jing of Qing Province.”
“Explain your reasoning.”
Zhang Jing’s eyes lit up, as though he had already guessed where Xi Zhicai was headed.
“My lord, please look here.”
Walking over to the map, Xi Zhicai’s face radiated confidence as he continued,
“In this campaign, the Taiping Prefecture should commit seventy thousand troops as the main assault force. Crossing the river at Renping, we should strike directly at Qinghe and Ganling.”
“At that point, Yuan Tan, who is stationed in Bohai, will certainly be unable to remain idle.”
“Shan Jing serves under Gongsun Zan. Now that Gongsun Zan’s life hangs in the balance, Shan Jing will undoubtedly attack Bohai. Although his forces are inferior to Yuan Tan’s, they will certainly be enough to pin him down.”
“In that case, if Yuan Shao wishes to relieve Bohai…”
“He will inevitably draw troops from Wei Commandery. As for the Heishan Army…”
As Xi Zhicai finished outlining his plan, admiration filled everyone’s faces.
“Zhicai truly is remarkable.”
Zhang Jing praised him sincerely.
“If this plan succeeds, the Taiping Prefecture could seize half of Ji Province with ease. Even if it fails, Yuan Shao would still suffer devastating losses.”
“My lord.”
Xi Zhicai hesitated before speaking again.
“The key to this plan lies with Zhang Yan of the Heishan Army. Can you persuade him to send troops?”
He naturally understood the relationship between his lord and the Heishan Army.
Still, there was no guarantee.
What if Zhang Yan decided to turn his back on them?
At Xi Zhicai’s words, Cheng Yu and the others all turned their eyes toward Zhang Jing.
“Getting Zhang Yan to send troops shouldn’t be a problem.”
After pondering for a moment, Zhang Jing nodded slightly.
I led my army to relieve the Heishan Army earlier this year, he thought.
Surely Zhang Yan wouldn’t simply turn around and deny our friendship after that.
Besides, it was precisely because of that intervention that Yuan Shao had shifted his attention toward You Province.
Otherwise, at this point in time, Yuan Shao should have been campaigning against the Heishan Army instead.
“My lord.”
Cheng Yu bowed slightly.
“I believe Adviser Xi’s strategy is already exceptionally thorough—truly worthy of admiration. However, there is one more point of critical importance: the timing of our campaign.”
“If Ji Province has not yet achieved decisive success in You Province…”
“Then when our forces advance into Qinghe, they will certainly withdraw their troops to defend their own territory. And when that happens…”
For the remainder of the discussion, the five men immersed themselves in an intense strategic debate.
……………
Meanwhile, in Qing Province.
Gaotang, Pingyuan Commandery.
Inside the government hall, Liu Bei stared at the letter sent by Gongsun Zan, his face filled with both heaviness and unease.
“Big Brother!”
Seeing Liu Bei’s expression, Zhang Fei asked, “What has happened in You Province?”
After finishing the letter, Liu Bei handed it to Zhang Fei before rising with a sorrowful sigh.
“Brother Bogui… how could it have come to this? How could it have come to this?”
“Big Brother!”
Concerned, Guan Yu looked at Liu Bei.
“At the beginning of the middle ten-day period of this month, Lord Bo’an…”
Liu Bei said bitterly, “Brother Bogui led ten thousand troops to besiege Lord Bo’an. Brother Bogui defeated Lord Bo’an in battle, and now Lord Bo’an has become his prisoner.”
“I only hope Brother Bogui still retains his reason and can turn back before it’s too late. He must not take another step down the wrong path.”
In his letter, Gongsun Zan spoke only of the grievances he had suffered, complaining to Liu Bei about Liu Yu’s alleged offenses.
At this time, however, Liu Bei still had no idea that Liu Yu was already dead.
After reading the letter, Liu Bei felt that Gongsun Zan was the one with the greater fault.
In his view, this was a matter that could have been resolved simply by swallowing one’s pride and making peace—why resort to war?
Worse still, Gongsun Zan had imprisoned Liu Yu and even behaved violently in front of the imperial envoy.
In Liu Bei’s eyes, such actions were utterly unacceptable.
Liu Yu possessed the bearing of a true gentleman.
He was renowned for his benevolence and righteousness, and he also served as the Imperial Clan Superintendent.
How could Liu Bei possibly feel pleased after reading Gongsun Zan’s letter?
“Big Brother, do not worry.”
The news had deeply shaken Guan Yu as well, and he now understood why Liu Bei was so distressed.
“Lord Bo’an’s reputation is known throughout the realm. I believe no harm will come to him. Why not write a letter to General Gongsun and try to persuade him?”
“Yunchang is right!”
Liu Bei’s spirits lifted immediately.
He quickly sat back down, picked up his writing knife, and prepared to compose a reply to Gongsun Zan.
“Good grief, what was Liu Yu even doing?”
“With a hundred thousand troops—”
“Third Brother!”
Before Zhang Fei could finish, Guan Yu gave him a sharp rebuke.
“Big Brother, I—I meant Lord Bo’an was using his troops with unmatched brilliance!”
Seeing Liu Bei’s face darken as he glared at him, Zhang Fei immediately lost his nerve and blurted out complete nonsense to cover himself.
By the latter half of the ninth month, news of Prince Liu Chong of Chen’s death and Governor Liu Yu of You Province being defeated and captured spread throughout the imperial heartland like a raging storm.
The entire imperial capital was shaken.
The high ministers of the court wept openly, while the Emperor himself shed tears.
Upon receiving the reports, they all felt as though the very heavens were collapsing.
Inside the main hall of the Grand Coachman’s residence, Zhao Qi and Cao Cao sat facing one another.
Both wore grave expressions.
“Mengde…”
Looking at Cao Cao, Zhao Qi’s aged eyes glistened with tears as he lamented, “Now that Prince Liu Chong of Chen has perished and Governor Liu of You Province has fallen into captivity, the Han dynasty grows ever weaker.”
“We loyal servants of the dynasty have the will, yet lack the strength. I truly do not know what is to be done.”
Prince Liu Chong of Chen and Liu Yu of You Province had both been pillars of the Han dynasty.
Each commanded powerful armies.
Now that both had fallen, the blow dealt to the Han court was almost beyond measure.
Cao Cao’s eyes were bloodshot as he thought to himself, What a ruthless move by Zhang Jing!
Over the past several days, he had finally pieced everything together.
Liu Chong’s death had been Zhang Jing’s retaliation against the imperial court.
By doing so, Zhang Jing had incited Yuan Shu to turn against the Han.
After all, Cao Cao knew Yuan Shu’s character well.
If no one had instigated him, Yuan Shu would never have dared assassinate Liu Chong.
“Lord Binqing.”
With that thought, Cao Cao looked toward Zhao Qi, a resolute gleam flashing across his eyes.
“As the saying goes, ‘Without destruction, there can be no renewal.’ Only after breaking the old can the new be established.”
“Now the state stands on the brink of collapse. The traitors and rebels command powerful armies, and time is not on our side.”
“If we are to restore the Han dynasty, there is only one path left…”
“We must stake everything on one desperate gamble.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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