The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 321 The Central Plains War Officially Begins, Opening the First Battlefield: Chendi
In the fifteenth year of Jian'an, at the temporary palace of the Chen state.

Just as the fifth watch gong sounded, Liu Xie was awakened by the sound of hurried footsteps outside the palace.

Before he could even wash up, the Imperial Guard stumbled into the bedchamber:

"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"

"A cloud of dust rose from the direction of Yingchuan; judging by the banners, it's the Cao Wei forces..."

"Cao Cao?"

The jade comb in Liu Xie's hand snapped in two with a snap.

In the bronze mirror, the twenty-nine-year-old emperor already had fine lines around his eyes, but at this moment he was as pale as when he was a young man and was exiled to the west by Dong Zhuo.

He glanced at the Luban lock in front of the dressing table, sighed, and hung it around his neck.

At 3:45 AM, at Chongde Hall.

More than twenty officials who remained loyal to the Han dynasty trembled in the palace.

Previously, the State of Chen was simultaneously controlled by both Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

Therefore, both Cao Cao and Liu Bei placed a large number of their own people in the court to increase their influence.

As war was about to break out, both sides withdrew their personnel from the court.

The remaining members of the Chen court are either loyal to Liu Xie or have wavering attitudes.

At the same time, since the imperial court was controlled by two parties, in order to prevent being accused by the other party.

Therefore, many ministers who were loyal to Liu Xie were able to survive.

Ministers who should have been killed by Cao Cao in the original timeline, such as Wang Zifu, Zhong Ji, and Wu Shuo, were spared.

The elderly Imperial Secretary Zhao Yan, his hair and beard now bristling:

"The Wei army's arrival must be an attempt to emulate Dong Zhuo's actions!"

"I observed the celestial phenomena last night, and the Purple Palace was dim..."

"My dear minister, please get to the point!"

Liu Xie interrupted him, as he had no patience to listen to Zhao Yan's rambling.

Zhao Yan knelt down immediately, tears streaming down his face, and sobbed:
"Now that Cao Cao and Liu Bei are at odds, a major war between Qi and Wei in the Central Plains is imminent."

"This old minister believes that they must be planning to kidnap His Majesty!"

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Liu Xie suddenly chuckled:

"I, the 'Son of Heaven,' have become a lamb that two families are fighting over."

"What loyal ministers of the court, what pure ministers of the Han dynasty?"

"In my opinion, it's nothing more than kings, nobles, generals, and ministers taking turns on stage."

"First it was Dong Zhuo, then Li Jue and Guo Si, and now it's Cao Cao and Liu Bei."

"They occupied Han territory, attacked and annexed other feudal lords, and strengthened themselves."

"And who truly respects me, the Son of Heaven?"

Faced with Liu Xie's complaints, everyone lowered their heads and remained silent.

Because this moment is just like that moment back then.

Back then, Li Jue and Guo Si were also enemies, and they fought every day in front of Liu Xie.

They plundered the common people and the court officials, treating the emperor as nothing at all.

Ironically, it was always Liu Xie who stepped in, sending people to mediate and persuade the two sides to cease hostilities and make peace.

Now, Cao Cao and Liu Bei are about to fight again right in front of him, right on his doorstep.

Different locations, but the same purpose.

Liu Xie remained helpless in the face of this.

"...That's all."

Liu Xie gave a wry smile, his fingers unconsciously fiddling with the Luban lock hanging on his chest.

"What insightful opinions do you, my esteemed ministers, have?"

Everyone looked at each other, speechless.

Only Zhao Yan thought of a solution and said:

"Your Majesty, why not send Prince Chen with his troops to intercept the Wei army?"

"We will discuss this further after we understand the reasons."

Liu Xie nodded and sighed.

"...It seems that this is the only way for now."

Immediately, he dispatched Prince Liu Chong of Chen to lead his troops out of the city to intercept the Wei army.

At a command, the iron boots of three thousand Jue Zhang soldiers shattered the frozen surface of the moat, and the clicking of crossbows being cocked echoed in unison.

Liu Chong reined in his horse and ran headlong into the vanguard of the Wei army.

He then pointed the tip of his spear at Xiahou Dun's one eye and questioned him:
"General Xiahou has brought so many troops to my territory of Chen. Is it to kidnap the Emperor?"

Xiahou Dun's black armor gleamed in the snow, and the sword at his waist jingled as he bowed. He answered neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"Your Highness, please understand. This humble general is here to protect you on the orders of Duke Wei."

"According to our scouts, Liu Bei intends to send men to kidnap the Emperor."

"Therefore, we had no choice but to do something extraordinary and, without requesting permission, led our troops into Chen territory."

"I don't care what grudges you Qi and Wei families have!"

Liu Chong thrust his spear forward and shouted:
"Let's fight to the death at Guandu and Yanjin!"

"The people of Chen cannot withstand the ravages of war!"

If you want to fight, go fight somewhere else. That was Liu Chong's attitude.

One of the more fortunate aspects of Chen State was that it was sandwiched between two major powers.

Although it lacked sovereignty, it enjoyed a rare period of peace amidst the chaos of war and famine.

Since the capital was moved, there has been almost no war.

The people of Chen lived in peace and prosperity, making it a rare paradise in a chaotic world.

Liu Chong clearly did not want this tranquility to be broken.

"Hum..."

Liu Chong sneered and pointed his spear at the troops behind Xiahou Dun.

"If you're here to protect the emperor, why bring so many heavily armed soldiers?"

Xiahou Dun replied neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"This is specifically to prevent petty thieves from disturbing His Majesty's presence."

Liu Chong laughed loudly, "Right now there is a scoundrel who wants to disturb Your Majesty's presence."

Xiahou Dun feigned ignorance and said:
"Liu Bei will surely send troops to seize the emperor's carriage. We should first occupy key locations and make advance preparations to protect the emperor."

Liu Chong angrily rebuked:

"I have already stated it!"

"If you wish to engage in battle, you should move elsewhere."

"Do not violate my territory and frighten my common people!"

Xiahou Dun pretended to be embarrassed and said:

"With the Emperor here, we are all loyal subjects of the Han Dynasty. How can we bear to abandon him?"

Liu Chong launched into a tirade:

"This is the behavior of a traitor, no different from that of a bandit!"

Xiahou Dun remained unfazed, only emphasizing:
"Everything we do is for the sake of the nation."

"I have never failed in my conscience."

Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, Cao Hong suddenly arrived with his troops.

He charged forward, spear in hand, glaring and shouting:

Why bother talking to him!

“Since the Prince of Chen has led his troops to block the road, he must be conspiring with treacherous ministers to endanger the state.”

"We must advance our troops swiftly to protect Your Majesty!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already ordered his troops to advance and attack.

Liu Chong frowned, and sweat broke out.

Although his three thousand elite soldiers were all highly skilled, they were ultimately outnumbered.

Although what arrived at this time was only the vanguard of the Wei army, it numbered at least 60,000.

Their army was twenty times the size of Liu Chong's; how could they possibly defeat them?
Moreover, strictly speaking, these three thousand Jue Zhang soldiers were still Liu Chong's private troops.

Raising one is expensive, losing one is even more expensive.

How can anyone bear this?
Seeing the Wei army's iron cavalry closing in from all sides, the dust and noise obscuring the sky.

Liu Chong realized he could not hold out, and had no choice but to withdraw his troops and give way.

On that day, the people of Chen heard the drums and gongs shaking the earth, and they all shut their doors and trembled, exchanging glances with each other on the streets.

Subsequently, Wei troops arrived in droves, besieging the city multiple times.

Banners obscured the sky, and spears and halberds gleamed in the sun.

Xiahou Dun, along with Cao Hong, Zhao Yan, and other important officials of Cao Wei, were the first to enter the court to pay homage to the emperor.

At that time, Liu Xie was sitting in the palace when he saw Xiahou Dun and others enter with their hands on their swords.

All of them were clad in imposing armor, and I couldn't help but tremble. I forced myself to remain calm and asked:
"What is the meaning of your leading troops into the capital?"

Xiahou Dun stepped forward, cupped his hands, and spoke in a booming voice:

"Your Majesty, do not worry! We have come here not to abduct you, but to protect you!"

"I recently heard that Liu Bei has sent troops to kidnap the emperor, so the Duke of Wei has ordered me to go ahead first in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances."

As he finished speaking, he pointed to the armored soldiers who had followed him.

“These are His Majesty’s ‘heavenly soldiers,’ and they will surely be able to protect His Majesty’s safety.”

Upon hearing this, all the court officials sighed in dismay.

You've already led your troops and forcibly entered the imperial court, yet you still insist that you're there to protect the emperor.

Have you no shame?
Liu Xie frowned and chuckled coldly:
"Since the general has come to protect the emperor, why is such a grand display necessary?"

"To besiege the palace with troops, how is this any different from kidnapping the emperor?"

Politics is all about saving face; people are always afraid of lies being exposed in public.

It's okay if it's exposed; the key is whether you can stay calm and persist in maintaining this lie.

Xiahou Dun replied neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"Liu Bei is cunning and treacherous; we must be wary of him."

"For the sake of the nation, Your Majesty is requested to temporarily relocate your entourage to avoid their sharp edge."

What? You're moving?

As soon as this statement came out, the whole court was in an uproar.

So it turns out that you, Xiahou Dun with your thick eyebrows and one eye, really did come to kidnap the emperor.

Although the State of Chen was small, it was relatively peaceful and prosperous.

Everyone has long been used to life here and doesn't want to go back to the nomadic life they used to lead.

The ministers could not forget the fear of being dominated by Li Jue and Guo Si.

Liu Xie hesitated without answering, clearly indicating that he was unwilling to go along.

Xiahou Dun then advised:
"The old capital, Luoyang, has been repaired by Duke Wei, and the palaces are now complete. Your Majesty may return to the old capital to reassure the people."

"Moreover, if Your Majesty truly requires it, the wood, stone, bricks, and tiles can be provided in a few days."

“The construction of the palace will not take more than a month.”

"What is there to worry about? This humble general humbly requests Your Majesty to move the capital."

One detail here is that Xiahou Dun always referred to himself as "this humble general" in front of Liu Xie, rather than "submitting to the emperor."

We often say that the Eastern Han Dynasty was a dual monarchy, where subordinates could address their lords as subjects.

In fact, this was true in both the state of Wei and the state of Qi.

Cao Cao's subordinates and Liu Bei's subordinates were respectively given Wei and Qi official positions.

Xiahou Dun, however, received a Han official position.

This was actually the highest treatment a subject could receive, because nominally the world still belonged to the Han Dynasty.

Whether Cao Cao or Liu Bei called themselves dukes or kings, they were both subjects of the Han emperor.

Therefore, granting subordinates Han-style official positions was actually the highest level of treatment, on par with Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

However, Xiahou Dun insisted on not accepting the Han official position and requested Cao Cao to grant him a Wei official position.

Because he only wanted to be Cao Cao's subject, not a Han official.

This demonstrates Xiahou Dun's exceptional political awareness.

Therefore, he did not submit to Emperor Liu Xie of Han.

Faced with Xiahou Dun's aggressive questioning, Liu Xie's expression changed drastically, and he glanced sideways at the emperor's brother-in-law, Dong Cheng.

Dong Cheng understood, and leaned down to whisper in Liu Xie's ear, "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

"Now we are at their mercy, like fish on a chopping board."

What should be done?

Dong Cheng's eyes darted around, and suddenly an idea came to him.

He immediately whispered a suggestion to Liu Xie:

"...Your Majesty, Luoyang is Cao Cao's stronghold. If we enter his territory..."

"Then they are like fish trapped in a dried-up pond or birds bound in a cage, with no chance of escape."

"Currently, Cao Cao and Liu Bei are vying for control of the Central Plains, and war is imminent."

"Judging from their situation, they are like fire and water, and they are fighting each other with all their might. They are bound to fight to the death."

"In my humble opinion, it would be better to remain in Chen for the time being and observe how things develop."

"When the two tigers fight, one will surely be injured. At that time, Your Majesty may be able to reap the benefits and restore the Han dynasty."

Previously caught between the two major powers of Cao Cao and Liu Bei, Liu Xie had no choice but to resign himself to fate.

The ministers and high officials all advised Liu Xie to sit back and observe how things would change.

Now that two tigers are fighting, one of them is bound to be injured. Isn't that an opportunity?
Thinking of this, a glimmer of light rekindled in Liu Xie's eyes.

Seeing this, Xiahou Dun pressed him further, asking:
"Your Majesty! The matter of moving the capital concerns the safety of the nation."

"I urge Your Majesty to make a swift decision. If you hesitate, I cannot guarantee Your Majesty's safety!"

These words had a hidden meaning, but the threat in them was already quite obvious.

All the officials in the hall held their breath and listened intently, with only the soft clanging of armored soldiers' swords rang out.

Dong Cheng subtly tugged at the emperor's sleeve, and the emperor slowly raised his head, feigning hesitation, and said:
"Relocating the capital is a major national event and should not be decided hastily."

"You may all leave now, and allow me to consider this."

Xiahou Dun's brow furrowed, and he was about to speak again when Cao Hong drew his sword and shouted sharply:

"Liu Bei's army is about to arrive; how can we afford to delay?"

"If Your Majesty hesitates, you may be misled by treacherous people!"

The soldiers on the left and right also looked around, and the guards in the hall were all afraid of his power and dared not move.

Liu Xie frowned, pondered for a long time, and then spoke slowly:
"Very well then, my beloved ministers, you may all withdraw."

"Allow me to go to the inner palace to discuss this with the Empress. It will only take half an hour."

"We will give the generals an answer in half an hour."

Hey you!

Cao Hong wanted to offer further advice, but Xiahou Dun stopped him with a wave of his hand.

He bowed respectfully to Liu Xie and replied solemnly:

"Your Majesty, please go to the inner palace first. We will take our leave for now."

After saying this, he waved to Cao Hong and the others.

hum~
Cao Hong grunted and reluctantly followed Xiahou Dun out.

However, he still instructed the soldiers to surround the court and not let any ministers or officials escape.

“Brother Yuanrang, we are only slightly closer to Chen than Liu Bei, not much faster.”

"If we delay any longer, things will become more complicated once Liu Bei arrives."

"...Alright, it's only half an hour anyway, that little emperor can't cause much trouble."

Thinking of this, Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong were both unprepared. They believed that Liu Xie had indeed returned to the inner palace to discuss the matter with the Queen.

Let me talk about two things.

Meanwhile, Liu Xie retreated into the inner palace and urgently summoned his trusted attendants, secretly ordering them to sneak out of the palace and quickly summon Prince Chen, Liu Chong.

It turns out that when Liu Xie was living in seclusion in the State of Chen, he had secretly sent his trusted confidants to build a secret passage between the inner palace and the court, in preparation for any eventuality.

Because Cao Cao and Liu Bei had spies everywhere in the court and the country, only the supervision of the inner palace was somewhat lax, so no one noticed this matter.

Upon receiving the imperial edict, Liu Chong immediately led one hundred of his elite elite soldiers, armed with powerful crossbows and sharp blades, through a secret passage and swiftly arrived at the palace.

The generals and soldiers lined up to protect the emperor, their bows and crossbows nocked, their sharpness aimed directly at the palace gate.

Shortly after, Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong heard of the commotion and hurriedly led their armored soldiers to the scene.

Seeing the imposing array of bows and crossbows in the hall, with the emperor seated on his throne and Liu Chong standing by with his hand on his sword, he was taken aback.

Xiahou Dun suppressed his shock and anger, stepped forward, and bowed, saying:
What is the meaning behind Your Majesty's move?

Liu Xie's expression hardened, no longer showing his previous timid demeanor, and he said in a deep voice:
"The relocation of the capital is a major national event."

"This requires further consideration..."

"General Xiahou, please withdraw outside the city for now. We will make a decision after I have discussed the matter with my ministers."

What? This!
Xiahou Dun was stunned, never expecting that he would be tricked by the young emperor.

Cao Hong was furious upon hearing this and shouted angrily:

Has the emperor been misled by treacherous officials and actually attempted to disobey orders?

Having said that, he placed his hand on his sword and was about to lead his troops forward to fight.

Xiahou Dun quickly stopped him and whispered, "Don't be rash!"

"Liu Chong has already drawn his bow and arrow. If we rush into battle, we may harm the emperor."

"At that time, he will be convicted of regicide, and the great cause of Duke Wei will be in grave danger!"

Cao Hong gritted his teeth and said bitterly:

"A mere hundred men are nothing to fear!"

Xiahou Dun shook his head and said in a sinister voice:
"It is not that I fear Liu Chong, but that I fear Liu Bei."

“If the emperor is harmed, they will surely take the opportunity to raise an army to punish the rebels.”

"If the people of the world rise up to attack us, how will we defend ourselves?"

Although Cao Hong was indignant, after listening to Xiahou Dun's analysis, he understood the advantages and disadvantages involved and had no choice but to remain inactive.

Xiahou Dun took a deep breath, barely suppressing his anger.

He bowed slightly, forcing a show of deference, and said:

"Since Your Majesty has doubts, we will naturally comply."

"However, Liu Bei harbors wolfish ambitions and must be guarded against. I hope Your Majesty will make a decision soon."

After speaking, he led his men away dejectedly.

What happened today is absolutely the second greatest humiliation in Xiahou Dun's life.

The seemingly insurmountable situation was turned around by a powerless young emperor with only a few hundred men.

The last time I suffered such a humiliating defeat was when Lü Bu attacked Yanzhou, and I was kidnapped and forced to demand a ransom from Cao Cao.

That's how he got the nickname "Meat Ticket General".

After the Wei army had completely withdrawn from the palace gates, the courtiers in the hall finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Dong Cheng, Zhao Yan, and others were all overjoyed and offered their congratulations to Liu Xie.
"Your Majesty is wise! Today, their sharp edge has been blunted, a great fortune for the Han Dynasty!"

When the court officials saw that the Wei army had been forced to retreat, they all celebrated with joy.

Having been suppressed by Cao Cao and Liu Bei for so many years, they were almost suffocating.

Now we've finally won a direct victory against Cao Cao.

This can be considered the first major victory since the capital was moved.

Once there's a first time, there will definitely be a second and a third.

Perhaps there is still hope for the restoration of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Xie smiled, but the worry in his eyes remained. He sighed:
"Although Xiahou Dun has been forced to retreat, how could Cao Cao let this go?"

"You gentlemen should quickly devise a plan for the future."

Liu Chong solemnly said:
"Your Majesty, I am willing to defend the palace to the death. Even if Cao Cao were to come in person, he would not be able to force Your Majesty to submit!"

"...Yes, thank you for your trouble, Prince Chen."

Liu Xie waved his hand; he still had too few cards in his hand.

Although he temporarily forced the Wei army to retreat, the situation remained very passive for him.

What happens next depends entirely on how the people of Qi act.

Unfortunately, the Wei army has now blockaded the State of Chen, so even if Liu Xie sends someone out to influence the State of Qi's intentions, he will be powerless to do so.

All we can do is wait quietly for news.

……

Meanwhile, Li Yi had already led his elite Hebei troops across the river and down the river.

Guan Yu also led the elite troops of Qingzhou out of the perilous Taishan Pass to join Li Yi's army and march south together.

Liu Bei then personally led the elite troops of Xuzhou into the territory of Yuzhou.

The three armies, with their banners facing each other, all advanced towards the heart of the Central Plains.

Since the armies from Jingzhou and Huainan were still en route, and Zhuge Liang and Chen Deng were very likely to be bogged down on the Runan battlefield.

Therefore, the three factions of Li, Guan, and Liu decided to meet at Shanyang to discuss their grand plan.

Inside the main tent of the army, Liu Bei held the hands of Li Yi and Guan Yu, and said with deep emotion:

"You two ministers have spared no effort in traveling thousands of miles to provide assistance; this is truly a blessing for the nation!"

Li Yi and Guan Yu both bowed in gratitude, saying that it was their duty.

After exchanging pleasantries with his old friends, the brothers...

Liu Bei then sought advice from Li Yi:

Now that the army has assembled, where should we attack first?

Li Yi spread out a map, pointed to the map book, and said:
"Cao Cao, a cunning and ambitious man, would surely first plot against the State of Chen in order to seize control of the emperor."

"Our army should quickly advance to Chen and engage the Wei army in a decisive battle here."

"This place is also the throat of the Central Plains. If we control it, we can stabilize the situation of the world."

Liu Bei frowned:

"However, the emperor is still in Chendu. If the two armies clash, it may alarm the emperor."

For Liu Bei's camp, they also did not want to harm the emperor.

Furthermore, the emperor was very important to Liu Bei at this time.

Because Liu Bei had gathered all the necessary conditions in terms of military strength, economics, and public support.

All that's missing now is a political pretext to curry favor with the orthodox order and then legally accept the throne.

Politics is the game where face is the most important thing.

If you're going to put on a show, you have to go all the way.

Li Yi analyzed:
"Swords may have no eyes, but the armies of Wei and Qi both call themselves subjects of the king; how dare they offend the emperor?"

"First, defeat Cao Cao's army, then escort the emperor to his new residence."

"I believe that we should first send Guo Gong, the governor of Yuzhou, to Chen to stabilize the Wei army's situation."

"Then my army will advance in succession, ensuring complete safety."

Guan Yu stroked his beard and nodded: "This plan is excellent."

“The State of Liang borders the State of Chen. If Guo Gong goes ahead, he can quickly reach the capital.”

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then struck the table and made his decision:

"Let it be so! Quickly order Guo Gong to go first, and the main army shall set off immediately."

The king's decree was quickly relayed to the State of Qi. Guo Gong, the governor of Yuzhou, received the king's order, held the imperial insignia, and pondered for a long time, his face showing reluctance.

Because the task he received was clearly impossible to complete.

The Wei army in Chen State numbered at least fifty or sixty thousand, and their numbers were growing.

The Liang Kingdom is small and its people are poor; how could they possibly stop him?

Liu Bei's order was practically sending him to his death!
Just as Guo Gong was in a dilemma, his attendants saw this and stepped forward to advise him:

“Since you, my lord, have governed Liang, the talents under the command of the King of Qi have increased day by day.”

"If we hesitate and do not move forward now, I fear that I will be replaced by a more capable person."

This was said in a subtle way, but the implication was that although Guo Gong was nominally the governor of Yuzhou...

But don't you have any idea whether you can control the entire Yu Province?

To put it bluntly, a place like Liang, with its weak and impoverished population, would be much better off if it weren't for its proximity to Chen.

If it had any strategic value left, it would have been wiped out long ago by the combined forces of Cao Cao and Liu Bei.
Now that the King of Qi has assigned you some tasks, where do you get the courage to refuse?
Guo Gong threw the token on the table and sighed deeply.

"It is not that I fear war or hardship."

"However, Wei troops are gathered in Chen, and Xiahou Yuanrang has more than 100,000 elite soldiers under his command."

"Our Liang Kingdom has only a little over ten thousand soldiers. I fear that going there will only result in the loss of our soldiers."

Guo Gong, who was once a powerful and commanding general with tens of thousands of troops, is no longer the man he once was.

The reason he was able to command tens of thousands of troops in Yuzhou was because Yuzhou was in a state of chaos at the time.

Guo Gong could recruit soldiers and collect grain from all over the place.

However, as Cao Cao and Liu Bei extended their influence into Yuzhou, Guo Gong was trapped in the Liang Kingdom.

The Liang Kingdom's finances cannot support so many soldiers who have taken off their jobs; the only option is a large-scale reduction in the army.

At present, Guo Gong has less than 10,000 troops under his command.

Of course, this is the main pawn.

If you were to force an army to grow, you could produce 20,000 to 30,000 troops, but that's clearly unnecessary.

The chief clerk seized the opportunity to speak:
“When you were stationed in Yuzhou, the King of Qi treated you with great courtesy.”

"If we achieve this great feat now, wouldn't it be easy for us to be ranked among the Nine Ministers after we recover the Central Plains in the future?"

"If we hesitate and fail to progress... there will be no possibility of further ascent in the future."

Before he finished speaking, he gestured to those around him.

At the meeting of the officials on both sides, the military advisors and strategists also stepped forward to offer their advice:

"The King of Qi's three armies will arrive soon."

“Your Excellency arrived in Chen first; even if you fail to accomplish anything, it still demonstrates your loyalty and diligence.”

"If we hesitate and fear war, we will surely offend the King of Qi."

"And Cao Cao may not have been generous to the public."

Why do you think all the men under Guo Gong speak up for Liu Bei?

It turns out that the Qi state's high-ranking officials had already befriended him with gold and pearls several years ago.

Their aim was to infiltrate the upper echelons of the Liang Kingdom in order to strengthen their control over the country.

Now, the soldiers have been raised for a thousand days, but they are only used for one. Just as Guo Gong was hesitating,

The military advisors and clerks, who had received many favors from the State of Qi over the years, all advised Guo Gong to obey them.

If you surrender to the Qi army, I guarantee you will enjoy wealth and riches, and lots of gold coins!
As expected, Guo Gong was provoked by the crowd's few words, his expression changed drastically, he drew his sword and stood up, shouting:
"Why do you say such things, gentlemen! We have received the Han dynasty's stipend for generations; how could we be cowards who cling to life and fear death?"

After speaking, he immediately issued an order to the three armies:

"Prepare your troops immediately and march on the State of Chen!"

That night, the Liang troops marched swiftly, their mouths gagged.

Guo Gong frequently glanced back from his horse, only to see stars hanging low over the plains. He unconsciously tightened his grip on the reins, thinking to himself:

"This decision to advance or retreat concerns my life's achievements; I absolutely cannot back down!"

Chen and Liang are close to each other, so they rushed to the outskirts of Chen in the evening.

The Wei army's campfires stretched for dozens of miles, resembling a galaxy fallen to earth.

The lieutenant looked fearful, and Guo Gong was also afraid, but he still tried to remain calm and shouted sternly:
"We have come on the king's orders, and we wish to observe the strength and weakness of the Wei army."

"Order all units to set up camp in strategic locations and display many flags as a diversion."

"Here!"

The soldiers accepted the order and set up camp on the spot.

Suddenly, drums and horns sounded from all four sides.

But then Cao Hong personally led his iron cavalry out of the forest, the Wei army's black armor shining in the sun, like dark clouds pressing down on the border.

Guo Gong was greatly alarmed and exclaimed:
Why did the Wei people attack without warning?

Guo Gong was puzzled, after all, he hadn't said that he came to help Liu Bei.

Why are the Wei people so unreasonable, resorting to violence without warning?

Before the Liang soldiers could even form ranks, they were routed by the Wei cavalry that suddenly appeared.

Guo Gong hastily engaged in battle, and his personal guards fought desperately to protect their lord.

By sunrise, more than ten out of ten Liang soldiers had perished in the battle.

Guo Gong was wounded several times and led only thirty-odd horsemen to break through the encirclement and flee north.

Along the way, he lost his crown, his armor was stained with blood, and he was in a sorry state.

It turned out that scouts had already informed the Wei army that a Liang army was approaching from the north.

Although it is unclear what their purpose in coming here is.

However, after discussion among the Wei army officers, it was decided that anyone not on the same side should be treated as an enemy.

They won't even give you a chance to be a troublemaker.

In any case, the Wei army has already gone all out in Henan, so why should they care about the small state of Liang?
Thus, Guo Gong was caught off guard by the Wei army as soon as he arrived in Chenjiao.

The elite forces of Liang were almost completely wiped out.

Guo Gong fled desperately, and when he reached the border of Suiyang, he suddenly saw Xuande's banners.

Guo Gong then dismounted, prostrated himself on the ground, and wept:
"Greetings to King Qi, Qi Nasui."

"I went to Chen on the king's orders, but I was unexpectedly attacked by Cao Hong."

"More than ten thousand soldiers perished in battle..."

Before he could finish speaking, he choked up and could no longer utter a word.

Zhang Fei's eyes widened in fury, and his eighteen-foot spear clanged loudly.
"Incompetent fool! You've brought shame upon your country and lost your army; how dare you even face the King of Qi?"

"More than ten thousand brave soldiers have perished in battle, why don't you fight to the death!"

Guo Gong's poor performance proved the old saying that "an incompetent general can lead to the death of the entire army."

Although the soldiers of Liang Kingdom may not be particularly skilled in combat, they are still the elite of their own country.

And just like that, it was all lost in a confused and chaotic night.

As the commander, Guo Gong failed to prepare in advance and did not make timely and correct adjustments when faced with a surprise attack.

He clearly bears a great deal of responsibility.

"Yide, shut up!"

Liu Bei quickly stopped him, dismounted, and personally helped Guo Gong up.

"Your Excellency, with your lone army facing a million fierce and wolves of Wei, though defeated, you are still honorable."

He immediately ordered his attendants, "Bring me my brocade robe and give it to Guo Yuzhou to calm his nerves."

"Prepare some more wine and meat to reward the remaining troops."

Guo Gong was then taken to a tent to warm up.

He and his men fled all night, cold and hungry, and began to feast as soon as they got their hands on wine and meat.

Guo Gong, holding the murky wine bowl, sighed:
"Liu Bei was still an honest and kind man!"

"Now that I have lost my troops, I might as well surrender the whole country to Liu Bei."

“Gong is willing to resign as governor of Yuzhou and take a sinecure.”

What do you all think?

Everyone said, "This is in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people; it should have been done long ago."

So after the meal, Guo Gong took the initiative to find Liu Bei and explain the matter.

As a result, the State of Liang was formally incorporated into the territory of the State of Qi.

……

(End of this chapter)