Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 160: Although Yuan Jun is good, I like Zhang

"Now Dong Zhuo has deposed the emperor and killed the empress, and in the name of assisting the Han Dynasty, he has brought chaos to the world. The righteous men of Guandong have risen up to respond to the alliance. This is a chance for a man to make great achievements. I wonder what your plan is?"

Xun Chen sat opposite Guo Tu and asked, "Do you want to stay at the Shell Mound alone to observe the changes in the world?"

Guo Tu sipped his wine and smiled, then asked, "What is your plan?"

Xun Chen shook his head and said, "I am a commoner, so I have no intention to plot. The governor of Jizhou sent people to invite the Yingchuan clans to come north, and my Xun clan was also among them. However, I was invited by Yuan Bohai to serve as his disciple, and now I want to become his disciple."

Guo Tu pondered for a moment and said, "Yingchuan is a place of war on all sides. If there is any change in the world, it will be a place of conflict. The governor of Jizhou cares about his fellow countrymen and invites you to come north, which can be regarded as a kind act."

"Yuan Bohai came to the throne at a young age, and his name spread throughout the country. Now, when the country is in trouble, he has raised an army of righteousness and fought bravely. Now he has led Bohai's soldiers and gathered the people of Guandong to denounce the traitors. He is a real man. If you go and join him, you can be said to have met a good king."

On the eve of the turmoil, Zhang Yu was not the only one who sent people to collect his family members. Han Fu, the governor of Jizhou, did something similar, sending his troops to Yingchuan to collect the Yingchuan nobles who were on good terms with him and bring them to Hebei.

Unfortunately, Han Fu was replaced by Yuan Shao before he could use the talents of Yingchuan. A large number of Yingchuan talents were used by Yuan Shao. The Yingchuan scholars under Cao Cao had a lot to do with Cao Cao getting Xun Yu to join him and controlling Yingchuan.

"Then are you willing to go to Bohai with me?" Xun Chen asked.

Guo Tu hesitated and said, "Although Yuan Bohai has a great reputation, I still doubt whether he will join me now."

"Why doubt?"

Xun Chen smiled and said, "Mr. Yuan is a man of honor and respect. Now that you have given up your official position and come to serve under him, I will surely be overjoyed and entrust you with an important position."

Guo Tu pondered for a long time and said, "To be honest, General Zhang Ji'an sent me a letter to recruit me, so I am considering this matter!"

"Are you hesitating about whether to join the Zhang family or Lord Yuan?" Xun Chen asked.

Guo Tu remained silent. Compared to joining Yuan Shao, he preferred joining Zhang Yu, with whom he had a close relationship. After all, Zhang Yu and Wang Yun had done him a favor, and he also knew Zhang Yu. If he joined Yuan Shao, he was unsure whether he would be reused.

Seeing Guo Tu was silent, Xun Chen hesitated for a moment and advised: "Gong Ze, Yuan Bohai has been a duke for four generations, and his name is well known throughout the country. Now you are raising an army to fight against the traitors. This is what a real man should do. Although Zhang Duliao is an outstanding military strategist, his reputation is not good."

"Even if Zhang Duliao is successful for a while, in the long run, how can he compare with Mr. Yuan? Mr. Yuan is not an ordinary person. If he encounters a storm, he will surely rise to prominence in the world. I hope you will not underestimate Mr. Yuan and give up your great ambitions for the sake of small achievements."

After a while, Guo Tu said slowly: "As Youruo said, Mr. Yuan is a hero in the world, but although Mr. Zhang is young, he is also outstanding. Don't forget that during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Mr. Zhang was still a commoner, and he was able to become a state official by the favor of the Wang family."

"However, six years later, Mr. Zhang has been appointed General Du Liao and is in charge of Shangdang County. He is still inferior to Mr. Yuan, but I believe that with Mr. Zhang's strategy, he may become more prosperous."

Comparing Zhang Yu and Yuan Shao, even if Yuan Shao won, it would still be a victory for Zhang Yu, who came from a powerful frontier family. After all, the two of them started with resources that were not at the same level.

"According to Gongze's words, do you want to surrender to Zhang Duliao right now?" Xun Chen asked.

Guo Tu was a little confused and said, "I don't know what kind of person Yuan Bohai is!"

Seeing Guo Tu's hesitation, Xun Chen tempted him by saying, "Why don't you follow me to Bohai to pay a visit to Lord Yuan. If you are not valued, you should go to Zhang Duliao again."

Guo Tu stroked his beard and chanted. He needed to make plans early. To be honest, comparing the future of Zhang Yu and Yuan Shao, he was more optimistic about Yuan Shao's future. But Zhang Yu could rise to the position of General Du Liao from a humble background. There must be a good way for him, such as his outstanding military strategy. Therefore, in troubled times, Zhang Yu might rise up suddenly.

Comparing the talents of the two, Yuan Shao had many friends. If he joined Yuan Shao, he would probably be inferior to Yuan Shao's old friends in the short term. Zhang Yu was different. Because of his humble background or because he was young, Zhang Yu had few friends. If he joined Zhang Yu, he would be able to be used directly.

"Gongzhi?"

Xun Chen tempted again, "Beiqiu is very close to Nanpi. Why don't we go to Nanpi first and then to Huguan?"

"No!"

Guo Tu shook his head and said, "I have a long history with Zhang Ji'an. Now that he has invited me in a letter, I dare not refuse. Mr. Yuan is famous, but without a letter, it is not convenient for me to go. I hope you will allow me to go to Huguan first. If Du Liao is not the person who can accomplish anything, I will turn to Mr. Yuan and ask you to introduce me to him."

"good!"

Seeing that he could not convince Guo Tu, Xun Chen did not force him to persuade him. After all, what Guo Tu said was not without reason. Compared with Yuan Shao, Zhang Yu and Guo Tu had a deeper bond. Besides, choosing someone to serve does not mean that you have to leave him. If you feel that the person you serve is unreliable, you can withdraw at any time.

Not to mention that Guo Tu finally chose to join Zhang Yu after much hesitation. As time went by, the world came to the first month of the first year of Chuping. After one or two months of running around in Guandong, the princes finally raised their army to fight against Dong in the first month of the year.

At that time, all the princes regarded Yuan Shao as their leader, and Yuan Shao named himself General of Chariots and Cavalry, and took charge of the Inspector of the Imperial Capital. He used the slogan of supporting the Prince of Chenliu to become emperor and attacked Dong Zhuo.

The fourteen princes divided their troops into three routes. The commander of the northern army was Yuan Shao, who was under the command of Wang Kuang, the governor of Henei, and Han Fu, the governor of Jizhou, who lived in Yecheng to supply military supplies for the northern army.

The Eastern Army had many soldiers and generals, including Zhang Miao, Liu Dai, Kong Rong, Qiao Mao, Zhang Chao, Cao Cao and others, who were stationed in Suanzao.

The commander of the southern army was the rear general Yuan Shu, with Changsha prefect Sun Jian and Jiangxia prefect Liu Xiang as the vanguard, and they stationed their troops in Luyang.

The allied forces had more than 100,000 men, and their momentum shook the world. Even Dong Zhuo had to be a little afraid.

In the same month, Dong Zhuo ordered Li Ru to poison Liu Bian in order to sabotage the coalition's plan to support him. Before he could do so, Zhong Yao, the Minister of Justice, submitted a memorial, requesting to go to Shangdang to appease Zhang Yu, the General of the Liao Dynasty, who was stationed in Shangdang and might have been bewitched by Yuan Shikai and raised an army. Dong Zhuo approved Zhong Yao's request and ordered him to go to Shangdang as an envoy.

At the same time, Dong Zhuo was worried that Huangfu Song and Gai Xun, who were stationed in Guanzhong, would unite with the princes in Guandong to attack from the east and west, so he moved the capital westward to Chang'an and ordered Huangfu Song and Gai Xun to serve as officials in the court.

The whole country was in chaos, but under the governance of Zhang Yu, although the registered households in Shangdang were still sparse, the public security in many counties had improved.

Now Zhang Yu will drive the carriage three miles out of the city to meet Guo Tu, who has left Beiqiu to join him.

"I am not very pleased that you have come from far away." Zhang Yu went up to meet Guo Tu and said with a smile.

Guo Tu bowed to Zhang Yu and looked at the convoy that was welcoming him. He was flattered and said, "How dare I trouble the general to come from afar to welcome you!"

"worth!"

Zhang Yu took Guo Tu's arm and rode into the carriage with him, saying, "Dong Zhuo has murdered Your Majesty and poisoned the Queen Mother. He has monopolized power and has infuriated both humans and gods. The nobles of Guandong have pledged their loyalty to the cause, but they have shown no concern for the preservation of the country or the care of the people, which I despise."

"To help the world, I have made an alliance with Liu Youzhou. However, the party is now in poverty and troubled by foreign threats, which makes it difficult for me to realize my ambitions. I need people with lofty ideals to work with me to eliminate the accumulated evils. Gongze gave up his position and joined me. If Yu does not treat him with great courtesy, wouldn't it be a disappointment to Gongze's kindness?"

Zhang Yu had no intention of helping Dong Zhuo, nor did he have any intention of raising an army to fight against Dong Zhuo. He needed a slogan to prove the legitimacy of his choice and to show that Dong Zhuo and the other nobles in Guandong were not righteous.

How to prove that Zhang Yu is just?

Zhang Yu naturally needed to use Liu Yu as his trump card. The Han blood in Liu Yu was far purer than that of Liu Biao, Liu Yan and Liu Bei, the descendants of the Western Han royal family.

Liu Yu's ancestor was the descendant of Liu Qiang (Liu Jiang), the Prince of Donghai, who was the son of Guo Shengtong and the first crown prince of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Liu Xiu had to depose Liu Qiang in order to support Liu Zhuang to ascend to the throne.

Therefore, Liu Yu can be said to be the stomach of the imperial family and the nobles. He can rule Youzhou and put down the war, and protect the abundance of Yan and Ji. Moreover, Liu Yu is the current Grand Marshal, and Yuan Shao and Dong Zhuo are trying to win him over.

Liu Yu has no intention of participating in the dispute between Yuan and Dong. Isn't this a disguised way of not approving the actions of Yuan and Dong? As a person who allied with Liu Yu, Zhang Yu could naturally use Liu Yu's name blatantly.

Since Zhang Yu said this, with Guo Tu's political wisdom, he naturally knew how to respond.

Guo Tu bowed and said, "Dong and Yuan are fighting for power, and the world is about to go to war. Now the general cares about the country and wants to help the people. Tu is willing to lend a helping hand to the general."

"good!"

Zhang Yu held the carriage railing, pointed at Huguan County, and said with a smile: "Now I have a corner of Shangdang, and I have the power to confer titles. You have come from afar, what position do you want to take?"

The greatest appreciation for talents is not how heavy the welcoming etiquette is, but to make the talents feel that they are involved and that their talents have a place to display.

Upon hearing Zhang Yu's words, Guo Tu stroked his beard and chanted, his expression full of satisfaction.

"I have just arrived under the general's command, and I dare not make any rash remarks. I would like to ask the general to appoint me!" Guo Tu said.

"If you are good at planning, you can be appointed as a military officer; if you are interested in politics, you can choose your own position in the county." Zhang Yu said with a smile.

"I am not talented, but I am willing to serve as a soldier under the general. If the general has other miscellaneous matters, I am willing to take on the responsibility." Guo Tu said.

"good!"

Zhang Yu was quite delighted. He took Guo Tu's arm and said with a smile, "The affairs of the county are complicated. Most of the clerks who are responsible for managing the military supplies also hold county posts. Now that you are joining the army as a military officer, you can also be a military officer and manage the supplies."

"Yes!" Guo Tu replied.

"I have prepared a banquet in the county government, and my officers and officials will be here soon. You can have more interactions with me in the future," said Zhang Yu.

"Thank you, General!"

"There's no need to be so polite, sir. Given the relationship between you and me, just call me by my name!" Zhang Yu said with a smile.

"How do we distinguish between the upper and lower characters?"

Guo Tu said sternly: "Now that you are the respected one, you must be addressed with a respectful title."

Guo Tu is not Xu You. Although he is proud of his good relationship with Zhang Yu, he dare not call him by his given name.

As the carriage arrived at the government office, Zhang Yu took Guo Tu out of the car and introduced him to Man Chong, Lu Fan, Zhang Yang, Zhang Liao, Xu Chu and others, so that Guo Tu could integrate into the group.

As for Man Chong who went south to pick up the families of the officers under Zhang Yu, except for Xu Chu's Xu family who was attached to their property and politely refused to move on the grounds that the country was stable under Yuan Shikai's rule, the families of Gao Shun, Xu Shu, Lu Fan and Man Chong all moved to Shangdang one after another.

Seeing that his father and brother had no intention of moving, Xu Chu apologized to Zhang Yu. Zhang Yu tried to appease him and arranged for someone to help Xu Chu find a wife in order to keep him for a long time, intending to use his family as a bond to Xu Chu.

(End of this chapter)