Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 235 Gongsun Bogui’s attack!
The world is divided, heroes emerge and alliances are formed, which is the top priority of this world.

Zhang Yu united with other princes to attack Guanzhong. Jia Xu offered advice to disintegrate the coalition forces, while Zhu Jun entered the game himself to revive the Han Dynasty.

In order to balance the situation in Hebei, Zhang Yu allied with You to control Yuan and divided Jizhou into three parts. In order to break through the diplomatic dilemma, Yuan Shao took advantage of the conflict between Gongsun Zan and Liu Yu, sent people to bribe Gongsun Zan's confidants, and sent Feng Ji to lobby Gongsun Zan.

"Feng Ji enters the hall!"

Along with the attendant's voice, Feng Ji was seen striding into the hall and bowing to Gongsun Zan who was sitting high on the couch.

"I, a humble official under Yuan Cheqi, pay my respects to General Gongsun!"

Gongsun Zan's eyes were stern, and he asked in a deep voice, "What are you doing here?"

Feng Ji straightened his sleeves, cupped his hands and said, "Yuan Cheqi wants to make peace with the general, so he sent me here to be his lobbyist!"

Gongsun Zan sneered and said, "My brother's body is still warm, and the blood of the soldiers is still here. Now Yuan Benchu wants to stop the war with me. Is he bullying me because there is no one in Youzhou?"

As he spoke, Gongsun Zan drew out the sword from his waist, thrust it into the table, and said, "I sharpened my sword just yesterday, and I am sending someone to test it. If you speak nonsense and humiliate my soldiers, don't blame me for using you as a sacrifice today."

Seeing Gongsun Zan's fierce voice, Feng Ji's heart trembled a little, but considering Yuan Shao's request before leaving, Feng Ji plucked up his courage, stepped forward, pulled out the long sword from the table, and placed it horizontally on the table, saying: "General, you are in great danger, but you don't know it at all. I am afraid that the sword will be tested on my head for the first time, so you must test it yourself!"

Feng Ji's words made Gongsun Zan suspicious, and he asked, "What disaster have I in store for?"

Feng Ji bowed and said, "General, you have a quarrel with Liu Yu in the north, and you are fighting with chariots and cavalry in the west. Now your army and food are limited in Youzhou, and your troops are trapped in Bohai. Next year, you will lead an expedition to the east. I wonder if you think it will be a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Ah!"

Gongsun Zan narrowed his eyes and said in a cold voice: "Whether it is good or bad, I will know after a competition next year. Besides, I won a great victory at Jumashui, so I can defeat the Jizhou troops again now."

Feng Ji said, "Cui Juye is a man without strategy, so it is not surprising that he was defeated by the general. Moreover, even if our army cannot defeat the general next year, we can still fight the general again due to the large population of Jizhou. Now, after the cavalry calmed the people's hearts, all the counties in Jizhou, except Hejian and Bohai, have been taken by the Yuan family. If the general is defeated again, like the defeat at Jieqiao and the loss of Pingyuan, and Youzhou does not provide troops, I wonder if the general can still fight again?"

As he spoke, Feng Ji's tone slowed down, and he said, "To accomplish great things now, without the foundation of a state, it is not enough. General, you have the ability of a tiger and a bear, but you have not been able to accomplish anything yet. It is not because your talent and military strategy are not as good as those of chariots and cavalry, but because you have no state or county as a foundation."

Hearing this, Gongsun Zan's expression eased and he asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Feng Ji was secretly delighted and said, "Zhang Yu became famous in Hebei because he occupied Bingzhou, and Yuan Shu was able to fight for the Central Plains because he occupied Jingzhou. Since the general wants to take Hebei as his home, do you know why Zhang Yu sent troops to stop the war?"

Seeing Gongsun Zan remained silent, Feng Ji continued, "General, you are a man of great talent, how could you not know the strategy of two tigers competing for food? The chariot and the general are both fierce tigers, and Zhang Yu controls Bingzhou. He is always afraid that a virtuous person will control Jizhou, so he keeps intervening in the situation in Hebei. Now the chariot and the general are defeated, and Zhang Yu helps the chariot and the general is defeated by the chariot and the general, and Zhang Yu sends troops to help the general. I would like to ask who do you think is the winner?"

Gongsun Zan sneered and said, "I know what you are saying. I am fighting with Yuan Shao for Jizhou, and Zhang Yu helps the weak and suppresses the strong. What you are saying is nothing more than trying to make me slack off so that Yuan Shao can take the opportunity to send troops!"

Gongsun Zan was not a fool, how could he not know that Zhang Yu was deliberately trying to maintain the balance in Ji Province? It was just that he had no other states to attack except Ji and Qing Provinces, and no other states to which he could send troops.

"No!"

Feng Ji shook his head and smiled, saying: "Yuan Cheqi has no intention of making things difficult for the general, but rather intends to share Hebei with the general. The two families will each gain territory, making it difficult for Zhang and Yu, the two tigers, to compete for food!"

Gongsun Zan was silent for a while, then asked, "I would like to hear what you have to say!"

"Zhang Yu allied with You and controlled Ji, and Liu Yu was Zhang Yu's ally. Therefore, it is better for the general to plan Youzhou in the north as his base, and the chariot and cavalry to plan Qingzhou in the south. Zhang Yu knows that the general will take Youzhou, so he will raise an army to attack the general, and the chariot and cavalry will help the general. The chariot and cavalry will help what the general asks for, and the chariot and cavalry will help what the general wants." Feng Ji said.

"Liu Yu was able to win the hearts of the people in Youzhou. If we send troops to take it now, I'm afraid it will be difficult to take Youyan all at once." Gongsun Zan stroked his beard and thought, and asked, "Why don't the chariots and cavalry take Youzhou, but let me take Qingzhou?"

Feng Ji said: "The general came from Youyan, and all the generals under his command are from You and Ji. Therefore, if the general does not take Youzhou now, he may ruin his future!"

Gongsun Zan frowned, he really didn't want to fall out with Liu Yu, but as Feng Ji said, if he didn't want to fight to the death with Yuan Shao, he had no other choice than to head north to Youzhou!

Gongsun Zan was already afraid of fighting Yuan Shao to the death. He had fought several battles with Yuan Shao, and whenever Yuan Shao and Qu Yi were in command, he could hardly gain any advantage. If he was defeated by Yuan Shao again, he would probably have to flee back to Youzhou in disgrace.

After thinking for a while, Gongsun Zan asked, "I will take Youzhou in the north. What do you think of Zhang Yuruo sending troops to help me?"

"Zhang Yu has convened a meeting with the princes and wants to raise an army to attack Guanzhong. General, you can take advantage of Zhang Yu's army's westward expedition to send troops to attack Youzhou. Most of the elite soldiers in Youzhou are in your hands. If you can capture Liu Yu, all the counties in Youzhou will belong to you." Seeing that Gongsun Zan was tempted, Feng Ji raised the stakes and said, "Zhang Yan has stationed troops in Changshan. The chariots and cavalry are willing to send troops to attack him, so as to cut off Liu Yu's wings and help you take Youzhou."

"What about my two counties of Bohai and Hejian?" asked Gongsun Zan.

"The chariots and cavalry only want the two counties of Qingzhou, and have no intention of occupying the two counties of Jizhou. The general will occupy the six counties of Youzhou and the two counties of Jizhou; and the chariots and cavalry will get the seven counties of Jizhou and the six counties of Qingzhou." Feng Ji said with a smile: "The general will not be bound by Ji and Qing, but will focus on Youzhou; the chariots and cavalry will not be enemies with the general, and will focus on managing Qingzhou."

Gongsun Zan was already tempted. Compared with fighting Yuan Shao to the death in Ji and Qing states, returning to Youzhou was a good deal. Youzhou had eleven counties and kingdoms, six within Yanshan, and five east of Yanshan. Now, most of the east of Yanshan was occupied by Gongsun Du, while Liu Yu could control six counties and kingdoms. If he succeeded in attacking Liu Yu, he would be able to obtain the six counties within Yanshan, plus Hejian and Bohai counties, and his strength would not be much inferior to Zhang Yu.

Moreover, if Zhang Yu fails in his western expedition to Guanzhong, he will not only be unable to help Liu Yu send troops, but his power will probably shrink back to Bingzhou, and his rule in Youzhou will be consolidated.

"Zhang Yu has worked hard to maintain the situation in Hebei. If you do not want to be a pawn, but want to achieve hegemony, you should lead your troops north. However, you insist on fighting against the chariots and cavalry, allowing Zhang Yu to gain an advantage for nothing. This is a waste of words."

Feng Ji pointed at the sharp sword lying on the table and said in a deep voice, "Let me test whether the general's sword is sharp!"

Hearing this, Gongsun Zan suddenly stood up from the couch, grasped the cold sword, and said with emotion: "Listening to your words, I have suddenly realized. Now Zhang Yu is ambitious and has alienated me from Liu Yu, causing my troops to be trapped in Bohai. If I become an enemy of the chariots and cavalry again, wouldn't it make Zhang Yu proud?"

As he spoke, Gongsun Zan sheathed his sword, warmly invited Feng Ji to sit down, and said, "I want to make friends with Yuan Cheqi, but I am afraid that my subordinates will hesitate. I don't know what I can prove it."

Feng Ji sat at the table, cupped his hands and said, "In the past, Qin and Zhao had an agreement that whatever Qin wanted to do, Zhao would help it; whatever Zhao wanted to do, Qin would help it. In order to gain mutual trust, the two countries each sent hostages. Yuan Cheqi is willing to exchange hostages with the general to gain mutual trust between the two countries."

Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao have a deep hatred, but now because of their common interests, they are able to bind each other. Apart from hostages, any oath is illusory.

Gongsun Zan nodded and said, "I know that Yuan Cheqi is willing to make peace with me. I am willing to exchange hostages with Cheqi."

"The general is wise!"

Seeing Gongsun Zan's agreement, Feng Ji was overjoyed and said, "The general's brother Yue was not killed by the chariots and cavalry, but was killed by Yuan Shu's troops and arrows. Now that the two families are at peace, we should put aside our past grudges. Ji has no choice but to speak frankly."

In order to resume cooperation, Gongsun Zan could only follow Feng Ji's words and said with emotion: "The officers led the charge, but the swords were blind. Now they have returned with their bodies wrapped in horsehide. For my brother Yue, this is both a blessing and a tragic thing. I blamed your army in the past because I was angry at the chariots because of Zhou."

"General, please be generous. Ji will report the news back to the cavalry." Feng Ji said.

"good!"

After the two exchanged some greetings, Gongsun Zan allowed Feng Ji to leave and rest.

After Feng Ji left, Guan Jing said worriedly, "Yuan Shao sent his counselors to persuade the general because he wanted the general to take Youzhou and make enemies with Zhang Yu. Liu Yu is the general's patron saint. Now raising an army to attack him is an act of subversion. I hope the general will think twice about the pros and cons. Moreover, Zhang Yu has Youzhou as an ally. If the general takes Youzhou, Zhang Yu will definitely attack the general."

Gongsun Zan stood with his sword in hand, sneered and said, "I know what Yuan Shao is thinking. It's just that the situation is difficult now and Youzhou will be cut off from food and supplies, so I have no choice but to join forces with Yuan Shao. As Feng Ji said, if you want to accomplish great things, you can't accomplish anything without the foundation of a state. The reason why you and I have defeated Yuan Shao repeatedly is not because you and I lack wisdom, but because Youzhou is not mine."

"What the general said is absolutely true!"

Because he had accepted Yuan Shao's gold, silver and jewelry, Liu Weitai flattered him and said, "I divined for you, and the hexagram is auspicious. If you take Youzhou, you will be able to accomplish great things. When Emperor Taizu was trapped in Hebei, he had the help of Youzhou, and he was able to conquer the states and counties in the south, drive out the rebels and proclaim himself emperor, achieving great things. The situation you are in now is similar to that of Emperor Taizu when he first fled to Hebei."

As he spoke, Liu Weitai looked at Guan Jing and asked, "Now that Youzhou has cut off its military supplies, the general is trapped in Bohai. If Yuan Shao leads a strong army to attack fiercely, the situation will be critical!"

"How can the Chief Secretary give up the greater benefit for the sake of a minor disadvantage?"

"Ha ha!"

"The Weitai knows my heart!"

Gongsun Zan put his hand on the hilt of his sword and laughed, saying, "The generals in Guanzhong have more than 100,000 soldiers and horses. Let's see if Zhang Yu wins first. If he defeats Guo and Li, Bingzhou will not be a threat."

Guan Jing sighed helplessly. In fact, Gongsun Zan once had the upper hand in the fight for Jizhou. However, due to various reasons, Gongsun Zan ruined the good situation.

If he wanted to get out of the predicament, he could only negotiate with Yuan Shao and occupy Youzhou. However, Liu Yu's reputation was too high, and he was afraid that even if Gongsun Zan occupied Youzhou, it would be difficult to win the hearts of the people. If Zhang Yu succeeded in defeating the enemy, he would probably ask Gongsun Zan to avenge Liu Yu immediately. It would be best if Zhang Yu failed in defeating the enemy!

(End of this chapter)