The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 152 Yuan Shao is truly a great man, actually allowing Liu Bei to cultivate land in Changshan (2nd update)
When Gongsun Zan was besieged in Yijing by Yuan Shao's army, he sent Gongsun Xu to ask the leaders of the Black Mountain for help.

Most of the Black Mountain commanders had old grudges against Yuan Shao, so they divided their troops into three routes to rescue Gongsun Zan. Before they arrived, Gongsun Zan was defeated and committed suicide by burning himself. Gongsun Xu was thus stranded under Zhang Yan's command, waiting for an opportunity to take revenge.

After learning of Yuan Shao's defeat at Guandu, Gongsun Xu took the opportunity to persuade the leaders of the Black Mountain tribes to raise an army of 100,000 to invade various counties. He also used the pretext of avenging Gongsun Zan to reunite Gongsun Zan's former troops.

At the time, Qian Zhao was inspecting various counties in Changshan State on behalf of Yuan Shao. Upon hearing the news, Qian Zhao rushed back to Ye City overnight to seek help.

After hearing Qian Zhao's account, Yuan Shao was so angry that his hair stood on end: "Zhang Yan, that brat, has gone too far in bullying me!"

After the defeat at Guandu, although there were many rebels in various counties of Ji Province, they were mostly insignificant, and Yuan Shao did not take them seriously.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu, who had been silent for a long time, also took the opportunity to start a rebellion. This was simply slapping Yuan Shao in the face, and it was clear that they wanted to beat Yuan Shao like a drowning dog.

How could Yuan Shao tolerate this?

Immediately.

Yuan Shao summoned the civil and military officials of Ye City to discuss military measures to quell the rebellion.

Yuan Shao glanced at the people in the hall, his eyes fierce: "Who is willing to lead troops to capture and kill Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu for me?"

In the past, everyone would have vied for credit; but now, not a single civil or military official in the hall agreed, which made Yuan Shao even more furious!

It wasn't that Yuan Shao's civil and military officials were afraid of Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu, but rather that Yuan Shao's forces were greatly reduced after the defeat at Guandu. Those civil and military officials under Yuan Shao who wanted to fight had no troops, and those who had troops only wanted to preserve their strength.

After carefully observing Yuan Shao's expression, Guo Tu shouted his recommendation: "The Protector of the Army, Feng Ji, is resourceful and wise. He can help the General capture and kill Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu!"

Upon hearing Guo Tu's shout, Feng Ji was first taken aback, then trembled with anger.

Judging from Guo Tu's "ready to die" attitude, anyone who didn't know better would think that Guo Tu was volunteering to go to war!
Do I, Feng Ji, need your recommendation, Guo Tu?

Before Feng Ji could speak, Meng Dai chimed in, "Commander Feng is exceptionally brave and resourceful; capturing and killing Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu would be a piece of cake!"

Xin Ping, Jiang Qi, and others also stepped forward, all shouting, "The task of capturing and killing Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu can only be accomplished by Protector Feng!"

Those who recommended Feng Ji were all people who had previously wanted to separate the power of military command and transfer to civilians, but Feng Ji had interfered and sabotaged the process. Naturally, they wanted to strongly recommend Feng Ji now.

Feng Ji was furious!

After pleading for Shen Pei last time, Shen Pei and Feng Ji reconciled and Shen Pei even gave Feng Ji three thousand soldiers. This is the source of Feng Ji's increasingly arrogant confidence recently.

However, Feng Ji was unwilling to lead these three thousand infantry and cavalry to fight against Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu.

Although Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu's claim of 100,000 troops was a bluff, the combined forces of the Black Mountain commanders numbered in the tens of thousands, with Zhang Yan having several thousand cavalrymen among them!

Even if they win, Feng Ji's losses will be substantial!
Seeing that Guo Tu and the others were gloating, Feng Ji cried out in desperation, "General, it's not that I'm unwilling, but I believe there is someone more suitable to lead the troops in this battle!"

Just as Yuan Shao was about to appoint Feng Ji, he asked, "Who is more suitable to command the troops?" Feng Ji secretly breathed a sigh of relief and bowed, recommending, "General Zuo and Gongsun Zan are old friends. Now that General Zuo is serving the Grand General, if the Grand General sends me to capture and kill the son of General Zuo's old friend, it might upset General Zuo. It would be better to do General Zuo a favor and let him lead the troops to persuade him. If Gongsun Xu refuses to withdraw his troops, General Zuo can also use the Black Mountain bandits to train his troops. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?"

Upon hearing Feng Ji's words, Yuan Shao immediately hesitated.

Although Yuan Shao wished he could kill Gongsun Xu, he did not want to alienate Liu Bei in the short term.

Before a decision could be made, Guo Tu, who was on good terms with Liu Bei, spoke up again with sarcasm: "General Zuo is a newly recruited soldier who has just started training. How can he go into battle? Why not lend General Zuo three thousand troops under the command of the Protector General for the time being?"

Feng Ji's heart skipped a beat. He had given these three thousand soldiers to General Zuo. Could he get them back?
"That's nonsense!" Feng Ji exclaimed urgently. "General Zuo still has eight hundred elite cavalrymen from Youzhou in Ye City, not just newly trained soldiers. Moreover, with General Zuo's abilities, he could easily defeat Tadun's thirty thousand cavalrymen, so why should he fear the mere Black Mountain bandits?"

Guo Tu gave Xin Ping a look, and Xin Ping said, "If General Zuo goes to quell the Black Mountain bandits, how can he then invade Yanzhou to the south? If he is bogged down by the Black Mountain bandits, wouldn't that delay the Grand General's decisive battle with Cao Cao at Dongwuyang? I suspect that Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu's uprising at this time is very likely related to Cao Cao's plan to fight the Grand General at Dongwuyang in April. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?"

Yuan Shao was startled, his anger turning serious: "Zhongzhi's words make a lot of sense. Cao Cao is always cunning and will definitely take this opportunity to win over Zhang Yan and Gongsun Xu. It is indeed not suitable to send Liu Bei."

Feng Ji became even more anxious and quickly winked at Shen Pei.

These three thousand soldiers were given by Shen Pei, and Feng Ji did not believe that Shen Pei would remain indifferent.

really.

Seeing that Feng Ji was at a loss, Shen Pei suddenly snorted coldly, stepped forward and volunteered: "That traitor Cao harmed my two sons, I will never let Cao Cao live under the same sky! I am willing to lead troops south with Protector Feng to raid Yanzhou and avenge my two sons!"

Shen Pei's words effectively shut down any further discussion by Guo Tu, Xin Ping, and others.

It is only right and proper to avenge one's son, so what reason is there to refute that?

Seeing Feng Ji and Shen Pei forming a faction, Yuan Shao felt a surge of annoyance: Is Feng Ji my confidant or Shen Pei's confidant?

After listening to the argument, Tian Feng, who had been silent for a long time, couldn't help but feel contempt: Even at this point, they are still only concerned with fighting for power and profit. What a bunch of treacherous officials and villains!
Then, Tian Feng offered his advice: "General, I also believe that it is most appropriate to send General Zuo to Changshan. At present, Ji Province is in dire need of reconstruction, and it is not advisable to continue fighting with the Black Mountain bandits. It would be better to let General Zuo take those 10,000 new soldiers to Changshan to cultivate the land. This will both deter the Black Mountain bandits and not affect Changshan's spring planting this year. As for the decisive battle with Cao Cao in Dongwuyang, we may not necessarily have to rely on General Zuo. All the civil and military officials present can be of use!"

Feng Ji looked at Tian Feng in surprise, clearly not understanding why Tian Feng was speaking up for him.

Seeing Feng Ji looking at him, Tian Feng snorted coldly: "Feng Yuantu, don't flatter yourself! I just don't want to see the people of Changshan suffer after your defeat."

The blunt sarcasm instantly broke Feng Ji's defenses: "Tian Yuanhao, you dare to underestimate me?"

Tian Feng sneered: "You think I underestimate you? What are you going to do about it? When have I ever thought highly of you?"

Feng Ji was so angry that his hands and feet trembled, but he suppressed the urge to argue with Tian Feng. He couldn't possibly volunteer to go to Changshan just to prove himself.

Seeing Tian Feng mocking Feng Ji, Yuan Shao suddenly felt a surge of pleasure and immediately decided, "In that case, the Left General will lead his new recruits to Changshan to cultivate land and prevent the Black Mountain bandits from harassing the counties; Shen Pei and Feng Ji will be responsible for heading south to harass Yanzhou in preparation for the decisive battle at Dongwuyang. There should be no further debate!"

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(End of this chapter)