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

Chapter 160 Zhuge Liang made a slight move, and the Black Mountain Army took the initiative to send envoys (5th update)
In the past, after Yuan Shao defeated and killed the Black Mountain leaders such as Yu Du and Zuo Zizhangba, he went to Changshan to fight against Zhang Yan.

In order to deal with Yuan Shao, Zhang Yan joined forces with the four battalions of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan to fight Yuan Shao at Changshan. However, even with more than 10,000 elite troops, several thousand cavalry, and the assistance of the four battalions of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan, Zhang Yan was unable to gain any advantage from Yuan Shao.

They were even defeated by a man named Lü Bu, who led dozens of cavalrymen including Cheng Lian and Wei Yue in a charge, leaving none of his cavalrymen daring to go into battle again.

In the end, the four battalions of Tu Ge and Yanmen Wuhuan failed to plunder any benefits from Yuan Shao, and instead directly plundered the people of the Black Mountain chieftains.

Those who hid in the Black Mountain were mostly families, with the able-bodied leading the way and the elderly and weak following behind. The plundering by the Four Battalions of the Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan greatly angered the Black Mountain commanders.

Now, Gongsun Xu not only refused to return to camp, but also directly proposed to join forces with the four camps of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan to deal with Liu Bei. Even Zhang Yan couldn't help but frown.

However, considering that "Liu Bei wanted to capture young men from Black Mountain to recruit as soldiers in order to help Yuan Shao march south," Zhang Yan dared not be careless.

Weigh the pros and cons for a long time.

Zhang Yan replied, “Brother Gongsun is right. One should not be stingy when it comes to achieving great things. However, last time I summoned the Four Camps of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan to help me. Not only did the Four Camps of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan not benefit, but they also caused a lot of conflicts. If I send someone to make contact, the Four Camps of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan may not be willing to lead their troops south.”

Gongsun Xu immediately volunteered, saying, "Brother Zhang, there's no need to worry. I have a long-standing relationship with the Tu Ge people of the Four Camps and the Wuhuan people of Yanmen. I will personally handle the matter of requesting troops to assist us."

Zhang Yan was slightly surprised, but quickly concealed it and said, "In that case, I will prepare a banquet in the camp to bid farewell to Brother Gongsun."

Gongsun Xu shook his head: "There is no time to lose. I will set off now. Before I return, I ask Brother Zhang to be cautious in his actions."

Seeing Gongsun Xu leave in a hurry, Zhang Yan frowned again and asked those around him, "Do you know when Gongsun Xu became acquainted with the Four Camps of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan?"

Everyone shook their heads.

Fu Yun's expression was grave, and his words were tinged with suspicion: "Yesterday, a spy reported to me that Gongsun Xu had been wandering outside Zhen Ding City for several days without entering. Today, he suddenly returned, claiming that Liu Bei disregarded his past friendship with Gongsun Zan and even expelled him from Zhen Ding City. His actions are highly suspicious! Moreover, since Liu Bei has already expelled Gongsun Xu from the city, why would he inform Gongsun Xu of such a secret as 'Liu Bei is searching for young men from Heishan to recruit as soldiers to help Yuan Shao march south'? Furthermore, the Four Camps of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan are far away in Bingzhou. It's far too late for Gongsun Xu to propose going there to ask for reinforcements at this time."

There was a pause.

Fu Yun then offered his conjecture: "General, I estimate that Gongsun Xu had already contacted the Four Battalions of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan before we even set out! Once the Four Battalions of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan arrive, even if we don't want to fight Liu Bei, Liu Bei won't believe that the Four Battalions of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan came south on their own. At that time, either we will destroy Liu Bei, or Liu Bei will destroy us."

Zhang Yan's expression changed drastically: "I have treated Brother Gongsun well, Brother Gongsun should not do this."

Lei Gong, Da Mu, Bai Que, Wu Lu, and others standing to the side thought that what Fu Yun said made a lot of sense.

Lei Gong had always disliked Gongsun Xu, and snorted, "General, Gongsun Xu has never been on our side. He won't respect you just because of some small favor. He wants to compete with all the heroes in the world, and he doesn't care how many soldiers and civilians of Black Mountain die! We must be on guard!"

Seeing that Zhang Yan was still hesitating.

Fu Yun then suggested, “General, why don’t I go to Zhen Ding City myself? If Liu Bei is really as Gongsun Xu said, then you can join forces with the Four Camps of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan; if Gongsun Xu is deliberately sowing discord, then you can negotiate with Liu Bei.”

Zhang Yan shook her head: "No! Changshan Chancellor Tao Sheng knows you. If Liu Bei intends to wipe us out, you will not be able to come back!"

Fu Yun laughed and said, "If I don't come back, the commander can avenge me! We commanders of Black Mountain are not afraid of death!" "This..." Zhang Yan hesitated.

See this.

Fu Yun knelt down and pleaded, his face filled with sorrow: "If it weren't for us, with your abilities, Commander, if you had followed Tao Sheng's example, you would at least be a prefect or prime minister by now! Commander, I've been in Black Mountain for over a decade! All my fellow villagers and peers have died, leaving only a few of their children who have survived by sheer luck. The older children are already of marriageable age, but we are thieves, thieves who live for a day and have no tomorrow! I can die, but I cannot let my children be destined to be thieves from birth, and I do not want to see those children unable to marry or have children!"

"Floating Clouds, you..."

Even the usually carefree Lei Gong and Da Mu were shocked by Fu Yun's words.

At the beginning.

Everyone thought that "having Liu Bei promise an official position" was just a sudden whim of Fu Yun's, but they never expected that Fu Yun would actually risk his life to gamble on whether Liu Bei was really as benevolent and righteous as rumored!

"General, I will go with Fuyun," Lei Gong volunteered. "If Liu Bei intends to annihilate us, we can at least support each other!"

Da Mu, Bai Que, Wu Lu, and others volunteered to go along.

These chieftains were mostly of lowly birth, and having spent more than a decade in Heishan, they had developed deep friendships with each other.

"I, Fuyun, appreciate your kindness," Fuyun said, bowing to the crowd. "But if we all perish in Zhen Ding City, the commander will have no one left to rely on!"

Fu Yun then looked at Zhang Yan: "General, let me go! If I am mistaken, my death will not harm you, General, nor the more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians of Heishan!"

Seeing the resolute look in Fuyun's eyes, Zhang Yan sighed and turned around, saying, "Fuyun, listen to my command. You are to go to Zhen Ding City immediately. If Liu Bei dares to harm you, I will surely break through Zhen Ding City and take Liu Bei's head to avenge you!"

Fu Yun solemnly stood up: "I will obey the Commander's orders!"

As Fuyun guessed, Gongsun Xu's idea to join forces with the four camps of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan was not a sudden whim.

In the past two years, under Zhang Yan's command, Gongsun Xu has no longer been merely lying low in Heishan.

Gongsun Xu knew very well that he could not defeat Yuan Shao with Zhang Yan and others alone. If he wanted to truly avenge Gongsun Zan and compete with Yuan Shao for Ji Province to rebuild the Gongsun family's foundation, he would have to bring in external help.

Therefore, in the past two years, Gongsun Xu has been secretly befriending the Four Camps of Tu Ge and the Yanmen Wuhuan. If he was only instigating the Black Mountain leaders to invade the counties, he would not have needed to use the banner of avenging Gongsun Zan!
Not long after Gongsun Xu left, Fuyun also arrived at the gate of Zhen Ding City.

Unlike Gongsun Xu, who was arrogant and concealed his name, Fuyun first bowed to the guards and then directly revealed his identity:

"Fuyun, the leader of the Black Mountain Army, requests an audience with General Zuo on the orders of Commander Zhang!"

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(End of this chapter)