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

Chapter 178 Yuan Shao wants to play palace intrigue, but Zhuge Liang has Zhang Liang's plan (3rd update)
Yuan Shao was moved by this, and since Yuan Shang insisted on taking the order, he nodded and signaled him to step down.

After pondering for a long time, Yuan Shao had an idea: "Cao Cao has gone too far in bullying me. How can I sit idly by? However, as the Grand General, how can Cao Cao see me whenever he wants? Shang'er has the spirit of a hero and is my most valued son. He can lead the army to conquer Dongwuyang in my stead. I heard that Cao Cao's eldest son, Cao Ang, died in Wancheng because Cao Cao was lustful, and his remaining sons are all useless. I am very pleased. Shang'er can take this opportunity to ridicule him a few times on my behalf!"

After a pause, Yuan Shao continued, "Order Jiang Qi to immediately go to Changshan State to mobilize troops, and also order Shen Pei to attack Baima Ford as a support. I want to see how Cao Cao will handle this!"

Everyone was even more surprised upon hearing this.

This time, Yuan Shao did not pick and choose to refute, but instead directly combined the two strategies of Yuan Shang and Tian Feng, and put several plans into practice.

Even Guo Tu and Xin Ping had to admit that, after combining the strategies of Yuan Shang and Tian Feng, it was indeed the most suitable and feasible strategy for the current situation: it would not allow Yuan Shao to easily venture into dangerous places, nor would it diminish Yuan Shao's prestige. With Yuan Shang, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou going to Dongwuyang together, they could also resist Cao Cao to some extent, and Shen Pei in Liyang could also restrain Cao Cao.

Yuan Shao's decision was in line with Tian Feng's expectations. As long as Yuan Shao did not personally go into danger, Tian Feng would not object to anything else.

As for whether Yuan Shang could win, Tian Feng did not care.

After the agreement was reached, Jiang Qi received the troop mobilization order and rode swiftly to Zhengding.

Upon meeting Liu Bei, Jiang Qi hurriedly presented him with an urgent dispatch order to mobilize troops, explaining the reason: "Cao Cao has already secretly crossed the Cangting Ferry, killed Gao Fan, the governor of Wei Commandery, and is now stationed at the gates of Dongwuyang, besieging Feng Ji very tightly. Feng Ji sent a messenger to Yecheng yesterday to plead for help. The General-in-Chief has ordered that the Left General immediately dispatch Generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou and their troops from Zhending to reinforce Dongwuyang, otherwise the city may be in danger of being defended!"

After reading the document, Liu Bei's expression changed drastically. He asked in surprise, "Shen Pei and Feng Ji are both men of wisdom and strategy. Why did their raid fail, and Cao Cao instead seized Cangting Ferry? Gao Fan, as the governor of Wei Commandery, couldn't even defend a single ferry crossing?"

Jiang Qi already harbored resentment towards Shen Pei and Feng Ji, and immediately sneered, "Shen Pei and Feng Ji are nothing but sycophants, and in reality, they are mediocre. Gao Fan was originally a retainer of Shen Pei, and he only managed to become the governor by chance because of Shen Pei's recommendation. He is a complete incompetent fool. Now that Gao Fan has lost a key position, he has caused the General to suffer another humiliation at the hands of Cao Cao. It is truly hateful!"

Liu Bei took a deep breath, his expression returning to normal, and reassured Jiang Qi, "The military situation is urgent. Allow me to discuss countermeasures with the generals. Please rest at the inn for now, and I will inform you of any decisions made."

Jiang Qi knew that this matter was of great importance and complexity, so he said little and went to the post station to rest, waiting for Liu Bei to send troops.

After Jiang Qi left, Liu Bei immediately sent someone to invite Zhuge Liang and showed him Yuan Shao's troop mobilization document.

"Cao Cao seized Cangting Ferry, killed Gao Fan, and besieged Feng Ji at Dongwuyang. Yuan Shao sent Jiang Qi with an order to transfer Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and their 10,000 new soldiers. What do you think I should do?" Liu Bei's tone was calm, but a hint of coldness was hidden between his brows.

After carefully reading the document, Zhuge Liang said, "With the loss of Cangting Ferry, Dongwuyang has lost the natural barrier of the Yellow River. Cao Cao's troops are skilled in open field battles, and now Cao Cao himself is leading his elite troops. There must be many fierce generals hidden in his army. Even if Yan Liang and Wen Chou come out together, I'm afraid that the ten thousand new soldiers alone will be no match for Cao Cao's elite troops."

How Chunyu Qiong died was a topic of careful discussion between Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang afterward.

While Xu You's leak was a contributing factor, the more important reason was that Cao Cao had hidden many of his fiercest generals within the raiding army, which prevented Chunyu Qiong from gaining an advantage despite having superior numbers and being well-rested.

In particular, the combined efforts of Zhang Liao and Xu Huang to break through the enemy lines, seize the flag, and capture the general played a decisive role.

Now Cao Cao is attacking Cangting Ferry again and showing off his power in Dongwuyang. In Zhuge Liang's view, Cao Cao must be using the same old trick again, deliberately luring Yuan Shao to send troops there, and then using the many hidden fierce generals to achieve a surprise effect.

Liu Bei frowned and nodded: "I understand this principle well. However, Yuan Shao's order has arrived, and Yan Liang and Wen Bu have been rumored to be in trouble, so they will certainly not obey."

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan: "My lord, you might as well summon these two men first, explain the advantages and disadvantages, observe their reactions, and then make a decision." Before long, Yan Liang and Wen Chou arrived as summoned.

After reading the troop mobilization order, the two generals immediately requested to lead troops to Dongwuyang for rescue.

Liu Bei remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, but instead turned his gaze to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang understood and asked directly, "Cao Cao's surprise attack this time must be with a fierce and powerful army. How many troops do you two generals plan to take to the rescue? And what are your chances of success?"

Yan Liang and Wen An were taken aback, exchanged a glance, and looked at Liu Bei with a puzzled expression: "General Zuo, aren't you going with us to oversee the battle?"

Liu Bei sighed softly: "Only the names of two generals are listed on the transfer order. I suppose there must be some villains in Ye City who are trying to slander me and don't want me to lead the troops there."

Yan Liang and Wen Chou suddenly remembered their original intention in being sent to Liu Bei's side as deputy generals: to wait for the new soldiers to be trained and then seize the opportunity to take over military power.

However, in the past few months, Liu Bei had treated the two men with both kindness and sincerity, and they had even fought side by side to defeat the Hu (barbarian) coalition, causing the two men to gradually forget the order.

Only after Liu Bei mentioned it did the two generals realize that this troop deployment did indeed contain the intention of stripping Liu Bei of his military power.

Yan Liang was furious: "The situation is already so critical, how can anyone not tolerate the Left General making a contribution? If the Left General does not go with us to oversee things, even if Wen Chou and I lead 10,000 new soldiers out together, we will not be able to defeat Cao Cao."

Both generals had suffered crushing defeats at the hands of Cao Cao and were filled with fear of him.

They felt that only with Liu Bei in charge could they possibly win; if it were just the two of them leading the army against Cao Cao's elite troops, they would have no chance of victory.

Wen Chou said worriedly, "However, if the two of us refuse to obey the order, the General will surely punish us severely."

Seeing that the two generals were hesitant, Zhuge Liang seized the opportunity to suggest, "Why not report back to the General and say that 'the Black Mountain bandits have just submitted, and the people's hearts are not yet settled, in addition, Zhen Ding is holding 8,000 surrendered Hu soldiers. If all the troops from Changshan are mobilized, I fear the bandits will rebel again and the Hu barbarians will cause chaos!' In order to avoid the General punishing the two generals, the Left General can put in a good word for them in the reply."

Yan Liang was greatly alarmed upon hearing this: "No! There are already villains in Ye City who have slandered and framed General Zuo! If General Zuo speaks up for us again, wouldn't that only arouse the General's suspicion even more? We must not do that!"

Wen Chou also said, "It is our reluctance to hastily send troops that has nothing to do with the Left General. We two should write to the General to explain the advantages and disadvantages. Even if the General is displeased, he may at most scold us a few times."

The two generals were already feeling guilty out of gratitude for Liu Bei's kindness, and now they were even more unwilling to implicate Liu Bei and make him bear the responsibility and suspicion alone.

The sincerity revealed in this moment of urgency moved Liu Bei: "Generals, please don't do this. I am the commander-in-chief, and you are merely his deputies. How can a commander-in-chief shirk responsibility for his deputies?"

Immediately.

After saying this, Liu Bei turned to Zhuge Liang and asked, "Strategist, do you have any other good ideas?"
　Update 3 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)