Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 192 Yuan Shao: Should I avoid his sharp edge?

Seeing that Guo Tu and Xu You were about to start arguing again, Yuan Shao asked Ju Shou with a grim expression.

"Lord Ju, you have been locked in a stalemate with Gongsun Zan for a long time. Do you have any good strategies to offer me?"

Ju Shou lowered his head and hands, and only after hearing Yuan Shao's question did he glance at Guo Tu and Xu You before speaking indifferently.

"Gongsun Bogui now has the assistance of Cao Cao and Yuan Shu, and his power is fierce and his sharp edge is fully revealed."

If our army were to engage him head-on, even if we were to win, we would suffer losses, and we would only be doing the work for the likes of Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

"My lord, in my opinion, we should temporarily avoid their sharp edge."

Yuan Shao was taken aback upon hearing this, and he looked at Ju Shou in disbelief.

"Should I avoid his edge?"

I personally led an army of 100,000 to annihilate Gongsun Zan and conquer Youzhou. And now you want me to avoid his advance?

"Exactly that."

Ju Shou nodded slightly and patiently explained to him.

"We have gathered all our strength to fight this battle, which is when Gongsun Zan's power is at its last gasp. We can quickly destroy Gongsun Zan and give him no chance to catch his breath, and take over Youzhou to shake the world."

However, times have changed. Now, with the support of Cao Cao and Yuan Shu, they no longer have to worry about money and supplies. The Youyan region is full of righteous men and has been plagued by attacks from foreign tribes.

Given Gongsun Zan's reputation for conquering foreign tribes over the years, coupled with the large amount of money and grain he recruits, his troops are inexhaustible. It is not wise for the lord to waste money, grain and troops on him alone.

"Why not retreat in order to advance?"

Yuan Shao was of course aware of the reasoning Ju Shou was giving, and now, listening to him explain it in detail, he couldn't help but become interested.

What is meant by "retreating to advance"?

"In fact, before our lord came to this place, I led 80,000 troops but did not advance an inch for a long time. It was not that I was incapable, but that I was retreating in order to advance."

Ju Shou spoke eloquently, “The reason why Cao Cao and Yuan Shu supported Gongsun Zan was to make him fight against us, so as to deplete our lord’s strength and restrict our development.”

If that's the case, why should we go along with their wishes and continue fighting Gongsun Zan?

Conversely, if we withdraw our forces and focus solely on defense, Gongsun Zan will have no choice but to attack.

Because Cao Cao and Yuan Shu supported him in order to wear him down. Even if Gongsun Zan didn't want to fight, Cao Cao and Yuan Shu would force him to fight, otherwise the supply of money and food would be cut off.

There's no such thing as a free lunch. Gongsun Bogui took the money but didn't do anything. The money and grain provided by Cao Cao and Yuan Shu weren't given to Gongsun Zan to develop himself for free.

If Gongsun Zan does not attack, their so-called alliance will collapse on its own; but if he does attack, the balance of power will shift.

My lord only needs to use a portion of his elite troops to hold this half of Youzhou, just as he would deal with the invasion of foreign tribes on the border, to resist Gongsun Zan.

From then on, they could develop themselves in the heart of Ji Province, whether it was to eliminate Tian Kai before Qing Province, resolve the internal troubles of the Black Mountain bandits, or, as Xu Ziyuan said, forge fine armor and weapons to strengthen themselves.

Once the three provinces of Ji, Qing, and Bing are pacified, and the troops are well-prepared with ample weapons and provisions, then we can launch a full-scale northward campaign to swiftly annihilate Gongsun. Only then will we be truly secure.

Upon hearing Ju Shou's plan, Guo Tu couldn't help but sneer, "Lord Ju is always in Youzhou and doesn't know the news. If we really follow your method, not only will it delay the time, but we will also have to defend more than just the Youzhou line."

A few days ago, our General Xu just lost one-third of Bohai Commandery. That place will also tie down a lot of our troops for defense, in preparation for another surprise attack by Gongsun Zan.

However, prolonged defense inevitably leads to defeat; how can one defend against thieves for a thousand days? In my opinion, since we cannot cut off Gongsun Zan's supply lines, we might as well strike at his root.

Didn't Cao Cao and Yuan Shu dare to support Gongsun Zan? We can't beat Yuan Shu, but can't we beat Cao Cao?
He is not of one mind with Yuan Shu. If we turn around and attack him, he will be afraid that Yuan Shu will take advantage of his misfortune and will not dare to fight our army with all his might.

If they push him too far, he himself will be in danger, and naturally he will dare not support Gongsun Zan anymore.

"absurd!"

When Guo Tu said he wanted to fight Cao Cao, Xu You laughed and scoffed.

"The battle against Gongsun Zan in Youzhou has not yet been fully won, and Tian Kai in Qingzhou recently launched a counterattack against several counties with the help of the Yellow Turbans. The war between the Black Mountain bandits in Jizhou and the Xiongnu in Bingzhou has not yet subsided."

At this time, why attack Cao Mengde? Guo Gongze, what are you thinking? Are you afraid that our lord is not satisfied with fighting on all sides, and wants to open another battlefield in the capital region?
Cao Cao made it sound so easy to send troops, but now we are fighting on all four sides. No, if we include the Yellow Turbans who are plundering the coast, we are fighting on five sides, surrounded by enemies.

How could you, Lord Guo, with your extraordinary wisdom and resourcefulness, be able to open up six battlefields and help your lord achieve great things?

If that is indeed the case, I am ashamed of my inferiority and willingly admit defeat.

Guo Tu sneered sarcastically, "Five-sided war? Have you forgotten, Xu Ziyuan, whose defeat led to that fifth battlefield in the Bohai Sea?"

"What a joke! Do you think the Yellow Turbans wouldn't have raided the coast if it weren't for me, Xu Ziyuan? Do you think Gongsun Zan wouldn't have launched a surprise attack on Bohai if it weren't for me, Xu Ziyuan?"

Hearing them arguing and blaming each other again, Yuan Shao felt a headache coming on.

"Alright, stop arguing."

"Let's do as Ju Gong suggests. I'm tired."

When Youzhou was thrown into chaos because Gongsun Zan used Fengxiao to control Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, he managed to bring in a large amount of supplies and stirred up the northern lands.

At the city gate of Shouchun City, in Huainan, in the south.

After a brief acquaintance, Zhuge Jin and Lu Su soon parted ways here, embarking on their own different destinies.

Lu Su was appointed by Yuan Shu as the new Chancellor of Chen State, and was to go to Chen State to assist Ji Ling in governing the region.

As for Chen Guoxiang, who used to criticize Yuan Gong, he was taken back to Shouchun with the Prince of Chen, so he was naturally unable to carry out his duties of governing the region.

Zhuge Jin, on the other hand, wanted to return to his familiar Jingzhou, hold the imperial staff in Changsha, and personally complete the answer he had submitted, "Blood Stained Jingxiang, Whale Swallowed Nine Counties".

"Brother Ziyu!"

"Brother Zijing!"

"Brother Ziyu, we part today, and I don't know when we will meet again."

"Brother Zijing was the top scholar in the imperial examination and was appointed as the prime minister of the country. He was truly the envy of others. In the future, the imperial examinations will probably be a great story."

"I've only been drifting around in the local area for a while, how could I compare to Brother Ziyu being summoned by Lord Yuan, receiving his personal instruction and being entrusted with important matters?"

The two held each other's hands tightly, expressing their feelings of parting.

However, the meeting was short-lived, and parting was common. Despite the reluctance on their faces, their short journey together had come to an end.

The carriages rumbled and the horses neighed. The travelers carried bows and arrows at their waists. The Lu family guards had now changed into the standard equipment of the Yuan camp. They would serve as the Prime Minister's personal guards and escort Lu Su to the State of Chen to govern.

Lu Da glanced back a few times, then strode to Lu Su's carriage, lifted the curtain, and said:

"Judging from the direction, Mr. Zhuge is heading to Jingzhou. The identity of the boy beside him has also been investigated. He is none other than the second son of the Sun family, named Quan, courtesy name Zhongmou."

Lu Su frowned slightly and pondered, "Going to Jingzhou with the imperial insignia? And bringing the Sun family with you."

It seems that Lord Yuan's plan to seize Jingzhou has fallen to Brother Ziyu. It's just a pity that I don't know much about the situation in Jingzhou; such a great task...
Well then, everyone has their own destiny. It seems I still need to make some achievements in the State of Chen, otherwise when we meet again in Shouchun, won't I be overshadowed by Brother Ziyu?

Fortunately, Chen State has Ji Ling, the top general under Yuan Shao. With his strength—injuring Lü Bu in one move and defeating Guan Yu in three rounds—it shouldn't be a problem for him to help us achieve great merit.

On the other side, Zhuge Jin's group was extremely small, consisting of only a scholar and a boy.

Looking at the silent boy beside him, who seemed like a little adult, Zhuge Jin asked with a smile, "Why are you not saying a word? After seeing Brother Zijing's grand procession as he goes to take up his post as prime minister of a state, do you feel neglected by me?"

"If secrets are not kept, harm will result."

I am accompanying you, sir, to accomplish important tasks for Lord Yuan. Jingzhou is Liu Biao's territory; too many people there will only cause trouble.

Sun Quan spoke calmly, but his eyes were full of scheming beyond his years.

"Instead of these things, sir, you might as well think more about how to handle this matter well for Lord Yuan."

If this were to leak and cause trouble in Jingzhou, forget about any glory; we would probably both perish in Changsha.

At that time, Quan will merely return to his roots, while the gentleman will inevitably die far from home.

Zhuge Jin: "."

How dare you talk like that, brat? If you can't speak properly, then shut up.

There was nothing they could do. There were only two of them on the way, and this brat in front of them was the only one they could talk to. The two chatted idly as they made their way to Changsha, enduring wind and rain.

"Actually, I initially recommended your elder brother to Lord Yuan, but I don't know why..."

However, before Zhuge Jin could finish speaking, the little boy looked at him with a very strange gaze, as if he had done something very stupid.

Zhuge Jin was surprised and, not understanding what he meant, paused in his speech.

“Lord Yuan will not let my elder brother go.”

Sun Quan glanced at him indifferently and shook his head. "All the strategists in Yuan's camp know this."

Zhuge Jin: "."

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt like he had just been looked down upon by this teenager.

The gaze seemed to question, "Are you really Yuan Gong's strategist? Has Yuan Gong lost his mind? How could he entrust such an important matter to you?"
Zhuge Jin keenly sensed from these details that Yuan's camp seemed to be hiding some secrets that he was unaware of.

This is not because he is inferior to other strategists, but simply because he has just arrived at Yuan's camp and has not yet fully integrated into it. His only friend at present is Lu Zijing.

Unfortunately, Lu Zijing, like him, was a newcomer and knew nothing about the secrets within Yuan's camp.

At this moment, although the brat's words were a bit harsh, as the younger brother of Sun Ce, the first adopted son of Yuan Gong, and the second young master of the Sun family who had lived in Shouchun for a long time, he must know a lot of inside information.

Zhuge Jin's eyes lit up as she stared at him. Aside from completing the mission in Changsha, this kid was a treasure along the way.

Having a child in the family is like having a treasure, Zhuge Jin hurriedly inquired.

"I know that Lord Yuan greatly favors Young Master Bofu, but I don't know what Zhongmou means by these words?"

"What do you love?"

A mysterious glint appeared in Sun Quan's eyes, but he simply smiled and agreed.

"Indeed! Lord Yuan loves my elder brother very much. How could he bear to let my elder brother go alone into Jingzhou in such a dangerous situation?"

"Is that right?"

Zhuge Jin frowned; something seemed off.

"Since you also know that this trip is fraught with danger, why?"

The boy looked up at him and gave him an innocent and bright smile.

"My mother often said that Lord Yuan had done a great favor for our Sun family, and Quan was willing to repay that favor with his death, which was a fitting end."

It's such a pity, sir. So much talent, yet he died so suddenly, vanishing without a trace, like a pebble dropped into the Yangtze River.

Zhuge Jin: "."

Can't you ever think of me in a good light, you brat?
What I'm saying is, can't we just go there, succeed in one fell swoop, and then no one has to die?

The two talked and walked, stopping and starting, disguising themselves as scholars and servants along the way. Finally, they arrived at the seat of Changsha Prefecture, in front of Linxiang City.

Travel-worn and weary, Zhuge Jin gazed at the city gate before him, upon which were inscribed the two characters "Linxiang," and was filled with emotion.

"The journey has been arduous, but now is the time for a true man to make a name for himself."

The boy beside him nodded slightly in deep agreement, "What you say is true. Every person who dies, whose clan is wiped out, and who becomes just another face in the crowd shares the same thoughts as you."

Zhuge Jin: "."

Ignoring the perpetually pessimistic brat beside him, he queued up to the city gate, gave some silver as a reward, and after passing the gatekeepers' questioning, the two finally entered the city.

It wasn't appropriate to go directly to Zhang Xian, the governor of Changsha, at this point. After a moment's hesitation, Zhuge Jin remembered Yuan Gong's instructions before his departure and hurriedly asked Sun Quan beside him.

"Does Zhongmou know Huan Jie?"

When Huan Jie was mentioned, a hint of reminiscence appeared in the young man's eyes, and his tone became low.

"Of course I recognize it."

"Back then, it was Duke Huan who risked his life to retrieve my father's body from Liu Biao."

"So good."

Upon hearing that even Sun Jian's corpse had been retrieved by Huan Jie at great personal risk, who had personally sought it from Liu Biao, Zhuge Jin realized the close relationship between Huan Jie and the Sun family, and his eyes immediately lit up.

The Huan family was also a prominent local clan. After asking around among the passersby, Zhuge Jin brought Sun Quan to the Huan residence.

When the gatekeeper approached to inquire, Zhuge Jin pointed at Sun Quan and said:
“This man is a descendant of an old friend of Duke Huan. Now he has nowhere else to turn and has come to seek refuge with us.”

I hope you will inform them of this.

As he spoke, he grasped the servant's sleeve and secretly offered him gold and silver.

The servant weighed the contents of his sleeve, his face lit up with joy, and hurried into the mansion.

Before long, Huan Jie came out to greet him. His impatient expression changed instantly the moment he saw Sun Quan.

He opened his mouth several times, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself, and finally, with a complicated expression, said:

"Come in quickly."

He hurriedly pulled Sun Quan into the mansion, and only after dispersing the surrounding servants and entering a dark room did he speak.

“I heard that Lord Yuan adopted the young general as his godson and treated him like his own son. Now that the Sun family has a prominent position in Huainan, how can you say that they are in dire straits?”
Second Young Master, what brings you here today?

“It is not that we are desperate, but that you, Huan Jie, are desperate without even realizing it.”

Before Sun Quan could reply, Zhuge Jin coldly answered, simultaneously taking out a hidden tally and document from his pouch, holding up an imperial edict, and condescendingly proclaiming:
"Formerly Minister Huan Jie, today an envoy has arrived. Why don't you receive the imperial edict?"

what!
An imperial edict?
Will I, Huan Jie, one day receive an imperial edict? No, it should be said that the emperor will also know the name Huan Jie.
Huan Jie was shocked and disbelieving, but his body instinctively knelt down.

(End of this chapter)