Brother, stop curling up! You're curling up like the founder of the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 239 Guo Tu Returns to Hebei, Liu Bei's Counter-Espionage Plan (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)
"That big-eared scoundrel has gone too far in bullying me!"

With the morale of the army and the people being repeatedly incited and misled, Yuan Shao could no longer sit still in Ye City.

If Yuan Shao cannot launch a counterattack and establish his power, he fears that even before Liu Bei arrives, military rebellions and popular uprisings could keep him busy dealing with them.

Therefore, after discussing with Feng Ji and others, Yuan Shao decided to personally lead 50,000 elite troops to garrison Dangyin, more than 100 li south of Ye City.

Chunyu Qiong, Zhang He, Gao Lan, Han Meng, Han Xun, Zhu Ling, Jiang Qi, Jiang Yiqu, Wang Men, He Mao, Wang Mo, Guo Zu, Gongsun Du, Zhao Rui, Han Juzi, Lü Weihuang, and Sui Yuanjin were appointed as generals.

Feng Ji was appointed as the military supervisor, and Tian Feng, Xun Chen, Xin Ping, and Xin Pi were appointed as military advisors.

Yuan Shang led Yuan Xi, Dong Zhao, Wu Qiong, Ju Zong, Zhang Jingming, Cui Yan, Jiao Chu, and Zhang Nan to remain and garrison Ye City.

The massive army marched in, with Dangyin City as its core and the Dang River as its barrier, forming deep trenches and high walls, and setting up its battle formation.

As Liu Bei's army advanced to Chaoge, Yuan Shao no longer deployed troops along the Yellow River front, such as Liyang, to avoid being defeated one by one by Liu Bei.

This time, Yuan Shao was determined to shorten the battle lines and concentrate his forces to avoid being led by the nose by Liu Bei's tricks such as feinting to the east while attacking the west and besieging Wei to rescue Zhao.

During the years of fighting against Liu Bei, Yuan Shao suffered repeated defeats and had to be extremely cautious.

"Reporting to my lord, Guo Tu has returned."

"Guo Tu?"

Yuan Shao was taken aback.

The last time I heard news of Guo Tu was three years ago when Guo Tu and Yuan Si failed to attack Hulao Pass, and then his whereabouts became unknown.

Feng Ji also whispered his advice: "Guo Tu has not returned for three years. His return now is suspicious. My lord must be wary."

Yuan Shao also had this suspicion, so he ordered Guo Tu to enter.

"Where did you come from, sir?" Despite his doubts, Yuan Shao's expression was gentle, yet he seemed to be giving a light rebuke.

It seemed as if they were complaining that Guo Tu had not returned for three years.

"Reporting to my lord, I have returned from Yuan Shu's side." Guo Tu was neither humble nor arrogant, appearing even more composed than three years ago.

"Yuan Shu?" Yuan Shao frowned slightly. "You've been under Yuan Shu's command for the past three years?"

Guo Tu looked ashamed and said, "To tell you the truth, three years ago, I attacked Hulao Pass with Yuan Si, hoping to cooperate with Wang Yun and others from the inside. However, Wang Yun and others did not keep their plans secret. I originally wanted to return to Hebei with Yuan Si, but we were ambushed by Lü Bu and had no choice but to go south to seek refuge with Liu Biao."

"Later, Yuan Shu declared himself emperor and attacked Liu Biao. Liu Biao was defeated and surrendered. I was afraid of being punished by Yuan Shu, so I wanted to secretly return to the north. On the way, I met Zhou Xin and hid under his command. Zhou Xin repeatedly advised Yuan Shu to form an alliance with our lord, but Yuan Shu refused."

"Yuan Shu had always intended to take Yizhou to the west, but he was also worried that Liu Bei would take advantage of the situation. Therefore, he kept Zhou Xin in Jingzhou to wait for the right opportunity. At the end of last year, Yuan Shu suddenly sent a message to Zhou Xin to advance his troops to Baidi City, saying that Liu Bei would definitely attack Hebei this year, which would be the time to take Yizhou to the west."

Guo Tu spoke sincerely and vividly, without a trace of falsehood.

Yuan Shao's doubts were largely dispelled, and he asked again, "Since you are under Zhou Xin's command, why did you come to Hebei?"

Guo Tu remained silent, glancing around meaningfully.

Yuan Shao waved his hand, leaving only Feng Ji and Chunyu Qiong behind.

Guo Tu then spoke up, "Does my lord know about Lü Bu's assassination attempt on Liu Bei and Dong Cheng's defection to Yuan Shu?"

Yuan Shao nodded: "I've heard a little about it. It's not surprising that Lü Bu, a man who betrays his principles for personal gain, would betray Liu Bei."

Guo Tu said solemnly, "My lord, Lü Bu has not betrayed Liu Bei! This is all Liu Bei's scheme! It's both to legitimize his claim to the throne and to gain Yuan Shu's trust in Lü Bu! Now that Lü Bu has married a member of the Yuan clan, he can freely enter and leave Yuan Shu's palace."

"In other words," Guo Tu's tone turned serious, "Lu Bu could kill Yuan Shu at any time! I was worried that our lord didn't understand Liu Bei's intentions in this military campaign, so I rushed back to Ye City. On the way, I heard that Liu Bei had replaced Guan Yu, the governor of Yu Province, with Lu Zhi. This made me even more certain that Liu Bei wanted to defeat our lord in one battle, and then have Lu Bu assassinate Yuan Shu. In this way, the whole world would belong to Liu Bei."

Yuan Shao was shocked.

What Guo Tu said were all areas where Yuan Shao's intelligence was blind.

"No wonder Liu Bei isn't worried about Yuan Shu's northward advance this time. If Yuan Shu is focused on attacking Xichuan, he won't be able to advance north; if Yuan Shu tries to launch a sneak attack, Lü Bu will assassinate him. What a ruthless scheme!" Yuan Shao said indignantly.

He then said to Feng Ji, "Yuan Tu, our plans need to be changed. We need to quickly send Xianyu Fu, Tadun and others from Youzhou south to help us."

Feng Ji looked doubtful.

Although Guo Tu's words sounded flawless, the fact that he had not returned for three years was the biggest flaw in his story.

What if Guo Tu was sent by Liu Bei to carry out a counter-espionage scheme, deliberately revealing information in a half-truthful and half-false manner, or misleading Yuan Shao with nine parts truth and one part falsehood? In that case, Yuan Shao would be led by the nose by Liu Bei again.

Amidst his doubts, Feng Ji was also filled with resentment: Why did you have to come at this time of year? Why didn't you just die?!

Without Guo Tu's intelligence, Feng Ji would certainly have been able to withstand Liu Bei's offensive.

However, with Guo Tu's intelligence, Yuan Shao, as the decision-maker, had concerns.

If what Guo Tu said is true, then Liu Bei will definitely be determined to pacify Hebei this time. Holding out only at Dangyin will give Liu Bei the opportunity to take the rest of Hebei first.

Yuan Shao would then have to divide his forces to provide relief.

However, Guo Tu's words were intended to mislead Yuan Shao into believing Liu Bei's determination to pacify Hebei, so that Liu Bei could divide his forces to provide relief and then defeat Liu Bei's troops one by one, thus eliminating Yuan Shao's vital forces.

Once Yuan Shao's forces are gradually eroded by Liu Bei, they will be unable to withstand Liu Bei's frontal assault.

Sometimes, having too much information isn't necessarily a good thing; it can lead to a lot of concerns.

"Guo Tu, why don't you join Liu Bei?" Suddenly, Feng Ji asked in a cold voice. Yuan Shao, Chunyu Qiong, and Guo Tu all turned to look at Feng Ji, Guo Tu's face filled with surprise: "Why would I join Liu Bei?"

After a pause, Guo Tu's face showed displeasure again: "Is Supervisor Feng doubting me? I have worked for the Lord for many years. Even if I have no merit, I have worked hard. I assassinated Liu Bian. I facilitated the alliance of the heroes of Yan, Yu and Xu provinces to attack Liu Bei. I also personally went to Hulao Pass to contact Wang Yun and others, as well as the powerful clans of Henan Yin, to attack Luoyang."

"I risked my life for my lord, and now I have traveled thousands of miles from Jingzhou just to let my lord know about Liu Bei's plan, yet you doubt me? Supervisor Feng, don't think I don't know why you made me carry out the plan in the first place. Wasn't it because you were afraid that I would stay by the lord's side and threaten your position?"

“But when have I, Guo Tu, ever cared about such things? Zhong Yao, Xun Yu, and Xun You, who were once my fellow officials in Yingchuan County, have all risen to high positions, while I am still a commoner. If I had truly wanted to join Liu Bei, I would at least be a Minister by now! A scholar will die for one who understands him. I am only willing to serve to repay the kindness of my lord! What are your intentions in doubting me like this?”

Guo Tu became increasingly angry and aggrieved as he spoke, seemingly ready to commit suicide on the spot to prove his innocence at the slightest provocation.

Even Yuan Shao and Chunyu Qiong couldn't stand it anymore.

Based on their understanding of Guo Tu, from beginning to end, Guo Tu never did anything to wrong Yuan Shao.

Feng Ji's suspicions are indeed a bit excessive.

"Yuan Tu, you're overthinking it," Yuan Shao said lightly, then reassured Guo Tu, "Please don't misunderstand, I have no reason to doubt you. You've worked for me for many years and made many contributions. You can temporarily serve as my military advisor. We'll reward you according to your merits after we defeat Liu Bei."

Guo Tu said with emotion, "I could never repay the kindness of my lord, even if I died ten thousand times."

Yuan Shao then instructed his personal attendant to take Guo Tu to bathe and wash away the dust, and to come to the banquet later.

After Guo Tu left, Feng Ji advised again: "My lord, Guo Tu's words should not be trusted! Liu Bei has always been cunning and treacherous. Even if Lü Bu is only pretending to surrender to Yuan Shu, how could he easily let Guo Tu know?"

Chunyu Qiong chimed in, "Supervisor Feng, you're being too suspicious. I listened carefully just now, and Guo Tu's words are all based on his own observations and speculations. Although they are speculations, I also think that what Guo Tu said makes a lot of sense."

"Liu Bei has never liked harming other people's relatives or cutting off their lineage. Lü Bu's wife and daughters are currently in Luoyang. The two of them do not have any hatred that must be fought to the death."

"Even if Lü Bu really did assassinate Liu Bei, Liu Bei could follow the example of Emperor Guangwu's oath at Luoshui and promise Lü Bu that as long as he killed Yuan Shu, he would forgive him for his past mistakes and even grant him a title and a generalship."

"At present, Liu Bei has mobilized all his elite troops and is spreading proclamations in various counties of You and Ji. He must be planning to conquer Hebei in one fell swoop. If we still harbor any illusions at this time, how can we withstand Liu Bei's advance?"

Yuan Shao also said, "Yuan Tu, the people of Hebei are already in a state of panic because of Liu Bei's proclamation. If I were to doubt Guo Tu at this time, wouldn't that make the scholars of Hebei even more disheartened?"

“I understand your concerns, but if I don’t transfer Xianyu Fu and other former subordinates of Liu Yu to Ye City, it’s because I’m afraid they’ll cause trouble. Wouldn’t that just confirm that I plotted to murder Liu Yu?”

"Given the current situation, Guo Tu's guess is not wrong. Now I understand why Liu Bei would rather fight with me than attack Yuan Shu. In Liu Bei's eyes, there is no need to send troops to attack Yuan Shu. Sending an assassin is enough!"

"Liu Dai and Liu Biao must have developed disloyal intentions, which is why Liu Bei allowed Yuan Shu to eliminate them. Now, he deliberately sent Yuan Shu to attack Liu Yan, which must also be because Liu Yan has rebellious intentions."

"In this way, we can eliminate the disloyal Liu Dai, Liu Biao, and Liu Yan through Yuan Shu's hands without bearing a bad reputation, and at the same time, we can make Yuan Shu arrogant and unwilling to form an alliance with us. It's a win-win situation."

By piecing together all the intelligence from the past, Yuan Shao gradually came to understand Liu Bei's plans.

However, the clearer Yuan Shao saw it, the more he feared Liu Bei: everyone in the world was being manipulated by Liu Bei. If he could not defeat Liu Bei's main force in one fell swoop, he would surely be destroyed by Liu Bei in the future.

Feng Ji wanted to refute Yuan Shao and Chunyu Qiong, but he couldn't find a point to make, which made him even more depressed.

Although I have serious doubts about Guo Tu's motives, his performance so far has been flawless. It would be unreasonable to suspect Guo Tu simply because he has not returned for three years.

Moreover, Yuan Shao's words also make sense: in Hebei, where people are now in a state of panic due to the public opinion stirred up by Liu Bei's proclamation, doubting Guo Tu, who is working for Yuan Shao, would only make the people of Hebei feel more disheartened.

Seeing that Feng Ji no longer objected, Yuan Shao immediately ordered Xianyu Fu, Tadun, and others to be summoned south to assist him.

When Guo Tu arrived, Yuan Shao held a banquet and introduced Guo Tu to the civil and military officials, and recounted Guo Tu's meritorious service.

By treating Guo Tu so generously, Yuan Shao not only wanted to show his civil and military officials that he would not mistreat any meritorious official, but also wanted to take this opportunity to tell his subordinates that Zhou Xin and others under Yuan Shu were not loyal to Yuan Shu but to Yuan Shao. He believed that as long as Liu Bei was defeated, the unification of the world would be just around the corner.

Regardless of how deep Feng Ji's prejudice against Guo Tu was, he had to admit that Guo Tu's arrival not only gave Yuan Shao's civil and military officials more confidence to defeat Liu Bei, but also reduced the panic caused by Liu Bei's proclamation.

From all perspectives, Guo Tu's return is entirely beneficial.

"Is the military supervisor not too happy about my return?"

During the banquet, Guo Tu, who had just returned from changing his clothes, encountered Feng Ji in the pavilion. Looking at Feng Ji's stern face, Guo Tu couldn't help but feel a sense of pleasure, and his tone was undisguisedly sarcastic.

Feng Ji's face darkened: "Guo Gongze, have you forgotten? If I hadn't spoken well of you, how would you have had the opportunity to persuade Yuan Shu, Tao Qian, and Zhang Chao? You haven't returned for three years, how could I not suspect you?"

Guo Tu sneered: "The plan was originally my idea. But in order to prevent me from staying by the lord's side, you first praised my plan, then criticized it as difficult to implement, and finally spoke well of me. You said both good and bad things about me."

"If that were all, so be it. I've been away for three years, running errands for my lord with all my heart and soul, and yet you doubt me? Hah, three years, do you know how I've spent these three years?"

“I never wanted to compete with you, but today you have taught me another lesson: a lord does not need two strategists. What I lost in the past, I will take back with my own hands! I will replace you!”

Seeing Guo Tu's arrogant and haughty demeanor, Feng Ji's anger also rose: "With a formidable enemy at hand, do you want to fight me internally?"

Guo Tu said disdainfully, "Feng Jianjun, don't slander me. When have I ever fought with you? Which piece of intelligence I brought back to the lord was wrong? I made the lord understand Liu Bei's intentions more clearly and made him take Liu Bei's attack on Hebei seriously. Shouldn't that be the case?"

"It was clearly you who doubted me and questioned me from the very beginning, trying to suppress me like last time. In the end, you took my information for yourself and offered it to the lord, and the credit became yours. Do you think I'm still as naive as I was three years ago?"

"You, the military supervisor, are no match for Liu Bei. All you know is how to play dirty tricks. Times have changed. The only one who can help our lord defeat Liu Bei is me, Guo Tu!"

"Did you see today's banquet? It was specially prepared for me by the lord. All the civil and military officials of Dangyin City are toasting me today. Luckily, I have a good alcohol tolerance, otherwise I would have been a laughing stock if I had gotten drunk today."

"I'm going to drink with my lord, so I won't waste time talking to Supervisor Feng. If Supervisor Feng has any self-awareness, he can feign illness and leave. I will also speak well of Supervisor Feng to my lord. In the future, when I help my lord conquer the world, I will remember your past merits and report to my lord to appoint you as a marquis."

"Ha ha ha ha--"

Seeing Guo Tu laughing and leaving arrogantly, Feng Ji's face twisted with rage, his eyes filled with undisguised resentment, and his tone was icy cold: "Guo Tu, you're courting death!"

(End of this chapter)