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

Chapter 255 Excluding Yuan Shu, Liu Bei's Three-Year Agreement (Seeking updates and monthly votes)
"Liu Bei is a true gentleman!"

Yuan Shao couldn't help but sigh.

In his congratulatory message to Yuan Shao, Liu Bei stated that he did not want to take advantage of Yuan Shao's misfortune and wanted to give him time to grow stronger. He also pointed out the path for Yuan Shao to grow stronger: to pacify the Xianbei, quell the Wuhuan, take Liaodong, and attack Goguryeo.

After the death of the Xianbei leader Tanshihuai, the Xianbei people disintegrated and are now mainly divided into three parts: one is Budugen, whose people are distributed in Taiyuan, Yanmen and other places in Bingzhou; the second is Kebineng, whose people are distributed in Daijun, Shanggu and other places in Youzhou; and the third is the Eastern Xianbei Suli, Mijia and Queji, whose people are distributed in Liaoxi, Youbeiping and Yuyang beyond Youzhou.

After Qiuliju's death, the Tadun tribe was distributed in western Liaoning; the Nanlou tribe was in Shanggu, the Wuyan tribe was in Youbeiping, and the Supuyan tribe was in Liaodong Dependent State. There were also Wuhuan tribes in Daijun and Yanmen.

Although Tadun has submitted to Yuan Shao, the rest of the Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes do not.

Because Gongsun Du did not go to Liaodong, the local strongmen in Liaodong are now self-governing, and their orders are not effective and their administration is ineffective, with no one in charge.

They also agreed on a time to settle the score three years later: if Liu Bei won, he would only kill Yuan Shao; if Yuan Shao won, Liu Bei would be willing to commit suicide and hand over the world to Liu Bei.

In other words, Yuan Shao can focus on developing and expanding his power in peace for the next three years. Liu Bei will deal with Yuan Shu in the south. Don't listen to the instigation of Yuan Shu, a pseudo-emperor.

Liu Bei's intention was a direct challenge to Yuan Shao: We two can compete for the Central Plains, don't involve Yuan Shu, he's not worthy!
Back then, Yuan Shao repeatedly sought an alliance with Yuan Shu, but Yuan Shu refused. Zhang Jin was both scolded and beaten, constantly humiliating Yuan Shao.

Now that Yuan Shu wants to use Yuan Shao as a pawn, he's eagerly coming to form an alliance. To say that Yuan Shao is happy about this would be self-deception.

Man lives by his breath, tree lives by its bark.

Yuan Shao was proud and self-respecting. When he was powerful, he begged Yuan Shu to form an alliance, but Yuan Shu repeatedly refused. When he was weak, he would try to form an alliance with Yuan Shu, but Yuan Shao was ashamed to be associated with him.

You ignored me back then, but now I am the rightful Emperor Zhongshi, and Yuan Shu, you can't possibly be on my level!

In contrast, although Liu Bei was breaking the alliance between Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao found his methods of doing so very useful.

respect!

What is respect?

Liu Bei was simply showing respect!
In particular, the line in the diplomatic congratulatory message, "The only heroes in the world are Emperor Zhong and I; Yuan Shu is nothing but a skeleton in a tomb!" made Yuan Shao feel like he had been elevated to a higher level!
Yuan Shao laughed and circulated the congratulatory letter from the foreign powers to the civil and military officials in the main hall.

After glancing at the contents, Guo Tu's eyes lit up, and he secretly exclaimed: "Your Majesty is indeed Your Majesty!"

After the ministers finished reading, Guo Tu stepped forward first and reported: "I believe that Your Majesty can agree to the three-year agreement with His Majesty the Han Emperor. At present, Emperor Zhong has just been established, and the people are in a state of panic. Your Majesty needs a great victory to appease them. Last year, the Xianbei and Wuhuan raided people in the north. If Your Majesty sends troops to punish them, it will not only appease the people's hatred, but also enhance Emperor Zhong's prestige!"

“Yuan Shu is powerful and arrogant, and has repeatedly humiliated Your Majesty. I hate him very much. If Your Majesty allies with Yuan Shu, I will not be willing. We should take this opportunity to send troops to the northern border and Liaodong to strengthen Zhong’s prestige. As for Yuan Shu, I expect that Yuan Shu and His Majesty the Han Emperor will have a battle. We can use His Majesty the Han Emperor to weaken Yuan Shu’s power.”

"Your Majesty can take this opportunity to pacify the Xianbei, subdue the Wuhuan, seize Liaodong, and attack Goguryeo, thus building a powerful army. After that, you can march south to contend with His Majesty the Han Emperor and be invincible!"

Guo Tu's words were so inspiring and rousing that they greatly encouraged everyone.

Even the civil and military officials in the main hall, who had developed a fear of Liu Bei because of the Battle of Chaoge, couldn't help but feel more confident.

Guo Tu was exceptionally skilled at boosting morale.

Anyone who wasn't stupid could guess Yuan Shu's intentions. Neither Yuan Shao nor the civil and military officials in the palace wanted to be Yuan Shu's henchmen.

As for taking advantage of the conflict between Liu Bei and Yuan Shu to attack Liu Bei, although one could reap the benefits, if one cannot defeat Liu Bei in one battle, one will inevitably suffer a strong counterattack from Liu Bei.

The people of the north were already filled with anxiety, and in just a few years, three emperors—Liu Yu, Liu He, and Yuan Shao—had come and gone.

The more frequently emperors are replaced, the harder it is for the people to unite.

Compared to attacking Liu Bei, "pacifying the Xianbei, defeating the Wuhuan, taking Liaodong, and conquering Goguryeo" was much simpler.

In a war to establish a nation, you'll definitely pick the easiest target to bully.

Yuan Shu initially attacked the weakest of the three, Liu Dai, before moving on to Liu Biao and finally Liu Yan, thus establishing his reputation.

Even so, Yuan Shu did not dare to attack Liu Bei directly.

Yuan Shao wasn't foolish enough to challenge Liu Bei to a war to establish his kingdom; that wouldn't be establishing his authority, it would be courting death.

To conquer a fragmented Xianbei or Wuhuan, a Liaodong region with numerous independent powerful clans, or a remote small country, wouldn't that be a piece of cake?
Yuan Shao could still tell who was weak and who was strong.

Subsequently.

Feng Ji, Xin Ping, Xin Pi, Dong Zhao, and others all echoed Guo Tu's words.

Yuan Shao laughed heartily: "Since all the officials believe that we should make a three-year agreement with the Han Emperor, I will agree to the Han Emperor's agreement."

Hearing the civil and military officials in the hall echoing his sentiments, and hearing Yuan Shao change his address from "Liu Bei" to "Emperor of Han," Xu You was secretly delighted: If the two Yuans did not form an alliance, His Majesty could defeat them one by one. With Yuan Shao's campaigns against the Xianbei and Wuhuan, these barbarians would also know the power of the Central Plains and not think that they could go south and act recklessly just because the Central Plains were in chaos. His Majesty's strategy was indeed brilliant!
An alliance was formed.

Yuan Shao then hosted a banquet for Xu You and Zhao Yun.

Seeing Zhao Yun in his white robes, exuding an extraordinary refined elegance, Yuan Shao felt a sense of familiarity but couldn't quite place where he had seen him before. He then asked, "Zhao Guanglu Xun Cheng, where are you from?"

Zhao Yun replied without hesitation: "I am from Changshan."

After Yuan Shao withdrew from Wei Commandery, Zhao Yun also moved his relatives, including Zhao Feng, to Wei Commandery to avoid being captured by Yuan Shao. Therefore, when Yuan Shao questioned him, Zhao Yun did not care at all about revealing his origins.

Han Juzi and Sui Yuanjin bumped into Zhao Yun at the banquet, and their expressions changed drastically.

Of the seven generals who raided Zhao Yun's camp outside Dangyin, Han Xun, Gongsun Du, Zhao Rui, and Lü Weihuang are dead, and Han Meng surrendered to Guan Yu. Only Han Juzi and Sui Yuanjin remain.

The two generals recognized Zhao Yun, and they felt their hands trembling as they drank the wine.

Seeing that Yuan Shao did not recognize Zhao Yun, Xu You said, "Zhao Guanglu Xun Cheng is the fourth sworn brother of the Han Emperor."

Yuan Shao was startled. He recalled the information about Zhao Yun and couldn't help but feel envious: Liu Bei has so many fierce generals under his command. It's a pity that my Yan Liang and Wen Chou are dead. Otherwise, I would definitely defeat Zhao Yun's prestige at the banquet today.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shao glanced at Zhang He again and ordered his men to have Zhang He perform a sword dance.

Upon hearing this request, Zhang He's expression changed.

The intention behind this sword dance is too obvious!
Now that an alliance has been formed, why bother with the sword dance at the banquet?

Although Zhang He was very unwilling, he could not disobey Yuan Shao's wishes, so he could only stand up and say, "There is nothing to enjoy at the banquet, so I am willing to perform a sword dance for Your Majesty!"

Yuan Shao laughed: "General Zhang is a valiant general under my command, skilled in both literature and martial arts. Today's sword dance is merely for entertainment, with no other intention."

Zhao Yun laughed and said, "I have also heard of General Zhang's name. He was able to withstand a spear from the Han Emperor and survive. His martial prowess is rare in this world."

Zhang He blushed involuntarily.

Are you praising me or insulting me?
Although almost two years have passed, Zhang He still vividly remembers the question, "Can you handle the skill of this spear for thirty years?"

Zhang He dared not respond to Zhao Yun's words.

To acknowledge Liu Bei's bravery would be to embarrass Yuan Shao; to deny it would be to make a laughingstock of himself. He could only silently practice his swordplay. Xu You whispered a few words to Zhao Yun, who nodded, stood up, and said to Yuan Shao, "General Zhang's solo swordplay is rather monotonous. I would like to dance with General Zhang."

These words filled Zhang He with fear and trepidation.

Zhao Yun, could you please sit down?

Zhang He now has an emergency response to Liu Bei's four brothers.

Wei Commandery fought several battles.

Zhao Yun killed Han Xun by spear, shot Gongsun Du by arrow, and stabbed Zhao Rui to death.

Zhang Fei killed Meng Dai.

Guan Yu charged through the enemy ranks, slaying generals and none could stop him, and directly beheaded Chunyu Qiong.

With Liu Bei, Wang Mo was killed with a single spear thrust, and Zhang He was forced to retreat with another spear thrust. Liu Bei also nearly killed Yuan Shao with an arrow. The eight hundred White Feather Soldiers charged rampaging through Yuan Shao's central army, and no one could stop them.

They were all valiant generals under Yuan Shao, yet they were cut down like vegetables by Liu Bei and his three brothers.

“Zhao Guanglu Xun Cheng, since this is an alliance between our two families, how about we be modest?” Zhang He whispered as they got close.

If Zhang He suffers such a crushing defeat in the palace, he will no longer be able to serve under Yuan Shao.

Zhao Yun smiled gently: "The Han Emperor greatly admires General Zhang, so I should humbly decline."

Zhang He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as they don't fight seriously, it's just a friendly exchange between the two sides.

As the two swords danced, from the initial tentative movements to the later fierce attacks, Zhao Yun perfectly coordinated with Zhang He.

It showcased both Zhang He's exquisite swordsmanship and Zhao Yun's superb swordsmanship, like two tigers locked in a fierce battle, neither gaining the upper hand.

After fighting for a while, Zhao Yun jumped back and said, "General Zhang's swordsmanship is exquisite; I am no match for him."

Zhang He, seeing that he had the upper hand, said, "You are too kind, Zhao Guanglu Xun Cheng. I was indeed already at a disadvantage."

Xu You stood up and laughed loudly: "Zhao Guanglu Xun Cheng and General Zhang are both heroes of our time, let's drink to our hearts' content!"

Seeing that Zhang He could fight Zhao Yun to a draw, Yuan Shao felt greatly honored and laughed heartily: "Ziyuan is right, we should drink to our hearts' content!"

The banquet ended in high spirits.

While Guo Tu was giving gifts to Xu You and Zhao Yun, he privately inquired, "Has His Majesty given any instructions?"

Xu You shook his head: "Your Majesty's intention is that as long as Yuan Shao does not march south, you may do as you please."

Guo Tu understood: "I understand Your Majesty's meaning."

To avoid arousing suspicion, Guo Tu did not linger for long. After escorting Xu You and Zhao Yun to the post station, he left.

Not long after I returned to the post station, Feng Ji from the People's Daily came to visit.

Both being from Nanyang and having served Yuan Shao, Xu You and Feng Ji were old acquaintances, so Xu You sent someone to invite Feng Ji inside.

"Brother Yuantu, you came to see me after the banquet. Could it be that you wanted to catch up with old friends?" Xu You's gaze was intense, as if he could see right through Feng Ji.

To be frank with an honest man, after exchanging pleasantries with Feng Ji, he said, “The Han Emperor’s strategy is indeed brilliant. Knowing that Zhongdi wanted to establish his authority through war, he encouraged Zhongdi to ‘pacify the Xianbei, subdue the Wuhuan, take Liaodong, and attack Goguryeo.’ In this way, the Han Emperor would have time to attack Yuan Shu.”

Xu You chuckled lightly: "While the logic is sound, this strategy also benefits Emperor Zhong. It's a win-win situation, so why distinguish between the two? Brother Yuan Tu has come all this way, so he probably wouldn't want to discuss such an obvious topic with me. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask."

Feng Ji asked in a deep voice, "I want to know if Guo Tu was sent by the Han Emperor?"

Xu You looked at Feng Ji with a strange expression: "Since Brother Yuan Tu has asked this question, you must have become suspicious of Guo Tu. But there is no need for that at all. Regardless of whether Guo Tu was sent by the Han Emperor or not, he is doing his best to serve Emperor Zhong. I'm sure Brother Yuan Tu wouldn't deny that."

Feng Ji frowned deeply.

It was precisely because Guo Tu had been wholeheartedly serving Yuan Shao that Feng Ji could not understand Guo Tu's stance.

Even if we say that Guo Tu was sent by Liu Bei, from beginning to end, Guo Tu was always devising good strategies for Yuan Shao and never slandered or harmed anyone.

There are many suspicious points about whether Guo Tu was sent by Liu Bei.

Feng Ji also secretly sent people to Jingyang to inquire, but he had never heard of Guo Tu going to Liu Biao or Yuan Shu's forces.

However, despite his suspicions, Feng Ji couldn't touch Guo Tu at the moment, not even by making a single slanderous remark, simply because Guo Tu's contributions were too great, so great that anyone who questioned Guo Tu would be questioned by Yuan Shao first.

Feng Ji, in particular, dared not question Guo Tu.

If we want to question Guo Tu, we must first discuss whether Feng Ji deliberately failed to anticipate Liu Bei's surprise attack on the central army camp during the Battle of Chaoge, deliberately diverted the troops from the central army camp, and deliberately sent Chunyu Yin and others to attack Chaoge.

In terms of responsibility for the defeat in the Battle of Chaoge, Feng Ji is actually the most suspicious.

If Feng Ji hadn't followed Yuan Shao for so long, someone else would have been held accountable long ago.

Seeing Feng Ji frown and remain silent, Xu You reminded him again: "Brother Yuan Tu, I know you have questions. I can tell you clearly that the Han Emperor wants to be the greatest emperor of all time, so he has always hoped that Emperor Zhong could fight him in his strongest state. Otherwise, with the Han Emperor's abilities, he would have wiped you out during the surprise attack on Ye City, so why wait until today?"

"Or perhaps, the reason why Guo Tu was made to serve Emperor Zhong was because Emperor Zhong was considered too weak as an opponent, and he did not even have a decent strategist under his command, so even if he won, it would not be worthy of praise."

"Do you know why successive Han emperors allowed Sima Qian to write a biography for Xiang Yu? The more valiant Xiang Yu was, the more his ability was demonstrated by defeating his ancestor; and the Han emperor's intention is the same. Only when Emperor Zhong truly becomes the overlord of the north will he have the right to be captured alive by the Han emperor!"

"You may find this hard to believe, but it is the truth. Instead of questioning Guo Tu, become Guo Tu, surpass Guo Tu, and use your abilities to help Emperor Zhong, suppress the rebellious and powerful within the country, and pacify the Xianbei and Wuhuan without, so that Emperor Zhong will be qualified to fight against Emperor Han."

"Only in this way can Brother Yuantu leave a glorious mark on history, even if Emperor Zhong is defeated."

Hearing Xu You's answer, Feng Ji subconsciously clenched his fist.

Both were renowned scholars from Nanyang and had served Yuan Shao. Now, Xu You had ascended to a high mountain, overlooking Feng Ji, and even said to Feng Ji: "You are too weak now. I can only give you time to grow stronger before you are worthy of my action."

This was a humiliation for Feng Ji.

Feng Ji refused to submit!

"You'll regret this!" Feng Ji stood up angrily, bowed deeply, and then turned and strode away.

Regret?

Xu You smiled dismissively: Sure enough, the provocation tactic works best!

(End of this chapter)