My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

End of February.

Tuyin City, Youbeiping County.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Li Cunxiao led three thousand Jingnan soldiers to protect Gongsun Zan and his remaining troops, and finally withdrew to the border town that Gongsun Zan had previously used as a forward base.

The smoke from the direction of Guanzicheng in western Liaoning gradually faded on the horizon behind them, but something heavier loomed over the remnants of the army.

As the horses' hooves stepped through the gates of Tuyin City, the tense nerves suddenly relaxed. Some soldiers who still had horses slid off their backs and collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.

No need for a close inspection; just the pervasive stench, a mixture of the putrid smell of festering wounds and the sourness of something that hadn't been washed in a long time, was enough to tell.

And a deeper, more profound indifference born of despair and impending death reveals what this army has been through.

The soldiers of the Jingnan Army silently dismounted and began to assist with the resettlement.

They moved the wounded with exceptional gentleness, because even the slightest force could cause the bones of the body, wrapped in tattered cloth or broken armor, to creak softly as they rubbed together.

Many others were skin and bones, with sunken eyes, staring blankly at the sky, and unresponsive to their surroundings.

Most of their armor was incomplete, and many people's leather armor and even the leather lining of their shields showed signs of being cut off by sharp weapons and burned.

The Book of the Later Han Dynasty records that "five or six out of ten soldiers died... When the food ran out, they fed the horses, and when the horses ran out, they boiled the crossbows and shields."

There were hardly any warhorses in the camp, and the few that remained were emaciated and walked with difficulty.

The crossbows carried by some soldiers had their strings missing, and the wooden crossbows showed signs of repeated scraping and even burning.

That was "food" that was thrown into boiling water in the final days in an attempt to extract the last bit of gelatinous nutrients.

What is even more unbearable to look at is the strange, lingering light in the eyes of some survivors, a mixture of fear and numbness.

They huddled together, refusing to get close to others, and even in the relatively safe city of Tuyin, they often convulsed and screamed in their sleep.

The horrifying account in the "Records of Heroes" quoted in "Classified Collection of Literary Works" that "soldiers were so hungry that they ate each other's dead bodies" did not occur on a large scale due to the arrival of the Jingnan Army.

But the shadow of humanity being pushed to the edge of a precipice in absolute desperation has been deeply imprinted on the souls of these people, quietly changing something.

Zhang Fei, usually a rough and boisterous man, frowned deeply at this moment, his eyes revealing a rare look of heaviness and reluctance. He whispered to Guan Yu beside him, "Third Brother, this... this is just too tragic. Guanzicheng is truly a hellish place."

Guan Yu nodded silently, his phoenix eyes sweeping over the soldiers who were like walking corpses, and his hand stroking his beard stopped.

Having fought for many years, he was no stranger to horrific scenes, but such large-scale and prolonged non-combat casualties and psychological torment still left him feeling suffocated.

Li Cunxiao, holding his Yuwang Spear, leaned against the gate. The excitement on his face had long since faded. Looking at the wounded soldiers, his lips were tightly pursed, and he seemed to be thinking about something.

That night, Guan Yu ordered that a considerable portion of his personal military rations, along with those of the accompanying medical personnel, be prioritized for supplying Gongsun Zan's remaining troops.

A banquet was set up in the simple military camp. Although it was not lavish, the hot soup, millet rice, and dried meat were delicacies for Gongsun Zan and his generals Yan Gang, Tian Kai, and Shan Jing, who had just returned from hell.

After a few bowls of warm wine, the warmth dispelled some of the chill and seemed to pry open some of the tense defenses in people's hearts.

An unnatural flush appeared on Gongsun Zan's originally pale face.

He put down his wine bowl, his gaze sweeping across the flickering firelight inside the tent before finally settling on Guan Yu. His voice was hoarse, yet filled with barely suppressed indignation: "General Guan, General Zhang, General Li, Gongsun Bogui and his men will never forget your life-saving grace today!"

He first bowed respectfully with clasped hands, displaying impeccable manners, but then his tone abruptly shifted, becoming sharp and cutting: "However, there is something that I find hard to swallow, and I must say it!"

"Our troops fought a bloody battle at Guanzicheng for over two hundred days, with no food or supplies inside and no reinforcements outside. Our arrows ran out, our bowstrings were dead, and we resorted to cannibalism... Where is the imperial court? Where is the prefecture?"

He suddenly raised his voice, his eyes bloodshot: "Liu Yu!"

"What a benevolent and compassionate Prefect Liu!"

"He sits in Ji County, holding the grain and fodder in his hands, yet instead of sending troops to rescue the soldiers guarding the border for the country, he sends gold, silver, and silk to the camps of those wolves like Qiu Liju and Su Puyan! He calls it 'pacification' and 'cessation of hostilities'! Hahahaha..."

The laughter was shrill, carrying endless mockery and sorrow.

"The blood of my Han soldiers has not yet dried, and the cries of my border people are not enough to awaken those high-ranking officials? Can offering gifts and begging for peace really make the barbarians lay down their swords and be grateful? The piles of Han bones outside Guanzi City are their answer to Lord Liu's policy of appeasement!"

These words were like sparks thrown into a pot of boiling oil.

Zhang Fei slammed his hand on the low table in front of him, making the bowls and plates jump. "Damn it! General Gongsun is right! How can you fight a war by just handing over money without drawing your sword? Those barbarian dogs are afraid of power but not of virtue! The weaker you are, the more they will bully you! If you ask me, we should beat them hard, just like my second brother and his men did when they fought the Xianbei! Beat them until they are afraid! Only then will they know the rules!"

Li Cunxiao nodded and said in a low voice, "That's right. What you can't get on the battlefield, you certainly can't get at the negotiating table. If Zhang Chunqiuliju really wanted to submit, why would he wait until he was besieged and exhausted before coming to talk? Governor Liu's actions are indeed..."

He thought for a moment and found a word.

"Feeling frustrated."

The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly became intense.

Gongsun Zan's generals, such as Yan Gang, felt the same way and echoed his sentiments, denouncing Liu Yu's strategy as misleading the country and chilling the hearts of the border troops.

Guan Yu had been listening attentively, but now that he saw the anger rising, he slowly put down his wine bowl and said in a deep voice, "Brother Bogui, Fifth Brother, Eighth Brother, everyone, please be careful with your words."

His voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a steady strength that brought a brief lull to the commotion inside the tent.

Guan Yu opened and closed his phoenix eyes, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Prefect Liu is the governor of Youzhou appointed by the imperial court, holding the imperial authority to govern the prefecture and county. Although his policies... differ from those of us generals, he is still our superior. As a border general, we must save face in public and not make any unwarranted criticisms, lest we give others a handle to use against us."

His words were both a reminder to Zhang Fei and Li Cunxiao to be mindful of their status and a way to give the emotionally charged Gongsun Zan a way out.

After all, Guan Yu knew that although his elder brother Ji Xuanyuan had now established his own government and become a marquis, and his power was growing day by day, he was still nominally under the jurisdiction of Youzhou. His relationship with Liu Yu was delicate, and it was not advisable to openly break off relations.

Zhang Fei pursed his lips, still resentful, but since his third brother had spoken, he ultimately stopped shouting.

Li Cunxiao also shut his mouth.

Seeing that everyone had calmed down a bit, Guan Yu continued, his tone still steady, but with a hint of barely perceptible sigh: "However, I also have something to say. Soldiers serve on the frontier, donning armor and wielding weapons, fighting bloody battles. What they seek is to live up to the country's expectations, protect their hometowns, have someone to rely on from behind, and have hope for the future. If the front lines are fighting to the death, but the rear is used to appease the enemy with money... If this continues, I fear that the morale of the army cannot be maintained by rewards alone. The siege of Guanzi City today is a lesson from the past."

He did not directly criticize Liu Yu, but his meaning was clear.

This is not a simple tactical disagreement, but a clash of two fundamental philosophies on governing the border regions and on the relationship between the Han and non-Han peoples.

Gongsun Zan, Zhang Fei, and others advocated using forceful deterrence or even annihilation to secure peace on the border.

Liu Yu firmly believed that by winning over the Hu people through economic means and gaining their political recognition, he could "civilize" them and achieve long-term stability.

The devastation at Guanzicheng undoubtedly stained the pro-war faction's views with a heavy and tragic hue.

After hearing Guan Yu's words, Gongsun Zan's anger subsided slightly, but the gloom and a certain obsessive coldness in his eyes deepened.

He picked up his wine bowl, gestured to Guan Yu, drank it all in one gulp, and said no more.

The banquet continued in a complex and somewhat somber atmosphere.

In the following days, the Jingnan Army assisted Gongsun Zan's troops in reorganizing the defenses of Youbeiping Commandery, suppressing small groups of rebels and bandits, resettling the wounded, and replenishing some urgently needed supplies.

Order was slowly restored in Tuyin City, but the main force under Gongsun Zan, which had once been a formidable force on the border, was severely weakened and could not be recovered in the short term.

Once things had settled down, Guan Yu proposed leading his troops back to Zhuojun.

Upon hearing the news, Gongsun Zan personally went to the Jingnan army camp to persuade them to stay.

His expression was earnest, and the flames of revenge in his eyes, undiminished by the crushing defeat, burned even more fiercely with humiliation and resentment: "General Guan, General Zhang, General Li!"

"The rebels have just suffered a defeat, and their morale is wavering. Now is the time to press our advantage and wipe them out! If we have your assistance, I, Zan, am willing to be the vanguard. We will surely strike at the rebel stronghold, capture and kill Zhang Chunqiu Liju, and avenge the humiliation of Guanzi City! At that time, the court will surely reward us handsomely, which will also benefit the great cause of Marquis Ji!"

He truly needs this formidable new force to achieve his revenge and prove himself.

Guan Yu returned the salute with clasped hands: "General Gongsun's ambition is admirable. However, my troops were ordered to provide reinforcements. Our military orders only extend to relieving the siege of Guanzi City and helping you escape. Now that our mission is accomplished, we have no new orders and dare not act on our own. Military law is strict, and I hope you will understand."

Zhang Fei scratched his head, and said seriously for once, "General Gongsun, it's not that I, Old Zhang, don't want to fight, it's just that my elder brother hasn't given the order. Military orders are absolute!"

Li Cunxiao, carrying his spear, nodded in agreement.

Seeing the three men's resolute attitude, Gongsun Zan knew he couldn't force them to stay. His disappointment was barely concealed, but he suppressed his emotions and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Since that's the case, I cannot force you to stay. The people and soldiers of Youbeiping will forever remember the kindness of you generals! If there is ever anything I can do to help you, just say the word!"

"General Gongsun, take care!"

"General Guan, General Zhang, General Li, have a safe journey. Please give my regards to Marquis Ji!"

"I will definitely bring it."

The three thousand cavalry of the Jingnan Army, as swift as when they arrived, led by Guan Yu and others, left Tuyin City, raising a cloud of dust as they headed back to Zhuojun.

Gongsun Zan stood alone on the city wall for a long time without saying a word.

Behind them lay an army in dire need of reconstruction and a devastated border region.

In his heart burned a fierce fire of hatred and a deeper disbelief and contempt for Liu Yu's strategy.

Guan Zicheng's purgatory was like a cruel carving knife, leaving even deeper marks on the inherent stubbornness and suspicion in his character.

He became increasingly convinced that in this dog-eat-dog world, only the sword and spear in his hand were the most reliable weapons.

Several days later, the imperial envoy arrived in Youbeiping.

Contrary to many people's expectations, Emperor Ling Liu Hong did not hold Gongsun Zan accountable for the defeat at Guanzicheng.

On the contrary, the imperial edict praised him for "being besieged for more than two hundred days, fighting bravely and unyieldingly, and being commendable for his loyalty and courage," promoted him to "Commander of the Surrendered Barbarians," and granted him the title of "Marquis of Duting."

The imperial court has its own considerations.

Although the Yellow Turban Rebellion was quelled, signs of unrest were already emerging in the country. The Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes in the north repeatedly posed a threat to the borders, and the court urgently needed to establish a strong symbol of "resisting the barbarians" to stabilize public sentiment and deter the surrounding tribes.

Gongsun Zan's story of "fighting to the death and refusing to surrender" at Guanzi City perfectly fits this requirement.

As for the actual heavy losses, they seem to become unimportant in the face of political propaganda.

This reward was like a shot in the arm for Gongsun Zan's ideals.

He became even more convinced that his path was correct, and that the court, at least the emperor, supported his hardline approach.

This undoubtedly widened the ideological gap between him and Liu Yu, who advocated appeasement, and laid another foreshadowing for more intense conflicts within Youzhou in the future.

……

P.S.: Thanks to Wan Shihezhang for the update reminder!