Shuhan

Gongsun Yuan stood outside the city wall of the Guardian Wuhuan Commandery. He was surrounded by a desolate scene of wind-swept clouds and snowflakes like flying feathers, silently covering this war-torn land.

His gaze penetrated the layers of wind and snow and fell on the city that was dilapidated but still stood proudly, as if looking for some answers.

His face was firm, his brows revealed a bit of indomitable spirit and determination, and his lips were tightly pursed, revealing his inner struggle and weighing.

"General Gongsun." Tuoba Shoutian spoke, his voice as deep as a bell, carrying an unquestionable power.

"I know you have concerns in your heart, but please believe that I, Tufa Shoutian, will keep my word."

Gongsun Yuan turned his head and his eyes met Tufa Shoutian's. Their eyes met in the air, as if a silent contest was going on.

Gongsun Yuan thought to himself: Although Tufa Khan was supported by the Han people, in this chaotic world, loyalty and betrayal can be a matter of seconds. He must confirm Tufa Shoutian's strength before deciding whether to cooperate with him.

"Tufa Khan." Gongsun Yuan spoke slowly, his voice low and powerful: "You are supported by the Han people, this is an indisputable fact. I need to know, how many people can you control in the Tufa tribe?"

Upon hearing this, Tufa Shoutian curled up a confident smile. He was well aware of Gongsun Yuan's concerns and had already prepared his response.

"General Gongsun, my Great Xianbei has 200,000 soldiers, and the Tufa tribe alone accounts for 150,000 of them. Those who are close to the Han Dynasty are mostly concentrated in Dingxiang and Yunzhong, and some were brought to Taiyuan by Jiang Wei. As for Tuoba Liwei and other noble tribes of the Xianbei, they are now on my side."

Having said that, Tuoba Shoutian's eyes became more determined, as if he was showing his trump card to Gongsun Yuan.

When Gongsun Yuan heard this, his eyes flashed and he secretly calculated in his mind.

If what Tuoba Shoutian said was true, then this force would be an important aid for him in fighting against the Han Dynasty.

His fingers unconsciously tapped the hilt of the sword at his side, making a crisp sound. This was his habit when he was thinking.

"In that case," Gongsun Yuan finally spoke, his voice revealing a hint of determination: "It's not impossible to cooperate."

"Hahaha~"

Upon hearing this, Tufa Shoutian laughed out loud, and his laughter echoed in the wind and snow, sounding particularly heroic.

"General Gongsun, you will not make the wrong choice. The Hegu clan, the Pu clan, the Baba clan, the Daxi clan, the Yilu clan, the Qiudun clan, the Shihai clan, and the Tuoba clan are all on my side. After all, the grassland is the grassland of the grassland people, not the grassland of the Han Kingdom."

Having said this, Tuoba Shoutian's eyes became fiery, as if he had already seen the future victory.

"Gongsun Yuan." He continued, his voice low and powerful.

"I will help you capture Yan Rou, but you have to help me lure and kill Zhao Zilong's troops and help me capture Bingzhou!"

Gongsun Yuan was shocked when he heard this.

He understood that this was a huge gamble, but it was also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Gongsun Yuan took a deep breath, looked at Tufa Shoutian with a determined gaze, stretched out his right hand, and said: "Even so, how can I not agree? Today you and I swear an oath of blood and become brothers of the opposite sex!"

Upon hearing this, Tufa Shoutian showed a satisfied smile on his face.

He stretched out his right hand and held Gongsun Yuan's right hand tightly.

The two people's fingers were tightly intertwined, as if declaring their determination to the heaven and earth.

"Okay!" Tufa Shoutian shouted, then took a sharp dagger from the guard beside him, cut his palm with it, and blood gushed out instantly. He handed the dagger to Gongsun Yuan, motioning him to do the same.

Gongsun Yuan took the dagger without hesitation and cut his palm as well.

The blood of the two people mixed in the air and dripped onto the snow, as if witnessing the formation of this covenant.

"Heaven and earth are my witnesses, the sun and the moon are my mirrors!" Gongsun Yuan swore loudly: "I, Gongsun Yuan, and Tufa Shoutian are brothers today. We will advance and retreat together, and share honor and disgrace!"

Tufa Shoutian also responded loudly: "I, Tufa Shoutian, feel the same way. I am willing to work with Gongsun Yuan to achieve great things!"

The two people's voices echoed in the wind and snow, as if declaring their determination to the whole world.

The wind and snow were still raging, but above the ruins, a new force seemed to be quietly rising.

The alliance between Gongsun Yuan and Tufa Shoutian will bring about an unprecedented storm on this grassland.

The direction of this storm will determine the future of this grassland.

Even influence the situation in the world!
As the two parties formed an alliance, the situation in Dai County also underwent obvious changes.

With the help of the Xianbei army led by Tufa Shoutian, they were like a tiger with wings, and their momentum of conquering cities and territories was like a storm, unstoppable.

The city of the commander of the Wuhuan Commandery, a fortress that was once as strong as iron, is now like a lone boat in a storm, and is on the verge of collapse.

The wrinkles on Yan Rou's face recorded the vicissitudes of life and the cruelty of the battlefield.

His troops were already at the end of their strength; days of fierce fighting had left them exhausted and their morale was low.

However, even in the face of such a desperate situation, Yan Rou's eyes still flashed with an unyielding light, which was a kind of loyalty to the State of Wei and a persistence in faith.

On the city wall, Yan Rou, wearing tattered armor and holding a long sword, stood in the cold wind like an unyielding statue.

His gaze pierced through the enemy's formation and fell on the Gongsun flag flying high in the distance, and an indescribable grief and anger surged in his heart.

Today's battle may be the end of my life, but even if I die, I must die with dignity and for a good cause.

Following Gongsun Yuan's order, the Xianbei army surged in like a tide, and arrows rained down on the city walls.

Yan Rou brandished his sword, slashing left and blocking right. Every swing of the sword was accompanied by a sound of metallic clashing and sparks flying.

His subordinates were all brave and fearless, but as time went on, they suffered heavy casualties. On the city walls, blood and mud were mixed together, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of blood.

A day later, the city gate was finally breached and Gongsun Yuan's army poured into the city like a flood.

Yan Rou led the remaining troops and launched street fighting relying on the intricate streets and alleys in the city.

Every alley and every house became their position of resistance.

Yan Rou's figure shuttled through the smoke. His swordsmanship had reached perfection, and every move was accurate and deadly, but the enemies seemed endless, coming in waves.

The battle lasted until dusk, and Yan Rou was finally forced into the government office in the city.

At this moment, he was covered in blood, breathing rapidly, with fatigue and determination intertwined on his old face. The white hair on his head had turned a strange red color due to being stained with blood, and was frozen into pieces by the cold wind, which looked particularly shocking.

Although there was fatigue in his eyes, there was no sign of retreat. It was a look of courage that was ready to face death.

At this moment, Gongsun Yuan slowly walked into the government office. He was wearing a gorgeous battle robe and had a smug look on his face, as if everything was under his control.

He looked at Yan Rou, a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he slowly said: "I, Gongsun Yuan, have admired Lord Yan for a long time. Lord Yan is even more loved by the people in Youzhou. If you are willing to help me achieve something, I, Gongsun Yuan, am willing to treat you as my master!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Rou curled up the corner of her mouth into a mocking smile, which echoed in the empty government office, sounding particularly desolate.

"Who do you think you are, Gongsun Yuan? Are you worthy of my loyalty? Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself? If you want to kill me, just kill me. Why bother saying more? I, Yan Rou, am a minister of Wei in life and a ghost of Wei in death!"

Although his voice was weak, every word he spoke was sonorous and full of unquestionable firmness.

Gongsun Yuan's face suddenly darkened. He snorted coldly, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes.

"Since you want to die, don't blame me!"

He turned around suddenly and ordered the archer beside him: "Release!"

Following Gongsun Yuan's order, thousands of arrows were fired, whistling like locusts and surrounding Yan Rou in an instant.

Yan Rou closed her eyes, and an inexplicable calm surged in her heart.

He seemed to see his family far away, the brothers who had fought alongside him, and the territory of Wei that he swore to defend with his life.

At this moment, all the pain, fatigue and fear disappeared, leaving only a deep sense of belonging and infinite loyalty to the country.

In the rain of arrows, Yan Rou's figure gradually became blurred and was finally completely submerged.

His life came to a tragic end on the land he swore to defend with his life.

Gongsun Yuan looked at the figure lying in a pool of blood, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.

He may never really understand Yan Rou's persistence and loyalty, but he knows that such an enemy is worthy of respect, and he also wants to see such a person in his own army. Gongsun Yuan immediately said to his left and right: "Give Yan Rou a proper burial."

The confidant immediately agreed.

After Yan Rou died, Dai County was taken.

Tuoba Shoutian's promise has been fulfilled, and the next step is for him to fulfill his own promise.

Ten days later, the city of Dai County was decorated with lights and there was an atmosphere of joy and happiness.

Gongsun Yuan set up a banquet in the most luxurious mansion in the city to entertain Tuoba Shoutian and the accompanying Xianbei nobles, including the emerging Tuoba Liwei.

As night falls and the moonlight shines like water, candles are lit brightly in the mansion, illuminating faces that are some heroic, some cunning.

Gongsun Yuan was wearing a luxurious brocade robe and sitting in the main seat, his eyes revealing a bit of pride and expectation.

He raised the wine glass and shook it gently, causing ripples in the glass. He then turned his gaze towards the bald Shou Tian and asked tentatively, "Brother Shou Tian, ​​how do you plan to deal with Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong?"

Tuoba Shoutian did not answer immediately, but took a sip of the wine slowly, as if he was weighing every word.

He is tall and strong, with a rugged face, and his brows reveal a heroic spirit that should not be underestimated.

Seeing that he was neither impatient nor anxious, Gongsun Yuan secretly praised him in his heart, but did not urge him.

After all, Dai County was already in his hands. This victory made him in a good mood, and he had enough patience for Tufa Shoutian's silence.

Zhao Yun, this name is like a huge rock, weighing heavily on Gongsun Yuan's heart.

Although the victorious general was far away in Liaodong, his reputation echoed in my ears like thunder.

Zhao Yun led his troops to Liaodong, which was undoubtedly a challenge to Gongsun Yuan's authority and touched his reverse scale.

Even if Tufa Shoutian did not take the initiative to deal with Zhao Yun, Gongsun Yuan would never sit idly by.

Tufa Shoutian finally spoke, his voice deep and powerful: "I plan to lure Zhao Yun's troops to Yuyang, set up an ambush, and destroy them in one fell swoop. But this plan requires the full support of Brother Gongsun."

Gongsun Yuan frowned when he heard this, and then asked, "How do we cooperate?"

Tufa Shoutian smiled slightly, with a sly look in his eyes: "We can pretend to be defeated by Wei and ask Han for help, using this as bait to lure Zhao Yun to lead his army. At the same time, we are willing to accept Han's amnesty and temporarily become Han's ministers, in order to paralyze Zhao Yun and make him relax his vigilance, so as to successfully lead him to Yuyang."

After hearing this, Gongsun Yuan felt mixed emotions.

The reason why Zhao Yun has not been able to go deep into Liaodong so far is not because he is unwilling to do so, but because the passage to Liaoze is firmly controlled by him.

Once Zhao Yun is allowed to enter Youzhou, the consequences will be unpredictable.

He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Why not just wipe out Zhao Yun's troops in Liaodong?"

Tufa Shoutian shook his head, his expression solemn: "Liaodong borders the grassland, the terrain is open, if the army goes there, Zhao Yun will easily escape into the grassland, how can we pursue him? Moreover, once the Han Kingdom reacts, it will be extremely disadvantageous to us. I intend to eliminate the influence of the Han Kingdom in Liaodong in the shortest possible time, and must not alert the enemy."

Gongsun Yuan was silent for a long time after hearing this.

He knew very well that although Tufa Shoutian's plan was risky, if it succeeded, it would indeed solve the problem of Zhao Yun, who was a great threat to him.

What's more, with the support of tens of thousands of cavalry from the Tufa tribe and an ambush in advance, it should not be a problem to capture Zhao Yun's 20,000 or 30,000 men.

After thinking for a moment, Gongsun Yuan finally nodded in agreement.

He raised his glass and clinked it with Tufa Shoutian's. The two smiled at each other, as if they had seen the dawn of victory.

The banquet continued, Gongsun Yuan, Tuoba Shoutian and other Xianbei nobles toasted each other and the atmosphere was lively.

However, amidst the laughter and joy, there are hidden unknown conspiracies and calculations.

Gongsun Yuan was secretly thinking about how to cooperate with Tufa Shoutian's plan, while also observing the expressions of everyone present.

He noticed that although Tuoba Liwei seemed to be drinking and having fun with everyone else, his eyes revealed a hint of vigilance and deep thought.

Gongsun Yuan thought to himself that this Xianbei noble was definitely not an easy target and would become a serious threat in the future.

After the banquet, Gongsun Yuan and Tufa Shoutian had a secret conversation until late at night.

The two discussed every detail of the plan in detail to ensure that there would be no mistakes.

Gongsun Yuan promised to fully cooperate with Tufa Shoutian's actions, but he also expressed his own concerns and worries.

Tufa Shoutian answered them one by one, and the two finally reached a consensus and decided to deal with Zhao Yun together.

As the night deepened, Dai County gradually became quiet.

Gongsun Yuan and Tufa Shoutian returned to their respective residences, but they were both preparing for the upcoming war.

soon.

The news of Gongsun Yuan's great victory in Dai County spread quickly across the land of Yan and Zhao like a spring breeze.

Ji County.

When the news came, Yang Zuo was sitting in his study, playing with an exquisite jade pendant in his hand and thinking about his future.

His eyes were sometimes solemn, sometimes flickering. Obviously, he was full of uncertainty and expectations about the unpredictable current situation.

Yang Zuo was good at assessing the situation and seeking the greatest benefit for himself.

Recently, envoys from the State of Wei have visited him frequently, trying to win him over and promising him high positions and generous salaries, which has inevitably made him waver.

However, Gongsun Yuan's victory was like a shot in the arm, allowing him to see another possibility - relying on the Han State might bring more long-term benefits to himself and his family.

Just as Yang Zuo was lost in thought, a servant hurried into the study, holding a secret letter in his hand and looking nervous.

"Sir, urgent news from Dai County!" The servant's voice trembled slightly, and he obviously knew the importance of the news.

Yang Zuo looked up suddenly, took the secret letter, and read it quickly.

In the letter, Gongsun Yuan not only detailed the process of the great victory, but also revealed his intention to rely on the Han Kingdom.

After reading the letter, a gleam of light flashed in Yang Zuo's eyes, and he had made up his mind.

He stood up suddenly and told his servants, "Go and tell the envoy from Wei State quickly that I have important matters to attend to and cannot meet him. Advise him to leave as soon as possible to avoid bloodshed. At the same time, prepare to welcome the envoy from Han State, Zhao Yun, and make sure to make it a grand occasion."

The servant took the order and left, while Yang Zuo began to pace back and forth in the study, thinking in his mind how to negotiate with Zhao Yun's envoy.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we can join forces with the Han State to fight against the Wei State, we may be able to rewrite the situation in Youzhou.

The next day, Zhao Yun's envoy arrived as promised. Yang Zuo personally went out to greet him with a respectful attitude, and his words revealed his admiration for the Han Kingdom.

The messenger was of sturdy build, with a resolute face and a heroic look between his brows. He was obviously a general who had fought in many battles.

Seeing Yang Zuo's enthusiasm, he was quite satisfied and knew that this trip was already half successful.

After the host and the guests sat down, Yang Zuo said straight to the point: "My master's great victory is a blessing for our generation. My master intends to rely on the Han Kingdom and fight against the Wei Kingdom. This is a righteous act. I, Yang Zuo, am willing to follow his lead and join in the great cause."

Upon hearing this, the messenger nodded slightly, with a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

He said in a deep voice: "General Gongsun does have this intention, and the Han Kingdom has also heard of Lord Yang's great name for a long time. We are willing to join hands with you to plan great things. However, the current situation is complicated. Cao Zhen's army is 100,000 strong and should not be underestimated. I wonder if you have any good ideas?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Zuo looked solemn and said slowly: "Although Cao Zhen's army is large, the Youzhou soldiers have been exhausted for a long time and their combat effectiveness has been greatly reduced. If we can join forces with the Han Dynasty and march south from Liaodong to attack Cao Zhen together, perhaps we can decide the outcome of the battle in one battle."

Upon hearing this, the messenger frowned slightly, obviously thinking about the feasibility of this plan.

Seeing this, Yang Zuo continued, "Although Youzhou is located in a remote area, we have well-trained soldiers and sufficient food. We are willing to provide everything the coalition forces need. I only hope that the general can lead his troops south as soon as possible to fight against Cao Cao together."

After hearing this, the messenger stood up with a determined look, clasped his hands and said, "General, you understand the righteousness. I will report this to General Zhao."

The situation is turbulent, and the ownership of Youzhou and Bingzhou is still unknown! (End of this chapter)