Honglou: This bastard is too persuasive.

Chapter 724 Agreement
The letter was written with earnest words, bitterly listing Dong Zhuo's crimes of disrupting the government and harming the people, and called on all the princes to put aside their past grudges, join hands again, and rise up together on the first day of next month to fight against the traitor Dong Zhuo.

After the letter was written, Yuan Shao immediately dispatched express messengers to various places. The messengers rode at full speed, day and night, to deliver the letter to Cao Cao, Sun Quan, Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei (who had already taken Yizhou at this time) and other princes.

After receiving the letter, Cao Cao was discussing military affairs with Guo Jia and other advisers in his camp in Yanzhou. Cao Cao unfolded the letter and read it carefully. After reading it, he handed it to Guo Jia and said, "Feng Xiao, Yuan Shao invites us to attack Dong Zhuo again. What do you think?"

Guo Jia took the letter, quickly read it, smiled and said, "My Lord, this crusade against Dong Zhuo is an opportunity for us. Although Dong Zhuo was prepared after the last crusade, the strength of the various princes has greatly increased. If we work together, we will be able to inflict heavy damage on Dong Zhuo. Moreover, this move can win the hearts of the people and gain more support for the future development of our army."

Cao Cao nodded and said, "I have the same idea. However, each of the princes has different intentions. I don't know if they can truly unite this time."

Guo Jia pondered for a moment and said, "My lord, you can actively contact like-minded people in the coalition, and at the same time secretly develop your own power. In this way, even if there are disagreements within the coalition, our army can still gain something."

After hearing this, Cao Cao made up his mind and said to the messenger, "Go back and tell Yuan Shao that I, Cao Cao, agree to join forces to attack Dong Zhuo on the first day of next month, and I will definitely lead the army to arrive on time."

When Sun Quan received Yuan Shao's letter in Yangzhou, he was discussing the next development plan of Dongwu with Zhou Yu, Lu Su and others. After reading the letter, Sun Quan handed it to Zhou Yu and said, "Gongjin, Yuan Shao invites us to attack Dong Zhuo again. What do you think?"

After reading the letter, Zhou Yu said solemnly, "My Lord, Dong Zhuo is causing chaos in the world and everyone has the right to kill him. If this campaign is successful, it will enhance the prestige of our Eastern Wu and expand its influence. Moreover, if we can get a share of the spoils from the campaign, it will also be extremely beneficial to the development of our Eastern Wu."

Lu Su also said: "What the Grand Commander said is very true. However, we need to be wary of other princes, especially Cao Cao. He is ambitious and must be guarded against."

Sun Quan thought for a moment and said, "You two are right. We agree to participate in the crusade, but we must be fully prepared. We must not only attack Dong Zhuo with all our strength, but also guard against the calculations of other princes. Reply to Yuan Shao and tell him that I, Sun Quan, will send troops as scheduled."

Gongsun Zan received the letter in Youzhou. After reading it, he laughed and said, "Dong Zhuo, we let him get away with it last time. This time, we will make him pay! My Youzhou cavalry has been rubbing their hands, waiting to beat the thief Dong." He immediately said to the messenger, "Go back and tell Yuan Shao that I, Gongsun Zan, will lead the army on time and will not stop until I kill Dong Zhuo!"

When Liu Bei received the letter in Yizhou, he was discussing the governance and future plans of Yizhou with Zhuge Liang. After reading the letter, Liu Bei handed it to Zhuge Liang and said, "Kong Ming, Yuan Shao invited us to fight against Dong Zhuo together. How do you think we should respond?"

After reading the letter, Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment and said, "My lord, attacking Dong Zhuo is a just act that can win the support of the people of the world. And now that Yizhou has been initially secured, we also need to use this move to show the world your determination to restore the Han Dynasty. However, the journey is long, so we need to make arrangements for the march in advance to ensure that we arrive on time. At the same time, we must pay attention to the movements of other princes and not let others take advantage of the opportunity."

Liu Bei nodded and said, "Kong Ming is right. Tell Yuan Shao that I, Liu Bei, am willing to lead the army of Yizhou to fight against Dong Zhuo."

The messengers of the various princes returned to Yuan Shao with affirmative replies. Yuan Shao was overjoyed to learn that the princes all agreed to jointly attack Dong Zhuo. He immediately began to prepare for the joint military operation, sending people to pass messages between the princes and discuss important matters such as the marching route and the meeting place.

Yuan Shao summoned his advisers Shen Pei, Feng Ji and others and said, "Now that all the princes have responded, we must formulate a detailed battle plan as soon as possible. What do you think?"

Shen Pei said, "My lord, we can divide our forces into several groups and attack Dong Zhuo from different directions. Yuan Shao's army will start from Jizhou and attack head-on; Cao Cao can advance westward from Yanzhou; Sun Quan can lead the army from Jiangdong upstream; Gongsun Zan can lead the cavalry from Youzhou southward; and Liu Bei can advance northward from Yizhou. In this way, we can form a siege and leave Dong Zhuo with nowhere to escape."

Feng Ji nodded and said, "This is a great plan. However, there are many armies under various lords, and they need to be under unified command to avoid chaos. As the leader of the alliance, you should shoulder the responsibility of commanding the coalition forces."

Yuan Shao said confidently: "Of course. I will write to all the princes to clarify the marching route, meeting place, and combat command. This expedition must be successful."

Soon, Yuan Shao sent a detailed battle plan to the various princes in the form of a letter. The letter agreed that the princes would set out from their respective territories on the first day of the next month, meet at a place 50 miles outside Luoyang, and then jointly launch an attack on Dong Zhuo.

As the agreed date approached, various princes gathered their troops and prepared to go to war. Cao Cao assembled tens of thousands of elite troops in Yanzhou, led by Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren and others, and marched westward in a mighty force; Sun Quan personally led Zhou Yu, Lu Su and others in Yangzhou, led the Jiangdong navy and land forces, and went upstream along the Yangtze River; Gongsun Zan selected the most elite cavalry in Youzhou and led them personally, all the way south; Liu Bei left Zhuge Liang in Yizhou to guard the city, and led the Yizhou army with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and other fierce generals to the north to attack Dong Zhuo.

On the first day of the next month, the armies of various princes arrived fifty miles outside Luoyang City as agreed. For a time, the mountains and plains were full of tents, military flags were flying, swords and spears were standing in rows, and the army was mighty. As the leader of the alliance, Yuan Shao stood on a high platform, looking at the armies of various princes, and his heart was filled with pride. He knew that a war that would determine the situation in the world was about to begin, and Dong Zhuo would pay a heavy price for his evil deeds.

When Jia Changsheng heard the news that the various princes were discussing another attack on Dong Zhuo in Jingzhou, he was discussing the development plan of the territory with a group of advisers and generals in the meeting hall of Jingzhou. The messenger hurried in and presented Jia Changsheng with Yuan Shao's letter. Jia Changsheng unfolded the letter, frowned slightly, and after a quick glance, he fell into deep thought.

Advisor Chen Gui was the first to break the silence and said, "My lord, Yuan Shao has invited us to join him in attacking Dong Zhuo. We need to carefully weigh the pros and cons. Dong Zhuo is powerful, and despite the previous setbacks, his foundation is still there. Although the alliance of princes seems to be powerful, they have different hearts and minds, and may not be able to work together. If our army rashly participates, we may get caught in disputes and suffer casualties."

General Huang Zhong clasped his fists and said, "My lord, Dong Zhuo has brought chaos to the government and the whole world is angry. If our army participates in the crusade, it will be in line with the will of the people. Moreover, our Jingzhou army is well-trained, so why should we fear a battle? This move can not only show the image of our army as a righteous army, but also enhance our prestige among the princes."

Jia Changsheng nodded slightly, looked at everyone, and said: "What you two said makes sense. Participating in the crusade against Dong Zhuo is indeed a dilemma for Jingzhou. But the situation in the world is unpredictable, and we can't just seek peace in one corner. Yuanzhi, you are always wise, what do you think about this matter?"

Xu Shu stood up, clasped his hands and said, "My lord, this crusade against Dong Zhuo may seem to be fraught with danger, but it actually contains opportunities. The princes are now fighting and the world is in chaos, which is the time for Jingzhou to rise. If our army participates in it, we can stand out in the troubled times, make friends with heroes from all walks of life, and expand our network for future development. Furthermore, if we can establish merit in the crusade, we can attract more talents to join us and strengthen the strength of Jingzhou." Jia Changsheng pondered for a moment, then asked, "Wenhe, what do you think?"

Jia Xu smiled and said, "My Lord, in my opinion, it is feasible to participate in the crusade. But we must be careful not to get too involved in the disputes among the princes. We can first observe the dynamics of the coalition forces, and when the time is right, we can send troops to help. This way, we can gain benefits and preserve our strength. At the same time, we must maintain good communication with the princes to avoid making enemies."

After hearing this, Jia Changsheng had a plan in mind. He said slowly: "What you said has made my thoughts clear. Dong Zhuo has committed many evils. It is a just act to punish him. Jingzhou should participate. But as Wenhe said, we must act cautiously. We must not be reckless in this expedition. We must act according to the situation."

Huang Zhong said excitedly: "My lord is wise! I am willing to lead the elite troops of Jingzhou to charge into battle and do my part to defeat Dong Zhuo."

Jia Changsheng nodded and said, "Han Sheng (Huang Zhong's courtesy name is Han Sheng) is brave, so I am naturally confident. But this time, we are not just relying on bravery. Yuanzhi, you will go with me and be responsible for making plans and coordinating all parties."

Xu Shu replied: "Don't worry, my lord. I will do my best to assist you."

Jia Changsheng said to Chen Gui: "Han Yu (Chen Gui's courtesy name is Han Yu), Jingzhou has a lot of affairs to deal with. While I am away, you will assist other officials to maintain the stability of Jingzhou and ensure the supply of food and grass."

Chen Gui bowed and said, "My Lord, rest assured that I will fulfill my mission."

Jia Changsheng continued, "Wenhe, you stay in Jingzhou and secretly observe the movements of the various princes. If there is any change, send a message to me in time."

Jia Xu smiled and said, "Don't worry, my lord. I will definitely keep an eye on the movements of all parties."

After everything was arranged, Jia Changsheng wrote a letter and sent someone to deliver it to Yuan Shao at full speed, stating that Jingzhou was willing to participate in the campaign against Dong Zhuo and would arrive with the army on the agreed date.

Afterwards, Jia Changsheng began to select troops in Jingzhou. He selected 20,000 elite soldiers from Jingzhou, all of whom were well-trained and brave in combat. When these soldiers heard that they were going to participate in the crusade against Dong Zhuo, they were all eager to fight and their morale was high.

Before the expedition, Jia Changsheng gave a speech in the military camp to encourage the soldiers: "Soldiers! Dong Zhuo has brought chaos to the world and caused great suffering to the people. This time we are going to fight for justice and for the people of the world! Our Jingzhou army has always been brave and fearless. This time we must let Dong Zhuo know how powerful we are and eliminate this evil for the world!"

The soldiers shouted in unison: "Get rid of the harm to the world! Die for our lord!" The sound resounded through the sky and boosted morale.

Everything was ready, Jia Changsheng led 20,000 Jingzhou troops and marched towards Luoyang. Along the way, the army was strictly disciplined and no one was harmed. Wherever they passed, the people lined the streets to welcome them, and sent food and water to express their support for the Jingzhou army.

When Jia Changsheng's army arrived at the camp of the allied forces outside Luoyang, all the allied forces came to greet him. Yuan Shao saw Jia Changsheng and said with a smile: "It is a blessing for the allied forces that Lord Jia is here. With Lord Jia's help, we will surely win a great victory in this campaign against Dong Zhuo."

Jia Changsheng said modestly: "Mr. Yuan, you are too kind. Dong Zhuo has committed many evil deeds and everyone has the right to punish him. My Jingzhou army is willing to fight for justice and fight against this traitor with you."

Cao Cao also stepped forward and said, "Mr. Jia has governed Jingzhou well, and the Jingzhou army must be very powerful. I hope Mr. Jia can contribute more in this campaign."

Jia Changsheng smiled and responded: "Lord Cao is wise and brave. With Lord Cao in command, the coalition will surely be victorious. Changsheng will do his best."

Sun Quan, Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei and others also greeted Jia Changsheng, and for a time, the atmosphere in the coalition camp was warm. Jia Changsheng knew that participating in the crusade against Dong Zhuo was an opportunity for Jingzhou to rise in troubled times, but it was also a challenging journey. He and Xu Shu and others carefully observed the movements of various princes and planned the strategy of the Jingzhou army in this operation. A war was about to come, and Jia Changsheng and his Jingzhou army were fully prepared and determined to write their own legend in this turbulent time.

The various princes gathered outside Luoyang City, and the war was about to break out. Before the formal attack on Chang'an, Yuan Shao held a grand banquet to highlight his status as the leader of the alliance and to enhance the communication between the princes. Inside the tent, the lights were bright, the delicacies were laid out, and the aroma of wine was overflowing.

Yuan Shao, dressed in gorgeous brocade robe, sat upright on the main seat, looked around at everyone, and said with a smile on his face: "Today, heroes from all walks of life gather here, which is really our fortune. Dong Zhuo disrupted the government, causing chaos in the world, and the people are suffering. We gather here this time to defeat this villain and restore peace to the world. Come, everyone, let's drink this cup first!" Everyone raised their glasses and drank it all.

Cao Cao put down his wine glass and said to Yuan Shao with a smile: "Your Excellency Yuan raised his arm and the princes responded one after another, which shows your high prestige. I believe that under your wise leadership, the campaign against Dong Zhuo will be a success." Yuan Shao heard this and showed a proud look on his face. He said: "Meng De, you are too kind. This campaign still requires everyone to work together and contribute to the great cause."

Sun Quan was young and full of vigor. He stood up and clasped his fists and said, "Mr. Yuan, I am a Jiangdong native. I am willing to be the vanguard and attack Chang'an directly to take Dong Zhuo's head!" Yuan Shao looked at Sun Quan and thought to himself that this young man was quite heroic. But he said, "General Sun is brave. If he can be the vanguard, he will surely boost the prestige of the army. But this war is complicated. We need to plan carefully and not act rashly."

Gongsun Zan laughed loudly and said, "Mr. Yuan, my Youzhou cavalry is rampant in the north. This time, I will let Dong Zhuo have a taste of my cavalry's power!" Yuan Shao nodded and said, "Bo Gui's cavalry is famous throughout the world. It will definitely play an important role in this campaign."

(End of this chapter)