Honglou: This bastard is too persuasive.

Chapter 729 Asking for help
Cheng Yu frowned and said, "My lord, Lu Bu is a fierce man. Even if we help him out of his urgent need, it is hard to predict whether he will abide by the agreement. Moreover, sending troops to help will definitely consume manpower and food. If we don't get a corresponding return, it will not be worth it."

Cao Cao listened to everyone's analysis and weighed the pros and cons in his mind. He knew that Yuan Shao was a strong opponent for him in the future. If he could weaken Yuan Shao with the help of Lu Bu, it would be an opportunity. But Lu Bu's character forced him to act cautiously.

Cao Cao pondered for a moment and asked, "Fengxiao, you said that we should make three rules with Lu Bu. What should we do specifically?"

Guo Jia's eyes flashed with wisdom, and he said, "My lord, first, let Lu Bu cede part of Bingzhou's land to us as a reward for sending troops to help us. In this way, we can not only weaken Lu Bu, but also expand our sphere of influence. Second, ask Lu Bu to obey our orders for a certain period of time after the war. Third, Lu Bu needs to send a hostage to Yanzhou to show his sincerity."

After hearing this, Cao Cao nodded and said, "Feng Xiao's plan is very good. This way, we can not only contain Yuan Shao, but also control Lu Bu to a certain extent. But we still need to be careful when sending troops."

Xun You said: "My lord, we can send an elite division to pretend to attack Yuan Shao's rear. We don't have to confront Yuan Shao's main force head-on. We just need to create momentum to distract Yuan Shao. At the same time, we should pay close attention to the progress of the war between Lu Bu and Yuan Shao so that we can adjust our strategy at any time."

Cao Cao thought for a while and said, "Let's follow Gongda's plan. Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan, listen to my orders!"

Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan immediately stepped out and said in unison, "I am here!"

Cao Cao said: "I order you two to lead 20,000 elite troops to the border of Jizhou and pretend to attack Yuan Shao's rear. Remember, do not rush too deep into the enemy's territory. The main purpose is to create momentum and contain Yuan Shao. If something unexpected happens, you should act accordingly."

Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan received the order and said, "We will follow the orders of our lord!"

Cao Cao said to the messenger, "Go back and tell Lü Bu that I, Cao Cao, agree to send troops to help you, but you have to meet three conditions. First, after the war, you must cede part of the land of Xihe County and Taiyuan County in Bingzhou to me; second, Lü Bu must obey my orders for one year; third, send his son to Yanzhou as a hostage. If he agrees, I will send troops immediately."

The messenger hurriedly said, "Don't worry, General Cao. I will definitely convey your message to General Lu Bu."

The messenger returned to Bingzhou and informed Lü Bu of Cao Cao's conditions. Although Lü Bu was reluctant, he could not care less as the situation was critical. He thought again and again and felt that although Cao Cao's conditions were harsh, he had to agree to them to have a chance of survival. So, Lü Bu gritted his teeth and agreed to Cao Cao's conditions.

The messenger returned to Yanzhou again and informed Cao Cao that Lü Bu had agreed to the conditions. After hearing this, Cao Cao ordered Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan to send troops immediately. Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan led 20,000 elite troops and quickly marched towards the border of Jizhou.

After arriving at the border of Jizhou, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan set up camp in a big way according to Cao Cao's instructions, and sent small groups of troops to harass the border of Jizhou every day to create the illusion of an imminent large-scale attack. Yuan Shao was shocked when he learned that Cao Cao had sent troops to attack. On the one hand, he was worried about the safety of the rear, and on the other hand, he did not want to give up the attack on Lu Bu, and fell into a dilemma.

Yuan Shao hurriedly called his advisers to discuss the matter. Shen Pei said, "My lord, Cao Cao's move is intended to tie down our army. We must not fall into his trap. We should concentrate our forces to defeat Lu Bu as soon as possible, and then turn back to deal with Cao Cao."

Guo Tu said worriedly: "My lord, Cao Cao's troops are on the border of Jizhou. If we ignore them, there will be chaos in the rear. Moreover, Lu Bu is difficult to defeat for the time being. If Cao Cao and Lu Bu attack us from the front and back, we will be attacked from both sides."

Yuan Shao was in a dilemma and finally decided to leave some troops to continue attacking Lu Bu, while he personally led the army back to defend Jizhou to prevent Cao Cao from really attacking.

Seeing that Cao Cao had sent out his troops and Yuan Shao had divided his forces to defend the city, Lü Bu felt relieved. He seized this opportunity to reorganize his army, boost morale, and prepare for a decisive battle with the troops left behind by Yuan Shao.

Cao Cao closely followed the battlefield situation and was secretly proud of himself. He knew that this expedition not only successfully contained Yuan Shao, but also gained benefits for himself. No matter who won or lost between Lu Bu and Yuan Shao, he would benefit from it. If Lu Bu defeated Yuan Shao, according to the agreement, Lu Bu would cede land and obey his orders; if Yuan Shao defeated Lu Bu, Yuan Shao would also be seriously injured by the fierce battle with Lu Bu, and he would have the opportunity to reap the benefits. In this complex game of princes, Cao Cao occupied a favorable position with accurate judgment and clever strategies, and the situation in Bingzhou became more complicated and confusing due to Cao Cao's intervention.

When Gongsun Zan learned in Youzhou that Cao Cao had sent troops to contain Yuan Shao and that Lü Bu was expected to engage in a protracted war with Yuan Shao, he had an idea. He felt that this was a good opportunity to weaken Yuan Shao's power. If he could take the opportunity to participate in it, he could not only avenge his past grudges with Yuan Shao, but also expand his influence in the north. Therefore, Gongsun Zan immediately summoned his generals and advisers to discuss the matter in the tent.

After everyone arrived, Gongsun Zan sat in the main seat with a serious face and spoke first: "Everyone, now Lü Bu and Yuan Shao are fighting fiercely in Bingzhou, and Cao Cao has also sent troops to contain Yuan Shao. This is a rare opportunity for us. I want to send troops to help Lü Bu and attack Yuan Shao together. What do you think?"

Veteran General Yan Gang stepped forward first, clasped his fists and said, "My lord, Yuan Shao is an ambitious man who has always been eyeing our Youzhou. If we can unite with Lu Bu and Cao Cao to weaken Yuan Shao's power, it will be extremely beneficial to the security and development of our Youzhou. Our cavalry is world-renowned and will surely play a major role on the battlefield and deal a fatal blow to Yuan Shao."

Gongsun Zan nodded slightly, looked at his adviser Guan Jing, and asked, "Mr. Guan, what do you think?"

Guan Jing stroked his beard, pondered for a moment and said, "My lord, this matter needs to be carefully considered. Cao Cao must have his own calculations when he sent troops, and Lu Bu is even more erratic. If we intervene rashly, we may have the opportunity to weaken Yuan Shao, but we may also be caught in a complicated dispute. If Cao Cao and Lu Bu have other plans, we may lose more than we gain."

Gongsun Zan frowned and said, "In your opinion, how should we choose? Are we just going to watch this great opportunity slip away?"

Guan Jing hurriedly said, "My lord, please don't worry. I am not against sending troops, but I suggest that we first find out the true intentions of Cao Cao and Lu Bu. We can send envoys to Cao Cao and Lu Bu's camps to find out their thoughts and observe the situation on the battlefield. If Cao Cao and Lu Bu really want to unite to fight against Yuan Shao, and the situation is favorable to us, it will not be too late to send troops."

At this time, General Tian Kai said, "My lord, I think what Mr. Guan said makes sense. But we can't be too cautious and miss the opportunity. We can send messengers to get information while secretly gathering troops and preparing to go out. Once the time is right, we can quickly attack." Gongsun Zan thought for a moment and felt that Tian Kai's suggestion was feasible. He said, "Okay, let's do as Tian Kai said. Mr. Guan, you immediately select a few smart and capable messengers and go to Cao Cao and Lu Bu's camps respectively to find out their true intentions and their attitude towards our troops. General Yan, you are responsible for secretly gathering cavalry and be ready to go out at any time."

Yan Gang and Guan Jing responded in unison: "We will obey the Lord's orders!"

A few days later, the messengers returned one after another. The messenger who went to Cao Cao's camp reported: "My lord, Cao Cao welcomes our help in fighting against Yuan Shao. He also promised that if we can defeat Yuan Shao this time, he is willing to share Yuan Shao's territory with us."

The messenger who went to Lü Bu's camp said, "My lord, Lü Bu is very much looking forward to our sending out troops. He said that he is willing to form an alliance with us to fight against Yuan Shao together, and he will not forget our help after the war."

After listening to the messenger's report, Gongsun Zan called everyone together again to discuss. Yan Gang said excitedly: "My lord, Cao Cao and Lu Bu both welcome our troops. This is a godsend opportunity! Our cavalry can quickly move south and attack Yuan Shao's rear, forming a three-sided pincer attack with Cao Cao and Lu Bu, and we will definitely defeat Yuan Shao."

Tian Kai also said: "My lord, if we don't send troops now, when will we? If Yuan Shao knows that we are preparing to send troops, he will definitely be prepared. We should act as soon as possible and catch him off guard."

Guan Jing still had concerns and said, "My lord, although Cao Cao and Lu Bu's promises are tempting, we cannot trust them completely. After we send out our troops, we need to pay close attention to their movements to prevent them from plotting against us behind our backs. Moreover, after we send out our troops, Youzhou's defense will be weakened, so we must also guard against other forces taking the opportunity to attack."

Gongsun Zan pondered for a long time and said, "Mr. Guan's concerns are not unreasonable. But this opportunity is rare. If we don't seize it, we may never have another chance to weaken Yuan Shao in the future. We can leave some troops to defend Youzhou and ensure the safety of the rear. After sending troops, keep in close contact with Cao Cao and Lu Bu, and send spies to monitor their actions at any time. If we find anything unusual, we will respond immediately."

After hearing this, everyone agreed. Gongsun Zan then ordered: "Yan Gang, listen to my order. You lead 10,000 elite cavalry to set out first, and I will follow with the main army. You must march carefully and cooperate with Cao Cao and Lu Bu's army. Do not act without authorization."

Yan Gang accepted the order and said, "I will definitely fulfill my mission!"

Gongsun Zan said to Tian Kai: "Tian Kai, you leave 5,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry to assist other generals in defending Youzhou. Be sure to strengthen the city defense and be vigilant of the movements of surrounding forces."

Tian Kai replied: "Don't worry, my lord. I will defend Youzhou to the death."

After everything was arranged, Gongsun Zan's Youzhou army began to move. Yan Gang led 10,000 cavalrymen and rushed south like a gust of wind, galloping towards Yuan Shao's territory. Gongsun Zan assembled the army in an orderly manner in the rear, ready to support at any time. In this turbulent and ever-changing world, Gongsun Zan decided to seize the opportunity to participate in the dispute among the princes, hoping to win a broader development space for Youzhou through the alliance with Cao Cao and Lu Bu, while also dealing a heavy blow to Yuan Shao. How this decision will affect the situation in the north and what results it will bring to Gongsun Zan, everything is full of unknowns.

In the camp, Yuan Shao was facing the combined pressure from Gongsun Zan, Lu Bu and Cao Cao. He frowned and was extremely anxious. He knew that if he didn't come up with a plan as soon as possible, the situation would be extremely unfavorable to him. Therefore, Yuan Shao urgently summoned Shen Pei, Feng Ji, Guo Tu and other advisers to discuss ways to break the situation.

After everyone arrived, the atmosphere in the tent became tense. Yuan Shao spoke first, in a hurried tone: "Now Gongsun Zan, Lu Bu and Cao Cao have joined forces to deal with me. Our army is under attack from both sides. Do you have any good plans?"

Shen Pei stroked his beard, thought for a moment and then said, "My lord, the enemy is too powerful to win by confronting them head on. The only way now is to divide their alliance and defeat them one by one."

Yuan Shao hurriedly asked: "How did you divide them? Please tell me in detail."

Shen Pei continued, "Gongsun Zan is located in Youzhou, bordering the Xianbei. We can send people to the Xianbei and promise them great benefits, so that the Xianbei will send troops to attack Gongsun Zan, forcing him to withdraw his attack on our lord because he is too busy to take care of himself. Lu Bu occupies part of Bingzhou, and Wuhuan is adjacent to Bingzhou. We can persuade Wuhuan to send troops to attack Lu Bu and disrupt Lu Bu's deployment. In this way, Gongsun Zan and Lu Bu will be too busy to take care of themselves and will be unable to unite with Cao Cao."

Yuan Shao nodded slightly, thinking that this plan was feasible, and asked again: "Then how should Cao Cao respond?"

Guo Tu stepped forward and said, "My lord, Cao Cao's power is growing. If you want to check and balance him, you can contact Jia Changsheng in Jingzhou. Jia Changsheng and Cao Cao are not close friends, and Jingzhou's strength should not be underestimated. We can persuade Jia Changsheng to send troops to attack Cao Cao, so that Cao Cao's backyard will be in turmoil and he will no longer be able to participate in the siege of my lord."

After hearing this, Yuan Shao stood up and said, "Okay! Let's follow your plan. Feng Ji, you quickly send people with a large amount of gold and silver treasures to the Xianbei and Wuhuan to persuade them to send troops to help us, and promise them huge benefits after the war. Guo Tu, you go to Jingzhou in person and persuade Jia Changsheng to send troops to deal with Cao Cao. This matter concerns the survival of our army, so it must be done!"

Feng Ji and Guo Tu responded in unison: "Don't worry, my lord. We will definitely fulfill our mission!"

After receiving the order, Feng Ji immediately selected several smart and capable envoys, carrying generous gifts, and went to the Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes respectively. The envoys traveled day and night and finally arrived at the Xianbei royal court. After meeting the Xianbei leader, the envoy presented a heavy gift and said: "Your Majesty, now Lord Yuan Shao is under siege by Gongsun Zan, Lu Bu and Cao Cao, and is in a difficult situation. Gongsun Zan has always coveted your territory. If he defeats Yuan Shao and his power grows, it will be disadvantageous to your Majesty. Lord Yuan Shao hopes to form an alliance with your Majesty. As long as your majesty sends troops to attack Gongsun Zan, Lord Yuan Shao is willing to cede part of Youzhou's land to your majesty after the war, and will also send more gold and silver treasures."

After listening to the messenger's words, the Xianbei leader weighed the pros and cons in his mind. He was well aware of the threat Gongsun Zan posed to him, and the conditions offered by Yuan Shao were very tempting. After some thought, the Xianbei leader finally nodded in agreement: "Okay, I agree to send troops. You go back and tell Yuan Shao that my Xianbei army will attack Gongsun Zan soon."

At the same time, another group of envoys also successfully persuaded the Wuhuan leader, who was also moved by Yuan Shao's promises and decided to send troops to attack Lu Bu.

(End of this chapter)