Super Cultivation System of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 564 Yuan Shang Succeeds
In the Jizhou governor's mansion, the third son Yuan Shang was walking leisurely. Just after turning a corner, he ran into Gao Lan head-on.

"Oh, it's General Gao. I am honored to meet you."

Yuan Shang was gentle and polite. Gao Lan felt a little disdainful when he saw him. However, he was the son of his master after all, so he still had to be polite.

"Gao Lan has met the Third Young Master."

He suddenly saw two followers behind Yuan Shang, one holding a brand new bronze brazier and the other holding a pot of fine charcoal.

"Why, Third Young Master, are you going to send something to the Lord?"

Yuan Shang looked back at the things he brought and said with a smile, "Yes, my father is busy with the affairs of Jizhou all day long. Now the weather is getting colder. As a son, I can't help much. I can only send some charcoal to show my appreciation."

Gao Lan said with a fake smile: "The Third Young Master is very filial. I just came from my sister's place. I have nothing to do, so why not accompany you there? I also have something to report to the Lord."

"In that case, General Gao should just follow me."

After Yuan Shang finished speaking, he no longer paid attention to him, walked around Gao Lan and walked forward quickly.

Gao Lan looked at his back with a gloomy look: "Humph, this villain is successful. I don't know what the lord is thinking. I just said a few good words for the Baibo Army that day, but the lord actually gave him the right to participate in military and political affairs. When I see the lord later, I will make you look bad."

In the study, Yuan Shao was busy handling government affairs. Yuan Shang and Gao Lan walked in one after another.

"Greetings, my son, to my father."

"I pay my respects to you, my lord."

Yuan Shao looked up and saw that it was two people, and hurriedly invited them to take a seat.

"My son, why do you want to come and see me? It's so cold in this cold winter, why don't you stay in your room and study?"

Yuan Shang waved his hand, and two followers brought the brazier to the side of Yuan Shao's desk, put in charcoal, and lit the fire.

"I was just reading when I suddenly felt a chill that froze my bones. Then I remembered that my father had just recovered from typhoid fever not long ago, and the doctor specifically warned him not to get cold again, so he prepared a brazier and sent it to me."

Yuan Shao was so happy that his eyes narrowed into a line: "My son's filial piety is so touching that it really makes his father very happy. Come and sit over here."

He pointed to a seat to his right.

"Thank you, father." Yuan Shang walked over and sat down.

Gao Lan was very embarrassed watching from the side, and couldn't help but remind him: "My lord...I am..."

Yuan Shao then saw him and said, "Oh, it's Gong Yu. What can I do for you?"

"I have an important matter to report to my lord."

Yuan Shao saw that he looked very serious and asked hurriedly, "What makes you so serious?"

"My lord, a few days ago, I met the envoy sent by Zhang Niujiao."

"Huh? Zhang Niu Jiao? What is he doing here? If he is here to ask for something, just refuse him directly." Yuan Shao said a little unhappily.

"No, Zhang Niujiao didn't come here to ask for anything. On the contrary, he has something to give to the lord."

"Oh?" Yuan Shao became interested.

"What do you want to give me?"

Gao Lan smiled and said, "It's not a thing, but an event."

Yuan Shao was now curious: "What is it? I don't think there is anything in Jizhou Prefecture that needs his help." "Yes, Jizhou is so rich and powerful that Zhang Niujiao may not be able to protect himself. He actually boasted that he would help my father. He really overestimates his own abilities."

Yuan Shang's words sounded very harsh to Gao Lan, but Yuan Shao nodded repeatedly.

"My Lord and Third Young Master, don't worry. What I have said is indeed what our army needs."

"In that case, then tell me about it."

Gao Lan said solemnly: "Now Yuan Shu has launched an uprising and invaded Luoyang, and Liu He has retreated to Bingzhou. Yuan Shu's rise to power is not a good thing for you, my lord, but Liu He's loss is a great thing."

"so what?"

"This is a great opportunity for our army. My lord, think about it, Liu He's army is now stationed in Henei and Xihe counties, and Shangdang's troops have also been weakened. Once our army launches an attack..."

Yuan Shao understood Gao Lan's meaning and felt very bored.

"I don't know what it is. Although the troops in Shangdang have been reduced, Guan Yu and others are still there. It will not be easy to attack them by force."

"My lord, what you said is right. However, it is difficult for our army to attack by force. But if someone suddenly sends out a surprise force from Taihang Mountain to attack Changzi City and attract the troops of Guan Yu and others, our army can then take Huguan Pass and march straight in. If we attack from both sides, Shangdang will be within our grasp. Even if it fails, at least Huguan Pass can be easily taken."

Gao Lan looked very confident. In fact, Zhang Niujiao didn't tell him this at all. After Zhang Niujiao was abandoned, his own status also declined. He thought hard about this countermeasure and wanted to turn things around.

Sure enough, when Yuan Shao heard this plan, he immediately became interested.

"Well... Zhang Niujiao has 40,000 to 50,000 troops. He rescued you from the chaos of Guan Yu and others that day. This shows his strength. If he can do so..."

Yuan Shang on the side was anxious: "Father, don't listen to Zhang Niujiao's nonsense. Our army has cooperated with the Baibo Army, and the Baibo Army is obviously several times stronger than theirs. If we collude with Zhang Niujiao at this time, Xu Huang will definitely think that father is going back on his word. Wouldn't it greatly damage father's reputation?"

"This... my son is right. This is absolutely not feasible."

"My lord!" Gao Lan stood up and walked to the middle.

"The Baibo Army's combat power is indeed extraordinary, but it has been several months since they signed an alliance with our army, but there has been no movement at all. We agreed to have him capture Yanmen County, but he has not sent a single soldier. Instead, he has repeatedly come to ask for supplies. I think this person is clearly not sincere."

"General Gao, please be careful with your words." Yuan Shang also stood up and walked to the opposite side of Gao Lan.

"That day, I was ordered by my father to go to the Baibo Army's mountain stronghold to deliver supplies. I had a candlelit discussion with Xu Huang and Qian Zhao about the great plan for Jizhou. I told my father when I came back. How dare you speak nonsense and slander me here?"

"There is such a thing?" Gao Lan was a little confused. Of course he knew that Yuan Shang had gone to the Baibo Army stronghold, but he had not heard about what plan he brought back.

At this time, Yuan Shao said, "Yes, it is true. Shang'er has done a great job in this matter. I think this plan is feasible, but Shang'er said that in order to prevent it from being leaked, only my father and I know about it so far."

When he said this, Gao Lan vaguely saw a hint of contempt for himself in Yuan Shang's eyes.

But Gao Lan did not give up: "Could it be that I also don't know?"

Yuan Shang was about to speak when Yuan Shao spoke first, "That's not the case. Gong Yu is one of our own, so he is trustworthy. It's okay for me to tell you. Xu Huang originally wanted Jizhou to help him unify the many strongholds in Taihang Mountain, but Shang'er finally persuaded him to let the Baibo Army destroy the other strongholds on their own. If they succeed, Jizhou will provide them with food, fodder and equipment as financial support. If the Baibo Army loses and Zhang Niujiao or Zhang Yan wins, our army can naturally change its partners."

"If Xu Huang succeeds, he will have no less than 100,000 soldiers and will be very powerful. He can split his troops into two groups and attack Yanmen and Taiyuan respectively. At the same time, our army will also attack Yanmen and Shangdang. We can contact the Xianbei Kebi Neng and order him to attack Yanmen together. In this way, the total number of troops will be no less than 200,000. I don't believe that we can't take down Bingzhou."

At this point, Yuan Shao looked at his son lovingly and said, "Shang'er, you have done a great job. With this plan, Jizhou will face the least risk. Whoever wins the battle for Taihang Mountain will be the real ally of Jizhou. Let them fight to the death. What does it have to do with me? It's brilliant, haha!"

"Father, you are too kind. It's all thanks to your good teaching." Yuan Shang took the opportunity to flatter him.

Gao Lan was very unwilling and sneered, "I think the Baibo Army is boasting too much. I am afraid that he will be the one who can't save himself. He just took away the supplies that our army originally sent to Zhang Niujiao, and he has fought with Zhang Yan many times before. Now both of them hate Xu Huang so much that they want to eat his flesh and sleep on his skin. If the two sides join forces, I think the Baibo Army will definitely lose."

(End of this chapter)