Han officials

Chapter 191: Chess Game [22]

In the study, seeing Yuan Shao's anxious look, Shen Pei did not continue to keep him in suspense.

Without waiting for Yuan Shao to ask, Shen Pei solemnly told him the whole plan.

However, just when he was halfway through his words, Yuan Shao sat up in shock.

"What? You want me to give the seal of the Bohai governor to Gongsun Zan?"

"Not only that!" Shen Pei, seeing this, remained calm and composed. "Your Excellency should also recommend Gongsun Zan's brother, Gongsun Fan, as the governor of Hejian."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao suppressed his anger and whispered, "Reason!"

Because Shen Pei's words were tantamount to asking him to cede land to Gongsun Zan in exchange for peace.

The most humiliating kind!
Shen Pei was not surprised by Yuan Shao's reaction, as he had expected it.

Then, facing Yuan Shao's angry eyes, Shen Pei sighed softly and said, "Lord Ju and I have already surrendered to Youzhou."

There were some news that Yuan Shao could not find out, but it was not a problem for the local gentry in Jizhou.

For example, the whereabouts of Ju Su, Han Xi and others in Yuan Shao's court have never been confirmed.

Although Han Xi and others did not fall into the trap a while ago, we cannot rule out the possibility that they took a detour and entered the Mainland Lake.

Especially after Tian Feng also fled to Dalu Lake, the people in Yecheng became more and more suspicious.

Of course, Yuan Shao privately suspected that some Jizhou noble family had hidden them.

After all, as the local tyrants in Jizhou, they have the motivation and ability to do so.

Not to mention anything else, just finding a few forts to hide in would be enough to confuse the pursuers sent by Yecheng.

Compared with Yuan Shao, a foreigner, Shen Pei's information channels were much deeper.

There is no need to even inquire specifically, as sometimes the correspondence between the nobles contains all kinds of information.

Even if they don't intend to pass on any information, the information is hidden in the daily life. Their relatives and friends have their own network of relationships, thus forming a hidden regional information network.

Shen Pei analyzed Ju Su's escape route from clues based on daily information revealed in letters from various parties.

When Shen Pei discovered that Ju Su and his group finally fled to Pingyuan County in Qingzhou, he suddenly understood everything.

There was no tacit understanding between them. Shen Pei simply put himself in Ju Su's shoes and understood his intention.

The reason is actually very simple.

If Han Xi and others were hiding in Daluze, their priority would undoubtedly be to save their lives, with revenge being secondary.

But Ju Su was willing to go to Qingzhou with Han Xi, even though it was near, so he must have gone there for revenge.

Under such circumstances, only Wei Zhe, the lord of Youzhou, has this ability around Qingzhou.

After a brief explanation, Shen Pei said solemnly, "I'm afraid the Youzhou army has already entered Bohai."

Speaking of this, Shen Pei pointed to Ganling State, located between Bohai County and Wei County, and said firmly:

"With the ongoing war and the roads cut off, news from Bohai County couldn't be transmitted back in time, which is why Yecheng was completely unaware of it. If my prediction is correct, news from Bohai County should reach Ganling within three days at most."

As soon as these words were spoken, Yuan Shao, who was originally furious, suddenly felt as if a basin of ice water was poured on him and calmed down instantly.

Yuan Shao was not a fool, and of course he could see the importance of Bohai County to Youzhou.

You should know that during the Western Han Dynasty, Bohai County was under the jurisdiction of Youzhou, and the area north of Hejian State was also the territory of Zhuo County.

At that time, Youzhou was a truly strategically located place, as prosperous as Jizhou, but more ferocious than Jizhou.

It was precisely because Youzhou was too powerful that Emperor Guangwu castrated Youzhou and severed the connection between You and Qing after establishing the country.

Once Wei Zhe occupied Bohai County, Yuan Shao knew what he was going to do without even having to think about it.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shao couldn't help but sigh.

"There are wolves in front and tigers behind, so this is the only way." I just hope that the piece of fat meat he throws out can attract these tigers and wolves in Youzhou to fight over it!

The current Yuan Shao is not the later Yuan Benchu. The more critical the moment, the more decisive he becomes.

After making the decision, he did not hesitate at all and immediately wrote a letter to Gongsun Zan.

The humble words used in the letter to seek peace can be regarded as a compromise:
Yuan Shao wrote to General Bo Gui:

Your Excellency and I have an old alliance, which we have renewed with the oath of suppressing the rebellion. We love each other more than Yi and Shu, and we have shared the painting, saying that we are united in strength and can follow the footsteps of Qi and Jin.

Now, they are turning against each other, causing the Yuyang cavalry to be defeated in the fertile plains of Jizhou, which is truly a grief to their relatives and a joy to their enemies. The remnants of the Yellow Turbans are treading in Qingxu, and the Black Mountain bandits are lurking in Taihang. If both tigers are injured, the rats of Youzhou will only reap the benefits of Bianzhuang.

Shao is willing to lay down his arms and turn hostility into friendship.

One is to use Anping as the boundary, and all the land east of Anping will belong to the general; the seals and ribbons of the governors of Bohai and Hejian will be delivered soon.

I personally think that the two counties of Bohai and Hejian should be made into Cangzhou, and Shao is willing to recommend the general to be the governor of Cangzhou, and rule it for generations.

When the two heard that the general's rear camp had been robbed by Duke Wei of Wei, they were very angry and offered to pay 300,000 hu of grain to ease their worries.

Now I have taken off my seal and released my sash, and led the south with the north, dividing the fertile land to serve the deacon. This shows my good neighborliness!
If you approve, I will immediately send an envoy with the tiger seal and the imperial axe to make an alliance with the mountains and rivers.

Cold clouds gradually rise beyond the Great Wall, and the Hu horses neigh again on the Yin Mountains. May the general, mindful of the suffering of the people and the anxiety surrounding the turmoil of the nation, lead the brave men of the northern border with bows and swords against the Xiongnu. Wouldn't that be wonderful? This letter cannot express all my feelings; I only hope your subordinates will reconsider.

Yuan Shao bows again
In December of the first year of Chuping——
After writing the letter, Yuan Shao did not discuss it with Xu You and others who were waiting in the hall, and immediately sent someone to deliver it.

We have to admit that Yuan Shao at the beginning of his business and Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu were completely different people.

However, Shen Pei's plan went far beyond this.

In the study, after Shen Pei whispered for a while, Yuan Shao excitedly took his hands with an expression of emotion.

Obviously, he was very satisfied with the advice given by Shen Pei later.

When the two appeared in the lobby again, Yuan Shao had regained his composure.

In front of all the civil and military officials, Yuan Shao announced that Shen Pei would be the Chief Justice, in charge of all affairs of the shogunate.

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of Xu You, Guo Tu and others became more than just ugly.

There is no first in literature and no second in martial arts. They would not think that Shen Pei is better than themselves.

Seeing Yuan Shao's move, they became more certain that the examiner was the one who took advantage of the private conversation to secretly slander him.

So although Guo Tu and others stopped talking, their eyes looking at Shen Pei became increasingly cold.

……

Not to mention how treacherous and hidden things are in Yecheng.

The situation in Youzhou actually developed just as Shen Pei had expected.

Following Wei Zhe's order, Taishi Ci and Zhong Hu, who had been on guard against any danger, immediately set out.

The two men each led more than 10,000 infantry and cavalry south, Taishi Ci attacked Hejian County and Zhong Hu attacked Bohai County.

As for the Youzhou army, the banner they raised was to support loyalty and righteousness, and to quell rebellions and end disasters.

Ju Su, Han Xi and others who were hiding in Pingyuan County were also sent to Zhong Hu's army by the Youzhou navy.

When Han Xi, dressed in mourning and leading a large army, appeared at the gates of the Bohai counties, the effect was simply too good to be true.

Even though Yuan Shao started his career as the governor of Bohai, the morale of the counties in Bohai was still greatly reduced.

After all, Yuan Shao only served as the prefect of Bohai for a few years?
Compared with the justice and morality that have lasted for thousands of years, Yuan Shao’s remaining influence is nothing at all.

As a result, in just half a month, Zhong Hu successfully captured Zhangwu and Fuyang counties and reached the city of Nanpi, the seat of Bohai County...

(End of this chapter)