Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 136 Using Fengxiao to Command Cao Cao and Yuan Shao

"General, the person has been brought here."

Guo Jia, completely bewildered, was brought into Gongsun Zan's tent.

Upon comparing the portrait with the image, and confirming it was indeed Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, standing beside Gongsun Zan, immediately offered his advice:
"General Gongsun, this man is none other than Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao, a strategist under Yuan Shao. Kill him immediately and do not listen to his words."

"Simply send the head to Luoyang, and the Emperor will surely bestow rewards upon you."

It turns out that Xun You had set a trap, but how could he not have guarded against Guo Jia's early warning and escape?

If you beat the snake, you will not die, but you will be harmed by it.

Therefore, with Xun Yu and Chen working together, Yuan Shao harbored murderous intentions.

Outside, he was responsible for the four provinces of Ji, Qing, You, and Bing. Whether it was the Xiongnu, the Black Mountain bandits, or Tian Kai and Gongsun Zan, Cheng Yu ordered people to distribute their portraits widely and to surround and intercept them everywhere.

Not only has Guo Jia's cavalry been intercepted, but a vast net has also been cast across other regions. Besieged from both inside and outside, Guo Jia is sure to face certain death this time!

Therefore, Guo Jia had barely escaped Yuan Shao's territory when he was ambushed by Gongsun Zan's troops.

At this moment, inside Gongsun's tent, Guo Jia, upon hearing Cheng Yu's words, not only remained calm but also laughed heartily.

"Who do I think is trying to kill me? It turns out to be Lord Cao from Luoyang."

It's a pity. I used to hear Wenruo say in his letters that Cao Cao was a man of great ambition and a wise ruler of his time, and I had once considered serving him.

I never imagined that they would try to kill me before we even met.

Guo Jia looked up at him and said, "Standing beside General Gongsun, he is plotting for Cao Cao."

This must be Cheng Yu, Cheng Zhongde, the strategist of the four-province alliance who has been giving Yuan Shao a headache lately.

After Guo Jia finished speaking, he said to Gongsun Zan:
"To use someone else's strategist to plan for oneself, General Gongsun's ambition is a bit too great."
This person's words may not prioritize the general's interests, and should not be taken too seriously.

"So eloquent, yet you dare to sow discord?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yu's expression changed drastically, and he cupped his hands, requesting Gongsun Zan to give the order.

"Please kill this man quickly, General, and do not listen to another word he says."

"The day the head is delivered to Luoyang, the provisions and military supplies will be sent along with the emperor's rewards."

"I'm afraid Strategist Cheng made a mistake earlier."
I am not Guo Jia, the strategist under Yuan Shao.

Guo Jia's words were full of meaning, and he smiled at just the right moment.

"I am Fengxiao, the mastermind behind General Yuan Shu!"

General Gongsun must have heard the rumors about me, given my relationship with the General.

General, are you trying to kill me today because of Cao Cao, the traitor who kidnapped the emperor, and thus forge an irreconcilable feud with the Regent General?
General, you are already irreconcilably opposed to Yuan Shao. If you were to also become enemies with my lord, I ask you, in the entire Han Dynasty, who could withstand the combined might of the two Yuans?
Was he Cao Cao?

Now, Cao Cao is trying to kill me, but instead, I'm bringing a terrible disaster upon myself.

"General Gongsun, do you still believe this strategist from Cao Cao's camp is truly acting in your best interests?"

Guo Jia stared intently at Gongsun Zan, his aura imposing, but inwardly he was also wryly smiling.

Given the enmity between Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao, if Guo Jia, a strategist under Yuan Shao, were standing here today, he would surely be dead.

But Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shu had no enmity whatsoever!
Guo Jia could never have imagined that he, who had just been gritting his teeth over being inexplicably saddled with the role of Yuan Shu's strategist, would now be relying on him for his life.

But given the urgency of the situation, the only way to survive was to assume the title of Yuan Shu's strategist and act as his advisor, Fengxiao. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, but on the surface, after a threatening statement and a clear explanation of the consequences, he softened and offered reassurance.

"As for the imperial rewards, provisions and military supplies that Cheng Yu mentioned, if General Gongsun sends me to Shouchun..."

Whatever Cao Cao gives, my lord will give double. The money and provisions will arrive the day I reach Shouchun.

I am confident that with my lord's wealth, he will not disappoint General Gongsun.

That being said, whether his words carried any weight as a fake strategist or not, or whether any provisions or supplies would be sent after he was sent back to Shouchun, was none of Guo Fengxiao's concern.

joke!

Yuan Gonglu acts under his own name every day, making it difficult for him to move an inch among the various warlords. Can't Guo Fengxiao turn the tables and use Yuan Gonglu's name in return?

Seeing this, Cheng Yu knew things were going badly and quickly tried to persuade him again.

"General Gongsun, this man's schemes are unpredictable. Even if the letters are exchanged across thousands of miles, he can still help Yuan Shu plot to conquer the world. How many people have fallen victim to his schemes?"

Today I laid a trap and finally captured him. General, do not be greedy for short-term gains and forget our previous agreement.

"If we let the tiger return to the mountain, I fear we will have difficulty explaining ourselves to the court and Prime Minister Cao. Our alliance against Yuan Shao may then face unforeseen circumstances."

Guo Jia could threaten, and so could Cheng Yu, but after threatening, he offered words of comfort.

"As for the consequences of killing this person, what is there to fear?"
Yuan Shao is far away, and Prime Minister Cao Cao will keep him at bay in the south. Yuan Shao is right before our eyes, so our alliance is of paramount importance.

Guo Jia smiled upon hearing this and agreed.

"If Cao Cao can form an alliance with you to fight against Yuan Shao, then my lord can do the same."

For every troop Cao Cao sends, my lord sends double; for every grain Cao Cao sends, my lord sends double; for every gold and silver Cao Cao sends, my lord sends double!
In short, what Cao Cao can give, my lord will give; what Cao Cao cannot give, my lord can also give.

In any case, the identity of Yuan Shu's strategist was obtained cheaply, and Guo Jia made the promise without any hesitation, instead showing an air of wealth and arrogance.

He was dressed in a blue robe with wide sleeves, and although he stood below the steps, he spoke eloquently.

"Since ancient times, the strong have always formed alliances, and they have never coexisted with the weak. If you want to form an alliance with others to fight against Yuan Shao, why not choose my lord, who is more powerful, instead of colluding with my lord's defeated underlings?"

As for Cheng Yu's statement that "my lord is far away," does it mean that General Gongsun should adhere to the principle of "befriending distant states and attacking nearby ones" as advocated by Qin Chancellor Fan Sui?

"Nonsense! Your lord Yuan Gonglu has deceived the emperor and usurped the throne, now allying with General Gongsun to implicate him in injustice?"

"Shameless! Your lord Cao Mengde holds the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords, deceiving Heaven and Earth."

Those imperial edicts—were they truly the Emperor's will, or Cao Cao's? Did he really think everyone in the world was blind or stupid?

"you"

Seeing that the two were still arguing, Gongsun Zan, who sat high in the hall and remained silent, had a profound and unfathomable look on his face, as if he had already figured everything out.

"Gentlemen, please be patient. I have already made a decision regarding this matter."

As he spoke, he first looked at Guo Jia with a gentle expression and said, "What you say is very true, sir!"

I have never had any grudges against Yuan Gonglu, so why should I make an enemy of him for the sake of others?
"As long as he delivers the provisions and military supplies as you have instructed, and forms an alliance with me to attack Yuan Shao, I will immediately send you back to Shouchun."

Before anyone could react, he smiled and said to Cheng Yu beside him:
"The same applies to Cao Mengde. If he really wants me to kill Fengxiao, then don't just make empty promises. Send the grain and military supplies, raise an army to attack Yuan Shao, and Guo Fengxiao's head will fall off immediately."

Gongsun Zan smiled mysteriously, thinking he had succeeded in his plan.

Since Guo Fengxiao is so important, and one side wants to kill him while the other side wants to save him, how can he not use Fengxiao to control Cao Cao and Yuan Shao?
(End of this chapter)