Three Kingdoms: Start by marrying Cai Yan, then vie for supremacy.

39

A glint of light flashed in Xi Zhicai's eyes: "Brilliant! Zhang Yan doesn't need to attack Youzhou directly; he only needs to harass the heart of Jizhou to contain Yuan Shao's army."

Xun You stroked his beard and nodded: "This move will benefit both Zhang Yan and Mengde. The longer Yuan Shao is tied down, the more advantageous it will be for them."

"That's exactly right." Lu Feng spread out paper, ground ink, and began to write with lightning speed. Soon after, he handed the letter to his personal guard, instructing, "Give it to Lu Yi immediately and send it to Cao Cao's camp as fast as possible."

[Curtain Falls]

In Guanzhong, Cao Cao received a secret letter delivered by Lu Feng.

A secret guard passed through numerous checkpoints and delivered the letter to Cao Cao's army camp at the front.

"A letter from Ziyi?" Cao Cao raised an eyebrow, weighing the letter in his hand with interest. "This lad hasn't corresponded with me in a long time; this is quite unusual. Let's see what he has to say!"

He smiled as he opened the letter, his gaze sweeping over it quickly. A moment later, his brows furrowed.

"You bastard!"

With a loud bang, Cao Cao slammed his fist on the table and roared angrily, his face ashen.

Upon seeing this, Cheng Yu quickly stepped forward and asked, "My lord, could it be that Marquis Wu is intentionally making things difficult for our army?"

"No!" Cao Cao shook his head, handed over the letter, and said coldly, "It's Yuan Shao! This fool dared to collude with the Xianbei and Wuhuan, attempting to encircle Gongsun Zan! Utterly foolish! Has he forgotten the wolfish ambitions of these barbarians? This move will bring endless disaster!"

"Colluding with foreign tribes?!" Cheng Yu's expression changed drastically. After quickly glancing at the letter, he immediately cupped his hands and said, "My lord, General Lu's plan is feasible! We can order Zhang Yan to send troops to harass Yuan Shao's rear. This move will benefit Gongsun Zan, the Marquis of Wu, and even our army!"

Having said that, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he added, "However... I think it might be worthwhile to use this opportunity to ask the Marquis of Wu and Gongsun Zan for some benefits?"

"Absolutely not!" Cao Cao interrupted decisively. "Don't mention this again! How could I, Cao Cao, take advantage of this chaos? Draft a letter to Zhang Yan immediately, explaining the advantages and disadvantages, and order him to choose an opportune moment to send troops to Ji Province!"

His tone was firm and left no room for argument.

When it comes to people of different races, he has his own bottom line that cannot be crossed.

Cheng Yu was taken aback, then solemnly cupped his hands in greeting: "My lord is wise!"

He sighed inwardly, truly admiring his lord's spirit.

Do something, don't do something.

From the very beginning of the resistance against the Hu in Bingzhou, Cheng Yu noticed that his lord always took matters of foreign tribes very seriously.

But this is not a bad thing.

Cao Cao immediately wrote a letter and dispatched a fast horse to Black Mountain overnight.

He then wrote back to Lu Feng, expressing his attitude.

After finishing his letter to Lu Feng, he pondered for a moment and then wrote a letter to Gongsun Zan as well.

This time, at least we can get a favor from Gongsun Zan.

"I hope you can hold on until then."

Cao Cao was secretly making plans.

He was not optimistic about Gongsun Zan's future.

Gongsun Zan could not withstand either Yuan Shao or Lu Feng.

Moreover, he had long heard about Gongsun Zan's administration in Youzhou.

In Cao Cao's view, Gongsun Zan was not good at managing his territory and was more like a reckless and aggressive brute.

If this person were to dedicate himself to being a general, he would surely achieve great things and leave his name in history.

Do you want to become a regional warlord?

They are truly unfit for such a great responsibility.

Two days later, Zhang Yan received a letter from Cao Cao.

After reading the letter, Zhang Yan relayed its contents to Zhang Baiqi and the others, asking, "What do you all think?"

Bai Rao was the first to speak up: "I agree with Cao Cao's proposal!"

Zhang Baiqi stroked his beard and said, "Right now, our relationship with Cao Cao is becoming increasingly close, and an alliance in the future is inevitable. If Yuan Shao takes Youzhou, his next target will be Bingzhou and us. Rather than sitting and waiting for our doom, we should make plans as soon as possible."

Li Damu slapped his thigh in agreement: "This plan is feasible! Yuan Shao's main forces are all engaged in dealing with Gongsun Zan, leaving his rear vulnerable. This is the perfect opportunity for us to show our skills. Brothers, it's been a long time since we've had a proper heist!"

These words fully reveal the true nature of a bandit.

This is also a common practice among the Montenegrin army.

Perhaps this is why Cao Cao was unable to completely incorporate this force for so long.

"No problem!"

"That's settled!"

The bandit leaders of the Black Mountain bandits gathered together and plotted: "This time, we're going to fleece those fat sheep!"

The crowd chimed in, "Ji Province is quite prosperous under Yuan Shao's rule, and the wealthy gentry of Yan and Qing Provinces have all fled here. This is a perfect opportunity for us to make our fortune!"

Zhang Yan watched coldly, secretly thinking: These short-sighted fools will surely be discarded when they submit to Cao Cao in the future. Considering their usual hypocritical behavior, he didn't bother to expose them.

"Since everyone has no objections, then it's settled." Zhang Yan turned to Gongsun Zan's envoy: "We can take this opportunity to extort military funds from Gongsun Zan. Make him provide 100,000 shi of grain, and we'll send troops to harass Wei Commandery and Handan to contain Yuan Shao."

Tian Yu and Gongsun Xu were overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately agreed: "My father will certainly deliver the grain in full! However, the war in Youzhou is urgent, and transportation will take time... We earnestly request that the general send troops first."

When the bandit leaders heard that they could make money from both sides, their eyes gleamed with greed.

The Siege of Ye by the Yan Army

The sound of horses' hooves drew closer along the post road. As the scout dismounted, a cloud of dust rose from his boots. "General," he reported, "Zhang Yan of Black Mountain has led 100,000 troops and has already captured She County. They are now at the gates of Ye City!"

Yuan Benchu ​​slammed the bronze wine vessel in his hand onto the table with a clang, splashing amber-colored wine all over the bamboo slips. "Where is Gao Yuancai? Twenty thousand elite troops couldn't even stop the bandits?" Veins bulged on his forehead, like wriggling earthworms on his skin.

"General Gao fought fiercely but was defeated and has now retreated to Ye City." The scout swallowed hard. "Ye City still has 30,000 troops defending it, but Zhang Yan's siege is very tight..."

Three days ago, at the Black Mountain camp...

Gongsun Xu's fox fur coat fluttered in the cold wind, and he smiled, revealing pearly teeth: "My father's word is his bond; General, you can rest assured." Zhang Yan used the tip of his knife to pry open the sheepskin map on the table, revealing the marks of Handan and Wei Commandery: "The day after tomorrow at dawn, our army will surely march out of Taihang."

That night, on the official road of Youzhou...

The young nobleman galloped away on his horse, a sealed letter with wax seal lying in his saddlebag. The moonlight illuminated the cinnabar mole between his brows, like a bloodstain that had not yet dried.

Two days later, in the outskirts of Ye City

As Zhang Yan's vanguard trampled the wheat fields, a flock of crows, startled by their advance, blotted out the sky. The black armor discarded by Gao Gan in his retreat gleamed coldly on the official road, before being kicked into a ditch by the Black Mountain soldiers who followed.

At this moment? Yuan Jun's main tent

"That Gongsun Zan! He actually colluded with mountain bandits!" Yuan Shao suddenly sneered, the jade pendants at his waist clanging loudly. Outside the tent came the restless neighing of warhorses. He stared at the cracked wine vessel on the table and suddenly noticed that the cracks resembled a map of Ji Province.

Yuan Shao's expression was grave, and he shouted sternly, "Wen Chou, listen to my command!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Wen Chou strode forward.

"I order you to lead 60,000 elite troops to reinforce Ye City. You must defeat Zhang Yan's Black Mountain Army and lift the siege of Wei Commandery and Handan. Are you confident?" Yuan Shao asked Wen Chou, looking directly at him.

Wen Chou replied decisively, "Rest assured, my lord! This humble general will definitely take Zhang Yan's head!" In his view, the Black Mountain Army was nothing but a rabble. If it weren't for Gao Gan's incompetence, how could the bandits have been allowed to run rampant to this extent?

Yuan Shao nodded and said, "Good! Let's set off immediately! But remember not to underestimate the enemy; the Black Mountain Army has managed to hold out for so many years for a reason."

"Your subordinate obeys!" After receiving the order, Wen Chou immediately mustered 50,000 troops and set off swiftly towards the southwest.

After Wen Chou left, Yuan Shao slammed his fist on the table in anger: "It must be Cao Mengde who's behind this! This ungrateful wretch, does he even remember who recommended him for the post of Bing Province? Now he not only forcibly seizes my Ji Province, but he's also colluding with the Black Mountain Army to attack my rear. Does he really think I can't do anything to him?"

Xu You opportunely advised, "My lord, Cao Cao's actions clearly indicate his intention to solidify his position in Guanzhong and Bingzhou. If he were to acquire Hanzhong as well, his power would be unstoppable. What's even more troublesome is that he hasn't implemented any new policies; instead, he's finding it easier to attract the gentry to his side. In terms of threat, he may be even greater than Lu Feng."

"If Xu You hadn't suggested that our lord send Cao Cao to Taiyuan, how could Bingzhou have fallen into Cao Cao's hands? He would never have had the opportunity to secretly collude with Zhang Yan!"

"Perhaps Cao Cao should have been eliminated by Lu Feng, the Marquis of Wu, in Dongjun by now!"

Guo Tu sneered as he added insult to injury.

He indeed didn't miss any opportunity to suppress Xu You.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao's face darkened, and he suddenly remembered—

It was Xu You who advised Cao Cao to be transferred from Dongjun to Taiyuan!

Otherwise, how could Cao Cao, who had no foundation, have so easily taken control of Bingzhou?

Yuan Shao, his face grim, demanded, "Xu You, what explanation do you have?"

This lord is always easily swayed and lacks decisiveness.

He seemed to have forgotten that it was he who had asked Xu You for advice and ultimately approved the decision himself.

As a commander, how can one not dredge up old grievances to shirk responsibility and take out one's anger on advisors when problems arise?

No wonder his advisors were divided into factions, fighting each other day and night.

As the saying goes, if the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked too.

This situation would never have occurred if Lu Feng were under his command.

Xu You felt a chill run down his spine upon seeing this, and felt deeply wronged.

You have to put in a lot of effort when offering advice, but you have to take full responsibility afterward?

Moreover, this plan was personally approved by Yuan Shao and was a brilliant strategy at the time.

What is the reason for this sudden accusation?

Xu You suddenly felt that he could no longer find the joy of earning rewards when he offered his advice.

He glared at Guo Tu and hurriedly explained to Yuan Shao, "My lord, you are wise! Back then, Cao Cao recruited soldiers in Dongjun, seriously threatening the safety of Ye City in Ji Province. Transferring him to garrison Bing Province was truly the best policy!"

"Moreover, Bingzhou is now flourishing under Cao Cao's rule, far more prosperous than before! This is truly a tremendous boon!"

"This is even more joyous news for our lord!"

Xu You spoke eloquently, leaving Yuan Shao momentarily stunned: "What do you mean by that?"

"Of course!"

Seeing that Yuan Shao was distracted, Xu You seized the opportunity and said, "My lord, think it over carefully. Cao Cao's main force has all gone to Guanzhong, leaving Bingzhou undefended. After you pacify Youzhou, wouldn't taking Bingzhou be as easy as turning your hand?"

"This is clearly the foundation that Cao Cao has painstakingly built for you over several years. Isn't this a huge boon?"

Yuan Shao found this to be quite reasonable.

He never considered Cao Cao a formidable enemy. As Xu You said, Cao Cao's main force was on a distant expedition to Guanzhong, which would inevitably leave Bingzhou's defenses vulnerable, presenting a golden opportunity.

Seeing the situation was turning sour, Guo Tu quickly interjected, "And how do you explain the Black Mountain Army?"

Yuan Shao's gaze turned to Xu You again.

Xu You stroked his beard and sneered, "What does the Black Mountain Army have to do with Cao Cao's conquest of Bingzhou? Did the Black Mountain bandits cease to exist before Cao Cao's arrival?"

"For decades, these bandits have entrenched themselves in the Black Mountains, plundering Ji Province. Their deployment this time is merely out of fear of your military might, lest we be left vulnerable if you perish."

Xu You secretly resented Guo Tu for his repeated interference, gritting his teeth inwardly: "Just wait until the day comes, I'll make you taste the same bitterness!"

Yuan Shao's eyes flashed coldly: "Zhang Yan and the Black Mountain Army should both be exterminated! I only hope that Wen Chou will not fail in his mission."

After a moment of contemplation, Tian Feng said, "The Black Mountain bandits' decision to leave their stronghold might very well be a godsend!"

He continued his analysis: "The reason we were unable to wipe out this band of bandits before was not because of their superior fighting strength, but because they were adept at hiding in the Black Mountain, making it difficult for our army to maneuver."

"Now that they have abandoned their advantageous terrain and rashly attacked Ye City, isn't this the perfect opportunity for our army to wipe them out in one fell swoop?"

A flicker of hatred flashed in Tian Feng's eyes when he mentioned the Black Mountain Bandits. These remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion had committed heinous crimes in Ji Province, and even now they continued to raid Handan, Wei County, and other places from time to time; their crimes were truly unforgivable. He secretly vowed to seek justice for the people who had suffered so much.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao's eyes lit up: "Yuan Hao's plan is brilliant! I hope Wen Chou can seize the opportunity and completely eliminate this threat."