Chapter 308: Yuan Shao's deployment of troops and advisors' factions

Yijing, Youzhou, is located at the junction of two states.

Gongsun Zan stored 3 million hu (one hu equals 20 liters) of grain and only defended the city without attacking.

After a month of fierce attacks, Yuan Shao achieved little success, so he sent messengers to persuade Gongsun Zan to put aside their hatred and make peace with the two families.

After Gongsun Zan sent Zhao Yun to the south to seek help, he never thought of resolving the situation peacefully.

In addition, Cao Cao stabbed the Yuan family in the back, and Yuan Shu became a lost dog. When this matter reached Yijing, it greatly boosted the morale of the Youzhou army.

Regardless of whether Cao Cao was sent by the general or not, the fact that Yuan Shao lost the support from the south was a huge victory for the Youzhou army.

At this moment, the person who was anxious was no longer Gongsun Zan, but Yuan Shao.

To the east of Baiyangdian is Yuan Shao’s camp.

"Cao Cao! What is he going to do?!"

Yuan Shao threw a lot of things around with a bang. This was the third time this month. The civil and military officials in the camp looked at their noses and their hearts, pretending not to see anything.

"Xu You!" Yuan Shao asked angrily, "Is this your promise?"

"If you hadn't strongly recommended me, how could I have believed in Cao Cao, the traitor?"

"Now that Yuan Yi has been killed and Yuan Gonglu has fled to Yanzhou, if I didn't have some face left in me, I'm afraid Lu Bu wouldn't even give Gonglu a chance to live!"

Xu You really didn't expect that there would be such an unexpected disaster, and he quickly cried out: "My lord, it's unfair!"

"I'm not the only one who has said this. Shen Pei, Guo Tu, Feng Ji, who hasn't said it?"

Suddenly, Yuan Shao's anger shifted: "Shen Pei! Guo Tu! Feng Ji!"

The three of them stepped out of line and cried out with Xu You: "It's unfair."

Shen Pei: "My Lord, I did say that Cao Cao could be a barrier to the east, and that was indeed the case at that time."

Feng Ji: "Who could have imagined that Cao was so ambitious? We were all deceived."

Guo Tu kicked the ball back directly: "My lord, this is all Xu You's slander, I didn't say a word!"

Yuan Shao was annoyed by what the three said. He waved his hands impatiently and said, "Okay, okay, okay! I'll forgive you this time. If you do it again, I'll kill you!"

The four of them breathed a sigh of relief at the same time and bowed, "Wash more, lord."

When Xu You stood up, he glared at Guo Tu fiercely, and the latter glared back at him.

Full of gunpowder flavor.

Yuan Shao was just venting his anger and didn't really blame anyone.

"Tell me, how should Gongsun Zan solve this problem?"

This war lasted for half a year. Yuan Shao first sent Qu Yi to fight, but he suffered a minor defeat.

He then personally led an army of 50,000 to attack the border, forcing Gongsun Zan to switch from offense to defense, leading to the stalemate.

The General of the Left, Ju Su, stepped out and said, "Youzhou Governor Duan Xun was coerced by Gongsun Zan to slander and kill Xiangben Marquis Liu Bo'an (Liu Yu). We can send an envoy to persuade him to return to the right path."

Yuan Shao nodded. Although Duan Xun was a puppet, he held the righteous position. As long as he could be made to surrender, Youzhou would rightfully belong to Yuan Shao.

Ju Shou had a very high prestige in Jizhou. No one was willing to provoke him unless he had done anything wrong. This also made him hated by everyone except Tian Feng.

After speaking, Ju Su stepped back, not wanting to take all the benefits.

Before Yuan Shao could speak, Jizhou official Tian Feng stepped out and said, "My lord, Xian Yu Fu, Xian Yu Yin, Yan Rou, Tian Yu and other generals under Marquis Xiang Ben are angry that Gongsun Zan killed their leader. If they unite their forces, they can help us."

What Tian Feng said made sense, but Yuan Shao was very unhappy because of his impoliteness.

Guo Tu had been paying attention to Yuan Shao's expression. He didn't dare to confront Ju Shou, but who was Tian Feng?
"My lord, no!"

As expected, Yuan Shao immediately turned his gaze to Guo Tu and said in a very serious tone: "Gong Ze, I have told you many times that we cannot fight among ourselves. If you can't give me a clear answer, you will be punished today!"

The words sounded very powerful, but all the counselors present were very smart and they immediately heard the warning in Yuan Shao's words.

If he had said anything, Tian Feng would have been beaten with a stick.

Guo Tu was secretly delighted, but his face remained calm, and he said, "My lord, calm down. I didn't mean to stir up trouble. I just care about the overall situation of our army, so I have to speak.

“Tian Yuanhao’s strategy certainly has far-reaching considerations, but the current situation is changing rapidly, and we need to wipe out Gongsun Zan’s forces as quickly as possible to deal with the threat from Cao Cao.

"Although the protracted war he mentioned is sound, it may miss the opportunity to fight and give Cao Cao a chance to catch his breath. Then it will be twice as difficult to attack him again."

"Besides, my lord is a man of great talent and strategy, and the morale of his soldiers is high. We should take advantage of this opportunity to attack Cao Cao's lair in one fell swoop.

If we stick to the old ways, the soldiers may become lazy, which will be disadvantageous to our army.

I would like to make a bold suggestion that we should immediately prepare for war, adopt more proactive tactics, fight quickly and decisively, and use the force of thunder and lightning to crush the enemy's morale. This is the best strategy. "

Yuan Shao's brows slightly lifted when he heard this, and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes, but then he returned to his solemnity. "Your words are reasonable, but war is no joke, and we must act with caution. Tian Feng's strategy also has its merits, and we should gather the wisdom of all parties and not listen to one side."

"My lord is wise," Guo Tu complimented at the right time, "I am willing to discuss the major plans with my colleagues to ensure that our army's decision is foolproof. At the same time, I am willing to go to the front line and personally supervise the battle to show my determination and vow to clear the obstacles for my lord and pacify the world."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall became tense. Except for Ju Shou and Tian Feng, all the counselors looked at him with suspicion.

Yuan Shao nodded with satisfaction and said, "Your loyalty and bravery are commendable, which makes me very happy. I will leave this matter to you, Shen Pei, Feng Ji and others to plan together. You must ensure that everything goes well."

Guo Tu was delighted in his heart, but on the surface he was even more humble, bowed and accepted the order before leaving.

He knew that what he said today not only won him Yuan Shao's trust, but also paved the way for his next actions.

Although Tian Feng was not directly accused, his position in Yuan Shao's heart may have changed quietly.

Shen Pei and Feng Ji were both so angry that their noses were crooked. The work had to be done, but all the credit went to Guo Tu alone. Whoever wanted to do this kind of shit could do it.

The two looked at each other, and Shen Pei took the initiative to step forward and said, "My lord, I have a plan that can lead to a quick victory!"

"Oh?" Yuan Shao was very surprised and sat up straight and said, "Please tell me what you have planned?"

Shen Pei looked at Guo Tu provocatively, and then said, "Gongsun Zan is refusing to come out. My lord, you can send several armies to occupy the key points of Youzhou."

"By then, if Gongsun Zan comes out of his rat hole, you can strike him head-on and annihilate him!"

"If Gongsun Zan does not come to my rescue, then it will be the perfect time for you to take over Youzhou!"

"By then, Gongsun Zan will be nothing more than a pile of dry bones in a tomb, guarding Yijing in vain."

Yuan Shao stood up excitedly, clapped his hands and shouted, "Excellent! Excellent!"

"I'll leave this matter to you." Yuan Shao said happily, "After you succeed, there will be a big reward!"

Shen Pei and Feng Ji were Yuan Shao's earliest team members and were deeply trusted. Naturally, it was impossible for them to be inferior to Guo Tu, a latecomer.

What's the point of relying on flattery? Shen Pei led the troops on the upper Ma Ke and offered advice on the lower Ma Ke.

How high is your status, Guo Tu? Do you really dare to shit on the heads of two old ministers?

The cooked duck flew away, and it was impossible for Guo Tu not to be angry. Fortunately, the person who flattered him had high emotional intelligence, so he did not cause any unpleasantness in front of Yuan Shao.

Although Guo Tu felt mixed emotions, he maintained his usual humble smile. He knew very well that under Yuan Shao's command, the struggle for power and status was often undercurrent, and superficial harmony was the key to preserving himself.

So, he bowed slightly and said in a graceful and self-deprecating tone: "My lord is wise. Lord Shen and Lord Feng are the pillars of our army, so they should naturally shoulder this important task. Although Guo Tu is not talented, I am willing to do my best to assist the two lords and achieve great things together."

After saying this, he turned his gaze to Shen Pei and Feng Ji. There was both respect and a hint of imperceptible provocation in his eyes, as if he was silently declaring: Although I have not received this important task, it does not mean that I will give up the competition.

Shen Pei and Feng Ji looked at each other. Although they were on guard against Guo Tu's cunning, they relaxed their vigilance a little because of his words.

After all, in the face of Yuan Shao's hegemony, what they hoped to see more was internal unity rather than meaningless fighting.

"Mr. Guo, you are too polite. We should work together to share our lord's worries." Shen Pei responded with his characteristic calmness, his words revealing an unquestionable firmness.

Feng Ji echoed from the side, secretly thinking about how to demonstrate his talents in the next task to consolidate his position in Yuan Shao's heart.

Yuan Shao, on the other hand, did not seem to pay much attention to these subtle power games. His mind was occupied by the impending victory, and his eyes were shining with infinite longing for the future.

He waved his hand and said proudly, "Great! With the three of you here, we can accomplish our mission. When we win this battle, let's drink together to celebrate!"

Following Yuan Shao's order, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became heated. Everyone stood up one after another, each with different thoughts and purposes, but at this moment they reached a superficial consensus - for the sake of Yuan Shao's hegemony, they would work hand in hand to create brilliance together.

In fact, Shen Pei, as the Deputy Governor, was Yuan Shao's confidant and had no need to be intimidated by Guo Tu, the strategist.

The so-called counselors, or staff members, only have status in times of war. In normal times, they are not even worthy of carrying shoes for Shen Pei.

If Shen Pei and Feng Ji had not been loyal to Yuan Shao, they would not have been polite to Guo Tu.

Thus, an invisible farce disappeared into thin air.

After the meeting, Shen Pei and Feng Ji, two people who had worked closely together during the meeting, immediately parted ways.

Ju Shou and Tian Feng walked together.

Meanwhile, Guo Tu, Xu You and others who had been arguing with each other at the meeting greeted Shen Pei and others with a smile.

Ju Shou and Tian Feng were very displeased with this behavior and left with a sour face.

On the contrary, Shen Pei and Feng Ji had a very pleasant conversation with this group of people.

There is no distinction between the legitimate and illegitimate sons' factions, but Shen Pei and Feng Ji have a personal grudge and never have any contact with each other until they die.

Everyone knows this.

After the four big guys left, Xu You, as the earliest veteran to follow Yuan Shao, immediately put on airs.

All the people present were counselors, among whom Guo Tu, Xu You and Xin Ping were the chief counselors, and their status was naturally higher than that of the other counselors.

"Guo Gongze!" Xu You held himself very high, with an unquestionable majesty in his voice. He glanced at the counselors around him and finally fixed his eyes on Guo Tu.

"You and I are both loyal subjects under the lord. We have gathered here today to work together for the lord's great cause."

"But how can you take all the credit?"

"Where do you place my colleagues?"

Guo Tu was disdainful in his heart. Xu You was not a good person. He was greedy for pleasure and accepted gold and silver. If it weren't for the fact that there was a war going on and he was a veteran, he would be a traitor.

Guo Tu had already brought disgrace upon Xu You.

However, there are important things ahead, and things have their urgency and priorities. If there is infighting all the time, there is no point in working.

Guo Tu had a docile expression on his face and said, "Xu Ziyuan is absolutely right. How dare Guo Tu take credit for it?
We all serve our lord, so we should work together to overcome the difficulties.

Today's discussion is aimed at gathering wisdom and contributing to the great cause of the Lord. If I have made any inappropriate remarks, I hope you will give me your advice and work together to improve the strategy."

After saying this, Guo Tu bowed slightly to show his humility, and then changed the subject to the main business: "The current situation is complicated and the enemy is powerful. Although our army is brave and good at fighting, we also need to outsmart them.

I have come up with a plan that may help us out. We can use the cover of night to split our forces into two groups. One group will launch a feint attack to attract the enemy's main force, while the other group will make a detour to raid the enemy's rear, where they have important food and grass supplies.

Food and fodder are the lifeblood of an army. Once lost, the enemy will be in chaos, and our army can take advantage of the victory to pursue and defeat the enemy in one fell swoop."

"Although this plan is risky, it is also a brilliant move under the current circumstances. Of course, the specific implementation still requires your careful planning to ensure that it is foolproof. I am willing to personally lead the troops to carry out the detour raid to show my determination, and I hope you can help me."

Guo Tu spoke passionately, his eyes revealing determination and confidence.

We are not stupid. Who would believe Guo Tu's cover-up statement?

However, most things only require an excuse.

Guo Tu's remarks successfully diverted everyone's attention, and they began to discuss the possibility of what Guo Tu said.

On the one hand, we should pool our wisdom and look for possibilities to defeat the enemy head-on.

On the other hand, it can also improve one's own military quality and avoid failing at critical moments.

Xu You was too disdainful to take part in such a low-level discussion. He had fought in more than a dozen battles, big and small, with Yuan Shao, and had seen many scenes.

So Xu You left without even saying hello.

Guo Tu raised his eyes and looked away, then ignored Xu You.

At this time, Xin Ping noticed Guo Tu's little action, and after everyone dispersed, he quickly caught up with Guo Tu.

"Zhongzhi (Xin Ping's courtesy name), what's the matter?"

When Guo Tu discovered that Xin Ping was following him, he stopped.

Both of them are from Yangdi, Yingchuan, and are fellow townsmen, so there is a natural affinity between them.

It’s just that Xin Ping was not as lucky as Guo Tu and was favored by Yuan Shao.

Xin Ping smiled and said, "Wen Ze, I saw that your attitude towards Xu You just now seemed to have deep meaning. You and I are from the same hometown, and we both serve under Yuan Gong. We should support each other and work together for the great cause.

Xu You is a man of extraordinary talent and sometimes arrogant, but he is deeply trusted by the lord. Today's actions should be tolerated."

It turns out to be this.

Guo Tu nodded slightly after hearing this, and then said after a moment of silence: "Zhongzhi is right. Xu You has been acting more and more flamboyantly recently, which inevitably makes people suspicious. However, as you said, as counselors, we should put the overall situation first and put aside personal grudges for the time being."

Xin Ping was pleased when he heard this, and patted Guo Tu on the shoulder and said, "It is a blessing for Mr. Yuan and for us that Wen Ze can think this way.

Although we are not as highly valued by Yuan Gong as Xu You, as long as we work together, we can accomplish great things. When we succeed, our names will surely go down in history."

Guo Tu smiled and said, "I'll borrow your good words."

(End of this chapter)