usatvline Chapter 62 Excellent Director
Chapter 62 Excellent Director
Just then, a soft, feminine voice rang out, coming from the strategist Xu Si.
He had previously received a large sum of money and gifts secretly sent by Lu Su, and now was the time to "repay" him.
Xu Si stepped forward, first bowing to Lü Bu, and then slowly and deliberately said:
"Lord Wen, what Chen Gongtai said is not without reason. However, there is no smoke without fire."
He then changed the subject.
"If Yuan Tan's release of Zhang Fei was truly unintentional or due to circumstances, why did Liu Bei later harbor almost no resentment towards Yuan Tan, and why did he give evasive answers when questioned by us?"
"Furthermore, since Liu Bei took control of Xiaopei, he has appeared to be submissive, but in reality he has been spreading kindness and befriending heroes. His subordinates Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are both capable of defeating ten thousand men, and he also has Jian Yong, Sun Qian and others as his assistants. Is he really willing to remain subordinate to others for a long time?"
Recently, rumors have been rampant in Xuzhou, claiming that Liu Bei received a secret edict from Xuchang, or that he had an alliance with Yuan Tan. Could this be something Yuan Tan fabricated out of thin air? It's likely that there are indeed clues, which have been exploited and amplified.
Upon hearing this, Lü Bu became even more agitated.
Previously, rumors were flying around Xuzhou, but Lü Bu didn't pay any attention to them at the time.
But looking back now, isn't this also a warning?
Seeing that Lü Bu was somewhat tempted, Xu Si smiled contemptuously and said:
"Now, Liu Bei is leading his main force with Cao Cao in Huainan, leaving Xiaopei vulnerable. This is a golden opportunity! We should seize this chance with overwhelming force, taking advantage of the fact that his main force is away and his base is weak, to eliminate this threat from our side in one fell swoop!"
At that time, Xiaopei's grain, weapons, and people will all be mine, and Liu Bei will be nothing but a stray dog.
Even if he has been wronged, we can comfort him afterward and provide him with a safe haven elsewhere. However, if we stand idly by and wait for him to form an alliance with Yuan Tan, allowing them to attack from both the north and south, then Xuzhou will be in grave danger!
Xu Si's words were truly scathing.
He did not insist that Liu Bei would definitely rebel, but instead raised a question that no one could explain, and then listed the rumors circulating in Xuzhou recently, which further increased the credibility of the matter.
Finally, he recounted the benefits of capturing Xiaopei, which completely convinced Lü Bu.
"What Mr. Zijiang (Xu Si) said is truly the wisdom of a seasoned statesman!"
Lu Bu's eyes flashed with ferocity, and the last vestige of reason that Chen Gong had brought back was completely extinguished by Xu Si's few strokes of the brush.
"Liu Bei, a hero of the world, how could he remain subservient to others for long? Yuan Tan released Zhang Fei, and rumors are flying everywhere. Now, with this secret letter, I have no choice but to believe it! Issue my orders!"
He stopped looking at Chen Gong, who seemed about to speak but hesitated, and gave a stern order:
"Give Gao Shun, Wei Xu, and Song Xian the command of the Vanguard Camp and 20,000 elite troops, and set off immediately for Xiaopei! If Liu Bei's generals open the city gates, all will be well; but if they dare to resist, kill them without mercy! I want the world to know what the fate of those who betray me, Lü Bu, will be!"
"Cao Xing, lead the elite troops of Danyang to provide backup for me!"
"Gongtai, you stay behind in Xiapi to oversee the grain supplies!"
"My lord! Please reconsider!"
Although Chen Gong knew that there were many inconsistencies in Xu Si's words, he simply couldn't provide any evidence.
But he knew that once this army was dispatched, regardless of whether Liu Bei was innocent or not, internal strife and decline in Xuzhou would be inevitable.
……
Shouchun Frontline.
The main camp of the Qingzhou army, the central command tent.
At this moment, Yuan Tan was enjoying a game of chess with Guo Jia, and Guo Jia's compliments could be heard from time to time.
Given Yuan Tan's terrible chess skills, he certainly wouldn't be a match for this renowned scholar from Yingchuan.
But Guo Jia's high emotional intelligence was too much for him; every now and then, he would praise Guo Jia from the side, making Guo Jia feel like he was about to ascend to heaven.
At this moment, the newly appointed Prefectural Commander Wu Guan strode in, bowed, and reported:
"My lord, Chief Instructor! The first batch of one thousand soldiers on leave have safely returned to camp by boat. Not a single person is missing."
Yuan Tan picked up a chess piece but didn't place it. He looked up and asked, "How is the morale of the soldiers? Are their wounds and costumes realistic?"
Wu Guan replied:
"Rest assured, my lord. The soldiers have had ample rest and are in high spirits. Before disembarking, they had their bloodstains reapplied and their wounds bandaged as usual. They all appeared exhausted and grief-stricken. When they lined up to enter the camp, they attracted the attention of Cao Cao's scouts, who watched from afar and whispered among themselves."
Guo Jia gently placed a piece and smiled:
"Good. When Cao Cao hears this, he will be even more convinced that our army is exhausted, our horses are worn out, and our casualties are heavy, so we can only rob Peter to pay Paul. His wariness of our army will be reduced by another three points."
Just then, Zhang He, who was in charge of the detailed command of the battle at the East Gate, also lifted the curtain and entered, a hint of mockery on his face:
"My lord, Master Fengxiao, there's movement on the city wall again. That 'Emperor Zhong' has just come to the east gate to 'reward the troops' once more."
"Oh? How long did you stay this time?"
Yuan Tan asked with great interest.
"In less than half an hour."
Zhang He laughed,
"As before, when he arrived, we had just sounded the retreat. He only saw broken shields, broken arrows, and several abandoned battering ram frames billowing with thick smoke below the city."
Furthermore, Lord Yaoqing certainly put on a grand spectacle, having a group of soldiers, dressed in uniforms stained with mud and blood, leaning against the battlements, panting; it certainly looked like a scene of carnage.
Guo Jia commented:
"Yuan Shu was suspicious by nature, yet also stubborn and self-willed. He visited the site several times, and the scene he saw was always the same. After a while, his suspicion turned into belief, especially since he saw that Yuan Huan always managed to stabilize the situation when he arrived, and he regarded him as a pillar of strength."
Yuan Tan nodded and continued:
"Moreover, Cao Cao's attack on the north gate was truly fierce. Compared to the north gate, he naturally felt that although the east gate was tight, it was far less dangerous than the north gate. Only by entrusting the east gate to Yuan Huan could he feel at ease to go to the north gate and fight Cao Cao to the death."
Wu Guan added at the opportune moment:
"According to sources within the city, before Yuan Shu departed, in front of all his generals, he grasped Yuan Huan's hand and said with great emotion:"
"I have you, Yaoqing, like Han Xin of the Han Dynasty—a pillar of the nation, a cornerstone of the southeast! The safety of the East Gate rests entirely on your shoulders; I hope you will not fail me!" The rewards were also extremely generous. Now, the defense of the East Gate can be decided with a single word from Yuan Huan, and even Yuan Shu's confidants find it difficult to interfere.
"A pillar of the nation, a cornerstone of the southeast..."
Yuan Tan almost burst out laughing. It seemed he was not only an Oscar-winning actor but also an excellent director. The play he staged at the East Gate had actually convinced both Cao Cao and Yuan Shu.
"Yuan Gonglu did speak the truth this time, but unfortunately, his 'country' probably won't last much longer."
He turned to Guo Jia,
"Fengxiao, it seems that the time is right for Yaoqing's side."
Guo Jia held the zither and pondered for a moment, then said:
"Indeed. Yuan Huan has already seized real power, and Yuan Shu trusts him implicitly. I believe it will be much easier for us to storm Shouchun then. However, we still need to wait for the best opportunity..."
Just then, a guard rushed in and presented a secret letter:
"My lord, an urgent message from Prefect Lu of Qingzhou, traveling 600 li!"
Yuan Tan unwrapped the sealing wax, quickly glanced at the letter, a knowing smile appearing on his face, and handed it to Guo Jia:
"Zijing's work is indeed meticulous. Lü Bu has already mobilized his entire army and is heading towards Xiaopei."
After reading it, Guo Jia clapped his hands and sighed softly:
"Excellent! With fire breaking out in Xuzhou, Cao Cao's rear will also be in turmoil. This will allow our army to hold its ground more easily at the walls of Shouchun. My lord, the time is ripe!"
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