Chapter 183: Gongsun Zan's Response

After learning of the imperial court's powerful strength, Yan Rou was very glad that Liu Yu had always been loyal to the Han house.

While glad, he couldn't help but feel sorrow for those who had not submitted to the imperial court.

They did not know what kind of powerful opponent they were facing.

Subsequently, the two discussed the details of defending the city.

Although they did not fear Gongsun Zan's seventy thousand troops, they still had to maintain the proper attitude.

The two still understood the principle that a thousand-mile dike is destroyed by an ant hole!

And just as Shen Pei and Yan Rou were arranging the city defenses, Gongsun Zan, leading seventy thousand troops, had already arrived at Lingzhi City in Liaoxi Commandery.

And Lingzhi City was only one day's journey from Shangyin City.

"My Lord, news from the imperial court has arrived; Liu Bian dispatched the newly formed one hundred thousand Qinglong Army, which set out from Luoyang five days ago."

"Accompanying them are the Qinglong Army Commander Guan Yu, the Generals Zhang Fei and Zhou Cang, and Guo Jia as the military advisor!"

At this time, Gongsun Zan and the others were discussing how to attack Youbeiping in Lingzhi City.

Suddenly, a scout came in and said loudly to Gongsun Zan with a solemn expression.

"Impossible! How could the imperial court know the news so quickly? It has only been a short few days; the news might not even have reached Luoyang, let alone them having arranged for the army to set out five days ago!"

Upon hearing the scout's words, Gongsun Zan stood up in shock and roared in disbelief.

"Everyone, what should be done about this?"

"The imperial court actually knew the news so quickly, and they even dispatched one hundred thousand troops."

"In our hands, plus the one thousand people garrisoning Liaoxi Commandery, we only have eighty thousand troops."

"And in Youbeiping, there are still the fifty thousand troops of Shen Pei and Yan Rou!"

"That is a full one hundred and fifty thousand people; with so few of us, how can we be the opponents of one hundred and fifty thousand troops!"

By the time Gongsun Zan said this, his eyes were already filled with fear, and in his heart, a trace of regret had also sprouted.

From this, one can see the power of the identity jade token's messaging function.

And at this time, Gongsun Zan's subordinates, upon seeing his expression, all felt their hearts sink.

They were afraid that he wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure and would directly surrender or run away.

Just then, Guan Jing, as Gongsun Zan's chief strategist, immediately stood out and said to him with clasped fists:

"My Lord, actually there is no need to worry; the imperial court's army only set out five days ago, and from Luoyang to Youbeiping, the fastest marching speed would also require ten days."

"We only need to defeat Shen Pei and Yan Rou's army before the imperial court's army arrives at Youbeiping."

"And Guan Yu, in order to arrive at Youbeiping as soon as possible, will certainly force-march; in this way, we will set an ambush for Guan Yu's army halfway."

"At that time, Guan Yu's army will be exhausted from the journey, while we will be waiting at ease, plus it is a halfway ambush, so we will certainly be able to heavily damage Guan Yu's army!"

It must be said that following Guan Jing's words, Gongsun Zan's expression also looked much better.

Suddenly, he had the feeling that Guan Yu's one hundred thousand Qinglong Army was just so-so.

And at this time, the group of civil and military officials who saw Gongsun Zan's expression improve also said to Gongsun Zan:

"My Lord, Master Guan Jing's words are extremely correct; I second this!"

"I second this!"

Seeing that everyone under his command agreed, Gongsun Zan suddenly felt that he had braced himself up.

Gongsun Zan suddenly stood up, looked at the crowd with sharp eyes, and said loudly:

"I, this General, decide to raise all seventy thousand troops to attack Youbeiping Commandery, with Yan Gang leading ten thousand White Horse Volunteers as the vanguard."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions tightened, and they responded solemnly with clasped fists:

"This end general (this subordinate) accepts the order!"

Soon, Gongsun Zan led seventy thousand troops and marched majestically toward Shangyin City in Youbeiping Commandery.

However, what they did not know was that at this time, Guan Yu and his party had already intended to bypass the northern part of Youzhou to their rear.

And at the same time as Gongsun Zan's army moved out, the Dark Guards lurking in Liaoxi Commandery also conveyed the news to Guo Jia and Shen Pei through the identity jade token.

Soon, Gongsun Zan and his party arrived under Shangyin City in Youbeiping Commandery, but at this time in Shangyin City, Shen Pei and Yan Rou had already made preparations.

To avoid any accidents, Shen Pei even sent two of his personal guards to the city towers.

"My Lord, it seems that Shen Pei and Yan Rou have already made preparations; a frontal assault is a bit difficult!"

After seeing the defenses of Shangyin City, Guan Jing said to Gongsun Zan.

"This Shen Pei still has some tricks; they don't dare to fight us head-on and want to rely on Shangyin City to drag us down and wait for Guan Yu's army to arrive."

After listening to Guan Jing's words, Gongsun Zan also said with a solemn expression.

At this time, they were racing against time with Guan Yu; if the army was truly dragged down by Shen Pei and Yan Rou, then what awaited them would be a crushing disaster.

However, at present, just by relying on the seventy thousand troops in his hands, wanting to breach Shangyin City defended by fifty thousand people was undoubtedly a pipe dream.

In a battle between two armies, the attacking side is inherently at a disadvantage unless you have several times the number of people as the defending side.

"My Lord, why not call the generals to go and have a duel with the enemy first."

"In Shangyin City, there is only one Second-rate Martial General, Yan Rou, and the others are not to be feared; with the strength of the generals, as long as they dare to accept the challenge, we might even be able to behead a few of their great generals!"

Just as the words of Gongsun Zan and Guan Jing fell, Tian Kai, who was following behind Gongsun Zan, suddenly spoke up.

And after hearing Tian Kai's words, the group of military generals also came out one after another to request to fight, clasping their fists to Gongsun Zan to request to fight:

"This end general is willing to fight Yan Rou for My Lord!"

"My Lord, this end general requests to fight!"

For a time, Gongsun Zan also turned his gaze to Guan Jing, wanting to hear his opinion.

Seeing Gongsun Zan and the crowd looking at him, Guan Jing also smiled confidently at them.

"My Lord, Master Tian Kai's words are also quite reasonable; we might as well call the generals to go and try, perhaps it will truly have a miraculous effect!"

Gongsun Zan, after seeing that Guan Jing also agreed, immediately swept his gaze over the generals.

Subsequently, he turned his gaze to his cousin, Gongsun Yue.

"Gongsun Yue, I, this General, leave this round to you to fight; you must win, you are not allowed to lose!"

Gongsun Yue, with the strength of a Second-rate Martial General, was just right for him to fight this first round.

"This end general accepts the order!"

Gongsun Yue clasped his fists at him and walked alone toward the foot of the city tower.

"Yan Rou, I, this General, am Gongsun Yue; do you dare to come out of the city for a battle?"

Gongsun Yue, who had arrived at the foot of the city tower, shouted arrogantly toward Yan Rou in the city.

And at this time, Shen Pei and Yan Rou had also arrived at the city gate tower.

Seeing Gongsun Yue wanting to duel before the battle, Yan Rou turned his gaze to Shen Pei beside him.

"Inspector, this end general feels that this is the best opportunity for us to cut off one of Gongsun Zan's arms!"

Yan Rou, after these few days of cultivation, had already improved his strength to the strength of a First-rate Martial General.

And with the help of the Spirit Stone Fragments, he felt that in two more days, he would be able to break through to the Divine General Realm. ===== CHAPTER 184 =====