Chapter 39

In Jizhou City, within the Yuan mansion, the big-eared, fat-headed Yuan Shao sat firmly in the chief seat, listening to his advisors argue nonstop with a look of self-satisfaction.

After the campaign against Dong Zhuo, the Eastern Coalition also disbanded where it stood, and Yuan Shao, the eldest son of the Yuan family who had held four generations of three ducal offices, could only slink back to Bohai Commandery.

How could such a tiny Bohai Commandery satisfy Yuan Shao's ambition? Han Fu's Jizhou was the fat meat in Yuan Shao's eyes; Jizhou was the most prosperous of the Thirteen Provinces, indeed a place of elite troops and abundant grain.

Yuan Shao exploited the conflict between Han Fu and Gongsun Zan, adopting the plan of his advisor Feng Ji: on one side he led troops eastward, feigning an attack on Jizhou; on the other he wrote letters luring Gongsun Zan to join a pincer strike against Han Fu.

After several prongs of attack, Han Fu's chief general Ji Yi was also won over by Yuan Benchu; Han Fu was originally timid and cowardly, and after Yuan Shao sent Gao Gan and several advisors to persuade him, Han Fu, under their threats and inducements, directly surrendered Jizhou.

From then on, the unfortunate Han Fu was stripped of his military authority and died in depression.

After seizing the vast and resource-rich Jizhou, Yuan Shao was overjoyed beyond measure; his civilian advisors included Ju Shou, Tian Feng, Guo Tu, Xu You, Feng Ji, Xin Shen, and Shen Pei; his military commanders included Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Ji Yi, Zhang He, Gao Lan, and Chunyu Qiong.

The entirety of Jizhou provided Yuan Shao with abundant manpower, also nurturing his ambition; with three hundred thousand elite troops at his command, Yuan Shao could now be called the strongest among the warlords.

After being tricked by Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan was naturally seething with anger; how dare that bastard Yuan Shao still scheme against his Youzhou!

Such a hotheaded man as Gongsun Zan could not tolerate this; thus, in recent years the two sides have constantly rubbed against each other, and Gongsun Zan even allied with the Black Mountain Army to besiege Yuan Shao, but the formidable Yuan Shao would not be intimidated by them.

Isn't that right? Yuan Shao is now gathering his advisors and generals to discuss how to deliver a heavy blow to Gongsun Zan and his allies.

With a ruddy complexion and a portly build, Guo Tu stepped forward first and began to speak grandly.

"My lord, you can now be considered the foremost among the warlords; the petty Gongsun Zan is surely no match. In my view, you should ally with Cao Cao to attack Youzhou."

Yuan Shao secretly approved and nodded, but Xu You, who had a touch of pedantic scholar's air, gave a hehe cold laugh; upon hearing it, Yuan Shao and Guo Tu both furtively frowned, and Yuan Shao, displeased, asked.

"Mr. Ziyuan, why are you laughing? Could it be that you also have a good plan?"

Xu You wore a self-satisfied expression, shook his head and stroked his beard as he stepped forward, glanced smugly at Guo Tu, and then said.

"My lord, Gongsun Zan's brute courage is not worth mentioning; rather, Cao Cao is a wolfish ambitious sort, with many brave generals and advisors under him, so you must absolutely not ally with Cao Cao to seize Youzhou. Now Liu Bei is rising in Xuzhou, and the Black Mountain Army is eyeing us covetously; we can first join forces with Liu Bei to take Qingzhou, and deal with Gongsun Zan slowly."

"Indeed! That brat Cao Cao has never really submitted to me, and working with him I couldn't bear that risk."

Yuan Shao silently cursed to himself for a moment, then said.

"What Mr. Ziyuan said is correct; Cao Cao cannot be trusted. Does any other advisor have a good plan? Everyone, speak freely here."

Xu You stroked his beard and smiled, gave a sideways glance at the assembled crowd, and was now immensely pleased.

Feng Ji, wearing a tall hat and wide sash in Confucian robes, truly looked the part of an immortal wind and dao bones; he slowly waved a feather fan and said.

"Mr. Ziyuan and Mr. Gongze each have a point, but in my humble opinion we can use the method we employed against Gongsun Zan to deal with Liu Bei; after all, Liu Bei is merely a rustic village lad with little experience. My lord can promise him troops for Qingzhou, then immediately send a senior commander to reap the fisherman's gain; as for Gongsun Zan, he is your arch-enemy, and you must personally lead troops to oppose him."

"This way, Liu Bei, who has always been on good terms with Gongsun Zan, will have no leisure to worry about his fate, after all, people die for wealth, birds for food!"

Yuan Shao clapped his hands and laughed, then sighed.

"Excellent, Feng Ji truly is steady and weighty; then we shall follow Feng Ji's plan."

Xu You's face showed considerable displeasure; Yuan Shao loves to deliberate but cannot decide, always asking back and forth, finally choosing whoever looks pleasing to him.

"Persuading Liu Bei requires someone eloquent and adept at debate; since Mr. Feng Ji has proposed the plan, the embassy to Liu Bei will be entrusted to Mr. Feng Ji. Mr. Ziyuan is quite quick-witted, you should also go along, so that we can be absolutely certain."

Feng Ji assumed an immortal wind and dao bones demeanor, stepped forward, and laughed.

"My lord, do not worry; Liu Bei's entourage lacks any strategists, with me and Brother Ziyuan going forth we will surely accomplish your plan; my lord, just await good news."

Xu You muttered to himself, "What the hell are you blowing your own horn for, Feng Ji?"

"Liu Bei's actions are nowhere near as simple as you imagine, Feng Ji; taking Chang'an and securing Xuzhou is not something a person without schemes could accomplish."

"But seeing Yuan Shao's present enthusiasm, I certainly cannot dampen my lord's interest; over these years I have come to understand Yuan Shao quite clearly."

"After Yuan Shao makes a decision, urging him to change his mind is tantamount to seeking death; it is the one thing that this narrow-minded Yuan Shao cannot tolerate."

Yuan Benchu thereafter wore an arrogant, self-satisfied expression as he gave orders to the crowd.

"Ji Yi, Zhang He, and Gao Lan, hear my orders: each of you take another ten thousand troops to the border of Bingzhou where the Black Mountain Army resides; you must block those Black Mountain rebels. Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Jiang Qi, and Chunyu Qiong shall be commanders; Tian Feng and Guo Tu shall be strategists; raise 150,000 troops and follow me to contend for the northern territories against Gongsun Zan."

"As for Qingzhou, the matter shall be entrusted to Messrs. Feng Ji and Xu You for planning; Han Meng and Jiang Yi Chu will lead fifty thousand troops to garrison the border of Qingzhou to support the two gentlemen."

Yuan Shao beheld his gathered advisors and valiant generals, his yearning for that position growing ever stronger, and unable to restrain himself he burst out laughing loudly.