Chapter 1019

"Win the hearts of the people of the world?" Lu Bu frowned and pondered.

"That's right," Xiaoyan nodded. "Those who win the hearts of the people win the world. Although Brother Lu Bu is incomparably brave, if there is no support from the people, it will be difficult to last long. Therefore, we must formulate a series of policies to let the people live and work in peace and contentment, and let the people of the world return to Bingzhou."

Hearing this, Lu Bu suddenly realized; he knew deeply that what Xiaoyan said was very true. If he could get the support of the people of the world, why worry about the world not being settled?

Thus, the two chatted all the way, jointly planning the future of Bingzhou. In their plan, Bingzhou would become a land of prosperity and strength, where the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and people from all over the world would flock to it.

However, dreams are beautiful, but reality is cruel. Although Bingzhou achieved certain achievements under the joint efforts of Xiaoyan and Lu Bu, there was still a long way to go if they wanted to truly pacify the world.

On this road full of thorns, they would face countless challenges and difficulties. But no matter how many hardships and obstacles were ahead, Xiaoyan and Lu Bu both firmly believed that as long as they worked together and made joint efforts, they would definitely be able to realize their dreams, let Bingzhou become the center of the world, and let the people live a happy and beautiful life.

Every move Liu Bei made in Chaisang was full of anxiety and unease, while Gu Yi, hundreds of miles away, was calmly meeting two important guests in his camp.

"General Gu, I am Zhuge Jin, here on behalf of my younger brother." Zhuge Jin bowed, his expression carrying a bit of respect and caution. He knew deeply the heavy responsibility of this trip; not only to convey his brother's intention but also to test Gu Yi's attitude.

Gu Yi smiled slightly, signaling Zhuge Jin to sit down. "Brother Jin, you have traveled a long way, you must be tired. I don't know what advice Kongming has?"

Zhuge Jin informed Gu Yi of Zhuge Liang's worries and plans one by one, not forgetting to observe Gu Yi's reaction. Gu Yi heard this, his face had no ripples, just said lightly: "Kongming is indeed smart, it's just a pity..."

Before he finished speaking, Gu Yi turned to look at the other guest—Wang Lang. Wang Lang was a bit older, dressed as a scholar, and was holding an exquisite wooden box in his hand, appearing quite mysterious.

"Lord Wang, I heard that you were defeated but still glorious in the Battle of Kuaiji; I admire you very much. I don't know what you are here for this time?" Gu Yi's tone carried a trace of playfulness.

Wang Lang quickly stood up and respectfully presented the wooden box in his hand. "General Gu, this is a little bit of my heart, I hope the General will accept it. I am here this time, actually wanting to defect to the General and plan major events together."

Gu Yi signaled the attendant to take the wooden box, but did not open it immediately, instead laughing: "Lord Wang, you are a famous scholar of Jiangdong, why is this?"

Wang Lang sighed and said slowly: "General Gu, the situation is changing unpredictably; although the Jiangdong families are strong, they are not a long-term plan after all. The General is wise and martial, a hero of the current age; I am willing to work for the General and plan the great cause together."

Gu Yi heard this and laughed loudly. "Good! Lord Wang is indeed sensible. However, I have one thing I don't understand; since you have already decided to defect, why did you take a detour to get here? Could it be that you are afraid of being discovered?"

Wang Lang's expression changed slightly, then he admitted frankly: "I won't hide it from the General, I do have concerns. However, more importantly, I want to take this opportunity to show the General a 'treasure'."

After saying this, Wang Lang took a secret letter from his sleeve and handed it to Gu Yi. Gu Yi took it and looked at it, his brows locked, then relaxed, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"So that's it, Lord Wang is truly painstaking. However, do you think that just relying on this letter, you can make me change my mind?" Gu Yi's tone carried a bit of teasing.

Hearing this, Wang Lang's heart tightened, but he still tried to remain calm. "General, although this letter cannot directly change the situation, it can provide an important reference for your decision. Moreover, I also brought..."

Speaking of this, Wang Lang deliberately paused, took a small jade box from his sleeve again, and opened it gently; inside was actually a bright night-luminescent pearl.

"This is my collection of many years, I wish to express my sincerity with this object." Wang Lang's voice trembled slightly, obviously extremely reluctant to part with this night-luminescent pearl.

Gu Yi looked at the night-luminescent pearl in front of him, a trace of playfulness flashing in his eyes. "Lord Wang, you have truly put in a lot of capital. However, do you think I will change my view of the Jiangdong families because of this?"

Hearing this, Wang Lang's heart sank, but he still tried to argue: "General, that is not my intention. I just hope the General understands that the Jiangdong families are not of one piece; there is no lack of knowledgeable people among them who are willing to cooperate with the General."

Gu Yi heard this and laughed loudly. "Lord Wang, you misunderstood. It's not that I am unwilling to cooperate with the Jiangdong families, it's just that the way of cooperation needs to be decided by me."

Speaking of this, Gu Yi's eyes suddenly became sharp. "Moreover, I have already decided to take Yuzhang first, then turn back to clean up Wujun. As for the Jiangdong families, if they are sensible, perhaps they can still keep a trace of bloodline; if not, hum..."

Hearing this, Wang Lang was shocked, but still tried to remain calm. "General, Yuzhang is a barren land, why bother? Why doesn't the General concentrate his troops to take Wujun first and then plan others?"

Gu Yi sneered. "Lord Wang, you only know one thing but not the other. Although Yuzhang is poor, it is Liu Bei's retreat. As long as this road is sealed, Liu Bei will become a turtle in a jar, and Wujun will naturally collapse without being attacked."

Wang Lang heard this and was speechless, secretly regretting in his heart that he had underestimated this young general after all.

And Liu Bei at this time was still anxiously waiting for the return of Guan and Zhang, not knowing that his freedom was already running out.

A few days later, when Liu Bei finally waited for the arrival of the Guan and Zhang generals and was preparing to set off to flee south, he was surprised to find that Gu Yi's grand army had appeared on the border of Yuzhang like heavenly soldiers, completely sealing his retreat.

Liu Bei looked at the dense military flags in the distance, his heart filled with despair and unwillingness. "Kongming, I failed to escape after all..."

And Zhuge Liang, far away in Chaisang, learned of this news and also sighed long. "My Lord, heaven's will cannot be violated..."

Liu Bei on the border of Yuzhang, facing the pressure of Gu Yi's grand army, although his heart was filled with despair, years of combat experience made him quickly calm down. He understood that the current decline was not impossible to reverse; the key lay in how to find a way to break the situation.

"Yunchang, Yide," Liu Bei turned to look at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, a firm light flashing in his eyes. "Although we are besieged, it is not without a chance of survival. Although Gu Yi is strong, he also has weaknesses."

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei heard this, their spirits lifted, and they asked in unison: "Big Brother, what good strategy do you have?"

Liu Bei pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Although Gu Yi's troops are numerous, they are a long-distance raid after all, and logistics supplies must be difficult. We can use this point to send small groups of troops to harass his grain road, while looking for opportunities to raid his main camp and disrupt his deployment."

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei smiled at each other; they knew Liu Bei's resourcefulness deeply, and this tactic of winning against the strong with the weak was exactly what they were good at.

Thus, Liu Bei quickly arranged the tasks; Guan Yu was responsible for leading an elite force to harass Gu Yi's grain road; Zhang Fei was responsible for finding locations in Yuzhang that could be raided, preparing to catch Gu Yi off guard.

And Liu Bei himself took the remaining people and set up an ambush at a dangerous location on the border of Yuzhang, preparing to deal with Gu Yi's grand army at any time.

Gu Yi learned of Liu Bei's movements and sneered. "Liu Bei, Liu Bei, you really won't submit easily. However, do you think you can change the situation like this?"

He quickly adjusted his tactics, strengthened the protection of the grain road, and sent an elite force to pursue Guan Yu's harassment force. As for Liu Bei himself, Gu Yi decided to lead the army personally to meet this former hero.