Chapter 1039

Upon hearing this, Gu Yi’s gaze was deep, and he nodded gently: "Brother Gongsun’s words are absolutely right. We must strengthen the defensive fortifications here and send more troops. I suggest selecting elite soldiers from the tribes and strengthening their training to prepare for any unexpected needs."

Gongsun Zan nodded in agreement: "Good idea. At the same time, we also need to strengthen intelligence collection to ensure that we have a clear grasp of Cao Cao’s movements."

The two continued to discuss in depth, not letting go of any details. At this time, Chen Lin walked into the tent with a secret letter in his hand.

"My lord, General Gongsun, there is important intelligence." Chen Lin’s voice was low and serious.

Gu Yi took the secret letter, tore it open, and looked; his face changed slightly: "Cao Cao is actually secretly contacting some tribes in the north, attempting to unite them to fight against us."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Zan slapped the table in anger: "Cao Cao, this thief, is truly extremely cunning! We must take action immediately and cannot let them succeed."

Gu Yi analyzed calmly: "First, we need to confirm which tribes Cao Cao has contacted. Then, we must send envoys to warn them not to trust Cao Cao easily, and second, to show our strength and sincerity to win their support."

Gongsun Zan nodded in agreement: "At the same time, we must also make military preparations just in case. Brother Gu Yi, who do you think is suitable to go?"

Gu Yi pondered for a moment and said slowly: "This matter is of great importance and must be handled by a general who is both wise and brave and eloquent. I think General Zhang Liao is the most suitable."

Upon hearing this, a hint of approval flashed in Gongsun Zan’s eyes: "General Zhang Liao is indeed a good candidate. He is not only brave and resourceful but also has great prestige among the northern tribes. This trip will surely live up to expectations."

Gu Yi nodded: "Order General Zhang Liao immediately to prepare for his mission to the northern tribes. At the same time, we must also start preparing to deal with the surprise attack that Cao Cao might launch."

The two continued to discuss the details, and Chen Lin also recorded the key points on the side. In the tent, the atmosphere was tense and orderly, and everyone knew that the next task was arduous, but their eyes were filled with determination and resolve.

Early the next morning, General Zhang Liao led an elite squad and embarked on the journey to the northern tribes. Before leaving, Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan personally saw him off, urging him to be careful and ensure the smooth completion of the mission.

Zhang Liao bowed and cupped his hands: "My lord, General Gongsun, the subordinate will definitely not disgrace the mission and will definitely win those tribes over to our side."

Gu Yi patted him on the shoulder: "General Zhang Liao, this trip concerns our future, so be careful above all else. We are waiting for your triumphant return here."

Gongsun Zan also added: "Remember, winning by wisdom is superior, and fighting by force is inferior. If you encounter any difficulties, you must deal with them calmly."

Zhang Liao nodded to indicate he understood, then rode away with the squad and disappeared into the distant horizon.

Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan watched them go, their hearts filled with both anticipation and worry. They knew that although Zhang Liao’s trip was important, the situation on the battlefield was also changing rapidly, and they had to be fully prepared.

Back in the tent, Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan threw themselves into intense planning again. They began to mobilize troops, strengthen defensive lines, and send secret agents deep into Cao Cao’s territory to collect intelligence.

A few days later, the secret agent brought back an important piece of news: Cao Cao was secretly gathering troops, preparing to launch a large-scale attack on the north.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan looked at each other and saw the solemnity in each other’s eyes. They knew that the real test was coming.

"It seems that Cao Cao is determined to fight us to the death." Gongsun Zan said in a deep voice.

Gu Yi sneered: "Then he has miscalculated. We have long been prepared, and this time, we will definitely make him unable to return."

The two began to deploy urgently, mobilizing troops to the most critical positions. At the same time, they also strengthened their connection with allies like Sun Quan to ensure that they could get their support at critical moments.

However, just as the great battle was on the verge of breaking out, Zhang Liao suddenly brought back an unexpected piece of news: most of the northern tribes expressed their willingness to support them and fight against Cao Cao together.

Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan were overjoyed upon hearing this. They knew that this news not only meant that their defensive line was more solid, but also meant that they had a greater advantage in the confrontation with Cao Cao.

"General Zhang Liao, you have made a great contribution this time!" Gu Yi patted Zhang Liao on the shoulder excitedly.

Zhang Liao smiled modestly: "It is all the wise decision of the lord and General Gongsun, the subordinate is just executing it."

Gongsun Zan also smiled and said: "Regardless, you are our hero this time. After defeating Cao Cao, we will definitely celebrate you well."

With the addition of the northern tribes, the strength of the coalition forces of Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan greatly increased. They began to take the initiative to attack and launched fierce attacks on Cao Cao’s army. Cao Cao had originally thought that he could easily defeat Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan, but he did not expect to encounter such stubborn resistance and counterattack.

On the battlefield, the two sides engaged in fierce fighting. Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan arrived at the front line to command the army to fight bravely. Their bravery and determination infected every soldier, making the coalition morale high and combat effectiveness doubled.

Seeing this, Cao Cao was shocked. He had originally thought that his army was invincible in the world, but he did not expect that it would appear so vulnerable in front of the coalition forces of Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan. He began to re-examine his strategies and decisions, and a hint of regret could not help but arise in his heart.

However, the situation on the battlefield did not allow him to think too much. The coalition forces of Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan fought more bravely as they fought, gradually gaining the upper hand on the battlefield. Helpless, Cao Cao could only lead his remaining soldiers to flee back to Xuchang.

In this battle, Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan achieved a decisive victory. They not only defeated Cao Cao’s army but also consolidated their sphere of influence, making the entire alliance immersed in jubilation.

After the battle, Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan met in the tent. The two looked at each other and smiled, their hearts filled with joy and pride. They knew that the victory of this battle was not only because of their bravery and determination but also because of their unity and wisdom.

"Brother Gu Yi, we fought beautifully in this battle." Gongsun Zan said with a smile.

Gu Yi also nodded: "Yes, we did fight very well in this battle. However, this is just the beginning. Cao Cao will not give up, and we still need to continue our efforts."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Zan’s expression became serious: "You are right. We cannot take it lightly. Next, we must continue to strengthen internal affairs and military preparations to prepare for future battles."

Gu Yi took a deep breath: "That’s right. Moreover, we must continue to seek alliances with other forces. Only by being united can we overcome all difficulties."

The two continued to discuss future plans in depth, and the atmosphere in the tent was warm and filled with determination. They knew that although they had achieved a major victory, the road ahead was still long and the challenges were still severe.

"Brother Gongsun, I think we should take this opportunity to further expand our influence." Gu Yi said with a firm gaze, "We can send envoys to contact those tribes that have not yet clearly expressed their stance and win their support. At the same time, we can also consider expanding to more distant regions, such as the Western Regions, where resources are abundant and the strategic position is important."

Gongsun Zan nodded in agreement: "The Western Regions are indeed a good choice. However, we also need to act with caution, after all, the situation there is complex and changeable, and any carelessness could lead to unnecessary trouble."

Gu Yi smiled slightly: "That is natural. We can first send an expedition team to understand the situation there before making further plans."

The two continued to discuss the details, and at this time, Chen Lin walked in with a secret letter in his hand. His face was a bit solemn, and it seemed he had important news to report.

"My lord, General Gongsun, there is urgent intelligence." Chen Lin’s voice was low and powerful.

Gu Yi took the secret letter, tore it open, and his brows locked together: "Cao Cao is actually secretly uniting some forces in the south, attempting to form a pincer attack on us."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Zan slapped the table in anger: "Cao Cao, this thief, is truly extremely cunning! It seems he wants to take advantage of our unstable footing to defeat us in one fell swoop."

Gu Yi analyzed calmly: "We cannot be deceived by his superficial actions. Although Cao Cao’s move seems fierce, it actually exposes his weaknesses. The reason he does this is that he has already felt our threat and has to adopt this risky strategy."