Chapter 1702

Upon hearing this, a trace 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 holds considerable prestige among the Northern tribes; this mission will surely not fail to live up to expectations."

Gu Yi nodded: "Pass the order to General Zhang Liao immediately, letting him prepare to go on a mission to the Northern tribes. At the same time, we must also begin preparations to deal with a potential surprise attack from Cao Cao."

The two continued to discuss the details, and Chen Lin also recorded the key points on the side. Inside the camp, the atmosphere was tense and orderly; everyone knew the coming task was arduous, but their eyes were filled with firmness and determination.

Early the next morning, General Zhang Liao led an elite small team and embarked on the journey to the Northern tribes. Before his departure, Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan personally saw him off, urging him to be careful and ensure the mission was completed successfully.

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

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

Gongsun Zan also added: "Remember, winning through wisdom is superior to winning through force. If you encounter any difficulties, handle them calmly."

Zhang Liao nodded to show he understood, then led his team away on horseback, disappearing 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 mission was important, the situation on the battlefield was ever-changing, and they had to be fully prepared.

Returning to the camp, Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan plunged into intense planning once again. They began to deploy troops, strengthen defense lines, and send secret agents deep into Cao Cao's territory to collect intelligence.

A few days later, the secret agents brought back an important piece of news: Cao Cao was secretly assembling troops, preparing to launch a large-scale offensive against the North.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan looked at each other, both seeing the solemnity in the other's eyes. They knew the real test was about to arrive.

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

Gu Yi sneered: "Then he has miscalculated. We have long been prepared; this time, we will definitely make sure he never returns."

The two began emergency deployments, moving troops to the most critical positions. At the same time, they strengthened their connections with allies like Sun Quan to ensure they could receive 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 jointly resist Cao Cao.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan were overjoyed. They knew this news not only meant their defense lines were more solid but also that they held a greater advantage in the confrontation with Cao Cao.

"General Zhang Liao, you have truly performed a great service with this mission!" Gu Yi excitedly patted Zhang Liao on the shoulder.

Zhang Liao smiled modestly: "It is all due to the wise decisions of my lord and General Gongsun; this subordinate only executed them."

Gongsun Zan also said with a smile: "Regardless, you are our hero this time. After we defeat Cao Cao, we will definitely celebrate you properly."

With the addition of the Northern tribes, the strength of the joint forces of Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan greatly increased. They began to take the initiative and launched fierce attacks against Cao Cao's army. Cao Cao had originally thought he could easily defeat Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan, but he had not expected to encounter such stubborn resistance and counterattacks.

On the battlefield, the two sides engaged in fierce combat. Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan personally arrived at the front lines, commanding the army to fight bravely. Their bravery and determination infected every soldier, causing the joint forces' morale to soar and their combat effectiveness to multiply.

Upon seeing this, Cao Cao was greatly shocked. He had originally thought his army was invincible under heaven, but he had not expected it to appear so vulnerable before the joint forces of Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan. He began to re-examine his strategies and decisions, and a trace of regret could not help but arise in his heart.

However, the situation on the battlefield did not allow him to think much. The joint forces of Gu Yi and Gongsun Zan fought more bravely as the battle progressed, gradually gaining the upper hand. Having no other choice, Cao Cao could only lead his remnants to flee back to Xu Chang.

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, causing the entire alliance to be immersed in joy.

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

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

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

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

Gu Yi took a deep breath: "That's right. Furthermore, we must continue to seek alliances with other factions. Only by being united as one can we overcome all difficulties."

The two continued to discuss future plans in depth, the atmosphere inside the camp warm and filled with determination. They knew that although they had achieved a major victory, the road ahead was still long and the challenges remained 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 stated their position and win their support. At the same time, we can 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 ever-changing, and a slight carelessness could trigger 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 when Chen Lin walked in, holding a secret letter. His expression was somewhat solemn, as if 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, opened it, and his brow furrowed: "Cao Cao is actually secretly uniting with certain factions in the South, attempting to form a pincer attack against us."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Zan angrily slapped the table: "Cao Cao, that thief, is truly cunning to the extreme! It seems he wants to take advantage of our unstable footing to crush 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. He is doing this because he has already felt our threat and has no choice but to adopt this risky strategy."