Chapter 1705

After the ceremony, Gu Yi returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion and sat alone in his study, lost in thought. He remembered Jia Xu's words that the matter of ascending the throne must be handled with caution. He knew deeply that although he had already grasped most of the power, there were still many potential enemies watching covetously. He had to plan every step more carefully to ensure his rule was as solid as a mountain.

Just then, a rush of footsteps came from outside the door. Gu Yi raised his head and saw a guard hurry into the study, kneel, and report: "My lord, there is urgent news from the North: Yuan Shao and Cao Cao have engaged in battle, Yuan Shao has been defeated, and Cao Cao has captured Jizhou!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yi's heart shook. He understood that this meant the situation in the North had undergone a major change. Cao Cao's rise was undoubtedly a major threat to his future path to the throne. He had to take action as soon as possible to consolidate his influence in the North.

Gu Yi quickly summoned his strategists to discuss countermeasures. After a fierce discussion, they decided to send envoys to Cao Cao, attempting to establish friendly relations while strengthening Northern defenses to prevent Cao Cao from suddenly launching an attack.

However, Gu Yi understood in his heart that this was only an expedient measure. The real contest was still in the future. He had to constantly improve his own strength to remain invincible in this chaotic world.

The news of Gu Yi's decision to ascend the throne spread across the entire Central Plains like a spring breeze. Warlords in various regions were either shocked, terrified, or secretly pondering how to seek their own interests in this new situation. As for Gu Yi, he began the intense preparations for his ascension; he not only strengthened the defenses of Chang'an but also personally led his army to begin conquests of surrounding areas to further consolidate his sphere of influence.

The first to bear the brunt was Liangzhou in the West. Liangzhou had strategic terrain, and the Liangzhou army led by Xu Rong was brave and skilled in battle, serving as a stumbling block on Gu Yi's path to the throne. Gu Yi knew deeply that to ascend the throne smoothly, he had to bring Liangzhou into his fold first.

Thus, he assembled the most elite troops under his command, led them himself, and marched toward Liangzhou in a grand manner. Wherever the army passed, dust filled the air, banners blocked the sun, and the momentum was magnificent.

The two armies met on the plains outside Liangzhou City. At that time, the sky was overcast with dark clouds, as if predicting the bloody battle to come. Gu Yi rode on a tall horse, his gaze like a torch. He looked around and saw that his soldiers were all spirited and high in morale. Opposite them, the Liangzhou army led by Xu Rong was also in strict formation, with blades and spears flashing cold light in the sun.

With a loud horn blast, the battle officially began. Gu Yi took the lead, holding a long spear, and charged into the enemy formation; wherever he went, enemies fell from their horses. His bravery inspired his soldiers, who fought bravely and were unstoppable.

However, the Liangzhou army was no ordinary force. Xu Rong was even more battle-hardened; he commanded with composure, and under his leadership, the Liangzhou army resisted stubbornly, and the two sides fell into a stalemate. On the battlefield, blades flashed, flesh flew, and the sounds of wailing and war drums intertwined, forming a tragic and heroic picture.

Gu Yi knew deeply that this could not continue. He calmed down and observed the situation on the battlefield. Suddenly, he discovered that the left flank of the Liangzhou army was relatively weak, so he immediately commanded a portion of his elite troops to launch a fierce attack on the left flank of the Liangzhou army.

This move was indeed effective. Under the fierce attack of Gu Yi's army, the left flank of the Liangzhou army gradually could not hold on and began to show signs of collapse. Upon seeing this, Gu Yi shouted loudly and led his army to pursue the victory, and the Liangzhou army immediately fell into chaos.

Upon seeing this, Xu Rong was terrified. He tried to stabilize the formation, but Gu Yi's army was like a hot knife through butter and could not be stopped at all. In the end, Xu Rong was personally captured by Gu Yi in the chaotic army.

In the battle of Liangzhou, Gu Yi won a great victory. He not only captured Xu Rong but also successfully occupied Liangzhou. This battle not only further consolidated Gu Yi's sphere of influence but also made his name spread far and wide, shaking the world.

However, Gu Yi did not stop his footsteps because of this. He knew deeply that the road to the throne was still long, and he had to continue moving forward. Thus, after occupying Liangzhou, Gu Yi led his army without stopping to march toward his next target.

This time, his target was Bingzhou in the North. Bingzhou had steep terrain and was guarded by the famous general Gao Gan, serving as another major obstacle on Gu Yi's path to the throne. But Gu Yi did not shrink back because of this; he firmly believed that as long as he moved forward bravely, nothing could stop his progress.

The battle of Bingzhou was even more intense than the battle of Liangzhou. Gao Gan was a fierce general under Cao Cao, the Bingzhou army he led had extremely strong combat effectiveness, and the terrain of Bingzhou was extremely unfavorable to Gu Yi's army. But Gu Yi was not discouraged by this; he personally went into battle, commanded with composure, and engaged in a life-and-death struggle with the Bingzhou army.

During the battle, Gu Yi demonstrated extraordinary martial arts and command ability. He led his army to break through the Bingzhou army's defense lines time and again and repelled the Bingzhou army's counterattacks time and again. The two sides went back and forth, fighting to a standstill.

However, as time passed, Gu Yi's army gradually gained the upper hand. Relying on their advantage in numbers and equipment, as well as Gu Yi's outstanding command, they gradually forced the Bingzhou army into a desperate situation. In the end, in a thrilling decisive battle, Gu Yi personally beheaded Gao Gan, and the Bingzhou army completely collapsed.

The victory in the battle of Bingzhou marked that Gu Yi's influence in the North had reached its peak. He not only occupied Bingzhou but also incorporated the Bingzhou army, making his own army even stronger. At the same time, this battle also made the warlords of the world even more in awe of Gu Yi, and they began to curry favor with him one after another, seeking to preserve their own status in the chaotic world to come.