Chapter 273

"Zhongde, Zhicai."

"Later, accompany me to Hulao Pass to borrow some grain and fodder from Yuan Shao for an emergency."

Cheng Yu and Xi Zhicai nodded repeatedly.

Given the fairly decent diplomatic relationship between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, borrowing some grain should not pose too much of a difficulty.

However.

Like Cao Cao, Gongsun Zan, whose grain had been burned to the ground, had no good solution at this moment.

One could figure it out with one's toes.

It was certainly impossible for Yuan Shao to lend grain to Gongsun Zan for no reason.

If it weren't for the existence of that big boss, Dong Zhuo.

It is estimated that Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan would be fighting tooth and nail right now, struggling to the death to seize the territory of the four provinces of Hebei.

With the terrible diplomatic relationship between the two of them.

As long as Yuan Shao's brain wasn't broken.

It would be impossible for him to fund this potential enemy.

And the people Gongsun Zan could borrow grain from.

Were none other than Tao Qian, Kong Rong, and Liu Bei.

However, Beihai, occupied by Kong Rong, was merely a single commandery to begin with.

The grain he carried was barely enough for his own troops to eat.

If he were to lend any more to Gongsun Zan, his own troops would go hungry.

As for Tao Qian.

Don't look at the fact that he possessed the relatively prosperous Xuzhou.

Not long ago, he had just experienced a major war with Cao Cao.

In the two commanderies in the north of Xuzhou, the Cao army destroyed the farmland, and not a single grain was harvested during the autumn harvest.

Guangling Commandery in the south of Xuzhou also had no harvest due to flooding.

Besides this.

In order to sign a ceasefire agreement with Cao Cao, Tao Qian also paid Cao Cao a large amount of military expenses and grain.

This caused Tao Qian, who was originally relatively prosperous, to directly become a pauper.

The grain brought for participating in the coalition this time was only enough for his own army to eat.

Distributing it to others was absolutely impossible.

Liu Bei was indeed someone who could lend grain to Gongsun Zan.

But the key to the problem was.

Liu Bei didn't have much surplus grain either!

Huainan was prosperous, yes.

But counting everything, Liu Bei had occupied Huainan for less than three months.

He hadn't caught either the autumn or spring harvests.

Most of the grain from the bumper harvest on the vast land of Huainan went to the local aristocratic families and powerful clans.

By comparison, Liu Bei was a genuine pauper.

The grain carried for this northward journey to participate in the alliance was not much.

It is estimated that his own army would barely have enough to eat.

If he were to share it with Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei's army would also fall into the predicament of running out of food.

Therefore.

The only choice left for Gongsun Zan seemed to be to withdraw his troops and return to Youzhou.

But withdrawing to Youzhou was a long journey, and grain was also needed along the way.

Otherwise.

The army might directly mutiny halfway.

That was also a highly likely occurrence.

Thinking of this.

Gongsun Zan hurriedly came to discuss matters with Cao Cao.

And told Cao Cao about his difficulties.

Hoping Cao Cao could help him think of a solution.

However.

Even with the wisdom of Cao Cao, there was no way to help Gongsun Zan solve the current predicament.

There was no way.

The Guandong warlords were all a bunch of guys who wouldn't get up early without profit!

Even if they could temporarily be called allies.

Important strategic supplies like grain were things no one would easily give away.

Looking at Gongsun Zan's lonely departing back.

A flash of alertness crossed Cao Cao's heart.

Last time, Sun Jian... seemed to have been squeezed out by the coalition and eventually became an undercover agent for Dong Zhuo's army.

Could Gongsun Zan also follow in Sun Jian's footsteps?

Thinking of this.

Cao Cao hurriedly called Gongsun Zan back.

He tried his best to persuade Gongsun Zan, hoping Gongsun Zan would first go with him to Hulao Pass to meet up with Yuan Shao and the others.

After discussion, they would decide on the next step.

……

Outside Hulao Pass

Yuan Shao led the remaining five warlords to line up here.

Relying on his numerical advantage, Yuan Shao couldn't wait to order the coalition soldiers to launch a fierce attack on Hulao Pass.

However……

After fighting for a whole day, under Zhang Liao's absolute defense, the coalition made absolutely no progress.

Inside the coalition's main tent

Yuan Shao and the other five warlords were discussing the arrangements for tomorrow's battle.

Suddenly.

Cao Cao's personal guards were brought in from outside by Yan Liang.

Subsequently, these personal guards informed Yuan Shao about the burning of Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan's grain.

After hearing the report.

Yuan Shao was so shocked he nearly jumped out of his seat on the spot.

Seeing Yuan Shao's strange expression, several warlords hurriedly asked him what had happened.

Yuan Shao told them the facts as they were.

Tao Qian, Yuan Shu, Zhang Yang, Liu Bei, and Kong Rong all lowered their heads slightly after hearing this.

There was absolutely no intention to mock Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan.

Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan were considered the best among the coalition in terms of strength.

Now.

Both of their grain supplies had been burned.

For the entire coalition, this was a huge loss.

Once Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan withdrew from the coalition, I'm afraid the coalition's combat power would directly drop by more than thirty percent.

"Gentlemen, please share your thoughts."

Yuan Shao asked the five Guandong warlords.

However.

Although the five Guandong warlords felt a sense of shared fate regarding the burning of Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan's grain.

But when really asked to share their views on the matter, they all acted as if they were mute.