Chapter 317

All kinds of temptations, one after another.

But no matter how they played tricks, the ultimate beneficiary would only be Gu Yi, the enjoyer.

……

Leisurely and carefree.

Two months had passed.

In the recent period, Bingzhou had been completely digested and absorbed by the Dong Zhuo Army.

In fact.

Bingzhou's sense of belonging to the Dong Zhuo Army was not low to begin with.

Before Dong Zhuo entered the capital, the official position he held in name was Inspector of Bingzhou.

Although, he never went to Bingzhou to take office officially.

But the title was placed there after all.

It was considered the highest administrative official of Bingzhou.

Besides this.

After the Bingzhou faction headed by Lu Bu completely submitted.

The sense of belonging of the people of Bingzhou to the Dong Zhuo Army also became higher.

Added to the fact that Lu Bu and Zhao Zilong led the Bingzhou Wolf Riders and Xiliang Iron Cavalry to recover a large area of land occupied by the Southern Xiongnu.

This undoubtedly made the people of Bingzhou full of trust in the Dong Zhuo Army.

Without comparison, there is no harm.

The previous several Inspectors of Bingzhou, apart from Ding Yuan, were all good-for-nothings without exception.

In their hands, Bingzhou could be described as losing cities and land, feeling aggrieved to the extreme.

Now.

Lu Bu and Zhao Zilong led the Bingzhou Wolf Riders and Xiliang Iron Cavalry to drive away the Southern Xiongnu people, and in the hearts of the people of Bingzhou, they instantly became existence like guardian gods.

Under such circumstances.

How could the common people possibly harbor resistance to submitting to the Dong Zhuo Army?

Moreover, the Dong Zhuo Army represented the regular army of the imperial court and was considered orthodox.

The people of Bingzhou couldn't find a reason not to submit at all.

……

At the same time.

Compared to the peace and prosperity under Dong Zhuo's rule, the Huainan land was shrouded in the flames of war.

When the second Guandong coalition army attacked Dong Zhuo.

Sun Ce followed Gu Yi's guidance.

He abandoned that part of the land in Yuzhou and turned south to fight for the empty Huainan.

Huainan was not some ownerless land.

But a place of residence that the three Liu Bei brothers had finally obtained.

But because Liu Bei had not yet firmly established himself in Huainan, he had already hurriedly led his troops north to respond to the anti-Dong coalition initiated by Yuan Shao.

This resulted in his rule in Huainan not being stable at all.

Where there is oppression, there is resistance.

Although a portion of the Huainan aristocrats had begun to invest in Liu Bei.

But there were also a portion of local powerful clans in Huainan who were full of resentment toward Liu Bei's rule.

After Sun Ce arrived with his troops, this portion of powerful clans quickly defected to Sun Ce.

For these people who came to defect on their own initiative.

Sun Ce could be said to not refuse anyone!

One by one, he accepted them all.

But Sun Ce's reputation had already become a "rat crossing the street, everyone shouts to beat it" throughout the Great Han.

All the aristocrats of the Great Han regarded him as the "enemy of the aristocrats"!

Such an executioner, how could the aristocrats choose to cooperate with him?

Therefore.

Those who joined Sun Ce.

Were mostly some powerful clans and mountain bandits who were dissatisfied with Liu Bei.

And those aristocratic families in Huainan.

Immediately reached an unprecedented unity of purpose!

They chose to unite against the outside world and spare no cost to prevent Sun Ce from attacking Shouchun City!

During the period when the three Liu, Guan, and Zhang brothers led their troops north to participate in the coalition, the person responsible for staying behind in Shouchun was Liu Bei's fellow townsman and Chief Clerk, Jian Yong.

Jian Yong was at best a talent who was okay at handling internal affairs and diplomacy.

Asking him to lead troops to fight was truly making things difficult for him.

But currently under Liu Bei's command, apart from the two brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

There was only one Jian Yong who could be called trustworthy.

Helpless, facing the aggressive Sun Ce, Jian Yong had to bite the bullet and lead a few thousand garrison troops to top it off.

As a result, he was blown up by Sun Ce on the first day!

If it hadn't been for the private soldiers of the Huainan aristocrats rushing up to defend the city without fear of death, I'm afraid Shouchun City would have been breached by Sun Ce on the first day.

After this battle, Jian Yong could be said to have been scared out of his wits.

But if Shouchun was lost, everything would become empty talk.

Therefore.

Even though Jian Yong was already terrified to the extreme.

He could only pretend to be calm, hoping to hold out until Liu Bei returned.

The angry Sun Ce, seeing that it was the aristocrats who ruined his good deeds again.

Simply gave up attacking Shouchun City.

Instead, he launched plundering on the commanderies and counties around Huainan!

The Huainan aristocrats were all stunned!

This Sun Ce simply didn't play according to the routine at all!

If this group of aristocrats withdrew their troops from Shouchun.

And turned back to protect those commanderies and counties that were being attacked by Sun Ce.

Not to mention whether they could hold them.

Even if they could hold them.

The Huainan aristocrats would eventually suffer huge losses.

Moreover.

If Sun Ce feinted and turned around to attack Shouchun City again.

Just relying on Jian Yong and those few thousand Shouchun garrison troops, what would they use to fight Sun Ce?

Let alone Sun Ce himself.

Even the generals under Sun Ce, such as Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang, could easily kill Jian Yong in terms of commanding troops!

Therefore.

After weighing the pros and cons.

The Huainan aristocrats could only bear the pain of parting with their love.

Watching helplessly as Sun Ce took the Sun family army to ravage their industries and land in various commanderies and counties in Huainan.

Just like that.

In a short period of time.

The power of the Huainan aristocrats was weakened by at least fifty percent!

Fortunately, the three Liu, Guan, and Zhang brothers finally rushed back with their main army.

But... the three Liu, Guan, and Zhang brothers had previously encountered Zhang Liao's surprise attack at Hulao Pass and fought a losing battle.

The number of soldiers lost was not small. ===== CHAPTER 318 =====