Chapter 344: Seeking Aid?

"What do you mean?"

Dong Zhuo took up a cloth, wiped the wine stain from the corner of his mouth, as if Guo Dian had asked an extremely obvious question.

He did not answer directly; instead he tossed the question back, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny:

"Governor Guo, since you are so impatient, why not speak first: if you were to take charge, how do you plan to attack this Xiaquyang?"

Guo Dian, though sensing Dong Zhuo's attitude was different, suppressed his doubts when asked about strategy and laid out his long‑considered plan in full: "Middle Colonel, I think that although Zhang Bao commands tens of thousands, his troops are mostly coerced masses, untrained, and he is brave but not cunning, thus not invulnerable."

"Our army can first dig deep trenches outside the city, build extensive walls, cut off its external communications, and trap its morale."

"When it is exhausted, we concentrate elite troops, feign attacks from east and west combined with the main assault, seek a breach in the defenders, and with a single push, we shall surely capture it!"

He spoke with clear logic and confidence; it indeed seemed a fairly steady and proactive attack plan at the moment.

However, Dong Zhuo, after listening, shook his head directly, the faint smile on his face disappearing, and flatly rejected: "No."

Guo Dian's doubts deepened, even tinged with displeasure, and he could not help but ask: "Middle Colonel Dong, why… why is that?"

"Is it… that you fear Zhang Bao's great power, dread his sorcery, and thus dare not launch an offensive?"

"Fear him?" Dong Zhuo heard that, his expression suddenly cold, a flash of offended anger in his eyes, and his voice lowered:

"I, Dong Zhongying, have roamed the frontier; what formation have I not seen? How could I fear a pretentious Zhang Bao?"

He slammed the table hard, rattling cups, his tone turning forceful and unquestionable: "Governor Guo, I am now the Son of Heaven's personally appointed Eastern Middle Colonel, holding the token to command Hebei's military!"

"As for tactics, I have my own views! You only need to obey my orders!"

He snorted coldly, with a hint of mockery: "If you insist on fighting, I will not stop you."

"You may lead your provincial troops to assault the city; I will here sweep the formation for you, how does that sound?"

Guo Dian, upon hearing this, felt the joy and anticipation he once had upon seeing Dong Zhuo vanish, replaced by a raging anger at being despised and brushed aside!

He could no longer restrain himself, slammed the table, and abruptly rose from his seat, his face flushed scarlet from intense fury.

"Middle Colonel Dong! How can you treat this as child's play!" Guo Dian's voice rose, pointing toward Xiaquyang: "Zhang Bao commands tens of thousands, entrenched in a stronghold. If we do not strike while his footing is unstable and our morale is high, shall we merely watch him consolidate internally, waiting for a chance to sortie and fight us in the field?"

"Then he will wait leisurely while our army becomes passive! If we let him ally with other Yellow Turban remnants, a north‑south pincer, the situation is lost, leading only to defeat!"

He grew increasingly agitated, his chest heaving, and finally, almost pointing at Dong Zhuo's nose, he roared with a thundering voice:

"I, Guo Dian! Acting on the Son of Heaven's edict to eliminate bandits, death is all that awaits! How can one be as timid as you, squandering the chance?!"

"You've overestimated yourself!"

Having said that, he no longer looked at Dong's gloomy face, flung his robe aside, and strode decisively toward the tent's exit, his back resolute.

Dong Zhuo remained seated, neither speaking to retain him nor ordering anyone to block him, simply watching the angry Guo Dian's back vanish beyond the tent curtain with a blank expression.

Only after the tent fell silent again did he hum softly from his nostrils, with unabashed contempt, uttering two cold words:

"Foolish."

Immediately, he raised his voice and shouted to the personal guards standing outside the tent:

"Go! Bring them all to me!"

Spring passed, summer came, and the scorching sun replaced the gentle spring breeze.

After the harsh winter, spring sowing was done; when summer and autumn arrived, people looked forward to a bountiful harvest.

Yu Lin carried a few fresh fish bought from the market vendor in his left hand, their tails still flickering slightly, while his right hand held some seasonal vegetables, strolling unhurriedly through the street.

Today he wore a plain cotton blue shirt; aside from his handsome looks drawing the quiet glances of passing young women, his leisurely gait and the vegetables he bore blended perfectly with the townsfolk hustling for a living, as if he were just an ordinary household man in the county responsible for buying and cooking.

Reaching the end of a quiet alley, in front of an ordinary Wooden House, he halted.

In the small courtyard before the Wooden House, a figure was practicing martial arts.

It was Diao Chan.

After Yu Lin's months of careful nurturing, the once gaunt, sallow girl who resembled roadside weeds had completely transformed.

Now she is slender and proportioned, her skin fair and delicate, glowing with a healthy sheen in the sun; her lips naturally crimson, eyebrows naturally dark, a pair of bright eyes sparkling, truly a little beauty with red lips and white teeth, soft and fragrant.

Such looks naturally attracted the attention of many budding young boys in the county.

Often half‑grown boys, either pretending to pass by or hiding in corners and alleys, would gather in groups just to sneak a glance at her, or muster courage to greet her.

However, even now Diao Chan, though her innate talent in refining Qi and martial ways is average, under Yu Lin's casual guidance her skill is extraordinary; a few ordinary strong men could hardly approach her.

As for the fate of the historical "Beauty Scheme", Yu Lin remains rather indifferent.

Without Diao Chan, perhaps there would be Huang Chan or Li Chan. Even if destiny's wheel stubbornly turns that way, with Diao Chan's current learning she is far from a powerless, frail woman; she will always have more options and more capital for struggle.

Diao Chan did not notice Yu Lin's return, fully focused on concluding a palm technique.

When Yu Lin approached, she sensed it, abruptly halted, turned, and upon seeing him, her face instantly blossomed with a bright, joyful smile like summer lotus.

She hopped forward to Yu Lin, her curious eyes landing on the fish and vegetables in his hands, and in a crisp voice asked, "Brother, what are we eating today?"

Yu Lin lifted the still‑wiggling fresh fish, waved it before her, and laughed, "The weather's fine today; we'll have grilled fish. Go wipe your sweat, rest a bit, and we'll eat soon."

"Great!" Diao Chan replied happily, obediently running aside to take a cloth and wipe the fine beads of sweat from her temple.

Yu Lin then entered the courtyard, skillfully kindling a small pile of charcoal, setting up a grill, and began preparing those fresh fish for lunch.

The charcoal crackled, and the scent of fish gradually spread.

As he focused on turning the fish, golden fat dripping onto the coals sizzled, his movements briefly paused.

He suddenly sensed something, turned his head, his gaze seeming to pierce the layers of houses and alleys, looking far toward a direction—Jizhou, where Guangzong lies.

At the same time, Zhang Jiao's voice sounded beside his ear:

"Yu comrade… I would like you to come over… help me…"

The Transmission was abrupt and brief; before Yu Lin could mentally inquire what it concerned, the link abruptly cut, as if the other side was under great pressure or at a critical juncture, unable to maintain it.

Yu Lin looked at the perfectly grilled fish on the rack, glanced at Diao Chan sitting obediently, eyes eagerly awaiting the meal, and shook his head helplessly.

"It's almost mealtime… never mind, go quickly and return soon."

He set the grilled fish down, stood, and said to Diao Chan, "Diao Chan, I have an urgent matter and need to step out; I may return a bit later."

"The grilled fish is ready; you eat first, no need to wait for me."

"Brother, where are you going…" Diao Chan instinctively wanted to ask, but before she could speak, she saw Yu Lin's figure before her like a wisp of cloud and mist, vanishing in an instant, leaving no trace—only the fragrant, charred fish on the grill proved he had indeed been there a moment ago.

Diao Chan blinked her big eyes, already somewhat used to this, and merely muttered softly:

"Not taking me again…"