Chapter 316

Chapter 316: Youzhou in Sight

Is it impossible for a strategist to ascend the throne? Volume 9: The Calamity of Drought and Locusts, Flying Troops to Liaodong, Chapter 316: Youzhou in Sight

The hidden truth wasn’t something Qi Zhou only realized today. It was just that with the sudden changes in the Yizhou battlefield, everything suddenly connected in his mind.

He originally wanted to inform Xianyu Fu about this, as he was definitely on the same side. However, he was worried that once he mentioned it to Xianyu Fu, the news would reach Liu Yu through the Golden Guard Commander.

Given the attitude His Majesty had shown, it was highly likely that he would be scolded and reprimanded.

After much deliberation, Qi Zhou felt that his doubts needed to be resolved, so he began observing the expressions of those leaving the Zichen Hall.

Wang Yun thought he had hidden his “concern for the nation and its people” expression well, but for someone who was paying attention, it was as obvious as a bright lamp.

Qi Zhou quickly caught up with Wang Yun, leading to the conversation between them.

Seeing that Qi Zhou seemed to have something important to discuss, Wang Yun whispered in response, “This is not the place for us to talk. Find an opportunity to visit my residence after we part.”

Around noon, Wang Yun received Qi Zhou at the back door of his residence and led him to the study.

“What brings you here, Qi Lingcheng?” Wang Yun asked after serving tea and dismissing the attendants.

Qi Zhou composed himself before speaking, “You know, back when I went to Yizhou to announce the decree appointing Liu Yizhou as Grand General, some unexpected events occurred, revealing his seemingly rebellious actions. This led to the decree appointing the Prefect of Bingzhou as Grand Marshal and her subsequent military campaign.”

“Liu Yizhou’s actions were indeed real, but now I think that these facts shouldn’t have appeared before me unless someone deliberately guided them. Liu Yizhou isn’t foolish enough to reveal such signs while the court is based in Chang’an.”

Liu Yan was certainly no fool.

Taking advantage of the Han Dynasty’s weakened control over the regions, he maneuvered to secure the position of Yizhou’s Prefect, waiting for the right moment. He couldn’t possibly be that stupid.

His claim to the position of Yizhou’s Prefect might have been influenced by Dong Fu’s prophecies, but it probably wasn’t as blatant as to be known by everyone.

Otherwise, his title as Yizhou’s Prefect would undermine the authority of the Han Dynasty.

Wang Yun had always felt something was off, but Qi Zhou had been adamant about what he saw and heard in Yizhou. The overstepping actions had been confirmed, and the subsequent military campaign to seize Hanzhong not only secured a military achievement for the Chang’an court but also brought sufficient grain reserves to Guanzhong. For those who benefited, there was no need to dig deeper.

But what if they weren’t the ones benefiting?

Now it was time to revisit the past!

Wang Yun asked, “Why bring this up now?”

Qi Zhou frowned deeply, “Because I found that one of the people who went with me to Yizhou was suspicious!”

“Among those who went with me, one was sent by the Grand Marshal, claiming to be named Li Meng.”

This was a name unfamiliar to Wang Yun.

Qi Zhou explained, “This person acted like a slacker during the trip, even bringing a disciple to enjoy the scenery in Shu. It seemed like the Grand Marshal had made concessions in personnel arrangements to avoid overshadowing His Majesty, choosing an inconspicuous subordinate. But half a year ago, I realized it wasn’t like that at all!”

Two years ago, after the north-south confrontation in Xuzhou formed, Li Ru and Jia Xu, unable to convince each other about whose disciple performed better in the Xuzhou trip, both went to Chang’an to assist Qiao Yan.

To be precise, it was Jia Xu who dragged Li Ru into it.

Regardless, both ended up in the Grand Marshal’s residence.

Li Ru kept a low profile, and Qi Zhou, belonging to the Ministry of Ceremonies, had no overlapping duties with the Grand Marshal’s residence, so they shouldn’t have met.

But Chang’an isn’t that big, and running into each other while dining out was possible. That’s how Qi Zhou discovered Li Ru’s existence.

“Half a year ago, when I met him, he didn’t seem like the slacker he used to be. Instead, he looked… like a seasoned politician,” Qi Zhou struggled to describe. “It’s hard to explain, but he seemed more like a politician than you, Wang Situ.”

Wang Yun: “……?”

Suddenly being dragged into such a comparison, Wang Yun felt speechless, but he understood what Qi Zhou meant.

“Tell me about his appearance and the details of your trip to Yizhou. I’ll look into his background.”

Qi Zhou had indeed reported the situation in court, but with limited time, he hadn’t expressed his suspicions about Li Ru then. Only now did he reveal the seemingly harmless but subtly suggestive conversations to Wang Yun.

After finishing, Qi Zhou cautiously asked, “Do you think I’m overthinking this, Wang Situ?”

Overthinking?

Wang Yun’s brows furrowed.

If Qi Zhou’s speculation was overthinking, then there would be no need for court intrigue.

He had clearly been led step by step into a trap, only now catching a glimpse of the truth!

This person’s actions were anything but ordinary, certainly not the behavior of someone just idling through a decree mission.

Wang Yun said, “I’ll investigate him. Don’t spread the news of your visit today, and don’t tell anyone else about this. I’ll inform you once I have more details.”

In the two and a half years since the Chang’an court was established, Wang Yun, as one of the Three Excellencies, had many from the Qixian Wang clan joining him, making it easy to find help for investigations, especially for someone with only a nominal position in the Grand Marshal’s residence.

The traces of this “Li Meng” in Bingzhou were traceable, and soon the investigation results were presented to Wang Yun.

Even though he was prepared for possibilities like Qiao Yan secretly cultivating personnel, he never expected this result—

Li Meng was a pseudonym, and his real name was Li Ru.

The same Li Ru who once advised Dong Zhuo!

After five years, even Wang Yun, who had met Li Ru a few times, had almost forgotten his name. But when he followed the investigation’s trail and waited on Li Ru’s usual path in Chang’an, pretending to bump into him, he suddenly matched the face in his memory with the one Qi Zhou described as shrewd.

Upon confirming this, Wang Yun couldn’t help but gasp.

Li Ru defecting to Qiao Yan wasn’t the scary part.

It had been three years since Dong Zhuo’s death, and even two years before Dong Zhuo’s execution, when Qiao Yan led the Bingzhou army to capture Luoyang, Li Ru had been captured and imprisoned by Qiao Yan.

A history of serving a rebel wasn’t enough to sentence someone to death.

But could Li Ru suddenly become a passive figure, doing nothing during the mission to Yizhou?

Wang Yun didn’t believe that for a second.

This made Qi Zhou’s story of hidden agendas even more credible.

Could it be that Li Ru’s existence was to lead Qi Zhou to conclude that Liu Yan had rebellious intentions, needing someone to restrain him, all to help Qiao Yan secure the position of Grand Marshal and propel her to the peak of power!

Just as Li Ru once advised Dong Zhuo to seize Luoyang at the right time, mediating between Lu Zhi and the Yuan brothers’ troops in Luoyang until he became the ruler, today’s Li Ru could be secretly plotting for Qiao Yan, legitimizing her as the ruler of Chang’an!

Given his past, Wang Yun, who had suffered under Dong Zhuo, felt a chill.

Thinking that Qiao Yan’s rise to Grand Marshal was on Liu Yan’s back, and today’s events in Yizhou still using Liu Yan’s life to benefit Qiao Yan, Wang Yun felt even more convinced of his suspicions.








Suspicions have found a foothold.

No, if we let the other side continue to develop, sooner or later, we’ll see a situation like the former Han being usurped by Wang Mang. Unfortunately, the current Son of Heaven, Liu Yu, doesn’t have a capable heir. Even if Wang Yun wants to assist the Son of Heaven in developing power, he feels the situation is quite dire.

Perhaps for Guanzhong, this development is even worse than when Qiao Yan was in power.

At this moment, Wang Yun regrets more than ever why, during the Chang’an incident, Li Jue was able to take Liu Xie away so easily.

If Liu Xie were still here, with his potential and age advantage, Wang Yun could have covered up these troubling issues and acted with patience and restraint.

But there are no “ifs” in this world.

After informing Qi Zhou of the investigation results, Wang Yun closed his door and fell into deep thought, pondering what Qiao Yan would do when she returned to Chang’an after pacifying Bashu, especially since she would have no further titles to bestow. Unbeknownst to him, Qiao Yan wanted to bring back more than just a victory.

Fu Gan wasn’t just sending a letter to Chang’an.

After completing this message, he used the excuse of returning to Liangzhou to garrison and defend, heading north from Gaoling, north of Chang’an, via the Qin Straight Road.

The Qin Straight Road divides Liangzhou and Bingzhou, so he didn’t return to Liangzhou but instead turned east into Bingzhou, unnoticed.

Upon arriving at the Bingzhou prefecture, he immediately contacted Xi Zhicai, mobilized stored grain from the Bingzhou government storehouse, and, along with a secret order, delivered it to Yunzhong Commandery, into the hands of Lü Bu.

“Does the Marquis really want me to send troops?” Lü Bu’s eyes lit up as he stood up.

Heaven knows how long he’s been waiting for this news, thinking he was only good for transporting salt brine and intimidating the frontier, making his position as the Middle General of the North seem like a sinecure rather than a merit-based promotion.

Especially with the younger generation of talents emerging, he felt the threat of being replaced.

Earlier this year, Qiao Yan actually wrote him a letter, mentioning that Lu Lingju had brains as well as brawn, and Lü Bu needed to keep up. She also mentioned that he should be prepared, as there might be an opportunity for military action this year.

Due to the drought, Lü Bu had prepared for possible changes in plans. If he got too restless, he could always ask Xi Zhicai for permission to go to the northern grasslands to fight some unruly Xianbei tribes not following Budugen’s orders, and continue bonding with Red Hare for optimal combat synergy.

So, delaying the plan for another year wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

But obviously, Qiao Yan always keeps her promises to her subordinates.

Since she promised Lü Bu a chance for military action this year, she had to let him go wild!

Fu Gan replied, “Middle General, you should read the entire secret order first. The Marquis has placed some restrictions on you.”

“Restrictions? What’s there to fear?” Lü Bu said nonchalantly. “Even if you tied one of my hands, I could still take that little brat Gongsun’s head.”

As he spoke, he opened the secret order from Qiao Yan and then grimaced. “Really? I think a father-daughter team hunting Gongsun Zan would make for a great story.”

The secret order clearly stated that Lü Bu was to take the stored grain from the Bingzhou government storehouse, join forces with Zhang Liao at Juyong Pass, and launch an attack on Gongsun Zan at the end of July.

If they couldn’t intercept Gongsun Zan within Yuyang Commandery, Zhang Liao would continue the pursuit, and Lü Bu was to return immediately.

This return wasn’t to Zhang Liao’s original location in Shanggu Commandery but to Zhuo County, adjacent to Ji Province and without mountain barriers, to prevent Yuan Shao from interfering with Qiao Yan’s campaign in Youzhou.

If they couldn’t defeat Gongsun Zan, turning to fight Yuan Shao wasn’t unacceptable.

But Qiao Yan specifically stated in the letter that during Lü Bu’s garrison in Yuyang, he was not to cross the Juma River and Baiyangdian area. In other words, he couldn’t even leave Zhuo County’s borders, and part of Zhuo County would be handed over to Ji Province due to the Juma River’s location.

“The Marquis said you’re a mature general now. To rise from Middle General to General, you need to show a stable side and set an example for the generals who follow.”

Fu Gan and Lü Bu were of the same rank, so when Fu Gan said this, Lü Bu didn’t doubt any deception, feeling this was truly Qiao Yan’s expectation of him.

He swallowed his frustration at possibly facing Yuan Shao across the river without being allowed to attack, and then heard Fu Gan continue, “The Marquis might not necessarily want to restrict General Lü. Firstly, General Lü and Red Hare are unmatched in martial arts. If you station troops north of the Juma River, Ji Province will surely panic, fearing you might march south. Secondly—”

“General Lü, why assume you can’t capture Gongsun Zan within Yuyang Commandery?”

This “secondly” was also mentioned by Zhang Liao when he met Lü Bu at Juyong Pass.

“I’ve been stationed at Juyong Pass for almost three years now. Gongsun Zan, following the Marquis’s words, has always stayed beyond bowshot range, thinking we wouldn’t attack.”

Zhang Liao pointed outside the pass, and Lü Bu saw the white-feathered arrow embedded in the stone, shot by Qiao Yan when she came to Juyong Pass after rescuing Liu Yu. Though weathered, the arrow’s tail was still intact, standing as a landmark.

Though Lü Bu didn’t witness Qiao Yan shooting the arrow, he could sense the awe-inspiring spirit from Zhang Liao’s words about “staying beyond bowshot range.”

Zhang Liao added, “General Lü, Gongsun Zan doesn’t know we’re launching an attack now. With our combined forces, why not aim to intercept him within Yuyang Commandery!”

Their full-force attack would also make Gongsun Zan less prepared for enemies approaching from the east!

Before Fu Gan reached Chang’an, Ma Chao and Yan Yan had already headed towards Hailing.

As Qiao Yan specifically instructed Ma Chao, Liu Biao was puzzled why Qiao Yan’s generals would directly enter the Yangtze River waterway, only to receive Ma Chao’s somewhat smug announcement about Yizhou changing hands and strict orders not to spread the news.

But Liu Biao wished he hadn’t heard it at all.

Qiao Yan’s timely support in Yingchuan had already made Liu Biao sense danger. Now, Yizhou quietly saw Liu Yan killed by Liu Zhang, with Qiao Yan promptly capturing Liu Zhang and then large amounts of Yizhou grain being transported towards Xuzhou.

Wait, isn’t there a possibility of entrapment here?

Liu Biao pondered this while staring at his wife, Cai, who favored their younger son Liu Cong, until Cai thought her makeup had smudged, but Liu Biao said nothing.

She only learned from Cai Mao that a fleet from Yizhou was heading towards Xuzhou, suggesting possible movements in Xuzhou.

But this wasn’t just about Xuzhou.

The two largest ships escorting Zhuge Liang and others to Liaodong, guided by compasses and nautical charts, had already returned to Xuzhou after convincing Gongsun Du, and were now waiting at the shipyard in Hailing.

As soon as Ma Chao and Yan Yan arrived, they loaded half of the grain onto the ships, sending them back to Liaodong.

Almost a few days before the agreed-upon time for Qiao Yan, Lü Bu, and Zhang Liao to launch their attack, these two large warships loaded with military grain docked at Tashi Port in Youzhou.

Lu Lingju had been waiting there and, along with Gan Ning, immediately delivered the grain to Xiangping in Liaodong Commandery.

To Gongsun Du.

Gongsun Du had already prepared to provide manpower and grain for this attack on Gongsun Zan. If it weren’t for these young people’s overwhelming victories against him, making such an expenditure felt like cutting his own flesh.

But with the grain delivered today, and possibly even surplus after the campaign to replenish their own storehouse, he felt some goodwill towards the Grand Marshal he had never met.

Just please don’t surprise us like this in Liaodong next time.

The young people were oblivious, or perhaps didn’t care about Gongsun Du’s complex feelings.

The scheduled time for the operation had arrived, the grain was delivered, and the allies were in position—

It was time for them to showcase their skills and take all of Youzhou!