Chapter 141: Dividing the Forces into Four Routes (Seeking First Subscription)

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Within the grand hall of the General’s Mansion, all of Liu Yao’s commanders had assembled, including those who had just returned from the northern border against the Xianbei, such as Huang Zhong, Zhou Cang, Pei Yuanshao, and Cheng Yu. The Xianbei, now thoroughly intimidated by Huang Zhong’s forces, dared not approach Youzhou even a single step. Liu Yao had left only a token garrison behind.

“Now this Dong Zhuo has arrogantly declared himself Chancellor, bringing chaos to the court and corrupting the imperial harem. Cao Cao has issued a call to arms against Dong Zhuo, seeking to form an alliance to oppose him. I wonder, should our Youzhou join or not?” Liu Yao asked the assembly below.

“Your servant Chen Lin believes the lord should not go. After all, you have been crowned king; if you proceed to join the alliance, others will accuse you of factionalism and sinister intent,” Chen Lin was the first to rise and speak.

Liu Yao nodded slightly but was inwardly unconcerned. If he desired the throne, would the child Liu Xie have any claim?

“Your servant Ju Shou believes we must go. As a member of the Han dynasty, if the Han is in peril and you do not come to its aid, your years of diligent service to the Han will be ruined,” Ju Shou said.

Liu Yao nodded again, then turned to the smiling figure nearby, Guo Jia. “Fengxiao, what is your opinion? To go or not to go?”

Guo Jia smiled and replied, “Your servant believes that there are advantages and disadvantages either way. It’s simple: the lord should go, but absolutely must not form alliances. This way, you will avoid gossip and preserve your reputation.”

“Xu concurs,” Jia Xu agreed with Guo Jia’s view.

“We all concur,” the others, seeing both Guo Jia and Jia Xu—two cunning strategists—agree, naturally did not oppose.

“Good! Gentlemen, the sword we have honed for so long is finally time to unsheathe. Let Youzhou’s troops display their valor once more before the world,” Liu Yao declared spiritedly.

“Your servant reports, news from Luoyang states that Ding Yuan, the Inspector of Bingzhou, has been slain by his adopted son Lü Bu. Dong Zhuo has taken most of his forces and left Liangzhou. Now both Bingzhou and Liangzhou are leaderless. If the lord seeks to restore the Han, why not seize these two unclaimed provinces for your own?” Jia Xu rose to speak.

Liu Yao’s heart leapt with joy, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. He had already considered this, but having Jia Xu propose it was even better. Yet he said aloud, “How shall we silence the murmurs of the world?”

“Your lordship, it is quite simple. You only need to march under the banner of loyal service to the emperor. If the journey is rough, then ‘pacify’ the way as you go,” Guo Jia smiled. Concerns about detours were unnecessary.

Liu Yao looked around, seeking others’ opinions.

“This plan is excellent; I hope the lord acts swiftly,” Xi Zhicai also agreed.

“Your servant worries that although Youzhou’s provisions and troops are sufficient, striking two provinces at once might be overly ambitious,” Tian Feng expressed concern.

“Your lordship, according to intelligence, Ding Yuan took nearly all his troops with him. Bingzhou now has only the twenty thousand men he left behind. Liangzhou is guarded by only eighty thousand troops under Dong Zhuo’s son-in-law, Niu Fu, who is incompetent. Our strength is enough to crush them head-on. Moreover, Ma Teng in Liangzhou will be a great ally. With a pincer attack, how could we fail to conquer Bingzhou and Liangzhou?” Guo Jia said with a smile. Inwardly, Guo Jia admired Liu Yao’s foresight; when helping Ma Teng build power, Liu Yao had likely foreseen this very plan.

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Tian Feng fell silent, quietly taking his seat and awaiting Liu Yao’s orders.

Seeing no objections, Liu Yao shouted loudly, “Zhang Fei and Xi Zhicai, heed my command!”

“At your service!”

“You two shall lead ten thousand cavalry and ten thousand infantry to seize the four commanderies of Shangdang, Taiyuan, Shangjun, and Xihe. Zhang Fei as commander, Xi Zhicai as strategist.”

“Orders received,” both responded in unison.

“Zhang He and Tian Feng, attend!”

“Present.”

“You two shall take the same number of troops to capture the five commanderies of Wuyuan, Yunzhong, Dingxiang, Yanmen, and Shuofang. Zhang He as commander, Tian Feng as strategist.”

“Orders received.”

“Gao Shun, Ma Dai, and Cheng Yu, attend!”

“Present.”

“You three will take Gao Shun’s main force of ten thousand from the Vanguard Camp, plus ten thousand cavalry, to bypass Bingzhou directly to Dong Zhuo’s hometown in Longxi. You must capture Longxi and take Dong Zhuo’s entire family.”

“Orders received.”

“Send orders to Ma Teng in Wuwei: while Gao Shun attacks Longxi, Ma Teng will advance from Wuwei, capturing all commanderies along the way. Finally, he shall rendezvous with Gao Shun in Longxi. After its capture, strive to bring the entire Liangzhou under our control.”

“Understood.”

“Huang Zhong, Taishi Ci, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, Zang Ba, Shi Heguo Jia, attend!”

“Present.”

“You will accompany me with one thousand troops from the Assault Camp and twenty thousand cavalry to Luoyang to campaign against Dong Zhuo. Guo Jia shall serve as our strategist and advise all along the way.”

“Orders received.”

“Ju Shou and Jia Xu, attend!”

“Present.”

“Ju Shou, you will remain stationed at the rear in Youzhou, overseeing all matters of provisions. Jia Xu will command the intelligence network, responsible for all communications. I demand my intelligence be swifter than any other.”

“Orders received.”

“Disperse! Return and prepare troops and weapons. In three days, we march along four routes,” Liu Yao commanded.

“Understood,” the assembled answered, then all departed the hall to ready the forces and arms. This was nearly a full-scale mobilization. The two elite armies were dispatched, totaling seventy thousand troops—half of Youzhou’s total two hundred thousand. Apart from garrisons in various commanderies and border posts, only about fifty thousand troops remained available for mobilization.

Moreover, Liu Yao had sent out his foremost strategists and generals, reflecting the importance he placed on this campaign.

“Ding! Mission to overthrow Dong Zhuo activated. Mission one: Kill Dong Zhuo; reward: fifty lottery chances. Mission two: Retrieve the Imperial Jade Seal; reward: thirty lottery chances.” The voice of the ancient tome Liu Yao had awaited finally sounded.

“Hm? Ancient tome, why are these the only missions this time?” Liu Yao asked, perplexed.

“The missions will be triggered by the host’s discretion. No longer forcibly assigned,” the tome replied simply.

Liu Yao rejoiced. This was greatly to his advantage. No longer would he be led by the nose by these missions—freedom at last. He then pondered: the first mission to kill Dong Zhuo was easily discarded. The alliance meeting was merely a formality; none of the other warlords, except Cao Cao, truly wished Dong Zhuo dead. With only thirty thousand troops, killing Dong Zhuo under the protection of his five hundred thousand was impossible.

As for the mission to retrieve the Imperial Jade Seal, Liu Yao accepted without hesitation. The seal represented the Han dynasty, and he did not wish it to fall into foreign hands. He was well aware of its location. Regarding Sun Jian and Yuan Shu, historical figures connected to the seal, Liu Yao had his own plans.

If Liu Yao had to choose between facing Sun Jian or Sun Quan, he would choose Sun Quan. If Sun Jian lived, the Sun family would remain united and impenetrable. But if Sun Jian died, the family would fracture. Sun Quan was known for jealousy; historically, the deaths of Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Lü Meng were all related to him. Such a fractured Eastern Wu might maintain but would never advance.

Having accepted the missions, Liu Yao left the General’s Mansion and headed toward the Research Institute.

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