Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Yuan Shao reclined in his chair, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the lines of his jade sword. His eyes, like poison-tipped arrows, shot towards the gloom outside the tent. "Ma Chao has retreated back to Xiliang..." He trailed off, his voice dripping with icy sneer. He had deliberately omitted the mention of Zhen Mi, but the memory of the forced marriage farce that had humiliated the Yuan family left bruises on the gilded armrests from his knuckles.

Tian Feng suddenly took half a step forward, and pressed his old palm on the rustling map: "Mr. Fan just said that General Gongsun is willing to give up Youzhou? Is this true?" A sharp light flashed in his turbid pupils, and the bamboo slips on the desk were rustled by the north wind.

Fan Fang ripped open his cloak, revealing the mottled chainmail beneath. His scarred neck gleamed coldly in the candlelight. "If my lord hadn't transferred all the elite troops from the southern front north, how could your army have reached Youzhou without a bloodbath?" He snatched up the command arrow from the table and slammed it to the ground, the arrowhead sparking on the blue bricks. "Before I left, my lord personally led the White Horse Volunteers to station north of Jicheng! If General Yuan doesn't believe me, he can send troops to verify it! If you wish to jointly resist the Wuhuan, our army is willing to form a battle array with yours to meet the enemy!"

Ju Su stroked his long beard and sneered, his bronze wristband clattering against the table. "Gongsun Zan has always been a rival for supremacy with the lord, so why is he suddenly so generous? Could this be a treacherous scheme to retreat in order to advance?" He glared at Fan Fang with a hawk-like gaze. "The Xiongnu are rampant in Bingzhou, and you've abandoned Youzhou and entered Bingzhou. You must have some ulterior motive! If you don't tell me the truth, don't blame my army for being merciless!"

Fan Fang suddenly laughed out loud, looking up to the sky, his voice shaking the ceiling of the tent: "To be honest! My lord gave up Youzhou just to attack Bingzhou! The Huns slaughtered my people and burned my cities. General Gongsun would rather die on the battlefield than let the barbarians know that the bones of the Han men are harder than the rocks of Yinshan!" He drew his sword and pointed it to the north. The sword's tip reflected the flickering candlelight, as if burning blood, dyeing the faces of everyone in the tent light and dark.

Xin Ping slammed his folding fan on the table, and the ivory pendant made the wine cups tinkle. "What a high-sounding excuse! If Gongsun Zan really wanted to resist the Hu, why didn't he hold on to Youzhou? It's obvious that he wants to use our army to resist the Wuhuan so that he can go to Bingzhou to grab territory!" Guo Tu also sneered in agreement, and the white jade hairpin on his official hat swayed slightly with his movements: "Mr. Yuan is wise and powerful, how could he be deceived by such clumsy words? Once our army takes over the entire Youzhou, these foreign tribes can be wiped out in a snap!"

Before he finished speaking, Ju Su had already taken half a step forward, the sound of armor rubbing against each other like thunder: "Mr. Xin, do you know that the combined forces of Wuhuan and Xiongnu have exceeded 300,000? Youzhou is easy to defend but difficult to attack. If Gongsun Zan insists on holding the city, our army may not be able to easily succeed!" Tian Feng's pale beard trembled in the wind, and his skinny fingers heavily poked the burning wolf smoke mark on the map: "Now Bingzhou is in danger. If our army and Gongsun Zan are both defeated, wouldn't it play into the hands of the alien race?"

Amid the clashing between the two factions, Yuan Shao raised his hand to quell the noise, his expression shifting from gloom to gloom. He gazed at the blood-stained sword at Fan Fang's waist, suddenly remembering the majesty of Gongsun Zan, wielding his white horse and silver spear. His Adam's apple moved slightly as he spoke, "Mr. Fan, you've come so far, you must rest. I'll give you my answer later."

As soon as Fan Fang's footsteps faded outside the tent, Yuan Shao sat up abruptly, his eyes fierce. "Ma Chao has led his army back to Xiliang, leaving Chang'an unguarded!" He slammed his palm against the map of Chang'an, making the bronze paperweight buzz. "If we march west now, we'll surely stop that scoundrel west of Hangu Pass!"

Tian Feng was shocked when he heard this. His pale face flushed red. He staggered and grabbed the table: "My lord! The Wuhuan Xiongnu are approaching, and the people of Bingzhou are being slaughtered. How can we..."

"Tian Yuanhao is here again, empty-talking about righteousness!" Guo Tu flicked his folding fan, interrupting Tian Feng's words. "Speed ​​is of the essence in war, and we must not miss this opportunity! Ma Chao occupies the fertile land of Xiliang, and his cavalry is formidable. When he grows powerful, he will become a formidable threat!" He leaned over to Yuan Shao's side and spoke in a low voice, "If our lord can capture Chang'an, we can advance directly to Yongliang, or retreat to defend the fortified Hangu Pass. This is the perfect strategy for conquering the world!"

Tian Feng's neck veins bulged, and his face flushed red, almost bleeding: "Take Chang'an? What about Youzhou? Even though Gongsun Zan gave up the city, the 200,000 Wuhuan cavalry are eyeing us covetously in the north!" His trembling fingers poked at the flying wolf smoke symbol on the map, and the bamboo slips on the desk rustled.

Xin Ping, however, stroked his jade belt and laughed heartily, spinning the ivory tablet in his hand: "Tian Yuanhao, be careful! Chang'an is poorly defended, and a small force can easily take it! My lord is in charge of Youzhou, and these foreign tribes are nothing but chickens and dogs!" He suddenly approached Yuan Shao, a cunning glint in his eyes: "The eldest son Yuan Tan is a brave and powerful man. If you take Yan Liang as your general and me as your advisor, we will surely conquer Chang'an!"

Yuan Shao stroked his beard and laughed, his eyes blazing from beneath his gilded crown. "Mr. Xin is absolutely right! Yuan Tan, Yan Liang, and Xin Ping, listen to my orders!" He suddenly drew out his command arrow and threw it on the ground. "Lead 50,000 elite troops and march west immediately. I want to see the banner with the word 'Yuan' on it on the top of the Chang'an city wall!"

Yuan Tan stepped forward, sword drawn, his heroic face brimming with fighting spirit. Yan Liang responded with a muffled voice, their armor clashing like thunder. Xin Ping's face was filled with joy, the jade pendant on his official hat jingling as he bowed. The three men took their orders and left. Outside the tent, the clatter of horses' hooves gradually filled the air, startling countless crows, but it couldn't drown out Yuan Shao's long, triumphant laugh, which echoed through the wind and snow.

Ju Su strode forward, his dark cloak sweeping across the candlelight on the ground. "My lord! The plan for Chang'an has been announced, but the situation in Youzhou hangs in the balance! Gongsun Zan has promised to surrender the city, but the Wuhuan cavalry could march south at any time. How should our army respond?" The jade pendant on his waist trembled slightly with his rapid breathing, his eyes burning.

Guo Tu tapped the Youzhou cities on the map with his folding fan, a calculating smile on his face: "Why should Lord Ju worry? Gongsun Zan wants to fight to the death with the Wuhuan, and our army can reap the benefits!" He glanced at Ju Su with contempt in his eyes, "When both sides are exhausted, the lord will lead the elite troops to attack. By then, we will not only be able to wipe out the remaining enemies, but also firmly grasp the entire Youzhou! This strategy kills two birds with one stone, isn't it wonderful?"

Yuan Shao stroked the bronze tiger talisman on the table, the candlelight casting a crisscross of light and dark shadows on his face. Guo Tu's plan perfectly matched his ambition to dominate the Central Plains, but Ju Su's solemn expression stirred a wave of anxiety. Outside the tent, a cold wind howled, reminiscent of the sound of a galloping army. He pondered for a moment, then said gravely, "Let's do as Mr. Guo says. Pass the order down, all the troops in Youzhou, hold the line and wait for the opportunity!"

Tian Feng staggered to the table, his palm pressed tightly against the map, his eyes bloodshot: "My lord! You sit back and watch foreigners slaughter the people, and then take advantage of the situation to rob them. How is this different from a jackal?" His voice trembled with excitement. "Even if Gongsun Zan has a thousand faults, he is now using his flesh and blood to resist the Hu cavalry! If our army betrays our faith, how can we win the hearts of heroes in the future? How can the people of Youzhou truly submit?"

Yuan Shao's knuckles turned white as he gripped the tiger talisman. The silence in the tent was so dead that one could hear the dripping candle wax. After a long pause, he looked up at Tian Feng and asked, "What do you think, sir?"

"Join hands with Gongsun Zan!" Tian Feng suddenly straightened his hunched back. "Since he is willing to give up Youzhou, our army has every right to hold the city. While the Wuhuan army is still unstable, we will attack Gongsun Zan from both north and south! This way, we can save the lives of our soldiers, win the hearts of the people of Youzhou, and raise the banner of resistance against the Hu in front of the world!"

Guo Tu suddenly sneered and slammed his folding fan on his palm: "Tian Yuanhao is really confused! Letting Gongsun Zan go to Bingzhou is like letting a tiger return to the mountain. Once he has established a foothold in Bingzhou, he will sooner or later become an enemy of our army!" He looked at Yuan Shao eagerly, "My lord, this opportunity cannot be missed! Sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight is the best strategy that will definitely make money!"

Ju Su stood before the commander's desk like an ancient pine tree. His black iron armor shone coldly in the flickering candlelight. The bronze sword tassel hanging from his waist trembled slightly with his movements, as if echoing the north wind howling outside the tent. "Mr. Guo only cares about chasing the petty gains in front of him, but completely ignores the world that may be damaged behind it!" His voice was like a bell, and every word hit the ears of the crowd like a hammer. His eyes swept across Guo Tu's flushed face like a hawk. "The Yuan family has been a family of nobles for generations. The reputation of three officials in four generations has been passed down for hundreds of years. If you sit back and watch the Hu cavalry trample on the Central Plains for the sake of temporary benefits, causing the people to suffer, how will the history books record your lord's eternal name?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao, who had been reclining on the golden dragon-shaped chair, involuntarily sat up straight, his expression shifting. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the tiger talisman on the desk, making a subtle metallic clang. He agreed with Guo Tu's suggestion, but he also valued the reputation of a family of three ministers for four generations, which made him hesitate. "Letting Gongsun Zan enter Bingzhou is like letting a tiger back into the mountains. Once he's fully grown, he'll become a serious threat to our army..." His voice was low and full of doubt, its tail-end echoing in the empty tent.

"My lord, please understand!" Ju Su suddenly took a half step forward and unfolded a torn-edged military report. The mottled bloodstains and frost marks on the yellowed bamboo slips were shocking. "Gongsun Zan was at a disadvantage when he first fought against our Jizhou army. Now, after days of bloody battles with the Wuhuan, more than half of his elite troops have been killed, and only one-tenth of his food and supplies remain! In Bingzhou, the Xiongnu burned, killed, and looted, leaving the fields covered with bones. Even if he can barely gain a foothold, he will be a spent force!" His voice grew increasingly passionate, his face flushed with excitement, and his bony fingers tapped heavily on the location of Bingzhou on the map. "Our army only needs to hold the natural barrier of Youzhou, conserve its strength, and wait for Gongsun Zan and the Xiongnu to clash and become severely weakened. Regardless of who wins or loses, we will then march westward, achieving the great feat of supporting the Han Dynasty and resisting foreign aggression, and will also establish the banner of a righteous army before the people of the world. In this way, the hearts of the people will be won, and hegemony will be within our reach!"

Guo Tu was so anxious that veins popped out on his forehead, and he clapped his folding fan in his palm, making a "pa pa" sound: "What if Gongsun Zan regroups in Bingzhou and accumulates strength..."

"If he is defeated by the Xiongnu, it will just help our army weaken the foreign forces; if he wins by chance, it will surely be because the army is old and the soldiers are tired!" Ju Su's words were sharp, like a sword being unsheathed, cutting off Guo Tu's words. The dull sound of the iron scabbard hitting the blue bricks startled the bronze lamp hanging on the top of the tent and shook violently. "No matter what the final outcome is, my lord, you only need to hold Youzhou firmly and resist the Wuhuan. When the time is right, you will be able to wipe out the remaining enemies with a thunderous force! This is the best strategy to defeat the enemy without fighting!"

As these impassioned speeches concluded, a deathly silence descended upon the tent. The Hebei generals murmured among themselves, with the occasional nod. The suspicion in Yuan Shao's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a gleam of thoughtful calculation. A faint smile played upon the corner of his mouth.