Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The atmosphere in Yuan Shao's meeting room was heavy and oppressive, as if a gloomy haze hung heavy over everyone's heads. Yuan Shao sat in the main seat, his face gloomy. After a moment of deep deliberation, he slowly reiterated the strategies his three sons had proposed. His gaze swept across the crowd with a cold stare, and he said in a deep voice, "The situation is pressing now. My sons Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Shang each have their own perspectives. Today, I will allow you to carefully analyze the situation and determine the correct course of action."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall erupted in discussion. Feng Ji was the first to step forward, clasping his hands in support of Yuan Xi's proposal. "My Lord, the Second Young Master is absolutely right. Gongsun Zan has fled to Bingzhou. Our army should seize this opportunity to advance. First, we can wipe out the remnants of Gongsun's evil, second, we can defend against the foreign invaders, and third, we can expand our territory. This is a heaven-sent opportunity that must not be missed."

Not to be outdone, Xu You added, "My lord, the Third Young Master's plan is equally brilliant. Cao Cao has grown in power, yet he dared to disobey my lord's orders. If he is not punished, he will become a serious threat in the future. General Wen Chou, with his 100,000 troops stationed, can attack Cao Cao directly to demonstrate the power of our Yuan family."

However, Tian Feng and Ju Su held different views. Tian Feng stroked his beard and said slowly, "My lord, the opinions of the three gentlemen all have merit. The current situation is complex. Whether attacking Bingzhou or dealing with Cao Cao, we must proceed with caution. Any rash action may lead to miscalculations."

Ju Su nodded in agreement. "Brother Tian is quite right. In my opinion, we should first send envoys to Liaodong to communicate with Gongsun Du and ascertain his intentions. At the same time, we should station troops on the border of Youzhou to put pressure on Gongsun Zan and deter him from making any rash moves. As for Wen Chou's army at Tongguan, we can first turn and march towards Hangu Pass in Luoyang. We can then negotiate with Cao Cao, as this will serve as a warning to him. If Cao Cao still insists on proceeding on his own, our army can seize the opportunity to attack Hangu Pass, occupying the strategic location and thus intimidating him. This way, we can avoid a premature full-scale conflict with all parties and gradually seize the initiative."

Yuan Shao listened to everyone's analysis, his mind becoming increasingly conflicted. He knew that every strategy depended on the success or failure of the Yuan family, and no room for carelessness was allowed. For a moment, he was truly unable to decide which plan to adopt.

After pondering for a long time, Yuan Shao frowned and scanned everyone, finally landing on Ju Su. He slowly asked, "Mr. Ju, in your opinion, is this plan really feasible?"

Ju Su bowed and said with a firm expression, "My lord, this plan is not foolproof, but given the current situation, it offers both advance and retreat options and is a prudent move. It allows for a peaceful resolution while also allowing for the use of force if necessary. I hope you will reconsider."

Yuan Shao nodded slightly, lost in thought. Everyone in the room held their breath, awaiting Yuan Shao's final decision. The entire meeting room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, as if the air had frozen.

Yuan Shao, deep down, was still resentful of Ma Chao. He was unwilling to give up the attack on Chang'an, feeling that giving up would be too easy for Ma Chao. However, faced with the current complex situation and the different opinions among all parties, he could only put the matter aside for the time being.

However, time flew by, and five or six days passed. During this time, Yuan Shao summoned his people for consultation several times, but each time the room was filled with endless debate, and he could not reach a single, convincing decision. Some insisted on attacking Gongsun Zan in Bingzhou first to eliminate future troubles; others advocated taking immediate action against Cao Cao to curb his arrogance; and still others believed that they should fully fight Ma Chao for Chang'an and restore the Yuan family's prestige. This flurry of opinions made Yuan Shao increasingly stymied, a stark reflection of his dilemma as he wavered between numerous strategies and could not make a decisive decision.

As time passed, the situation intensified, yet Yuan Shao remained trapped in this difficult decision, unsure of what to do next. Rumors and public opinion spread like a tide throughout Hebei, rumouring that Ma Chao had demonstrated his prowess in Liang Province, driving out all the foreigners and pacifying the region. This news intensified the view among the people that a fight to the death with Ma Chao in Chang'an was unwise.

Everyone tried to persuade Yuan Shao again that if he insisted on fighting Ma Chao in Chang'an to the death, it would only give those ambitious but less powerful princes the opportunity to rise up and reap the benefits. As Yuan Shao listened to everyone's advice, he fell into a fierce struggle.

Finally, after weighing the pros and cons, Yuan Shao finally made up his mind. He glanced grimly at the crowd and slowly spoke, "The situation has changed, and I've made up my mind. First, immediately send envoys to Liaodong to negotiate with Gongsun Du and ascertain his true intentions. Second, Gao Lan and Ju Yi must mobilize 50,000 troops to station them at the border between Youzhou and Bingzhou, advancing towards Hedong Commandery. We must ensure that Gongsun Zan loses his foothold in Bingzhou. Third, order General Wen Chou, who is besieging Tongguan, to immediately lead 100,000 troops to Hangu Pass and put pressure on Cao Cao. If Cao Cao still refuses to ally with us, we will seize the opportunity to attack Hangu Pass and teach him a severe lesson!"

Upon hearing Yuan Shao's decision, everyone bowed and accepted it. Thus began a strategic realignment of Yuan Shao's forces, and this series of decisions would profoundly influence the future dynamics between the various factions.

Let's first discuss the situation in Liaodong. Previously, Gongsun Zan of Youzhou had fled to Bingzhou after being defeated by Yuan Shao. This shift in the situation put pressure on Gongsun Du of neighboring Liaodong, shifting the balance of power. Just as Gongsun Du was unsure how to respond to this new situation, an envoy from Yuan Shao arrived.

Gongsun Du quickly summoned his son Gongsun Kang and his advisor Mao Chong to discuss the matter. The three of them sat in a hall, their faces solemn. Gongsun Du spoke first, his tone tinged with worry: "Yuan Shao is now powerful. After defeating Gongsun Zan, I'm afraid we will be his next target. I wonder what his intention is in sending an envoy this time?"

Gongsun Kang frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Father, Yuan Shao has always been ambitious, and his envoys may have ill intentions. However, my Liaodong is currently inferior to Yuan Shao in strength. If we rashly offend him, I'm afraid we will bring disaster upon ourselves."

Advisor Mao Zhong stroked his beard lightly, nodded slightly, and continued, "Your Excellency is absolutely right. However, we cannot simply show weakness. Perhaps we should first listen to the envoy's intentions, and then act accordingly. If Yuan Shao intends to win us over, we can weigh the pros and cons and consider an alliance. If he is seeking to exert pressure, we must also devise a countermeasure and not let him underestimate our strength in Liaodong."

Gongsun Du listened to the two men's words, pondered for a long time, and then slowly said, "Let's do as Mr. Mao says. When the envoys arrive, we must be extremely careful and not let a momentary negligence bring catastrophic disaster to Liaodong."

Soon, Yuan Shao's envoy was ushered into the hall. Dressed in finery, his demeanor exuded confidence and authority. He bowed slightly, glanced around at the crowd, and began his persuasion with unrestrained abandon.

"General Gongsun, I have long heard of your great name! You must be aware that my lord, Yuan Shao, comes from a family of three dukes for four generations. The prestige of our family is known throughout the world. The Yuan family has been a family of nobles for generations, and their students and former officials are spread all over the world. This kind of foundation is indeed the basis for achieving great things. Now, under the command of our lord, there are strong soldiers and horses, and their power is at its peak. There are many brave generals and counselors under his command, and heroes from all walks of life come to join him." When the envoy said this, a hint of pride flashed in his eyes, and he observed the reactions of Gongsun Du and others intentionally or unintentionally.

"Looking at the current situation, the warring princes are at war, and the world is in chaos. Although General Gongsun holds Liaodong, he is surrounded by powerful enemies. If he is not careful, he could be caught in a difficult situation. If we can form an alliance with my lord and bring it under the jurisdiction of Hebei, not only can we maintain peace in Liaodong, but we can also leverage my lord's power to expand our territory and share in our prosperity. Otherwise..." The envoy changed the subject, his tone becoming slightly threatening, "If we miss this opportunity, once my lord raises an army to punish us, Liaodong will face the disaster of war and devastation!"

Gongsun Du and the others listened quietly to the envoy's threats and inducements, their faces solemn, each with their own thoughts. When the envoy finished, Gongsun Du forced a smile and said, "Your Excellency, please allow us to discuss your words privately and give you a reply tomorrow." Seeing this, the envoy did not want to force his opinion and bowed and took his leave.

Gongsun Du, Mao Zhong, and Gongsun Kang immediately returned to the inner chambers for a closed-door meeting. Gongsun Du, frowning, spoke first, "Gentlemen, Yuan Shao's dispatch of envoys may seem like a clear path forward for us, but in reality, it's a veiled threat. What do you think we should do about this surrender?"

Gongsun Kang looked hesitant and said slowly, "Father, Yuan Shao's forces are indeed powerful. If we fight him, our chances of success are slim. However, if we submit to him, we will inevitably feel unwilling, as we will be controlled by him after all."

Mao Zhongze bowed his head in thought for a moment, then said, "My lord, in my opinion, Yuan Shao is now too powerful to be resisted. We might as well agree to his terms for now and submit to him. But this is just an empty title; we can use it to preserve our strength and bide our time. As long as we retain real power in Liaodong, Yuan Shao will find it difficult to do anything to us for a while."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Du fell into deep thought. After a long pause, he slowly nodded and said, "This is the only way. However, after this surrender, how to manage and maintain Liaodong's stability requires further consideration."

The three of them then discussed their countermeasures in detail. The next day, Gongsun Du summoned Yuan Shao's envoy and asked, "If we agree to submit and come under the jurisdiction of Hebei, will we still be able to make our own decisions regarding Liaodong affairs?" The envoy smiled and replied, "General Gongsun, rest assured. As long as we come under the jurisdiction of Hebei and obey our lord's orders, you can handle the daily affairs of Liaodong as you see fit." Gongsun Du and the others exchanged glances, their minds settled, and agreed to submit to Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao was overjoyed when he learned that Gongsun Du was willing to submit to him and nominally submit to Hebei's rule. The entire Hebei region was also extremely delighted. After all, although Liaodong was not vast, in these turbulent times, being able to expand the territory without spending a single soldier was undoubtedly a heartening thing.

Yuan Shao sat upright in the main seat, his face brimming with pride. He addressed the crowd, "Gongsun Du has already agreed to nominally submit, greatly increasing the strength of our Yuan family. For now, we will allow him to remain in Liaodong. When we conquer the Central Plains and achieve our goal, we can transform this nominal submission into actual control. By then, the entire world will be under my control. If they dare to disobey, they will be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. I will mobilize the entire nation to defeat them. What recourse can they have? They must surrender!"

Everyone chimed in, praising their lord's wisdom. Yuan Shao, looking at them, felt a surge of ambition, already imagining a grand blueprint for unifying the world. He knew this was only one step toward his ultimate goal; there was still a long road ahead, with many powerful enemies to contend with. However, Liaodong's allegiance undoubtedly gave him immense confidence.

At this moment, Yuan Shao was plotting his next strategic move. On the one hand, he needed to continue strengthening his relationship with Liaodong, ensuring that Gongsun Du's nominal allegiance remained intact. On the other hand, he also had to keep an eye on the movements of Gongsun Zan in Bingzhou and Cao Cao. After all, although Gongsun Zan had fled to Bingzhou, he remained a potential threat, and Cao Cao's growing power was a formidable foe that he could not ignore on his path to dominance.