Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

In Jingzhou, public opinion against Cao Cao was like a raging fire, growing more and more intense, with the voices rising higher and higher. The streets and alleys were filled with heated discussions about Cao Cao's various actions. Liu Biao keenly grasped that the time was ripe for rebellion.

On this day, Jingzhou City was adorned with solemnity. Incense curled from the altar, and various offerings were neatly laid out. Liu Biao, dressed in splendid attire, led a group of Jingzhou civil and military officials, who ascended the altar with solemn expressions. They reverently offered their respects to heaven and earth, and in an instant, bells and drums rang out, enveloping the entire city in a solemn atmosphere.

After the ceremony, Liu Biao turned to face the crowd, unfurling a carefully prepared manifesto against Cao Cao. He cleared his throat and began to read aloud, his voice resonant and passionate, each word pronounced clearly and powerfully, as if to ensure that everyone present could hear him clearly.

"The manifesto reaches the world: The Han Dynasty is in misfortune, the imperial power has been lost. The traitor Cao Cao harbors evil intentions, usurps power, and brings disaster to the country. His crimes are heinous and infuriating, drawing the wrath of both humans and gods!

In the past, the late Emperor Liu Bian was a wise and capable man, capable of restoring the Han Dynasty. However, Cao Cao's ulterior motives and treacherous schemes have left the late Emperor's death shrouded in mystery and uncertainty. The palace is filled with the scent of bloodshed. The late Emperor, in the prime of his life, suddenly passed away. The hidden truth is known to all, and it was Cao Cao's doing! This is Cao Cao's greatest sin!

Furthermore, Liu Xie's succession to the throne, seemingly in accordance with destiny, was in fact the result of Cao Cao's manipulation. Cao Cao leveraged his power, coercion, and inducements to force Liu Xie's ascension, turning him into a puppet. Liu Xie's accession to the throne was not legitimate; it was the first step in Cao Cao's usurpation of the Han Dynasty! This deceitful act was Cao Cao's second gravest sin!

Cao Cao, under the guise of "serving the Emperor to command the vassal states," stole the throne. He held the Emperor hostage in Xudu, using forged imperial edicts to wilfully conquer those who opposed him and expand his power. The vassal states, fearing his tyranny, dared not speak out. The people of the land suffered terribly, and the Han Dynasty's territory was torn apart. Cao Cao's vain attempt to single-handedly usurp the Han throne was a stark example of his wicked ambition! This was Cao Cao's third major sin!

Now, I, Liu Biao, a member of the Han royal family, have witnessed Cao Cao's evil deeds. How dare I sit idly by? Honestly obeying the late emperor's will, I gather the people of Jingzhou and join the righteous and ambitious people of the world in raising the banner of justice to defeat Cao Cao, restore the orthodoxy of the Han Dynasty, and bring peace to the world! I implore all the princes to respond to this call, unite against this common enemy, and together we will bring this thief to justice!"

After Liu Biao finished reading, he solemnly showed the manifesto to everyone. Although the handwriting on the manifesto looked a little old, the red seal was still bright and eye-catching, demonstrating its authority.

Liu Biao then raised his voice and declared, "This manifesto will be disseminated throughout the land. I implore all the nobles and men of insight to join me in punishing this traitor Cao Cao!"

Dozens of copies of the manifesto were quickly made, and messengers, galloping along, dispatched them to every corner of the world. In a flash, the manifesto spread like a storm, rapidly spreading across the land, causing a stir wherever it reached.

A few days later, Yuan Shao's son, Yuan Yao, took the lead in Shouchun. He issued a widespread proclamation, earnestly expressing his willingness to join Liu Biao in destroying the traitor Cao Cao. His words betrayed his indignation towards Cao Cao and his unwavering determination to restore the Han Dynasty. Within Shouchun, the people debated Yuan Yao's move. Some supported it, believing it was a righteous act; others expressed concern, fearing the disaster a war would bring to the region. Regardless, momentum was building.

Half a month later, Yuan Shao responded in Hebei. Yuan Shao already held sway over Jizhou, Qingzhou, and Youzhou, a vast empire. Gathering his generals and advisors, he delivered an impassioned speech in his tent, vowing to join Liu Biao in raising an army to defeat the traitor Cao Cao. Yuan Shao's powerful words galvanized the troops, raising their spirits. The soldiers eagerly prepared to charge into battle.

Meanwhile, Liu Biao also made military deployments. He decided to have Liu Bei send 20,000 troops and Wen Pin 40,000, for a total of 60,000 troops, marching from Jingzhou directly into Yingchuan County. Yuan Yao, responding with his army, would march from Shouchun and advance towards Qiao County. Yuan Shao, personally leading the expedition, appointed Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan as the four generals. A total of 100,000 troops were assembled, and they marched towards Dongjun with great momentum.

When Cao Cao in Xudu heard the news, he was immediately furious. He slammed the table and shouted, "Liu Biao is a villain, how dare he humiliate me like this! What does the death of the late emperor have to do with me, Cao Cao? He is so confusing right and wrong!" However, after his anger, Cao Cao couldn't help feeling a little panicked. After all, nearly 200,000 soldiers and horses were attacking him together. The military pressure of this scale was extraordinary.

Beside him, Guo Jia maintained a calm demeanor. He bowed and said, "My lord, please do not be angry. Liu Biao is merely a defender of the city, and he has never possessed such courage. Judging from the coordination between Yuan Yao, Yuan Shao, and Liu Biao, Yuan Shao has many ulterior motives. Yuan Shao's power is immense, and he already sees me as a threat. The Central Plains has been a place where military strategists have deployed their armies since ancient times. Sooner or later, a decisive battle will be called against him."

Cao Cao suppressed his panic, took a deep breath, and looked at Guo Jia, motioning him to continue. Guo Jia bowed slightly and continued his analysis, "Although Yuan Shao's forces appear to be formidable, each of the coalition forces actually has its own agenda. Liu Biao aims to preserve his strength and expand his territory; Yuan Yao is merely exploiting the situation to gain a foothold. If you can skillfully employ your tactics, you can surely divide and disintegrate their alliances and defeat them one by one."

Cao Cao pondered for a moment and asked, "In your opinion, how should we respond?"

Guo Jia pondered for a moment and said, "My lord, we can first concentrate our superior forces to resist Yuan Shao's 100,000-man army. Yuan Shao is a headstrong and self-righteous man, and while his generals are brave, they are not united. We can send our own agents to sow discord between the ruler and his subjects. As for Liu Biao and Yuan Yao's armies, we can divide our forces and take a defensive stance, waiting for them to show a weakness before striking."

Cao Cao nodded slightly, acknowledging Guo Jia's analysis. He said, "Indeed, Yuan Shao is the real threat this time. Send the order down and gather all the generals immediately to discuss countermeasures."

Soon, Xun You, Cheng Yu, and other counselors and generals gathered in the tent. Cao Cao explained the current situation in detail and asked for their response strategies.

Xun You was the first to speak: "My lord, we can deploy heavy troops in Yingchuan, Qiaojun, and other places to set up a defensive line to block the attacks of Liu Biao and Yuan Yao. At the same time, we can send elite troops to ambush Yuan Shao's advance and weaken his momentum."

Guo Jia continued, "Gongda is absolutely right. Furthermore, we can secretly contact the forces in Yuan Shao's rear, causing a fire in his backyard. This will force Yuan Shao to send troops back to support him and disrupt his deployment."

Cheng Yu also said, "My lord, we need to strengthen the defenses of Xudu to prevent a surprise attack by the enemy. At the same time, we can spread rumors to disrupt the enemy's morale."

Cao Cao listened to everyone's suggestions and gradually formed a response plan. With a determined look in his eyes, he said, "Alright, let's follow your plan. Send Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan to lead 50,000 elite troops to resist Yuan Shao. Cao Ren and Cao Hong to lead 30,000 troops to Yingchuan to resist Liu Biao. Yu Jin and Li Dian to lead 20,000 troops to Qiao County to contain Yuan Yao. We must hold our line, bide our time, and defeat the enemy one by one!"

Guo Jia remained calm as he continued his counsel to Cao Cao, "My lord, Xiliang was previously our ally. Now that our army faces this critical moment, we might as well seek their help. Furthermore, the eldest son is currently in Xiliang and enjoys a close relationship with Miss Ma Yanlu. If we show weakness and ask for their assistance, perhaps we might gain their help."

Cao Cao nodded slightly, signaling Guo Jia to continue. Guo Jia paused, then added, "And Gongsun Zan, he now firmly holds Bingzhou. He and Yuan Shao had many disputes in the past. My lord, you could send someone eloquent and persuasive to mention the past of Youzhou being occupied by Yuan Shao, and gently incite him to attack Youzhou. This would surely distract Yuan Shao from responding, making it difficult for him to fully engage our army."

Cao Cao's eyes flickered, and he fell into deep thought. Guo Jia, observing this, then added, "Also, Liaodong Governor Gongsun Du has been oppressed by Yuan Shao. My lord, you could send someone to contact him now, offering him a generous reward, and have him launch a surprise attack from behind Yuan Shao's back. This would distract Yuan Shao from his duties and prevent him from fully focusing on our campaign, greatly alleviating the pressure on our army."

Cao Cao's eyes flashed with approval when he heard this. He patted Guo Jia on the shoulder and said, "Fengxiao, this is a brilliant plan! With such a multi-pronged approach, there's no need to worry about Yuan Shao's defeat. However, the envoy we send must be eloquent and thoughtful, so that he can accomplish this important task."

Guo Jia suggested, "My lord, Liu Ye is also a relative of the Han royal family. You can take the imperial edict to Liaodong and secretly confer the title of Marquis of Liaodong on Gongsun Du, raising his rank by three ranks. With such a generous favor, Gongsun Du might be moved and send troops to help."

Cao Cao nodded slightly and motioned Guo Jia to continue.

Guo Jia continued, "Jiang Ji could go to Xiliang to meet with the eldest son. He has a close relationship with the Ma clan. Have Jiang Ji explain the stakes of the current situation to him, and then have him ask the Ma family for troops. Judging by Ma Chao's itinerary, he should have returned to Xiliang after his great victory in Bingzhou. If Ma Chao can send troops to help, Yuan Shao's arrogance will surely be greatly diminished."

Cao Cao's eyes flickered as he pondered what Guo Jia had said.

Guo Jia continued, "As for Gongsun Zan, a talented young man from the Sima family has recently entered the government, named Sima Yi. He is quick-witted and thoughtful. Although Gongsun Zan has secured control of Bingzhou, he may still be wary of Yuan Shao and may be hesitant to make a decision to send troops. Sending Sima Yi to Gongsun Zan as an advisor may help him persuade him. I believe Sima Yi is worthy of important positions."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before saying, "Fengxiao, this plan is brilliant. Liu Ye will take the Emperor's edict to Liaodong and use the Emperor's favor to win over Gongsun Du. Jiang Ji will go to Xiliang and have Zixiu do his utmost to secure the Ma family's troops. Then, send Sima Yi to Gongsun Zan to lobby him. This arrangement may resolve the current crisis. However, these three individuals bear heavy responsibilities and must depart as soon as possible."

Guo Jia bowed and said, "Don't worry, my lord. I will make the arrangements right away. Have them set off immediately and ensure they complete their mission as soon as possible."

Cao Cao nodded. "Okay, I'll leave everything to you. Pass the order down, telling all the generals to hold their lines and wait for the right moment. Do not act rashly."

Guo Jia, upon receiving the order, quickly found Liu Ye, Jiang Ji, and Sima Yi, explaining their mission in detail. Liu Ye, upon receiving the imperial edict, immediately packed his bags and set off for Liaodong, secretly pondering how he could leverage the edict and the title to be bestowed upon him to persuade Gongsun Du to send troops to aid Cao Cao.

Jiang Ji did not dare to delay and rode away at full speed to Xiliang. Along the way, he kept thinking about what to say when he met Cao Zhang, how to analyze the situation thoroughly and make Cao Zhang understand the urgency of borrowing troops.

Sima Yi was both excited and nervous upon receiving the assignment. This was a significant undertaking, fresh out of his career, and he was determined to seize it. He carefully studied Gongsun Zan's character and circumstances, preparing numerous arguments to persuade him to attack Yuan Shao.