Chapter 144: The Princes with Unsettled Minds
"Thinking of Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, although they have different surnames, since they have become brothers, they work together to help each other in times of trouble; they serve the country and protect the people; they do not ask to be born on the same day, but only to die on the same day. The heavens and the earth shall bear witness to this heart; if they betray their loyalty and forget their gratitude, they shall be killed by both heaven and man!"
The familiar oath echoed in Liu Bei's ears, and Liu Bei became more determined. It was not a pity for the traitor who caused chaos in the country to die.
He could no longer tolerate the coalition forces' mistreatment of their soldiers, and he wanted to end this battle that should not have happened in the first place.
"Alliance leader, the army is ready. Why don't you send a letter of challenge to increase our chances of success!"
Liu Bei threw the wine glass on the table, then stood up and spoke loudly.
Yuan Shao was stunned. Liu Bei's proposal moved him, and he also wanted to wash away his past shame.
It has to be said that Liu Bei had an extremely good grasp of the mentality of the princes.
All the princes were already intoxicated with the fantasy of unparalleled achievements, and the initial formation of the army made their confidence swell to the extreme.
In the camp, shouts for battle were heard one after another , as if Hulao Pass was already in the hands of the coalition forces.
Liu Bei smiled calmly, this was what he wanted.
Only by letting the princes put everything on the line can he make them fall into the bottomless abyss.
Ever since Jia Xu issued the amnesty order, countless aliens have taken refuge in Luoyang, and almost every day someone brings his troops to attack the various camps.
Originally, the princes were suffering terribly, but after their army was trained and defeated several coalition forces of players, this incident made the princes' confidence swell to the extreme.
Liu Bei simply gave some guidance and then retreated behind the crowd. He quietly waited for the decision of the princes.
Sun Jian, Cao Cao, Gongsun Zan, and Yuan Shu looked at the various princes with expressionless faces. Like Liu Bei, they felt as disheartened. It was not that these people were kind-hearted, but they were disappointed with the coalition forces.
Thanks to the efforts of Zhou Yu and Sun Ce, Sun Jian has understood the nature of the coalition. Although Sun Jian also has ambitions, he has almost understood after being persuaded by Zhou Yu and Sun Ce that the coalition will not succeed.
Even if he started to consider going it alone, it would be much better than following this useless coalition.
Moreover, ever since the coalition forces began to gain the upper hand on the battlefield of Hulao Pass, Yuan Shao was no longer the heroic pillar of the South Sky.
Cao Cao was even more disheartened. He received a letter from his father Cao Song, which was full of reports of the local noble families suppressing his family. Only then did he realize that he and Yuan Shao were not on the same side.
He trusted Yuan Shao very much, so as soon as Yuan Shao issued the letter of surrender, he immediately responded, with some ulterior motives in his mind.
This act of being stabbed in the back by a noble family was like a bucket of piercing cold water to him, which completely chilled his blood.
Cao Cao, who originally had some other thoughts, suddenly came to his senses and realized that only being a Han minister was his best destination.
Aristocratic families would not tolerate a eunuch like him. It's ridiculous that he still considers himself a member of an aristocratic family. He never thought that the aristocratic families didn't even consider him as a family member.
Gongsun Zan also had a blank expression on his face. His retainers who stayed in Youzhou told him that Liu Yu now had the final say in Youzhou.
However, after Liu Yu took office, he did do a series of good things that benefited the people's livelihood.
Not only did he set an example himself to restrain other wealthy families in Youzhou who lived a luxurious lifestyle, he even advocated frugality and often wore worn-out clothes while in power.
He also encouraged the people who had fled to Youzhou to cultivate more land to support their families. At the same time, he set up border markets in Shanggu and other places to trade with foreign ethnic groups such as Goryeo, Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Southern Xiongnu. He also cultivated salt and iron mines to obtain fiscal revenue.
Gongsun Zan had been the governor of Youzhou. He understood deeply that the poverty of Youzhou was something he could not change. All he could do was to help Youzhou shelter from the wind and rain.
Only an official like Liu Yu can allow the people to live a healthy and prosperous life, not him, Gongsun Zan.
If that were the case, Gongsun Zan would be willing to be Liu Yu's dog and protect Liu Yu.
But what angered him was Liu Yu's attitude towards the Hu people.
He understood and could accept Liu Yu's dealings with foreign tribes.
Even though he wanted to kill all the Hu people, he could not avoid doing business with some Hu people who were willing to surrender. After all, in many cases, it was more convenient for the Hu people to do things on the grassland.
What he really couldn't accept was Liu Yu's move to cut military spending.
If there is no war, there is naturally no need for military expenses. Gongsun Zan just doesn't believe that Liu Yu can't see that the people on the border are often robbed.
If it weren't for his reputation as General White Horse, would those Hu people really surrender so easily?
"We must persuade the Hu people with reason and influence them with benevolence. As long as we follow the way of the saints and do benevolent things, the Hu people will naturally be convinced and dare not invade our borders."
Gongsun Zan thought of the letter Liu Yu wrote to him. Although he had torn it to pieces in a fit of rage, every word of it was engraved in his mind.
For hundreds of years, the Hu people around the Han Dynasty have been afraid of power but not morality. Only by beating them severely can they behave themselves.
Otherwise, they would have started looting everywhere before autumn, and countless civilians had been killed. Could the blood feud that Gongsun Zan witnessed with his own eyes have been fake?
It was almost autumn, and Gongsun Zan was anxious and restless. He wanted to go back to the border of Youzhou.
The conflict with Liu Yu would be discussed later. Gongsun Zan planned to let the Hu people's autumn raids wake up Liu Yu and make him realize the Hu people's treacherous nature.
As long as Liu Yu could agree with him, he would be willing to assist Liu Yu.
It’s a pity that Gongsun Zan can’t get away now. Since the coalition forces were united as one, Gongsun Zan has discovered that his White Horse Volunteers no longer belong to him alone.
The 8,000-strong White Horse Volunteers were mixed with people from other states, and he could no longer use them as he pleased.
He was waiting, or rather, he could only wait.
He couldn't help but glance at Liu Bei out of the corner of his eye. He knew very well that this classmate of his was no simple character , and he knew very well that this classmate of his must be planning something.
Although he was not sure what Liu Bei was planning, he was certain that it was not something that would benefit the coalition forces.
He was happy to see it happen and even specifically hinted to Liu Bei that they could join together.
As for Yuan Shu in the end, the Yuan family's indecision was already the greatest threat to him.
The position of the head of the Yuan family, and even the fate of the emperor, which was once almost certain, is no longer so stable.
The members of the Yuan family who originally supported him no longer seemed to be approaching him as usual. He had not seen any clansmen coming to build relationships with him for a long time. On the contrary, he saw many people around Yuan Shao.
Those originally staunch supporters also became wavering, their attitudes began to become ambiguous, and even Yuan Huai was shaken.
What shook his foundation was the illegitimate son Yuan Shao beside him, and he once again thought about contacting Hulao Pass.
The enemy of my enemy is our friend.
