Volume 2: The King's Way Chapter 145 The Messenger
Yuan Shu's declaration of emperorship angered the princes loyal to the Han Dynasty, especially Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Bai Tu, who were close to him, and they immediately sent troops to attack him.
Even the princes in Guanzhong who had nowhere to exert their power, Liu Biao of Jingzhou, Yuan Shao of Hebei, Liu Zhang of Bashu... all denounced him!
However, when Da Zhong was first established, although Yuan Shu was completely trapped externally, he was in high spirits internally.
The army that can be called "elite soldiers" has a total of 100,000 soldiers, and there are hundreds of gilded generals!
For a time, Runan, Zhongli, and Guangling were all caught in bitter battles. Liu Bei came with high hopes, but he was unable to make a single move before the two strategic points of Guangling and Zhongli. Cao Cao seemed to have more wins than losses, but he was unable to break through the defense line in the Runan area in a short period of time.
In Wancheng, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu also encountered difficulties after entering the city...
"Bofu, look at Gongjin and my little sister, they still have such a good relationship!"
"Yes, Gongjin likes to rub the red dot between his eyebrows when he sees someone he likes... I discovered it a long time ago."
Sun Ce and a girl who was equally beautiful but more dignified in manner, were watching Zhou Yu and Xiao Qiao, the woman who played the zither that night, flirting in the pavilion.
And the one beside Sun Ce was, of course, Xiao Qiao’s sister Da Qiao…
Zhou Yu couldn't help but teach Xiao Qiao a lesson because he couldn't stand her trampling on music. However, Xiao Qiao believed that Zhou Yu had "other intentions" and must have come up with such a lame excuse to approach her because of her cuteness and beauty.
However, in response to Xiao Qiao's test, Zhou Yu acted as if she really wanted to teach him how to play the piano, including to his sworn brother and Old Qiao, he said this without any pretense.
Xiao Qiao felt that this was a war!
A war in which he must make Zhou Yu willingly admit that he was "lusting at her beauty", so... he pretended to cooperate in learning the piano, but in fact it was all to create a flaw that would expose Zhou Yu's true identity.
"The same goes for Xiao Qiao! If she really hated Gongjin so much, why would she learn the piano with him every day?" Da Qiao smiled softly with her hand covering her mouth.
"It must be very tiring to have a sister like this?" Sun Ce showed a smile as gentle as jade.
Seeing this, Da Qiao blushed and lowered her head and said, "Can Bo Fu understand this, too?"
"Of course I understand. I also have a troublesome younger brother!" Sun Ce thought for a moment, then stretched out his hand and said, "Probably... this tall." As he said that, his palm gently touched Da Qiao's forehead.
"Hmm!" Da Qiao made a nervous sound.
"Ah... sorry, I didn't mean it." Sun Ce said quickly.
“No, nothing…”
As soon as Da Qiao finished speaking, Sun Ce took the opportunity to help her smooth her temples from her forehead and let her long hair fall behind her shoulders.
Great foolishness appears wise? Great wisdom appears foolish?
Sun Ersha, a man who hides his merits and fame!
…
In May of the second year of Jian'an, after Cao Cao and Liu Bei's campaigns against Yuan Shikai failed repeatedly, they each sent envoys to Bai Tu to ask for help.
When they thought Yuan Shu was a pushover, they didn't say that...
Bai Tu did not expect that Yuan Shu would be so powerful. It seems that the founding of this country was not in vain!
Facing the envoys from the imperial court and the governor of Xuzhou, Bai Tu first asked the Ministry of Rites to delay for half a month. The envoys finally met the governor, and Bai Tu also played Tai Chi. In short...
"You two don't know that although Wancheng has been conquered, the enemy is cunning. My second and third brothers are now trapped in it and cannot escape! If we forcibly evacuate Wancheng, I am afraid there will be more variables... Of course, I have already ordered the garrison in Wancheng to try to harass Zhongjun in the Jiashidao area and try to share some of the pressure." Bai Tu said very sincerely.
"Mr. Bai, now Yuan Shu has concentrated his forces in Runan and Jiujiang, so my lord and Prime Minister Cao cannot make any progress. As long as Mr. Bai sends a detachment from Xunyang, we will be able to conquer Lujiang, and even Jiangxia..." Jian Yong wanted to persuade him again.
However, Bai Tu decided: "No! Although Lu Mian is willing to be Yuan Shu's lackey, he is still good to the people under his rule... Besides, I am the governor of Yangzhou, not Jingzhou, so how can I not attack him?"
Parts of northern Jiangxia now fell into Yuan Shu's hands, including Qichun, north of Xunyang.
However, Huang Zu, the prefect of Jiangxia, was only under Liu Biao's command in name, and usually only obeyed orders but not decrees. Naturally, Liu Biao was more concerned about the four counties in southern Jing at this time, rather than helping Huang Zu regain the lost territory of Jiangxia.
Bai Tu deliberately acted pedantic and refused to take the opportunity to take action for some "incomprehensible" reasons, which really gave Jian Yong and Liu Ye, who were sent by Cao Cao, a headache.
If it were before, the two would have hoped that Bai Tu would not come out to share the cake, but now... they need Bai Tu to take action!
"Mr. Bai, you saved Yangzhou to support the Han Dynasty, and saving Jingzhou is naturally supporting the Han Dynasty as well! As long as Prime Minister Cao writes a letter... ahem, writes a letter to the emperor to appoint you as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, I don't think anyone will say anything about it." Liu Ye persuaded.
Cao Cao had previously given him some power to "act at his own discretion", and Liu Ye also made good use of his power at this time.
"General of Chariots and Cavalry... Well, if that's the case, as long as the people of Jiangxia, Guangling and Runan are willing, I can also acknowledge more of the responsibility of supporting the Han Dynasty." Bai Tu said uprightly.
However, when they heard this, Jian Yong and Liu Ye were shocked.
Jian Yong thought that Bai Tu was really persuaded by the "General of Chariots and Cavalry". He was somewhat disillusioned and immediately added: "Mr. Bai, the people of Jiangxia are now looking forward to your righteous army!"
As for Guangling... Jian Yong thought that it would be better to leave it to his lord's righteous army!
Why did he mention Guangling and Runan? Could it be that he also had ideas about Xuzhou and Yuzhou? Jian Yong became alert, and Liu Ye also thought to himself: So Bai Tu's appetite is so big? Could it be that Military Advisor Guo's concerns...
"No, if the people have a will, I would naturally open the gates to welcome them. I can't even do that... My virtue and good governance are not enough, so how can I retaliate with weapons?" Bai Tu said righteously.
Jian Yong, Liu Ye: …
Taking back my previous thoughts, this guy is still that pedantic Bai Tu!
Ambition? It’s more like a daydream!
The people took the initiative to open the city walls to welcome you... Do you want Liu Xie to abdicate to you?
Perhaps it was Bai Tu's stubborn attitude that made the two feel that they could not be persuaded, or perhaps... After Bai Tu mentioned Runan and Guangling, the two felt uneasy about their own families, and began to worry that Bai Tu would take advantage of his strong military force to take more and more, so they stopped trying to persuade him.
After all, in the eyes of Liu Ye and Jian Yong, although continuing to fight will cause greater damage and take longer, they will still win in the end!
However, before the two said goodbye, Bai Tu emphasized : "I am ashamed to accept the position of General of Chariots and Cavalry, but... in order to support the Han Dynasty, I have no choice but to accept it with shame!"
Liu Ye: …
After the mission, no other results were achieved. Cao Cao originally wanted to give Yuan Shao the title of "General of Chariots and Cavalry" to appease this old friend, but it was promised to Bai Tu instead...
