Chapter 874: Hidden Dangers on Both Sides

The man who sent the fatal letter, Dong Zhao, was now being questioned by Xu You and Ju Shou. However, they weren't looking to cause trouble for him; rather, they had no suspicion that Dong Zhao harbored any intent of treason.

After all, Dong Zhao was someone who knew that the Yuan army still had provisions but had released information to Liu Bei’s informants suggesting that there was none. As a result, when Xu You and Ju Shou learned of the truth, they weren’t particularly concerned. In fact, they were rather impressed that Dong Zhao had silently infiltrated the enemy ranks.

After being inadvertently warned by Xu You and Ju Shou previously, Dong Zhao had restrained his reckless behavior. But once he received the information from Li You, new ideas began to take root in his mind.

Since Yuan Shao was the one destined to prevail, why not take early action? Offering help in a time of need is far more valuable than adding to someone’s glory later. By extending a helping hand now, Dong Zhao figured that even if he did nothing more, he would be remembered as an elder statesman, basking in honors for the rest of his life.

With this in mind, Dong Zhao started thinking about how to make Yuan Shao’s victory easier and how to ensure that Yuan Shao would recognize his contributions in this great battle.

Thus, day by day, Dong Zhao calculated the timing. Finally, a few days before the impending battle, he penned a secret letter and ordered his private soldiers to deliver it to Puyang. He didn’t send it directly to Liu Bei’s forces for two reasons: he had no contact point in Liu Bei’s camp, and he didn’t want Liu Bei to receive the letter too early.

If it arrived too soon, Liu Bei would have extra time to think things through. Some matters, if overanalyzed, could reveal flaws. While the risk was small, Dong Zhao, considering his future livelihood, could not afford to take any chances.

Of course, Dong Zhao’s letter didn’t reach its destination. The Yuan army was under strict lockdown at this point, and Dong Zhao’s audacious move was immediately thwarted. His private soldiers were apprehended by patrolling troops.

Xu You and Ju Shou were shocked when they heard the news. If a high-ranking official like Dong Zhao had turned traitor, it would be a disaster.

Fortunately, when they searched the soldier, the letter only contained the words "粮已尽" (the grain is gone). This reassured Xu You and Ju Shou, and they quickly put their concerns to rest. However, they still decided to visit Dong Zhao, employing a bit of trickery to confirm his intentions.

Dong Zhao’s responses greatly satisfied the two men, putting their doubts to rest completely. Thus, the letter was allowed to be sent out.

Xu You and Ju Shou’s visit deeply pleased Dong Zhao. The value of his actions would only be realized once the information had been delivered. Without the letter reaching its destination, how could he call it a timely assistance?

Little did Dong Zhao know that this letter would bring him untold trouble. His life would become one of constant flight, and in his later years, he would be forced to flee the Central Plains to India. If he had known the consequences, Dong Zhao would never have written those three words that sealed his fate.

Unfortunately, at that moment, Dong Zhao was blissfully unaware of the hardships that awaited him. Instead, he reveled in the excitement of his successful gamble. His mental acuity and fortune seemed to be tightly linked to his knack for opportunism.

Naturally, having played his part in the ruse, Dong Zhao now eagerly awaited the fruits of his scheme. He believed that once the battle was won, he could rest on his laurels and enjoy a peaceful life.

Jia Xu and the others received Chen Xi’s urgent letter but did not react with much surprise. They had already anticipated that Yuan Shao’s army would run out of grain. In fact, they had expected it—it was only a matter of time. The high-quality intelligence merely confirmed their suspicions.

"Let’s wait one more day. We will strike tomorrow. Today, there’s no need to hide the fact that we have provisions. If we keep up the pretense, the enemy might think we’re playing tricks. Instead, we’ll do the opposite." Both Yuan Shao’s and Liu Bei’s armies reached the same decision on that day, raising large plumes of cooking smoke.

"Do they really think we don’t know they’re out of grain?" Both sides sneered as they observed the thick smoke rising from the other camp.

"What formation should we use to face the enemy tomorrow?" After the meal, both commanders asked the same question.

"No special formation is needed. When the time comes, dismantle the army camps. Our troops are already in the best possible formation. All the adjustments we’ve made to the camps recently were for this moment, and the soldiers are already familiar with their positions. Once the camps are dismantled, we’ll go straight into battle!" Ju Shou said confidently.

"Won’t this allow Liu Bei’s forces to charge straight into our ranks?" Yuan Shao was shocked. His left and right wings were positioned at an angle, and due to the recent camp adjustments Ju Shou had made, his army lacked a proper front line. Wouldn’t this formation allow the enemy to strike directly at the center?

"Fear not, my lord. As long as I, Yan Liang, stand, I will not let any harm come to you!" Yan Liang declared boldly, stepping forward.

Yuan Shao rolled his eyes. While he trusted Yan Liang’s abilities, he still found the formation questionable.

"Rest assured, my lord. This formation fully exploits our numerical superiority. Although Liu Bei’s soldiers are brave, this setup is specifically designed to counter elite troops," Tian Feng stepped forward to explain.

Yuan Shao hesitated. Seeing that others were also reluctant to speak, he realized this might indeed be the key to defeating Liu Bei.

With a hearty laugh, Yuan Shao declared, "Very well, if this is the only way to defeat Liu Bei, then what do I have to fear?"

Shen Pei opened his mouth, ready to explain further, but Xu You stepped forward and said, "My lord, don’t think of it that way. This formation is extremely risky. Liu Bei’s troops are formidable, and in equal numbers, we can’t match them. So your position in the central army is actually very dangerous."

Yuan Shao paused and scanned the room. "War is always dangerous, and victory is never easy. Back at Jieqiao, Gongsun Bogui had me under such pressure that I could barely breathe. But here I stand, while Gongsun Bogui is but a forgotten name!"

"My lord, since I designed this formation, I will stand by your side under the central banner," Ju Shou said calmly, stepping forward.

"Very well! Yan Liang, Ju Shou, I leave my safety in your hands!" Yuan Shao rose, exuding a majestic aura. In that moment, everyone present—both civil and military officials—bowed before him.

"I will not let any harm befall our lord before I draw my last breath!" Yan Liang swore solemnly, more serious than ever.

"Enough with the ominous talk. With Gongyu here, there will be no such disaster!" Yuan Shao shuddered as an inexplicable sense of foreboding crept into his heart.

"I shall not fail to meet my lord’s expectations!" Ju Shou bowed deeply. As Yuan Shao watched, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this might be Ju Shou’s final bow. He reached out instinctively but was struck by another wave of uncertainty. Glancing around the room, he couldn’t help but feel that something about the atmosphere was off—everyone’s expressions seemed unusual.

Previous Chapter | | Next Chapter