Chapter 868: Yuan Shao Joins the Fray

Jia Xu's reasoning wasn't entirely solid, but after his explanation, both Lu Su and Guo Jia understood the situation. They knew they had to maintain a certain level of loyalty to the Han dynasty. While Liu Bei was indeed loyal to the Han, unfortunately, this loyalty wasn’t directed towards the current emperor.

At least, now wasn’t the time to draw the emperor’s attention—this was a consensus shared by Guo Jia, Jia Xu, and others. Later, when Cao Cao's ambitions clashed with the emperor’s authority, there would be more room to maneuver.

This situation had been set in motion a long time ago. No one involved would deviate from this path because it concerned everyone’s interests. In the future, this would represent both legitimacy and righteousness, and, on a more pragmatic level, it would give Liu Bei the legal and moral standing to act freely.

"Make sure everyone is prepared. The decisive battle could begin at any time. Also, this is the best chance we have to disrupt both Zhou Yu’s and Cao Cao’s momentum," Jia Xu stated. The reason he hadn’t mentioned Sun Ce was because everyone could see that Sun Ce’s strategies were primarily devised by Zhou Yu.

Lu Su and Guo Jia exchanged glances, both nodding in agreement. They understood the weight of the matter. Yuan Shao, the largest threat, had to be dealt with swiftly. Ending this conflict sooner would bring the unification of the land closer, allowing the Han dynasty to be restored even faster. This was the goal they had been striving for all along.

"I’ll personally notify Wenru about this. Wenhe, keep an eye on Yuan Shao, and Fengxiao, manage the overall situation between both sides. When the time is right, be sure to rein things in," Lu Su said, looking at the two before him.

The next day, Liu Bei’s forces launched a massive assault against Yuan Shao’s army. The battle raged from dawn to dusk, with heavy losses on both sides. Even Guan Yu, leading the elite Daoshuo troops in a charge, was wounded in the left arm by an arrow. Yan Liang, Guan Yu’s opponent, also suffered multiple arrow wounds. After this fierce battle, Yuan Shao’s forces retreated ten miles.

Despite both sides incurring heavy casualties, Liu Bei’s army had suffered more, especially during their direct assault on Yuan Shao’s camp. However, it was Yuan Shao’s forces that retreated, not Liu Bei’s.

The reason for this lay in the fact that Liu Bei’s army had begun to gain a psychological advantage over Yuan Shao’s, making it difficult for Yuan Shao’s soldiers to accurately gauge the losses on Liu Bei’s side.

"We can’t continue like this!" Tian Feng exclaimed as he threw the casualty report onto Shen Pei’s desk. "Today alone, we lost over 2,000 soldiers in battle, and 7,000 more were seriously wounded. These are all heavy injuries, rendering them unfit for combat for a long time. If we keep fighting like this, we’ll soon run out of soldiers!"

"Liu Bei’s army has developed a complete medical system far earlier than us. It’s hard for us to catch up," Xu You remarked with a bitter smile. He had tried every tactic—night raids, harassment, splitting forces—but Guo Jia had countered each move, keeping Xu You in check.

"Have you any advice, Gongyu?" Tian Feng asked Jushou.

"We’ve received reports from within the enemy ranks that Liu Bei’s forces are preparing for a decisive battle," Jushou replied after a moment of silence.

"That’s absurd! The situation is still unclear. Do they really think they can defeat us in a single battle?" Shen Pei shouted, his voice filling the tent.

"My sources confirm that a detachment of Liu Bei’s troops has already reached Jizhou’s Wei Commandery," Jushou said, frowning.

"A sneak attack on Ye City?" Shen Pei exclaimed, surprised. "But according to Youru’s letter, Chen Xi and Liu Ye are still tied up on the Puyang front, and the situation there has been dragged into a strategic deadlock."

Xu You tapped the table and raised his head. "I think we’ve forgotten someone important. Liu Bei doesn’t just have the five prominent advisors we’ve seen. There’s another formidable figure who is currently bedridden in Mount Tai."

"If that’s the case, who is defending the southern line?" Tian Feng asked, frowning. "Fazheng may be young, but our intelligence indicates that he was the primary strategist behind pacifying Huai Bei and conquering Xuzhou. He also played a key role in ending the southern threat to Liu Bei."

"He’s more than qualified to oversee Huai Bei, command the forces in both Xuzhou and Yuzhou, and maintain pressure on Huainan. He’s already proven his genius on the battlefield," Feng Ji, though often at odds with Tian Feng, agreed with his assessment. Now wasn’t the time for internal disputes.

"Exactly. Maintaining control over Huainan is crucial for Liu Bei, as it prevents him from having to fight on two fronts, thereby conserving his resources. Liu Bei would need someone with sufficient authority and skill to command the southern defenses, and Fazheng and Zhang Fei are the best choices," Guo Tu added.

"No, I don’t think that’s the case. Based on Liu Bei’s deployment when he marched into Yuzhou, I’ve noticed something different," Jushou interjected.

"You’re saying he left Huai Bei’s defenses in the hands of that young, inexperienced Zhuge Liang? How could that be possible? Even if Zhuge has talent, he wouldn’t be able to command Liu Bei’s third brother. This isn’t just about ability—only a few people under Liu Bei’s command have the authority to lead someone like Zhang Fei!" Feng Ji exclaimed in disbelief.

"No, it’s very possible. You’re underestimating them. Being young and inexperienced doesn’t mean lacking ability. In other places, it might be an issue, but not in Mount Tai. Chen Xi defeated the Yellow Turbans at just 18 years old. Fazheng pacified Huai Bei and crushed Yuzhou’s forces before he was 20. It wouldn’t be surprising if Zhuge Liang were capable of this!" Shen Pei said solemnly. "They are truly extraordinary individuals."

"Moreover, the defense of Huai Bei may not even require Zhang Fei. Taishi Ci is also a very suitable candidate. Unlike Zhang Fei, Taishi Ci has no issues with authority, making him an ideal choice," Jushou added gravely. "So, it’s very likely that the forces attacking Wei Commandery are led by Fazheng and Zhang Fei."

"This isn’t too concerning," Dong Zhao said calmly. "General Jiang is a cautious and reliable man. No matter how brilliant Fazheng’s strategies might be, he won’t be able to significantly threaten Ye City. Their forces are too small for a direct assault. Their only option is a stealth attack."

"But this means that Ye City’s supply lines are now in jeopardy. Moreover, there have been some issues in Qinghe as well. Zuo Zhi and Wen Bo can’t match Xu Shu and Wei Yan, though the transportation of supplies via the noble families has remained unaffected. Still, Xu Shu and Wei Yan are... quite troublesome," Tian Feng said, suddenly feeling a heavy cloud of doubt settling over him. Liu Bei’s advisors were all so young, much younger than their counterparts.

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