Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Within the main tent, below Yuan Shao, civil and military officials were arrayed with strict discipline.

Among the civil officials were Tian Feng, Shen Pei, Xu You, Guo Tu, and Feng Ji, serving as strategists.

Among the military officials were Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Qu Yi, Gao Lan, Zhu Ling, and Chunyu Qiong, serving as top generals.

(PS: During this period, Tian Feng had resigned and returned home, and Shen Pei was a clerk from Wei Commandery seized by Yuan Shao. Therefore, these two were already under Yuan Shao's command, while only Ju Shou, as a subordinate of the State Governor, was still by Han Fu's side.)

Yuan Shao's gaze shifted, and the invisible authority he exuded almost instinctively caused people to submit, and he said.

"Yuan Gonglu suffered a great defeat in Jing Province. Except for Nanyang Commandery, Jing Province will almost entirely be gained by Liu Xuande. What are your opinions on this?"

Tian Feng, who was at the head of the strategists, stepped forward and said.

"The fame of Imperial Uncle Liu Xuande's benevolence has spread throughout the land. He has a wealth of talent under his command. Among the civil officials, there is the national scholar, and among the military officials, there are Zhao, Guan, and Zhang, each capable of fighting ten thousand men. Now, gaining Jing Province is undoubtedly like adding wings to a tiger, eyeing the Central Plains with ambition, perhaps with the intention of swallowing it whole."

Then, Tian Feng's tone changed, and he said.

"In the future, the one who will compete with you, my lord, for supremacy and to establish dominion over the world will likely be this man. However, Imperial Uncle Liu has already gained momentum, while you, my lord, are still being constrained in one place by Gongsun Zan. While striving to catch up, you should also send envoys to contact Yuan Gonglu to abandon the south and attack the north."

"Although Yuan Gonglu suffered a great defeat, the Yuan family has deep roots in Runan. It will only take a year or two to recover. You can let Yuan Gonglu use Nanyang as bait, feigning to station troops, but in reality, advance north with all his strength to Yanzhou and join forces with you, my lord, at the Yellow River."

"In this way, the two Yuans will meet, and the north and south of the Yellow River will be connected as one. They can advance together to sweep across Ji, You, and Bing Provinces, and retreat to help Yuan Gonglu resist and contain Liu Xuande from continuing to grow."

"Furthermore, by using the Yuan family's reputation to form alliances, attacking the north and defending the south, figures like Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei, and Lu Bu are nothing more than minor troubles. The world can be pacified within ten years."

After hearing this, Yuan Shao did not fly into a rage as he had in the past upon hearing about uniting with Yuan Shu, but instead pondered the feasibility with a furrowed brow.

Ji Province and Yu Province were, in fact, only separated by Yan Province and the Yellow River.

However, as soon as Tian Feng finished speaking, Guo Tu stood up to refute, saying, "This plan seems feasible, but in reality, it is a castle in the air and must not be used."

"Why do you say that, Gongze?" Tian Feng asked.

Guo Tu cupped his hands and asked in return, "Even if we don't consider that Yuan Gonglu is a person who doesn't care about the overall situation and may not be willing to unite with you, my lord, when the two Yuans unite like this, who should be the leader?"

After a pause, Guo Tu drew a circle in front of him with his finger and said.

"Furthermore, you must know that Yanzhou is Lu Bu's route to the east. Once Yuan Gonglu advances north, he will inevitably be attacked with full force by Lu Bu. At that time, Yuan Gonglu will be attacked from both sides, and his situation will be even more difficult."

After hearing this, Shen Pei said loudly.

"Gongze has not understood Tian Yuanhao's intention. Tian Yuanhao's earlier statement about using Nanyang Commandery as bait is not simply about stationing troops, but is likely intended to have Yuan Gonglu cede Nanyang Commandery to Lu Bu."

"Cao Mengde of Qing Province is a subordinate of you, my lord. You can order Cao Cao to assist Yuan Shu in advancing north into Yanzhou. How dare Lu Bu act rashly? Furthermore, by using Nanyang Commandery to win over Lu Bu, Lu Bu will naturally not refuse Nanyang."

"In this way, Liu Xuande and Lu Bu can be made to compete in Nanyang, causing these two tigers to fight each other and suffer losses."

"And with the alliance of you, my lord, Yuan Gonglu, and Cao Cao, you can instantly span across the four provinces of Ji, Yan, Yu, and Qing. Who can be your opponent? By slowly plotting, the world can be obtained easily."

Upon hearing this, Guo Tu considered it for a moment, feeling somewhat displeased, but he did not focus on some minor flaws to deliberately nitpick, but instead cupped his hands to express his agreement before sitting down.

However, Xu You also stood up and said.

"I know Cao Mengde best. He seems respectful to you, my lord, but in reality, he harbors ambitions. Now, taking the opportunity to rise in Qing Province, he is likely plotting something else."

Feng Ji smiled and said, "As long as the two Yuans meet, spanning across both sides of the Yellow River, even if Cao Cao has many ideas, he will have self-awareness."

However, Xu You was far less optimistic than the other strategists. Knowing the deep contradictions between Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, he subtly reminded his colleagues, saying.

"However, Yuan Gonglu has always been unwilling to submit to you, my lord. It may not be easy to persuade Yuan Gonglu to abandon Nanyang Commandery and compete for Yanzhou and unite with you, my lord."

However, Tian Feng not only did not follow Xu You's words to give Yuan Shao a way out but instead directly said.

"Whether this plan succeeds or not depends entirely on your intention, my lord. I hope that you can put aside some personal grievances and prioritize the overall situation, and try to persuade Yuan Gonglu."

It must be said that this group of strategists under Yuan Shao's command can be described as resourceful.

Almost in a few words, they not only analyzed the current situation of the world clearly but also easily discussed a general plan by checking for omissions and filling gaps.

However, Tian Feng's question also threw the problem back to Yuan Shao.

However, Yuan Shao raised his hand to stroke his carefully groomed short beard, his gaze shifting slightly, and said.

"Since it is beneficial to the overall situation, what are my likes and dislikes worth mentioning?"

"Furthermore, I know Yuan Gonglu best. What he wants to see is nothing more than me bowing my head slightly. Grant him what he wants, and then mention helping him take Yanzhou, and I'm not afraid that he won't agree."

As soon as these words came out, all the strategists could not help but admire him.

Abandoning personal likes and dislikes and prioritizing the overall situation.

These words are simple to say, but few in the world can do this.

What's more, the situation in Ji Province is not good.

Gongsun Zan led his army to press closer step by step, and Yuan Shao had to transfer troops to fully defend Jieqiao, forming a stalemate.

One carelessness, and Yuan Shao would lose everything.

But even in such a desperate situation, Yuan Shao remained unwavering and even had the energy to pay attention to the overall situation of the world and make arrangements.

This calm and confident demeanor also made the civil and military officials in the main tent admire this heroic spirit.

Immediately, Yuan Shao personally wrote a letter on the spot and sent Chen Lin, a famous scholar who had some friendship with Yuan Shu, as an envoy, dispatching a team of personal guards to escort Chen Lin to Yu Province that very day, showing his decisiveness.

After personally sending Chen Lin as an envoy, Yuan Shao once again discussed the battle of Jieqiao with the civil and military officials under his command.

Now, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan and Han Fu are confronting each other across the Qinghe River, and the center of the stalemate is the Jieqiao Bridge that spans the Qinghe River.

This Jieqiao Bridge, whether it is Yuan Shao or Gongsun Zan, has tacitly not had any intention of destroying it, but instead has been conducting offensive and defensive operations around the Jieqiao Bridge.

Gongsun Zan did not destroy the Jieqiao Bridge because he was worried that Yuan Shao would shrink back into the city to defend it.

Yuan Shao did not destroy the Jieqiao Bridge because he was also afraid that Gongsun Zan would rely on the high mobility of his cavalry to disperse and plunder and destroy everywhere.

After Yuan Shao and the civil and military officials carefully analyzed Gongsun Zan's latest movements, he said.

"Now, Gongsun Bogui and I have been stalemated at Jieqiao for half a year. How long do you think Gongsun Bogui can endure?"

"Either before the winter snowfall or in the spring of next year."

Tian Feng, as always, took the lead in speaking bluntly and gave his judgment.

Guo Tu retorted without hesitation.

"Yuanhao's view is somewhat biased. Gongsun Bogui will definitely not fight a decisive battle with you, my lord, before winter."

(End of this chapter)