Chapter 345: You are the first to kick open the southern gate of Wei State! If you want to save your life, there is only one way to choose!

"Jing Lue's words make sense. If we don't take Liyang now, when will we take it?"

Liu Bei laughed heartily, waved his hand and shouted:
"Pass on my order, all troops board the ship as soon as possible, and attack Liyang at night!"

Taishi Ci became even more confused.

Didn't we agree to attack Qin? Otherwise, why were food and fodder transferred to Luoyang, and why were 170,000 troops marched to Hongnong?

Otherwise, why would our Qingxu navy travel thousands of miles upstream along the river and arrive at Maojin Ferry?
Aren't we going to attack Tongguan? Why do we suddenly have to turn back by boat and attack Liyang instead?

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister, I am a little confused..."

Taishi Ci widened his eyes and looked at Liu Bei with confusion.

Liu Bei and Xiao Fang looked at each other, and a smile appeared on their faces.

"Ziyi, this is the prime minister's strategy of making a feint to the east and attacking in the west!"

Pang Tong pointed it out with a smile.

"Founding in the east and attacking in the west?"

Taishi Ci still didn't quite understand and his expression was still blank.

Pang Tong then told Taishi Ci the entire plan.

Taishi Ci suddenly realized, and the confusion in his eyes was gradually replaced by surprise.

Only then did he realize that the previous invasion of Hongnong by the Qin army was actually a disguised Wei army as a vicious plot for Yuan Shang.

He then realized that Liu Bei had issued a manifesto, issued an edict to attack the pseudo-Qin, and mobilized troops and food to Luoyang. All of these were strategies to paralyze Yuan Shang.

The purpose is to provide cover for the surprise attack on Liyang.

As for how to suddenly attack Liyang and catch Wei State off guard?
He relies on his navy.

It would take at least seven or eight days to walk back to Liyang by land. During this period, the Wei spies would definitely notice it and report it to Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang immediately, so that the two brothers would be warned and send reinforcements to Liyang in time.

It's different now.

With warships, the main force of the Chu army could take the Yellow River waterway and reach the city of Liyang within two days.

This was before the Wei spies could give warnings and before Yuan Shang could send reinforcements to Liyang, so they were able to land on the north bank and launch a surprise attack on the under-manned Liyang City.

This is Xiao Fang's strategy of taking advantage of the opponent's strategy.

"That's it, that's it."

"I should have guessed that with Prime Minister Xiao around, things wouldn't be that simple."

"It turns out that the king was pretending to attack Qin and actually attacking Liyang!"

"Great! This plan is truly ingenious!"

Taishi Ci, who suddenly realized the truth, couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

"Zi Yi!"

Xiao Fang patted Taishi Ci on the shoulder and said with an expectant smile:
"Whether my plan will succeed, whether the king can quickly capture Liyang and kick open the southern gate of Hebei, depends on how fast your warships can send my army to Liyang."

"If this battle is successful, you will be the chief contributor to the king's destruction of Wei!"

The words "the chief meritorious minister" instantly ignited Taishi Ci's fighting spirit.

His face was so excited that it was distorted, and he bowed generously:

"I hereby give you a military order to send my army to Liyang within two days!"

"I will lead the troops to Liyang, cut off Yuan Tan's head and present it to the king!"

Liu Bei was filled with pride and patted him on the shoulder:

"With your words, Ziyi, how can I not win this battle?"

"Let's get on the boat and set off!"

Following Liu Bei's imperial edict, after nightfall, the Chu army soldiers boarded the ship under the cover of darkness.

Under the command of Taishi Ci, the Qingxu navy transported nearly 60,000 soldiers on land and sea, and traveled day and night downstream to the east, heading straight for Liyang.

Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong and other generals led the main force and the rear army, turned around and headed towards Baimadu along the land route.

According to the prior deployment, Guan Yu commanded more than 30,000 troops and continued to stay in Shan County, pretending to continue attacking Tongguan under Liu Bei's royal flag.

Wei Yan, Huo Jun and Xu Shu, who were recalled to Nanyang, took command of the Jingzhou army and pretended to launch an attack on Wuguan.

At the same time in Qingzhou, Gan Ning, Chen Deng, Xu Sheng, Jiang Qin and others also led the Qingzhou Chu Army and launched an attack on the Qingzhou Wei Army led by Chunyu Qiong on the agreed date.

Nearly 250,000 Chu troops began to act according to the plan on a battle line stretching for thousands of miles.

...

Liyang, north bank of the Yellow River.

Inside the mansion, Yuan Tan was drinking fine wine and listening to the actors singing little songs, enjoying a rare moment of leisure and relaxation.

On the table in front of him was the latest intelligence that Liu Bei was mobilizing all his troops to attack Qin.

The 170,000 Chu troops had entered Hongnong, and the Chu navy also passed under his nose and went upstream to join Liu Bei's main force.

There were less than 5,000 Chu troops left at Baimadu on the south bank.

When the situation reached this point, it was inevitable that Liu Bei would fight to the death with Qin, and it was also a foregone conclusion that Wei would get a chance to catch its breath.

As the southern gateway of Wei State, it was the first place to be attacked by the Chu army in the north. When it was confirmed that Liu Bei was going to attack Qin, Yuan Tan felt relieved and a big stone fell from his chest.

There is nothing wrong with having a drink, listening to some music to celebrate and relax.

"The big-eared thief is going to attack the fake Qin, and the threat to us will be lifted. This is a great thing."

"Why are you still frowning?"

Seeing Guo Tu with a gloomy face, Yuan Tan asked with a smile.

Guo Tu, who was already worried, suddenly realized something and shuddered.

"My Lord, Liu Bei will not attack Liyang, but it won't be long before we die at the hands of Yuan Shang!"

"At this critical moment of life and death, are you still in the mood to drink and listen to music?"

Guo Tu's face was as gloomy as iron, and he questioned Yuan Tan in an almost agitated manner.

Yuan Tan shuddered, the smile on his face instantly disappeared, and he asked in shock: "Gong Ze, what do you mean by this? Why do you and I have to die at the hands of Yuan Shang?"

Guo Tu's face turned pale and he sent all his personal guards and actors away.

"As the saying goes, there can be no two suns in the sky, and no people can have two masters. Yuan Shang held the king hostage, forged an imperial edict to forcibly inherit the throne of King Wei. He gained the country illegally, so he must be guilty and will definitely eliminate dissidents!"

"My Lord, you have been fighting for the throne with Yuan Shang for so many years, and now you have your own army and are pretending to obey him but secretly disobeying him. In his eyes, you are a thorn in his side!"

"Do you think Yuan Shang will tolerate you, my Lord?"

"Now that he has secured his throne, Liu Bei has mobilized the entire nation to attack Qin. The external threat to our Great Wei has been temporarily resolved. This is a great time to stabilize the country."

"If he doesn't use the knife on you now, when will he do it?"

Guo Tu's stern words made Yuan Tan shudder and almost spill the wine in his glass.

"Gong Ze, are you saying that Yuan Shang is going to attack me?"

Yuan Tan put down his wine glass in a hurry, and his voice was trembling slightly.

Guo Tu sighed and said with a bitter face:

"Not only is he going to attack you, Young Master, Yuan Shang has clearly already done it!"

Yuan Tan was stunned.

Guo Tu raised his hand and pointed in the direction of Qingzhou:
"Earlier, Yuan Shang issued an imperial decree to transfer Chunyu Qiong to be the governor of Qingzhou, and took away more than 10,000 soldiers and horses, asking him to recover the lost territory of Qingzhou. This is to clip your wings, young master!"

Yuan Tan was startled again, and after a slight pause, he said:
"Chun Yu Zhongjian is from Ruying. If he takes charge of Qingzhou, wouldn't that be equivalent to taking charge of Qingzhou for me?"

"As for the lost territory he recovered, it was also for me. How can this be considered as clipping my wings?"

Seeing that Yuan Tan was still so naive, Guo Tu said with a bitter face:

"Chun Yuqiong is from Ruying, but he is not a loyal subject to the eldest son."

"Now that our Ruying faction is isolated and powerless, and Yuan Shang's succession to the throne is a foregone conclusion, it is reasonable for him to change his faction and find a way out for himself."

"Besides, I heard news from Yecheng that many of Chunyu Qiong's sons and daughters were highly valued by Yuan Shang and given important positions. This clearly shows that Yuan Shang was trying to win him over by showing him favor."

"If Yuan Shang were to use his troops against the eldest prince someday, would Chunyu Qiong obey the eldest prince's orders and lead his troops to help, or would he stay in Qingzhou and wait and see?"

Yuan Tan's face changed drastically and he suddenly woke up.

Earlier, when Yuan Shang issued an imperial edict to transfer Chunyu Qiong to lead his army to Qingzhou to take up the post, he thought it was a good thing.

After all, Chunyu Qiong is one of my own, so I feel more at ease if he goes to Qingzhou to take charge of the situation. The territory that is recovered is also recovered for me.

Not only him, but also Guo Tu at that time did not realize that there was such a trick involved.

Now that Guo Tu reminded him, he suddenly realized that he had been tricked by Yuan Shang.

"Gong Ze, if that's the case, why didn't you say so earlier?"

"If you had warned me earlier that this was Yuan Shang's evil plan, how could I have let Chunyu Qiong accept his order, and how could I have let him take away half of my troops?"

Yuan Tan, who suddenly came to his senses, questioned Guo Tu angrily.

Guo Tu's forehead was covered with sweat and he looked ashamed:
"This was indeed a miscalculation. I didn't weigh the pros and cons carefully. I never expected that Yuan Shang's edict would contain such a vicious intention."

"Logically speaking, this plan is not like the style of Ju Shou and Tian Feng, and even the fool Shen Pei could not think of such a vicious plan."

"Who in Ye City has the ability to come up with such a vicious plan for Yuan Shang?"

When Guo Tu was guessing.

The personal guards outside the hall entered holding up a piece of silk book, claiming that it was the handwritten edict that Yuan Shang had just delivered.

Yuan Tan and Guo Tu looked at each other and immediately became alert.

Yuan Tan then took the so-called handwritten edict with full of suspicion and opened it nervously.

It is more like a family letter than an imperial edict.

Yuan Shang said in a very tender tone that Yuan Shao's birthday would be in a few days, and that Yuan Shao missed them, his sons, and summoned him and Yuan Xi back to Yecheng to celebrate his birthday, and for the father and sons to have a reunion dinner.

"Could it be that my father's illness has improved and he has woken up?"

Yuan Tan's eyes lit up and he looked quite surprised.

Guo Tu rolled his eyes a few times, but his figure stood still and he said anxiously:

"It doesn't matter whether the king has awakened or not. What matters is that Yuan Shang is preparing to take action against you, young master!"

"He is trying to call you back to Yecheng under the pretext of celebrating the king's birthday. Once you go there, you will be like a sheep walking into a tiger's mouth and will surely be harmed by him."

"If the eldest son does not go to celebrate the birthday, he can use the eldest son's unfilial behavior as an excuse to lead his army to attack Liyang!"

"We only have 15,000 soldiers and horses at our disposal, and we have lost Chunyu Qiong and Qingzhou as external support. How can we be a match for Yuan Shang?"

Yuan Tan's face turned pale with horror and he sat down with a thud.

A complete chill spread throughout the body.

He smelled death.

"You are so good, Yuan Shang. We are brothers, but you really want to harm me!"

"You are a cruel and ruthless person, worse than a beast!"

"Hateful, hateful~~"

After Yuan Tan cursed for a while, he asked Guo Tu:

"Gong Ze, that beast Yuan Shang wants to kill me, how can I just sit there and wait for death?"

"Tell me, how should I deal with this?"

Guo Tu pondered in silence, stood up and paced in the hall, his mind racing, thinking hard about a countermeasure.

After a long time, his eyes flashed and he suddenly stopped, his eyes seemed to show that he had made some major decision.

After a pause.

Guo Tu took a deep breath and said helplessly:

"My Lord, at this point, if we want to save our lives, we only have one option."

(End of this chapter)