"Of course, credible!"
Man Chong turned his gaze to the emperor and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the sea vessels are sailing along the coast smoothly without any concern."
"In the tenth year of Jian'an, the Emperor dispatched Zhang Liang to conquer the Donglao County of Qingzhou, and defeated the army under Gongsun Du under Liu Yi. Liu Yi was the one who floated across the sea."
"A little earlier, officials dispatched from Luoyang to Liaodong were by land to Donglei County and then across the sea to Liaodong. Whether military ships or civilian ships, the route had become quite mature."
Cao Rui nodded and said, "That makes sense. If Sun Quan can send people to Liaodong to meet Gongsun Yuan, what's so difficult for a mere Bohai to allow passage? It's I who overthought this matter."
...
On May 19th, when the troops were still preparing to leave from the city of Wulü under Emperor Wei's command, Gongsun Yuan in the city of Xiangping in Liaodong had already learned of the approaching army.
Fear, nothing but fear.
For such a significant matter, Gongsun Yuan naturally needed to summon his officials to discuss it together. Before the discussion began, Gongsun Yuan called four people, Guo Xin, Liu Pu, Bi Yan, and Yang Zhuo, into the inner hall of his mansion and discussed it privately.
To be honest, at this moment, Gongsun Yuan held several official titles. He could be referred to as the Administrator of Liaodong, the General of Cavalry, and the Marquis of Xiangping.
All are family treasures.
Moreover, these are family treasures that Gongsun Yuan has self-appointed without the recognition of the court.
Liaodong Administrator is a hereditary position in his family, passed down from his grandfather Gongsun Du, father Gongsun Kang, and uncle Gongsun Cong.
Xiangping Marquis is a title granted to him by Cao Cao after his father Gongsun Kang sent the heads of Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi to him.
General of Cavalry is a title taken from his uncle Gongsun Gong, who was imprisoned by him. It was also forcefully taken by Gongsun Yuan.
Interestingly, his father Gongsun Kang was the left general and Xiangping Marquis. His uncle Gongsun Gong was the General of Cavalry and Pingguo Marquis. Gongsun Yuan took one more prestigious title from each of them, which made people smile at the thought.
An unauthenticated governor, general, and marquis, what can they amount to in the presence of an emperor? Naturally, they would feel apprehensive.
Gongsun Yuan sat stiffly with a serious expression, his hands shaking slightly in his sleeves, but from the outside, it gave the impression of being calm and composed in the face of danger.
General of Cavalry's long-serving official Guo Xin bowed and said, "Our Lord, previous discussions have already reached a conclusion that the attacking army from Wei is far away, and we should defend ourselves at the strategic locations of Liaodong. We should take advantage of the favorable conditions and terrain to compel Wei's army to retreat."
Gongsun Yuan did not move a muscle; he simply sighed and said, "Last year when the Wei Emperor summoned me to court for an audience, I anticipated that this day would come sooner or later when I refused with my memorial. I just didn't expect it would be so soon."
"The Wei Emperor has come from so far away, traveling 3,000 miles from Luoyang. Haven't you heard that 'the strength of a strongbow cannot penetrate thin cotton fabric at the end of its power'? How can I be afraid of him?"
Liu Pu, a military official, bowed and said, "Your words are correct. Those from Henan cannot understand the geography of Liaodong. During summer, the Liao River overflowed, and during autumn and winter, it froze. The Wei army will certainly return without achieving their goals if we can hold Liaotun for a few months."
Gongsun Yuan nodded, "Both of you have spoken well, but who among you can guard Liaotun and fend off the Wei army?"
The two generals Bi Yan and Yang Zhuo echoed in unison.
Bi Yan led the way and said, "Your servant, Bi Yan, has been honored by your great grace and selected from among the ordinary people. I willingly go to Liaotun to lead the army and repay your great kindness!"
Yang Zhuo also said roughly the same thing: "I also wish to go to Liaotun! As people from the border regions, we have long been looked down upon by the world. Now that our Lord has a cavalry of ten thousand and four hundred thousand infantry, we are more than capable of defeating the Wei army and establishing ourselves comfortably in Liaodong!"
"I see that after this battle, our Lord can ascend to the throne and be crowned as a king!"
Without knowing whether it was from choking or being shocked by Yang Zhuo's grandiose words, Gongsun Yuan quickly waved his hand and coughed a few times, saying, "You two are my trusted generals; I will use your abilities to control the army. I cannot let you lead the army outside."
Bi Yan and Yang Zhuo looked at each other for a moment, and their faces simultaneously showed signs of confusion.
Guo Xin, the long-serving official, bowed and asked, "If our Lord does not wish to send Generals Bi and Yang, then there is only one other person who has the ability to command the troops in Liaodong—Old General Gongsun."
Gongsun Yuan sighed heavily and said, "My uncle is nearly 60 years old. He has previously defeated the Goguryeo and subdued the Baekje under my orders. There is no one more suitable to lead the army."
"The city of Liaotun already has 5,000 infantry. I will order all 5,000 infantry from Beifeng, Pingguo, Anshi, and Xinchang to be moved to Liaotun. I will also reinforce him with troops from Xiangping!"
Having said that, Gongsun Yuan abruptly stood up and said to Guo Xin and Liu Pu, "Yuan Kang, Boming, you two come with me to my uncle's mansion. Let's invite him to lead the army to Liaotun." Guo Xin and Liu Pu rose and bowed in response.
The Gongsun family has been able to hold onto Liaodong for three generations, and there is still a bit of foundation in the family. The 'uncle' Gongsun Yan mentioned by Gongsun Yuan is already 60 years old. He was a commander who helped the Gongsun Du and Gongsun Kang fathers repeatedly invade Goguryeo and Baekje.
As a distant relative of the Gongsun family in Liaodong, Gongsun Yan was not particularly interested in the main lineage succession of the family.
Not only Gongsun Yan, but most people in Liaodong shared the same view. Gongsun Yuan, as the legitimate son of Gongsun Kang and the legitimate grandson of Gongsun Du, was not some outsider from a branch family. It was their own family's matter either way; why not support him?
Being personally invited by Gongsun Yuan, Gongsun Yan stood with a humble attitude and bowed in reverence. He was full of the cultural connotation of facing danger and saving the situation, and he had no intention to refuse.
He only took half an hour to arrange his family affairs and then left the city of Xiangping with several household officials for Liaotun, which is about one hundred and fifty li away.
When Gongsun Yuan and Guo Xin, Liu Pu returned to the Prefectural Government Mansion, he summoned the two generals, Bi Yan and Yang Zhuo, to join him.
"What arrangements do you have, Your Lordship? Will you order reinforcements for Liaotun?" Guo Xin asked as he followed Gongsun Yuan into the mansion.
Guo Xin's question was common sense. After all, as the long-serving official of the General of Cavalry, he has always coordinated Liaodong's civil and military affairs.
Gongsun Yuan quickly pulled off his outer robe, sat cross-legged on the mat, and his tone became urgent: "Yuan Kang, if we dispatch troops tomorrow, how many soldiers are available within and outside the city of Xiangping?"
Guo Xin paused for a moment and answered seriously, "Since the second year of Taiping, our Lord has recruited two more thousand soldiers. Now the total military strength of the four districts in Liaodong is five thousand. There are one thousand cavalry and four thousand infantry."
"The troops stationed near Xiangping consist of eight thousand cavalry and twenty thousand infantry, all of whom are seasoned elite soldiers."
Gongsun Yuan asked again, "What is the name of the messenger who arrived from Wu Liucheng to Xiangping? Who else knows this military situation?"
Guo Xin shook his head and said, "Your Lordship, how can such critical military information be leaked? I have already looked after the messenger in the guesthouse. Apart from the four of us and Old General Gongsun here, no one else in Xiangping knows about this."
Gongsun Yuan bit his teeth together, scanned the faces of the four men, and forced out a few words between his teeth, "Then, order the troops to be fully prepared. We will set out for the march tomorrow!"
Just now, Gongsun Yuan promised Gongsun Yan that they would quickly gather troops to support Liaotun. Now it seems that the entire army will be sent to support it.
Military official Liu Pu furrowed his brow and bowed to advise, "It may not be appropriate to send out the entire army. What if Wei's army bypasses Liaotun or attacks from the north of Liaozhi?"
"Sopian is the largest city among the eighteen counties of Liaodong, and it should never be unprepared under any circumstances. Moreover, our Lord is a person of great importance; how can he risk going to Liaotun and being on the front lines?"
Gongsun Yuan counter-asked, "Who said I was going to Liaotun?"
Where else could he go?
Guo Xin asked tentatively, "Your servant is unaware of Your Lordship's intentions..."
Gongsun Yuan slammed his fist onto the table and shouted, "When my father and ancestors ruled Liaodong, they defeated Goguryeo to establish their military reputation. I have been on the throne for two years, and Goguryeo has repeatedly shown signs of disloyalty. It is time to invade their country and establish our dominance!"
"Eradicate Goguryeo by attacking their capital city Balladong, located on the Mountballadong!"
Guo Xin was greatly shocked, rose from his seat without bowing, and asked directly, "With the Wei army coming from the west, why is our Lord not going to Liaotun to help Old General Gongsun resist the Wei army but instead marching eastward?"
"It is indeed the right time to punish Goguryeo, but not now! Once the army departs, the governors of Liaotun and other regions in Liaodong are likely to flee. At that time, the four districts of Liaodong will no longer be under control of the Gongsun family!"
"Yes, Your Lordship, how can we march east?" Liu Pu stood up to continue his counsel.
Bi Yan and Yang Zhuo, the two generals, were also consulted at this time.
This arrangement is too abnormal, even somewhat foolish! When others are attacking your home, you don't defend, but instead take your entire military force to fight the neighbor to the east?
Gongsun Yuan stood up, crossed his arms, and looked at the four men, showing no fear at all. He shouted repeatedly, "Are you asking me to fight the Wei army at Liaotun? How are we supposed to fight? Who is going to fight? Can we really win?"
"Bi Yan, Yang Zhuo, can you defeat Cao Ruixi?"
"After four years of reign, Emperor Cao Ruoxi of Wei, the current ruler, knows how many people Sun Quan was captured in the south by Wei in Mianhu. It was no less than 50,000! As for Shu Han, do you know that it was the mighty Cao Cao who could not take Hanzhong, but it was conquered by Cao Ruoxi's own campaign!"
"If he did not personally lead his army to Liaodong, I would naturally be brave enough to defend it. But since he has come here with his own forces, the most sensible thing for me to do is to lead the army eastward to Goguryeo, wait until winter comes and the Wei's supply lines break, and then take back Liaodong!" (Chapter ends)
