Chapter 81: Stormy

Yuan Xi was secretly observing Zhang He.

Because Zhang He had previously been a subordinate of Han Fu, he was currently only a Commandant. He had not yet been promoted for his contribution in conquering Gongsun Zan, making him even less prominent than Gao Lan.

Therefore, Yuan Shao readily agreed when Yuan Xi requested him.

Zhang He appeared to be not very old, seemingly under thirty, with a sharp look in his eyes and sitting upright on his horse.

"Brother Junyi," Yuan Xi suddenly said.

Upon hearing this, Zhang He quickly turned sideways, clasped his fist and said, "I dare not, you can just call me Zhang He, Prince."

"Alright, Brother Junyi."

Zhang He was speechless, thinking, 'Call me whatever you want.'

"Brother Junyi, are you married? Is your wife from Ji Province?"

Zhang He was taken aback and involuntarily replied, "This humble general is already married. My wife is from the Li family of Ji Province, a family of little significance."

Yuan Xi breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, she wasn't from the Zhen family, or he would really have a headache.

Zhang He became alert.

Why is the Second Prince Yuan asking this?

Could it be that he has special preferences?

I must keep my wife away from him!

In fact, Yuan Xi was also troubled, wondering how to deal with Zhang He and Gao Lan, the two biggest variables in the Battle of Guandu.

Calculating the time, if everything goes smoothly, Gao Lan should have already been persuaded by Qu Yi to go to Mount Tai Commandery.

Previously, Yuan Xi, under the identity of Yin Hu, had Zhang Miao write a letter to Liu Bei of Xu Province, hoping that even if he couldn't persuade Yuan Shao to send troops to Mount Tai Commandery, he could at least have Liu Bei fill the void.

If Liu Bei could inadvertently save Cao Song, the predicament of Xu Province might be alleviated somewhat, which would be better than Cao Song dying.

Now that he had successfully obtained the troops, he had to make multiple plans.

The best-case scenario would be that he successfully rescued Cao Song and left without any conflicts.

The worst-case scenario would be that he might encounter the troops of Zhang Kai, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei simultaneously at the place where Cao Song was being held, and the situation might become uncontrollable.

To prevent this, a few days ago, when he learned that Gao Lan's wife was Zhen Rong, he immediately sent someone to inform Qu Yi, who was waiting outside the city, to immediately bring Gao Lan out from the cellar in a village at the border of You and Ji provinces.

Yuan Xi was glad that he hadn't killed Gao Lan on a whim, otherwise, things would be much more troublesome.

However, after this incident, regardless of the outcome of his gamble with Gao Lan, Qu Yi was no longer suitable to appear in Ye City. What if Gao Lan went back on his word?

Thinking that Qu Yi might only be able to stay in You Province for a long time, Yuan Xi couldn't help but curse Yuan Shang, the instigator, in his heart. That man was too cunning!

Seeing that Yuan Xi was silent, Zhang He felt a little uneasy and asked, "Prince, do we have a specific location to go to in Mount Tai Commandery?"

Yuan Xi reacted and said, "The approximate location should be between Hua County and Fei County."

Upon hearing this, Zhang He said, "News has come back that Cao Cao's army has recently captured Fei County and even massacred the city. If we go, will it be too late?"

Yuan Xi sighed inwardly, 'How would I know?'

'I don't really have the art of observing the stars. I can only rely on the general historical trend to guess, and even if I guess correctly, I may not be able to rescue him as I wish.'

Yuan Shang's series of schemes made Yuan Xi realize that in this chaotic world, no one is simple, and all he can do is try his best.

Although Yuan Xi thought so, he put on a confident appearance on the surface and said, "The news I received should be very accurate."

"Cao Cao should not have discovered Cao Song's whereabouts yet. After they capture Fei County, they should attack towards Jimo first, which is located in the Beihai State of Qing Province, and they might just miss Cao Song's location."

Yuan Xi's words were all based on the historical trend of later generations. He had no other choice, after all, he really didn't know the situation in Mount Tai Commandery now.

Zhang He was shocked. What's going on with the Second Prince Yuan? Is he just talking nonsense?

Why would Cao Cao attack Qing Province for no reason?

He lowered his head and pondered, is the Second Prince Yuan testing me, or is he examining me?

Suddenly, his body shook, and he raised his head, exclaiming, "The Prince is amazing!"

"He is dull, and only now has he figured out the key!"

Yuan Xi was stunned, what key?

Zhang He exclaimed, "The Prince is brilliant. Last year, Cao Cao attacked Xu Province, capturing more than a dozen cities. When he returned, he plundered Fei County, Hua County, and Rencheng."

"After Cao Cao returned to Yan Province, these cities were reoccupied by Tao Qian, and some of the population was relocated."

"Now, Cao Cao has sent troops again, less than a year since the last time. Fei County and Hua County have just recovered a little, but they are still very poor, certainly not as wealthy as Jimo, which has not been ravaged by war."

"The purpose of massacring cities is to allow the soldiers to plunder food and wealth and boost morale. In comparison, Jimo, which has more population and wealth and has not yet been massacred, is obviously a better choice!"

"The Prince is wise!"

Yuan Xi was dumbfounded, is that how it works?

I didn't even think of that!

You're even answering before I ask!

However, he thought about it again, and what Zhang He said really made sense!

Otherwise, why would Cao Cao provoke Tian Kai for no reason?

He really is… plucking feathers from a passing goose.

He immediately smiled and said, "Brother Junyi, great minds think alike!"

"In that case, let's march with all our might, and we can arrive within five days!"

Zhang He nodded and said, "Alright, since the Prince has ordered it, He will definitely arrive!"

Normally, Zhang He would never have said this. Wei Commandery and Mount Tai Commandery are hundreds of miles apart, and even if the soldiers ran to death, they would not be able to arrive in five days.

At that time, the soldiers were wearing straw sandals. Even if they could arrive after days of marching, their feet would be ruined, and how could they fight?

However, when Yuan Xi came to Zhang He to muster troops, he additionally requested hundreds of mules and donkey carts.

At that time, Zhang He was a little puzzled. Five hundred soldiers, with a hundred carts of supplies, should be enough. What were the extra two hundred mules for?

It wasn't until Yuan Xi had the soldiers sit on the mule carts that Zhang He suddenly realized that they were for transporting people!

He secretly praised it in his heart. Although this would require pulling dozens more carts of fodder and grain, it undoubtedly greatly increased the marching speed.

However, only the lord's son would be so extravagant as to bring soldiers to fight, right?

A mere former Yellow Turban general, Zhang Kai, leading a few hundred troops who were almost bandits, needed five hundred elite soldiers?

At that time, Zhang He obviously did not realize who he would encounter on this trip to Mount Tai Commandery, and how the situation would develop.

However, Zhang He began to re-examine Yuan Xi.

The lord's sons are indeed all extraordinary!

Not to mention the eldest and third sons, the second son has been defending a solitary city for three years. Judging from his movements on horseback, he is definitely a veteran who has been through many battles.

It's just a pity that the Second Prince is too ruthless. Hearing that Gao Lan was killed by him, I'm afraid no generals will dare to attach themselves to him.

Yuan Xi didn't expect that his casual words would make Zhang He imagine so much. He raised his head and looked at the sky, which was still drizzling, and wondered if this trip would be a wild goose chase in Mount Tai Commandery, or if he would encounter something?

On a mountain road in Ji Province, Qu Yi led dozens of iron cavalry galloping and laughed loudly at Gao Lan beside him, "Gao Lan!"

"I didn't expect that I could still live to fight, right!"

"Now, every battle I fight is a bonus, it's worth it!"

Gao Lan remained silent.

Shut up, I'm not the same as you, I have a wife!

Within the territory of Xu Province, Zhang Fei shouted loudly at the soldiers, "Run faster! If you run so slowly, do you want to be whipped?"

Guan Yu said upon seeing this, "The soldiers are already tired, they can rest for a while."

Zhang Fei snorted.

Under the city of Jimo, Cao Ren and Yu Jin commanded the soldiers to carry soil to attack the city, and screams were heard from time to time on and off the city.

Children who had escaped from Fei County by chance ran barefoot in the muddy mountains, running towards the unknown distance.

The turmoil of the late Han Dynasty, the joys and sorrows of people of different status, the struggles and the chaos of survival, all converged and surged under the same sky.