Chapter 462: Difficult Breakthrough

After hearing Yuan Xi's words, Gongsun Kang was shocked and showed an extremely surprised look on his face.

It's not that he didn't believe it, but in his opinion, Yuan Xi's words were too outrageous!

Since the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of Han established the Four Han Commanderies, which once incorporated most of the Korean Peninsula into the territory, leaving only a few hundred miles of land in the southernmost part for the Three Han. However, decades later, due to the defects of the vassal system, the Han court could not support the expenses and began to gradually abandon Zhenfanlintun and other commands.

From then on, the then poor Goguryeo began to take the opportunity to encroach on the territory of Xuantu County and constantly harassed Lelang County, while posing a threat to Liaodong where Gongsun Du's family is now located. Until today, because of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Han court has been completely unable to take care of the border, causing the ethnic groups in the border areas to become more restless.

In later generations, because Gongsun Du's family was massacred, the remaining subjects were either killed or relocated inland, leaving Liaodong and Liaoxi vacant. Goguryeo took advantage of the situation and took the opportunity to rise up, becoming a potential threat on the border in the future.

From the Han and Tang Dynasties to the Ming Dynasty, for thousands of years, China wanted to expand its territory and bring the Korean Peninsula back to China, but due to various reasons, it ultimately failed.

Since Yuan Xi knew this outcome, he would definitely not let Goguryeo get away with it. Everyone thought that the Korean Peninsula was cold and barren, but in Yuan Xi's eyes, there was no such thing as rotten land, it only mattered how to make use of it.

Yuan Xi's current situation cannot be considered good, but it is definitely not bad either. After all, even in the late Han Dynasty, the various princes in the Central Plains were able to hold these dishonest foreign tribes against them. However, after the chaos of the Three Kingdoms, things went from bad to worse. After the Five Barbarians' Invasion of China, the Central Plains could never recover to the peak period of foreign policy during the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms for thousands of years.

Therefore, Yuan Xi tried every means to persuade the Gongsun family to unite against the outside world. If he fought with the Gongsun family at this time, it would only benefit outsiders.

But Gongsun Kang didn't think so. He thought to himself, the other party said so much, isn't this just a strategy of driving the tiger to devour the wolf?

Let the Gongsun family fight in the front, and then let your Yuan family stab them in the back?

You want Gongsun family to fight for you with just a few promises without any evidence. Do you really think Gongsun family is so stupid?

Yuan Xi saw Gongsun Kang's expression and knew what he was thinking. He smiled and said, "I know that you still don't trust the Yuan family. This is human nature."

"So I'll take the first step of sincerity."

"My commitments are as follows."

"First, we will hand over the new grain farming method and the method of manufacturing water conservancy tools to Gongsun. If they are manufactured according to the law, the grain harvest will increase significantly within a few years."

"Second, we will open a trade fair. Youzhou will buy and sell goods with Gongsun clan at preferential prices."

"Of course, the trade will mainly be conducted by sea. Youzhou will be responsible for the construction of ports and the cost of trade routes, but the ports will also be managed by Youzhou."

"Third, try to mediate the relationship between Gongsun clan and Qingzhou. I know that pirates led by Guan Hai and Guan Cheng have appeared in Qingzhou. The Gongsun clan's merchant caravan has suffered heavy losses, but they are helpless. I can find a way to resolve this matter."

"Fourth, I want to build up power for the Gongsun clan around the emperor. I am now the governor of Xuzhou, and Zilong is the governor of Youzhou. We can recommend filial and honest people and outstanding talents, and recommend the children of the Gongsun clan to serve as officials in the court."

"Kong Wenju and I have always been close friends. With the help of the two of us, whether Gongsun can get a fiefdom and title in the future by the emperor's side will depend on Gongsun himself."

(Kong Rong) has great ambitions, and wants to lead an army, fight for merit with the wise men, and establish roots in the sea and mountains. -- "Jiuzhou Chunqiu"

The so-called "making friends with heroes on the sea and in the mountains" mainly refers to Gongsun Du who crossed the sea. Gongsun Du and Kong Rong, one in the east and one in the west, one in the south and one in the north, echoed each other and were allies with the same spirit. But later Kong Rong was defeated by Yuan, and Gongsun's power in Qingzhou was almost uprooted.

Now that Kong Rong was serving as an official beside the emperor, this was a great opportunity for the Gongsun family to establish relations with the Han court.

Gongsun Kang was quite excited at first, but when he heard the fourth point, he almost rolled his eyes. Everyone knows that it was you, the Yuan family, who defeated Kong Rong. Now you are saying that the relationship between the two sides is close?

Yuan Xi saw Gongsun Kang's disbelief and said with a smile, "Whether it is true or not, we will know it when Gongsun sends someone to meet the emperor."

"When I returned Kong Wenju's wife and daughter to him, he was very grateful to me, and the friendship between the two sides became closer. You can check this out, young master."

Others on the side didn't notice anything, but Ju Shou and Zhao Yun tried hard to stop twitching on their faces, thinking that the young master really dared to say that.

When they were in Huaicheng, they saw with their own eyes how Kong Rong gritted his teeth when he saw Yuan Xi. How could this be called a close relationship?

However, seeing Yuan Xi's solemn words, Gongsun Kang couldn't help but believe it to about 70%. After all, Yuan Xi's reputation had been extremely loud in the world in the past two years, especially in welcoming the emperor, where he played an extremely important role.

Although Yuan Xi did not attend the event in person, it was precisely because of this that many counselors marveled at his ability to strategize, and he had never been defeated as he walked step by step from Beixincheng. From Tian Chou and Liu Bei, to Kong Rong and Gongsun Zan, and then to Sun Ce and Yuan Yao, all of them suffered great losses at his hands.

Therefore, even the powerful Gongsun clan in the north had to carefully consider the consequences of becoming an enemy of Yuan Xi when facing him.

Gongsun Kang hesitated for a while and said, "According to what the envoy said, we should make friends with the Wuhuan and deal with the Xianbei and Goguryeo?"

"Let's not talk about Wuhuan. It would be difficult for Gongsun to fight against two parties at the same time, right?"

Yuan Xi said, "As for this, I suggest that Gongsun should focus on dealing with Goguryeo first."

"As for the Xianbei, I'll find a way."

"If things don't go well, I will dispatch the Youzhou army to march eastward along the Great Wall and help the Gongsun family resist the foreign enemies."

After hearing this, Gongsun Kang thought that if what Yuan Xi said was true and the hidden dangers on both sides were resolved, then it would indeed be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Gongsun family!

Because the Gongsun clan was very ambitious, it was their established policy to split Liaodong, but the enemies around them were also a threat to them.

Being surrounded by many enemies, if one only thinks about defending the status quo, defeat is inevitable sooner or later, so expansion is the only way out.

Now with Yuan Xi's promise, Gongsun saw hope and could not give up this opportunity. Yuan Xi saw this clearly and boldly threw out the bait that Gongsun had to swallow.

Of course, the fish might break the line in the end, or it might bite back when it grows up, but Yuan Xi didn't care about that. As long as he could get more benefits than Gongsun and grow faster than Gongsun, he didn't need to worry about these.

After all, for Yuan Xi, a stable rear is more important than anything else. What he most hopes to see is stability in the Liaodong Peninsula for five to ten years, so that he can free up his hands to compete for hegemony in the Central Plains.

What Gongsun needs is a window of opportunity, and so does Yuan Xi.

Gongsun Kang was already excited and said, "I'd like to hear more about it."

At that moment, Ju Shou and Guo Jia came out separately and explained to Gongsun Kang one by one how to deal with various situations and how Youzhou could help Gongsun family.

After talking for quite a while, Gongsun Kang saw that Youzhou had prepared for almost every situation, and finally believed Yuan Xi's sincerity. He said, "I will go back right now and bring back everything the envoy said, word for word, to my father."

"If Father nods, the two sides can become allies."

"Then the Gongsun clan will show corresponding sincerity and repay you, sir."

Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Okay!"

"Then I will wait for good news!"

After the two sides had reached an agreement, Gongsun Kang was about to return. Yuan Xi asked, "Sir, why don't you stay in the city for a few days?"

Gongsun Kang replied: "On the way into the city just now, I have seen the blacksmith shop and water conservancy facilities. I know that Youzhou's development in the past few years is by no means a fluke."

"If the two sides join forces in the future, Kang must ask the envoy for advice."

"This matter cannot be delayed any longer. I cannot stay any longer. I will take my leave now."

Everyone sent Gongsun Kang out of the city, and soon his convoy disappeared at the end of the road.

Guo Jia sighed and said, "Among the descendants of the princes today, Gongsun Kang is considered outstanding."

"Their ambitions are not small, so we must be on guard against them."

Yuan Xi smiled and said, "In troubled times, everyone has big ambitions. It all depends on whether one has the corresponding ability."

Ju Su smiled and said, "Well said, sir!"

"But this time the pressure is coming to Youzhou. Let's not talk about the Wuhuan inside the pass, the Xianbei outside the pass are not so easy to talk to."

Yuan Xi nodded and said, "Indeed, in terms of survival, the Xianbei really don't need to look to Youzhou for support, so we need to contact the Northern and Southern Xiongnu."

Everyone nodded in agreement. With Gongsun's removal from the mess in Youzhou, the next problem that needed to be solved became much clearer.

The Xianbei could certainly enter the pass to plunder, but if the Xiongnu attacked from the rear and threatened their hinterland, the Xianbei would probably not dare to act rashly.

The next question is, what do the Northern and Southern Xiongnu need most, and what conditions can impress them, so as to never intimidate the Xianbei and make them afraid to move south easily?

Regarding this issue, Yuan Xi directly stated that he did not know, and then pushed this troublesome matter to several counselors including Guo Jia, Ju Su and Lu Xun to think about.

Seeing the contemptuous looks on their faces, Yuan Xi smiled bitterly and said, "If I say I can't do it, then I really can't do it. I won't pretend to be rich."

"Besides, there are still two remaining forces, the remnants of Gongsun Zan and the Wuhuan within the pass, and Zilong and I need to find a solution."

Faced with so many complex and entangled forces, it was impossible for Yuan Xi to send troops to conquer without the help of Jizhou soldiers. That would be simply seeking death.

So he could only dance on the edge of a knife, attack the enemy's strategy with his best tactics, and use negotiations and deals to solve problems on the battlefield.

Then the weakest force is the one that should be eliminated the most, and that is the remnants of Gongsun Zan.

Several months passed, with the end of autumn planting and the arrival of winter. Wars broke out frequently, and as the New Year was approaching, the opportunity to solve the problem gradually arrived.

Both Zhen Mi and Madam Wu are about to give birth.

Yuan Xi paced back and forth in the yard anxiously. He thought that Madam Wu should have been pregnant at least a month earlier than Zhen Mi. How could they both give birth at the same time?

He was a new father and was extremely nervous. The double anxiety and uneasiness mixed together made him feel very nervous. He wanted to go in and see if there was anything missing, but he knew that going in would only make things worse, so he had to endure it.

After all, this world does not have as safe a medical environment as later generations. The more outsiders there are, the easier it is to bring in dirty things and affect the health of the mother.

Yuan Xi was even more panicked at this moment than when he was on the battlefield. His mind was rapidly thinking over the arrangements he had made previously, wondering if there were any omissions.

Zhen Mi and Madam Wu eat very healthily every day, and they also exercise on weekdays, such as practicing the Five Animal Exercises, so they are in good shape. Madam Wu is familiar with it, and although it is her first time, Zhen Mi is young and has relatively good physical strength.

The medical instruments used in delivery are all sterilized by boiling water. The midwife is also literate. Not only is she experienced, she also went to charity school and received training from Hua Tuo's disciples on the relevant knowledge of preventing infection, which should prevent accidents to the greatest extent possible.

Yuan Xi found himself worrying too much, but he had to worry because in ancient times, childbirth was really a matter of life and death.

After an unknown number of hours, it was getting dark and Lu Lingqi came over to ask Yuan Xi to eat first, but Yuan Xi had no appetite. After waiting for an unknown amount of time, he finally heard a cry.