Lord in the Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 274: East County Within Reach

The battlefield in Xuzhou had become a stalemate due to Long Chen’s arrival.

Neither Cao Cao nor Long Chen dared to make reckless moves or launch large-scale attacks on each other.

The reason was simple: both feared significant losses among their soldiers.

It was well known that many warlords across the land were closely watching the situation in Xuzhou!

Xuzhou was a prized territory with vast fertile lands, abundant resources, and a large population.

In other words, whoever controlled Xuzhou would essentially gain a windfall, or more accurately, acquire a golden goose that laid golden eggs.

This would bring in a constant flow of wealth.

This was why, despite being a place of constant warfare, Xuzhou was highly valued by the warlords.

To prevent any opportunistic warlords from reaping the benefits while Long Chen and Cao Cao were locked in a fierce battle, both armies tacitly agreed to avoid large-scale engagements. Instead, they conducted daily challenges and sent their fierce generals to duel.

The bleak autumn wind swept across, stirring up yellow dust and covering the sky.

The somber and murderous aura of the golden spears and iron horses on the battlefield was overwhelming, causing countless civilians to hide in their homes, not daring to venture out.

Leaving the city now was tantamount to seeking death.

Cao Cao, dressed in red and black armor, looked cold and stern. A closer look would reveal signs of fatigue on his face.

This was not surprising. The prolonged stay of his army outside the city was a heavy burden on supplies and logistics.

Every day spent here resulted in significant consumption of money and provisions.

After all, Cao Cao was leading an army of over a hundred thousand troops!

Cao Cao couldn’t afford to waste time, but Long Chen could.

First, Long Chen’s army numbered only fifty thousand, leading to lower consumption.

Second, with Xuzhou’s governor Tao Qian bearing the brunt of the provisions, Long Chen had no fear of Cao Cao.

In other words, the longer the standoff, the more advantageous it was for Long Chen.

Moreover, Long Chen’s primary objective in coming here was to delay Cao Cao’s army.

Sitting on the Ice Dragon King and gazing toward the east, Long Chen thought to himself, "I wonder how Lü Bu and Guo Jia are faring in Yanzhou..."

Logically, with Guo Jia there, Long Chen shouldn’t worry, but the prolonged lack of news made him anxious.

If this drags on, Cao Cao, the formidable warlord, might risk everything in a decisive battle.

At that time, Long Chen’s army would undoubtedly suffer significant losses, something he did not want to see.

After all, these fifty thousand elite soldiers were Long Chen’s treasure and foundation. Losing them would have a huge impact on his control over Yangzhou.

It might even cause the emperor Liu Xie to have other thoughts...

Meanwhile, Lü Bu and his light cavalry were marching through dense forests.

To avoid exposing their position, Guo Jia ordered the army to travel light and take mountain paths instead of main roads.

Many soldiers in the army were natives of Yanzhou. Guo Jia selected loyal and reliable ones as guides, and under their leadership, the army advanced quickly.

Lü Bu, having not fought for a long time, was itching for battle. Riding the divine steed Red Hare, he complained:

"Advisor, haven’t we reached the heart of Cao’s territory yet? My halberd can’t wait to taste blood."

Guo Jia rolled his eyes internally. While Lü Bu’s martial skills were unmatched, his personality was... not suited for a commander...

But outwardly, he respectfully said, "General, please be patient. We are currently heading to Dongjun, the capital of Yanzhou. Once there, you can unleash your divine might."

Hearing the term "divine might," Lü Bu smiled. He loved hearing praises of his martial prowess, which made him more fond of Guo Jia.

However, thinking about the long journey ahead, he asked again, troubled:

"Sir, why don’t we just charge straight in?! It’s quicker and will terrify the officials of Yanzhou!"

Ah, truly a brave but rash man!

Guo Jia shook his head internally. Before launching the surprise attack on Yanzhou, he had done thorough preparations.

He had gathered information on the Cao officials stationed in Yanzhou. freewёbnoνel.com

This information naturally came from the Jinyiwei (Embroidered Uniform Guard).

The two officials Guo Jia was most wary of were Cheng Yu and Xun You.

Both were familiar to Guo Jia, especially Xun You, as both hailed from Yingchuan in Yuzhou.

Historically, it was Xun You who recommended Guo Jia to Cao Cao, making their private relationship very close.

However, now they served different masters, and with differing interests, past sentiments no longer applied.

Reflecting on this, Guo Jia shook his head and reminded Lü Bu:

"What did the Lord say before we left?"

"Uh..."

Lü Bu scratched his head, looking embarrassed, and said:

"The Lord said, when the army is in the field, all matters should follow the advisor’s orders."

"In that case, can you comply?"

Guo Jia invoked Long Chen’s authority, leaving Lü Bu with no choice but to stay silent and continue begrudgingly.

On the journey, Xu Rong frequently sought military advice from Guo Jia.

Through these interactions, Guo Jia’s opinion of Xu Rong gradually improved.

This person showed considerable strategic acumen, and with proper training, he could become a capable commander in the future.

Considering Xu Rong was personally recruited by Long Chen, Guo Jia couldn’t help but admire his lord’s sharp insight, being able to recognize and bring in such a rare talent. Truly impressive!

With such a lord, how could they not bring peace to the chaotic world? It was only a matter of time...

*Cough cough...* Guo Jia felt his body growing weaker as he coughed a few times.

Looking up at the darkening sky, he noticed the army was in the mountains, where the cold and damp air exacerbated his frail condition.

After setting up camp for the night, the army continued their march at dawn.

According to their guides, they were now less than a hundred miles from Dongjun.

Once they crossed Qingfeng Mountain, they would soon see the city of Dongjun.

Upon hearing this news, Lü Bu felt invigorated, eager to take up his halberd and charge the city.

Gao Shun and Zhang Liao were also ready, itching to showcase their prowess in the upcoming battle.

Having surrendered to Long Chen, they now served under him and felt a strong sense of loyalty. Long Chen’s appreciation for their skills was something they had never received from Lü Bu. Moreover, Long Chen’s approachable nature contrasted sharply with Lü Bu’s arrogance, endearing him to his generals.

Guo Jia, clad in a white brocade robe and holding a feather fan, looked every bit the scholar. With each wave of his fan, it seemed as if the enemy would collapse without a fight.

If Long Chen had seen this display, he would have given Guo Jia full marks for style.

But one couldn’t blame Guo Jia. Coming from humble beginnings, now commanding such elite troops naturally gave him a sense of pride.

Even the slight cold he felt the previous night had mostly dissipated.

"Advisor, Dongjun is within reach. Please give the order, and I shall lead the troops to break the city!" Lü Bu said, his eyes fierce.

Lü Bu harbored deep resentment towards Cao Cao. Now, finally getting a chance to strike at him, he was eager to make the most of this opportunity.

Guo Jia, seeing Lü Bu’s eagerness, responded, "General, patience. A direct assault may seem appealing, but it’s not always the best strategy. We must ensure our plan is foolproof."

Lü Bu, though itching for battle, nodded. He knew Guo Jia’s strategies were often successful, and he trusted his judgment.

The army continued their advance with renewed vigor, ready to confront Cao Cao’s forces and claim victory for Long Chen.