ushernet Chapter 217 Heading to Luoyang to Respond to the Emperor's Arrival
Chapter 217 Heading to Luoyang to Respond to the Emperor's Arrival
Guo Tu's main motivation was to enhance his standing in Yuan Shao's eyes. He claimed that everything he possessed was thanks to Yuan Shao, and only by increasing his influence in Yuan Shao's mind could he gain more benefits.
Upon hearing Guo Tu's words, everyone in the hall cursed him inwardly. "Sycophant! He's willing to take on this infamy just to flatter his lord. You know, once this news gets out, countless Confucian scholars will curse you to death, Guo Tu."
This isn't about dealing with foreign tribes or rebels; these are the people under our own rule. Everyone here knows that doing this is the best option right now, but once we do it...
In the future, if Yuan Shao were to answer the question about Yanzhou again, he would face immense resistance. However, judging from Yuan Shao's demeanor, everyone understood that this was something Yuan Shao had already decided, and was simply waiting for them to say it.
Sure enough, not long after Guo Tu finished speaking, Yuan Shao, who had been frowning, smiled with satisfaction. Guo Tu was indeed a trusted confidant. While thinking about this, Yuan Shao glanced at Xu You and thought, "I've been so good to you, why didn't you say so?"
Seeing Yuan Shao's gaze, Xu You felt a sudden alarm bell ring in his heart. Oh no, Yuan Shao must have remembered his reaction just now. If it weren't for Xu You's several merits and the many good ideas he had given Yuan Shao, he would have immediately switched places with Guo Tu.
Xu You quickly said, "My lord, I believe Lord Guo's suggestion is excellent and worth trying."
With Xu You saying this, the population migration was basically a done deal, and all that was left was for the people below to carry it out.
By the time the intelligence agents in the district discovered the unusual activity in Yanzhou, it was too late. Large numbers of able-bodied men and young women had already been voluntarily gathered and headed towards Hulao Pass. Moreover, Yuan Shao's special envoy had already headed towards Luoyang, determined to secure more benefits for Yuan Shao.
Yuan Shao was determined to acquire the Luoyang arsenal, in particular!
The rapid changes in Yanzhou shattered Chen Er's original plans, leaving him with no option to directly attack Yuan Shao at this time, as that would be untenable.
Although Chen Er was not afraid of what others said, as a man and a man of his word, Chen Er believed that he should have a reasonable reason. Yuan Shao's relocation of the people within his jurisdiction had nothing to do with Chen Er. At most, Chen Er could only criticize Yuan Shao for his disregard for human life based on reason and emotion.
“We cannot simply watch Yuan Shao relocate all the people of Yanzhou; we must stop him as soon as possible,” Chen Er said to Tian Feng.
“But we lack a reason to declare war,” Tian Feng said.
The district he governed had always cultivated an image of "I will not offend others unless they offend me." Chen Er and others could not afford to ruin the image they had painstakingly built. After thinking for a while, Chen Er said, "If there is no reason, then create one. Immediately send someone to inform Yuan Shao and the whole country that the district I governed is sending an organization to Luoyang to support the emperor."
Chen Er didn't want to be seen as bullying the weak for the time being. He needed a reason to use force in the district he was in charge of, otherwise all the other smaller forces would unite against him.
That was not the situation he wanted to see. The district he was governing had always been forced into the war, and he couldn't afford to ruin that image now that the situation was so favorable. Not to mention the variables of Liu Bei and Sun Quan, who were also chosen ones. It was better to be cautious.
"Does the lord mean to pressure Yuan Shao to make the first move?" Tian Feng immediately understood Chen Er's meaning, but obviously he hadn't thought as far ahead as Chen Er.
Chen Er said, "Yuan Shao will definitely not fire first. He will let our people advance straight to Hulao Pass. During this time, Yuan Shao will definitely try his best to avoid direct conflict with our organization. Once we reach Hulao Pass, if Yuan Shao does not let us pass, then we will have the reason we need."
Tian Feng and Gao Shun immediately understood Chen Er's meaning. Although the reason was still far-fetched, it was not entirely untenable, especially from the perspective of righteousness.
Chen Er's actions were reasonable. After all, the Han Dynasty was still the nominal ruler of the world. I was obeying the emperor's decree to mobilize troops. Did you dare to disobey?
If you don't comply, you are traitors. As the regent entrusted by the late emperor and the Prince of Wei appointed by the emperor, I have the duty to eliminate you rebels!
Chen Er's political abilities are gradually improving. As the strength of the districts he governs continues to increase, Chen Er has moved away from the old method of solving problems entirely through organizational means.
His first thought now is how to solve problems through political pressure. Organizational matters are merely a continuation of politics, and will only be used when political means fail. Of course, in the current empire, only Chen Er has the power to say such a thing.
Every other power is desperately trying to expand its strength, because only with strength can one have a voice! This is an eternal truth.
Currently, the Xuzhou Arsenal has begun emergency ammunition production, while the firearms production line has been temporarily suspended. The autonomous region does not lack firearms at present, and there are at least more than 50,000 Type 2 Autumn Rain rifles in the war reserve warehouses in various places.
If it weren't for the secrecy regulations, the reserve forces of the autonomous region might have been equipped with the standard rifles of the active-duty troops.
After the entire army completed its re-equipment, the Yuyang Arsenal did not stop its rifle production line. Instead, it reduced production and maintained a minimum production efficiency to ensure the normal operation of the production line.
However, the artillery production line has maintained the highest production speed to meet the equipment needs of the entire army. But so far, only two-thirds of the troops in the entire autonomous region have completed the formation of artillery units.
The moment a part of the First Army Corps of the Autonomous Region entered Yanzhou, Yuan Shao received a report from the border defense forces. However, Chen Er requested passage through Yanzhou under the pretext of serving the emperor, and Yuan Shao had no way to refuse the Autonomous Region's request. However, Yuan Shao knew very well that the Autonomous Region had ill intentions and was trying to use this route to attack Guo!
However, the autonomous region's army held the moral high ground, leaving Yuan Shao with no choice but to order his troops to closely monitor the autonomous region's movements. At the same time, he also ordered Hulao Pass to strengthen its defenses and reorganize its defenses, and transferred most of the army's artillery to Hulao Pass to defend against the autonomous region's actions.
As Yuan Shao had predicted, a part of the First Army Corps of the Autonomous Region arrived fifty miles east of Hulao Pass and sent a messenger to request the garrison at Hulao Pass to clear the road, as they wanted to enter the pass to defend the emperor.
The warlords who had been paying close attention to the situation in Luoyang sent out spies to keep a close eye on the movements at Hulao Pass. All the warlords understood what the consequences would be if Chen Er's power extended into Guanzhong. They were all hoping that Yuan Shao could withstand the pressure from the autonomous region and prevent the autonomous region's army from passing through the pass.