Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Han Fu and Gongsun Zan were never truly unbreakable allies.

Therefore, Gongsun Zan was also wary of Han Fu, lest all his efforts only benefit Han Fu.

Furthermore, since the provisions needed by the army in Guangzong were provided by Han Fu, Gongsun Zan was in no hurry. He was happy to station his troops there, constantly depleting the resources of both Han Fu and Yuan Shao.

In all fairness, Gongsun Zan, as a seasoned general who had roamed the frontiers for many years, had military strategies that should not be underestimated. Seemingly reckless, he was actually scheming against both Han Fu and Yuan Shao.

Currently, the initiative rested entirely in the hands of Gongsun Zan's cavalry. Both Han Fu and Yuan Shao could only be led by the nose by Gongsun Zan.

However, Gongsun Zan's strategy undoubtedly gave Yuan Shao a chance to breathe.

It was evident that Gongsun Zan, who prided himself on his mighty cavalry, did not regard Yuan Shao as an equal opponent.

'Such negligence may lead to unforeseen changes...'

Guo Jia thought silently, then turned his gaze to the map hanging on the side.

Although the terrain around Jieqiao was mostly plains, the Jie Bridge spanning the Qing River could only accommodate three to five riders abreast, making it strategically important.

However, Gongsun Zan decided to remain stationed and continue to deplete Yuan Shao and Han Fu's supplies, waiting for a suitable day for a decisive battle.

Even though Guo Jia felt that the longer they delayed, the more variables would arise, he knew he couldn't persuade Gongsun Zan and didn't bother to waste his breath.

Instead, Guo Jia spent his days gathering intelligence from various sources and observing the terrain around Guangzong.

While in Guangzong, Guo Jia not only learned about the situation in Ji Province but also gained a deeper understanding of the current state of affairs in the Central Plains.

At the same time as the battles in Ji Province and Yi-Jing Provinces erupted, wars frequently broke out in other prefectures and counties of the Han Dynasty.

In Qing Province, Cao Cao, after spending more than half a year, initially quelled the Qing Province Yellow Turbans and successfully occupied most of Qing Province.

However, after years of devastation by the Qing Province Yellow Turbans, many areas had become desolate, with countless people suffering.

In order to quickly restore the people's livelihood and produce money and food, Cao Cao, at Xun Yu's suggestion, imitated Yang Province and implemented the "Military Agricultural System" in Qing Province, using all the captured Yellow Turbans and a large number of Qing Province people for land reclamation.

Besides that, the remnants of Dong Zhuo's forces in the Three Auxiliary Regions, under the pretext of avenging the Chancellor, fought several battles with Lu Bu.

However, with the assistance of Chen Qun and Chen Gong, and with the support of Sili Province, Lu Bu, leading the Bing Province wolf cavalry, displayed the demeanor of the world's foremost warrior, defeating the equally matched Dong Zhuo's remnants, almost losing Hangu Pass.

Since then, the conflict between Lu Bu and Dong Zhuo's remnants had come to an end.

Based on various intelligence reports, Guo Jia judged that Dong Zhuo's remnants would likely try to retake Liang Province first before attempting to attack Sili.

And Lu Bu, who had grasped the righteousness of the imperial court, began to accumulate strength after defeating Dong Zhuo's remnants, preparing to march east out of Hulao Pass to seize Yan Province and occupy the Central Plains.

'A chaotic world where heroes rise together...'

While Guo Jia lamented, he was more concerned about the direction of the battle in Jing Province.

Unfortunately, due to the distance, the information from Jing and Yang Provinces was undoubtedly much delayed in reaching Ji Province.

The latest information Guo Jia had about Jing Province was that Liu Biao had defeated 50,000 troops from Yi Province and had begun to advance towards Ba Commandery, while his teacher, who was stationed in Chaisang, remained inactive.

...

Just as Guo Jia couldn't help but worry about the situation in Jing and Yang Provinces, Sun Qian's letter was delivered to the Chaisang camp.

"Finally, it has arrived!"

Holding the letter with the seal of the Governor of Jing Province, Li Ji couldn't help but smile.

With this letter, Yang Province had a legitimate reason to send troops towards Jing Province.

"Send troops!"

At Li Ji's command, the Chaisang camp, which had been preparing for days, moved into action. Countless soldiers immediately began boarding ships.

On the surface of the Yangtze River, there were already dozens of ships waiting in a mighty formation.

In just half a day, the 70,000 troops who had been continuously gathering in Chaisang were all on board the ships, and then they marched upstream along the Yangtze River towards Jing Province.

Among the 70,000 troops led by Li Ji, 10,000 navy soldiers were used to operate the ships, and the real usable combat troops were only about 60,000.

Among them, Zhang Fei led 3,000 cavalry, Tian Yu led 2,000 White Horse Volunteers, and the remaining 55,000 were infantry.

As for the food and supplies needed for the troops, they had already been stored on the ships, and subsequent food supplies would continue to be transported to the front lines by the navy.

The fleet formed by dozens of ships was undoubtedly a grand sight unseen on the Yangtze River for hundreds of years.

Not to mention that Jing Province was currently unable to block it, even if Jing Province still had the strength, it simply did not have a navy that could fight it.

And the flags of "Liu" and "Li" hung by this fleet announced the identity of the comers to the entire Jing Province along the way.

In just five days.

This huge fleet went upstream along the Yangtze River, and then entered the tributary Han River, arriving at Yicheng, a hundred miles away from Xiangyang, for landing.

...

When this news reached Yuan Shu's camp, Yuan Shu spat out the honey water that he had not yet swallowed, and shouted.

"What did you say?!"

"The Yang Province army appeared in Yicheng, a hundred miles away." The scout replied in fear.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!!"

Yuan Shu first shrank his pupils, waved his hand to deny it, and picked up another piece of intelligence that had been delivered half a day ago on the desk, and shouted.

"It was clear that an informant sent intelligence half a day ago, saying that the Yang Province army was still stationed in Chaisang. How could it be possible to cross nearly a thousand miles to reach Yicheng in just half a day?"

"But, but I saw..."

Before the scout could continue, Yuan Shu waved his big hand and shouted angrily. "Come on, drag this spy who is disrupting the morale of the army and falsely reporting military information down and kill him!"

"Injustice! Injustice..."

The scout kept shouting injustice, but he was dragged down abruptly, and the voice quickly stopped.

Even though Yuan Shu had determined that what the scout said was untrue, he still had a sense of fear and unease, which made Yuan Shu's expression full of gloom.

Yuan Shu may often be rated as the "Skeleton King", but it does not mean that Yuan Shu is a fool.

The threat from Yang Province made Yuan Shu feel equally threatened by Li Ji, who was stationed in Chaisang.

Therefore, Yuan Shu also sent a large number of spies and informants around Chaisang to constantly investigate the movements of the Chaisang camp.

It was because he learned that Liu Bei seemed to be restrained by some benevolence and kinship, and Chaisang had been inactive, that Yuan Shu was so relieved to besiege Xiangyang, boasting that Jing Province was already in his pocket.

"That's right, it must be fake. Even if Li Ji is an immortal, it is absolutely impossible for the army in Chaisang to appear in Yicheng in just half a day. It must be Xiangyang."

Yuan Shu reiterated, as if to reassure himself.