Chapter Ten: The Governor of Western Liaoning

  Two days later, the east of Liu City was filled with dust and smoke, war flags were flying high, and a team of horses and men came over in a mighty manner. It was clear that Zhao Bo's reinforcements had arrived. The Xianbei people also saw that the situation was not good, abandoned their four-sided siege of Liu City, and retreated ten miles to the west to set up camp. This time, Zhao Bo led an army of 20,000 men to come, but Liu City's Wubao was too small, and it could not accommodate so many troops at all. Therefore, Zhao Bo stationed his main force outside the city, and he only entered the city with a few followers.

  Gongsun Yang led a group of subordinates and members of the Gongsun family out of the city to welcome Zhao Bo. Originally, Liu Ze was just a commoner and didn't have the qualifications to meet with the governor, but after he created the willow city lanterns, Gongsun Yang looked at him in a new light and specially included both Liu Bei and Liu Ze on the list of people to be welcomed.

  Liu Ze learned from the whispers of people around him that Zhao Bao and Zhao Zhong, one of the ten eunuchs with great power, were brothers, but he was ashamed to mention it and did not associate with him. Zhao Bao was brave and righteous, filial to his mother, had been appointed as a Xiaolian, served as the magistrate of Guangling County, governed clearly, and promoted to be the Taishou of Liaoxi. After taking office, he repaired the city defenses, strengthened military preparations, repeatedly defeated the Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes that came to plunder Liaoxi, beheaded countless people, and the Xianbei people both hated and feared him. Zhao Bao adopted an iron-fisted policy towards foreigners, but treated the people of Liaoxi like his own children, opening up wasteland, settling the people, and in the corrupt officialdom at the end of the Han Dynasty, Zhao Bao was a rare good official.

  Soon, Liu Ze saw a man in military uniform, Governor Zhao Bo. Zhao Bo was about forty years old, with a lean face, piercing eyes, and a reddish-yellow beard. Although his face was etched with the fatigue of long-distance travel, his eyes betrayed anxiety and worry.

  Gongsun Yang and others all bowed their hands in salute. Zhao Bo waved his hand and directly asked about the current military situation in Liu City.

  Gongsun Yang reported the facts as they were, but he was helpless about the matter of Zhao Guo's mother being kidnapped.

  "Commander Zhao, the Xianbei people are clearly aware of Lady Zhao's identity and are on high alert. I have tried several times to launch a surprise attack with light cavalry, but to no avail. Moreover, the Xianbei people are gathering in increasing numbers, and my forces are limited. I can only send a message to Commander Zhao, requesting that you dispatch reinforcements to drive back the Xianbei, rescue Lady Zhao and the commander's wife."

  Zhaobao knew that Gongsun Yang had indeed done his best, the Xianbei people's ferocity and bravery were renowned, this time they came with a strong momentum, and it was impossible to resist them with just a few thousand troops in Liucheng.

  "With a great enemy at hand, let's discuss the strategy to retreat. If Liu City falls, I fear for the lives of the people in western Liao. As for my mother and wife, they come second. Oh, by the way, how did Commander Gongsun think of using lanterns to send signals? That lantern seems special."

  "This lamp was not made by me, Liu City was besieged, I sent people to break through the siege and send messages several times but all failed. Fortunately, my brother had a friend in Zhuo County named Liu Ze who was good at ingenious skills, he made this Liu City message lamp, and only then could the news be transmitted to Yang Le." Gong Sun Jue reported truthfully.

  Zhao Man was very curious and asked: "What is this person doing?"

  Gongsun Yang nodded towards Liu Ze, who immediately stepped forward and bowed to Zhao. "Liu Ze from Zhuo County pays his respects to Governor Zhao."

  Zhao Guo looked at Liu Ze, who was only 13 or 14 years old and had a rather slender build, and couldn't help but feel some doubt. "Is this Liu Cheng's lantern really made by your own hands?"

  "Hui Taishou, this lantern of Liu Cheng was indeed made by my own hands, and as for the craftsmanship, it was passed down to me by my master."

  "This official was very curious, how could this letter kite fly up into the sky? And how could it accurately fall into Yang Le City?"

  "The lantern is actually very simple to make, using willow branches to form a cage-like structure, covered with hemp paper. When the candle at the bottom is lit, hot air fills the lantern and it can float in the air. At this time, the west wind was blowing, and Yang Le City was east of Liu Cheng, so the lanterns floated towards the east. When the candles burned out, they would fall to the ground. I made dozens of lanterns with candles of varying lengths, ensuring that at least one or two would land within Yang Le City."

  Zhao Bao sighed and said, "Liu Gongzi is so young, yet he has such an extraordinary skill, it's truly astonishing. This 'Lychee City Signal Fire' method, if equipped in the military for transmitting messages, would be extremely beneficial. This time, Liu Gongzi has indeed achieved a great merit, our official should reward him handsomely."

  "Thank you, Governor Zhao. This kite is just a crude device, how dare I ask for a reward? Moreover, this kite relies on the weather and geographical conditions to fly, it won't work without wind, and if the wind is too strong, it also won't work, and if the wind direction is not right, it's even more impossible. If it wasn't for the west wind yesterday, I'm afraid this kite wouldn't have flown to Yang Le even now." Liu Ze had stolen someone else's patented invention, Zhuge Liang's, and was already feeling a bit embarrassed, how could he use this thing to take credit and ask for a reward?

  Zhao Man smiled slightly and said: "Although it's like that, Liu Gongzi also has merits that cannot be ignored. Let's do this, after defeating the Xianbei, we'll evaluate everyone's contributions and reward them accordingly."

  Gongsun Yang cupped his hands and said: "The humble officer's three thousand men and horses have long been fully prepared, only awaiting the governor's orders."

  "Alright! All troops, listen to the order! Tomorrow at noon, we will assemble and march out of the city to engage in a decisive battle with the Xianbei!" Zhao Bao's gaze turned towards the west where the Xianbei camp was located, and he gave the order firmly.

  "Yes!" The generals responded in unison, these few days the Xianbei had been besieging the city, and the generals had been stifled to the point of fury, just waiting for Governor Zhao's order to go out and fight the Xianbei.

  Next, Zhao Yun and Gong Sunyu went to the government office to discuss matters, discussing specific plans for fighting against Xianbei the next day. Naturally, as a low-ranking official, Gong Sun was not qualified to attend such a military meeting, so he returned to his residence with Liu Bei and Liu Ze, ordering people to serve dinner while chatting.

  "Brother Bó Kuí, according to what was said, Zhao Tai Shou has already led the great army to come forward and defeat the Xianbei. Why do you still have a worried look on your face?" Liu Bei asked, seeing Gongsun Zan's troubled appearance.

  Gongsun Zan shook his head and said, "My younger brother has just arrived in Beiguan and has not yet seen the ferocity of the Xianbei people. The imperial court's three armies will set out at the same time, and it will be broken in an instant. This can be seen from a single glance. With the troops of one county to resist the Xianbei, it is difficult to have a winning strategy."

  Liu Ze was puzzled, the history books recorded that Gongsun Zan was good at bravery and war, he led his troops to charge forward, had once defeated hundreds of Xianbei cavalry with more than ten riders, in the Three Kingdoms period, he could be considered a number one brave general, why...

  "Brother Bo, aren't you afraid that the Xianbei people won't make it?"

  Gongsun Zan burst out laughing and said, "Younger brother, you've misunderstood. Although the Xianbei are strong and fierce, in my eyes, they're nothing more than a bunch of stray dogs and chickens. The white horse cavalry of our Gongsun family has never been inferior to that of the Xianbei. However, since Tan Shi Huai, the leader of the Xianbei, took power, he has been brave and wise, governing the Xianbei with great strategy. He has swept across the borders to the south, rejected the Dingling to the north, repelled the Fuyu to the east, and attacked the Wusun to the west, occupying all of the former territory of the Xiongnu, stretching his power for thousands of miles. He can be considered a heroic and ambitious overlord. If this man is not eliminated, our Great Han border will never have a day of peace. I heard that Shi Hou reported that Tan Shi Huai has personally arrived at Liu City, and the mother and wife of the governor of Zhao are both in his hands. If Tan Shi Huai uses this as leverage, how can the governor of Zhao deal with it?"

  "It is said that Governor Zhao is a famous filial son, if the Xianbei people really take his mother as a hostage, I'm afraid Governor Zhao will lose heart for battle." Liu Bei also felt deeply worried.

  Gongsun Zan sighed and said, "What I was thinking is also this. Tan Shi Huai is cunning and treacherous, he will definitely use such tactics. Zhao Tai Shou's loyalty and filial piety are hard to reconcile, our army's morale is unstable, how can we defeat the Xianbei people? Forget it, military matters are decided by Zhao Tai Shou, let him make his own decisions, our words are of no use. Two brothers should rest early."

  Liu Bei and Liu Ze returned to their own room, chatting casually for a while. Liu Bei talked about many family matters, which Liu Ze took note of one by one.

  After the lights went out, Liu Ze was tossing and turning, unable to sleep all night. Everything from his past life and this life flashed before his eyes like a movie, leaving him feeling very confused. All that had passed was now just floating clouds, and the warm home he once knew was gradually fading away. The sound of Liu Bei's clear snoring in his ear made him truly feel that he was indeed living in a chaotic world. As for what lay ahead, he honestly didn't know, and could only take things one step at a time. However, no matter what, surviving was his greatest hope. As for the Battle of Lüyang tomorrow, he was just a small bystander, powerless to change anything, and could only quietly wait for the outcome. If the Han army won, he would have the chance to escape alive; but if they lost, it would be like a nest being overturned - not a single egg would remain intact. Perhaps this time-traveling journey would truly become a ten-day tour of Liaoxi.

  The next morning, Liu Ze was awakened by the neighing of horses outside. Having gotten used to it for several days, he didn't find wearing Hanfu too troublesome anymore. He quickly put on his clothes and pulled Liu Bei to run outside.

  Everyone in the castle was tense and orderly, making preparations for war. The warriors had already put on their leather armor and were equipping those magnificent white horses one by one.

  White Horse Yìcóng! Liu Ze's eyes lit up, the White Horse Yìcóng was the most elite private band of the Gongsun family, later followed Gongsun Zan to fight in the north and became famous all over the world. In the Three Kingdoms period, it can be said that it is a well-known special forces unit, unfortunately, in the Battle of Jieqiao, the whole army was destroyed, and Gongsun Zan also went downhill from then on.

  Through the chaotic crowd, Liu Ze saw Gong Sunzhan from afar, wearing a golden helmet and armor, with a snow-white cloak flowing behind him as he strode over.

  "Second brother, early!" His military uniform made Gong Sun look even more handsome and majestic, obviously in a good mood, he greeted the Liu brothers with a loud voice as soon as they met.

  "Looking at Gong Sun's attire, are you going to go into battle?" Gong Sun was currently just a minor official under his father-in-law, Liu the governor of Zhuo County, and was temporarily suspended from duty while studying at Lu Zhi's academy. How could he possibly be going into battle? Hence Liu Ze asked this question.

  Gongsun Zan smiled slyly and said, "Although my foolish brother is not in the military, his greatest wish has always been to ride horses and go to war. Today, such a good opportunity cannot be missed. The two younger brothers can rest for a while, and later they can go up to the city tower to watch the battle and see how their older brother gallops and kills the enemy."

  At this time, Gong Sunyang walked over and saw Gong Sunzhan's situation, frowning: "Big brother, why do you also want to go to war?"

  "Didn't you, Second Brother, order all the troops of the Gongsun family to be on standby and follow the main army into battle yesterday? Don't you think that I, as your elder brother, am also a part of the Gongsun family?" Gongsun Zan's eyes gleamed with cunning.

  "However... big brother, today will surely be a fierce battle, and the outcome is hard to predict. If big brother suffers a loss, wouldn't I be ashamed in front of our father who has passed away?" Gong Sunyang felt somewhat troubled, although they were not born from the same mother, their fraternal bond was deep, so how could he bear to let his big brother take risks?

  "Gongsun Zan said loudly: 'Second brother, rest assured, with a great enemy in front of us, there is not a single coward in the Gongsun family. Let Tan Shihua also see that there are heroes in the northwest!'"

  Gongsun Zan nodded and said, "Alright, big brother insists on going to battle, I don't dare stop you. However, after leaving the city, big brother must go with the White Horse cavalry and absolutely cannot launch a surprise attack."

  Gongsun Zan agreed and bid farewell to Liu Bei and Liu Ze with a bow.

  At this time, the army was ready, and Gong Sunyang gave an order, the city gate opened, and the army marched out in a mighty array.