The Three Kingdoms: Starting as a county magistrate in Pingyuan, he rose to power and conquered the

Chapter 115 Demanding Sincerity

After casually killing Huang Ping, Gongsun Zan sat back down and continued drinking.

Soon someone came in, dragged his body out, and cleaned up the bloodstains on the ground.

Gongsun Zan was not afraid, of course. Doing so would anger Yuan Shao, but what could Yuan Shao do to him?

It was precisely because he sent an envoy that Gongsun Zan despised this man even more.

They constantly use their family background to intimidate others, as if the Yuan family is some kind of extraordinary entity.

Didn't they still get utterly defeated by Cao Cao, and even their homes were raided?

Even when he was so down on his luck that he had to beg him, he still acted arrogantly.

"General, a message has arrived from Ye City..." At this moment, another soldier entered.

Upon hearing the words "Ye City," Gongsun Zan paused in his actions.

He understood perfectly well that Ye City was now Li Zhao's territory, and any letters sent from there meant that Li Zhao, like Yuan Shao, was trying to win him over.

Or...

At this moment, Gongsun Zan unconsciously thought of another person.

He slowly closed his eyes, and after a long while, he let out a long breath, "Bring the person in!"

Not long after.

A letter written on fine paper was placed before him.

Gongsun Zan held the letter for a long time, and only after dismissing everyone else did he carefully open it.

Just as he expected, it was a handwritten letter from Zhao Yun!

No one knew what was written inside. Gongsun Zan sat alone in the main hall until night fell, when he finally got up and went outside.

His gait appeared somewhat stiff due to prolonged sitting.

The next morning, Gongsun Zan made a new move.

Two people quickly set off, each carrying a different letter, heading to Bingzhou and Jizhou respectively.

He wanted to see how Yuan Shao and Li Zhao would respond...

……

a few days later.

Jinyang Commandery.

Yuan Shao held the sheepskin letter in his hand, maintaining the motion of reading it.

However, upon closer inspection, one can see that his right hand is trembling slightly.

Before him stood several strategists and numerous military officers.

Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but feel nervous.

They all knew this message came from Youzhou, and that this letter would directly determine their next move.

"This is outrageous! This is outrageous!!" Yuan Shao threw the letter on the ground and stomped on it a few times with gritted teeth.

"He's nothing but a defeated opponent, yet he dares to insult me ​​like this. Does he think he has the right to speak ill of the Yuan family?"

"Pass on my order: prepare for battle immediately! I will make that old bastard pay for his actions!"

Blinded by rage, Yuan Shao was about to take action against Gongsun Zan.

Ju Shou immediately stepped forward, took a deep breath, and said, "My lord, you mustn't..."

"Since we have chosen to win over Gongsun Zan, we must accept everything about him. This letter is very likely Gongsun Zan's way of testing our sincerity."

"My lord, please don't fall for this trick! Please think it over carefully!"

But Yuan Shao at this time was not going to listen to any of this.

He immediately ordered the messenger to be dragged out and beheaded. It wasn't until the man's head was placed in front of him that he gradually came to his senses.

This old guy seems to be deliberately provoking me, just to see his sincerity.

But now that the messenger has been beheaded, what else can be done?

Ju Shou, feeling utterly helpless, once again suggested fabricating the cause of death of the person surnamed Song.

Then, in accordance with Gongsun Zan's letter, they sent him a large amount of grain, fodder, and military equipment, including publicly admitting their mistakes and expressing their intention to cooperate with him.

For Yuan Shao, losing some material possessions was nothing!

But for the Yuan family to publicly admit their mistakes to him, and to say that their past actions were due to folly, would be worse than killing him.

In the end, he abandoned the plan altogether and decided to confront Li Zhao personally.

As for Gongsun Zan, given his current strength, he is no threat to Bingzhou!

at the same time.

The same letter was delivered to Li Zhao.

The messenger stood with his head down in front of Li Zhao, feeling countless sharp gazes around him, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

Although he didn't know what the letter said, as the messenger, he had to bear all the possible consequences.

This included... being dragged out and beheaded on the spot!

at this time.

Lu Bu, Zhao Yun, and the others stood not far away, quietly awaiting Li Zhao's orders.

With just a word from him, the guy standing not far away would be beheaded instantly.

"Hahaha..." Li Zhao put down the letter in his hand and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"This Gongsun Zan is really interesting!"

Zhao Yun had been watching his reaction closely, and seeing him so relaxed, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"My lord, this is..." he asked tentatively.

Li Zhao didn't mince words, waving the sheepskin letter in his hand, "Gongsun Zan demanded a lot, and also wanted us to publicly declare our cooperation with him!"

"And I guarantee that from this day forward, I will be responsible for all his and his men's expenses!"

"Besides that, there's a whole bunch of other miscellaneous conditions, such as making sure he controls his own troops no matter what!"

"Ji County and the surrounding counties will also be under his control, etc..."

Upon hearing him say this, the expressions on everyone else's faces turned grim.

The messenger's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.

Such an outrageous request would probably cost him his head!

"No need to be so nervous..." Li Zhao smiled and came closer, personally helping the messenger up.

"To be honest, these conditions aren't unreasonable; they're just asking for some recognition and possessions!"

"You don't need to be afraid, nothing here has anything to do with you!"

"I will write a letter later, and I will trouble you to take it back and deliver it to General Gongsun personally!"

The messenger was instantly moved to tears, repeatedly kowtowing in gratitude.

Until they were led away, they were treated to fine wine and food.

"My lord, this matter is probably not that simple, is it?" Lu Bu said thoughtfully.

Li Zhao was somewhat surprised and looked at him with curiosity. "Fengxian, tell me!"

"Although my lord just said that Gongsun Zan's demands weren't too outrageous!"

"But doing this at a time like this isn't the usual approach. It seems like he's doing it on purpose, like... like he's trying to provoke us?"

Perhaps it's because the two are similar in some ways, and Lü Bu understands this feeling very well.

Because if it were him, writing such a letter would definitely be to make the other person angry.

What you want isn't important; the key is the other person's reaction!

"Fengxian has indeed made great progress!" Li Zhaoxian affirmed his statement.

"If I'm not mistaken, Yuan Shao also received this letter!"

"No matter how he reacts, we must show the utmost sincerity!"

"They've already expressed their willingness, so of course we should give them ample opportunity to choose!"

"Zilong, come here..." Li Zhao took Zhao Yun away alone.

This matter might actually have a chance...

……