Jian Yong also thought Guan Jing's idea was good. Gongsun Zan had no fixed territory originally, so it would be better to represent Gongsun Xu as the prefect of a county than to let him return to Anci. In this way, Liu Bei did not have to say out the Anci he had obtained, but he could also show his favor to Gongsun Xu and live up to his old friends. Maybe he could become an ally with Gongsun Xu and rely on each other.

For Gongsun Xu, this is also a good thing that he cannot afford. Even if Sun Ce does not agree, he will only blame Sun Ce and will not blame Liu Bei.

As for Gongsun Zan's old subordinates, they can also be divided into two parts. If they are willing to support Gongsun Xu, they will support Gongsun Xu. If they are willing to stay, they will stay, so as to gather and disperse, so as not to be in a dilemma and unstable manner. In this way, the troops may be less, but the internal hidden dangers will be eliminated, which is not a bad thing for Liu Bei.

Liu Bei immediately discussed the details with Guan Jing, and Guan Jing suggested that Jian Yong did not meet Yuan Tan's envoy, which did not mean that Yuan Tan had not sent anyone to contact Sun Ce. Now that the court has made concessions to Sun Ce, Yuan Shao's crime of forgery of the edict has been confirmed, it has been announced that the world is in danger of being besieged. He fought to take Youzhou, but when Sun Ce came, he could not be worried that Sun Ce would launch an attack from the sea, and would inevitably send an envoy to contact Sun Ce.

Liu Bei became a little nervous again. "Will Sun Ce form an alliance with Yuan Tan?"

"Impossible." Guan Jing shook his head. "Sun Ce should not want Yuan Tan to take control of Youzhou."

Liu Bei also agreed with Guan Jing's view. Yuan Tan already had Jizhou, and his strength was already good. In addition, his relationship with Wuhuan and Xianbei people, once he controlled Youzhou, it would be even more difficult for Sun Ce to deal with it. When he thought of this, he felt jealous. Regardless of whether he admitted it or not, the children of aristocratic families were children of aristocratic families, and their influence was definitely not comparable to those of a poor family like him. He was from Youzhou, but the aristocratic families looked down on him. Yuan Tan was from Yuzhou, but he could respond to Jizhou. The difference in treatment was too big. Even though Sun Ce was clever and used both soft and hard, it took several years to barely control Yuzhou.

Guan Jing immediately planned for Liu Bei: on the one hand, he sent someone to negotiate with Sun Ce, and on the other hand, he sent someone to contact Yuan Tan to prevent accidents. Yuan Tan is even more anxious now, and he should not refuse Liu Bei's kindness. Anyway, no matter who he forms an alliance, it is a temporary solution. The key is who can benefit from it and strengthen himself. If Sun Ce fights Yuan Tan, no matter who wins or loses, it will not be a bad thing for Liu Bei, and maybe he can wait for the second fisherman to benefit.

Liu Bei was overjoyed and almost burst into tears again. He asked Jian Yong to work harder. He rushed to Qingzhou with the latest conditions to meet Sun Ce, especially to find a way to meet Gongsun Xu. Before that, Liu Bei wrote a handwritten letter to Gongsun Fan explaining the whole story and asking Gongsun Fan to cooperate. As long as Gongsun Fan is willing, he can submit Gongsun Fan as the prefect, so as not to live with Zhang Ze in the same city and dare not sleep peacefully.

Gongsun Fan quickly responded and was willing to accept Liu Bei's suggestion and sent someone to meet Sun Ce with Jian Yong.

Liu Bei then sent someone to see Yuan Tan, test Yuan Tan's words, discuss alliances, and fight against Sun Ce.

As Guan Jing said, Yuan Tan is very anxious now.

The imperial edict issued, and Yuan Shao's crime of forgery was confirmed and committed a crime of disrespect. He issued an edict to recover the general of chariots and cavalry, the seal and ribbon of Jizhou, and seize the title. These crimes seem to be unable to touch Yuan Tan, but in fact they have a great impact. Since Yuan Shao's official position was removed, he, the governor of Jizhou, was incorrect and his words were dissatisfied. There may be no problem with those who are loyal to him, and those who are unfaithful will inevitably be ready to move. Now Sun Ce is subject to the imperial edict to control the eight states. If Sun Ce launches an attack under this name, Yuan Tan is worried about internal and external troubles, and the situation is not optimistic.

Even if Sun Ce sent a governor of Jizhou to come, it would make him feel uncomfortable.

Geng Ji and Guo Jia had a talk with him, but he returned empty-handed without any promise. Tian Feng, who was staying in Yecheng, sent news. Many Jingzhou paper, Yuzhou glass and other products appeared on the market. Paper workshops controlled by the Ruying faction have reduced their production and instead sold Jingzhou paper. Upon hearing this news, Yuan Tan smiled bitterly. It is impossible to guess. This is for the Ruying faction that he was neglected by him. Whether it was Sun Ce's initiative or the Ruying people under his command, it is a very difficult problem.

After the Battle of Guandu, the Ruying faction was no longer as good as before. Except for Xun Yan, who was in charge of the troops, most of the people had lost their power, at least stayed away from the center, Guo Tu and Xu You went to various places, but they had not returned yet. The Ruying faction was full of complaints. Now that Sun Ce made such a move, it was like adding fuel to the fire.

Should I change my attitude and just appease me, or just split from the Ruying faction? Pacification requires financial and material resources, and he does not have much property that can be freely controlled and cannot meet the needs of the Ruying faction. Even if he has money, he cannot compete with Sun Ce for financial resources. In view of this, Geng Bao proposed to abandon the Ruying faction and let them go home, which can also reduce some of the expenses. Yuan Tan could not agree. He could temporarily neglect the Ruying faction, but he could not completely give up the Ruying faction. The Ruying faction is the backbone of the party members. Separating from the Ruying faction is equivalent to splitting from the party members and also splitting from his great father Li Ying.

The loss was too great that he could not afford.

Fortunately, there is Ju Su by Yuan Tan.

Ju Su first made a suggestion: apologize to the court, express surrender, and send some tributes symbolically to solve the problem of status. Yuan Shao is dead and can survive without any matter. Yuan Tan must first obtain recognition from the court, and master Jizhou legitimately, so that others can take advantage of it and calm people's hearts. Although Sun Ce did not forgery, his intention to be unjust was already obvious. The court was just unable to control it, so he was wronged and asked for complete grievances. If Yuan Tan was willing to surrender, the court had no reason to refuse.

In addition to forming an alliance with the court, he sent some of the family members of the Ruying faction to Chang'an, such as Xun Yu's wife and children. Xun Yu had already determined to serve the court. It was meaningless to leave his family members here. They would only consume food and send them to Chang'an. They could not only show goodwill to Xun Yu, but also reduce some expenses. At the same time, they resolved Sun Ce's plan to win over the people of Ruying. Since the paper workshop led by the Ruying people was no longer produced, they simply took the paper workshop from them and handed it over to other people who were willing to produce. The Ruying factional group is OK, and the Jizhou faction is OK. As long as they support Yuan Tan, they can break this clear barrier as much as possible and reduce the factional difference.

Finally, Ju Su analyzed the situation of all parties and determined that Sun Ce could not attack Jizhou with all his might, at least in front of him. Sun Ce was aggressive, and the situation in the court was critical, and he could take risks and fight to the death at any time. If this is the case, wars could occur at Jingzhou or Luoyang at any time. In addition, Sun Jian was transferred to the governor of Jiaozhou and had a thousand-mile expedition, which also required troops and financial resources. No matter how rich Sun Ce was, he could not send troops at the same time. He fought on the third line, and he was just bluffing, and he could only take one place as the reality. The other two were bluffing, and Jizhou was exactly the least likely place. As long as he survived this period and waited for the other two places to start the war, Sun Ce would not have the energy to look at Jizhou.

Furthermore, when Sun Ce's army approaches the Bohai Sea, not only Yuan Tan is under pressure, but Liu Bei will also be under pressure, and the pressure is greater. If they can form an alliance with Liu Bei, stop the conflict, and fight against Sun Ce together, Sun Ce may not dare to do his best and really send troops to attack. This is not Guandu, he has no motivation to fight to the death, so he can slow down and make more preparations before talking about it.

Yuan Tan felt it was reasonable and was planning to send someone to contact Liu Bei, but Liu Bei's envoy arrived.

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