Chapter 600 Seeking Help From the Barbarians

"Someone has a plan." Guo Tu suddenly said.

Yuan Shao took a few deep breaths and said slowly: "If you have any plans, please tell me."

A smile appeared on Guo Tu's face: "In addition to Ju Shou and Gongsun Du, my lord can command tens of thousands of troops. As long as these tens of thousands of troops come, it will be no problem to force Liu Ye away."

Where did he get the tens of thousands of troops? Hearing Guo Tuzhi's words, Yuan Shao suddenly became interested: "Don't hold back, sir. Tell me where the tens of thousands of troops came from."

"Haha." Guo Tu said with a smile: "Didn't my lord not long ago ask for Shan Yu's golden seal for Tadun, Su Puyan, Wu Yan and others? Tadun and others have always been grateful to the lord, and now it is them It’s time to repay my lord.”

"My lord can give Yuyang County and Shanggu County in the border areas to the Wuhuan people to herd horses in exchange for them sending troops south to help our army." Guo Tu said eloquently: "Tadun and the others can use Liu Yuqing to control the court and evade the emperor's power. In the name of going south, we sent troops to serve the king, and the Wuhuan cavalry from the three counties shot armor all over the world, no less than Gongsun Zan's white-horse loyal followers. With their help, wouldn't it be easy to drive away Liu Ye?"

"Hmm" Yuan Shao looked thoughtful, stroking his beard gently, obviously thinking about the pros and cons.

"No!" Shen Pei was the first to jump out and object: "Those barbarians cannot be trusted. If they are weak, they will be attached to China. If they are strong, they will be ambitious and try to join the invaders. On that day, the Xiongnu surrounded Gaozu Baideng. Have you forgotten? What?"

"The ambition of the Wuhuan people cannot be trusted. Let them take over Jizhou, I am afraid that life will be ruined and the people will complain. You must not do it." Xun Chen said equally solemnly.

Not to mention the barbarians, even the domestic army sometimes cannot help but hunt rabbits and kill good people while taking credit for their merits. These Wuhuan people were even more ferocious and cruel. They burned, killed and looted many times in the border areas, killing and injuring people and stealing food. Jizhou is rich, but when these Wuhuan people enter Jizhou, they are not allowed to plunder?

Shen Pei is a native of Jizhou, so he naturally does not want to watch his hometown being massacred by the Wuhuan people. Xun Chen has also lived in Jizhou for many years, and naturally he does not want to see the people in Jizhou in ruins.

"But if we don't invite the Wuhuan people, how can Mr. Youruo and Mr. Zhengnan defeat Liu Ye's Liangzhou army?" Guo Tu said coldly: "I know that Mr. Youruo and Mr. Zhengnan cherish feathers, so I spoke up. Not to mention that I am worried that the Wuhuan people will burn, kill, loot, and affect my reputation, but I, Mr. Guo, am not afraid!"

"The Wuhuan people will inevitably burn, kill, and loot. It is known to everyone. Don't I, Guo Tu, know that?" Guo Tu cupped his hands to Yuan Shao and said, "My lord, please be clear. Everyone knows the character of the Wuhuan people, but they have achieved great things." Those who do not stick to trivial matters. Several former emperors also shot down the Yueqi camp in Luoyang. All the knights in the camp were barbarians. This shows that the barbarians are not incapable of being used by the Lord."

"For the great cause, we must make certain sacrifices. After defeating Liu Ye, my lord can exempt some of the people of Jizhou from paying taxes." Guo Tu said seriously: "I think the people will understand my lord's dedication to the king."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

Yuan Shao actually agreed very much with Guo Tu's suggestion. The reason why he didn't approve it was because he was concerned about his reputation. However, Guo Tu accepted the infamy so frankly that he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Gongze is indeed a loyal man." Yuan Shao sighed: "You are right. In the future, a certain person will definitely exempt the people of Jizhou from half of the taxes."

When Guo Tu heard this, he understood that Yuan Shao was going to adopt his suggestion. He lowered his head and said happily: "My lord is kind, and I am willing to do the work of dogs and horses for my lord."

The more Yuan Shao looks at Guo Tu, the more he likes him. Whether he is capable or not is another matter, but this kind of loyalty to himself is rare. It seems that Guo Tu must be reused.

The judge frowned. Since Yuan Shao had made his decision, there was no way to change it. As a result, the people of Jizhou would not be spared from disaster. Alas!

But now that the lord has decided, Shen Pei can't say anything, so he can only lower his head.

"Okay!" Yuan Shao looked around and said loudly: "In that case, let's hand over Shanggu and Yuyang counties to Tadun and others, and ask them to send troops south."

In fact, although it was said to be a cession, Yuan Shao did not have to pay any price. Shanggu and Yuyang counties had been occupied by the Wuhuan people a long time ago. Long before the heroes attacked Dong, brothers Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju occupied Yuyang County and proclaimed themselves emperors, colluding with the Wuhuan people, but were later defeated by Gongsun Zan.

After Gongsun Zan was defeated, although Yuan Shao sent his second son Yuan Xi as the governor to govern Youzhou, in fact, he only governed the four counties of Zhuojun and Youbeiping in the south of Youzhou. Shanggu and Yuyang had long since become Wuhuan. People's territory is just not clearly defined.

Sending out two counties that are not under your control is equivalent to giving away nothing. Such a good deal will naturally be done, but the barbaric Wuhuan people will inevitably burn, kill and loot along the way, and Yuan Shao can only turn a blind eye. One eye is closed.

"I am sent to Wuhuan to discuss sending troops. Who is willing to share my worries?" Yuan Shao looked around and said slowly.

Many counselors on the left and right had troubled expressions, and even Guo Tu was not in a hurry to speak. After all, the Wuhuan people were barbarians. Who would want to deal with barbarians unless necessary?

Yuan Shao frowned: "Is it possible that you don't want to share your worries with me?"

After saying that, Yuan Shao looked at Guo Tu: Since you proposed the suggestion and no one is willing to go, then you can go. Aren't you, Guo Tu, willing to be blamed for me?

Seeing Yuan Shao's gaze, Guo Tu didn't know what he meant. He gritted his teeth and was about to step forward, but someone took the lead.

"If my lord does not give up, you are willing to go to Wuhuan as an envoy on my lord's behalf!"

Everyone looked closely and saw that the person speaking was none other than Xu You. The advisors on the left and right looked surprised. Xu You had always been mercenary. How could he be willing to do such a thankless task as sending an envoy to Wuhuan?

Seeing Xu You coming out of the queue, Yuan Shao nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile: "Zi Yuan is worthy of being a loyal minister of my Yuan family. In this case, Zi Yuan will set off from afar and get to Tadun's tent as soon as possible. Do you understand?"

"Promise." Xu You cupped his hands and said, "You will definitely live up to your lord's trust. Please rest assured, lord."

It turned out that when Xu You saw Guo Tu's suggestion just now, he realized in his heart: Guo Gongze is really smart. The more critical the moment, the more he has to throw dirty water on himself for the lord, so that he can be used by the lord.

Therefore, when Xu You heard who was willing to send Wuhuan as an envoy, Xu You agreed without hesitation. As long as he successfully invites Wuhuan troops to go south, and when the time comes, he will be promoted to a higher position, and will he be rewarded with gold and silver?

"In addition, order Jushou to slowly withdraw his troops, withdraw from Bingzhou as soon as possible, and block Huguan." Yuan Shao ordered again.