Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1288: Chapter 1242: Tian Yu’s Ice City

Under the guidance of Tian Yu’s personal soldiers, Zhang Fei led the army towards the place where Tian Yu was stationed. About two days later, Zhang Fei and his group met Tian Yu, who came to greet them.

After seeing Tian Yu, Zhang Fei had no more doubts and gave Tian Yu a bear hug. The two began to talk about past events.

”At that time, it was indeed beyond my expectations for General Gongsun to entrust so many soldiers to me. I never thought there was such an army under General Gongsun’s command,” Tian Yu sighed and said, ”If General Gongsun had brought these troops to the battlefield back then, things wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

Actually, Tian Yu had always believed that if Gongsun Zan had deployed these troops against Yuan Shao, it would have taken Yuan Shao at least three more years to defeat Gongsun Zan.

Unfortunately, Gongsun Zan refused. Now, Tian Yu also understood Gongsun Zan’s thoughts at the time. Deploying these troops to the battlefield would indeed delay for a long time, but if the border guards also perished in the civil war, then who would defend the North against the Hu People?

It’s no longer the era of Gongsun of the White Horse. The Hu People no longer fear Youzhou. If the last reserve force is thrown into battle, it would mean that the border of Huaxia, Youzhou, would be ravaged by the Hu People. Gongsun Bogui probably couldn’t bear such a thing.

”Even if he had to die, he wouldn’t let go of his pride.” Zhang Fei’s dark face showed a hint of admiration. ”Similarly, other monarchs who can be called Feudal Lords also have their pride.”

In fact, compared to Tian Yu, Zhang Fei might understand Gongsun Zan better. Although Tian Yu had followed Gongsun Zan for a longer time, Zhang Fei had a very similar mindset to Gongsun Zan.

In essence, it wasn’t about protecting the people of Youzhou but ensuring that the pride of a Great Power wouldn’t be trampled by others. Even if Huaxia is fragmented, I can still guard this honor. This is the border of my Great Han; how can I tolerate the Hu People trampling it!

The Feudal Lords of this era all have their pride. They can be defeated and can die, but they will not abandon their pride.

”Perhaps, let’s go and rest at my station.” Tian Yu nodded. This place is near Liaodong, but strictly speaking, it still falls under Yuan Tan’s control. However, Tian Yu is stationed here boldly.

”This place is desolate and uninhabited.” Zhang Fei, although born in Zhuo County, was visiting the Northern Youzhou for the first time. The barrenness indeed shocked him.

”Yes, that’s why I gathered all the soldiers together in winter. No one manages this place. Tens of thousands are stationed together, training and discussing,” Tian Yu nodded and said. Northern Youzhou is very barren, calling it an uninhabited area wouldn’t be an exaggeration,

”Won’t Yuan Tan notice?” Zhang Fei asked in amazement.

”Yuan Tan is consolidating the Essence Zone of Youzhou. Few people come to these places, and this area is actually under the actual control of our Tian Family. If Yuan Tan sends people, we receive news before they arrive. If they can be dismissed, we send them away. If not, we get rid of them,” Tian Yu said casually.

Zhang Fei took a look at Tian Yu. In this region of Youzhou, the Tian Family is almost like Local Tyrants. Back then, Gongsun Zan entrusted the troops to Tian Yu, partly because he believed in Tian Yu’s ability and character, and partly to leverage the Tian Family’s influence.

Only an Aristocratic Family like the Tian Family could hide thirty to fifty thousand people without leaving a trace. Such a powerful family, unless it touches Yuan Tan’s fundamental interests, wouldn’t easily offend them.

Soon, Tian Yu led Zhang Fei to a small city outside, which was Tian Yu’s garrison. ”Here it is. After spring, we’ll dismantle the city, and find another place to build one in winter. Having such a small city makes the garrison much more secure.”

Hearing this, Zhang Fei felt a bit toothache. He always thought Chen Xi was extravagant sometimes, but Tian Yu took extravagance to an extreme level, actually building a city in winter and dismantling it in spring, and constructing again in a new location the next year. The Tian Family is not an ordinary powerhouse.

”This is built with ice and sand, right?” Zhuge Liang frowned as he spoke. The countless frost on the city indicated its nature, and unlike Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang had learned a lot about using ice and snow from Chen Xi.

”Young friend indeed has keen eyes.” Before Tian Yu could boast, Zhuge Liang exposed it, so Tian Yu smiled and said, ”Exactly, my brother taught me this years ago, allowing me to find a wilderness to drill soldiers.”

Tian Yu is now considered the family head of the Tian Family, while Tian Tian acts as the steward. Tian Yu excels in managing the household, and Tian Tian is proficient in commerce. He was among the first to support the construction of commerce alliances and now has his influence in the commercial networks across the world backed by the alliance.

Additionally, Tian Tian is generous and has Tian Yu’s endorsement, so he’s doing well under Liu Bei. Most books can be copied as long as he’s willing to pay a certain price.

As for building ice castles, that idea came from something Tian Tian read at the Library Pavilion. At the time, it didn’t seem significant, but when Tian Yu needed to train soldiers, Tian Tian suddenly realized it was a very good method.

”It’s not that I have sharp eyes. It’s just that I’ve seen such methods in books,” Zhuge Liang shook his head as he said, having read numerous books as well.

”Hahaha, that’s why they say a book is worth a thousand gold, which isn’t wrong.” Tian Yu said with a smile, ”The notion of not lightly spreading books comes from this. Let’s go, enter the city, warm up, in another month or so, this city won’t be livable.”

”Oh, what about further north?” Zhuge Liang revealed a hint of curiosity.

”It’s said that further north, some places have frost that never melts, though I haven’t been there myself, only heard the elders say so,” Tian Yu didn’t mind Zhuge Liang’s inquiry.

[Is this also the reason Zichuan said not to develop further north?] Zhuge Liang pondered as they entered the city, thinking about Chen Xi’s past planning.

Zhang Fei’s more than twenty thousand soldiers filed through the city gate and quickly entered the small city, where Tian Yu had already set up numerous tents. Soon, under the guidance of the appointed generals by Tian Yu, Zhang Fei’s soldiers moved into the tents within the city.

Not long after, Zhuge Liang caught the aroma of meat, indicating that Tian Yu had prepared everything long before Zhang Fei’s arrival.

It was at this time that Zhuge Liang finally had time to observe the city’s setup. This small city, made by consolidating sand and water, couldn’t withstand strong attacks but was more than adequate to defend against the North’s icy winds and snow.

Zhuge Liang coordinated the extra soldiers to camp on-site while carefully observing the layout of the city’s encampment. He quickly identified a few minor issues, but overall, despite the seemingly chaotic arrangement, the encampment could stand the test of attack and defense.