"General, the Weiwu and Guangwu Guards have taken Guangning and seized Juyong. The Sima of the two guards are currently surveying the farmland. Captain Zhou requests funds, grain, craftsmen, and officials to be sent over to construct barracks and drill grounds and forge equipment for use next spring."
After hearing the messenger's report, Wang Yan looked to the personal guard beside him. "No movement from Yuanhua?"
The guard replied, "As before, the two armies remain locked in a standoff."
Wang Yan nodded. He had a fair grasp of Gongsun Zan's thinking. It was not a matter of overestimating or underestimating him; Gongsun Zan had simply made a different choice. After all, Gongsun Zan had already been contending with Liu Yu for military power, while Luoyang was still in turmoil. Even if he could destroy Wang, Gongsun Zan would not deploy his troops lightly and weaken his own strength.
At this point, foresight was no longer necessary. Anyone with half a brain could see that the Han dynasty's fortune had run out. First He Jin, then Dong Zhuo seized great power. There were even rumors that Dong Zhuo spent his nights in the imperial palace, defiling the inner court. With imperial authority reduced to this state, how could anyone fail to understand?
The struggle in Luoyang was fierce, not because the ministers wished to preserve the emperor, but because Dong Zhuo held a great army and controlled Luoyang with his troops. Even though Dong Zhuo had shown friendliness and promoted members of the partisan faction, they still lived in fear and could not sleep at night. At a time like this, anyone with even a little ambition would know what to do.
Still, to put some pressure on Gongsun Zan and keep him from suddenly losing his mind and crossing mountains