Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3886 Too Much Requires Lack

The withered yellow grass on the wilderness was pressed almost flat against the ground by the biting north wind, like countless humble lives bowing their heads before the majesty of heaven and earth.

This winter seems exceptionally cold.

Even in the afternoon, the sky was still dim, and everything around seemed gray and gloomy, whether it was living trees or lifeless soil and rocks.

The color scheme, which consisted only of earthy yellow, grayish brown, and blackish gray, made Wei Yan feel uneasy.

The air was filled with the dry, cold smell of dust. Taking a deep breath felt like inhaling countless tiny, cold snowflakes, making my chest and lungs ache slightly.

"This awful weather..."

Wei Yan stood on a slightly raised earthen slope, wearing finely forged battle armor and a black battle robe. His hand rested on the thick-backed ring-pommel sword at his waist, gently stroking the Yazi Swallowing Beast on the hilt.

He squinted, gazing at the official road not far away.

The official road stretched out like a huge and extremely long dead snake, lying paralyzed on the ground.

The scouts reported that they had indeed spotted a procession, complete with imperial regalia and dozens of magnificent carriages, winding its way along the official road.

That's right, we came along this official road in front of us...

There were quite a few Cao soldiers protecting them, but not a large number.

According to scouts, the ranks of Cao Cao's guards even appeared somewhat loose and sluggish.

This news vaguely coincided with the intelligence that Wei Yan had previously obtained through various other channels.

All signs indicate that the story of the "Emperor's procession" is actually true!
The burning desire for merit in Wei Yan's heart was reignited by this irrefutable news.

catch……

No, to "save" the emperor!
What an extraordinary achievement!

This was enough to make Wei Wenchang's name resound throughout the Han Dynasty!
trap?

Of course it is possible.

Wei Yan was neither a keyboard warrior nor a prophet in anti-Japanese war dramas who predicted the war would last eight years. However, his years of experience crawling through mountains of corpses and seas of blood still made him retain a degree of caution in moments of impulsiveness.

It's impossible to simply let the "Emperor's Procession" pass by unnoticed.

Let alone a trap, it could be a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire...

No, there's no such thing as mountains of knives or seas of fire.
Wei Yan pondered.

Cao Cao and the main force of Cao's army should be fighting against the General of Chariots and Cavalry right now, so how could they have time to pay attention to this place?

Since Wei Yan marched south, how many Cao army troops has he encountered?

With Cao Chun dead, Ye City is also lost. Now, the only troops left in Cao's heartland are probably those like Zang Ba!
Zang Ba...

Wei Yan pondered for a moment, and had already made up his mind.

He could neither let this golden opportunity slip by, nor could he place his entire army in unpredictable danger.

"Guards! Summon General Zang!"

Wei Yan gave the order.

Before long, Zang Ba arrived, dressed in the lamellar armor of the Flying Cavalry.

"Thank you, General Wei, for the armor!" Zang Ba said with a smile as soon as he approached, and showed Wei Yan the new cavalry-style lamellar armor he was wearing.

This is not general-level armor; it is completely different from the armor worn by Wei Yan.

It is similar to the armor worn by Gan Feng.

Gan Feng was a captain.

Although soldiers in the army, and even Wei Yan himself, often addressed Gan Feng as "General," this title was similar to the later use of "General So-and-so," and didn't necessarily mean that Gan Feng was actually swollen; it could simply be due to a self-inflicted swelling.

Wei Yan squinted and smiled. "Does it fit?"

Zang Ba seemed oblivious to the meaning behind Wei Yan's words, continuing to laugh cheerfully, "It fits perfectly! It fits perfectly!"

"Now that you've changed my lord's armor..." Wei Yan said with a smile, "you must obey my lord's military orders and laws!"

Without a word, Zang Ba patted his chest and assured him, "General, rest assured! Don't worry! Weren't we a little unaccustomed to it before? I've emphasized it repeatedly now: we must strictly abide by the orders and laws of the Flying Cavalry! Absolutely no ambiguity!"

Wei Yan looked at Zang Ba, and after a moment nodded slightly.

Zang Ba's eyes darted around a couple of times, then he smiled and said, "However... General, some things still need a little more time..."

Wei Yan's face immediately darkened. "Why?"

Zang Ba cursed Wei Yan inwardly for his dog-like face, so fickle, but outwardly he maintained a forced smile. "These daily habits... ah, it's nothing serious, just... sigh! It's just this excrement... We're used to being carefree in the countryside, for over a decade we've just found anywhere... Now it's all this and that, sometimes we even wake up with our heads all foggy, so it's hard to change so easily... General, what do you think, could you be a little more lenient?"

"That's it?" Wei Yan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Zang Ba nodded, "That's it, that's it..."

"Hmm..." Wei Yan pondered for a moment, then nodded. "This matter... is simple... a little leniency wouldn't hurt, but it still needs to be changed..."

"Yes, yes..." Zang Ba nodded, "That's natural, that's natural..."

Wei Yan then agreed to be a little more lenient in this regard...

Poop and pee are nothing.

Others cannot be given leeway.

Zang Ba then asked Wei Yan if he had been summoned for any important matters. Wei Yan initially waved his hand, saying it was nothing serious. However, just as Zang Ba was about to take his leave, Wei Yan stopped him, saying, "Xuan Gao, I just remembered, there's something else..."

Zang Ba cursed inwardly, but quickly returned with a smile, saying, "General, please give your orders."

"The scouts reported earlier that the Emperor's entourage was indeed approaching in a long procession..." Wei Yan deliberately softened his tone, tinged with disdain, "The Cao army soldiers escorting them were few in number, their formation scattered, and utterly vulnerable. I initially intended to go myself, but upon reflection, why should I personally engage such a weak enemy? It would only make me a laughingstock."

Wei Yan stared at Zang Ba, "How about we let Xuan Gao go and claim this great credit?"

Zang Ba's eyes widened immediately. "Huh? What?! I..."

Zang Ba was about to refuse when he saw Wei Yan's gaze and was suddenly startled. He changed his words, saying, "General, you command me without question! If you tell me to go, I will go! I'll go and gather my men right now!"

As Zang Ba finished speaking, he cupped his hands and prepared to leave, but after taking only two steps, he was stopped by Wei Yan.

"Xuan Gao, hold on..." Wei Yan, seeing that Zang Ba did not hesitate or shirk responsibility, felt somewhat relieved and laughed, "Haha... I hadn't thought things through enough... This matter requires swift action. Xuan Gao, you lack cavalry... Here's what I'll do: I'll order General Gan to lead eight hundred cavalry to accompany you. You can take your own cavalry... You can leave the infantry here... I'll give you one hour to prepare! Remember, after intercepting the carriage, carefully examine the people inside. If they are indeed the Emperor and his entourage of officials, treat them with courtesy, protect them closely, and bring them back quickly!"

Upon hearing this, Zang Ba's facial muscles seemed to twitch slightly, but he quickly adopted a hearty and grateful smile, and loudly clasped his hands in response: "General Wei's trust is invaluable, and I am deeply grateful! General, please rest assured! These few defeated Cao troops are like stray dogs; General Gan and I will surely capture them with ease! If the carriage truly contains the Emperor's entourage, I will certainly obey your orders, treat them with the utmost respect, protect them properly, and present them to you intact! I will not fail your high expectations!"

……

……

Zang Ba bid farewell to Wei Yan, the bold smile on his face gradually crumbling after he turned away from the earthen slope and avoided Wei Yan's gaze, leaving only gloom and solemnity.

Zang Ba continued on his way, wearing the captain's lamellar armor "bestowed" by Wei Yan, and silently returned to his camp.

This seemingly easy "merit" actually hides a sinister plot...

Zang Bajun's camp was located in a sheltered depression five miles away from Wei Yan's camp, clearly separated from the Flying Cavalry's camp.

Between the two camps, there were also a small number of cavalry sent by Wei Yan patrolling, euphemistically called "cooperative defense and liaison".

Inside Zang Ba's camp, most of the men were his old followers from Qing and Xu, a mix of infantry and cavalry. At this moment, people were shouting and horses were neighing as they set up cooking pots. Although it was lively, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive and restless.

Zang Ba rode with his head down straight into the camp, without disturbing many people. He merely gave a wink to a few trusted subordinate leaders who came to greet him, then dismounted and headed straight for his main tent. His confidants understood and silently followed him inside, signaling their personal guards to watch the tent entrance.

The curtains were drawn, shutting out the light and noise from outside.

The tallow lamp inside the tent cast a dim light, illuminating several faces with different expressions.

"What does Wei Yan want you to do?"

A burly military academy student was the first to ask in a deep, gruff voice.

He was a member of Zang Ba's clan, named Zang Xiong, and addressed Wei Yan by his full name, which was quite impolite.

Zang Ba didn't speak. He first took off the lamellar armor of the General of the Cavalry and threw it heavily onto the leather cushion in the corner, as if he had removed an uncomfortable shackle.

After the guards brought him his original armor and he put it on, Zang Ba walked behind the simple wooden table, sat down, rubbed his temples, and repeated Wei Yan's instructions in a low voice.

"Only cavalry are allowed to go? All the infantry are left behind?" Another of Zang Ba's confidants widened his eyes in disbelief. "This is clearly a case of holding our infantry brothers hostage! They're afraid we won't return, or that we'll make any unusual moves, so they're going to kill us! Wei Yan! That scoundrel! He's incredibly ruthless!"

Zang Xiong exploded upon hearing this, slamming his hand on the mat in front of him, sending dust flying. "Damn it! This is outrageous! We surrendered to him to give him face! Do they really think we're his cavalry's dogs? Not only do they order us around, but now they want to divide our troops? We might come back to find our men separated by those bastards! Then, even if we want to fight, we'll be in the way!"

"That's not all!!" another military commander exclaimed angrily, pointing outside the tent. "General, you didn't see it! Just now, that enforcement team from the Flying Cavalry came again! They almost whipped a few brothers on the spot just because they didn't use the designated latrines to relieve themselves behind the camp! They said things like, 'The camp is filthy, unsightly, and prone to disease!' Bah! They even care about our booby defecation! This is unbelievable! Anyone who didn't know better would think they were in the imperial palace! The brothers are all complaining privately, saying that the Flying Cavalry is meddling in everything, from heaven to earth, even our booby defecation and farting. We've had enough! At this rate, we won't even need them to come and tear us apart; we'll all die of frustration ourselves!"

The tent was immediately filled with curses, as the pent-up discontent of the crowd found an outlet.

The strict, almost rigid, military discipline and lifestyle of the Flying Cavalry Army felt like a noose around their necks to these wild troops who were used to a loose and carefree lifestyle, maintained by plundering and the personal charisma of their commanders. The more it tightened, the more uncomfortable they felt.

"Let's rebel!" Zang Xiong roared, his eyes wide. "While the infantry are still here, let's find an opportunity to raid Wei Yan's central army! Even if we don't achieve a complete victory, we can seize the supplies and flee into the mountains to the east, or... go find Young Master Cao! It's better than staying here like cowards, waiting for Wei Yan to find a pretext to slaughter us all!"

"Yes! It's the opposite!"

"I can't live like this anymore!"

Several radical generals echoed his sentiments, and a restless rebellious atmosphere filled the tent.

"Shut up!" Zang Ba suddenly shouted in a low voice, which was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. His gaze was like a knife as he swept over the crowd, and his subordinates, who had been indignant just moments before, immediately fell silent, though their faces still showed resentment.

Zang Ba took a deep breath, suppressing the irritation and growing anger in his heart.

He saw things more clearly than his subordinates and knew better how formidable Wei Yan was.

"Rebel? What are we going to rebel with now?" Zang Ba's voice was icy. "Do you think Wei Yan isn't on guard? He made our camp independent and sent scouts to monitor us, all to prevent this! He'll know the moment we move! Even if we manage to break through, are Wei Yan's cavalry pushovers? Can we outrun four on foot? We'll have nowhere to go, pursuers behind, and die without a burial place!"

Zang Ba paused, a calculating glint in his eyes, "However... we are not without a way out..."

Zang Ba gestured for his trusted men to move closer, then lowered his voice and said, "A few days ago, a certain group of scouts, under the guise of reconnaissance... have already made secret contact with General Cao Ziwen..."

The people inside the tent immediately perked up.

"What did Young Master Cao say?" a trusted aide asked urgently.

"Cao Cao... um, Lord Cao..." Zang Ba coughed, "The whole plan is in place... This 'Emperor's Procession' before us is our golden opportunity!"

"Then Wei Yan will send you, General..." Zang Xiong said thoughtfully.

"Heh... He sent me to lead the charge, firstly to test the waters, secondly to wear us down, and thirdly..." Zang Ba sneered, "If it really is a trap, we'll be the first to fall. Wei Yan will be watching from behind, able to attack or defend as he pleases. If we do well, the credit is his; if we do poorly, we'll suffer the losses. A shrewd plan!"

"Should we still go?" Zang Xiong asked anxiously.

"Go, of course we'll go!" A glint of ruthlessness and cunning flashed in Zang Ba's eyes. "But what happens after we get there is entirely up to us!"

Zang Ba glanced around at his trusted men and instructed them, word by word: "Listen, on the surface, everything remains the same. Be respectful and obedient to the Cavalry, especially those petty inspectors. Act as if you're grateful and sworn to serve them to the death! Even if you're just pretending, make it convincing! Keep the brothers in check, hold your tongue for now, and take care of your business properly!"

"After I set off with the cavalry..." Zang Ba lowered his voice even further, "you infantrymen who remain in the camp, wait until Wei Yan leads his troops out..."

Zang Ba lowered his voice even further, "First, find an opportunity to burn their supplies! As for the other cavalry, kill them if you can, otherwise run! Then retreat to the northeast!"

Zang Ba stared at Zang Xiong, "You know where to meet..."

"General, you want to..." Zang Xiong understood somewhat.

"Excellent!" Zang Ba clenched his fist. "Wei Yan wants me to be a scout, so I'll play along! I'll send him and that Gan fellow to intercept the emperor! Heh! Then I'll send someone to say we've fallen into Cao Cao's ambush... Wei Yan will surely come to the rescue, and our rear will be empty! That'll be the perfect opportunity for our infantry to launch an attack!"

Zang Ba's eyes burned with a daring light. "To rebel now is suicide, and yields no great benefit. Cooperating with Cao Cao's plan and waiting for the right moment is the only way to ensure our safety, escape Wei Yan's control, achieve great merit, and regain our footing with Cao Cao! The future and wealth of my brothers rest on this one move! All of you, keep your eyes peeled and your mouths shut!"

Upon hearing this, although the group felt the risks remained enormous, the plan was clearly more promising and tempting than simply rebelling or continuing to endure. The thought of escaping the tyranny of the Flying Cavalry and gaining merit made them nod and whisper, "We are ready to obey the General's orders!"

"Good!" Zang Ba stood up, his face regaining that rough yet slightly submissive smile, as if his previous sinister scheming had never existed. "Once we get out, all of you better smile broadly! Let those cavalrymen see how willing we are to risk our lives for them! Gather the cavalry, prepare your weapons, and come with me to see General Gan! We must 'earn' this great merit of saving the Emperor!"

With the agreement reached, everyone lifted the curtains and went outside.

A joint operation, each with its own ulterior motives, is about to begin.

Wei Yan's strategy of checks and balances became the final straw that pushed Zang Ba to completely side with Cao Cao.

But no one knows that the roles of hunter and prey are not static. In this complex game, the roles can reverse at any moment…

Having said that, he said no more, turned his horse around, called out to his more than 500 old troops, and went to Gan Feng's camp to meet up with Gan Feng, who had already received military orders and mustered about 1,000 elite cavalrymen from the vanguard.

When Gan Feng received the order, a slight doubt flashed through his mind. He felt that Wei Yan's easy relinquishment of this "great achievement" was somewhat unusual. However, the military order had been given, and the "merit" before him was too tempting, so he didn't think too much about it. He simply reminded his men to be careful. The two groups of men merged, like two converging iron torrents, their hooves thundering and kicking up clouds of yellow dust. They quickly broke away from their main force and sped off towards the official road indicated by the scouts, their figures soon disappearing behind the withered grass and mounds of earth.

Wei Yan watched them depart, the relaxed and disdainful expression on his face gradually fading, his eyes becoming deep and unfathomable. He stood silently on the earthen slope for about an hour, carefully calculating the marching speed of Gan Feng and Zang Ba's troops and the possible time of engagement. The cold wind ruffled his short beard, causing the flickering spark of doubt in his heart to rise and fall. Finally, he sharply cracked his whip and ordered his adjutant standing behind him in a deep voice: "Order the entire army to remain silent, follow the tracks of Generals Gan and Zang at a slow pace! Maintain a distance of five li. Without my order, no one is to accelerate, make noise, or display their flags!" He intended to use Gan Feng and Zang Ba as exploratory stones, and also as bait, to test the depth of this pool and what lay beneath.

(End of this chapter)