Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

"Stop them!"

"Quick, quick, close the city gate for me no matter what!"

Yuan Shu, who was watching from the city wall, had red eyes and started shouting hysterically at everyone around him.

As soon as the shouting and wailing began to rise in the city and the sound of horses' hooves approaching rapidly outside the city, everyone began to panic.

"It's too late, it's too late..."

Yang Hong stared blankly at the cavalrymen rushing towards the city from outside, totally ignoring Yuan Shu's reaction. He turned around with a horrified look on his face and ran down the city wall to hide in the residential area.

As one of the few available generals under Yuan Shu, Zhang Xun subconsciously wanted to take orders and lead his personal soldiers to try to retake the city gate.

But Zhang Xun, who had been in many battles, stopped and bowed to Yuan Shu.

"My lord, the situation is hopeless. There is no time to close the city gates. Once the cavalry arrives, the defenders inside the city will not be able to resist. I ask you to abandon Ruyang for the time being and make plans for the future."

Yuan Shu’s crazy look paused, his pale face flushed, and he asked back.

"If I abandon Ruyang, where else can I go? In such a huge Yuzhou, is there still a place for me to stay?"

Zhang Xun continued to persuade him with tears in his eyes. "My lord, you can go to Jizhou. Even if I sacrifice my life, I will definitely protect you."

"Go to Jizhou and seek refuge with that concubine to give birth to a child?"

Yuan Shu's face was full of reluctance, his body swayed slightly, and then he squeezed out a word from between his teeth with difficulty.

"Walk."

Immediately, Yuan Shu, escorted by his personal soldiers led by Zhang Xun, headed straight for the north gate.

However, the north gate was also blocked by Yuan Shu.

In order to leave Ruyang City as quickly as possible, Yuan Shu could only curl up in a hanging basket in a desperate situation. The hanging basket was used to lower Yuan Shu from the city wall to outside the city.

This was repeated more than twenty times before the twenty guards led by Yuan Shu and Zhang Xun finally arrived outside the city.

Afterwards, Zhang Xun did not dare to delay, and did not even have time to wait for more guards to leave the city via the hanging basket, for fear that the cavalry that had already entered the city would notice his movements and send cavalry to bypass the south gate to pursue and kill him.

"Go! My Lord!"

Zhang Xun determined the direction and hurriedly protected Yuan Shu as they headed towards Xihua City, north of Ruyang City.

Zhang Xun also had a farm outside Xihua City, where he kept twenty or thirty war horses.

As long as they could get to the farm, change to war horses, and replenish food, they could escape from Yuzhou on horseback.

However, Zhang Xun overestimated Yuan Shu's physique.

If he were young, walking twenty or thirty miles would be nothing for Yuan Shu.

But Yuan Shu had been living a life of luxury for many years and was addicted to women and wine, and his body had been completely drained without him realizing it.

After running less than ten miles with Zhang Xun, Yuan Shu was already gasping for breath, and his legs were as weak as noodles.

"No, my mouth is dry, honey water, give me honey water..."

Yuan Shu gave the order subconsciously.

Zhang Xun looked embarrassed when he heard this.

In this situation, where could Zhang Xun get honey water to quench Yuan Shu's thirst?
The group fled in such a hurry that they didn't even take their water bags with them. Not to mention Yuan Shu, even Zhang Xun and others were extremely thirsty.

Zhang Xun tried his best to comfort Yuan Shu and said.

"My lord, please be patient for a while. This place is still too close to Ruyang City. Let's rest for a while when we are farther away. I will find honey water for you as soon as possible."

"How could I be reduced to this? I can't even drink honey water?"

Yuan Shu just let out a long sigh.

Suddenly, a leisurely piano sound came from the north. I couldn't make out the title of the song, but it seemed like the music was played casually.

But unlike Zhang Xun, a warrior, Yuan Shu understood the tunes of the zither and could tell that the melody in the music seemed to be waiting for a distinguished guest to come. This made Yuan Shu's expression change, and then he realized something.

"My lord, there is a sudden sound of a musical instrument outside the city. Is there something strange going on? We should avoid it..."

Before Zhang Xun could finish speaking, Yuan Shu waved his hand to interrupt him and asked Zhang Xun to tidy up his clothes.

Although Yuan Shu's clothes were filthy from his escape, he still tried his best to maintain his final decency and spoke.

"You guys go away on your own."

Immediately, Yuan Shu strode over following the sound of the piano.

Dozens of breaths later, in a cool and shady place, Yuan Shu saw the owner of the piano sound, the state scholar Marquis Li Ji, who was kneeling and playing the piano with his eyes slightly lowered.

Behind Li Ji, Gu Wei and Xu Chu stood on each side, and three thousand elite soldiers including the Tiger Guards were providing protection.

Yuan Shu did not interrupt Li Ji's piano playing. Instead, he walked to a cushion placed five steps away from Li Ji and sat down, closing his eyes and enjoying the rare piano sound.

After a while, the piano sound slowly subsided.

Instead, bursts of screams were heard behind Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu turned his head and saw that it was Zhang Xun who had come looking for him. He was then instantly shot to death by a large number of arrows.

For the Tiger Guards, there is no doubt that they will never allow anything that may endanger Li Ji to get close.

The unarmed Yuan Shu could sit safely five steps away, but Zhang Xun and others died a hundred steps away.

Looking at the bodies of Zhang Xun and others, Yuan Shu's eyes flashed with sadness, then he returned to normal and clapped his hands in praise.

"I didn't expect that Li Zikun had such wonderful piano skills. This trip was worthwhile."

"My wife taught me how to play the zither. I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Brother Gonglu."

Li Ji explained with a smile, a hint of joy showing between his eyebrows.

He was not only happy that Yuan Shu was captured, but he also couldn't help feeling happy when he thought of Zhao Ji.

As his father-in-law and wife were both among the most famous zither artists of the time, Li Ji naturally became proficient in the art of playing the zither through the influence of their environment.

Immediately, Gu Wei stepped forward and took the guqin away, while Li Ji picked up the spring water that had been boiled with charcoal nearby and started to make tea.

Li Ji made the tea neither hurriedly nor slowly, and Yuan Shu was not anxious either. Instead, he watched Li Ji's seemingly unique movements with appreciation.

There were two teacups on the table. After Li Ji poured tea into each, Gu Wei stepped forward, picked up one of the cups and placed it in front of Yuan Shu.

"Please." Li Ji raised his hand.

Yuan Shu was not polite either. After tasting it carefully, he said.

"It's better than honey water."

Li Ji did not get angry. After sipping the tea carefully, he spoke. "Brother Gonglu is still so unique."

"Can I have a bowl of honey water to quench my thirst?" Yuan Shu made his request.

"It's impossible."

Li Ji nodded, and then asked Gu Wei to bring another bowl to Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu drank it all in one gulp, his face full of relief, and said with emotion.

"With this honey water to quench your thirst, what more could you ask for?"

After a pause, Yuan Shu asked again.

"I wonder when the poison in the tea will take effect? ​​How long can I chat with Zikun?"

After a pause, Yuan Shu said hesitantly.

"If Zikun can allow me to keep my body intact, I will be very grateful." (End of this chapter)