The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 275 Hanging one’s life
Outside the city of Puyang, military camps stretched for several miles.

In the central military tent, Jia Xu was standing in front of a sand table. On the sand table, Puyang City was surrounded by black flags.

"Military Advisor, Gao Gan is leading a large army and is approaching us, about eighty miles away."

Wei Yan reported with excitement on his face.

"Then make way for them to enter the city."

Jia Xu chuckled.

"Ah! Although there are many of them, they look very miserable. We can eat them!"

Wei Yan didn't want the credit he had achieved to slip away like that.

"Wen Chang, a good warrior does not have to have great military achievements. Even if we kill these two or three thousand people, what does it matter? Our target is Yuan Shao."

Jia Xu persuaded.

"The reason they are in such a mess is mainly because their rear army was attacked and their food and supplies were lost. Do you understand?"

Wei Yan was a smart man. After listening to Jia Xu's words, he immediately understood what the other party meant.

Although Puyang City is very large and has a lot of food and grass inside, it can still hold out after half a month. But if there are two or three thousand more troops, how long can the food and grass last?
Wei Yan felt even happier when he thought that he could capture forty or fifty thousand people.

"If it's 20,000 or 30,000 people, Yuan Shao might really be able to give it up, but if there are 50,000 or 60,000 people, do you think Yuan Shao can give it up?"

Jia Xu stroked his beard and chuckled.

Wei Yan suddenly realized that the main purpose of Jia Xu's doing this was to use Puyang City to delay Yuan Shao and force him to continue to send troops to rescue, which was like the tactic of adding fuel to the fire.

Unfortunately, there was the Yellow River blocking the way, and when Yuan Shao wanted to support Puyang, he could not send many troops each time, which was in line with the interests of the Cavalry Army.

As time went on, the more soldiers and horses there were in Puyang City, and the more reluctant Yuan Shao was to give it up.

"Military Advisor, what should we do if these people forcibly collect food from the people in the city?"

Wei Yan was a little worried.

"General, you can send someone to notify them to let the people in the city leave, and we will give them 5,000 dan of grain." Jia Xu continued.

Wei Yan nodded. Five thousand dan of grain could feed fifty thousand people for about three days.

In the case of extreme food shortage, 5,000 shi of grain can sustain for a long time.

"Yuan Shao is a man who loves reputation very much. I think Yuan Tan will not let his father's reputation be damaged in any way! Letting the people in the city leave is also a benevolent act of Yuan Shao!"

Jia Xu began to write a letter on the side.

"The military advisor is still amazing."

Wei Yan heard this and praised.

The other party just praised Yuan Shao highly, forcing Yuan Tan to release the people of Puyang obediently, to avoid the other party using the people to threaten themselves.

Although five thousand shi of grain is a lot, it is really nothing for the 50,000 troops that are about to appear.

Jia Xu has calculated people's hearts to the extreme, and even if Yuan Tan knew about it, there was nothing he could do.

"As for those people who still want to stay in the city, they are all Yuan Shao's diehards. If they die, it's not our fault."

Jia Xu put down the brush in his hand.

In fact, paying the price of 5,000 dan of grain was also a way for the Cavalry Army to win the hearts of the people.

After all, Puyang City has been blocked for half a month, and the people in the city are the most unfortunate.

Spending 5,000 dan of grain to exchange for the civilians in the city, once such an action spread, everyone would say that the Cavalry Army loved the people like their own children. If Yuan Tan disagreed, all the charges would be placed on Yuan Shao.

This was an open conspiracy, and Yuan Tan had to admit it.

Meeting Jia Xu was also Yuan Tan's sorrow.

Yuan Tan soon received the letter sent by Wei Yan. "My Lord, the Cavalry is still a little bit afraid of the people in the city, but if there are no people, they will take all kinds of measures to capture Puyang. These people must not be released."

Cui Lin said quickly.

"Now the people in the city know about it. If I don't let it go, where will the reputation of the Yuan family be? Wouldn't my father's reputation be ruined by me?"

Yuan Tan smiled bitterly.

How could he not know the reason behind this? But he had no choice. The reputation of the Yuan family was there. If he let these people die with him, would the reputation of the Yuan family be ruined?

Yuan Tan, whose cheeks were thin due to lack of food and fodder, took a deep breath.

"Open the south gate and let these people leave! But they can only take away money and clothes, not even a grain of food."

Yuan Tan said viciously.

As the cavalry besieged the city, the price of food in the city skyrocketed and food consumption was very high.

Yuan Tan thought it was a good deal to let these people leave, as it would not only bring fame but also save food.

"Young Master is very wise." Cui Lin's eyes lit up when he heard this.

Unfortunately, Yuan Tan didn't know what would happen next.

Seeing the five thousand shi of grain and grass being delivered into the city, Yuan Tan also ordered the expulsion of the people in the city.

Everything went smoothly, and the people left Puyang one after another, even some aristocratic families left Puyang.

Although they had stored food and had no worries about food and clothing, there was a fighting going on in Puyang. Staying here was almost like seeking death, and they might even lose their own lives. In this case, it would be better for them to leave Puyang.

"There must be Yuan Tan's spies here."

Lei Bo looked at the people leaving in front of him, his eyes flashing like lightning.

Puyang was surrounded and Yuan Tan had no access to any news from the outside world. Now that the South Gate was opened, he must have wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to send his spies out.

"It's too late to send it out now. There will be 30,000 more troops in the city tomorrow, and the food and grass in the city won't last long." Wei Yan said nonchalantly.

He glanced at the city, a hint of pride on his face.

It’s not so easy to get five thousand shi of grain.

He had people mix croton powder into the drink, which would cause diarrhea if people ate it. In this situation, how could they have the energy to fight?

When the sun set in the afternoon, the South Gate was finally closed and Puyang City was once again under siege.

"Military Advisor, there are still many aristocratic families in the city. I wonder if these people think Yuan Shao will win, or if they want to take advantage of the situation."

Wei Yan reported.

"There are no civilians left in the city. All the people living in the city are Yuan's army, and they are all our enemies."

Jia Xu said without thinking.

Wei Yan nodded. The opportunity had been given to them, but they did not cherish it. Now they could not blame the Cavalry Army. All the noble families in the city would be the enemies of the Cavalry Army.

When the city is captured, these people will die.

Inside the city, Yuan Tan and Cui Lin came to the granary, asked people to open the sacks, looked at the light yellow grain, and nodded with satisfaction on their faces.

"The Cavalry is honest and sent us high-quality food."

Yuan Tan nodded and said, "If we save this food, it can last for ten days or even longer. By that time, my father's troops will surely have reached the city."

Cui Lin looked at the food in front of him, a hint of hesitation showing on his face.

He always felt that something was wrong with the situation before him.

But I can’t tell what the problem is.

(End of this chapter)