The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 511 Lure the snake out of its hole
Huang Zhong covered his wound on his shoulder and staggered forward two steps. His uniform was soaked with mud, and every step he took felt like he was stepping on cotton. He looked at Zhang Fei's fallen body with a complicated expression.

"Give him a proper burial!" the old general said in a hoarse voice.

Sima Yi rode over, his black cloak fluttering in the wind. He looked down at Zhang Fei's body and sneered, "What a waste of martial arts skills."

"Yes, if he had been loyal to His Majesty, he wouldn't be here today!" Huang Zhong sighed, "Back then, he and Guan Yu actually had the chance to become our comrades."

Sima Yi narrowed his eyes, looked at Zhang Fei, and suddenly chuckled: "General, you are right. But if he and Guan Yu had surrendered to Your Majesty, I am afraid they would not be in this situation today."

In fact, Sima Yi believed that not only were the two unwilling to be loyal to Qin Shou, but Qin Shou also disliked them. Otherwise, Qin Shou would definitely have a way to subdue them.

However, it is too late to say this now. The two men died in battle one after another, and everything became a thing of the past. Perhaps they will leave a mark in history, but that will only be a stepping stone for the Emperor of Tang.

"Zhongda, you go into the city to appease the Shi family. I will go after Liu Bei. We can't let them have any chance to breathe." Huang Zhong looked at Jiaozhi City not far away.

At this time, Jiaozhi City had been opened, and the Shi clan and their officials were standing at the gate, waiting for the army to enter. The two men saw that the leader was a white-haired old man, who must be Shi Xie.

This guy was a famous long-lived person in the late Han Dynasty. I think he must be feeling very unwilling at this moment.

"Zhuge is full of tricks. General, you and I should go together. As for Jiaozhi City, can it really run away?" Sima Yi shook his head.

Sima Yi felt uneasy when he couldn't see the heads of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.

He knew very well that if it were not for the strong strength of the Cavalry Army and the sufficient soldiers and food, he would not have enough time and energy to fight Zhuge Liang to the death.

Otherwise, in terms of the ability to march and fight, he is really no match for Zhuge Liang. Such an opponent has the possibility of turning the tables as long as he is given enough opportunities.

The best way is to behead him. Only a clean death can make him feel at ease.

"Okay. I'll send someone to inform Shi Xie."

Huang Zhong did not object either.

In fact, he was also very afraid of Zhuge Liang. This opponent was not an easy opponent. Unfortunately, everything was over now. Liu Bei, with only a few thousand men, was powerless to turn the tide.

Several of Shi Xie's sons stood at the foot of the city gate, looking at the backs of Huang Zhong and Sima Yi as they led their troops away, their faces so gloomy that water seemed likely to drip out of them.

"Father, Huang Zhong is too arrogant!" Shi Hui clenched his fists, his knuckles turned white, and snorted coldly, "We surrendered the whole city, but he didn't even get off his horse and sent a messenger to send him away? If it weren't for us, how could they defeat Liu Bei and kill Zhang Fei? They are really destroying the bridge after crossing it."

The wrinkles on Shi Xie's old face deepened. He raised his hand to stop his son from speaking, but his cloudy eyes flashed with an obscure light, and he smiled bitterly and said, "Be careful with your words. The Tang army is powerful and should not be underestimated."

"Brother, you are right!" Shi Gan, who was young and full of vigor, kicked the stone at his feet and said dissatisfiedly: "Huang Zhong is just an old man who is arrogant because of his cavalry. If you ask me, "

"shut up!"

Shi Xie suddenly shouted, frightening his sons so much that they trembled all over. The old patriarch looked around and said in a low voice: "Do you want the Shi family to be exterminated? Go back home!"

After returning to the mansion, Shi Hui was still indignant. He dismissed his attendants and whispered to his brothers: "The Tang army looks down on us so much, and there will be no good results in the future. Why don't we..." Shi Kuang was shocked when he heard this: "Brother, be careful with your words! Now Liu Bei's army has been defeated and even Zhang Fei has died in the battle. The court's entry into Jiaozhou is a foregone conclusion. If we make trouble at this time, aren't we courting death?"

"What do you know!" Shi Hui snorted coldly, "It is precisely because of this situation that it is the best time. He goes to chase Liu Bei and his retreat is empty. We block Jiaozhi and cut off his food supply, and we can easily eliminate him."

After hearing this, everyone fell silent.

What Shi Hui said was not without reason. Huang Zhong led a large army to pursue Liu Bei, but he passed through the city without entering. His food supply was all in the rear. If he and others could cut off his food supply, defend Jiaozhi to the death, and trap him in Jiaozhou, they might really succeed.

"From Chang'an to Jiaozhi, it is thousands of miles away. It would take several months for Chang'an to learn of Huang Zhong's defeat. Once the army was launched, it would take nearly a year."

"I have talked with Zhuge Liang and learned that he had sent people to contact the Barbarian King Meng Huo, Xianbei Kebineng and others. These people will raise troops to conquer the Central Plains. This will be our opportunity. We have a long time to deal with various changes."

"In the eyes of the people of the Central Plains, Jiaozhou is nothing but a wild land. Although we have occupied Jiaozhou, the Tang Dynasty will not send troops to a long expedition for this wild land. When the time comes, we will submit a letter of surrender, submit to the Central Plains, and request to stay in Jiaozhou forever and become a vassal of the Tang Dynasty. Will the Emperor of Tang object?"

Shi Hui said with a smile.

After hearing this, the Shi brothers showed a hint of surprise on their faces, and even Shi Kuang showed a hint of desire on his face. If possible, who would be willing to give up their foundation to others!
"Although there are some risks, it is not impossible." Shi Yi suddenly said.

"Then let's do it." Shi Hui said immediately: "The prosperity and wealth of our Shi family will be achieved in one fell swoop."

"Jiaozhou belongs to my Shi family, how can I let others do it?" Shi Gan snorted coldly.

For a moment, even Shi Kuang's face showed a blush.

In the distance, on the official road, Huang Zhong suddenly pulled up the reins, turned his head and looked at Sima Yi, and said: "Zhongda, you don't want to enter Jiaozhi City, I'm afraid you have other calculations! It's definitely not as simple as worrying about me."

Sima Yi laughed and said quickly, "Great General, your opinion is correct. The Shi clan is too powerful in Jiaozhou. This is not a good thing."

Huang Zhong frowned slightly, the long sword in his hand gleaming coldly in the sun: "You mean..."

A hint of coldness flashed in Sima Yi's eyes: "General, have you ever thought about why Liu Bei was able to easily occupy Jiaozhi? The Shi family has been operating in Jiaozhou for generations and has deep roots, but they gave it to Liu Bei. Among them,

"Do you suspect that Shi Shi has had ulterior motives?" Huang Zhong tightened his grip on the hilt of the knife.

"It's not suspicion, it's certainty." Sima Yi stroked the horse's mane and whispered, "Just now I deliberately didn't get off the horse to meet Shi Xie, just to provoke them. If I'm right, the Shi brothers are plotting a rebellion at this moment."

Huang Zhong's eyes lit up: "So you deliberately left a gap to lure the snake out of its hole?"

Sima Yi chuckled and said, "It's not like luring the snake out of its hole! If they behave themselves, nothing will happen to them, right?"

"You are so cunning!"

Huang Zhong smiled bitterly after hearing this.

(End of this chapter)