Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 11 Flattery
Seeing that Wei Xiaobao had been rummaging around on his body for a long time but couldn't find anything, the young leader became suspicious. Someone else fanned the flames, saying, "I remember him. The two of them were in the same group with that group of officers and soldiers."

At this time, the outside of Guangzong County was surrounded by the court's pursuing troops. The Yellow Turban Army in the city was already in a panic. Suddenly, they heard that a spy had sneaked in, and they surrounded Wei Xiaobao and Shuang'er in an instant.

"They are imperial spies, kill them!"

The crowd was getting closer and closer, and Wei Xiaobao's heart was in his throat. If he continued like this, he would really be beaten to death by this group of people.

In a state of panic, Wei Xiaobao shouted, "I want to see General Tian Gong. I have a huge secret!"

As soon as Wei Xiaobao finished speaking, the crowd parted, and a middle-aged man who looked like a Taoist priest was surrounded by the crowd and walked towards Wei Xiaobao.

The young leader stepped forward, bowed, and said, "General, we have captured two spies from the imperial court."

Wei Xiaobao looked at the newcomer and thought to himself, "Could this be General Zhang Jue, the God of Heaven?"

The middle-aged man said, "What's your big secret?"

The middle-aged man seemed to feel that Wei Xiaobao and Shuang'er were surrounded in the crowd and could not escape. He stood calmly with his hands behind his back, facing Wei Xiaobao sideways, and did not even look at him.

The young leader said, "General, someone saw them with the officers and soldiers before, and then they mixed into the team and followed them here."

Wei Xiaobao said, "I am a subordinate of Chen Bai, the commander of the Yangzhou Canal. I was ordered to deliver a letter to the general. Unfortunately, I was captured by the soldiers on the way. It was not until they encountered a large group attacking Guangzong County that I took the opportunity to escape."

Wei Xiaobao deliberately described the Yellow Turban Army's escape as an attack on the county town. The middle-aged man smiled slightly and said, "The army's capture of Guangzong County was also a temporary decision. Lu Zhi wouldn't ambush spies along the way."

Wei Xiaobao said, "General Tiangong enjoys eternal blessings and a lifespan as long as the heavens. The Yellow Turbans are the reincarnation of heavenly soldiers and generals. They are unstoppable in battle. Even ten Lu Zhis would not be a match for the general, so how could they possibly understand his extraordinary strategies?"

Wei Xiaobao has always been thick-skinned and feels no shame in using his skills of flattery. Since he wants to please others, his words must be exaggerated. At this time, using the words of the Dragon Sect to flatter the person in front of him must be easy for him.

Since the Yellow Turban Army fought against Lu Zhi's army, they suffered several defeats in succession and had no choice but to flee to Guangzong County to hide. The middle-aged man came to inspect and comfort the army because he was worried about the morale of the army. After listening to Wei Xiaobao's words, although he knew that he was bragging, he felt very pleased.

Unexpectedly, Wei Xiaobao's performance was not over yet. He suddenly raised his fists and shouted to the crowd: "General Tiangong, may you enjoy eternal blessings and a life as long as the heavens."

There was silence all around, and everyone didn't understand why the young man suddenly went crazy.

After a moment of embarrassment, Wei Xiaobao cursed himself in his heart: "Damn it, Wei Xiaobao, this is the slogan of the Shenlong Sect. We should be shouting the slogan of the Yellow Turban Army now."

Wei Xiaobao quickly changed his words and shouted, "The blue sky is dead, the yellow sky is coming, the year is Jiazi, and the world is blessed."

Sure enough, before Wei Xiaobao finished speaking, people around him responded, and gradually, the shouts became louder and more uniform.

The middle-aged man watched as his men, inspired by Wei Xiaobao, shook off their previous lethargy and rekindled their fighting spirit, nodding with satisfaction. The young leader, who had thought he'd be rewarded for catching a spy, unexpectedly stole the show before the general, solving the general's biggest morale problem with a few words. Initially reluctant to follow Wei Xiaobao's slogans, he gave him a look and fell into line.

The middle-aged man gestured for everyone, and after everyone was quiet, he said, "Guangzong County's defenses are strong, and the military supplies are sufficient. As long as we hold our ground and wait for the southern army to arrive, we can combine our strength from within and defeat the central army in one fell swoop."

After the Yellow Turban Army became excited again, the middle-aged man arranged the city defense matters in various places, nodded to the young leader, and then turned and left.

The little leader waved his hand, and someone tied up Wei Xiaobao and Shuang'er.

The young leader walked up to Wei Xiaobao and said, "Don't think you can clear your suspicion of being a spy with just a few words. You'll be in trouble later. Take him away!"

Wei Xiaobao and Shuang'er were taken into the military tent and saw the middle-aged man sitting in the tent.

There were only three of them left in the military tent. Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "If he wanted to kill me, he wouldn't have had to bring me here. It seems he wants to know the huge secret I told him."

Wei Xiaobao was certain the middle-aged man before him was Zhang Jue, the Heavenly Lord. His previous plan had been to tell Zhang Jue about Chen Bai's request, gain Zhang Jue's trust, and then have Zhang Jue send him back. However, he had lost his token, and if he brought up the matter of the eunuch, he would probably only cause more trouble without proof. Wei Xiaobao had previously met Guan Yu on the battlefield, and his mind was full of loyalty. Moreover, he always fantasized about himself as a great hero and knight. Having already promised Chen Bai, how could he break his promise?

After observing Wei Xiaobao for a while, the middle-aged man asked, "You are neither a member of the Taiping Dao nor a soldier of the Yellow Turban Army. Who are you?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "I have indeed just joined the Yellow Turban Army and have become brothers with Brother Chen Bai. This time I came to see General Tian Gong because my brother asked me to tell him the news."

The middle-aged man asked, "Are you Chen Bai's sworn brother? Do you have any token to prove your identity?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "Before we set out, my elder brother gave me the token of the commander of Yangzhou, saying that I could show it to the general to prove my identity. But the token was confiscated by the imperial soldiers on the way."

The middle-aged man asked, "Where was it taken?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "I don't know where that place is. I just remember that the one who questioned me at the time, the one with the higher rank, called the one with the lower rank "Mi Zhu." I've seen people with the last name "Mi," but it's the first time I've heard of someone called "Zhu." Perhaps they, like me, used fake names to deceive me."

The middle-aged man pondered, "Mi Zhu, Mi Zhu! How could an official of the imperial court have such a vulgar name? Could it be General He Jin? Although he was born a butcher, he wouldn't be so vulgar. Even if he used a fake name to deceive you, he should at least choose a decent one. No, you came all the way from Yangzhou to Jizhou, you shouldn't have met He Jin. Oh, right, you should be talking about Mi Zhu. You must have met Xuzhou Prefect Tao Qian and Mi Zhu, the Imperial Secretary."

Wei Xiaobao said, "That's right, it's Shi, and that Mizhu is this official."

The middle-aged man laughed and said, "Mi Zhu is a wealthy businessman from Xuzhou, but how come it becomes a vulgar fake name in your mouth? I wonder what your real name is?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "My surname is Hu, my name is Shuo, and my courtesy name is Badao."

The middle-aged man slammed his palm on the table in front of him and shouted, "Nonsense! If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will sacrifice your head."

(End of this chapter)