Wei Xiaobao's Three Kingdoms Adventure

Chapter 26: Persuasion and Conspiracy

Tang Qin knelt on the ground with a clang and said tremblingly, "General, I have an important matter to report."

Zhang Liang's face turned pale. He said, "Humph! Tell me, how did you escape from Zuo Feng?"

Tang Qin said, "Last night, my eldest brother and Zuo Feng arrived at Lu Zhi's camp and saw me locked in a prison cart. Before they escaped from the camp, they pretended to interrogate me and rescued me from the cart. Then, I followed them, stole their horses, and fled to the riverbank."

Zhang Liang said, "I understand that Tang Zhou saved you out of brotherly love, and I don't blame you for not killing him. But could it be that Zuo Feng also has a brotherly bond with you, or would he spare you for the sake of Tang Zhou, a traitor, even though he faces the death penalty?"

Tang Qin turned around, glanced at Wei Xiaobao, and said, "This matter can only be told to the general."

Zhang Liang snorted and said, "Now that things have come to this, there's no need to hide anything. Tell us quickly."

Tang Qin sighed, tremblingly took out a piece of silk from his bosom, presented it to Zhang Liang, and said, "General, you will know after you take a look."

Zhang Liang held the silk in one hand, and the more he looked at it, the angrier he became. His body trembled uncontrollably, and his nostrils flared. Finally, he threw the silk to the ground and pointed at Tang Qin, cursing, "What benefits did Zuo Feng promise you? How dare you come to persuade him to surrender? Come on, take him out and chop him off."

Wei Xiaobao felt a chill on the back of his neck, as if he was the one who was going to be beheaded instead of Tang Qin.

Tang Qin put his knees on the ground, crawled forward two steps, and hugged Zhang Liang's thighs, crying, "General, please spare my life, please spare my life. I have followed you for many years and know your character well. How could I put you in such an unjust situation? I'm not trying to persuade you to surrender. I'm worried that you'll fall victim to Wei Xiaobao's evil schemes. That's why I endured the humiliation and promised Zuo Feng to save my life to tell you the news."

Wei Xiaobao cursed in his heart, "So, you're here to persuade them to surrender, you're really loyal? Do I, Wei Xiaobao, come here to persuade them to surrender because I'm afraid of death? It's a good thing I'm not here to persuade them to surrender, otherwise I wouldn't have the nerve to kneel like you, and I'd have to let Zhang Liang kill me."

Zhang Liang's heart softened when he heard Tang Qin's sobbing. He said, "How could Zuo Feng believe that you were truly trying to persuade him to surrender?"

Tang Qin said, "My elder brother is working for him now. He thinks I'm like him, someone who can be bribed with promises of wealth and glory. And as he said in his letter, Guangzong County will be captured sooner or later. The general will definitely choose to serve the court according to the current situation."

Zhang Liang was furious: "Bah! I've been keeping my head on my shoulders since the day I joined my brother in raising an army. How could I be so cowardly?"

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Compared to that old man Lu Zhi, this little eunuch Zuo Feng is a far cry from him. Lu Zhi warned me not to let Zhang Liang know about the surrender, but Zuo Feng, that fool, actually sent Tang Qin to persuade Zhang Liang to surrender directly."

Tang Qin said, "That's all Zuo Feng's wishful thinking. I believe the general is determined to rebel and will definitely live and die with Guangzong County, so I pretend to be his lobbyist."

Zhang Liang's anger subsided when he heard Tang Qin's words. He helped Tang Qin up and said, "I'm sorry you've been wronged. But my eldest brother has been thinking about surrendering these past few days, and I really don't know what to do."

Wei Xiaobao was delighted: "This old fellow Lu Zhi is really quite clever. He actually guessed that Zhang Jue wanted to surrender."

Tang Qin hurriedly asked, "Why did General Tian Gong surrender to the imperial court?"

Zhang Liang lowered his voice and said, "Ever since Lu Zhi entered Jizhou, the Yellow Turban Army has suffered several defeats in a row. Big brother's spirit has long been broken. Now trapped in Guangzong County, he is just waiting to die."

Tang Qin asked, "General Bo Caiqu of Yingchuan has been reporting victories frequently. He will be able to join us soon. By then, we can defeat Lu Zhi's army with the help of internal and external forces, and the siege of Guangzong will be lifted, right? What's more, there is General Digong nearby to assist in the defense. Guangzong County is not something that Lu Zhi can just take over!" Zhang Liang said nothing more, but went back to sit behind the table.

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Is there something he's hiding from me? I've heard about it in the stories I read. That Bo Cai was burned to ashes by Huangfu Song. How could any soldiers be left to save you?"

Thinking of Huangfu Song, Wei Xiaobao suddenly remembered that it was Huangfu Song who finally defeated the Yellow Turban Army. However, Wei Xiaobao always listened to books for free, hiding under the table, listening to a part and then missing a part. Today, if he came across the story of the Three Kingdoms, he would listen to the story of the Three Kingdoms. Tomorrow, if he came across the story of Yue Fei, he would listen to the story of Yue Fei. The day after tomorrow, if he came across the story of heroes, he would listen to the story of Zhu Yuanzhang.

In the teahouses of the Qing Dynasty, many storytellings were based on the parts requested by the wealthy customers. For example, in the Three Kingdoms, Huangfu Song attacked the Yellow Turban Army. Few customers requested the parts, so Wei Xiaobao had fewer opportunities to hear it. Therefore, he only knew that it was Huangfu Song who defeated the Yellow Turban Army, but he didn't know that it was the Huangfu Song who captured Guangzong County and killed Zhang Liang who was standing in front of him.

Wei Xiaobao asked, "Could it be true that Bocai's entire camp was burned down by Huangfu Song?"

Zhang Liang was shocked. He stared at Wei Xiaobao with wide eyes and asked, "This is a military secret. How did you know about it?"

Wei Xiaobao rolled his eyes and said, "I heard it from Lu Zhi's army. I didn't believe it at first, but it seems to be true."

Zhang Liang sighed and said, "It was only after receiving the battle report that my brother considered surrendering."

Wei Xiaobao was anxious because he knew that by the time Huangfu Song came to attack the Yellow Turban Army, Zhang Jue would have died of illness.

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "Lu Zhi and I agreed to attack Guangzong County in three days. Could it be that Lu Zhi was defeated by Zhang Jue in this battle, and then Zhang Jue fled with the Yellow Turban Army, only to encounter Huangfu Song later? Damn it! If that's the case, then Zhang Jue will be dead soon! I have to find a way to get Zhang Jue to send me back quickly. If he dies, there will be no hope for me to return."

Wei Xiaobao said, "General, I have a plan that will allow General Tiangong to fight Lu Zhi, and defeat Lu Zhi in one fell swoop."

Wei Xiaobao only wanted to see Zhang Jue first. As for how to fight, he had no idea at all. Since the book said that Zhang Jue couldn't die now, then he couldn't die. Why should he care about how to fight Lu Zhi?

Zhang Liang was also desperate and wanted to try any possible means. When he heard Wei Xiaobao's suggestion, he decided to listen to him first.

Seeing Zhang Liang nod, Wei Xiaobao continued, "This plan can only be reported to General Tian Gong alone. I hope the general will forgive me."

Zhang Liang pondered for a moment and said, "Brother is still in seclusion today, and you haven't seen your wife for many days. Go back and rest first, and we can discuss it tomorrow."

Wei Xiaobao thought to himself, "You didn't want your elder brother to talk to anyone alone, and you couldn't find a suitable excuse at the moment, so you sent me back, right? Anyway, you won't be able to think of a good way to stop me tomorrow, so why not just listen to you and go back to find Shuang'er first."

Wei Xiaobao said goodbye to Zhang Liang, left the military tent, stopped a patrolling soldier to ask for the direction to the east of the city, and then went straight there.

Tang Qin's voice came from the military tent: "General, kindness does not lead to an army. General Tiangong has lost the support of the people by doing this. It is better not to..."

Wei Xiaobao had already walked away and had no idea about the conspiracy between Zhang Liang and Tang Qin in the military tent at this time, let alone that he would be involved in this conspiracy.

(End of this chapter)