Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 131 Nonsense! No one present had any intention of going to the Golden Terrace!

On that day, in Meng County, dark clouds loomed over the city, and the atmosphere was gloomy and desolate.

With Yuan Shu's army poised to return at any moment, Sun Qing, Cao Chun, Xu Huang, and Yang Feng gathered at the county government office to discuss important matters.

"Master Yang!"
With Yuan's army approaching, apart from General Cao's 10,000 men who are still intact, we have all suffered heavy losses. Our soldiers have no will to fight, and our generals have no fighting ability. What should we do if Yuan's army attacks again?

"Master Yang, why don't you give me an answer?"

"Master Yang!"
You fought for many years, protecting the emperor on his return journey eastward. Back then, Li and Guo were incredibly fierce, yet you were able to survive time and time again in dire straits, saving the emperor from danger and upholding the righteous cause from collapse.

Now, with righteous cause at our feet and a powerful enemy at our side, we face a formidable enemy.

Why doesn't Master Yang say a word?

"Lord Yang, it was Huang who underestimated the enemy and acted rashly, resulting in the near loss of your old brothers who have served you for many years. This is my fault!"

Huang was arrogant and negligent, underestimating the heroes of the world, which led to today's disaster. He regrets not heeding Yang Gong's advice.

However, the Emperor's high hopes, the fate of the nation, and even the entire Han Dynasty all rest on our shoulders. We should prioritize righteousness.

I hope Master Yang will teach me.

Yang Feng: "."

Faced with the three men's expectant gazes, as if he could actually come up with some brilliant plan, Yang Feng was truly speechless.

What are the fierce and powerful Li and Guo? How could I possibly save the emperor from danger time and time again?

That thing just ran away.

Or should I teach you how to escape now?
I, Yang Feng, have fought many battles and relied on three treasures to protect me: first, escape; second, surrender; and third, Xu Huang's rescue!

Now, let alone Xu Huang saving me, Xu Huang is still asking me for a solution. So, you either escape or surrender, do you choose one?

He secretly grumbled to himself, but Yang Feng dared not say it out loud. After all, his own troops had been completely wiped out by Xu Huang, and he only had six or seven hundred men left.
Cao Chun, who was leading nearly 10,000 Cao troops, was now respectfully asking for advice, but that was only because the situation was critical and he had no other choice but to seek advice in desperation.

If he were to speak nonsense and reveal any bad tendencies, he would surely eliminate this scourge for Prime Minister Cao.

With things having come to this point, Yang Feng could only feign sorrow and let out a soft sigh.

"Several generals have been defeated and have come to ask me now, but it is too late."
Although I am not talented, I have some unique insights into military strategy. But in that vast Yuan camp, is there no capable person?
Currently, the enemy is strong and we are weak. Yuan's army is using its power to intimidate us. Even a clever woman like Yang can't cook without rice. What can she do?
If we were to devise a strategy to counter the enemy, there would be no other way than to defend the city and seek aid from the imperial court and Chancellor Cao.

"Another call for help?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Chun was the first to show his dissatisfaction. "We came to aid Liang before, but Lord Cao spared no effort to quell the chaos in the north and march south to quell it, which is how we managed to gather 130,000 reinforcements from several routes."

Now that our troops have been completely wiped out, how can we possibly ask for reinforcements again? And even if we did ask for reinforcements, where would the court find the troops to spare to aid Liang again?

Sun Qing had only hoped to find a solution, but now that he saw that this so-called Yang Gong, who supposedly had unique insights into dealing with Yuan's army, was just spouting old platitudes and had no good ideas, he was already disappointed.

Upon hearing Cao Chun's words again, and recalling the resentment he felt for losing 100,000 men, he could no longer hold back.

"The chaos and turmoil in the northern border? What does General Cao mean by this?"
We were ordered by the Emperor to march south to quell the rebellion. This was said by Prime Minister Cao himself. Now, countless of my men have died or been wounded in the service of the King, while General Cao's men have suffered almost no losses.

"What? Now we who sacrificed our lives for the country have become the scourge of the north in General Cao's words, while General Cao, who is so concerned with his own reputation and self-preservation, is considered a pillar of the nation?"

"Stop distorting the truth!" Cao Chun was furious with Sun Qing. "If your men hadn't been so focused on looting and scattered in all directions, and hadn't come to Meng County to gather together and unite, how could we have given Yuan's army the opportunity to defeat us one by one, leading to today's disaster?"

If we hadn't been rescuing you, why would we have suffered such heavy losses? General Mao Jie, a man of practical talent even Cao Cao valued, has perished in Yuan Shao's camp while trying to save you. And yet you dare to stand here, waving your tongue and sowing discord?

"Am I distorting the truth?"
I lost nearly 100,000 brothers in the service of the king, and what have you sacrificed for the king? Now you accuse me of sowing discord among the people?

Sun Qing, not to be outdone, let out a cold laugh.

"As for that General Mao Jie you mentioned, I've heard about it recently. Not only did Yuan Shikai appoint him as a Lieutenant General, but he also built a Golden Terrace for him in Shouchun."

It is said that the entire courtyard was made of gold, and it contained all kinds of rare antiques, beautiful women and fine wines. The inscription above it reads: "To repay your kindness on the golden platform, I would wield the jade dragon and die for you."

Such profound kindness, can your Prime Minister Cao repay it?

Who knows, when we face each other in battle one day, the General Mao Jie you speak of will lead the Jade Dragon to slay you, a general of Cao Cao's camp, to repay the favor shown on the Golden Terrace.

You dare mention such a treacherous and despicable person in front of me, Sun? I am truly ashamed to be associated with you!

"Stop talking nonsense! I know that General Mao Jie is loyal to Cao Cao. How could he be tempted by the wealth and honor of the Golden Terrace?"
This must be a scheme devised by Yuan Shao's military advisor, Fengxiao!

Upon hearing this, Cao Chun seemed to be indignant on behalf of Mao Jie, and was so enraged that he drew his sword!

Cao Chun knew that Mao Jie was loyal to Cao Cao, but he wasn't sure whether Mao Jie was truly loyal enough to remain unmoved by the Golden Terrace.

After all, even he himself felt a little unrealistically tempted when he first heard Yuan Ying's description of the wealth and luxury of Huangjintai.

No, it was curiosity. Cao Chun was simply curious about what kind of golden palace could make Mao Jie betray his country and defect to the enemy.

However, these thoughts are private and cannot be discussed openly.

Furthermore, he had to insist that the story of the Golden Terrace was completely fabricated and entirely a scheme by Yuan Ying's military advisor, Fengxiao. Otherwise, if everyone was thinking of surrendering, the people of Meng County would fall apart.

The thought crossed his mind in an instant, and as he spoke, he pointed his sword at Sun Qing.

"My dear Commander Sun, I never imagined you knew so much about the Golden Terrace incident in Yuan's camp."

Could it be that the one you're talking about who wants to move into the Golden Terrace and promote Yulong for Yuan Shikai isn't General Mao Jie, but rather Commander Sun himself?

"Nonsense!"

"How could I possibly have such thoughts?"

Sun Qing's face flushed red, his expression changed drastically, and he also drew his sword.

"You brat, stop spouting nonsense and ruining people's reputations!"
All 100,000 of my brothers died at the hands of the traitor Yuan. I will never share the same sky with him!

Anyone present, even you, Cao Chun, or even General Xu Huang and Lord Yang, could potentially go to the Golden Terrace, but I, Sun Qing, am absolutely not!

Yang Feng: "???"

Yang Feng quickly cleared his throat and said, "General Sun, please don't get agitated. General Cao, please say less."

I believe that everyone present is loyal to the court and Prime Minister Cao, so why would anyone want to go to that damned Golden Terrace?
If we remain here and suspect each other, we will fall into the trap set by Yuan Shao's military advisor, Fengxiao.

(End of this chapter)