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

Chapter 324 Wenhe, you may try to speak!
Shortly after, Chen Deng came to see him.

Having received Yuan Shu's advice, everyone now believed that Chen Deng was an inside agent of the King of Han, secretly laying the groundwork for Yuan Shu, and thus they all looked at him with strange eyes.

Seeing that everyone in the tent was staring at him with strange expressions, Chen Deng was also a little suspicious. However, it was obviously not the time to ask for the truth, so he suppressed his suspicions for the time being and bowed to them.

"Chen Deng of the Chen family pays his respects to the King of Han."

Yuan Shu looked at him coldly and said:
"King Qi betrayed righteousness and aided Cao in his tyranny, assassinating my adopted son. His actions are a breach of faith and righteousness, and cannot be tolerated by Heaven."

"I have now dispatched troops to destroy Qi and punish its crimes. With the Han army pressing on our borders, I have sent you as an envoy. What is your purpose?"

As expected, Chen Dengyi spoke sternly and loudly.

"Lu Bu was a jackal, brave but reckless, and fickle."

The people of Xuzhou have suffered under King Qi for too long. King Han plans to rectify this by following the correct calendar of the world, thus relieving the people from their dire straits.

"I have come here today to surrender the city, to demonstrate the imperial will to the people of Xuzhou, and to save the common people and revive the Han dynasty."

As Chen Deng spoke, he bowed deeply and did not rise.

"I have long admired the illustrious name of the King of Han, whose virtues spread throughout the four seas and whose reputation is renowned throughout the nine provinces. Today, seeing him, I see him as a shining example of the heavens and the sun, a man with the countenance of saving the world."

They were completely convinced, only regretting that they hadn't surrendered sooner.

Everyone: "."

They're here! They're here!!!
As expected, he was a traitor to Yuan Shikai, arranged by the King of Han beforehand. After arriving, he was exactly the same as Wei Xu, who always said, "I have wanted to surrender to Han for a long time!"

Zhang Liao's expression was the most complicated. Heaven knows that back in Xiaopei, he genuinely wanted to lead his army to resist Yuan Shikai.

Now it turns out that Wei Xu, who was responsible for monitoring him, not only surrendered to the Han and betrayed him, but Chen Deng, the main person in charge of the support in Xuzhou, was also a sympathizer of Yuan Shikai.

It would be a miracle if we could win this battle.

To be honest, Zhang Liao was already starting to feel a little worried. What if, in any case, the King of Han continued his campaign and reached the King of Qi?

King Qi also rushed over and knelt down, saying, "I have long admired the King of Han's illustrious name and have long wished to become his adopted son." When the King of Han was pleased, he would take him in as his ninth adopted son.

As the eighth adopted son of the King of Han, Zhang Liao really didn't know how to face his former master.

Inside the tent, upon hearing Chen Deng's words, everyone looked at him with increasingly strange eyes. Amidst the silence and strange gazes, Yuan Shu spoke softly.

"I have always known that Lü Bu is a wolf in sheep's clothing and cannot be kept for long."

Today he assassinated my adopted son. This is an irreconcilable enmity. I will not be able to quell my hatred until I have taken Xuzhou.

Since you admire my reputation, you should advise me on this matter.

Chen Deng was overjoyed: "If the King of Han makes any move, I will be his inside man."

Everyone: "."

The King of Han was indeed far-sighted and shrewd.

Seeing this Xuzhou envoy, who had just come from Xiapi, openly discussing with their King of Han how to plot against Xuzhou, everyone was amazed by the King of Han's methods.

Only Wei Xu whispered to Zhang Liao beside him, "This man has my style and is likely to be one of the strong contenders for the King of Han's credit for pacifying Xuzhou. He should be a great enemy for both of us and we must be wary of him."

Zhang Liao: "."

Let's not talk about you and me!

Don't lump me in with you!

Seeing that Zhang Liao didn't seem to care, Wei Xu quickly whispered a word of advice to him.

"The new system in Han is different from the past. I have found out in the past few days that everything is based on merit points. Without merit points, it is difficult to move an inch in Han."

Last year, when the King of Han pacified Jingzhou, it was Xing Daorong and Cai Mao who worked together seamlessly to persuade the various counties to surrender and to accept the surrender of the local troops.

Therefore, the two of them became famous in one battle and ranked among the top in the Heavenly Star Lords this year.

If we can repeat the deeds of Xing Daorong and Cai Mao, and help the King of Han subdue the troops of the various prefectures of Xuzhou, we will be the greatest contributors to the surrender of the Xuzhou officials.

With this achievement, he could rise to great heights upon entering the Han state, like Xing Daorong and Cai Mao, and attain a high position.

But if we can do this, so can Chen Deng. In fact, given his position, he would do it even better than you or me.

To steal someone else's credit is like killing their parents; how can they not be our greatest enemy?

"What's the meaning?
Chen Denglai is acting as an inside agent. My adoptive father is about to capture Xuzhou. With such a momentous event imminent, you mustn't cause any trouble.

Zhang Liao initially didn't want to pay him any attention, but recalling how Wei Xu had been incompetent in external affairs and had even gotten himself killed in internal strife, he couldn't help but be intrigued and wanted to hear what Wei Xu was planning.

"How could it be causing trouble?"
He also wanted to share the burden for the King of Han.

You know that Lu Bu, that scoundrel, is extremely suspicious and jealous of talent. He often puts Gao Shun's elite troops under my command, and you have a very close personal relationship with Gao Shun.

With your and my help, taking Pi will be a piece of cake. How can we let Chen Yuanlong steal the limelight?

"Don't talk nonsense. I, Zhang, would never do such a thing as harming my friend and betraying my trust."

What does it mean to harm someone?
Gao Shun was exceptionally talented and a master of leading troops; his elite Trapped Camp was invincible.

However, under that treacherous Lu, he was often feared and his ambitions remained unfulfilled, buried to this day.

If the two of us can join forces to win over Gao Shun and the Trapped Camp, we will not be concerned about how much merit we can gain.

He said that from now on, under the command of the King of Han, he would no longer have to worry about being feared or suppressed, and could fully display his talents and enjoy countless riches and honors.

Compared to his time with Lü Bu, wasn't it like comparing the bright moon to a firefly, or a pearl to a dark box?
Zhang Wenyuan, think carefully before you answer. Is this really saving him or harming him?

Zhang Liao: "."

Zhang Liao was speechless for a moment, because for some reason, he actually found the words of this villain Wei Xu to be quite reasonable.

Seeing that Chen Deng and the Prince of Han were getting along very well and seemed to be about to finalize the matter, Wei Xu, who was secretly whispering to Zhang Liao, hurriedly urged him:

Zhang Wenyuan!

For the sake of your good friend Gao Shun's future, and for the sake of your own future as the adopted son of the King of Han, what are you still hesitating about?
You know Gao Shun's character best. Do you really think it's true friendship to just stand by and watch him fight to the death for Lü Bu at Xiapi, ultimately perishing under the onslaught of the Han army?

Zhang Liao was sweating profusely and had no reply.

Just then, Wei Xu suddenly shoved him hard from behind. Zhang Liao, distracted by the question, was caught off guard and pushed out of the crowd.

Inside the main tent, Yuan Shu and Chen Deng were discussing in detail how to act as an inside agent, how to pretend to negotiate peace by ceding territory and paying reparations, and how to secretly open the city gates and surrender without arousing Gao Shun's suspicion.

Just then, Zhang Liao was pushed forward by Wei Xu, and everyone's eyes, both inside and outside the arena, turned to him, as if Zhang Liao had taken the initiative to step forward and had something to say.

Even Yuan Shu looked at him in surprise, "My son, is it because Yuan Long's plan has some oversight that you are stepping forward now?"

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I am not bound by formalities in my presence; you may speak freely.

Zhang Liao: "."

Can I say that I was pushed out by Wei Xu?
Now that things have come to this, he certainly couldn't tell the King of Han that he had been daydreaming and whispering with Wei Xu, and hadn't heard a word they were saying.

Moreover, although Wei Xu's previous remarks were fallacious and heretical, they were undeniable.

Since Lü Bu's defeat and death were already a foregone conclusion, why make his friend Gao Shun die for him, only to be buried with a villain?

It would be better to win them over and have them serve as subjects in the same palace, so that we can continue to fight side by side and seek wealth and honor together in the future.

Without further hesitation, Zhang Liao bowed with his hands clasped.

"Mr. Chen's words were a pretense of peace, demanding the cession of territory and reparations in order to appease Gao Shun."

In reality, opening the city gates for us tonight to capture Xiapi is a perfectly reasonable plan. However, Liao knows Gao Shun's character well, and tonight, when the city falls, it will also be the moment for Gao Shun to lead his elite troops in a desperate battle.

My godfather is unaware that this elite force is unparalleled in the world.

The reason why Lü Bu dared to leave Gao Shun to guard Xuzhou while he led his troops north was solely due to the Trapped Camp!
Not to mention the sheer number of casualties we would suffer if the Trapped Camp fought to the death to defend the city and then broke through.

Liao even worried that with the Trapped Camp's capabilities and Gao Shun's personal command, even if Mr. Chen opened the city gates, their army might be routed and the gates recaptured.

what!
Zhang Liao's words caused an uproar throughout the hall.

"Zhang Wenyuan, stop boosting others' morale and diminishing your own!"

You mean, even with our main force being opened by an inside agent, Gao Shun will instead drive our troops back and retake the city gates?

"You have been in Xuzhou for a long time and have never seen the heroes of the world. You think that Gao Shun's Trapped Camp is the best in the world, but you don't know that my Han army has been invincible since it marched out of Shouchun!"

"You are unworthy of being the adopted son of the King of Han. Tonight, watch how we defeat this so-called Trapped Camp and demonstrate the might of the Han army."

"In a direct confrontation, the Trapped Camp is naturally no match for the hundreds of thousands of Han soldiers, but how many troops can squeeze into the narrow environment at the city gate at one time?"
Although the vanguard force numbered only eight hundred, this was equivalent to a small-scale battle at the city gate, which was precisely their strength.

Given their elite strength, it is not impossible for them to defeat the vanguard entering the city and retake the city gates.

Unless Mr. Chen can open more city gates tonight, causing the Trapped Camp to be overwhelmed, the threat to Liao is no exaggeration.

Seeing that the crowd was unaware of the power of the Trapped Camp and were pointing and whispering about him, Zhang Liao quickly turned his gaze to Chen Deng.

Chen Deng also nodded and said:

"This was my oversight; the Trapped Camp is indeed one of the most elite forces in the world."

If Gao Shun disregards everything and defends the city to the death, even if the Han army breaks through the city, it will inevitably suffer losses and completely destroy this elite force.

The reason I didn't speak of it before was because the soldiers in the city were all in Gao Shun's hands, and this man was extremely loyal to Lü Bu.

Even with Deng's abilities, opening a door secretly tonight is already the limit.

There is truly no strategy that can capture Xiapi and break through enemy lines without losing a single soldier.

After all, Chen Deng's current situation is different from Wei Xu's.

At that time, Wei Xu held the reins of justice in Xiaopei City, forcing Zhang Liao to voluntarily be placed under house arrest. The city's army was entirely in Wei Xu's hands, so he could open as many gates as he wanted.

However, in Xiapi City at present, although Gao Shun trusts Chen Deng and wants him to offer advice, he is unlikely to blindly hand over all his troops to him.

Chen Deng then looked Zhang Liao up and down with a knowing smile.

"Since General Zhang thinks my plan is flawed, he must have a better strategy in mind that can help the King of Han easily take Xuzhou?"

Zhang Liao: "."

A good strategy?

They had just started whispering and hadn't finished their discussion when Wei Xu pushed them out.

At this moment, he knew perfectly well why Wei Xu had pushed him earlier.

Zhang Liao replied with a wry smile, "Wei Xu has a plan, which he will present to the King of Han."

With Zhang Liao, the adopted son of the King of Han, standing in front and helping him withstand the pressure from the Han camp, Wei Xu stepped forward without hesitation.

The main reason is that he and Zhang Liao, who came from Xuzhou, knew how powerful the Trapped Camp was, but the Han soldiers and the King of Han did not.

Without Zhang Liao, the adopted son of the King of Han, most of the pressure would have been contained.

Wei Xu felt that with his small stature, he was the first to jump out and say that the Trapped Camp was powerful, and worried that the Han army might not be able to win despite its great advantage.

It would be strange if he weren't seen as disrupting morale and people said things like "Please execute him."

He stepped forward from the crowd and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, bowed deeply to the King of Han.

"Your Majesty! You may not yet understand the power of the Trapped Camp. I have been here for a long time."

When Wei Xu was about to explain to him how powerful the Trapped Camp was, Yuan Shu's face darkened.

No one knows the power of the Trapped Camp better than I do!

"Minister Wei need not say more. I am already well aware of the sharpness of the Trapped Camp."

"Speak frankly what your plan is."

Wei Xu: "."

Who was it? And which traitor who colluded with Yuan Shikai told the Prince of Han about the Trapped Camp so early on?

Now is not the time to dwell on this matter, so Wei Xu spoke frankly.

"Your Majesty may not know this, but Gao Shun was previously under Lü Bu's command and was often feared."

I always entrusted the Trapped Camp to my daily command, only handing it over to Gao Shun when the battle was imminent, so that we could meet the enemy head-on, and we won every battle.

No one understands the Trapped Camp better than I do; it is truly an invincible weapon.

This time, Lü Bu transferred me to Xiaopei instead of keeping me in Xuzhou City to continue commanding the Trapped Camp for Gao Shun.

The reason is that if Xiaopei falls, only Gao Shun, who personally commands the Trapped Camp, can defend Xuzhou for him.

This was precisely to prevent me from interfering with Gao Shun and the Trapped Camp, so that Gao Shun could unleash his full potential.

Wei Xu spoke eloquently to everyone.

"I have been in charge of the Vanguard Camp under Gao Shun's command for a long time, and Lü Bu has also been secretly having me win over the hearts of the Vanguard Camp members."

All I need to do is send me into the city. I won't say I'll restrain the enemy from attacking, but tonight when the city falls, I'll make them lose their composure and unable to fully assist Gao Shun.

General Zhang Liao is a close friend of Gao Shun. If he could also be brought into the city, his old troops could be gathered together, and Gao Shun could be persuaded to surrender.

At that time, Mr. Chen opened the city gate and continued to keep an eye on the Trapped Camp to prevent them from making any rash moves, while General Zhang Liao dissuaded and stopped Gao Shun.

Thus, the city fell without a fight, and the formidable weapon of the siege formation also fell into the hands of the King of Han.

After hearing Wei Xu's words, Yuan Shu was quite intrigued and asked:
"What Wei Qing says is quite right. So how can we get you and Wen Yuan into the city without Gao Shun suspecting anything, so that we can carry out this plan?"

Wei Xu looked up and bowed, his face full of longing.

"How can a plan as small as a firefly compete with the brilliance of the bright moon?"
The king's wisdom and strategic planning have determined the fate of the world; who doesn't know this? Who doesn't understand this?
"Now we can think of a better plan to send the two of us into the city without arousing Gao Shun's suspicion."

Yuan Shu: "."

Do you think I have a wish-granting machine?
Let me help you come up with a plan?
However, one cannot expect Wei Xu to come up with any earth-shattering plans. It seems he just wants to sneak into the city with Zhang Liao ahead of time to gain credit for accepting surrenders.

It's definitely not feasible to let them hide among Chen Deng's entourage and sneak back. Gao Shun knows them, and they'll be exposed as soon as they meet.

Even if they managed to escape Gao Shun, there were too many people in the city who knew them, making it too easy for the news to leak out.

So what should I do?

Yuan Shu decided to seek advice from his wise advisors!
He then turned his gaze to Jia Xu, saying, "I have a good plan in mind."

Wenhe, among all my ministers, you understand my heart best.

Now, let us try to say it.

Jia Xu: "."

(End of this chapter)