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

Chapter 328 Great villains appear loyal, great falsehoods appear true [6000]

As the crowd dispersed and gathered their troops, Li Jun's eyes gleamed, and he secretly called out to his two most trusted squad leaders.

"General? Any further instructions?"

Li Jun nodded and said in a low voice:

"I have already explained the situation in the city tonight. Those who are in league with Yuan Shikai are rampant, and we must be on guard."

The two men were surprised. "What does the general mean?"

Li Jun raised his hand and pointed to the other two centurions outside the door who were preparing to mobilize troops to help. They were his close friends and comrades-in-arms.

"In my opinion, Generals Huang Long and Huang Hu have no connection with Yuan Shikai."

However, those who colluded with Yuan Shikai were masters of disguise, often feigning loyalty and righteousness to deceive people.

In these critical times, anyone can be a suspect. I'm not afraid of the impossible, but I'm afraid of the worst-case scenario.

You two will each lead your elite troops, under the pretext of guarding against any collusion between them and Yuan Shikai, and personally protect these two generals.

This was both as a precaution and to protect them from being harmed by the traitor Yuan.

When you arrive, simply tell them it was my order. To prove your innocence and that of your men, I think the two generals will understand.

Please be sure to tell them that they did all this out of a sense of duty to fight and for the great plan to eliminate the enemy tonight.

Once the evil spirits in the city have been cleared away, at dawn tomorrow, I will personally apologize and offer wine to the two generals.

Upon hearing this, the two men also found it reasonable and thus bowed and agreed.

Seeing that the two had accepted the order, Li Jun nodded in satisfaction. "You two must remember, if you see me draw my sword and point it to the sky, and I mention the words 'loyalty,' that is a secret code for you."

That is, I have realized that things have changed. Huang Long and Huang Hu are plotting to rebel and collude with Yuan. You two must not hesitate. Immediately lead your men to kill them and take their heads to save the day.

I have entrusted you with the will to fight, and the integrity of loyalty and righteousness awaits your recognition.

Do not disappoint me.

The two were even more shocked upon hearing this, but they remembered that their general had a very close personal relationship with Generals Huanglong and Huanghu in the past.

I figured that unless conclusive evidence had been found and the situation was beyond repair, they would never have used such a code word. Only then did I feel somewhat relieved and reply:

"I obey your command."

After speaking, the two immediately led their men to surround Huang Long and Huang Hu, who were about to return to their own camps to bring reinforcements, and explained to them the secrets that Li Jun had given them.

Huang Long and Huang Hu felt humiliated. After so many years of friendship, Li Jun, how could you doubt our willingness to fight to the death?

Are we two cowardly traitors who cling to Yuan Shikai and fear death?

Despite their shame and indignation, the two men had to admit that Li Jun's actions were justified.

The situation in Xiapi City is currently turbulent and unpredictable. The traitor who is in league with Yuan Shikai is about to launch a major plan. Under such circumstances, apart from Li Jun, who has personally cleared his name in public by using the blood of an envoy who was in league with Yuan Shikai, everyone else is indeed suspected of being in league with Yuan Shikai and must be guarded against.

Therefore, the two generals, who believed they had acted uprightly and had nothing to fear, discussed it and agreed to let Li Jun place people to supervise their actions.

After all, if they disagreed, not to mention that the two of them were outnumbered and isolated, they would have no choice but to comply as they were trapped in Li Jun's camp.

Moreover, even if his troops were by his side, if he were to fall out with Li Jun over this matter, wouldn't that prove his guilty conscience and confirm his identity as a traitor colluding with Yuan?
Next, Li Jun might use the righteous cause to attack them as traitors who colluded with Yuan Shikai.

It should be noted that the Trapped Camp has eight centurions. If Li Jun were to call in more men, the result would be that the two of them and Zhang Cheng, the true traitor to Yuan, would join forces, resulting in a three-on-five fight.

Regardless of whether they could win or not, both of them were upright and loyal, so why would they collude with Zhang Cheng, a traitor who colluded with Yuan Shikai, and fight against loyal and upright men like Li Jun?
No matter what you think, it's wrong.

Therefore, the two generals, Longhu and Hu, not only did not resist, but also cooperated fully, allowing the men sent by Li Jun to protect them in case of any unforeseen circumstances, thus demonstrating their openness, fearlessness, and righteousness.

Anyway, they don't have anything to be afraid of, so what's there to be afraid of?

If Li Jun proves his loyalty tonight, how could someone as righteous as him harm them, diminish the vital force against Yuan Shikai, and cause pain to his loved ones and joy to his enemies?

Back in the camp, seeing that everything was developing as expected, Li Jun breathed a sigh of relief.

Putting aside others for the moment, it is at least certain that the two centurions, Huang Long and Huang Hu, who had just formed an alliance with him and had a close personal relationship, should not have been approached by the black-clad messenger.

What happened earlier was both a test of their intentions and a clarification of their stance.

Firstly, if the two generals, Longhu and Rulong, had indeed seen a similar black-clad messenger before, they would be shocked to find the naked corpse of a black-clad messenger lying on the ground upon entering this place.

How could they not be terrified and perhaps even launch a violent attack? How could they be so calm and fearless, willing to be controlled by me just to prove their loyalty?

Secondly, since the two of them had seen the messenger, they must have known that a major event was imminent tonight and that a grand plan could be launched in an instant. At such a critical juncture, how could they leave their own camp and be summoned to risk their lives just because of my invitation?
This shows that before they arrived, Long and Hu were completely unaware of the important events of the night, which is why they were caught off guard and easily captured.

Otherwise, if the two of them refuse to come, or if they have seen similar black-clad messengers before, Li Ke will have to deal with them in a different way.

At this moment, Li Jun was unaware that he was lucky, as the two generals he captured, the Dragon and the Tiger, happened to be left untouched by the black-clad messenger.

The words the black-clad messenger had told him earlier were just to comfort him; in reality, the number of people who had colluded with Yuan tonight was far fewer than he had described.

But the only thing he could be sure of was that from this moment on, there was no turning back, and of the eight hundred men in the battle, he had already taken three.

In the dim candlelight, Li Jun slowly walked past the still-warm corpse on the ground, a cold smile on his face.

“Sir, you say that our meeting is insignificant, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, or an ant trying to shake a tree. It is not even worthy of being recorded in history or having our names recorded.”

But I, Li Jun, do not agree.

Tonight I will try again, even as a lowly ant, to rise with the tide, change the world, and make my name known in history.

As he spoke, his smile widened.

"You once said you would lend me a hand and grant me permission to join you at the banquet?"
It's really ridiculous.

I'll pretend I don't know what's good for me and enjoy the meal all by myself. Why should I share with you all?

This great undertaking of reviving the Han dynasty is of my own merit, and I can personally present it to the King of Han. Why do you all need to be in the middle?

These are all lessons you taught me, sir.

The place was deserted; apart from the splashing of water as he stepped into the pool of blood, you could hear a pin drop.

As he finished speaking, he slowly walked out.

Outside, three hundred soldiers stood ready, their weapons in order.

“Zhang Cheng is in league with Yuan. Gentlemen, follow me to eliminate the rebels and uphold justice in battle.”

At a command, the troops charged straight towards Zhang Cheng's camp, with three hundred elite soldiers surrounding him.

For Li Jun, Zhang Cheng's fate was already sealed the moment he led his troops there.

If Zhang Cheng were truly loyal to the State of Qi, he would have become a true righteous man like Li Jun, and should have helped the King of Han eliminate this traitor.

Even if Zhang Cheng also harbored loyalty to the Han, Li Jun, who now wielded the "righteous cause of breaking through enemy lines," was even more determined to form cliques and eliminate dissidents.

For Li Jun, with eight hundred soldiers in battle, all he needs to do tonight is one voice.

It doesn't matter whether or not the black-clad messenger entered Zhang Cheng's camp.

If he doesn't have it, he can't hand it over, which means he's hiding a spy and is in league with Yuan.

If so, he will be caught red-handed and his collusion with Yuan Shikai will be confirmed!

As for Li Jun's previous mission to inform Gao Shun's confidant of the information about this place in order to solidify his reputation for "righteousness," he had already been instructed to pay attention to safety, conceal his whereabouts, not to rush, and to prioritize delivering the information while ensuring his own safety.

Moreover, Li Jun made his move only after the black-clad messenger confirmed that the time was right.

Presumably, the righteous men in the city who are in league with Yuan are launching attacks in various places. The city gates may have already been opened. General Gao is in a state of great distress and has no time to attend to this place.
Just as Li Jun had expected, when he led three hundred men into battle to surround and interrogate Zhang Cheng, demanding that he hand over the envoy who had communicated with Yuan Shikai in order to prove his loyalty, Zhang Cheng had no way to produce one.

Zhang Cheng was completely bewildered when someone suddenly broke into his door in the middle of the night!
"What envoy to Yuan Shikai?"
Li Jun, what's wrong with you?

Li Jun sneered, "Traitor, you still dare to argue!"
The envoy who colluded with Yuan Shikai, whom I beheaded, has been interrogated. Before he died, he told me that a accomplice of Yuan Shikai had joined your camp, Zhang Cheng.

What, now that the evidence is irrefutable, you still dare not admit it?

Zhang Cheng: "???"

What the hell am I arguing about?

Which eye of yours saw me making excuses?
No means no. What, are you going to lie through your teeth?
"Li Jun! Don't get agitated!"
Is there any misunderstanding here?
Perhaps that treacherous Yuan is cunning and deliberately framed me; who knows?

At this moment, Zhang Cheng saw that Li Jun was so righteous and determined to arrest the traitor who colluded with Yuan Shikai, and even the two generals Huang Long and Huang Hu seemed to believe his words without a doubt.

He assumed it was some kind of misunderstanding and didn't think anything of it.

There was no way around it; at this moment, Li Jun exuded an aura of righteousness that bordered on the wicked, making everyone who saw him think he was a loyal and righteous soldier on the front lines!
"joke!
Am I the kind of person who can't distinguish between loyalty and treachery?
No one understands Yuan Shikai better than me!
Zhang Chengru, stop beating around the bush and using your silver tongue to deceive the crowd.

A misunderstanding? Ha!

You must now hand over that letter from Yuan the envoy to prove your loyalty.

Either order your soldiers to abandon their weapons and allow me to keep you under my custody while we search the camp.

If such a person does not exist, they will personally apologize to you.

"I've said it several times, I've never seen any envoy to Yuan, how am I supposed to make an agreement?"

Zhang Cheng was truly furious, his heart filled with intense hatred for the envoy who, even on his deathbed, had tried to frame him and implicate him.

As for saying that we should lay down our weapons and let Li Jun send someone to inspect?
How can it be!

If Li Jun had discussed the matter privately with him from the beginning, everyone would have gotten along well, and searching the envoy who communicated with Yuan would not have been unreasonable.

But now Li Jun is coming with great force, his eyes filled with murderous intent. The enmity between the two sides has already been formed. How could he possibly lay down his weapon, tie his own hands, and be controlled by others?

As for the claim that he personally apologized without having communicated with Yuan Shikai's envoy, that's just wishful thinking.

When I am imprisoned by Li Jun and all my military power is taken away by him, I will be at his mercy. What use will it be to ask him to apologize in person?
Moreover, if Li Jun really wanted to harm me, he must have made arrangements in advance. When the time comes, as long as we find a man in black, whether he is the envoy who communicated with Yuan or whether he was found in my camp, it will be up to Li Jun to decide.

The true religion is that taking a step back only makes one angrier, and yielding a step puts one at the mercy of others.

How could Zhang Cheng possibly accept such a proposal?

"Li Jun, don't push your luck!"
I said no, and that's final!

If you show no mercy, don't blame me for fighting to the death!

"it is good!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jun angrily pointed at Zhang Cheng and said to the crowd:
"What did I tell you? This is colluding with the traitor Yuan!"

He must have a guilty conscience, which is why he didn't dare let us search him.

Even if it means fighting to the death, we must protect Yuan's envoy.

Such treason is unforgivable!

The day is the day to eliminate the internal traitors.

As Zhang Cheng and Li Jun continued their argument, not only the men Li Jun brought, but even Zhang Cheng's own men couldn't help but look at him strangely, wondering if their centurion had really fallen for Yuan.

Zhang Cheng's face flushed red as he glared at his generals. "I was drunk tonight and slept soundly. Others may not know, but do you all not? Only someone who is in league with the traitor Yuan would want to throw the camp into chaos!"

Only a traitor who colludes with Yuan Shikai would point fingers at others and call them traitors!
This must be Li Jun colluding with Yuan to deliberately harm me!
kill! "

Seeing that Li Jun and his men had already charged forward, Zhang Cheng shouted "Kill!" and had no choice but to lead his men to meet them.

At this moment, he didn't actually realize that Li Jun was a traitor who colluded with Yuan Shikai.

However, given the current situation, there is no way to retreat. If Li Jun is not branded as a traitor to Yuan Shikai, he himself will be confirmed as a traitor to Yuan Shikai.

Upon hearing this, Li Jun laughed loudly.

"joke!
When did those who are loyal and devoted to the country and eliminate traitors become accusations of colluding with Yuan Shikai?

Are we not allowed to identify those who are suspected of colluding with Yuan Shikai if we are loyal and righteous people?
They are all loyal and devoted, their loyalty shining as brightly as the sun and moon. They are dedicated to eliminating rebels for the country, not to fighting against chaos!

Zhang Cheng is a traitor who distorts the truth and cries "stop thief!" His intentions are despicable. Why are you still not awakened? How much longer will you be deceived by him?

"fart!
Who is really distorting the truth?
Li Jun, you are so eloquent; if you want to frame someone, you can always find a pretext.

"I can't win an argument with you, so let's settle this with a fight!"

"Have you run out of arguments?"
Zhang Cheng, you've run out of tricks, why don't you surrender?

Since the Trapped Camp only had a total of 800 men, Li Jun had 300 men and Zhang Cheng had 100 men, the two sides were able to engage in a war of words while fighting each other.

However, Zhang Cheng was outnumbered and was already showing signs of weakness. Fortunately, when Li Jun came to his door earlier, he knew things were not going well and hurriedly ordered someone to notify the other centurions to come to his rescue.

Just then, the newcomer shouted:

"Brother Zhang, don't panic, Wang Qian is here!"

"Brother Zhang, you have been waiting for a long time. Wang Kun has come to your aid!"

Zhang Cheng was overjoyed upon seeing it and hurriedly called out to him.

"Li Jun has harmed me! My two brothers, please save me!"

With the addition of two centurions to the battlefield, bringing fresh reinforcements, Zhang Cheng's previously dire situation was stabilized once again.

Upon seeing this, Li Jun angrily rebuked him.

"Zhang Chengshi is a traitor who colludes with Yuan Shikai. Do you two generals intend to aid this rebellion?"

Upon hearing this, the two generals paused, slowed their attack, and looked at Zhang Cheng with surprise and uncertainty.

Zhang Cheng was extremely anxious. "I am General Gao's confidant, ordered to lead the vanguard. How could I possibly be in league with Yuan?"

This Li Jun has slandered me; my two brothers, please do not doubt him!

"Thief!
Even facing death, you still dare to distort the truth?

While Zhang Cheng and Li Jun were fighting and hurling insults at each other, the two newly arrived generals, Qiankun and Yi, vaguely understood the situation and quickly tried to mediate.

"General Li, there may be a misunderstanding here. Zhang Cheng has always been loyal and upright, and is also a confidant of General Gao. He is definitely not someone who colludes with Yuan."

"General Li, stay calm. Yuan is cunning. You will surely fall into his trap."

With Brother Wang Qian and I here as witnesses, Brother Zhang can temporarily lay down his arms, and we will jointly send men into the camp to search for him, to prove his loyalty.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng knew that this was a golden opportunity to clear his name. With the two generals of Qiankun present to witness and supervise, he would not have to worry about being controlled by Li Jun and harmed by him after laying down his weapons.

He hurriedly called out:
"We are willing to obey our two elder brothers' orders and temporarily cease hostilities."

General Li, do not fall for Yuan's trap and turn against your own people, thus pleasing your enemies!

Everyone thought it made sense, but then they saw Li Jun sneer and look at them with a dignified and righteous air!

"What a joke! I just asked you to hand over the person, but you wouldn't. I asked you to search me, but you wouldn't."

Now that we're engaged in battle, and everything's in chaos, I'm afraid that envoy to Yuan has already been released by you. By now, how could we possibly find him?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng, despite having various reasons, was momentarily speechless and unable to defend himself.

Li Jun, however, was unforgiving and angrily pointed at the two generals, Qiankun and Erjiang.

"And you too!"
Wang Qian, Wang Kun!
Why did you come earlier or later, but only when this traitor secretly released the envoy who had colluded with Yuan Shikai? Now you pretend to be righteous and come here to uphold justice, as if I didn't know anything about it.

No one understands Yuan Shikai better than I do. You traitors are the most treacherous, pretending to be loyal and honest, often feigning loyalty and righteousness to fool the world.

Unfortunately for you, you've run into me this time. You may fool others, but you can't fool me!

After speaking, Li Jun once again rallied his troops, directly surrounding the bewildered Qiankun and his two generals and engaging them in battle.

"Gao Gong has nurtured me for twelve years, and tonight he will uphold justice and eliminate evil!"
"Our resolve is to charge into battle, even unto death! Follow me to the death, my lords, to prove our loyalty in battle!"

His shouts were almost hoarse, his face radiating the heroic spirit of fighting against evil. Everyone who witnessed it was moved by his loyalty and righteousness, and deeply impressed by him.

The two generals, Qian and Kun, were horrified.

"General Li, calm down!"

There must be some misunderstanding involved.

"General Li, I do not know whether Zhang Cheng and Wang Qian have colluded with Yuan Shikai, but I, Wang Kun, absolutely have not!"

Zhang Cheng/Wang Qian: "."

However, Li Jun seemed to have no intention of saying anything more to them, and only fought desperately, shouting hatefully.

"Traitor!"

How dare you betray Lord Gao! I will fight you to the death!

"I'm not!" / "I didn't!"

Wang Qian and Wang Kun looked innocent, as if they had been caught in the crossfire, and even glanced at Zhang Cheng with suspicion from time to time.

Since Li Jun is so righteous and willing to die for his principles, it's hard not to suspect that you, Zhang Cheng, really did something to wrong Gao Shun and the Trapped Camp. Otherwise, why would people fight so hard and be determined to fight you to the death?

Seeing this, Zhang Cheng panicked. To save his own life, he knew that he had to brand Li Jun as a traitor who colluded with Yuan Shikai in order to survive.

"Don't you two brothers understand?"
This must be Li Jun colluding with Yuan Shikai, forming factions and suppressing dissent!
Whether you two have been in cahoots with Yuan or not, you two must know the answer in your hearts.

Similarly, I am also clear about whether I have been in cahoots with Yuan Shikai!
We all know in our hearts that we did not collude with Yuan, but Li Jun still insists on portraying us as traitors who colluded with Yuan.

Tonight, in this place, isn't it clear enough who is colluding with Yuan?
If we don't fight to the death now, we will surely be killed by Li Jun!

Upon hearing this, the two generals realized that who was loyal and who was treacherous was no longer important. What mattered was that Li Jun had no intention of letting them go. They quickly mustered their troops, joined forces with Zhang Cheng, and fought Li Jun to the death.

Although it was three hundred against three hundred, Zhang Cheng's troops had previously been severely defeated by Li Jun's forces, and Li Jun's righteous and stern words repeatedly rendered the other side speechless.

Therefore, the elite troops under Li Jun were all filled with righteous indignation, each feeling that they were doing justice for General Gao Shun and eliminating evil, and their morale was soaring!

On the other hand, Zhang Cheng and his men could not win an argument with Li Jun time and time again. Not to mention his generals, even Wang Qian and Wang Kun had doubts about whether Zhang Cheng was in league with Yuan. So how could they have the will to fight?
Therefore, this elite force, which is determined to fight to the death, finds it difficult to unite as one on their side.

Seeing their defeats coming one after another, destruction was only a matter of time.

Just then, another hundred-man squad arrived, led by a centurion named Zhao Da.

This person was actually the first to arrive, or rather, he had been leading his hundred-man squad in the shadows from the beginning, constantly looking for an opportunity and waiting for the right moment.

That's right!

This Zhao Da was the other one of the only two people in the Trapped Camp who could be bribed, and was highly recommended by Wei Xu.

Unlike Li Jun, after the black-clad messenger beside him said "The heavenly secret has arrived," he immediately mobilized his troops and prepared to do his part for the cause of restoring the Han dynasty.

However, when he led his troops out and looked at the quiet, still camp, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Wait, what happened to the saying that there were many who supported Yuan Shikai? Where are your teammates? Give us a hand!

Am I the only one?

Zhao Da, who had a vague sense of foreboding, dared not listen to the messenger's words and carry out the so-called "trapping and collapsing plan".
Feeling deeply deceived and at a loss, he heard from afar that three hundred elite troops were also charging towards him in a grand procession.

Zhao Da was overjoyed and was about to join his teammates when he heard Li Jun, the leader, shout urgently:

"I am irreconcilably opposed to the traitor Yuan Shikai!"
"Gentlemen, heed my command! Now is the time to rectify the situation and eliminate the traitors!"

Zhao Da: "."

Oh no, it's coming for me.

He was terrified, but fortunately, there were plenty of places to hide in the darkness of the camp. He quickly led his hundred men into hiding.

Just as he was sweating profusely, he was fortunate to find that Li Jun was not looking for him, but instead went to Zhang Cheng.

Zhao Da: "???"

After hearing about the verbal battle between Li Jun and Zhang Cheng, and gradually understanding the reasons behind it, he couldn't help but grit his teeth and feel deep hatred!

"Li Jun?"
I never imagined that amidst the chaos of battle, I would find someone as loyal and righteous as you!

Not only him, but another black-clad messenger beside him was also deeply shaken and filled with hatred after hearing that his colleague had been killed by Li Jun to prove his loyalty.

"Truly hateful!"
"Sir, your plans were flawless, yet you never imagined that within the city of Xiapi, there was a loyal and righteous man like Li Jun who would ruin our grand scheme!"

As for why Li Jun approached Zhang Cheng, the two discussed it and concluded that it was probably because the envoy, even when killed, did not forget the grand plan for tonight.

On his deathbed, he revealed Zhang Cheng's name, causing chaos and infighting within the enemy ranks, thus creating an opportunity for them.

"With such righteous men in our hearts, how can we fear Li Jun?"

"That's right. Fortunately, that gentleman sacrificed himself for righteousness, otherwise we would all have perished at Li Jun's hands."

Although the two said this, they did not dare to go out when they saw the three hundred elite soldiers under Li Jun's command, who were full of momentum, and instead suppressed their advance.

Even now, after several changes in the situation, Zhang Cheng and the two generals Qiankun are fighting Li Jun together. Although they are showing signs of weakness, they still have the strength to fight.

Zhao Da knew that by enduring this much, the balance of victory was now in his own hands.

"Brother Zhang, don't panic, I'm here to help you!"

The great cause of reviving the Han dynasty begins at this very moment!

The two groups of Zhang Cheng and Li Jun, who were originally locked in a fierce battle, suddenly heard a loud shout from outside the battle.

Before the people arrive, the sound arrives first!
A centurion named Zhao Da was seen leading his black-clad envoys out to assist Zhang Cheng, bringing his long-hidden fresh troops with him!

Upon seeing it, Zhang Cheng was initially delighted.

After seeing the black-clad messenger beside Zhao Da clearly, and recalling Li Jun's previous description, he was greatly alarmed.

Don't come here! ! !

(End of this chapter)