noffsinger Chapter 303 Yuan Tan Falls into a Trap! Cao Cao: My foolish nephew!
Chapter 303 Yuan Tan Falls into a Trap! Cao Cao: My foolish nephew!
Just as Wei Yan was about to finish off Zang Ba, Jia Xu seemed to suddenly remember something and said to Zang Ba with a gentle smile:
“My dear King Zang, I have just remembered something.”
"You can't die now!"
Upon hearing this, Zang Ba felt no relief at surviving the ordeal; instead, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and his whole body trembled violently.
But his life and death are no longer in his own hands, but in Jia Xu's.
……
five days later
Yuan Tan's envoys arrived in Taishan Commandery once again.
The messenger had already received the message on his way here.
I heard that a battle broke out outside the main city of Taishan five days ago. Cao Cao's army, led by Xu Rong, intended to launch a surprise attack and kill Zang Ba.
However, under the wise command of Zang Ba and the valiant fighting of his general Wu Dun, the enemy was defeated.
Cao's army suffered a crushing defeat, and Zang Ba firmly defended the main city of Taishan!
It truly lives up to the idiom, as stable as Mount Tai.
For a time, Yuan Ying's envoy also held Zang Ba in high esteem.
No wonder they were able to maintain their power in Taishan County for so many years and still stand strong.
You really need to have some skills to succeed!
Enter the council chamber
Yuan Ying's envoy looked up at Zang Ba and saw that Zang Ba's expression was somewhat unpleasant.
Yuan Ying's envoy asked in confusion:
"General Zang, if I may be so bold, are you unwell?"
"If you are unwell, it is not too late to see me again tomorrow."
This envoy from Yuan's camp genuinely wanted to bring Zang Ba into their camp.
We'll be colleagues in the future, so it's essential to build a good relationship beforehand.
Before Zang Ba could speak, Wu Dun interjected:
"Please don't take offense, sir. My master just caught a cold yesterday; it's nothing serious."
"Meeting the gentleman is an important matter, and he will certainly not postpone it."
Yuan Ying's envoy nodded and bowed to Zang Ba.
Surprisingly, Zang Ba, this opportunistic warlord, was quite polite to him!
Therefore, it seems that submission is a foregone conclusion.
Jia Xu, who had been standing silently to the side with his head down, glared fiercely at Zang Ba, who was so frightened that he immediately put on an act and started chatting enthusiastically with the Yuan camp envoy.
Both parties were in a relationship where "the man was interested and the woman was interested."
Yuan Ying's envoy was overjoyed and almost considered Zang Ba a close friend.
"General Zang, then let's agree on this."
"Half a month later, you pretended to surrender to Cao Cao's army."
"After the battle a few days ago, Xu Rong has also realized your fighting strength."
"They are definitely eager to recruit you to their side!"
"Upon learning of your willingness to surrender, Xu Rong will personally travel to the main city of Taishan."
"When Cao's army arrives, you will then cooperate with my young master Yuan to launch a counterattack!"
Zang Ba laughed:
"exactly."
"Then Xu Rong will definitely think that I am on his side."
"Little did he know, if he dared to come to this main city of Mount Tai, this general would attack from the rear, joining forces with Young Master Yuan to launch a pincer attack on him!"
"So good!"
Yuan Ying's envoy was overjoyed.
He was a member of Xin Ping's clan, but his status in the family was not high.
However, if he succeeds in winning over Zang Ba, his position next to Yuan Tan will be significantly promoted!
Within the family, he would likely be second only to Xin Ping in stature.
……
Linzi City
Upon receiving the messenger's report, Yuan Tan also showed delight.
Xin Ping immediately cupped his hands and said:
"Congratulations, young master! With Zang Ba's help, we will definitely be able to completely eliminate that troublesome Xu Rong!"
Yuan Tan waved his hand:
“Xu Rong has repeatedly provoked me.”
"Anyone who doesn't know the situation might think that I, Yuan Xiansi, am afraid of him!"
“It just so happens that my grandfather’s death anniversary is coming soon.”
"Tell the soldiers that I will soon bring Xu Rong's head as a sacrifice!"
The grandfather Yuan Tan mentioned was not Yuan Shao's biological father, Yuan Feng, but his adoptive father, Yuan Cheng, who was Yuan Shao's original uncle.
Regardless of which father's affection Yuan Shao felt more for, or whether it didn't exist at all.
In any case, according to the patriarchal clan system of the Han Dynasty, Yuan Shao and his sons had to perform sacrifices on the anniversary of Yuan Cheng's death.
Yuan Cheng was buried in Runan, which is now Cao Cao's territory.
Guo Jia showed mercy and did not excavate Yuan Shao's graves.
Even if the tomb still existed, Yuan Shao would not have made a special trip to Cao Cao's territory to pay his respects.
If he dares to go, then he most likely won't come back.
To make worship more convenient, Yuan Shao sent people to build another tomb for Yuan Cheng near Ye City, which he and his three sons would use for annual worship.
Yuan Tan's plan to use Xu Rong's head as a sacrifice for Yuan Cheng this year can be described as utterly outrageous.
But at this moment, our young master Yuan clearly has not yet fully grasped the treacherous nature of the world.
He actively mobilized his troops, determined to kill Xu Rong and invade northern Xuzhou!
……
The time came as promised.
As expected, Zang Ba surrendered to Xu Rong, luring Xu Rong to the main city of Mount Tai.
outside Linzi City
Yuan Tan, fully armored and wearing the same armor Yuan Shao had worn in his youth, addressed his generals Lü Xiang and Lü Kuang behind him:
"I am personally leading this expedition. You two must fight the enemy well and not worry about my life or safety."
Upon hearing this, Lü Xiang and Lü Kuang really wanted to slap Yuan Tan across the face on the spot!
What the hell!
Are you, Yuan Tan, out of your mind?
Even if we're incredibly strong, if we're not careful and you die, won't we be buried alive by your dad when we get back?
Of course, they only dared to say these words in their hearts.
On the surface, they were very respectful to Yuan Tan, but in secret they were prepared to give up military merit in order to protect Yuan Tan.
Xun Chen and Xin Ping, these two cunning strategists, naturally also accompanied Yuan Tan on the expedition.
A total of 50,000 troops marched in a mighty procession toward the main city of Taishan.
Fifty thousand Yuan troops, plus forty thousand Taishan bandits under Zang Ba, attacked Xu Rong's twenty thousand Cao troops from both sides.
There's no way we can lose this battle!
at the same time
Near the main city of Taishan
Zang Ba was whipped by Wei Yan, Gan Ning, and Liao Hua once again.
"You old bastard, you're still thinking about running away?"
"If my master hadn't given me instructions beforehand, I would have killed you long ago!"
"If you try to run again, I'll cut you down and send you to the palace to become a eunuch!"
Wei Yan said to Zang Ba with a ferocious expression.
Upon hearing this, Zang Ba's legs tightened in fright.
Death is just a matter of one stab.
Eunuchs? That's a matter of one cut.
But this strike is not the same as that strike!
If Zang Ba really becomes a eunuch, it would be better to kill him quickly to avoid a fate worse than death!
"Alright, alright, you lot, stop bullying Zang Ba."
"Although he is no longer of much use, he is fair-skinned and clean-cut. If he is sent to the palace, he will at least become a mid-level eunuch."
Old Jia Xu's voice came from the side.
Zang Ba was so frightened that tears streamed down his face.
"father!"
"father!"
"You are my real father!"
"I was blind to your greatness and offended you. I am willing to atone for my sins!"
Jia Xu chuckled:
"Atoning? You're not wrong, I'm the one who's wrong. I shouldn't have shown weakness to you, right?"
"Yes...yes my ass!"
Zang Ba burst into tears.
If there were a pill to undo regrets, he would definitely sell everything he owned to buy one.
You can mess with anyone, but don't mess with Jia Xu, that old cunning strategist!
……