Chapter 66: Is Zhen Mi in Yecheng?

“Did Guan Yu withdraw from Xuzhou? Did he return to Nanyang?”

Inside the meeting hall of the governor of Jizhou, Yuan Shang’s voice suddenly became louder and he asked the messenger in shock.

“Reporting to the governor, Guan Yu has indeed withdrawn his troops and has already left the territory of Xuzhou.” The messenger did not dare to be negligent and answered affirmatively.

Hearing the messenger’s confirmation, the already excited generals including Shen Rong, Yin Kai, Ma Yan, Zhang Xi, Jiao Chu, Zhang Nan, etc. became even more excited.

Yin Kai took the lead in bowing to Yuan Shang and said:
“My lord, since Guan Yu has withdrawn his troops, he will definitely not form an alliance with Yuan Tan to attack us. This will reverse the situation.”

“Now Yuan Tan’s army not only has to defend Qingzhou, he also has to divide his troops to defend Xuzhou. We don’t have to be afraid of him, my lord. I am willing to fight and defeat Yuan Tan, and at least get Qingzhou back for you.”

Yin Kai was the first to volunteer to fight.

The other generals also jumped out, all wanting to fight.

However, they heard that Guan Yu had retreated, Yuan Tan had no help, and even gained an extra state. The troops were dispersed, and his strength was weakened as expected. This gave all the generals hope of defeating Yuan Tan.

Yuan Shang was also very excited.

However, Yuan Shang was not yet confused. It was just that things were going too smoothly. Just now he received the news that Yuan Tan was going to attack him together with Guan Yu.

Guan Yu retreated immediately after that.

Is this playing him?
“Zhengnan, what do you think? Is it true that Guan Yu has retreated now?” Yuan Shang asked his counselor Shen Pei with shining eyes.

After listening to Yuan Shang’s questions, all the generals calmed down. They also felt that something was wrong.

At this time, Shen Pei frowned. He naturally immediately felt a strong sense of conspiracy.

And this conspiracy did not come from Yuan Tan.

But it came from Guan Yu and Liu Bei behind Guan Yu.

But even if we understand that this is Guan Yu’s conspiracy, so what?

Will Yuan Shang let go of attacking Yuan Tan?

Shen Pei frowned and did not directly answer Yuan Shang’s question. Instead, he bowed to Yuan Shang, took a deep breath and asked:

“My lord, if this is a conspiracy of Liu Bei and Guan Yu, and they are not strong enough to control Yuzhou and Yanzhou, and they are afraid of being besieged by the princes, so they cede Xuzhou to Yuan Tan in order to cause us to fight with Yuan Tan and eliminate the threat from the north of Yanzhou, will you suspend the attack on Yuan Tan?”

Shen Pei finally expressed his helplessness.

In fact, Wancheng’s plan against the two sons of the Yuan family was not difficult for top strategists to see through.

Some of it is obvious.

Because Wancheng directly gave the Xuzhou he had acquired to Yuan Tan of Qingzhou instead of Yuan Shang. The purpose was obvious, which was to provoke a war between Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan, thus making both sides unable to move south.

Even at this last minute, when Yuan Tan wanted to join forces with Guan Yu to attack Yuan Shang, but Guan Yu did not agree and instead retreated, there was some design behind it.

Guan Yu seemed to be saying, Brothers Yuan, I am retreating. It will not delay your battle, so start the battle quickly!

“What? Is this a conspiracy of Liu Bei and Guan Yu? The purpose is to provoke us into a war with Yuan Tan?” Yuan Shang and generals including Shen Rong, Yin Kai, Ma Yan, Zhang Xi, Jiao Chu, Zhang Nan, etc. were all shocked when they heard Shen Pei’s words.

“That’s right, my lord. If I am not mistaken, this should be Liu Bei’s conspiracy. The purpose is to make me go to war with Yuan Tan in Jizhou and be unable to move south!” Shen Pei said to Yuan Shang affirmatively.

“What a sinister and cunning Liu Bei is! He still claims to be benevolent and righteous. Pah!” Yuan Shang came to his senses and finally understood what was going on. He spat out a mouthful of phlegm to show his disgust for Liu Bei.

“Then will the lord stop attacking Yuan Tan?” Shen Pei continued to ask Yuan Shang.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shang snorted coldly:

“Even if this is Liu Bei’s conspiracy, so what? Can this governor just sit back and watch Yuan Tan really occupy Xuzhou? Moreover, this guy Yuan Tan actually took up the position of general and the title of Marquis of Ye. Does he deserve it?”

“I have made up my mind. Yuan Tan is now divided into two states and is in a weak position. We should immediately send troops to Qingzhou, defeat Yuan Tan, occupy Qingzhou and Xuzhou, and then march south to attack Liu Bei.”

Yuan Shang’s somewhat excited and inspiring voice echoed throughout the hall.

Between Liu Bei and Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang chose to deal with Yuan Tan first without hesitation.

“This… Alas.” Shen Pei looked at Yuan Shang, who was full of energy and had made up his mind, and sighed.

He was extremely disappointed.

He was disappointed with Yuan Tan and equally disappointed with Yuan Shang.

In fact, before that, after Yuan Shao died, Cao Cao led his troops to attack Jizhou, and the three brothers Yuan Shang, Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi should have united to face Cao Cao together.

However, Yuan Shang asked Yuan Tan in Qingzhou for support, but Yuan Tan deliberately delayed and refused to join the battle. It was obvious that he wanted to use Cao Cao’s tricks to kill Yuan Shang.

Later, Liu Bei took action behind Cao Cao’s back, and Cao Cao’s situation became bad.

After all, Sun Quan had already declared war on Cao Cao, so it was a good time to form a team to fight Cao Cao.

However, the two brothers Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were instigated by Cao Cao and started fighting again.

And now?

Liu Bei’s forces were weak, and he was obviously too weak to control Yuzhou and Yanzhou. This was a good opportunity for the three brothers Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang, and Yuan Xi to gather their forces, march south in a mighty force, strike hard at Liu Bei, and take control of Yuzhou and Yanzhou.

If we can take Yuzhou and Yanzhou too.

Then, the three brothers of the Yuan family and Gao Gan occupied seven states, including Youzhou, Bingzhou, Jizhou, Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yuzhou, and Yanzhou, which made them even more powerful than the former northern overlord Yuan Shao.

But what did Yuan Shang just say?
Yuan Shang has made up his mind. Now that Yuan Tan is dividing his troops into two states, he is in a weak position. He should immediately send troops to Qingzhou, defeat Yuan Tan, occupy Qingzhou and Xuzhou, and then march south to attack Liu Bei!
What else can Shen Pei say?

And even if he persuaded Yuan Shang to stay and join forces with the Yuan brothers to attack Yuzhou and Yanzhou in the south, the Yuan brothers would then divide the land.

Where is Yuan Tan?
Is Yuan Tan willing to sincerely unite with Yuan Shang?

What’s more, he probably couldn’t even persuade Yuan Shang alone, so how could he persuade Yuan Tan in Qingzhou?

Inside the hall, no one paid attention to Shen Pei’s sigh. Instead, Shen Rong, Yin Kai, Ma Yan, Zhang Xi, Jiao Chu, Zhang Nan and other generals were eager to challenge Yuan Shang to attack Qingzhou.

“Ugh!”

Shen Pei looked at the governor’s mansion with a somewhat cloudy gaze and returned to his home.

“Brother, you look unhappy today. Isn’t it good that the Lord decided to defeat Yuan Tan first and then attack Liu Bei? After all, Yuan Tan has evil intentions and cannot be allowed to become powerful.”

In the Shen Mansion, Shen Rong looked at Shen Pei with some confusion and asked.

Shen Pei shook his head, looked at his young brother, and finally gritted his teeth and said:
“Brother Rong, we can’t just watch our lord fall into defeat. We have to do something to leave him a way out!”

“What? Brother, you said that our lord will be defeated? How is this possible? Can’t we defeat Yuan Tan alone?” Shen Rong, the younger brother of Shen Pei, said in disbelief as he looked at his brother who had always been famous for his strategy.

Shen Pei shook his head and said:

“It’s not Yuan Tan. Now is indeed a good time to attack Yuan Tan. However, from a strategic point of view, attacking Yuan Tan is a losing move. Both Liu Bei in the south and Sun Quan occupying Yangzhou are eyeing the north covetously.”

“If we wait until the lord has defeated Yuan Tan and his strength is weakened, I’m afraid Sun Quan will head north, Liu Bei will have taken over Yanzhou and Yuzhou, and Guan Yu and Zhang Fei will lead their armies into Jizhou. By then, everything will be over.”

“My lord’s enemy is not Yuan Tan, but Liu Bei and Sun Quan.”

Shen Pei’s vision was impeccable. He immediately realized that Sun Quan and Liu Bei were the biggest threats.

“This…how is this possible!” Shen Rong was dumbfounded and exclaimed in disbelief.

After coming to his senses, Shen Rong hurriedly said to Shen Pei: “Brother, if this is the case, why didn’t you tell the lord?” Shen Pei shook his head and sighed: “I have already asked the lord today, and you heard it? And do you think the lord will gamble on the two future enemies, or deal with Yuan Tan first?”

Shen Rong listened to his elder brother’s question and suddenly opened his mouth, unable to speak.

Even though he didn’t want to admit it, the relationship between the two brothers Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan was probably doomed to fail.

Even if Yuan Shang did not fight Yuan Tan, Yuan Tan, who was already a general and the Marquis of Ye, would not let go of Yuan Shang who occupied Jizhou.

“Damn it, what should I do?” Shen Rong had a headache. He didn’t want to attack Qingzhou anymore. Now, it was like a death cloud hanging over his head.

“Brother, you are very smart. Please think of a solution.”

“We can’t just sit there and wait for death.”

Shen Rong said to Shen Pei anxiously.

Shen Pei took a deep breath, looked at his brother, and said:
“All we can do now is leave a way out for the lord.”

“If the lord attacks Qingzhou, you don’t have to go with him. I will help you and arrange for you to stay in Yecheng.”

“Liu Bei is a hypocritical man, but he has a good reputation. The emperor has already arrived in Wancheng. You can arrange for someone to go to Wancheng and tell him that we are willing to give Jizhou to Master Yuan Shang as long as Yecheng can be left to him.”

Shen Pei’s words made Shen Rong’s eyes widen, and he looked at his elder brother in disbelief.

What did he hear?
Shen Pei actually wanted to use Jizhou to leave a way out for Yuan Shang?
“Brother, you, how can you do this?” Shen Rong immediately said to Shen Pei angrily.

Shen Pei listened to his brother’s accusation, but snorted coldly and said:
“Foolish, I am leaving a way out for my lord, and I have not said when I will hand over Jizhou to Liu Bei. If we really have a chance of winning, then this deal will naturally be void.”

“And if the situation becomes unsustainable in the future, and Liu Bei and Sun Quan advance northwards, and we are on the verge of defeat, then we will go with the flow and offer Jizhou to Liu Bei, and seek a way out for Yecheng for our lord. This will be the greatest loyalty.”

“The key is to get Liu Bei’s promise in your hands. Do you understand?”

Shen Pei’s words of disappointment in his ability directly woke Shen Rong up.

Shen Rong immediately realized that he had wronged his brother.

“Brother, Rong knows about it. I will send someone to Wancheng right away.” Shen Rong said hurriedly.

Upon hearing this, Shen Pei frowned and said:
“Forget it, I’ll go there myself. This matter is of great importance. It’s my way of repaying the First Lord for his kindness.”

Shen Pei said somewhat dejectedly that even though the Yuan family brothers were hopeless, Shen Pei was still very loyal to the Yuan family.

The Yuan family is heading towards ruin and no one can stop it, so he has to do his best to fight for a future for the Yuan family.

No one knew about the conversation between the two brothers Shen Pei and Shen Rong that day.

Yuan Shang, however, was in high spirits and full of fighting spirit. After sending out several scouts to prove that Guan Yu had really retreated to Wancheng, Yuan Shang could not help it and immediately raised an army of 100,000 from Jizhou and personally marched eastward to Qingzhou.

Shen Pei and Shen Rong stayed in Yecheng, and Yuan Shang trusted the Shen family quite a bit.

After Yuan Shang led his troops towards Qingzhou, Shen Pei arranged for Yecheng and Shen Rong provided cover.

Shen Pei no longer hesitated and led more than a hundred cavalrymen quietly towards Wancheng.

……

Nanyang County, Wancheng, the residence of the General of Cavalry.

Liu Wu personally met Shen Pei who came secretly.

In the meeting hall.

Jian Yong, Liu Ba and Jiang Wan accompanied him.

Shen Pei looked at Liu Wu sitting in the main seat, his eyes full of shock.

He didn’t expect that the person in charge of Wancheng was not Liu Bei.

It turned out that Liu Bei had been seriously injured and was lying on the hospital bed.

All along, the one who stirred up the Han Dynasty was actually the young man in front of him who looked like Liu Bei! !

“The General of Cavalry is truly a young and promising man, worthy of my admiration.” Shen Pei raised the wine jar and toasted Liu Wu.

“Haha, please, Mr. Zhengnan!” Liu Wu smiled and raised the wine glass to Shen Pei. At the same time, Liu Wu was thinking about the purpose of Shen Pei’s secret visit to Wancheng.

After three rounds of drinking.

Liu Wu smiled at Shen Pei and said, “Mr. Zhengnan came to Wancheng secretly. I’m afraid there is something wrong? Why not speak frankly?”

Upon hearing this, Shen Pei realized that it was time to show his cards, so he didn’t try to hide anything and smiled wryly at Liu Wu:

“To tell you the truth, General of the Cavalry, before we were ordered to leave Wancheng, my lord had already led an army of 100,000 to attack Yuan Tan in Qingzhou.”

In the hall, Liu Wu, Jian Yong, Liu Ba and Jiang Wan looked at each other and saw the joy in each other’s eyes.

The news of Yuan Shang’s attack on Yuan Tan had not yet arrived, but Shen Pei brought them good news.

Yuan Shang attacked Yuan Tan, and a war broke out between the two. Then, the threat to Yuzhou and Yanzhou in the north was eliminated.

However, although Liu Wu was happy in his heart, he remained calm on the surface. Instead, he said to Shen Pei calmly:

“Yuan Tan was personally appointed as the Great General by His Majesty. Yuan Shang disobeyed His Majesty’s order and attacked the Great General. Now Mr. Zhengnan has come to Wancheng to talk about this in front of this Cavalry General. Doesn’t he take this Cavalry General seriously?”

Shen Pei understood Liu Wu’s inner joy, but he sighed to Liu Wu:
“I know that my master’s attack on the general was wrong, so I came to Wancheng to apologize to your majesty and the general on behalf of my master.”

“Huh? Please apologize!” Liu Wu, Jian Yong, Liu Ba, Jiang Wan and others all looked at Shen Pei suspiciously.

Yuan Shang went to attack Yuan Tan.

Did Shen Pei come to apologize to Yuan Shang?

Seeing that Liu Wu did not respond, Shen Pei continued:
“My lord is indeed wrong, but the former lord has shown his kindness to Shen Pei, and the Shen family must repay the favor. The Shen family begs the General of the Cavalry to forgive the emperor for my lord’s crime. The Shen family is willing to give Jizhou to the emperor, and only asks that the court will leave a way for my lord to live and leave Yecheng to my lord.”

Shen Pei explained the purpose of his exchange.

Offer Jizhou and seek Yecheng for Yuan Shang?
In the hall, as soon as Shen Pei finished speaking, there was silence. Liu Wu, Jian Yong, Liu Ba, and Jiang Wan all showed surprise in their eyes.

They didn’t expect that Shen Pei’s intention was so shocking?
However, after several years of training, Liu Wu’s strategic level was gradually improving, and he soon understood why Shen Pei did this.

Shen Pei was one of the few people in history who was loyal to the Yuan family.

Historically, when Yecheng was destroyed, Shen Pei also died.

Shen Pei is loyal, loyal to the Yuan family!

Shen Pei saw through Wancheng’s intention, but could not persuade the Yuan brothers. He knew that the Yuan brothers might have a bad future, so he came to Wancheng.

At this moment, whether it was Liu Wu, Jian Yong, Liu Ba, or Jiang Wan, they all understood.

Liu Wu relaxed. Jizhou was waving to him. However, Liu Wu also understood that this was just an empty promise and could not be counted.

Liu Wu quietly raised the wine bottle and took a sip. He did not speak immediately. Suddenly, Liu Wu said:

“Zhen Mi, are you in Yecheng?”

“What? Zhen Mi?” Liu Wu suddenly changed the subject by 1,800 degrees, leaving Shen Pei stunned. However, Shen Pei soon realized who Zhen Mi Liu Wu was asking about.

(End of this chapter)