The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 242 Zhang Fei captures Yang Qiu and repels Pang De; Pang Tong devises another elaborate scheme (4th update)
"Someone actually dares to raid our camp!"

Just as Yang Qiu rushed into the camp gate, Zhang Fei, who was on night patrol, rode up and happened to hear Yang Qiu's words, "Yang Qiu is here, who dares to fight me?"

"I am Zhang Yide of Yan! Yang Qiu, do you dare to fight me!" Zhang Fei roared like a bear and tiger, spurring his horse towards Yang Qiu.

The roar made Yang Qiu's eardrums ache, and it also instantly stopped the hot blood rushing to his head.

"Zhang Yide of Yan?"

A chill ran from the soles of his feet, and Yang Qiu subconsciously thought of the duel between Ma Chao and Zhang Fei. His hot blood instantly turned cold.

"I'm not feeling well today, I'll fight another day!"

Yang Qiu uttered a harsh threat and was about to rein in his horse and turn around when he suddenly heard Pang De's voice: "General Yang, it's Zhang Fei who's here! Didn't you say you wanted to fight him for a few rounds? Now is the perfect opportunity!"

Upon hearing Pound's roar, Yang Qiu nearly fell off his horse.

You believe me when I'm drunk and I'm spouting nonsense?

If you want me dead, just say so!
"Captain Pang, Zhang Fei is no match for us, retreat immediately!" Yang Qiu immediately reined in his horse and turned around.

But Pang De grabbed the reins: "General Yang, you mustn't! We're here to raid your camp! How can we retreat without a fight?"

Yang Qiu was furious: "The raid failed! Didn't you see the ambush?"

“General Yang, Zhang Fei is all alone now, where would we find an ambush? If we retreat, we will all be punished according to military law!” Pang De pulled on Yang Qiu’s horse again, pointing to Zhang Fei riding alone with his spear: “If we attack together, we can definitely take down Zhang Fei!”

Seeing that Yang Qiu was actually trying to run away, Zhang Fei couldn't help but laugh: "So cowardly, yet you dare to raid our camp? Why don't you surrender quickly!"

First, Yang Qiu was restrained by Pang De, then mocked by Zhang Fei. Overwhelmed with shock and anger, he directly pointed his gun at Zhang Fei and spat, "I, Yang Qiu, have never known what surrender is! Others may fear you, Zhang Fei, but I, Yang Qiu, do not!"

Before he could finish speaking, Pang De lashed Yang Qiu's horse's rump with his whip and shouted, "General Yang is mighty!"

Yang Qiu was so frightened that his soul almost flew out of his body. He cursed Pang De for being shameless. Then he saw Zhang Fei charging towards him on horseback and had no choice but to raise his spear to fight.

However, Yang Qiu was already afraid of Zhang Fei, and now Pang De had suddenly whipped his horse's rump, so both his personal condition and riding skills were extremely poor.

On the other hand, Zhang Fei was enraged when he heard that Yang Qiu was not afraid of him. He used ninety percent of his strength instead of the sixty percent he usually used.

The eighteen-foot spear, like a black snake emerging from its hole, pierced directly at Yang Qiu.

In just one round, Yang Qiu was knocked off his horse. Zhang Fei, undeterred, charged directly at Pang De. Zhang Fei had clearly heard Pang De's words, "If we join forces, we can definitely take down Zhang Fei!"

Seeing Zhang Fei charging towards him, Pang De was not afraid and swung his spear to strike.

Compared to the fearful Yang Qiu, Pang De was confident in his martial prowess and, being a fearless young man, was not afraid of Zhang Fei at all. On the contrary, he became more and more courageous in battle.

Especially after Yang Qiu was stabbed by Zhang Fei's spear, Pang De became even more focused.

"You are quite strong."

After exchanging a few blows with Pang De, Zhang Fei also realized that Pang De was extraordinary.

"But nowhere near as good as me!"

A word of praise, a word of criticism—Zhang Fei was also capable of sarcasm. Pang De was immediately enraged, his spear striking and thrusting, alternating between strength and skill. Zhang Fei, in turn, struck and thrust, suppressing him with both strength and skill.

Seeing that he could not win, Pound feinted with his spear, then turned and fled from his saddle.

As Zhang Fei spurred his horse into pursuit, he suddenly saw Pang De turn around and fire an arrow that struck a gap in Zhang Fei's side armor.

"What amazing mounted archery!"

Zhang Fei was also startled.

Having good horsemanship and archery skills alone is not enough to turn around and shoot Zhang Fei with an arrow while riding in a saddle. Even if he only hit a gap in the side armor, it is enough to show that Pang De's riding and archery skills are superb.

After driving Pang De and his men out of the camp, Zhang Fei did not pursue them further. He ordered the camp gates to be closed and then withdrew.

Although Yang Qiu was stabbed down by Zhang Fei, he did not die. Zhang Fei grabbed him and dragged him in front of Liu Bei: "Brother, this is the guy who came to raid our camp tonight. I think his name is Yang Qiu, and there's another guy named Pang De. They couldn't beat me and ran away. These two were just bragging and actually thought they could take me down!"

Upon seeing Liu Bei, Yang Qiu, despite the pain, cried out, "General Zuo, I surrender! I beg for your life!"

Liu Bei squinted at Yang Qiu, then turned to Pang Tong: "Strategist, what do you think we should do with this man?"

Pang Tong stared at Yang Qiu, his tone sharp: "General Zuo made a pact with Ma Chao to fight a battle of wits, yet Ma Chao launched a raid on General Zuo's camp before it was even firmly established. This is far too untrustworthy. Who offered Ma Chao this treacherous plan?"

In order to save his life, Yang Qiu frankly said, "It is Sun Zi, the strategist under General Ma. This fellow said that all's fair in war. Since General Zuo said that the start will begin after we set up camp, then tonight is the best time to raid the camp."

Liu Bei's eyes instantly turned sharp: "A mere strategist dares to speak so arrogantly. Yang Qiu, tell me everything you know, and I might spare your life. But if you dare to conceal anything or deceive me, I will kill you!"

After being glared at by Liu Bei, Yang Qiu dared not hide or deceive anymore. He blurted out all the information he knew that might be useful to Liu Bei.

"Take him away and keep a close watch on him! Apply medicine to his wounds, don't let him die." Liu Bei ordered the soldiers to take Yang Qiu away, then turned to Pang Tong, his tone indignant: "That scoundrel Yang Qiu has ruined my plans! I can't let Yanlong follow Ma Chao anymore. If Yanlong dies in Ma Chao's camp because of this, I will have failed Yanlong."

Keeping Sun Zi by Ma Chao's side would be most advantageous for Liu Bei; however, Liu Bei valued relationships and did not want to treat his civil and military officials with absolute rationality, much less pave the way with Sun Zi's life.

"General, do not worry." Pang Tong calmly reassured him, "Since Ma Chao has adopted Yanlong's plan, it means that Yanlong has gained Ma Chao's trust. Furthermore, Pang De's actions just now seem to indicate that he deliberately wanted to keep Yang Qiu here. Therefore, Ma Chao and Pang De also intend to use you, General, to get rid of Yang Qiu."

Liu Bei breathed a sigh of relief: "If that's really the case, I feel a little more at ease."

Pang Tong then said, "Since Zhong Yao and Ma Chao have already become suspicious, when we fight Ma Chao again, Zhong Yao will surely be alarmed and hesitant to come to Ma Chao's aid. General, you can go out of the camp tomorrow to invite Ma Chao to reminisce."

"Catch up with old friends?" Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then understood Pang Tong's intention: "Shi Yuan is right! Ma Chao raided our camp tonight, so we should indeed catch up with him properly tomorrow!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.

During this time, Liu Bei and Pang Tong's understanding of each other deepened.

Although Pang Tong was not as capable as Zhuge Liang in terms of overall ability and often used unconventional strategies, Pang Tong was better at satisfying Liu Bei's true inner needs and finding a reason that was in line with righteousness for Liu Bei when Liu Bei thought it was against righteousness.

For example, when Liu Bei robbed powerful families to help starving people, he was worried that the people of Hedong would mistakenly think that he was cruel and heartless. However, Pang Tong changed some of the steps and turned the act of robbing powerful families to help starving people into a way for Liu Bei to gain popular support. Both powerful families and common people appreciated Liu Bei's benevolence and righteousness.

　Update 4 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)