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

Chapter 368 Zang Ba Leads His People to Surrender, Huang Zhong Kills Cheng Yu with an Arrow Below the City (5th Update)
Seeing that Wang Ji could so readily see through his thoughts, Zang Ba was even more surprised: "Did you say this, or was it taught by Zhuge Liang?"

Without hesitation, Wang Ji, still arrogant, said, "How hard is it to guess what Prime Minister Zang is thinking? Why do I need the strategist to teach me? If the strategist hadn't been unwilling to increase casualties, I wouldn't have come here to say anything more."

Seeing that Wang Ji's expression did not seem to be feigning, Zang Ba fell silent. He realized that even Zhuge Liang's pageboy could not hide his doubts, so how could he possibly contend with Zhuge Liang again?
Seeing this, Wang Ji said again, "Minister Zang need not worry. As the saying goes, to eliminate evil, one must eradicate it completely. As long as we cripple Cao Cao this time, the things you are worried about will no longer exist. At that time, Cao Cao will be too busy to even think about it, so how could he dare to take his anger out on you, Minister Zang?"

Zang Ba frowned and asked, "General Cao has fought for many years, and his troops are well-trained and his generals are brave. Even the once powerful Yuan Shao was defeated by General Cao. How could General Zuo possibly cripple General Cao?"

Wang Ji laughed loudly: "Is Prime Minister Zang taking advantage of my youth? All the scholars in Hebei know that if Xu You hadn't betrayed us on the battlefield, how could Cao Cao have defeated Yuan Shao? Last year, Cao Cao launched a five-pronged northern expedition, but General Zuo decimated two of them, and even Xiahou Yuan was captured alive. In the end, it was only because General Zuo remembered Xiahou Yuan's niece's filial piety that he released Xiahou Yuan. What does it mean to have elite troops and brave generals?"

With his momentum rising, Wang Ji's tone became even more stern: "Now, General Zuo is leading seven routes south, and the old troops of Xuzhou and the Yuan family of Runan have risen up in response. There are also anti-Cao forces lying in wait in the capital, waiting for their opportunity. Liu Biao of Jingzhou also harbors resentment towards Cao Cao for seizing Wancheng. At this time, Cao Cao is surrounded by enemies on all sides, and whether he can survive depends on fate. How could Prime Minister Zang not know this?"

Zang Ba's momentum weakened further, but he retorted forcefully, "This is alarmist talk!"

Wang Ji's eyes shone brightly. Though young, his imposing presence far surpassed that of ordinary men. Every word he spoke was precious: "Whether this is alarmist talk or not, Prime Minister Zang knows for himself! The Prime Minister of Jinan abandoned the city and fled. Although Cheng Yu established his authority with a butcher's knife, he also stirred up unrest among the people. The counties along the way have all changed their allegiance like a whirlwind. Our army has marched unimpeded to this point, which is clear proof! This is the will of the people and the inevitable trend of the times. With Cao Cao beset by internal and external troubles, how can he not be defeated?"

Wang Ji glanced at the astonished and uncertain Sun Guan and Sun Kang, and said, "Even if Prime Minister Zang does not want to protect his own life, he must protect the lives of the thousands of soldiers under his command. Would you rather be a homeless wail under a collapsed nest, or a meritorious official who pacifies the world and protects the Han Dynasty? Please think it over carefully, Prime Minister Zang."

Wang Ji's words were all reasonable, leaving Zang Ba speechless.

Zang Ba's expression changed drastically several times, from shock and anger to struggle, and then to a look of utter dejection. His clenched fist trembled slightly, and finally he exhaled a breath of turbid air, his voice dry and hoarse.

"Enough!" Zang Ba seemed to use all his strength to remove the sword seal, ordering his men to hand it to Wang Ji. His eyes were filled with complex emotions. "Please trouble you to report to Military Advisor Zhuge. I, Zang Ba, am willing to surrender to General Zuo! I only ask that Military Advisor Zhuge keep his promise and treat my soldiers and families well!"

Wang Ji accepted the sword and seal, suppressing his inner excitement, his face still displaying his usual arrogance: "Prime Minister Zang is wise! The Left General's reputation for integrity is known throughout the land, and the strategist will not disobey him. Please, Prime Minister Zang, immediately order the troops to restrain themselves, and lower the flags and banners to avoid any misunderstanding. I will present Prime Minister Zang's sword and seal to the strategist in person."

Afterwards, Wang Ji bowed and took his leave, then turned and walked away.

"Minister Zang, are we just going to surrender like this?"

Sun Kang was unwilling, while Sun Guan remained silent.

Zang Ba sighed, "The struggle between Cao Cao and Liu Bei is something we cannot resist. Whether we surrender to Cao Cao or Liu Bei is our fate. As long as we can survive, why should we care whether we surrender to Cao Cao or Liu Bei?"

The crowd looked at each other in silence, only sighs escaping their lips.

Chaotic times are cruel; you either fight for the world or become a vassal.

Although given Zang Ba's nature, he might rebel again if things turned sour in the future, Zhuge Liang was not concerned. If Liu Bei could not protect Zang Ba in the future, it would be reasonable for Zang Ba to surrender to Cao Cao again.

To expect a group of people who only wanted to survive in a chaotic world to be absolutely loyal to Liu Bei was against human nature.

At present, Zhuge Liang wants to take advantage of Zang Ba's surrender to completely drive Cao Cao's forces out of Qing and Xu.

After entrusting the affairs of Xuzhou to Chen Deng, Zhuge Liang took Zang Ba and returned to Linzi City.

The reason for taking Zang Ba away was to prevent Sun Guan and others from surrendering and then rebelling again; as long as Zang Ba was by their side, Sun Guan and the others would lose their leader. Upon seeing Zang Ba appear outside Linzi City, Cheng Yu's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, and he angrily rebuked him: "Zang Ba, the Minister of Works has treated you well, how dare you betray him?"

Zang Ba looked ashamed and dared not answer.

Zhuge Liang responded loudly: "Cheng Yu, Chancellor Zang is the Chancellor of Langya appointed by the Emperor. Now he is responding to the Left General's edict to punish the rebels. How can you say he has betrayed us? He receives the Han's salary, so how can he abandon the public duty for private reasons? You also receive the Han's salary, so why do you help the Cao rebels and betray the Emperor? What face do you have to criticize Chancellor Zang?"

Cheng Yu was even more enraged: "Zhuge Liang, don't try to win with your words. Today I, Cheng Yu, am here, and you will not be able to take the city. When the Grand Commandant's army arrives, I will surely grind you to dust."

While talking.

Huang Zhong, however, had already quietly spurred his horse forward, his bow and arrow aimed directly at Cheng Yu, who was shouting angrily from the city wall.

With a whoosh, the arrow flew like a meteor and struck Cheng Yu directly in the chest.

Instinctively clutching the arrow to his chest, Cheng Yu turned his head in disbelief toward Huang Zhong, who had just drawn his bow, and fell silently to the ground.

Although Huang Zhong used a sneak attack, on the battlefield, friend and foe are clearly distinguished, and all means are acceptable. Killing Cheng Yu with a sneak attack is better than suffering casualties in a siege.

"Cheng Yu is dead! Those who surrender will not be killed!" Huang Zhong's roar followed.

The officials and soldiers on the city wall stared in astonishment at the fallen Cheng Yu, while Zang Ba below the city wall was also shocked.

Although Cheng Yu's attention was drawn to Zhuge Liang and his guards were too frightened to notice Huang Zhong's sneak attack, the fact that he could hit Cheng Yu at the crenellation with an arrow from below the city walls was a rare feat of archery in the world!
The civil and military officials of Linzi City, who were already dissatisfied with Cheng Yu's killing to establish his authority, had no intention of resisting after Cheng Yu's death and all opened the gates to surrender.

Zhuge Liang then promoted several officials who had been on good terms with Wang Xiu to take charge of affairs in Linzi City. He then sent messengers to Beihai and Donglai counties to stabilize the situation in Qingzhou.

Finally, he led Huang Zhong, Zang Ba, and others back to Pingyuan.

In less than a month, Zhuge Liang pacified Qing and Xu, a speed that greatly surprised Ju Shou, who was stationed in Pingyuan.

Ju Shou was even more shocked to learn that Zhuge Liang had hardly fought any formal battles in Qing and Xu, with the only major battle being when Huang Zhong shot and killed Cheng Yu with a cold arrow.

"The military advisor is truly a god!"

Although Ju Shou firmly believed he could pacify Qing and Xu, it would take at least two to three months. Compared to Zhuge Liang, who pacified Qing and Xu in less than a month, this was not only a difference in time but also a difference in strategy.

The war between Liu Bei and Cao Cao is intense, and the longer it drags on, the more advantageous it will be for Cao Cao.

Now that Qing and Xu have been secured, a full-scale offensive against Cao Cao can begin.

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(End of this chapter)