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

Chapter 12 Who can take on this role? I can!
"Master Qiao."

Upon arriving at Yuan Shu's main tent, Sun Ce saw an elderly man with a handsome appearance and slightly graying temples playing chess with Yuan Shu. Sun Ce stepped forward to greet him.

"This must be the eldest son. He is truly a handsome and talented man."

The old man had a warm and reassuring smile as he addressed Yuan Shu.

"I must congratulate Lord Yuan on having such an adopted son as Sun Lang. If I hadn't already arranged a marriage with you, I would have been tempted to betroth my daughter to him."

"Mr. Qiao is joking."

The two chatted and laughed, discussing everything from wedding arrangements to everyday matters, until they accompanied Yuan Shu to see Qiao Gong off, leaving Sun Ce completely bewildered.

Back in his own tent, he consulted Zhou Yu, saying, "Gongjin, I find this matter suspicious."

Logically speaking, our army is about to arrive in Qu'a, and war is imminent. If it were just about wedding arrangements and trivial family matters, why would Lord Qiao be in such a hurry to personally go to the military camp?

"It was precisely to get there before the war started."

Zhou Yu sighed softly, filled with many emotions.

"It is called a marriage, but in reality it is a basis for the distribution of benefits and cooperation. Since Yuan Shu is having a pleasant conversation here, Liu Yao in Qu'a City is probably feeling uneasy."

"How strange! This man anticipates my every move, single-handedly controlling the entire Jiangdong region. Who exactly is behind Yuan Shu?"

Qu'a City.

The moon is bright and the stars are few; crows and magpies fly south.
The lobby was brightly lit, casting a long shadow of Liu Yao.

He sat upright in the main seat, his knuckles white from gripping the bamboo slips tightly.

"They outwardly claim to be members of the imperial family, but inwardly act like wolves and tigers?"

I am a member of the Han imperial family, appointed by the court as the governor of Yangzhou. Why am I now trapped in Jiangdong? Doesn't Yuan Gonglu know the answer? Who is truly seizing power in the prefectures and counties? And who is truly wreaking havoc on the world?

Yuan Gonglu, you're a heartless bastard!

Upon seeing Yuan Shu's proclamation, he was truly enraged! You clearly occupied my capital of Yangzhou, Shouchun, leaving me nowhere to go, and now you're turning around and accusing me of usurping Jiangdong?

How can such a thing be true! In your eyes, Yuan Gonglu, is there no law, no emperor?

Faced with Liu Yao's fury, the courtiers below the hall tacitly offered words of advice.

"My lord, Yuan Shu marched from Shouchun to Guangling with unstoppable momentum. He appointed Zhang Hong as the governor of Guangling, and all the counties of Guangling surrendered without resistance."

"My lord, Yuan Shu accepted Xu Gong's surrender in Wu Commandery, appointed Zhang Zhao as the governor of Wu Commandery, and granted Xu Gong the title of General Who Pacifies Wu. All the counties in Wu Commandery have submitted to him."

"My lord, this is the third wave of deserters in the city today. The enemy has 300,000 troops, while our army has only 20,000 to 30,000. This is sending our soldiers to their deaths in vain."

"What...what do you mean by this?"

Liu Yao slowly rose to his feet, his white fingers pointing to the high-ranking officials below him as if he were seeing them for the first time.

Gu Yong of the Gu family stepped forward slowly, bowed deeply, and said:
"My lord, tonight the enemy's army of 300,000 has already set up camp outside the city and is about to surround Qu'a."

Yuan Shu, whose family has held high office for four generations, is renowned throughout the land. Now he commands an army of over 300,000, with countless fierce generals and brilliant strategists. He is a powerful and ambitious ruler, poised to conquer Jiangdong. All regions surrender at his mere sight. How can we possibly resist him?

Bu Zhi of the Bu family followed closely behind and also bowed, saying:

"If you surrender now, my lord, you can avoid the need for war and live in peace as if you were on Mount Tai."

In the past, when Chu and Han were at war, Xiang Yu won every battle, but after the Battle of Gaixia, he ended up committing suicide at the Wujiang River. The reason for his success or failure is clearly evident.

"Yuan Shu is now very powerful; if we fight him, I fear there will be unforeseen disasters."

Zhu Huan of the Zhu family followed closely, bowed twice, and said:

"If we fight, we will surely be defeated, and if we are defeated, we will lose our lives and the people will suffer. If we surrender the city, Lord Yuan will surely treat you well, and you will be rich and powerful for life, and your safety will be guaranteed."

When Gu Yong led the assembled officials in a deep bow, they remained standing.

"General Yuan Shu is acting on the Emperor's orders to suppress the rebellion and punish the traitors. Your Excellency's actions against him are illegitimate and unjustified. Do not make a mistake!"

"By imperial decree to suppress the rebels, by imperial edict to punish the traitors?"

That was a forged imperial edict! Can an imperial edict bearing the seal of the State, even if forged without authorization, truly represent the emperor?

Liu Yao's expression changed drastically. He pointed at the officials below the platform who were still bowing and unable to rise, and was furious.

"Very well! Before a single battle has been fought or a drop of blood has been shed, are you Jiangdong aristocratic families already ready to surrender?"

They all bowed again!

"With an army of 300,000, who can stand against them? My lord, do not be foolish, lest you lose your life."

"I can do it!"

A young voice broke the silence, and a young general in white robes, fully armored, strode forward.

"A subject who is disgraced by his lord shall die!"
Now that our lord has been humiliated and his army is at the gates of the city, why do you gentlemen not come to our aid and relieve our worries, but instead all speak of surrendering?

Is this the way of a subject? If you all try to persuade Ming to resign tonight, and Ming tries until nightfall, can you persuade Yuan's army to retreat?

When everyone saw that it was Taishi Ci, they all laughed.

“We are military advisors who discuss important military and national affairs. How dare a lowly military commander like you speak?”

How dare you speak such nonsense here? Go and guard the city walls immediately!

Faced with the reprimand, Taishi Ci not only did not back down, but stepped forward and laughed loudly!

"When you gentlemen saw that Yuan Shu claimed to have more than 300,000 troops marching south, you no longer considered the truth of his claim and were already terrified and surrendered."

Tonight, Ci observed their camp. Although the troops came and went in an endless stream, the smoke from the cooking fires indicated that their forces numbered no more than fifty or sixty thousand. It was clear that the constant movement of troops was a feint to intimidate.

Moreover, Yuan Shu's army was exhausted from their long journey. They first captured Guangling, then Wu Commandery, and by the time they reached Qu'a, they had traveled more than 1,200 li. This is what is meant by "even the strongest crossbow cannot pierce silk at the end of its stroke." Therefore, military strategy warns against it, saying, "It will surely cause the defeat of the general."

"Now our lord has stationed his troops at Qu'a, waiting in comfort for the enemy to tire themselves out. He still has twenty to thirty thousand elite soldiers. How can we fear a well-rested and exhausted army attacking with weary and sick soldiers?"

Having said this, he knelt on one knee before Liu Yao and shouted:
"This humble general is willing to lead 10,000 elite troops to launch a night raid on the enemy camp while the Yuan army is still in a state of disarray and unable to establish a firm foothold. Even if we are not victorious, as long as we can burn their supplies, the siege of Qu'a will fall without a fight."

Yuan Shu certainly didn't expect that I would dare to attack his camp with 300,000 troops. The fate of our forces hinges on this gamble. My lord, do not worry!

Seeing that this mere military officer was spouting such nonsense, the crowd was about to rebuke him when Liu Yao said, "Wait!"

"While everyone else is calling for surrender, Taishi Ci requests to fight!"

Looking at the white-robed figure below him, his eyes held a mixture of relief and worry.

"Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to fight to the death!"

Liu Yao personally went down to the steps and helped Taishi Ci up, saying, "Ziyi, I entrust my life and fortune to you."

He turned to look at the assembled officials in the hall, his weary voice suddenly turning cold and indifferent.

"Gentlemen, please stay here with me and wait for Ziyi's triumphant return."

Anyone who leaves without permission, even half a step, shall die!

(End of this chapter)