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

Chapter 231 I have long heard that Cao Cao is fond of other men's wives. General, do you dare to test people's hearts?

Jingzhou, Wancheng in Nanyang.

I have heard that Yuan Shu flooded Xiangyang and has captured several counties in the past few months, sweeping across Jingzhou and killing about 200,000 Jingzhou soldiers. The counties of Jingzhou and Xiangyang surrendered without a fight, and his power shook the whole of China!
When this news reached Zhang Xiu's ears, how could he not be terrified?

It should be noted that Yuan Shu's army was currently in Xiangyang, very close to Nanyang, and could attack at any moment.

Seeing that other prefectures and counties around him had successively submitted petitions to surrender, while his own side remained inactive, Zhang Xiu was filled with anxiety, fearing that Yuan Shu would be enraged and launch a large-scale invasion.

To be honest, he also had the intention to surrender, but when he asked Jia Xu for advice several times, Jia Xu always acted as if he were sitting on a fishing platform, telling himself to wait and see.

His words seemed to suggest that there was a rare commodity to be found, so Zhang Xiu temporarily held back.

Zhang Xiu paced back and forth in the hall, his brow furrowed with worry. He was filled with anxiety and hurriedly gave instructions to the servants.

"Quickly, go and invite Mr. Jia here."

"only."

The waiter withdrew, and shortly after, a newcomer appeared, dressed in a long, black robe with wide sleeves that hung down to the bottom. Who else could it be but Jia Xu?

His eyelids drooped slightly, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. He put his hands behind his back, entered the hall, and bowed to Zhang Xiu.

"General, did you have a good night last night?"

"Mr. Jia, you've finally arrived."

Zhang Xiu quickly stepped forward and helped him to a seat.

"How can I rest easy? There is someone sleeping soundly next to my bed, and Yuan Shu's 100,000 troops are nearby. How can I sleep peacefully?"
Sir, what is your plan for now?

Xiu asked you several times, and you only said to wait for the right time. These past few days have passed, but where is that right time? And when will it arrive?

"General, do not be anxious, I have a plan."

The late General and I have known each other for many years and I trust him deeply. Whenever the General faced important matters, he always obeyed my orders.

With such favor, how could I possibly harm you, General? I will surely seek wealth and honor for you, but the time is not yet ripe, so please do not rush things.”

"Timing? It's timing again!"

If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have let Cao Cao pass in the first place. Now it's too late to regret it, and I can only feel deep remorse.

"With Yuan Shu's army at our side, who knows when they might attack? How can I not be anxious?"

"General."

Jia Xu was about to speak and continue to explain and persuade him.

Just then, a waiter rushed in with a report!
"General!
Great news! Absolutely wonderful news!!!

"What kind of behavior is this, all this panic and haste?"

"Things have come to this point; survival hangs in the balance. What reason is there for joy?"

Seeing the servant rushing in and shouting without regard for decorum, Zhang Xiu immediately reprimanded him coldly.

The waiter, seemingly calmed by the rebuke, quickly bowed respectfully and replied:
"In just a few days, I have only seen the general with a worried expression. Although I am not well-versed in the general affairs of the world, I know that the general is worried about Yuan's troops."

General, do not worry. A message has arrived from the city gate, saying that Yuan Gong's envoy intends to adopt you as his son, so that the two families can be on good terms and there will be no more war.

"General, you previously guarded Nanyang for Liu Biao, and now it's just that Lord Yuan is now in charge. In my humble opinion, there's no difference between the two, and I'm secretly pleased for you."

what!
Has Yuan Gonglu's messenger arrived?
They want to adopt me as their godson?
Zhang Xiu was overjoyed!

Excellent! Not only would he not suffer retaliation from Yuan Shao's army for letting Cao Cao pass through, but he would also be overjoyed by the prospect of immense wealth.

He couldn't help but grasp Jia Xu's hand tightly and laugh heartily.

"I see. The opportune time has arrived, as you said, sir!"
It turns out that the reason why the gentleman did not allow me to submit a petition to surrender like other counties was to wait for Lord Yuan to send someone to persuade me.

With this initiative in our hands, we can discuss more benefits and room for maneuver.

"Sir, you are indeed a man of great talent. I understand your plan now. I will leave to embroider."

Jia Xu: “???”

No, I didn't! Don't do anything reckless! That's not how the plan is!
He realized what was happening and was about to stop him.

Zhang Xiu had been anxious about this for many days. When he heard the good news, he was surprised. He was also highly skilled in martial arts and walked with the stride of a dragon and tiger. How could a weak scholar like him stop him?

Seeing that Zhang Xiu had already anxiously left the mansion to greet the envoy outside the city, he had no choice but to hurry after him.

Wancheng, city gate.

Jiang Gan waited there for the announcement. Soon, a stern-faced general strode in.

"May I ask if you are General Zhang Xiu, the nephew of General Zhang Gong, the General of the Flying Cavalry?"

"It is indeed I, Zhang. May I ask, sir?"

"My name is Jiang Gan."

"Oh, so it's Mr. Jiang who stole books in Yingchuan and framed Zhicai?"

Zhang Xiu was all smiles. He had always intended to befriend the Yuan camp envoy, and now he racked his brains to flatter him.

"With your talent, you tricked Xi Zhicai, the chief strategist of Cao Cao's camp, into vomiting three liters of blood and dying from his injuries. You then assisted Yuan Shao in seizing Yingchuan."

I had long heard of your deeds and admired your great name. It is an honor to meet you today.

Jiang Gan: "."

Can we please stop bringing up things that are hard to talk about? If we don't bring this up, we can still be good friends.

Did I lie about that? I was completely kept in the dark. Don't make it sound like I deliberately acted as a traitor, betraying Cao Cao's camp.

I was a victim in what happened back then, but who spoke up for me?

"that."

Jiang Gan considered his words for a moment, forcing a smile, and replied:
"This is all thanks to our lord; I could only offer my humble contribution."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiu immediately gave a knowing smile. "You strategists all do this; I'm familiar with this routine."

Mr. Jia often did the same thing. Every time we relied on his advice and won a battle, he would say it was all my doing and had nothing to do with him.

I understand why you like to stay behind the scenes, concealing your achievements and fame.

"Sir, you are too modest."

"I know that Lord Yuan is wise and capable, and destined for greatness, which is why he has such a talented person as you to assist him."

Jiang Gan: "."

Forget it, I feel like I can't clear my name with Zhang Xiu about the reputation of deliberately harming my former master.

Jiang Gan then waved his hand and changed the subject to say that it was indeed true.

"General, you may not know this, but I have come to Nanyang precisely to save your life."

Previously, my lord was ordered to punish the rebels, and Ming followed the emperor's edict to execute the disloyal and attack Liu Biao to secure Jingzhou and Xiangyang.

General, instead of supporting the righteous cause, you intend to join the rebels, secretly release Cao Cao's army, and launch a surprise attack on Lujiang. Are you plotting a rebellion?

How does your army, General, compare to that of Liu Bei, the Governor of Jingzhou?
Then I ask the general, how does your wealth compare to that of the nine prefectures of Jingzhou and Xiangyang?

"I ask the general three times: How does the fortification of Nanyang compare to that of Xiangyang?"

At this point, Jiang Gan's expression suddenly turned cold, and he rebuked him:

"None of the three are as good, and Liu Biao has already been bound and pleaded guilty."

General, you now sit firmly in Nanyang, boasting of your elite troops and strong generals, intending to use a single prefecture to resist Yuan Shikai's might, and lead the people of a single city to resist the million-strong army of Jianghuai?

The general's death is imminent, and he is about to face a great calamity, yet he remains unaware. I deeply pity the general!

Jiang Gan was a renowned scholar from Jiangzuo, with unparalleled eloquence. This was a common tactic he used to open negotiations.

The key is to make a strong first impression, to intimidate the opponent with words, and then, as expected, General Zhang will immediately become furious, rebuke him, and threaten to boil him alive.

Then, all he had to do was display an indomitable spirit, speaking eloquently and righteously to General Zhang. In the end, General Zhang was moved, convinced by his generosity and loyalty, and heeded his advice to surrender.

Normally, this is the procedure for their diplomatic missions, and this is how it is taught in historical records. Jiang Gan had been studying and working hard to learn it since he was a child.

My last mission to Yuan's camp was completely unexpected. That Lord Yuan doesn't follow the rules; before we even met, he wanted to cook me as soon as I entered the camp.

However, just as Jiang Gan was full of confidence, had prepared his speech, and was ready to follow the persuasive manual he had studied for many years, he was about to...

To his surprise, Zhang Xiu, standing before him, did not fly into a rage; instead, he clenched his hands tightly and burst into tears.

“What you are saying, sir, how could I not know it?”
Lord Yuan's might shook the land, and the nine prefectures of Jingzhou and Xiangyang dared not disobey. My army was small and my generals few, and I lived in a city, barely able to survive. How could I dare to offend the might of the emperor?

Sir, you may not know, but I too was deceived by the traitor Cao. Allowing him to pass was not my own intention.

Seeing you today, sir, is like seeing a family member; now I can finally rest easy.

Jiang Gan: "???"

Are all the things in the book lies?

I haven't even tried to persuade you, and you surrender after just one threat?

However, it was a good thing that he was finally able to complete the task assigned by the master. Jiang Gan's prepared righteous and awe-inspiring expression froze on his face, and he forced out a relieved smile.

"good.

It is excellent that the general has such awareness.

I never imagined the general would be so understanding and reasonable, already intending to join Yuan Shikai. I've wasted my time and effort trying to be a villain.

"I heard that the gentleman said to his attendants: Lord Yuan wants to adopt Xiu as his godson."

Is this true or not?

After surrendering to Yuan, can the troops and soldiers of the counties and prefectures in Nanyang be returned to the command of Xiu?
If that is indeed the case, then I will assist my adoptive father in achieving great things, and Xiu will not dare to disobey.

"The matter of adopting a son involves our lord, and since he has not given his permission, how dare I speak falsely?"

As for what Nanyang belongs to...

At this moment, both sides were of one mind, and things went surprisingly smoothly. However, when it came to the distribution of profits, Jiang Gan's eyes darkened slightly, and his tone became intriguing.

"If the general were to become the adopted son of the lord, it would not be unreasonable for him to guard a region, such as Nanyang."

However, his troops...

Seeing Zhang Xiu's unusual expression, Jiang Gan quickly explained.

"It is not about forcibly seizing the general's military power, but rather that the troops under my lord's command have their own rules."

Their military discipline was strict; they would not take a single needle or thread from the people; they were soldiers for the people; and they fought to protect the people.

The general's troops are all Xiliang soldiers brought by Dong Zhuo in the past. I'm afraid they will not be able to abide by my army's discipline and laws. They need to be transferred to Shouchun to receive the "ideological education" that the lord mentioned, and undergo strict training for three months.

During the training period, the Lord's Guild will transfer an equal number of Yuan's elite troops to the General's command to temporarily garrison Nanyang.

Upon completion of the training period, the general will return the item intact and in full.

When Jiang Gan uttered these words, he couldn't help but secretly admire his lord's brilliance.

Zhang Xiu fought in the south and north, and as a regional warlord, if someone were to forcefully seize his military power, he would certainly find it difficult to comply.

But the current issue is not about seizing his military power; it's just that his soldiers have poor discipline, so they're being temporarily transferred here for training.

With these troops as collateral, and Zhang Xiu's forces being entirely composed of Yuan family troops, regardless of whether they truly surrendered or not, they would surrender anyway!

As for what happens when the three-month period is over? According to the merit booklet that Jiang Gan gave to Xing Daorong and Cai Mao by his lord during this period.

There's bound to be something missing during this three-month period. For example, if you fail the training, we'll return the thousand who passed to you first, and the rest will have to wait another three months to see how you perform.

And so it goes, three months after three months, how many three months are there?
If Zhang Xiu won't even agree to a mere three-month troop deployment, then there's no point in negotiating; just go back and ask your lord to send a large army.

This person has no sincerity; it must be a feigned surrender.

Zhang Xiu was naturally unaware of what Jiang Gan was thinking.

When Zhang Xiu heard that Yuan Gong was going to transfer his troops, his heart sank.

Then I heard, what? Only transferred for three months?
Zhang Xiu didn't understand what "ideological education" meant either.

But it's mostly just rigorous training and strict military discipline. Three months will pass in the blink of an eye, won't it? Is that even a big deal?

Zhang Xiu was delighted and was about to invite Jiang Gan into the city to hold a banquet and discuss the details.

Just then, a cold laugh rang out, and a loud reply was given:
"Please thank Yuan Gonglu. If you cannot tolerate your own brother, how can you tolerate a national hero?"

Jiang Gan was surprised, and Zhang Xiu's expression changed. The two looked at the newcomer, who was none other than Jia Xu.

Jiang Gan gave him a cold look and asked, "May I ask, sir?"

"My name is Jia Xu."

Jiang Gan was startled. This was the man his lord had repeatedly warned him about before he left, so how could he dare to be careless? He quickly became extremely vigilant.

"My lord has long admired your great name, and often sighs: 'When it comes to strategists, there is no one as skilled as Wenhe.'"

Before he could finish speaking, Jia Xu scoffed.

"I have long admired the great name of Yuan Gonglu [who has a son through magic]. Now that he has failed to coax my general into becoming his adopted son, are you perhaps trying to coax me as well?"

As he spoke, his gaze was as cold as a sword, and he said in a chilling voice.

"Under the guise of training, Yuan Gonglu mobilized troops for three months. Is he trying to fool my general by thinking that there are no capable soldiers in our army?"
I fear that he will go and never return, or be transferred and never come back. In the name of an adopted son, you have entrusted the life and fortune of my general to a usurper like you. On the day of your death, you will still bear the infamy of the world!

Moreover, your lord Yuan Gonglu cannot even tolerate his own brother Yuan Benchu, so how can he tolerate the heroes of the world?

Using the guise of an adopted son and feigning filial piety to command heroes, if my general were to join Yuan's camp, his fate would likely be out of his control.

His schemes may fool the world, but they can't fool me!
"If you don't leave now, I will kill you!"

Jiang Gan was rendered speechless by the scolding, only raising his hand to angrily point at Jia Xu, remaining silent.

Suddenly, his gaze changed. Wasn't the scene before him another scenario that his lord had instructed him to follow before his departure?

The lord had taught him two ways to deal with the situation. One was that Zhang Xiu was willing to surrender, which would naturally be a happy ending for everyone, just as he had just said.

Secondly, since Zhang Xiu refused to surrender, there was another way to deal with the situation.

Thinking of this, Jiang Gan was no longer flustered. How laughable Jia Xu was! He boasted that he had seen through the lord's scheme, but in reality, he had already fallen into the lord's trap without even realizing it.

Jiang Gan then continued to feign anger and asked Zhang Xiu:

"Is that what General Zhang also thinking?"

Zhang Xiu glanced at Jiang Gan, then at Jia Xu, hesitating, his face full of forced smiles.

"Mr. Jiang, please don't be angry. Mr. Jia didn't mean that."

Mr. Jia, please don't be in such a hurry. How about we talk some more?

"General, don't listen to his lies. He claims to have been entrusted by General Zhang to plan your future. Would he possibly harm you?"

After speaking, he shouted at his soldiers to drive Jiang Gan away.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Gan knew that the time had come for his lord to take another approach. He was driven away while shouting angrily at him.

“Jia Xu does not follow my lord; he must be loyal to the traitor Cao!”

General Zhang was harmed by him, and it was too late for him to regret it!

Having served in Cao Cao's camp for many years, I know this traitor's nature well; he has a penchant for married women.

I have just heard that General Zhang's widow is as graceful as a startled swan, as elegant as a swimming dragon, and possesses unparalleled beauty and charm.

I am truly afraid that you will be deceived by the traitor Cao Cao, causing you to fail your uncle, and your lifelong reputation will become a laughing stock for the world.

At that time, plotting to seize Nanyang would be a minor matter; the real goal would be to seduce the general's aunt's beauty!
If the general doesn't believe it, then go ahead and try it with that traitor Cao!
Give it a try! Don't say you weren't warned!

(End of this chapter)