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

Chapter 49 Jiang Gan: Yuan's camp is too terrifying, I want to go back to Cao's camp

"To have Ziyi today is truly a gift from heaven!"

Upon hearing that Jiang Gan was approaching, Yuan Shu straightened his clothes, led several hundred followers, and escorted him out of the camp.

Seeing Jiang Gan dressed in simple clothes and with a rustic appearance, Yuan Shu warmly stepped forward and shook his hands, as if afraid he would run away.

"I have heard that Ziyi once compared himself to Su Qin and Zhang Yi, who formed alliances and counter-alliances with the feudal lords of the world, and everyone was pleased with him."

"I have long admired your talent, Ziyi; why are you so late?"

Jiang Gan: ? ? ?
No, I didn't, Mr. Yuan, who told you that? Don't let me find out who's spreading rumors!

Faced with Yuan Shu's sudden closeness, Jiang Gan was momentarily at a loss. Fortunately, he came to his senses and was about to bring up the important matter.

"Lord Yuan, I am here on behalf of my lord, Lord Cao."

Before he could finish speaking, Yuan Shu interrupted him, his expression sincere.

As the saying goes, a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, and a wise minister chooses a good lord to serve.

Ziyi was a man of great talent in his time; how could he not know that Cao Cao had deceived the emperor, attempted to kidnap him, and that all the feudal lords of the world had joined forces to attack him?

Cao Cao's days are numbered, so why should Ziyi let his talents be wasted and be buried with him?

If they now change their ways and submit to my tutelage, I will treat them with the utmost respect, as if they were national heroes.

Jiang Gan: "."

He was speechless for a moment, stunned.

I'm here to act as a mediator, to sow discord within Yuan's camp, right? How come you've already started talking about me before I've even begun?

"I am deeply grateful for Mr. Yuan's kindness."

He bowed again respectfully, saying, “However, as a subject of Cao Cao’s camp, I should serve my lord. Now that the great task has not been accomplished, how can I betray my duty and defect to the enemy?”
I hope Lord Yuan will heed my words: "The struggle between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao..."

Before he could begin speaking again with his silver tongue, he was interrupted once more by Yuan Shu waving his hand.

"This matter is not urgent; we can discuss it later."

"Now that I have Ziyi, my heart is filled with joy. I will hold a banquet to welcome you back and wash away the dust of your journey."

Jiang Gan was at a loss. "I am an envoy of Cao Cao's army, here to persuade him, not to seek refuge with you."

Fortunately, since there was little hope for peace talks to begin with, the banquet provided an opportunity to meet Zhou Yu and learn about his true plans.

Therefore, after some hesitation, he reluctantly agreed.

Yuan Shu brought Jiang Gan into Yuan's camp. The soldiers on both sides were all wearing helmets and armor, holding spears and halberds.

Upon seeing Jiang Gan arrive, the generals thrust forward with their spears and halberds, shouting fiercely, "Kill!"

Their murderous intent was chilling, which terrified Jiang Gan, who turned pale and pointed at the items hanging from their waists, asking in a trembling voice.

"Lord Yuan, what... what is this?"

"These are the heads of Cao Cao's soldiers. The banquet is approaching, and the generals will use them as a side dish and to accompany their drinks."

"what?"

Jiang Gan stared wide-eyed at Yuan Shu with a look of horror. "Was Lord Yuan joking?"

"I treated Ziyi with sincerity, how could I be playing games with him?"

Yuan Shu spoke with an air of self-righteousness, even feigning the arrogance of a legitimate son of the Yuan family, "Now, Ziyi, look at my soldiers, how do they compare to Cao Cao's army?"

"Truly a fierce and ruthless army."

Jiang Gan struggled to maintain his composure, but his gaze fell upon another camp, where flesh and blood were flying everywhere, and the sound of axes being chopped could be heard. Above the tent were the words "Granary," and a sense of foreboding washed over him.

Seeing his curiosity, Yuan Shu immediately led him to look into the warehouse, where he saw headless corpses of Cao Cao's army piled up like mountains, and bright red blood flowing like a waterfall.

Jiang Gan was terribly pale and nearly fainted, but Yuan Shu held his arm and forced him to look.

"I guess Xi Zhicai must have anticipated that my supplies are running low and I cannot last long, so he asked you to come and negotiate with me."

With lofty ambitions, we feast on the flesh of Cao Cao's army when hungry, and laughingly drink the blood of our enemies when thirsty.

"Ziyi, now that you see this, are my provisions sufficient?"

Jiang Gan could barely stand, retching repeatedly. "Lord Yuan, your provisions are plentiful, your reputation is well-deserved."

"A grand banquet is being held tonight. Ziyi, would you like to eat as much as you like?"

Upon hearing this, and looking at the blood-soaked granary before him, he imagined the upcoming banquet where everyone would feast on Cao Cao's army and drink Cao Cao's blood.

Jiang Gan felt an indescribable nausea and fear rush to his head, and he could no longer hold on, so he fainted and fell to the ground.

Once it was confirmed that he had truly fainted from fright, everyone burst into laughter, while Yuan Shu felt quite sorry for him.

"It's already collapsed? Ziyi, you haven't seen the preparations I made."

Although Yuan Shu's provisions are indeed not as plentiful as before due to Xi Zhicai's strategy of depleting supplies.

However, relying on the land reclamation system implemented in January of last year and the fact that he had defeated many local tyrants in Jiangdong, he was far from having to treat Cao Cao's army as provisions.

This elaborate bluff wasn't just meant to frighten Jiang Gan; it also served to confuse Xi Zhicai and prevent him from guessing the extent of their own supplies.

Secondly, Jiang Gan was sent on a mission. After he returned, he asked the lower-ranking soldiers of Cao Cao's army, who knew the true situation of "Yuan's army's provisions," whether they were afraid or not.

Jiang Ziyi, a true hero sent by heaven, helped me crush the morale of Cao Cao's army in one fell swoop.

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, Zhou Yu stepped out from behind the crowd, looked at his fallen classmate and friend, and smiled wryly as he begged for mercy.

“Master Yuan, it seems that’s enough. Ziyi is timid by nature and can’t withstand any more fright.”

"That's fine."

Yuan Shu waved his hand, then looked at Zhou Yu with a meaningful gaze.

"Then I will entrust Ziyi to Gongjin. Don't let me down."

"Yu will certainly not fail Lord Yuan's trust."

Zhou Yu's camp.

Jiang Gan seemed to be filled with fear and unease in his dream. He woke up in a cold sweat and looked around the bed in a daze before he relaxed a little, realizing that it was just a dream.

But he soon realized: No, where am I?
"Ziyi, why are you so late?"

Upon hearing this familiar phrase, Jiang Gan trembled reflexively, fearing that he would turn around and see Yuan Shu's face, which resembled that of a hungry ghost.

Fortunately, the person beside him was elegant and refined, with a feather fan and silk turban. Jiang Gan breathed a long sigh of relief, his eyes filled with tears, as if he were seeing a family member.

"Gongjin!"

"Ziyi, how have you been? Why are you behaving like a girl?"

"Gongjin, you may not know this, but Lord Yuan..."

He suddenly realized that since Gongjin was here, his visit to Yuan's camp was not a dream, and everything he had seen and heard was real!
In an instant, Jiang Gan's face turned deathly pale. He almost pleaded with Zhou Yu, "Gongjin, what about the banquet?"

Seeing his old classmate so frightened, Zhou Yu cursed Yuan Shu inwardly for his incompetence, but on the surface he still had to cooperate with his plan and comfort him with a smile.

"It's a pity that Ziyi slept for so long and missed the banquet hosted by Lord Yuan."

"Missed it? Good thing you missed it!"

He tugged at Zhou Yu's sleeve urgently, "Gongjin, come with me at once!"

"Lord Yuan is cruel and ruthless, unlike a proper ruler. His camp is filled with vicious criminals; it is no place to stay for long. Why not join me in surrendering to Cao Cao and realize your ambitions?"

"I know your good intentions."

Zhou Yu looked helpless. "I understand your intentions from the music, Ziyi. It's just a pity that you came a step too late. Although I want to help you, I am powerless to do so."

Upon hearing that there was hope, Jiang Gan hurriedly pressed for an answer, "Gongjin, what makes you say that?"

"Ziyi is well aware of my aspirations and ambitions."

A true man, in his conduct, only wishes to encounter a worthy lord, outwardly upholding the righteousness between ruler and subject, inwardly forging bonds of kinship, always keeping his word, always following his plans, sharing both fortune and misfortune, honor and disgrace, united in heart and mind, working together to achieve great things!

Now I've found this person.

"Is he the son of Sun Jian, the fierce tiger of Jiangdong, also known as the Little Conqueror Sun Bofu?"

"Exactly!"

(End of this chapter)