Yuan Tan turned around and saw Zang Ba slashing down with his sword. His scalp was numb with fear and he quickly turned around and raised his sword to block.
clang! !
The swords clashed together.
Yuan Tan's sword was suppressed, and he burst out with strength to swing away, but the ferocious force rushed down. Yuan Tan could not stand, and fell off the horse as his body tilted. Yuan Tan was not experienced in fighting, and after falling to the ground, his whole body was in pain, so that he did not get up immediately.
The short delay caused him to miss the best opportunity to get up. As soon as he got up, Zang Ba's knife had already fallen.
"I surrender!"
Yuan Tan shouted.
Zang Ba's eyes were cold and stern, and his murderous intent was clear. Without any hesitation, the long sword struck down as usual.
Zhila!
The blade fell on Yuan Tan's neck.
With one slash, the corpse was separated, and Yuan Tan's head flew out. After rolling twice, it stopped with blood, leaving a pool of blood on the spot. Yuan Tan's pampered face still showed fear and despair.
After Zang Ba killed Yuan Tan, he smiled coldly and murmured: "It is best if you are dead, so there is no threat."
He picked up the long knife and said loudly: "Yuan Tan is dead, let me kill him."
"Yuan Tan is dead!"
Zang Ba's soldiers roared.
When the news of Yuan Tan's murder came out, the Qingzhou soldiers, who were already fleeing, fled even further. A large number of Qingzhou soldiers who could not escape chose to kneel down and surrender. There was no one who resisted.
The army's cover-up lasted for two hours before it ended. Zang Ba and Huang Zhongcai, who were pursuing them, returned to their base with their men.
The army rested and its losses were counted.
After Huang Zhong made statistics, he and Zang Ba came to Kuai Liang's camp.
Kuai Liang nodded with a smile, motioned for the two of them to sit down, looked at Zang Ba, and praised: "Xuan Gao killed Yuan Tan and destroyed Yuan Tan's direct line, thank you for your hard work."
Xuangao is Zang Ba's cousin.
Zang Ba looked humble and no longer had the audacity to talk to Yuan Tan. He said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I'm sorry. This is all your plan. Because of your detailed plan, the general can win Yuan Tan's trust."
Zang Ba admired Kuai Liang from the bottom of his heart.
Kuai Liang had already made preparations to defeat Yuan Tan since he instigated him to rebel and asked him to surrender secretly. Such a person who plans ahead and has long-term plans is definitely not an ordinary person.
What's more, there are peerless generals like Huang Zhong.
Kuai Liang nodded, looked at Huang Zhong, and asked, "How was the situation in this battle?"
Huang Zhong quickly said: "Report to the envoy, at the end of this battle, one thousand and thirty-six of our soldiers were killed, more than 4,300 Qingzhou soldiers were killed, and as many as 20,000 soldiers were captured. There are many Qingzhou soldiers who have fled. In addition, we captured more than 5,000 horses in this battle."
Kuai Liang also had a smile on his face and said: "This battle has yielded huge gains, and it has demonstrated our prestige."
He looked at Zang Ba and asked, "How are the losses in Xuan Gao's army?"
Zang Ba said: "Two hundred people under the general's command were killed, and the losses were very small. After all, people like Yuan Tan have ordinary abilities and are not worth mentioning."
Kuai Liang nodded and ordered: "It's almost evening now. You go to reorganize the army and rest. Tomorrow morning we will send troops north to attack Qingzhou and seize various parts of Qingzhou. You go to reorganize the army. I will write a letter to kill Xuangao and Yuan Tan." And the news of Han Sheng's defeat of Yuan Tan was reported back to Shu County, and people were arranged to send the king 800 miles away in a hurry."
"As you command!"
Huang Zhong and Zang Ba answered simultaneously.
When the news is reported to Lu Xuan, rewards will inevitably be given based on merit. This is their own opportunity.
When the two of them retreated, Kuai Liang immediately wrote a battle report and arranged for people to send them off separately. A piece of information was sent to Shu, and it was to be sent to Lu Xuan quickly so that Lu Xuan could arrange it. Another piece of information is sent to Shu County to facilitate Shu County operations.
After Kuai Liang sent the letter away, he arranged for someone to bring Xin Pi in.
This person Xinpi is included in his intelligence.
This person is under Yuan Shao's command. Although he is not Yuan Shao's true core, he still has a certain influence.
Kuai Liang looked at Xin Pi and smiled: "Xin Pi, Yuan Tan has been killed, and the fall of Qingzhou is just around the corner. What are your plans?"
When Xin Pi heard Kuai Liang's words, he didn't hesitate at all and said straight to the point: "Xin Pi is willing to serve the country of Wu and the envoy."
After becoming a prisoner, Xinpi considered what choice to make?
The desire to survive prevailed in his heart, so when he saw Kuai Liang, Xin Pi surrendered directly.
With a faint smile on his face, Kuai Liang said calmly: "I welcome you if you are willing to submit to the Kingdom of Wu and serve the King of Wu. But I have an idea. Do you dare to agree?"
Xinpi's heart skipped a beat.
Judging from his dealings with Yuan Tan this time, Kuai Liang is very good at making decisions before taking action, and is very good at making plans. Now it may not be easy to ask him if he dares to accept.
Hard things that are not easy?
Do you dare to agree?
Xin Pi was also a counselor. After thinking for a while, he suddenly understood and said, "Is the envoy's plan for me to return to Yuan Shao's command, as a backbone of the Wu Kingdom, to assist the King of Wu?"
Kuai Liang's eyes were even brighter, and he praised: "As expected of Yingchuan Gaoshi, you can guess right. I really hope that you will return to Yuan Shao's command and continue to make suggestions for Yuan Shao."
Xin Pi stared at Kuai Liang, his eyes shocked that he really wanted him to be a scapegoat.
Kuai has great courage.
What a long-term plan.
Xin Pi looked serious and said slowly: "Kuai Shijun asked me to return to Yuan Shao's command. Aren't you afraid that I would betray him? When I return to Yuan Shao's rule, there is no threat from you. I can continue to serve Yuan Shao regardless of you. s arrangement."
Kuai Liang looked confident and smiled: "There are three reasons why I arranged for you to go back."
Xinpi said seriously: "I would like to hear the details."
Kuai Liang explained unhurriedly: "First, Yuan Tan died in Jiqiu County, and it has nothing to do with you. No matter how Yuan Shao didn't want to see Yuan Tan, when Yuan Tan died, Yuan Shao's inner father's love It will explode."
"Especially now that Yuan Tan is dead and the obstacle that prevented Yuan Shang from becoming the heir is gone, Yuan Shao will care for the dead even more."
"For this reason alone, it is impossible for Yuan Shao to reuse you Xinpi."
"It will even suppress you."
"Second, on the Yizhou side, the king trapped Cao Cao in Nanzheng, Hanzhong, and killed Cao Cao's generals Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren. Cao Cao's defeat was imminent. As for Yanzhou, Zhou Yu, the governor of the Wu State, defeated Xiahou Dun and captured Yingchuan, Chen Guohe and The Liang Kingdom entered Yanzhou territory."
"The Wu Kingdom is so powerful that it is unshakable."
"Following the king is your best choice."
"Thirdly, you have promised me on the surface to return to Yuan Shao's command, but you insist on serving Yuan Shao and betraying your trust. I really can't do anything to you, so I just think that I have lost a secret. After the king has unified the world and destroyed Yuan Shao, You Xinpi will definitely die, and the Xin family will definitely be liquidated."
Kuai Liang said loudly: "Three reasons combined, I believe you are a smart person."
Xinpi's cheeks twitched.
He looked at the gentle and approachable Kuai Liang in front of him and sighed inwardly.
He has no choice.
Not to mention the second and third points, the first point alone would kill him. As Kuai Liang mentioned, when Yuan Tan was alive, Yuan Shao regarded Yuan Tan as a thorn in his side because Yuan Tan blocked Yuan Shang's way.
After Yuan Tan died, Yuan Shao must have doubled his father's love. He felt sorry for Yuan Tan and wanted to make it up to Yuan Tan.
This is human nature.
It’s people’s compensatory psychology.
Kuai Liang's scheming is really deep.
Xinpi clasped his hands together and said: "Xinpi, I will obey the envoy's arrangements and be willing to return to Yecheng and work under Yuan Shao's command."
Kuai Liang praised: "Although you may be targeted by Yuan Shao when you return to Yecheng. However, you are a nail inserted into Yuan Shao's heart. When Yuan Shao is raided in the future, you will be rewarded for your great achievements."
He said in a deep voice: "You want to go back now. Do you need me to arrange for someone to escort you?"
"unnecessary!"
Xinpi shook his head and said: "I just need to quietly leave the military camp and go north on my own. Only in this way can I explain my escape."
Kuai Liang said: "I will arrange it immediately."
Immediately, Kuai Liang called the soldiers and quietly sent Xin Pi away. After doing all this, Kuai Liang relaxed, because the general layout was well arranged, and then he went north to Qingzhou. Because Qingzhou had no owner, and the Yuan family did not have good control over Qingzhou, there would be no obstacles for him to go north.
