Chapter 442: 428. Tian Feng Estranged Once Again
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Zhang He smiled, a sense of relief washing over him. "Agreed. We will proceed with caution. I will make the necessary arrangements to contact Lie Fan and Cao Cao discreetly when the time is right. Until then, we must continue to play our parts as loyal officers under Yuan Shao." With their decision made, the three men returned to their respective duties, their minds now focused on the delicate task of navigating Zhang Yan's men and playing their part to cultivate their defection plan slowly.
As the sun began to set over the battlefield, Xu Huang, Zhang Yan, and Gao Lan directed their men to clean up the aftermath of the battle. Fallen soldiers were given the dignity of a burial or, if resources permitted, cremation. The process was somber, a stark reminder of the cost of war.
Once the battlefield was cleared and the necessary rites performed, the three commanders gathered their armies and began the march to Jinyang. Zhang Yan, though now a prisoner in name, rode alongside Zhang He and Gao Lan, his men following with a mix of relief and uncertainty.
Upon reaching Jinyang, Zhang He and Gao Lan sent urgent messages to Yan Liang and Wen Chou in Shangdang, informing them of Zhang Yan's surrender and the new developments. The news traveled swiftly, reaching the ears of the two generals by the next morning.
In Shangdang, Yan Liang and Wen Chou received the news with a mixture of shock and disbelief. The two had been embroiled in their own conflicts, but this unexpected turn of events forced them to set aside their differences temporarily.
"This is unexpected," Yan Liang said, his brow furrowed in thought. "Zhang Yan's surrender... what does it mean? Is this a strategic maneuver or genuine defeat?"
Wen Chou, equally puzzled, replied, "We need more information. We can't afford to make any rash decisions without understanding the full context. We should meet with Zhang He and Gao Lan to discuss this further."
Despite their usual discord, the gravity of the situation brought a temporary truce between Yan Liang and Wen Chou. They quickly organized a meeting and prepared to travel to Jinyang to get a firsthand account of the situation from Zhang He, Gao Lan, and Zhang Yan.
Upon arriving in Jinyang, Yan Liang and Wen Chou were greeted by Zhang He and Gao Lan. The atmosphere was tense but cordial. Zhang Yan, though under the watchful eye of his captors, was treated with a measure of respect, reflecting the delicate nature of the situation.
Zhang He began the meeting, outlining the events that led to Zhang Yan's surrender. He emphasized the strategic implications and the opportunity for Yuan Shao's forces to consolidate power in the region.
"We have managed to secure Zhang Yan's surrender without further bloodshed, General Yan Liang and When Chou," Zhang He explained. "This move not only spares many lives of our men but also strengthens our position."
Yan Liang, still wary, asked, "And what of Zhang Yan's men? Can they be trusted to fight alongside us? They are a bunch of vagabond, bandits, and thugs that bands tighter under Zhang Yan's leadership, creating a large bandit army"
Gao Lan responded, "Zhang Yan's men are loyal to him, General. As long as he stands by his word, they will follow. We must ensure that they are integrated into our ranks seamlessly."
Zhang Yan, sensing the need to speak, addressed the group. "Even though I'm a bandit, once I commit to something, I will follow through with what I said. As for my men, as General Gao Lan had just said rest assured they will follow whatever decision I made."
Wen Chou, after a moment of contemplation, nodded. "Very well. We will proceed with caution, but we accept your surrender and will work to integrate your forces. We would also inform our lord of your decision, please wait for the future rank that you will receive."
With the meeting concluded, Yan Liang and Wen Chou returned to Shangdang, where they sent a letter to Yuan Shao in Nanpi informing him of Zhang Yan's surrender and the end of their battle.
On the other hand, Zhang He, Gao Lan, and Zhang Yan remained in Jinyang, overseeing the integration of Zhang Yan's men and preparing for the next steps in their carefully laid plans.
A few days later, a courier arrived at Yuan Shao's stronghold in Nanpi, delivering the letter from Yan Liang and Wen Chou. Yuan Shao eagerly broke the seal and read the contents, his face lighting up with joy. He summoned his advisors Feng Ji, Guo Tu, and Tian Feng to share the news.
Feng Ji and Guo Tu were visibly ecstatic when they heard the news. Their faces beamed with satisfaction as Yuan Shao read aloud the details of Zhang Yan's surrender and the successful conclusion of the battle. They exchanged knowing glances, their gamble having paid off.
"Excellent news, my lord!" Feng Ji exclaimed. "With Zhang Yan's forces now under our command, our position in the region is significantly strengthened."
Guo Tu nodded in agreement. "Indeed, this victory not only consolidates our power but also demoralizes our enemies. We must capitalize on this momentum to fully consolidate your control on the entire northern region."
Tian Feng, however, maintained his calm and collected demeanor. After listening to the excited reactions of his colleagues, he spoke up with a more strategic perspective. "My lord, while this is indeed a significant victory, we must not become complacent. Cao Cao is currently weakened due to the surprise attack by Lie Fan. This presents us with a unique opportunity."
Before Yuan Shao could respond to Tian Feng's words, Feng Ji and Guo Tu, who had reconciled their differences for the time being, immediately jumped in and ganged up on Tian Feng.
Feng Ji, his voice tinged with indignation, said, "My lord, Tian Feng's suggestion is hasty and reckless. We have just concluded a taxing war which has depleted many of our supplies. To launch an attack on Cao Cao without proper preparation would be nothing short of suicide!"
Guo Tu added, "Indeed! Tian Feng's proposal seems like an attempt to sabotage our efforts. We need to rebuild and resupply before considering any further military action. Rushing into another war will only lead to disaster."
Yuan Shao's expression darkened as he listened to the accusations. The good impression he had of Tian Feng, who had helped him manage the internal conflicts between Feng Ji and Guo Tu and helped him in his invasion of Zhang Yan, began to fade.
Tian Feng, sensing the shift in Yuan Shao's mood, tried to defend his position. "My lord, I understand the concerns of my colleagues. However, the opportunity before us is rare. Cao Cao is vulnerable now, and if we delay, he will recover from this setback. A calculated strike, even if it means stretching our resources, could bring us a foothold onto the Central Plain."
But Yuan Shao, influenced by the vocal opposition of Feng Ji and Guo Tu, was no longer inclined to listen. "Tian Feng, your counsel has been valuable in the past, but it seems you are too eager to push us into another conflict without considering the state of our own resources and men. We will not move against Cao Cao until we are fully prepared. You are dismissed, reflect on your action for some time."
Tian Feng bowed his head, accepting the rebuke. "As you wish, my lord. I only seek to serve the best interests of your cause. I will take my leave now."
Tian Feng left the meeting with a heavy heart after saying his words. He knew the delay would give Cao Cao time to regroup, but he had no choice but to abide by Yuan Shao's decision.
With Tian Feng leaving the room, Yuan Shao continued the meeting and ordered his commanders to focus on consolidating their recent gains and resupplying their forces.
Hearing the order both Feng Ji and Guo Tu received Yuan Shao's order, and after they agreed Yuan Shao asked the two of them what should he do with Zhang Yan now, and what rank befits the surrendered warlord. Feng Ji and Guo Tu exchanged glances, clearly having anticipated Yuan Shao's question about Zhang Yan.
Feng Ji spoke first, "My lord, we should make Zhang Yan a special acting Governor over the region he previously controlled. The area is still full of bandits, and allowing him to govern and exterminate them would be a fitting task for a surrendered warlord."
Guo Tu quickly added, "Precisely. By giving him this responsibility, we keep him occupied and under scrutiny. We should ensure Zhang He and Gao Lan remain in the region to oversee his actions and report back any signs of disloyalty. This way, we can maintain control while utilizing Zhang Yan's knowledge of the area."
Yuan Shao leaned back in his chair, considering their suggestion. "I understand your reasoning. Having Zhang He and Gao Lan there to monitor him provides an added layer of security. Very well, we will proceed with this plan."
Feng Ji and Guo Tu nodded, satisfied that their proposal had been accepted. They left the meeting with a sense of accomplishment, knowing that they had secured both their influence over Yuan Shao and a means to keep Zhang Yan in check.
Yuan Shao then had his steward draft the letter of assisting Zhang Yan as the acting Governor of his former domain, controlling Shangdang and Jinyang. At the same time, he also had the letter of order for Zhang He and Gao Lan drafted as well.
Both letters were sent at the same time to their respective receiver, and when all of that was done, Yuan Shao sat full of relaxation and happiness as he was one step closer to his ambition now that he had fully controlled the entire north of the land.
Meanwhile, back in Jinyang, Zhang Yan received the news of his new position as the acting Governor. Though he accepted it with a composed demeanor, inwardly he was calculating how this would fit into the plans he had discussed with Zhang He and Gao Lan.
The two generals, now tasked with monitoring him after receiving their letter as well, discreetly reassured him that with him being made the acting Governor, their scheme to defect gained more chips than they had hoped for.
They said to him how with him being made the acting Governor meant that he would regain Shangdang back under his control, and combined with Jinyang this means they could defect while bringing these two towns with them.
Zhang Yan nodded his head when he heard what both Zhang He and Gao Lan said, agreeing with their point of view and believing that he should gain more bargaining chips for them.
So as Zhang Yan took on his new role, he acted like he was organizing efforts to combat the bandits in the region, while in actually he amassed more manpower to strengthen his bargaining chips in the future. He does all that while maintaining covert communication with Zhang He and Gao Lan about their ultimate plan. They continued to secretly draft letters to Lie Fan and Cao Cao, waiting for the right moment to act.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu
Age: 31 (198 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 825
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 936 (+20)
VIT: 598 (+20)
AGI: 583 (+10)
INT: 587
CHR: 96
WIS: 509
WILL: 397
ATR Points: 0
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