Chapter 12: Gloating Over Others' Misfortunes

  Wancheng, the main military camp.

  Yuan Yong was pacing back and forth in his tent with a look of anxiety, when suddenly a small servant rushed in.

  "What happened, where did the Western Liang rebels go?"

  Yuan Yong hastily rushed forward and grabbed Xiao Xiao, asking loudly.

  Xiao Xiao Ji said: "General, the Western Liang rebels have gone in the direction of Yu Zhou."

  Yuan Yong asked: "Have you ever plundered other counties?"

  "Never."

  Xiao Xiao replied, "The Xiliang rebels only robbed three villages and did not attack the city. According to Zhe Hou's report, the Xiliang rebels did not stay long within the Nan Yang border, but instead went north straight towards Yu Zhou."

  "It shouldn't be like this!"

  Yuan Yun said with a hint of surprise: "When did the Western Liang rebels become so easy to talk to, and actually willing to leave Nanyang quietly?"

  Xiao Xiao hurriedly said: "The Western Liang rebels have no siege equipment, if they strongly attack the city, that is to seek death. The end will think that the Western Liang rebels should be a surprise attack on Wan City, so they quickly ran to Yu Zhou to launch a surprise attack on Kong You's old nest."

  Yuan Yong thought for a moment and felt that there was some truth to it, but he still had some misgivings.

  "Let's investigate and see if the Western Liang rebels really went to Yu Province."

  Yuan Yong waved his hand, and Xiao Xiao immediately retreated with a command.

  "Come in!"

  Yuan Yong had just sat back down after returning to his case when he suddenly remembered something and hastily shouted out of the tent.

  "What does the general have to say?"

  There were already loyal soldiers who had heard the sound and advanced, standing under the tent.

  Yuan Yong said: "Quickly dispatch someone to Hu Lao Guan to inform the lord, saying that the Western Liang rebels have emerged from Wu Guan and raided Nan Yang, but they have already been repelled by this general. At present, the Western Liang rebels are heading towards Yu Zhou."

  "Understood."

  The attendants received the general's order and hastily withdrew.

  Two days later, Xi Hou sent a message that the Western Liang rebels had indeed invaded Yu Province.

  Yuan Yong finally breathed a sigh of relief and completely put his mind at ease, while also feeling a little delighted.

  Yu Province is densely populated with many heroes, and it's also the old home of the Yuan family. The master has long wanted to take it for himself, but he hasn't found an opportunity yet. Now that the Western Liang rebels have invaded Yu Province, it would be best if they could seize Kong Rong's old nest. Kong Rong is already advanced in age, and who knows, maybe when he hears the bad news, he'll die from anger on the spot. That would be even better, and later the master can take over smoothly.

  But before I could get too excited, I received some bad news the next day.

  The 5,000 dan of military rations being transported to Tiger Trap Pass were robbed at Bowang Slope, and more than half of the rations were burned.

  "Damn those Yellow Turban bandits, they've killed someone!"

  Yuan Yong almost burst a blood vessel when he heard the news.

  In the first year of Zhongping, Nanyang was a disaster area for the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Although it was eventually suppressed, many remnants of the Yellow Turbans fled to the mountains and forests to become bandits, occasionally emerging to plunder the counties.

  Although the government had eliminated several factions, there were still a few remnants of the Yellow Turbans who gathered in the mountains and forests, opposing the government.

  After Yuan Shu occupied Nanyang, he levied heavy taxes and extorted money from the people, making their lives even more difficult. As a result, countless people who could no longer make ends meet were forced to become bandits, and the number of bandits did not decrease but instead increased.

  "General, what shall we do now?" Xiao Xiao hurriedly asked.

  Yuan Yong angrily said: "What to do? Again allocate 5,000 dan of military rations for me to send to the Tiger Trap Pass."

  "Roger."

  The little school didn't dare to waste words and hastily retreated.

  But three days later, the news came again.

  The 5,000 dan of military rations had just passed through Bowang County when they were robbed again, and the more than 1,000 soldiers escorting the grain were also killed or dispersed.

  According to the escaped soldiers, there were thousands of bandits who robbed the grain, and they also had hundreds of weapons from unknown sources. The soldiers were outnumbered and more than 300 people died in battle. In the end, the bandits took away the grain.

  What can't be taken away will also be burned by a fire.

  Yuan Yong's face turned red with rage as he thundered: "Where is Zhang Hu? What does he eat to be so bold, why doesn't he come to see me?"

  "General, Lord Zhang Hu has fallen in battle!"

  "It's good he's dead, serves him right!"

  Yuan Yong's face turned iron-green as he said: "Otherwise, this general will have to behead his dog head."

  At this time, a scholar hastily walked in and said: "General, the master has sent someone to urge grain again."

  "The general has been informed."

  Yuan Yong paced back and forth in the hall, cursing incessantly. "These damned mountain bandits! General Yuan will not rest until he has razed their lair to the ground and flayed every last one of them alive. They're driving me to my death!"

  "General, this can't go on! If we don't quickly eliminate these mountain bandits, our grain transport team may be robbed again. Please dispatch troops to clear out the bandits as soon as possible."

  Yuan Shujun said resolutely: "Hurry up and gather the troops, I will personally kill these damned mountain bandits to the last man."

  "I will obey orders."

  The whole school was stirred up and they hastily obeyed in loud voices.

  The officer beside him was shocked and hastily said, "General, absolutely not! Wan City only has 3,000 soldiers, if the general leads the troops to clear out the mountain bandits, Wan City's military strength is insufficient. If the Western Liang rebels come back, it will be a big trouble."

  Yuan Yong said, "General Chen is worrying too much. The Xiliang rebels have already rushed to Yuzhou to attack Kong Zong's old lair, how can they come to Nanyang again? Even if the Xiliang rebels do come back, this general can still return in time."

  "This..."

  The scholar had no words to refute, but still felt very unwell, so he had to persuade him with a hard head: "General, think thrice!"

  Yuan Yong waved his hand and said impatiently, "General Chen, there's no need to persuade me further. My mind is made up. Besides, this time I'm leading only 2,000 soldiers to clear out the mountain bandits, leaving behind 1,000 soldiers, Yan City will be as safe as Mount Tai."

  The scholar looked on helplessly and could only sigh, with a hint of worry in his heart.

  The mountain bandits within Nanyang's borders would occasionally come out to rob grain from the counties, but normally they would only rob passing merchants or the estates of wealthy landowners, and very rarely attack official grain transport convoys.

  However, this time was an exception, and twice they robbed the government's grain transport team, which was quite suspicious.

  The scholar felt something was wrong but couldn't figure out what it was.

  Yu State, Qiao County.

  Yu Province's deputy governor, Xu Jing, was reviewing official documents when a minor clerk suddenly rushed in, wailing and howling like a ghost.

  "Oh no, sir!"

  A small official rushed into the hall like a fly, and before Xu Jing could rebuke him, he opened his mouth and shouted: "Just received a report from Yin Gong, the governor of Yingchuan, that a group of Western Liang cavalry has killed their way here."

  Xu Jing paused for a moment, put down his brush and said displeased: "Don't joke around, how could the Xiliang rebel army reach Yu Province?"

  The junior official hastily said: "Sir, it's true. The emissary from Yingchuan said that this group of Western Liang soldiers came from Nanyang and are currently burning, killing, and looting near Kunyang. They are extremely brutal and outrageous. What should we do now?"

  "Are the Western Liang troops really coming to kill?"

  Xu Jing was shocked and the brush in his hand fell to the ground with a "pa" sound.

  The little official panted and stamped his foot: "Of course it's true. Such a big thing, how dare I, a low-ranking officer, falsely report military information."

  "It's all over, it's all ruined."

  Xu Jing suddenly jumped up, repeatedly stomping his feet and said: "At present, the troops in Yu Province have all been taken to Tiger Trap Pass by Governor Zhang. The military strength of Qiao County is empty, and the remaining are all old and weak soldiers. If the Western Liang rebels arrive, there may be a danger of being overthrown."

  The little official was also shocked, his legs trembling with cramps, and he asked in a shaky voice: "What's to be done?"

  Xu Jing's face changed for a moment, and he hastily said: "Quickly, go inform Li Duanwei to quickly dispatch troops from each county, and ask the large clans within the city to gather their men. Tell those large clans that if Qiao County is breached by the Western Liang army, they will not be able to escape either."

  "Yes, sir."

  The little official didn't dare to drag on and hastily responded with a "yes", then quickly ran out.

  Tiger Trap Pass, the main camp of the Guandong Allied Army.

  In the evening, after a day of fierce attack by the allied forces of various lords, they retreated ten miles and camped overnight to continue attacking the city the next day.

  At night, Yuan Shu had just prepared for bed when a small school suddenly lifted the curtain and rushed in.

  "My lord, something terrible has happened."

  The little school's face turned pale with panic, and he hastily said: "Just now, General Yuan Yin sent someone to report that a branch of the Western Liang rebel army broke out from Wu Pass and entered the territory of Nanyang, burning, killing, and looting. The land of Nanyang is filled with smoke and flames."

  "What?"

  Yuan Shu was taken aback for a moment, and he couldn't quite get over it.

  It wasn't until he came back to his senses that he suddenly jumped up from the couch and shouted: "What did you say?"

  The little school had to repeat, "Just now, General Yuan Yue's messenger came to report that a Xiliang rebel army broke out from Wuguan and entered the territory of Nanyang. At present, they are burning, killing and looting in Nanyang, and the land of Nanyang is filled with smoke and fire!"

  Yuan Shu was stunned and remained in a daze for a long time before regaining his composure.

  "Master? Master?"

  Xiao Xiao hurriedly called out in a low voice, anxiously scratching his ears and cheeks.

  "Ah, I'm suffocating!"

  Yuan Shu let out a loud roar, "Dong Zhuo, you scoundrel, how dare you deceive people so!"

  "Your Excellency, our army is currently engaged in battle with the Western Liang forces."

  Yuan Shu finally came back to his senses, "Uh, I almost forgot, heh heh, how many Xiliang rebel troops have entered Nanyang?"

  Xiao Xiao replied: "There are about 8,000 Western Liang cavalrymen, all lightly equipped and advancing quickly, without bringing heavy baggage."

  Yuan Shu's face relaxed, and he let out a long sigh. Suddenly, his expression changed to one of great anger, and he rebuked: "A mere 8,000 Western Liang rebels, making such a big fuss over nothing! You've caused me to lose my composure - you're truly a useless fool! What crime should you be guilty of, hmm?"

  "Huh?"

  The little school was a bit overwhelmed and couldn't keep up with Yuan Shu's rhythm.

  Yuan Shu waved his hand nonchalantly and shouted, "The city of Wan still has 3,000 elite soldiers and the advantage of a strong fortress. What can these 8,000 Western Liang rebels do? Without siege engines, how can they possibly breach the city walls with just cavalry?"

  "Sir, I fear the people of Nanyang will be slaughtered!"

  Yuan Shu said disapprovingly, "Is there any war without death? As long as Wan City is still there, my foundation will not be lost. What does it matter if a few hundred people die? When we break through Hu Lao Pass and enter Luoyang, the Western Liang rebels will naturally collapse without a fight."

  Xiao Xiao's lips moved slightly, and he let out a faint sigh, no longer trying to persuade him.

  Yuan Shu saw that Xiao Xiao had not retreated and asked again, "Is there anything else?"

  Xiao Xiao replied: "General Yuan Yong sent someone to report that the Western Liang rebel army launched a surprise attack on Wan City but failed, and they are now rushing towards Yu Province?"

  "Rushing to Henan Province? Hmm, okay, hehe, great."

  Yuan Shu was taken aback at first, then a look of joy appeared on his face. "Killing is good, killing is wonderful! Haha, that old thief Kong Rong has always refused to give me face, I've long wanted to take Yuzhou from him, but it's not convenient to invade. The Xiliang rebel army went to Yuzhou to burn and loot, which helped me a lot, heh heh, it would be even better if they could seize Kong Rong's old nest."

  The young master thought the lord was somewhat unrighteous, but he tactfully stopped advising him.