Chapter Thirty-Seven: Three Ups and Downs

  Lü Linggui agreed to form an alliance with Yuan Shao, which truly delighted Yuan greatly.

  Knowing the training methods of Pingzhou Wolf Cavalry, one of the four great cavalrymen in the world, just this point alone makes Lv Linggui's own worth comparable to a huge golden treasure, and in troubled times, it can be said that its value is worth a city!

  Even if the wolf riders trained by her don't have the flair and ferocity of Lü Bu's, there are many talented families in the four states of Hebei. As long as Lü Linggui can help the Yuan family find a way out, they can gather the strengths of various families in Hebei, make up for their weaknesses, absorb their essence, and train a team that surpasses Lü Bu's wolf riders or Cao Cao's elite tiger and leopard cavalry!

  On the second day, Lü Linggui gathered her troops and told them that she was going to surrender to the government in the north. Those who wanted to follow her could go with her, while those who did not want to go could divide up the spoils of the Nine-li Mountain stronghold and leave on their own.

  Contrary to Yuan Shang's expectations, the mountain bandits of Jiuli Mountain almost all followed Lv Linggui north to join the army, not a single one willing to stay behind to divide the spoils.

  It's really hard to see that this little woman is usually icy and cold, like an iceberg, but her personal charm value is still quite high, and she has such a strong cohesion to gather these rough and unruly mountain bandits.

  Lü Lingqi indeed lives up to being the daughter of a fierce general, and in this aspect, she still has some real talent. It's just a pity that as a woman, she is naturally limited by her physical strength and hasn't fully inherited her father's bravery and martial skills. Otherwise, with time and practice, she might have become another Lü Bu.

  However, before Yuan Shang returned to Hebei, Lü Lingqi still had to send some rice seeds to the foot of Jiuli Mountain. Many villagers in that area had no harvest this year and were living a very hard life. Lü Lingqi's purpose for coming to Nandun County was to borrow grain seeds to help them get through the difficulties of this year's drought.

  In addition, the matters of Jiuli Mountain stronghold also need to be handled clearly. After all, there are still many things and matters in the old nest that need to be taken care of one by one. It's not like she can follow Yuan Shang immediately just because she says so.

  Yuan Shang still trusted Lü Lingqi's character, so he made an appointment with Lü Lingqi for a specific date and place. The two armies then went their separate ways. Yuan Shang headed to Runan to meet Liu Bei, while Lü Lingqi returned east to the Jiuli Mountain to make arrangements.

  However, before leaving Nandong County, Yuan Shang still had another small matter that he needed to take care of personally.

  It was Deng Xiang, the county magistrate of Deng County, who was pretending to be executed in front of many officials in Nandu County. He was a show-off, with a big mouth and a tendency to talk nonsense. Yuan Shang's heart was evil, but not poisonous. Although killing someone would be an effective way to intimidate the county officials, Yuan Shang felt that it was unnecessary to take someone's life without any reason.

  That's why Deng Xian and his wife and children can survive until now.

  Deng Xianzhi and his wife and son are now secretly being held in a tent at the military camp.

  When Yuan Shang appeared with a smile in the tent where Deng County Magistrate and his family of three were being held, Deng County Magistrate suddenly showed a regretful expression as if to say "Why did my mother give birth to me so talented?"

  "As expected! I had guessed it earlier, you indeed can't tolerate Deng!"

  Deng Xian's face was full of despair, and a tragic sense of being envied by heaven for his exceptional talent arose.

  Yuan Shang was taken aback by the words and asked in surprise: "What's going on? Which bastard can't tolerate you?"

  "You can't stand me anymore, you bastard!"

  Deng Xian's demeanor had changed dramatically, no longer showing the compromising and yielding attitude of before, but instead displaying a bold and fearless determination.

  Yuan Shang blinked his eyes, staring at Deng Xianzai in surprise, and cupped his hands: "What's going on here? I'd like to hear more about it."

  Deng County's eyes stared fiercely at Yuan Shang for a long time, then suddenly raised his hand and heavily pounded the wooden stake supporting the tent. A pair of small eyes like beans rolled out countless hot tears, no matter how hard he tried to hold them back, he couldn't stop crying, it was as if the pear blossoms were bringing rain, I saw him with pity.

  He pointed at Yuan Shang, and Deng County Magistrate looked up and wailed: "How can you be so narrow-minded? Just because I saw through your identity? What's the big deal? You want to put me to death just for that? Having talent is not a crime! I studied hard in autumn and winter, and reviewed in spring and summer. It wasn't easy for me to become a county magistrate! You bastard, you think you can just kill me off with a word?! You're the kind of person who's jealous of others' talents, you'll get your retribution!"

  Yuan Shang stared blankly at Deng Xianzhi, not daring to believe it: "What? Who said I wanted to kill you?"

  "This is self-evident!" The face of Dengxian's county magistrate was crying like a flower-faced cat, and his old habit recurred. He stood up and pretended to be clever, saying: "With my talent, I would have expected you to come and kill me today! Now that General Cao Ren is garrisoned in Wan City, governing the southern counties of Yanzhou and Yu Province, he can be said to be a major threat to your Liu Xuan De's heart. However, with your military strength, you will not dare to attack the city, but only try to lure Cao Ren out for a decisive battle, which is the only way to win! Now that you have broken through the small county of Nandun, it may not be enough to provoke him, but if you send my, the county magistrate's head to humiliate him, it would be like slapping him in the face! Cao Ren will surely become furious and rashly lead his troops out of Yuannan. You can then set up an ambush and defeat him in one battle! What I said is right or wrong?"

  Yuan Shang stared blankly at Deng Xian, unsure of what to say.

  This guy is not only showy, but also has a rich imagination. If he were born in the future, I'm afraid even scientists like Hawking would have to step aside.

  Deng Xianzai straightened his chest and gazed steadily at Yuan Shang, while his wife, Madame Deng, held their child who was less than two or three years old, trembling with fear as she stared at Yuan Shang.

  They stared at each other silently for a good long while...

  "Actually..." Yuan Shang came back to his senses, saying somewhat awkwardly: "Actually, I came today to tell you that our army will be leaving Nandun County immediately. Since you've already been used as a warning on the surface, it's not suitable for you to continue staying here. I was thinking of taking you with me."

  The whole room fell silent all of a sudden.

  After a while, County Magistrate Deng's tear-stained face suddenly lit up with a glimmer of hope as he looked at Yuan Shang, his voice trembling with disbelief: "You... you're not here to kill me? You really won't kill me?"

  Yuan Shang nodded with a smile, then suddenly furrowed his brow, stroking his chin thoughtfully: "But what you said earlier also makes sense, reminding me that Cao Ren's army is stationed in Wan City, like a fishbone stuck in the throat. If we don't come up with a plan to defeat them, they will eventually become a major threat to Liu Yuzhou! So I've decided on the spot to change my mind and use your strategy instead, using your head to provoke Cao Ren into sending out his troops!"

  Deng County Magistrate and his wife were both stunned upon hearing this.

  After finishing speaking, Yuan Shang rushed to the county magistrate Deng and bowed, saying: "County Magistrate, for the sake of the Han dynasty, you offered a plan to sacrifice yourself to eliminate the enemy, which is truly righteous. When we assist the Central Plains and rescue Your Majesty later, the merit of restoring the Great Han will certainly have your heavy contribution... Come, take County Magistrate Deng out and behead him! Remember, the action must be gentle! Then send his head to Cao Ren in Wan City, let him see that within his jurisdiction, we can kill county officials at will, and make him know how useless he is, humiliate him thoroughly."

  Deng Xian's eyes suddenly burst forth like a fountain again, and with a "pa" sound, he knelt down beside Yuan Shang, wailing loudly: "General, I...I...I was wrong!"

  "County Magistrate, sir, has offered a good plan for the Han dynasty, what's wrong with that? I'll take care of your posthumous affairs and make sure everything is clear, so you can rest assured... I'll also report to Liu Yuanchao and have him memorialize the Emperor to posthumously confer upon you the title of Marquis... What kind of Marquis would County Magistrate like to be? How about 'Intelligent Monkey'?"

  Mrs. Deng, who had been enduring for a long time after County Magistrate Deng's death, could no longer hold back her tears and stood up, pointing at County Magistrate Deng and crying out: "Is that it? Is that it?! I said so when we were in Jiyang, your broken mouth can't be the county magistrate! You spent money to buy this official position, now it's been snatched away by others, and you died like this! And still want to be enfeoffed as a marquis? Marquis my foot! Ai'er is only three years old and has lost her father, how can we widows and orphans stand in the Deng family from now on?! You say! Say something!"

  Deng County Magistrate also cried out while holding his head: "What can I do? I originally had the determination to die for my country when I said those words, who knew he didn't really want to kill me! Who can I reason with now!"

  The couple cried loudly and blamed each other, the whole camp was filled with crying and shouting, chickens flew and dogs jumped, the curses were endless, it was a pitiful sight.

  Deng and his wife were arguing, while Yuan Shang was staring blankly at the doll in Mrs. Deng's hand, its hair not fully grown, with a big mouth but unable to say anything for a long time.

  Ai'er, Ai'er?

  Deng Chang, the magistrate of Deng County, is also surnamed Deng... Ah, and he had reported his family background before, being from Xinye, Ziguiyang. Ziguiyang should have another alias, that is Xinye.

  Xinye Deng Ai! ?

  Yuan Shang's heart tightened involuntarily.

  He hastily patted Deng Xianzai's shoulder and Yuan Shang spoke up, "Hey, hey, wait a minute, don't shout yet, I have something to ask you, it's serious!"

  Deng County Magistrate burst into tears, shook his shoulders and howled: "Don't bother me! Can't you see I'm handling the aftermath!"

  "Alright, alright, I was just kidding! If I really wanted to kill you, you'd have been torn into eight pieces by now. You're still standing here with your guts intact." Yuan Shang chuckled and shook his head. Although the name and origin were quite coincidental, Yuan Shang was very skeptical - could this county magistrate's foolish appearance actually produce a renowned general? This was a bit far-fetched.

  County Magistrate Deng heard the words and was taken aback for a moment, then tearfully said: "General, are you going to kill or not? Can't you give me a straight answer? I'm really not in good health and can't take any more stimulation!"

  No wonder, in less than the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, Deng Xianzhi had gone through three cycles of life and death, from heaven to hell and back again.

  Yuan Shang smiled with a warm and gentle expression, saying: "How's that? Isn't the rise and fall of life too fast, too stimulating?"

  Deng County Magistrate wiped away tears, his face full of resentment and grievance, and choked with sobs: "General, are you intentionally coming to provoke me today? Are you very idle?"