Chapter Fifteen: Shan Yang's Favor

  Yan Liang spared his life and did not take Yan Song's head.

  Even so, just a knife's back with a single knock, the strong force was enough to make Man Chong spit blood.

  He fell under Ma Chao's horse and struggled to get up. Zhou Cang saw this, shouted loudly, swung his sword and went forward, about to take his life.

  A surge of blood and energy, a dizzying field of vision, that sharp blade swooped down.

  In an instant, Man Chong's mind went blank, all his thoughts turned to dust, and he thought that his life was over.

  Clang!

  A cold light flashed by, but the blade stopped just a hair's breadth from Man Chong's forehead.

  Man Chong looked up in surprise and shockingly discovered that Yan Liang had actually blocked Zhou Cang's falling knife with his own at the last moment.

  Yan Liang lightly raised his spear and easily deflected Zhou Cang's sword.

  Zhou Cang exclaimed in surprise: "General, why didn't you let me take this dog thief's life?"

  Man Chong was equally astonished and wondered why Yan Liang did not take his life.

  "The defeated general, killing him would be of no benefit, let's bind him and bring him back to An City." Yan Liang said calmly.

  "But General——"

  Zhou Cang was about to speak again, when Yan Liang's eyes suddenly gathered, his knife-like gaze radiating an unyielding majesty that made Zhou Cang's heart skip a beat.

  He immediately dared not doubt again, and hastily drank down the wine that the soldier had poured for him.

  A mouthful of fresh blood, staring suspiciously at Yan Liang, he who had escaped with his life couldn't understand why Yan Liang didn't kill him.

  As a military general, beheading the enemy general is a great achievement. If Ma Chao had the chance, he would not hesitate to cut off Yan Liang's head and gain merit.

  But he didn't know that Yan Liang was nominally a general of the Yuan family, but his heart had long been set on the world.

  Yan Liang did not kill Man Chong, of course it was not because he was merciful, but because of his love for talent.

  In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Guan Yu flooded seven armies and besieged Fancheng, almost forcing Cao Ren, Cao Cao's top general, to abandon the city. It was Man Chong's persuasion that prompted Cao Ren to hold out in Fancheng, preventing Cao Cao from relocating the capital to avoid Guan Yu's forces.

  In the official history, Man Chong was not only outstanding in military talent, but also a good hand in governing and pacifying the people. Among them, the food households of Wei State finally reached more than 9,000, while Cao Ren had only over 3,000.

  The talented and spoiled one's ingenuity can be seen from this.

  Yan Liang was just recruiting talents at that time. Such a talented and versatile talent in both literature and martial arts, how could Yan Liang bear to kill him easily?

  Killed Cao Ren, captured Man Chong alive, Yan Liang still felt it was not enough, led more than 10,000 infantry and cavalry to pursue Cao Ren's defeated army for over 20 miles.

  At dusk, the battle came to an end.

  On the northern plain of Ancheng, bodies were strewn all over, blood flowing everywhere, with large patches of crimson bloodstains and scattered fragments of broken skulls and limbs, a truly horrific sight.

  Although Yan Liang suffered a great defeat to the Cao army, after clearing the battlefield, it was discovered that the casualties of his own troops were more than those of the Cao army, reaching over 3,000.

  Fortunately, the three thousand soldiers who were lost were mostly Gong Du and his men. These Yellow Turbans and their leader Gong Du were all extremely undisciplined bandits who were difficult to control, so it's not a great loss that they were defeated.

  The casualties on Cao Jun's side were approximately two thousand men, more than five hundred cavalrymen and over a thousand infantrymen.

  Yan Liang was most delighted to have obtained more than 500 fine horses and over a hundred carts of grain.

  Being in the enemy's rear in Runan, it was already difficult to collect military supplies. These captured horses and grains were naturally a huge wealth for Yan Liang.

  Yan Liang, who had won the first battle, did not take advantage of the momentum to advance northward, but instead brought his victorious spirit and triumphantly returned to the city with a grand parade.

  The news of victory was sent back to An city, and the military and civilians in the city were all encouraged. Those who were still hesitant among the aristocratic families of Runan immediately came out to express their support for Yuan Shao after seeing Yan Liang's victory, and they came one after another to congratulate Yan Liang and his generals with grain and cloth.

  Yan Liang returned to the city with his head held high and chest out, amidst the admiration and cheers of the people of Mancheng.

  "General Zi Yi, look at all these soldiers and civilians in the city. They seem to be very supportive of you." said Xu You who was following beside him.

  After this victory, Xu You also referred to Yan Liang as "General Zi Yi", seemingly actively pulling closer their relationship.

  Yan Liang smiled and waved at the civilians by the roadside, but his mouth said disdainfully: "What they support is not me, but the fist in my hand."

  Yan Liang was excited, but his heart was as clear as a mirror.

  He knew this was an era where the strong were revered, and if he wanted to gain the admiration of the world, it would only be through his awe-inspiring strength.

  Xu You's heart was shaken again, and when he looked at the calm and composed famous general from Hebei beside him, his eyes revealed not only shock, but also a kind of reverence that came from deep within.

  In this battle of Ancheng, Yan Liang used his sword and his clever strategy to decisively win the respect of Xu You.

  Yan Liang returned to the governor's mansion under everyone's gaze.

  Yan Liang ordered the captured Man Chong to be brought up to the hall.

  The knives and swords stood upright on both sides of the hall, and the atmosphere in the great hall was solemn and stern.

  The whole body of Manchong was tied up and brought over, facing the killing intent of the whole hall, but there was no fear on his face, only angrily staring at Yan Liang.

  Yan Liang looked down at him and said loudly: "Man Bao Ning, now that you have been captured by this general, are you willing to surrender?"

  Man Chong let out a cold snort and turned his head away, refusing to look at Yan Liang.

  Xu You sneered, "It seems he also wants to be a loyal minister. General Zi Yi, why not just fulfill his wish and use his head to intimidate Cao Cao at the same time."

  At this time, Xu You was still considering things from the perspective of Yuan Shao's subordinate. For Yuan Shao, those who refused to surrender and dared to resist his "heavenly authority" were naturally all to be killed.

  "Man Bao Ning, did you hear what Mr. Zi Yuan said? Surrender is life, refusal to surrender is death. You'd better think carefully." Yan Liang's tone gradually rose with murderous intent.

  Man Chong remained indifferent and silent, neither agreeing nor openly refusing.

  To outsiders, Man Chong's silence was a sign of resistance to surrender, but Yan Liang saw several other possibilities.

  If he really made up his mind to die for the Cao family, he could have refused to surrender with a bit more grandeur and provoked Yan Liang into killing him.

  At this moment he remained silent, seemingly still resisting, but in fact his heart was hesitating.

  The reputation of a surrendered minister is indeed unpleasant to hear, but people are not saints, and it's not that everyone can achieve the determination to die rather than surrender.

  Yan Liang saw Man Chong's slight hesitation and suddenly stood up, holding his sword and walking quickly down the steps.

  His majestic and awe-inspiring presence caused everyone present to tremble with fear.

  Everyone thought that Man Chong's indifference had enraged Yan Liang, and their general was going to personally behead this ungrateful man.

  Clang!

  Yan Liang charged forward with a loud shout, his sword slipping out of its scabbard as he moved.

  Everyone's heart was tightened, even Xu You, who had been persuading to kill, turned his head to one side, unable to bear the sight of the bloody scene.

  A flash of surprise also flickered in Man Chong's eyes, and he apparently thought Yan Liang was going to take action to kill him. As the situation had reached a critical point, he could only close his eyes, gritted his teeth and continued to hold on, leaving his life or death to fate.

  "People say that Man Bon Ning is a loyal and honest man, indeed the name is not in vain. I appreciate this kind of loyal and righteous person like you."

  Yan Liang laughed and swung his sword, cutting off the ropes that bound Man Chong.

  The people present were stunned on the spot.

  Even the spoiled one who opened her eyes was equally surprised, and she really didn't understand why Yan Liang would withdraw his hand at the last moment, and his attitude even made a 180-degree turn.

  "General Yan, Chancellor Cao has shown great favor to Man Mou. You want Man Mou to betray the Chancellor, but I fear that..."

  Man Chong thought Yan Liang wanted to use this gentle approach to subdue him, so he tactfully expressed his own feelings.

  Yan Liang did not intend to subdue Man Chong on the spot, he was not naive enough to think that as long as he showed his mighty aura, these historical figures would surrender to him.

  After all, he is facing real people, not virtual characters in the game. Moreover, even if it were a general in the game, at least some time would have to be spent waiting for their loyalty to decrease before they could be persuaded to surrender.

  Yan Liang said: "Whether to surrender or not, Bo Ning doesn't need to rush into making a decision. Come on, send General Man to rest and treat him well, don't be negligent."

  Yan Liang decided to first put Man Chong under house arrest, and wait until the Battle of Guandu when Cao Cao was defeated, Man Chong would lose his goal of loyalty, then he would surrender to him again, and psychologically it would be easier for him to step down.

  Man Chong didn't say anything else and could only walk down from the hall with a gloomy expression.

  Xu You watched Yan Liang's performance, first trying to persuade Zhou Cang to surrender, and now advising Man Chong to surrender, but his heart was increasingly filled with doubts.

  "This Yanzi Yi, his various actions, are becoming less and less like those of a general under Yuan Gong's command, but rather more like those of a regional lord seeking talent eagerly. What is he trying to do?"