Yuan Shao never expected that Liu Wei would actually exchange Yuan Xi for two of his beloved generals.
They love their sons and generals, and it's hard to part with them; losing either of them would be heartbreaking.
"King of the Clouds, are you joking?"
"Yuan Benchu, do you think I'm joking?"
Liu Wei's expression turned serious. "I have long admired these two valiant generals and wish to have them serve me."
"If they follow me, they will be immediately appointed as captains, commanding ten thousand troops and governing a prefecture!"
"If you achieve great merit in the future, being ennobled and appointed as a general will be a given!"
Liu Wei had many official titles, and any one of them he could bestow would be far more prestigious than what Yuan Shao could offer.
"Hmph, how could those two be swayed by your fame and fortune?" Yuan Shao retorted sarcastically.
"Whether you're interested or not is another matter, but are you willing to switch?" Liu Wei pressed.
Yuan Shao was reluctant: "If we don't replace him, is there anything else we can discuss? Like money?"
"Hahaha, do I, a prince, lack money? Let me tell you the truth, before the grand court assembly, the gold that Empress He secretly hid with the mentally challenged monk at Baoguo Temple had already made me a fortune."
Liu Wei laughed heartily, "If we don't need to change the personnel, then we can use the two prefectures of Zhongshan and Changshan to resist."
"So you were the one who ordered the fire at Baoguo Temple!"
"King of the Clouds, you have quite the appetite!" Yuan Shao's expression turned grim as he hadn't expected Liu Wei to demand either men or territory.
"Heh, Dong Zhuo of Bingzhou gave up the three counties of Hetao and Henan, Ding Yuan of Liangzhou gave up the three counties of Hexi and Juyan Lake, and you, Yuan Shao, only gave up two counties of Jizhou. You're far from it!"
"This governorship of Ji Province was originally intended for Han Fu. If you hadn't slandered Han Fu with He Jin and squeezed him out, how could you have become the governor?"
"Moreover, this land of the Han Dynasty belongs to my Liu family. When did it become the private property of your Yuan family?"
Liu Wei's words struck a chord with Yuan Shao, causing him to blush instantly.
These two prefectures are located close to the eastern side of the Taihang Mountains, bordering Bingzhou to the west, and Zhongshan State bordering Youzhou to the north. It seems that giving them up would have little impact on the vast Jizhou.
However, Changshan and Zhongshan counties were very close to Julu and Yecheng, important towns in Ji Province, respectively.
Once these two places are given to Liu Wei, he can transfer the cavalry from the Hetao region to garrison these two counties.
Ye City and Julu were like a naked young girl, completely unsuspecting.
Liu Wei's iron cavalry easily penetrated deep into Ji Province.
Yuan Shao would certainly not expose his weaknesses to Liu Wei.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you unwilling to give us even these two places?"
Liu Wei looked at Yuan Shao with a half-smile, "You can also try to negotiate. What if you manage to make a deal?"
"You can negotiate the price? There's flexibility in the terms?"
Just as Yuan Shao was about to haggle, Xu You advised from the side, "My lord, this King of Yunzhong is notoriously cunning. Don't fall for his tricks!"
"Generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou have already positioned their troops on the flanks, ready to attack at any time."
"We will attack from three directions and surely capture and kill this King of the Clouds."
Yuan Shao nodded, his eyes hardening: "If we can kill Liu Wei, Empress He and the General will be overjoyed. In the future, I will take over Liu Wei's troops and the territory in Youzhou and Hetao."
"Even if my son Yuan Xi were to die tragically, he would die a worthy death."
When Yuan Shao thought of Liu Wei's troops and territory, he was willing to sacrifice even his own son.
"Give the order to prepare for attack!"
......
"Yuan Benchu, what are you still muttering about? I don't have the patience to wait for you! If you're not willing to exchange, then there's nothing more to talk about!"
Liu Wei asked loudly.
“Change it, we can change it! How about we get closer and talk about the details?” Yuan Shao said without changing his expression.
"Okay! Come here!"
Liu Wei remained still and curled his finger.
Seeing that Liu Wei was not fooled, Yuan Shao also lost patience: "King of Yunzhong, what will it take for you to release my son?"
"Hey, we're not talking about discussing the details! Once we've agreed on the details and completed the handover, we'll release your son!" Liu Wei continued to speak casually to Yuan Shao.
He already knew that Yuan Shao had no sincerity, and that Yuan Shao's cavalry on both flanks had already moved quietly and had unknowingly closed the distance to within forty or fifty paces!
"King of the Clouds, I think you just don't want to talk to me properly!"
Yuan Shao roared angrily, then his expression suddenly changed, and he shouted, "Charge over there! Capture the one in the blue robe alive! A reward of ten thousand gold pieces and a promotion of three ranks awaits!"
Zhu Ling and the others were already impatient. Upon hearing Yuan Shao's order, they immediately pushed off with their horses and led the charge.
They knew Liu Wei was a prince, but Yuan Shao told them that if they killed this illegitimate prince, Empress He and the Grand General would not only be unharmed but would also be credited.
Moreover, Zhu Ling's thousand cavalrymen were originally Han Meng's trusted troops.
They watched helplessly as Liu Wei killed Han Meng with a single blow.
Therefore, they fought desperately, closely following Zhu Ling as they charged out.
Just as Yuan Shao ordered Zhu Ling to attack, Yan Liang and Wen Chou, who were on the left and right flanks not far away, also launched an attack with a thousand men each, and left a thousand men to guard the outside.
Yuan Shao and Xu You, of course, watched the battle from outside and did not go in.
"They really have no sincerity at all; they flip the table at the slightest disagreement!"
Liu Wei chuckled, "Commander Wang, let's retreat!"
"Carry my banner and enter the reed marshes!"
Immediately, a hundred guards escorted Liu Wei into the reed marshes.
The reeds, taller than a person, stretch endlessly.
A gust of wind blew by, and it looked like a white ocean.
"My lord, this way!"
Two Imperial Guards led the way, and the Imperial Guards easily moved through the reeds.
The Imperial Guards had already scouted this area, carefully investigating which routes were easy and which were difficult.
Zhu Ling's thousand men entered the reed marshes, and without Liu Wei and the others to guide them, they slowed down considerably.
In particular, the warhorses nearly got stuck in the mud while traversing the reed marshes.
"Damn it, did we fall for a scam?!"
Zhu Ling became increasingly flustered as she walked, but when she looked up, she saw Liu Wei's flag right in front of her.
Since the other side was able to get through, they naturally wouldn't back down.
Similarly, Yan Liang and Wen Chou gradually approached the flag, but despite seeing it right in front of them, they could not catch up.
Splash! Splash!
The three men, along with their troops, cut down reeds and chased Liu Wei for a mile or two.
The road was lined with reeds on both sides.
Suddenly, a strong stench filled the air, and the reeds on both sides of the road were covered with something black and unsightly.
Zhu Ling curiously reached out and touched it; it was sticky and oily!
What!
Oil!
Zhu Ling was immediately jolted awake and shouted, "There's an ambush! Retreat!"
Everyone froze in place upon hearing this.
A gust of wind blew, and the reeds swayed and rolled like the waves of the sea.
The air froze instantly.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Suddenly, thousands of flaming arrows rose from the distant reeds, like a shower of meteors in the sky.
"Oh my god, it's a rocket!"
Immediately, someone screamed.
The three thousand soldiers immediately turned tail and ran.
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