Chapter 505: The Carrington Longzhong Plan: Tang Ye and Ten Hag Divide the World into Three

"Damn, damn!"

Slap, slap, slap!

Sneakers splashed water as they hit puddles; Tang Ye, carrying his bag, rushed quickly to the base's office building, where Manchester United players were preparing to start training.

"Wow, Tom!"

Ashley Young led the players in swarming around him; Tang Ye simply sat down right there: "Damn, damn, you guys should have the base install an underground tunnel, the kind that goes straight from the parking lot to the main building."

Tang Ye was absolutely right.

If the Carrington base had an underground tunnel, then GGBond wouldn't need to get soaked by the rain.

"Fuck, Tom, you still care about this?"

Aleix grabbed Tang Ye's shoulders and squeezed hard: "Anyway, you're going to get wet during training later, so isn't it all the same?"

"Fair enough."

Thinking Aleix made a very good point, Tang Ye immediately fell silent.

"Not bad, Tom!"

Rodri squatted down and punched Tang Ye in the chest, sending the water on Tang Ye's clothes flying.

Rodri lifted one of Tang Ye's arms, just like a boxing match announcer introducing the winner.

"Listen up, lads, the person sitting in front of you now is... the Asian Cup champion!"

"Tom, you actually won the championship!"

Rodri held Tang Ye's shoulders and shook his body rapidly.

Although the Asian Cup championship didn't carry as much weight as the European Championship, these two things were ultimately competitions of the same tier.

"So amazing, Tom!"

Ignoring the fact that Tang Ye was covered in water, his Manchester United teammates rubbed their hands through his hair.

"Haha!"

Tang Ye took off his down jacket and tossed it aside, then opened his backpack in front of his teammates.

"Watch closely, Rod!"

What he pulled out with his hand was a pair of soccer cleats already soaked through.

"... Not this."

"Wait, let me look."

After taking out the cleats and placing them on the ground, Tang Ye continued reaching into his backpack.

He tossed out a handful of chewing gum.

He tossed out another handful of chewing gum.

"No, no way?"

More than ten Manchester United players gathered together.

They naturally knew what Tang Ye wanted to show off.

But the question was, where was the thing?

"Wait, wait."

Tossing the backpack aside, Tang Ye ran over to pick up the down jacket, then dug into its upper pocket and pulled out a golden object with a ribbon.

Holding the ribbon between two fingers, he let the medal drop naturally.

【2019 Asian Cup】

【Champion】

"Phew, Jesus."

Aleix took the medal and examined it closely in his hand.

The Asian Cup champion's medal.

Among all national team tournaments, this medal's significance was second only to the World Cup championship.

"Let me see."

Rashford took the medal and pinched it a few times with his fingers.

"Don't go breaking it for him!"

Mata snatched the medal away and hung it around his own neck: "Mm... I feel like I can already imagine that scene."

"This is the champion of the current Qatar Asian Cup, China National Team's number 8, Mata!"

"It was the UAE tournament."

Rodri shouted: "Only the final opponent was Qatar. You don't even know where the tournament was held."

Uncle Mata felt a bit sad.

Because he had just been certified by Rodri as a cloud fan.

"I really did watch, but it was the semi-final match, China against Japan."

"That match was the most exciting."

Ashley Young chimed in: "Before, during the group stage when they played against that whatever-stan country, I couldn't bear to watch at all, but I watched the Japan match all the way through, including the penalty shootout."

"But you didn't like my post on Twitter, Young!"

Tang Ye said.

Still sitting on the ground, he held a mobile phone splashed with rainwater.

"Oh, my fault, my fault."

Ashley Young raised both hands.

"Alright, alright, get ready to start warming up!"

Ten Hag and Fan Fan Dejiahe rode the elevator down: "The rain is a bit heavy today; we'll warm up indoors. Make sure to stay wa..."

Ten Hag spotted Tang Ye sitting on the floor.

"Mr. Erik... hello there."

Tang Ye raised his hand to greet them.

Ten Hag strode forward a few steps: "You're back far too late!"

"And another thing!"

Ten Hag pointed at Tang Ye's nose: "Only one goal in the Asian Cup final—do you even have the shame to face us?"

"Hey, come on, I got a 9.0 rating!"

Feeling somewhat wronged by the criticism, Tang Ye spread his hands right where he sat, but Ten Hag had already led the players off toward the indoor training ground.

The Guardian—February 9: Manchester United away against Fulham; is Ty expected to play?

Manchester United beat reporter: Manchester United plans to have Tom display his Asian Cup champion's medal, MVP trophy, and Golden Boot award during the home match against Liwupu on February 24.

Glancing out the window at the sky over Manchester, the Manchester United fans in the pub couldn't help but sigh.

Throughout January in Manchester, it was nothing but torrential rain; even in daylight, the sun remained invisible.

Why is it like this?

"Perhaps God is weeping; it's been a whole month since he last witnessed Tom's performance."

Weekly Football TV.

"With the conclusion of the Crystal Palace versus Burnley match, all results for Round 25 of the Premier League are now in."

"The race for the top four among Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal remains fierce; currently, Chelsea and Arsenal are temporarily leading the pack."

"Of course, regardless of how these three teams perform in the second half of the league, the best ranking they can achieve is fourth place; everyone knows the specific reasons why."

The host raised an eyebrow at the camera while the other host began speaking.

"Indeed, the title race between Mancheng, Manchester United, and Liwupu has now entered a white-hot phase. Thanks to the January Asian Cup, both Mancheng and Liwupu completed their overtaking of Manchester United."

"Fans of Mancheng and Liwupu really ought to thank the Asian Football Confederation profusely."

The host joked: "If the AFC were willing to open a donation channel, I believe many Liwupu fans would contribute to it—just like Tom stuffing US dollars into the referee's pocket during the final."

Weekly Football TV was never a serious football radio station to begin with.

Naturally, the hosts of an unserious station were themselves unserious.

"But Jason, that doesn't seem to be our focus today?"

"Oh, right."

The host shifted gears and immediately launched into a discussion of the current Premier League title race.

"Currently, Mancheng leads strongly with 66 points, followed by Liwupu with 65 and Manchester United with 64. Although Manchester United currently holds the fewest points among the top three, we must consider the impact Tom's return will have on the situation."

The two hosts discussed in detail the upcoming fixtures for all three teams.

Among the many matches in February, the hosts specifically highlighted the Round 27 clash between Manchester United and Liwupu.

Both the hosts and the audience agreed that this match would be the key deciding the outcome of the Premier League in February.

February 7; at this moment, there were still two days until Manchester United's Round 26 Premier League match.

Fulham was not considered a particularly formidable opponent, but since this match might be Tang Ye's first game back with the club, the fans were still quite expectant.

Did the Master's return mean Manchester United had sounded the horn for their pursuit?

"We must have a suitable plan for our pursuit."

Inside the Carrington locker room, Ten Hag delivered a speech to the players.

Rashford sat on a bench, with Tang Ye sitting right at Rashford's feet. "I know you might think I'm talking nonsense, but I have to say it, because your feelings are mistaken; not everything I'm saying is nonsense."

Ten Hag walked slowly in the center: "This season's Premier League is chaotic; so chaotic that after 25 rounds, not a single team holds more than a 35% chance of winning the title. But likewise, chaotic times also mean opportunity; right now, the Premier League is like a war. What should we do in wartime?"

"Come on, Tom, you answer."

Ten Hag nudged Tang Ye's foot.

"Hmm... fly a plane over and bomb them all to smithereens."

"..."

Ten Hag froze on the spot, speechless, while Lin Lin Jiade and Valencia were heckling.

"Well said!"

"A perfect plan, Tom!"

"Alright, alright!"

Ten Hag signaled for the players to quiet down: "What should we do in wartime? We should become heroes and rule this chaotic era."

The players gradually fell silent.

Tang Ye listened with great seriousness as well.

Rule the chaotic era.

Mr. Erik, you're just too cool!

"We witnessed last season's era; that was Mancheng's era. But now that era has passed. I feel a sense of mission, an unprecedented sense of mission: to create a new era together with you—an era belonging to Manchester United amidst the chaos."

Ten Hag's speech plunged the Manchester United players in the locker room into deep thought.

Somewhat moving.

But...

How exactly should we do it?

In the chaos, an era belonging to Manchester United...

Tang Ye blinked his eyes, then picked up the magnetic flag that Ten Hag had knocked to the ground: "We still have three matches left, so we can distribute the championships first."

"Distribute the championships?"

Ten Hag walked over to Tang Ye, and the other players gathered around as well.

"Exactly, distribute the championships; the competition needs to be fairer, and everyone must get a championship to take home."

Saying this, Tang Ye pressed a magnetic flag onto the floor in front of him: "The Premier League championship, this one is for me."

"And the Champions League championship, this one is for you, Mr. Erik."

"The third one is... the FA Cup championship."

Tang Ye looked up at Fan Fan Dejiahe: "Mr. Michael, this one is for you."

"This..."

Ten Hag squatted down, looking at the three magnetic flags Tang Ye had placed on the ground.

Wow.

Historical records state that during the 2018/19 season, when Manchester United faced dire straits, Saint Ten sought help from a great master in Longzhong.

Ten asked: "The world is in chaos, heroes rise everywhere, Mancheng and Liwupu carve out territories on either side, while Manchester United is sandwiched in between; what should be done?"

The master replied: "Divide the world into three."

Ten asked: "I wish to hear the details."

The master said: "The world belongs to the multitude. With three kingdoms standing together in this age, they should divide the lands equally based on their strength (The world belongs to everyone; the three kingdoms should partition the land according to their capabilities)."

Ten pressed further: "How should it be divided?"

The master said: "As for City, it is but a small state, not worth worrying about; it can be swallowed and its name changed. As for the Army, it is not a great power either; attack and seize it directly. Incorporate both City and the Army as vassals, distribute land to them, and we shall possess all; this is how the world is divided into three. (Mancheng is merely a small club; after defeating it, simply make it change its name. Liwupu is also not a major club; direct assault is the best approach. Bring Mancheng and Liwupu under Manchester United's suzerainty, allocate land to them, and this constitutes dividing the world into three.)"

To speak of 'dividing the world into three,' this phrase actually implies a subject.

Who is dividing the world into three?

It is Manchester United.

Manchester United distributes the world.

Repost: Manchester United releases a teaser poster for the match against Fulham, featuring Tang Ye, Rodri, and De Jong; Tang Ye is expected to make his first club appearance of 2019.

Arriving at the stadium early with the Manchester United players, Tang Ye chatted with his teammates in the locker room.

"It's still cold here; over in the Emirates it's very hot. If possible, we should go there to play matches."

Taking off his down jacket, Tang Ye rubbed his hands together.

The 20 degrees Celsius in Abu Dhabi was just right for him; in comparison, England's single-digit temperatures were far less comfortable.

"You feel that one Asian Cup championship isn't enough, don't you?"

Rodri used a heat gun on his boots, trying to warm them up as much as possible.

"We will have championships too, this very season, just as you said before."

"Haha."

Tang Ye hadn't expected Rodri to remember his words so clearly and was somewhat surprised: "Then this month we must first stab Liwupu."

The draw in the first match of February resulted in Manchester United getting stabbed in the butt by Liwupu.

In Tang Ye's view, this was highly unreasonable.

Manchester United's Little Red Devils were the true holders of the trident.

It should be Manchester United stabbing Liwupu in the butt!

Check Dongqiu Di live match report: 55th minute of the second half, Tang Ye comes on as a substitute to replace Lin Lin Jiade.

On the sidelines, Tang Ye handed his substitute bib to the equipment manager, then rubbed his hands.

"Wow!!!"

"Oh, he is coming! (He is about to arrive!)"

The English commentator shouted loudly.

As expected, on the fifth day after returning to the club, Tang Ye came on as a substitute, beginning his first club match of 2019.

"Tang Ye!"

"Tang Ye!"

Not only were the Manchester United fans shouting, but the home team Fulham's fans were shouting as well.

Did they seemingly never even consider the possibility of snatching victory from Manchester United's hands?

"Play to the left, play to the left!"

After entering the pitch, Tang Ye handed a note to his teammate, then began choosing his positioning.

"Remember to lean towards my side!"

Bang!

Bryan threw the ball in to Babel.

Fulham's second attack had begun!

Tang Ye quickly moved back toward his own half.

Babel went down the wing!

"Quick, quick!"

"Get past him!"

The fans urged him on, and Baber, back on the flank, displayed his speed to perfection.

Snap!

The cross was delivered!

At the far post!

The Fulham midfielder leaped and smashed the ball into the box, successfully finding Mitrovic charging in at the center.

Boom!

A shot on target was fired.

"Goooo——aaaa——lllll!!!"

"It's a goal!"

"Mitrovic!"

"1:2! Fulham has successfully pulled one back!"

The Fulham players began their celebration.

The director, very cleverly, cut the camera to Tang Ye.

Check Dongqiu Di live report: 47 seconds after Tang Ye was substituted on, Fulham executed a perfect flank attack, and Mitrovic scored with a well-timed run.

It wasn't awkward to concede a goal; the most awkward person was the Manchester United number 10 who had just been substituted on.

"Damn it."

Tang Ye rubbed his nose: "That fast?"

"Defense in the box!"

Ten Hag was still shouting: "Where is our defense in the box? Why could their striker get into our box? When he comes in, we need to push him out immediately, push him out, do you understand what I mean?"

Tang Ye gave a thumbs-up.

He certainly understood Mr. Eric's meaning.

It's just that he hadn't yet touched today's match ball.

(End of this chapter)