Chapter 214

"However, taking down the other territories of Nanyang as soon as possible is not easy either!"

"Especially that Wancheng, with its solid city defenses; with my current troops, if that Zhang Zi is determined to defend to the death, I fear I won't be able to take it in a short time!"

The reason why he hadn't launched a strong attack on Wancheng until now was because of this.

Yan Xiang heard this and immediately suggested: "Hasn't the Administrator of Changsha, Sun Sun Jian, already arrived in Jiangxia according to the Lord's order?"

"Lord, you can completely send Sun Sun Jian to take Wancheng for you!"

"No matter what method he uses, strong attack or scheming, it's all fine!"

"Not only must he take Wancheng, it would be best if he could take the initiative to kill Zhang Zi; when the time comes, the position of Administrator of Nanyang will be vacant!"

"Whether the Lord asks the old gentleman to find a way to get the position of Administrator of Nanyang for you, or you take the position of Administrator of Nanyang yourself, it's all possible."

In any case, it's best if Lord Yuan Shu doesn't kill Zhang Zi himself.

Otherwise, even with the Lord Yuan clan's name, it would have a significant impact on Lord Yuan Shu's reputation.

Lord Yuan Shu's eyes lit up: "This is good! Let's do it!"

"I will send someone to summon Sun Sun Jian to handle Zhang Zi!"

He decided to make good use of Sun Sun Jian, this tool man.

Hehe!

2 days later, Sun Sun Jian accepted Lord Yuan Shu's order and led 20, 00 troops into Nanyang.

Among them, 10, 00 were new recruits recruited from Jiangxia, and their combat effectiveness was worrying.

Afterward, Sun Sun Jian marched directly to Wancheng.

In the name of Lord Yuan Shu, he asked Zhang Zi to supply grain and grass.

Zhang Zi naturally did not agree.

But Sun Sun Jian was not angry; instead, he sent someone to bring cattle and wine as gifts to Zhang Zi.

And, he invited Zhang Zi to a banquet.

Zhang Zi thought Sun Sun Jian really wanted to make friends with him, so he had no choice but to leave the city to attend the banquet.

As a result, he was beheaded by Sun Sun Jian during the banquet.

Then, Sun Sun Jian took advantage of Wancheng's lack of preparation and took Wancheng directly.

Half a month later, he helped Lord Yuan Shu conquer and force his way, taking most of Nanyang into his pocket.

And just at this time,

News came out of Luoyang that Cao Cao's assassination of Dong Zhuo had failed and he had fled Luoyang.

Lord Yuan Shu first showed a look of astonishment, and then, with a look of disdain: "This Cao Mengde is really getting worse and worse!"

"He actually ran to assassinate Dong Zhuo himself; did he get water in his brain?"

"Wouldn't it be better to leave this kind of thing to family death soldiers? Why risk it himself?"

"One only has one life!"

"He doesn't even understand the principle that a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall; it's a pity he always thinks he is very smart! Hehe! I think he's just like that!"

Yan Xiang, standing to the side, was speechless.

Do you think everyone is you, Lord Yuan Shu, with the background and connections of the Lord Yuan clan?

Cao Cao's background was naturally okay compared to ordinary people, but his reputation as the descendant of a eunuch had greatly affected his future.

He probably did this assassination to make a name for himself.

"This person is not simple! If he can escape the pursuit this time, his future will be limitless; I must remind the Lord at the right time."

Yan Xiang thought to himself.

A few more days passed,

Lord Yuan Shao raised an army in Bohai and issued a crusade manifesto to the entire Great Han, calling on the lords of the world to raise an army together, form a coalition, and crusade against the traitor Dong Zhuo.

For a time, the world was boiling.

In just a few days, it spread throughout the entire Great Han.

Lord Yuan Shu, who had just taken most of Nanyang, naturally received the news.

Lord Yuan Shu was furious: "Damn Lord Yuan Benchu! You are just a concubine's son, by what right do you issue a manifesto in the name of the Lord Yuan clan and form a coalition of lords?"

"This kind of thing should only be done by me, the legitimate son of the Lord Yuan family!"

"Presumptuous! Simply presumptuous!! Does he still have me in his eyes?"

Lord Yuan Shu was furious.

Lord Yuan Shao had actually done what he wanted to do but hadn't had time to do, stealing all the limelight.

Making it so that even if he wanted to do it now, it was too late!

"No! I can't swallow this anger. So what if you issued a call? Next, I will snatch the position of leader of the alliance!"

Lord Yuan Shu muttered fiercely.

At the same time, inside the Grand Preceptor's residence,

Dong Zhuo received news that Lord Yuan Shao had raised an army in Bohai and issued a crusade manifesto to crusade against him, the "national thief."

Dong Zhuo was furious: "Bastard! Presumptuous! Presumptuous!"

"How dare that Lord Yuan Benchu do this?"

"How dare he do this to me?"

"Haven't I been good to him?"

"Back then, he took the lead in drawing his sword against me in the court hall, and I didn't take action against him; I even agreed to Lord Yuan Kui's invitation afterward and appointed him as the Administrator of Bohai;"

"Is this how he repays me?"

"And what exactly does the Lord Yuan clan mean?"

"It's a pity that I allowed Lord Yuan Shu the position of Administrator of Nanyang a few days ago, and I didn't even care that he killed the previous Administrator of Nanyang, Zhang Zi. Are they deliberately going against me?"

"Are they deliberately playing with me?"

Dong Zhuo felt that he had been betrayed.

He had been so dedicated to winning over the Lord Yuan clan and other scholar-official families.

It could even be described as fawning.

He had originally thought that he could gradually be accepted by them.

But the result was this.

This time Lord Yuan Shao issued the crusade manifesto, and afterward, many lords responded one after another.

Among them, there was no lack of the group of people he had rewarded before.

At this moment, Li Ru received the news and walked in, bowing to Dong Zhuo: "Father-in-law, calm down! Anger cannot solve problems!"

"Li Ru? You still dare to come see me?"

Dong Zhuo saw Li Ru, was furious, grabbed Li Ru by the collar, and roared: "It was all your bad idea back then, making me win over and reward these scholar-official officials"

"Now, it's good, people have come to rebel against me, and I have become a national thief?"

"Simply ridiculous!"

"Wasn't all of this caused by the Lord Yuan clan from the beginning?"

"Do they think I can't see the Lord Yuan clan's intentions at all?"

"If it weren't for me, the Lord Yuan clan might have already deposed the Son of Heaven and changed the dynasty by now!"

"The Lord Yuan clan's ambition is much bigger than mine; by what right do they say I am a national thief?"

"I am not! On the contrary, it is I who preserved the Great Han!"

Li Ru just listened silently the whole time.

He did not express an opinion.

It wasn't until Dong Zhuo finished speaking and let go of his collar that he spoke: "Father-in-law, what you said is the truth, but the truth is often the most useless thing!"

"I previously advised you, Father-in-law, to reward and win over these scholar-official people, also wanting to ease the relationship, hoping to gain their recognition;"

"To let your achievements, Father-in-law, be maintained for a long time!"

"But now it seems that they, in their arrogance, clearly never had this intention;"

"Then naturally, we cannot sit and wait for death, and naturally, we should counterattack!"

— Author's Notes —

PS: Seeking first subscriptions, custom subscriptions, and support!