Chapter 1713

Zhang Lu saw this, and a satisfied smile curled the corners of his mouth. "Good, Yuan Gonglu, I'll count you as a man. Tomorrow, I will send men to deliver grain and fodder to your camp. But remember, your promise must also be fulfilled."

Yuan Shu bowed deeply, his eyes holding both humiliation and relief. "Many thanks, Lord Zhang. I, Yuan Shu, will certainly not break my word."

Leaving Zhang Lu's residence, Yuan Shu's group walked silently through the night. Seeing Yuan Shu's solemn expression, Ji Ling and the others dared not speak. Not until they returned to camp did Yuan Shu finally shed all his pretenses, collapsing onto the ground as tears slid silently down his face.

"My lord..." Ji Ling called out softly, his eyes full of heartache.

Yuan Shu looked up, wiped away his tears, and forced a smile. "It's nothing, Ji Ling. We are finally saved. As long as the soldiers can survive, what does a little dignity like mine matter?"

Hearing this, Ji Ling felt a complex mix of emotions. He understood that for the sake of the people on this land and the soldiers who followed him, Yuan Shu had already sacrificed far too much. He secretly swore that no matter what, he would assist Yuan Shu and help them weather this crisis together.

In the following days, Yuan Shu followed his agreement with Zhang Lu, handing over his elite troops to Zhang Lu's command and publicly announcing his submission to Zhang Lu. This move caused an uproar throughout the world, with many mocking Yuan Shu, believing he had completely become Zhang Lu's puppet.

But Yuan Shu did not care about these jeers and sarcasms. He knew deeply that in this chaotic world, survival was the most important thing. As long as the soldiers could live and the people on this land could have peace, he, Yuan Shu, was willing to bear all the infamy and humiliation.

With Zhang Lu's aid, Yuan Shu's army gradually recovered its vitality. The soldiers had full bellies, and morale was greatly boosted. Yuan Shu began to set about reorganizing internal affairs, developing the economy, and striving to make this land glow with new life.

However, just when Yuan Shu thought everything was developing in a good direction, Zhang Lu suddenly tore up the agreement. He not only demanded that Yuan Shu continue to cede territory but also attempted to annex all of Yuan Shu's remaining forces.

Facing Zhang Lu's treachery, Yuan Shu's heart was filled with anger and disappointment. But he knew this was not the time to act on impulse. He had to calm down and find a way to deal with this sudden crisis.

"Ji Ling, summon all the generals; we are holding an emergency meeting." Yuan Shu's voice was low and firm; he had already prepared himself to fight again.

Ji Ling received the order and left. Soon, all the generals were gathered in the camp tent. Yuan Shu looked at these comrades-in-arms who had followed him for years, his heart filled with emotion. He knew that this battle would decide the fate of them all.

"Everyone, Zhang Lu has betrayed his word and intends to annex us. But we cannot sit and wait for death; we must fight back!" Yuan Shu's words were resonant and powerful, stirring the fighting spirit of the generals.

"Right, we cannot let Zhang Lu succeed!"

"We will fight to the death alongside our lord!"

The generals expressed their stances one after another, willing to advance and retreat with Yuan Shu. Looking at these loyal comrades, Yuan Shu's heart was filled with being moved. He knew that no matter what the future held, as long as they were united as one, nothing could stop their forward march.

Yuan Shu took a deep breath, his gaze like a torch, sweeping over every general present. "Good! Since everyone has this determination, let us formulate a meticulous plan to catch Zhang Lu off guard."

Ji Ling stood up. He knew this battle was no small matter and they had to act with caution. "My lord, since Zhang Lu has already torn up the agreement, we have no need to hold back. We can use his contempt for us to set a trap, lure him deep, and then annihilate him in one stroke."

Yuan Shu nodded, expressing his agreement with Ji Ling's idea. "This plan is feasible, but we need a perfect bait to make Zhang Lu believe we have fallen into a desperate situation; only then will he attack without hesitation."

At this moment, a young general stood up. He was a rising star Yuan Shu had promoted in recent years, named Li Feng. "My lord, I am willing to serve as bait. I will lead a small squad, pretend to be defeated, and flee into the pre-set trap. When Zhang Lu sees my crushing defeat, he will surely lead his army to pursue in person. At that time, we can use the terrain to our advantage and wipe him out."

Yuan Shu looked at Li Feng, a flash of appreciation in his eyes. "Li Feng, your courage is commendable, but this plan carries great risk. Are you sure you want to do this?"

Li Feng nodded firmly. "My lord, I, Li Feng, swear to follow you to the death. For the sake of the people on this land and for our future, I am willing to take this risk."

Yuan Shu was moved by Li Feng's loyalty. He patted Li Feng on the shoulder. "Good! Li Feng, you must be careful on this mission. I will wait for your return at the trap, and together we will face Zhang Lu."