The Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Tan, intercepted Guo Jia's...

Chapter 67 To Enter or Not to Enter

When the assassin risked his life to sneak out and bring the message to the Qingzhou camp, Yuan Tan was discussing the next steps with Guo Jia, Xin Pi, and others.

Upon hearing the latest intelligence brought by the assassins, everyone gasped in shock.

"Qiao Rui... this person actually has such keen insight?"

Xinpi frowned.

"My lord, this is an unexpected event! Yuan Huan has been forced to surrender the city prematurely, and the situation has changed!"

Yuan Tan paced rapidly in the tent, his face filled with unease.

It seems I underestimated Yuan Shu's army's abilities.

However, as the saying goes, if you walk by the roadside often, you're bound to get your shoes wet.

"Fengxiao, Saji, this is a difficult matter!"

Yuan Tan stopped and slowly sighed.

"Yuan Huan's early surrender was by no means the best time for us."

Currently, the food supplies in Shouchun City are not yet exhausted, and the garrison is still sufficient. If the Qingzhou army enters the city at this time, they are likely to become the target of everyone's attacks.

At that time, the elite troops who were originally fighting Cao Cao's army in the north of the city will probably turn their guns on us first.

In that case, Cao Cao will be the one to benefit, while his Qingzhou army will become cannon fodder.

Another possibility is that if Yuan Huan has already been captured, what should be done? Could letting him into the city be a trap set by Yuan Shu to lure the enemy?

Although the possibility is very small.

However, conquest is inherently a delicate matter; the slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin.

The tent was silent; everyone was clearly aware of the seriousness of the situation.

Entering the city early may seem like picking peaches, but it's actually jumping into a fire pit.

"However..."

Guo Jia spoke slowly,

"My lord, if we refuse this opportunity, and Qiao Rui exposes us, Yuan Huan is defeated and killed, the East Gate changes hands, and a truly skilled general takes over. Then, our attempt to breach the city will be as difficult as ascending to heaven! All our previous plans and efforts will be in vain. Even worse, what if Cao Cao breaches the city first…"

Guo Jia didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: refusing could mean being completely eliminated, all previous efforts would be wasted, and he would be in an extremely passive position.

Agreeing is a risky situation; refusing is a dead end.

Not only did Yuan Tan make a wasted trip, but because he offended Cao Cao, it probably won't be easy for him to return to Qingzhou.

Yuan Tan took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Guo Jia's face.

Time passed by, and the night grew darker outside the tent.

An hour was about to pass.

Suddenly, he slammed his hand on the table and roared:

"Fortune favors the bold! Don't let a small setback deter you from eating!"

"Fengxiao, Zuozhi, my mind is made up: we must enter the city! But we cannot enter the city gate empty-handed; we must enter wisely!"

He quickly convened the meeting and announced a series of orders to the person who would eventually arrive:

"First, reply to Yuan Huan that the agreement remains unchanged: when the time comes, light a fire as a signal, and our army will provide timely support! But he must ensure control of the East Gate and its adjacent areas, and create as much chaos as possible to distract the garrison at the other gates!"

"Secondly, our army will not enter the barbican! Yan Liang and Zhang He will lead the elite vanguard to control the east gate wall and passageway, establish a bridgehead, hold it and await reinforcements, and must not engage in rash street fighting! Zhao Yun will lead cavalry to patrol outside the city, keeping watch for any unusual movements of Cao Cao and Sun Quan's armies!"

"Third, immediately send a messenger to Cao Cao with a secret message: Our inside agents have launched an attack and seized the east gate of Shouchun. However, the enemy outnumbers us. Please send reinforcements immediately to capture the traitors! Let's stir up trouble and drag them all down with us!"

"Fourth, gather all the soldiers currently on rest and immediately break camp, making it appear as if the entire army is launching a fierce attack on the east gate! The greater the momentum, the better. We must convince Cao Cao that the general offensive has begun, and if they don't come soon, all the credit will be ours!"

A smile appeared on Yuan Tan's lips:

"I, Yuan Tan, was originally cooperating in the siege of Shouchun. If Cao Cao hadn't come, all the credit would have gone to me. He went to such great lengths; could he really have tolerated it?"

As for Sun Ce and Liu Bei, who were also assisting in the siege, neither of them sent out their main forces at this time.

Because Sun Ce had just pacified Wan City, he was unable to spare any troops and only sent a troop of soldiers as a symbolic gesture.

Liu Bei was already in Xiaopei because Lü Bu had attacked it, and he had long since returned to Xiaopei to put out the fire. He had no time to worry about Shouchun.

Therefore, his biggest opponent after conquering Shouchun is now only Cao Cao.

"Our lord is wise!"

Guo Jia's eyes revealed a look of appreciation.

"This is a strategy of advancing as a form of retreat, using the enemy as bait to fight the wolves! By seizing key points at the city gates, we can feign weakness and lure Cao Cao's main force into the city to fight Yuan Shu's remnants, allowing our army to reap the benefits!"

……

North of Shouchun City, in the central command tent of Cao Cao's army camp.

Upon learning that Cheng Yu had angrily gone to Qingzhou, Cao Cao immediately realized that something was amiss.

Yuan Tan has always been tight-lipped about the development of Qingzhou, so why would he personally allow Cheng Yu to inspect Qingzhou this time, and find out if there are still any grain supplies?

Was he really driven to desperation by Cheng Yu?

"Wenruo,"

Cao Cao rubbed his temples and said to Xun Yu,

"Zhongde is of a fiery temperament. His journey to Linzi may cause trouble. Yuan Tan is not someone to be trifled with... You must immediately select capable spies to infiltrate Qingzhou and secretly investigate two matters: First, Cheng Zhongde's exact whereabouts and situation after arriving in Linzi; second, the true state of Qingzhou's treasury, especially the state of grain stockpiling! I need to know just how much wealth Yuan Xiansi is still hiding!"

"Understood, will do it immediately."

Xun Yu accepted the order and hurriedly left the tent to make arrangements.

Just then, a scout stumbled and crawled into the tent, his voice urgent:

"Report! Urgent military intelligence! Urgent military intelligence!"

"Reporting to the Minister of Works! East...East Gate! The Qingzhou army...the Qingzhou army has breached the east gate of Shouchun! The army is swarming into the city!"

"What?!"

Even Cao Cao, whose will was as firm as iron, was so startled that he suddenly stood up, causing the table to shake violently!

Inside the tent, Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, Xun You, and other civil and military officials were all stunned, their faces filled with disbelief!

"Say that again?!" Cao Cao shouted sternly.

The battle at the North Gate has raged for days, with heavy casualties, yet the city walls remain impregnable. Yuan Tan's side has been all bark and no bite, so how could... how could the city have fallen overnight?!

The scout, panting heavily, confirmed:

"Absolutely true! I saw it with my own eyes! Flames soared into the sky from the east gate, and the sounds of battle shook the earth! The 'Zhong' flag on the city wall has fallen, replaced by the 'Yuan' banner and the Qingzhou army flag! Countless troops are pouring into the city from the east gate!"

A chill instantly ran from the soles of Cao Cao's feet up his spine!

While they were still struggling with food supplies and the siege, even considering a temporary retreat, Yuan Tan had quietly breached the fortified city of Shouchun!

Cao Cao's feelings at this moment were not surprise, but fear.

The fighting power of the Qingzhou army is simply too strong.

"What a Yuan Xiansi..."

Cao Cao's face was ashen, and his arms trembled slightly.

How exactly did the Qingzhou Army manage to do that?

"My lord!" The strategist Xun You was the first to react, rushing forward.

"This is a golden opportunity! Although Yuan Tan has breached one gate, the garrison inside Shouchun City is still intact. Yuan Shu will surely fight like a cornered beast! Our army should immediately mobilize all its elite troops, rush to the east gate, and enter the city under the pretext of 'aiding'!"

Firstly, it would allow us to share in the credit for capturing the city; secondly, it would prevent Yuan Tan from monopolizing the treasury's wealth and the great achievement of capturing Yuan Shu! If we delay, all the credit will go to the Yuan family!