novelSusiti Chapter 71 Lü Lingqi Captures Yuan Shu Alive
Chapter 71 Lü Lingqi Captures Yuan Shu Alive
Where did Yuan Shu go?
They had naturally already fled the city.
He already knew things were going badly when Ji Ling went to capture Yuan Huan.
Therefore, he waited on the high pavilion early in the morning to look out. When he saw Yuan Tan's army enter the city and kill Ji Ling in an instant, he knew that the matter was beyond saving.
Therefore, he sent Qiao Rui to resist the enemy army entering the city, while he himself had already slipped away from Shouchun.
Fortunately, after Cao Cao and Yuan Tan entered the city,
One went to loot the valuables, while the other headed straight for the palace.
No one noticed that Yuan Shu, in disguise, had already slipped away from Shouchun City.
He knew that his great-uncle was beyond saving.
So he took the imperial seal directly, without even bringing his son.
They ran out of the city.
The plan was to gather the defeated troops, then go to Lujiang to join Zhang Xun, and then go to Hebei to seek refuge with Yuan Shao, whom he had always looked down upon.
Although Yuan Shao and he had many unpleasant experiences,
This time, they even sent Yuan Tan to attack them.
However, he believed that as long as he offered up the imperial seal, Yuan Shao would still take care of him and might even be able to make a comeback.
The night was as dark as ink, and the river wind was chilly.
A defeated army of less than a hundred men, having lost their armor and weapons, was making a pathetic retreat along the muddy riverside path.
In the middle of the group stood a middle-aged man wearing a tattered brocade robe, none other than Yuan Shu, the usurper who had declared himself emperor.
He had long lost his former imposing presence; his face was sallow, his eyes unfocused, and he kept muttering to himself:
"Almost there...almost there. Once we reach Lujiang, we'll find Zhang Xun. I...I still have tens of thousands of troops..."
The few remaining attendants around him all looked pale and fearful.
However, things didn't go as planned. Just as they were trying to find a ferry and secretly cross the border of Guangling County...
"Whoosh—smack!"
A whistling arrow ripped through the night sky, its sharp whistling sound startling Yuan Shu so much that he almost collapsed to the ground!
Immediately afterwards, torches suddenly lit up the surrounding reeds, illuminating the figures of countless elite cavalrymen who surrounded them.
The leading general, dressed in red and riding a red horse, wielding a halberd, was none other than Lü Bu's daughter, Lü Lingqi!
Ever since she was captured alive by Yuan Tan, she had harbored a deep resentment.
Therefore, she patrolled Xuzhou even more diligently, hoping that one day she could avenge herself.
This time, I seem to have had some good luck. Although I didn't run into that pervert, I did see the Emperor of Da Zhong.
"Hahaha!"
Lü Lingqi rode out of the ranks, her laughter filled with smugness.
"I thought it was some petty thief, but it's the 'Emperor Zhong' himself! What are you doing here in this desolate wasteland instead of enjoying yourself in your Shouchun Palace?"
When Yuan Shu saw Lü Lingqi, he was terrified, as if he had seen a ghost.
"You...you're Lü Bu's daughter?! Stop...stop her!"
His remaining soldiers were already like frightened birds. Seeing that they were surrounded by elite cavalry, they had no will to fight. With a shout, they scattered and fled.
Lu Lingqi's phoenix eyes flashed coldly, and she swung her halberd:
"Men, seize this false emperor! Live! The rest who resist, kill them without mercy!"
……
East of Shouchun City, outside the Qingzhou Army Camp.
In contrast to the hustle and bustle and looting inside the city, the area outside the East Gate, formerly the Qingzhou Army camp, appeared unusually deserted.
The three thousand former Yuan Shu soldiers who had followed Yuan Huan in opening the city gates were now cold and hungry, huddled in the temporary camp, ignored by everyone.
They thought that having made a great contribution, they would at least be able to get a full meal. However, after the city was breached, the Qingzhou army seemed to be busy with "more important things" and completely forgot about their existence.
Just as morale was wavering, a group of Qingzhou soldiers arrived, escorting several carts of steaming millet rice and meat soup.
The leader was Lou Ban, a young Wuhuan general under Yuan Tan.
Lou Ban smiled warmly and addressed the hungry surrendered soldiers in a loud voice:
"Brothers, you've worked hard! Our lord was busy last night eliminating the remaining enemies and pacifying the region, and in doing so, he neglected his meritorious officials. He specially ordered me to come and reward you! After you've eaten and drunk your fill, I have important matters to entrust to you!"
The surrendered soldiers, who had been starving all night, rushed forward upon seeing the food and began to devour it without a second thought.
The adjutant, while eating, cautiously asked:
"General Lou, I wonder... what arrangements does Governor Yuan Qingzhou have for us?"
Lou Ban patted him on the shoulder, his tone relaxed:
"Good news! Although the city has fallen, just in case, our army secretly dug a tunnel leading into the city, which is now useless. Our lord, knowing your expertise in civil engineering, would like to trouble you brothers to fill in the tunnel to prevent future trouble. A generous reward will be given upon completion!"
Are we familiar with civil engineering?
The adjutant clearly didn't know why Yuan Tan thought that way about them.
However, as a surrendered general, there wasn't much to question about him.
They felt that being able to appoint them was a sign of trust, and they immediately bowed and scraped.
"Of course, of course! We are willing to serve you like dogs and horses!"
Soon, under Lou Ban's "guidance," the three thousand surrendered soldiers arrived at a remote valley, where there was a huge tunnel entrance, deep and mysterious, leading to an unknown destination.
"Brothers, for the sake of efficiency, please enter one by one and compact the earth from the inside!" Lou Ban said with a smile.
The surrendered soldiers didn't think much of it. Urged on by the adjutant, they lined up in a long queue and crawled into the dark tunnel one by one.
The tunnel was spacious inside, suggesting it was indeed dug for transporting troops.
However, when the last surrendered soldier disappeared into the cave entrance, Lou Ban's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling murderous intent.
He suddenly waved his hand!
In an instant, the Qingzhou archers who had been lying in ambush on the hillsides on both sides suddenly appeared, their fire arrows already lit!
Lou Ban's voice was icy cold, echoing through the valley and clearly reaching the ears of the surrendered soldiers who had not yet ventured far:
"Our lord has ordered! These three thousand men, as garrison troops, have defected to the enemy on the battlefield, betraying their lord for personal gain. They are truly disloyal and unjust! How can our dignified army tolerate such fickle villains? To eliminate future troubles and to uphold military law, they are to be executed without mercy!"
Upon hearing this, the surrendered soldiers inside the tunnel erupted in chaos! Terrified screams, cries, and curses instantly filled the tunnel!
"I'm innocent!"
"We were captured by General Yuan..."
"Let us out!"
The adjutant was instantly dumbfounded, his whole body went cold, and he wanted to shout:
"There are rebels here!"
The next second, countless lit rockets, along with bundles of firewood soaked in kerosene, were forcefully thrown into the tunnel!
The flammable materials piled up inside the tunnel were instantly ignited, and with the rocket fire, it was transformed into a fiery hell in an instant!
The screams and wails were terrifying!
In the final, absurd thought flashed through the adjutant's mind as the flames engulfed him:
"General Yuan Tan...you...you have a traitor in your army!"
He believed until his death that someone was trying to kill them behind Yuan Tan's back to silence them, but he didn't know that it was Yuan Tan's decision himself.
Soon, the tunnel was deserted, with only the stench of burning filling the air.
Lou Ban stared expressionlessly at the cave entrance and said in a deep voice:
"Inspect carefully, leaving no survivors. Afterwards, completely blow up and fill in this tunnel, and say... that it was a remnant of Yuan's army that resisted stubbornly and was annihilated on the spot by our army."