Chapter 37: Hijacking the Second Yuan
Outside Yecheng, Shen’s manor.

This place is located on the south bank of Zhangshui River. Although there is drought and water shortage everywhere, this manor has no shortage of irrigation water.

At midnight on April 16th, the black bear woke up from his sleep.

The continuous drought has made the night sky exceptionally clear recently.

The moon is round like a disk, and the starry sky is bright.

Today is the day to worship Ximen Temple and pray for rain.

He went out and looked up at the starry sky for a long time before coming back to his senses. Turning back, he saw the second-strengthened golden-armored Taoist soldier Lu Bu and four other leather-armored Taoist soldiers.

With the assistance of Shenpei Manor, all equipment and instruments have been comprehensively upgraded in the past few days.

The four Taoist soldiers were all equipped similarly, with leather shoes, white robes, white cloaks, ring-handled swords hanging from their waists, iron halberds in their hands, and gilded leather armor with thunder patterns. Their leather helmets were also decorated with gilded flowing cloud patterns, and two foot-long white goose feathers were inserted on the top of the helmets.

Lu Bu had six Han swords hanging from his waist, and a black armor with gold-plated patterns over his leather armor. In his right hand, he held a 18-foot-long Fang Tian Ji.

Like the leather-armored Taoist soldiers, Lu Bu had three longer white goose feathers inserted on the top of his golden helmet, and he also tied a gilded bronze mask outside his white face-covering scarf.

The bronze mask was made by melting down the local Wuzhu coins, and its shape was similar to the Sanxingdui style that Black Bear was familiar with.

In order to maximize Lu Bu's combat efficiency, he killed a tall horse a few days ago, and strengthened it after refining it. He equipped it with a saddle, leather vest, horseshoes, and double stirrups. He also inlaid a lacquered leather spiral gilded horn on the hard leather helmet covering the horse's head.

From a distance, it looked like a unicorn eight feet tall at the shoulders.

How many people can be killed with a Fang Tian Ji?
A terrifying reputation often kills the enemy without them even realizing it.

In Yecheng, Xin Ping’s residence.

The houses of the brothers Xin Ping and Xin Pi were next to each other. Before dawn, the women of the two families began to busy themselves with food and drink.

Xin Ping's niece Xin Xianying had a sleepless night and looked dazed. She said to her mother, "If praying for rain was useful, why did Emperor Yu control the flood? How could Ximen Bao control the Zhang River by killing the witch?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Your father's absence due to illness has already displeased the shogunate. If outsiders hear your words, how can it be good?"

The mother warned in a low voice, her hands busy as she and Xin Xianying made wild vegetable dumplings.

Not far away at Yuan Tan's mansion, Yuan Tan's wives and concubines gathered around to tidy up his outer robe. Under the robe was a pair of close-fitting sleeveless leather armor.

As long as Yuan Shang does not kill Sun Qian, who sows discord between brothers, Yuan Tan will not dare to relax.

Not to mention wearing inner armor next to his skin when going out, since he returned to Yecheng, whether he went to the general's headquarters or stayed at Yuan Shao's house, he basically did not drink water and did not dare to be alone at any time.

After completing the prayer for rain, he returned to Liyang.

Unless it's something serious, I'm not planning to go back to Yecheng.

Next to Yuan Tan’s mansion is Yuan Shao’s mansion.

Yuan Shao's wife, Liu, had also finished dressing up. Zhen Mi and other female relatives of the Yuan family, including wives and concubines who were in Yecheng, also came to Liu one after another.

When they went to Ximen Temple to pray for rain, they also had to pray for Yuan Shao, so they all fasted and burned incense for three days and dressed simply.

On the other side of the mansion, Yuan Shang was also wearing inner armor, sitting on the steps of the courtyard and looking up at the moon.

Qian Zhao walked in and bowed, "Sir, we have strictly patrolled the suburbs and the outer suburbs to eliminate hidden dangers. In order to relieve Guo Tu's suspicion, we have transferred a battalion of Bohai soldiers to participate in the guard duty."

Bohai was the place where Yuan Shao started his career, but Qingzhou was in ruins, and Yuan Tan actually controlled Pingyuan County on the north bank of the Yellow River and Bohai given by Yuan Shao.

"It's a pity that Xinpi claimed to be ill and couldn't come."

Yuan Shang sighed, turned around and looked at Qian Zhao, a little puzzled: "I don't understand, is Sun Qian really so bold or does he really have an irreconcilable feud with Cao Cao?"

He originally wanted to use Sun Qian's remarks to force his father to deal with Yuan Tan, but who could have thought that Yuan Tan swore several times and remained indifferent to Sun Qian and did not take any revenge.

If Yuan Tan is not eliminated, after Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan swear an oath, it will be Sun Qian's turn to pay the price.

The sky gradually brightens at Ximen Temple.

The soldiers outside were on guard with spears in hand, while Black Bear, wearing a red scarf on his head, was leading two horses and blending in with the onlookers.

Looking up, I saw Yuan Shang leading the way, followed by Yuan Tan, a group of important officials, and then the convoy of Yuan's family members.

He looked around but could not find any archers in the open or in the dark.

This is also normal. At this critical moment, neither Yuan Shang nor Yuan Tan wanted to have any archers appear at the rain-praying scene.

According to the plan, Liu Ye and his team should now set off towards Liyang.

At this moment, the black bear looked at the people around him with as calm a gaze as possible.

All the distracting thoughts about the trip to Hebei were gone from my mind. At this moment, I just wanted to leave Yecheng smoothly.

Just run away... How can it be such a good thing for me?
How could such a good thing happen to the Yuan family?

Do you really think Yuan Shang is easy to talk to?
I can't be too talkative.

If he himself was not doing well, he could not let Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang have an easy life.

He stared at the convoy that had stopped in front of the Ximen Temple and recognized Liu, who was dressed elegantly. As for the other female members of the family, they were too far away to be clearly seen.

After a long time, most of the onlookers on the plain outside the Ximen Temple dispersed, and Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang finally began to return.

When returning to the city, Liu's convoy was in front, with Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang on each side, followed by their personal guards.

Yuan Shang looked around and saw the black bear with a red scarf wrapped around its head. He continued to look for the figure of the suspected assassin.

Black Bear squinted his eyes to avoid arousing vigilance, and his attention was on Xin Ping, Guo Tu and others behind Yuan Tan.

Seeing Liu's luxurious carriage gradually approaching, Black Bear retreated behind the onlookers.

He grabbed four Taoist soldier cards in his right hand and threw them behind the soldiers and civilians, then threw the Lu Bu card behind a tree about ten steps away.

The tall and strong figure of Lu Bu holding a halberd appeared, as if he had turned out from behind a tree.

Almost instantly he sped up his horse, wielding the Fang Tian Ji in both hands silently with only the sound of horse hooves, and charged straight towards Yuan Tan!

"There's a thief!"

When the guards around Yuan Shang shouted, someone whipped Yuan Shang's mount hard. The horse was frightened and in pain, and ran away with Yuan Shang on its back regardless of everything.

At the same time, four Taoist soldiers broke through the crowd and rushed to Liu's chariot with halberds in hand. Taoist soldier Gao Shun rushed the fastest and knocked down Yuan Tan's guard knight with a halberd. Another Taoist soldier hooked off Yuan Tan's horse hoof with a halberd!
Yuan Shu, a Taoist soldier, stabbed the driver's hand with his halberd, and took advantage of the momentum to jump onto the chariot and grabbed the reins, shaking them violently, causing the two horses to speed up immediately. Another Taoist soldier also rushed towards the guard knight beside Yuan Tan, but his halberd stabbed in the air. The knight was skilled in controlling the horse, and he drew his sword and swung it, but Gao Shun, who had returned the halberd, stabbed him off his horse with his halberd, and before he could resist, he was stabbed in the throat by another Taoist soldier.

In a breath, Yuan Tan lifted his leg and rolled off the fallen horse a few steps away. The two knights closest to him were seriously injured and fell off their horses.

Lu Bu rode his horse and rushed towards Yuan Tan's side, sweeping his Fang Tian Ji across. Guo Tu, who was anxious and angry, had no time to dodge and was hit on the head, shattering it instantly.

Xin Ping's riding skills were unexpectedly excellent. He even hid in the stirrup and avoided the halberd handle that Lü Bu was trying to hit him with.

But the Yin Gan horse controlled by Lu Bu was in perfect harmony with the horse and his riding skills were godlike. He quickly stopped and turned the horse's head. Lu Bu raised his Fang Tian Ji and chopped it down.

Xin Ping, who was hiding in the stirrup, was knocked to the ground directly. The heavy halberd blade caused a fracture wound, and blood gushed out uncontrollably, moistening the long-dry land.

"Hurry up and save the lady!"

Amid the guards' shouts, Yuan Tan was abducted by the Taoist soldiers and stuffed into a returning car. The women in the car then screamed in surprise.

Shen Pei reined in his horse and stood still. Two rows of guards stood in front of him. He and Feng Ji beside him looked at each other in horror.

It is really hard to accept that two old rivals who have been fighting each other for more than ten years suddenly died in front of us.

Turning his head to look at the young man with a red headscarf among the crowd of soldiers and civilians, he saw that the man had already retreated more than thirty steps, jumped on his horse and continued to hide backwards, not participating in the fight at all.

"Don't hurt my mother!"

Yuan Shang turned his horse around and shouted to the guards who were gathering more and more, "No fighting! Let the thieves go!"

The Taoist soldier Yuan Shu was driving the chariot, and the other two Taoist soldiers were sitting on both sides of the shaft holding spears. The Taoist soldier Gao Shun turned over and rode a horse, blindly following Lu Bu.

Lu Bu rode his horse back and forth, waving the 18-foot-long Fang Tian Ji in his hand like a wheel.

Without shouting or calling for killing, he just relied on the tall, strong and fast horses he rode to make it difficult for the harassing guards to close in.

Seeing the cart running wildly in front, two white-robed knights were following behind.

Yuan Shang saw this and became anxious. He pushed aside Qian Zhao's obstruction, rode his horse and chased after him, shouting, "Don't hurt my mother. I am willing to die in her place! I am willing to die in her place!"

Shen Pei and others chased after him, but before they could dissuade him, they saw Yuan Shang throw away his sword and be captured voluntarily, and the galloping carriage gradually stopped.

Yuan Shang threw himself in front of the carriage and shouted to the inside: "Mother, get off the carriage quickly. I am your hostage!"

Just as Yuan Tan was about to get out of the car, he was punched in the face by a Taoist soldier and fell back on his butt.

Liu then looked out and saw Yuan Shang. She burst into tears, panicking and bewildered: "Why must my son do this? Why must he do this?"

"If I can't save my mother, how can I live in this world?"

Yuan Shang reached out his hand to help Liu get off the car. There were other female relatives in the car who wanted to get off, but they were forced back by the Taoist soldiers with ring-handled swords.

"Don't worry, mother. If the thief wanted to kill me, he would have done it long ago!"

Yuan Shang shouted to Shen Pei who had surrounded him, "Lord Zhengnan, you must not let my father know about this! I will come back after I rescue my brother!"

"Yes!"

Shen Pei responded sternly, staring at Lü Bu holding the Fang Tian Ji, and warned him: "Don't hurt me at all, or I will grind you to dust!"

Lu Bu pointed the Fang Tian Ji in his hand at Shen Pei, without saying a word, but just turned his head to look at Yuan Shang.

Yuan Shang understood and got in the car.

The road soldier Yuan Shu was driving the car. Yuan Tan in the car had a broken nose and was bleeding profusely. He was tilting his head back to stop the bleeding. His wife Guo was waiting on him anxiously by his side.

Yuan Shang also saw his wife Liu and his second brother's wife Zhen. At this moment Zhen Mi was terrified. She looked around at Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, always suspecting that it was her husband who sent someone to do such a shocking thing.

More than three hundred riders chased slowly, and Black Bear followed behind on horseback.

After walking two or three miles, Ju Hu rode up on horseback and shouted in a low voice, "Is this your plan?"

"If I don't capture the two gentlemen, how can I escape?"

Black Bear glanced around and said, "Go and inform Liyang quickly, and prepare what I want. Master Yuan will definitely be delivered to you intact. Yuan Tan, do you want him alive or dead?"

"I can't decide whether Yuan Tan lives or dies."

"Then I'll take it away!"

"No, the general is depressed and sick. If Yuan Tan is stranded outside and his life or death is unknown, the general will inevitably vent his anger on you!"

"Okay, I'll ask Master Yuan later."

After saying this, Black Bear raised his whip and whipped Ju Hu's horse hard on its butt, then he also galloped away.

After spending half a month in Huangze, the biggest gain was that his riding skills became more proficient.

In the car, after Yuan Tan stopped the bleeding, he and Yuan Shang looked at each other.

After all, they were brothers. After looking at each other for a moment, Yuan Tan confirmed that all this was not arranged by Yuan Shang.

He asked, "Was it Sun Qian who did it?"

"It should be him."

Yuan Shang closed his eyes and said, "Only the former subordinates of Sun Wentai and Sun Bofu can survive a hundred battles. Such warriors must be the elite of the Sun clan."

The Yuan family’s veteran troops were almost wiped out, and it was difficult to find veterans with more than ten years of experience who could cooperate so skillfully and did not require verbal communication.

Now the only veterans in the world who have such cooperation ability are the veterans left by Sun Jian and Sun Ce, as well as Liu Bei's troops, and there are also some under Ma Teng and Han Sui.

Cao Cao also had some, but in the battle of Wancheng, the elite soldiers in the central army suffered heavy losses.

The gap in veteran soldiers is very scary, as it means that there will be a lack of young soldiers in the training and promotion of military officers.

It also means that it is necessary to recruit talents from outside to supplement military officers, and the positions of the backbone of the army will change.

Yuan Tan thought about it and felt extremely regretful. He whispered, "If I had known this, I should have killed this little thief long ago! It was Sun who ruined the Yuan family!"

Yuan Shang could not help but sigh: "Brother, you should have done this earlier, otherwise you and I would not have fallen to this point. Now I am afraid that he has nowhere to live and will kill you and me to vent his hatred."

Seeing Yuan Tan's fearful expression, Yuan Shang tried to appease him, saying, "Fortunately, this thief has a grudge against Cao. Killing you and me would be nothing more than helping Cao. We will see what he says later. You and I brothers will advance and retreat together. It won't be difficult to drive him away if we appease him with kind words."

(End of this chapter)