Chapter 283 If I had known earlier, I would have learned from Mi Zhu! From today on, Xia Pi’s surname is Liu! Can we still call each other brothers if we don’t stab each other in the back?
South of Xia Pi City.

The sound of the gong has resounded throughout the city.

Jiang Qi stood on the top of the city wall, holding his sword, looking towards the outside of the city with a face as solemn as iron.

Just a quarter of an hour ago, Liu Ying, which had been silent for several days, suddenly made some movement.

The camp gate was wide open, and tens of thousands of Liu's infantrymen marched out of the camp in an orderly manner and began to assemble in front of the South Gate of the city.

In less than a quarter of an hour, nearly 20,000 Liu troops gathered and deployed their troops, ready to attack the city.

"Why did Liu Bei suddenly want to attack the city? Could it be that he realized that the eldest master is not here and our city is short of troops?"

Jiang Qi muttered to himself, a look of deep worry flashing across his face.

"Uuuuuu——"

Trumpets sounded and drums beat.

After Liu's army had formed its battle array, they immediately launched an attack on the South Gate without any delay.

Jiang Qi didn't have time to think about it and could only shout:

"Immediately dispatch troops from all the gates to reinforce the South Gate, and immediately report to Xu Congshi, asking him to transfer Lu Xiang's corps outside the city to defend Xia Pi!"

"Go quickly, tell them that Liu Bei is launching a massive attack on the city, and there is no time to waste!"

The scout rushed down the city to report the news to Xu You who was in charge of the provincial government.

Jiang Qi drew his sword, looked down at the approaching Liu Jun, and said proudly:
"Big-eared thief, just come on and attack me! Let me see my strength!"

"Everyone, be alert! Anyone who dares to take a step back will be killed immediately!"

Along the city line, more than 2,000 soldiers of Yuan's army had to brace themselves and be ready for battle.

A moment later, Liu's army advanced to the city, and a battle of attack and defense began.

Hundreds of ladders were set up and pressed against the city walls.

Countless soldiers of Liu's army, like tigers and wolves, scrambled to climb the ladders and scale the top of the city.

Sharp arrows flew into the air like raindrops, knocking down the Yuan army soldiers who showed up one by one.

Jiang Qi yelled at his soldiers, repeatedly overturning the ladders and bombarding Liu's army climbing the city wall with flying stones and wooden planks.

Liu Jun’s troops were numerous and their offensive was fierce.

But Yuan’s army was not made of paper after all. Even though they were not elite troops, they were veterans who had experienced the baptism of battle in Hebei.

Jiang Qi commanded these soldiers and, relying on the strength of Xia Pi city walls, managed to withstand the first wave of fierce attacks from Liu's army.

The two armies were in a stalemate.

However, Jiang Qi's attention was all focused on defending the city, and he did not notice that a troop of soldiers was quietly approaching from behind.

On the main street of South Gate.

More than a thousand fully armed private soldiers, with ferocious eyes, were running towards the South Gate.

Chen Deng wore armor and held a sword, riding his horse in front.

Whenever he was questioned and stopped by Yuan's army along the way, he said that he was ordered to reinforce the battle at the South Gate.

So the journey was smooth and they arrived at the south city wall smoothly.

Looking up, they saw the deafening sound of killing on the city wall. All Yuan's troops were fighting desperately to resist the attack of Liu's troops outside the city and did not notice their arrival at all.

"Brother, Military Advisor Xiao's plan worked. There are only more than 2,000 Yuan troops at the South Gate. How can they withstand our attack from behind?"

Chen Ying pointed to the top of the city wall and shouted excitedly.

"This Xiao Jinglue is indeed worthy of being called the reincarnation of the Saint of Strategy."

"If I had known that Lord Xuande had such a great man to seek refuge with, I might have followed the example of the Mi family and followed Lord Xuande to Jingzhou with my entire clan..."

Taking a deep breath, Chen Deng put away his emotions, drew his sword, and pointed towards the South Gate:
"Everyone, listen up! Take down the South Gate and welcome the general into Xia Pi!"

When the order was given, Chen Ying was the first to rush out.

More than a thousand private soldiers of the Chen family rushed towards the South Gate with deafening shouts of killing.

Under the city gate.

Dozens of Yuan army soldiers were still defending the city gate, resisting the impact of Liu army's battering rams outside the city.

There was a sudden sound of killing behind them. When they turned back, they saw hundreds of soldiers rushing towards them.

At first they thought that their own reinforcements had arrived, and they were all overjoyed and secretly relieved.

However, unexpectedly, the private soldiers of the Chen family rushed up and started slashing with their swords without saying a word.

The soldiers guarding the gate were killed unexpectedly and were chopped to the ground in large numbers. Screams and screams were heard suddenly from under the city gate.

"Someone is mutinying and seizing the gate!"

"It was the Chen family's private soldiers who caused chaos and seized our city gate!"

The screams finally reached the top of the city wall, arousing Jiang Qi's vigilance.

He turned back to the city with his knife in hand and took a look. His face suddenly turned pale with horror, as if he had seen a ghost.

I saw that the city gate had been captured by a group of rebels, and more rebels were holding up the "Chen" flag and rushing towards the top of the city.

A Confucian scholar wearing armor and holding a sword was commanding the rebels to open the city gate and let Liu's army enter the city.

"Chen Deng?"

Jiang Qi recognized the leader of the rebel army at a glance, and it was Chen Deng.

The head of the Chen family was a local tyrant in Xuzhou who was highly regarded by Yuan Tan and had shown great loyalty to the Yuan family.

Without any warning, when Liu Bei was launching a massive attack on the city, they chose to mutiny and stab them in the back?

"Chen Deng, you are so brave! How dare you betray the Yuan family and cause chaos?"

Jiang Qi suddenly woke up, pointed the knife at Chen Deng and shouted angrily.

Chen Deng looked up and glanced at Jiang Qi, but ignored him and continued to command his private soldiers to open the city gate.

Jiang Qi panicked.

If we open the city gate to Chen Deng and let the main force of Liu’s army rush in, how can we resist with such a small number of troops?

Even if all the troops, including Lu Xiang's troops outside the city, were mobilized, they would still not be enough to fill the gap in Liu's army's teeth.

Xia Pi City is finished!
"Quick, take back the city gate. We must not let the rebels let Liu's army in!"

Jiang Qi screamed hoarsely and rushed towards the city waving a big knife.

The Yuan soldiers who were desperately resisting Liu's army's attack on the city were stabbed in the back and their morale was greatly disrupted.

Under Jiang Qi's shouting, they had no choice but to turn around hastily and charge towards the city.

However, Chen Ying led the Chen family's private soldiers to block Yuan's army's way down the city, preventing them from taking over the gate.

With a loud creaking sound, the tightly closed city gate finally opened. Liu Jun outside the city poured into Xia Pi City like a tide.

Taishi Ci took the lead and rushed in first.

"I am Chen Deng, and I am ordered by the general to seize the gate and welcome my army into the city!"

"May I know the general's name?"

Chen Deng rode forward, introduced himself, and greeted him with a bow.

When Taishi Ci heard that it was Chen Deng, he could not help but show respect, cupped his hands and said with a smile:

"I am Taishi Ci. Chen Yuanlong, the credit for conquering Xia Pi must go to you."

"Just wait here for the lord. Leave the rest of the battle to me!"

After saying this, Taishi Ci picked up his Fang Tian Hua Ji, rode his horse like the wind, and charged into the city.

And in the city.

After all, Chen Ying's private soldiers were no match for Yuan's regular army and were quickly defeated.

Jiang Qi rode his horse, sword in hand, and rushed down the ramp first, just about to summon his soldiers to retake the city gate.

Facing the direction.

Taishi Ci was running as fast as the wind, and now he was like a black iron tower, standing before him.

The Fang Tian Huaji swept across like thunder and lightning.

Jiang Qi's face changed drastically. Without time to think, he raised his knife in an attempt to resist.

Taishi Ci's move was so fast that before he could even swipe his sword, the halberd's tip was already coming towards him.

"puff!"

A stream of blood splattered out, and Jiang Qishuo's head flew to the ground.

Seeing their leader die, the Yuan army following behind him immediately lost morale and scattered.

Taishi Ci rode his horse as fast as the wind and fought his way up to the South Gate Tower.

The Yuan soldiers who were still resisting on the top of the city saw that the city gate had been lost and Liu's army had already climbed onto the city wall. Their morale also collapsed and they all fled in panic.

Taishi Ci swung his halberd and the flag with the word "Yuan" fell to the ground.

Afterwards, a flag with the word "Liu" on it slowly rose above the Xia Pi city tower.

Tens of thousands of Liu's soldiers poured in from the south gate like a tide and attacked the heart of Xia Pi City.

...

State capital.

The main hall was filled with the smell of alcohol.

Xu You's face was livid. He stared at the secret letter in his hand while drinking cup after cup of wine.

"Shen Pei, you bastard, this is a very sinister move."

Xu You smashed the wine glass on the table and yelled in anger.

The letter was a secret letter sent by family members in Yecheng.

The letter stated that Shen Pei had arrested and imprisoned his wife, sons, nephews, and nephews in Yecheng on the grounds of corruption, and submitted a petition to Yuan Shao to expose his corruption and ask Yuan Shao to punish him.

Is corruption a crime?

Given my status and position in the Yuan Group, what's wrong with me taking a few small amounts of money? Is that a big deal?
Who among us is not greedy? Do you think your ass, Shen Pei, is clean?
It is obvious that corruption was just an excuse. The truth was that Shen Pei, who was from the Hebei faction, deliberately wanted to use corruption to frame Yuan Shang and bring him down with the tacit consent of Yuan Shang who stayed in Yecheng.

Who made him the chief strategist of the Ruying faction? Now he is Yuan Tan's chief strategist and is assisting Yuan Tan in fighting against Liu Bei.

If he was overthrown, Yuan Tan would lose his think tank and would most likely lose Xuzhou and be defeated by Liu Bei.

Once Xuzhou was lost, Yuan Shao's prestige would plummet to the bottom. He would certainly be furious and extremely disappointed with Yuan Tan.

At that time, what qualifications did you, Yuan Tan, have to compete with Yuan Shang for the throne?

As for whether Yuan Tan's loss of Xuzhou would affect the interests of the Yuan family, that was not something Yuan Shang and Shen Pei considered.

After cursing, Xu You looked at the secret letter again, with a sarcastic sneer on his lips.

"Do you think that you can take advantage of the fact that the eldest son was defeated by Liu Bei and attack me, overthrow Xu You, and make the eldest son lose Xuzhou?"

"It's a pity that you never expected that I, Xu You, am the Yuan family's greatest strategist. I have already provided the eldest son with a plan to turn defeat into victory."

"As long as this plan succeeds, you can inflict heavy damage on the enemy, turn defense into offense, recover lost territory, and drive Liu Bei out of Xuzhou. Then you can regain your prestige and win the favor of the lord."

"By that time, will the lord still punish me for such a trivial matter as embezzlement?"

After a sarcastic sneer, Xu You slowly tore up the secret letter, poured himself another glass of wine, and his face regained its confidence and composure.

The wine just went down my throat.

A man rushed in and half-knelt on the ground.

"Reporting to Congshi Xu, Liu's army suddenly gathered in large numbers and wanted to attack the south gate."

"General Jiang is afraid that our army is outnumbered and cannot defeat the enemy. Please ask Cong to quickly transfer Lu Xiang's troops outside the east gate to the city to reinforce the defense!"

Xu You's face changed and the wine glass in his hand almost dropped.

Just as he was about to ask, bursts of killing and drum beats could be faintly heard from the direction of the south gate.

Liu Jun's siege of the city has begun.

"Liu Bei has kept his troops inactive for several days, why is he suddenly attacking the city at this time?"

"Could it be that the big-eared thief knew that the eldest master was away and the city was short of troops?"

Xu You's thoughts raced, and an ominous premonition came over him.

He did not dare to think too much, and after weighing the pros and cons, he shouted:

"Quick, quickly tell Lu Xiang to abandon the east camp and lead his troops into the city to reinforce the defense."

"Order the other gates to dispatch troops to the South Gate for support!"

Xu You issued several orders in succession, then asked his personal guards to help him change his armor, and prepared to rush to the South Gate in person to take charge of the situation.

Xu Youcai had just changed into armor and took the sword from his personal guard.

A guard stumbled in and shouted:
"Xu Congshi, something terrible is happening!"

"The Chen family is causing chaos, and they attacked the south gate from inside the city, opening the gate and letting the enemy army enter the city!"

"General Jiang was killed and the South Gate was lost!"

Xu You's face turned pale with horror, his body trembled, and the sword in his hand fell to the ground.

(End of this chapter)