ATPnovel Chapter 51 Reconciliation
Chapter 51 Reconciliation
Although Yan Liang and Zhang He are brave, Liu Bei has come with his entire army to avenge Zhang Fei. A desperate army is bound to win!
If we fight to the death here, even if we win a Pyrrhic victory, we will be severely weakened!
Qingzhou was newly pacified, but its internal situation was unstable. To the north lay Yuan Shang, to the west Cao Cao, and to the south Lü Bu.
How could we possibly fight Liu Bei to the death here?
In the blink of an eye, Yuan Tan had weighed the pros and cons.
He acted decisively, first giving a low shout to his personal guards:
"Order all troops to form ranks and hold their positions. No movement is permitted without my command! Archers, be on alert, but under no circumstances should you fire a single arrow first!"
After regaining his footing, he took a deep breath.
With Yan Liang and Zhang He, two fierce generals, guarding him closely on either side,
They rode out lightly, and stopped their horses less than a hundred paces from the front of the two armies.
This distance demonstrates sincerity while also ensuring safety.
Yan Liang and Zhang He stood like two gatekeepers, gripping their weapons tightly, locked onto Guan Yu, guarding against a sudden attack.
"Could the visitor be Liu Bei, Liu Xuande? I am Yuan Tan, the governor of Qingzhou. I have long admired Lord Xuande's noble character, and seeing him today, I can confirm that he is indeed extraordinary."
Liu Bei was furious because his third brother was seriously injured and was about to order a strong attack when he suddenly saw that Yuan Tan dared to personally lead the attack. He was shocked when he heard Yuan Tan call himself Yuan Tan.
Yuan Tan, the governor of Qingzhou?
Yuan Benchu's eldest son?
If it were the other party, it would be quite difficult.
Yuan Shao, who dominated the north and had a powerful army, was the most powerful warlord in the land. How could I, with my meager troops, dare to be his enemy?
Moreover, Yuan Tan is currently enjoying great popularity.
Not long ago, he defeated the then-dominant Lü Bu with a smaller force.
If I were to force a war against him, I'm afraid I wouldn't gain any advantage.
Just as he was thinking,
Then, the sound of horses' hooves echoed from the ground once more.
Liu Bei looked up and saw...
About a thousand soldiers, carrying the banners of the Taishan Army, came to support Yuan Tan.
The leading general was none other than an old acquaintance, Zang Ba, the leader of the Taishan Army.
"My lord, I have received your orders and immediately led my troops to the front. There are still more than 10,000 men on their way."
Zang Ba's words, seemingly directed at Yuan Tan, also carried a hint of intimidation towards Liu Bei.
If the other side sees that you have fewer people and suddenly launches an attack,
You have to weigh the consequences of doing this.
As expected, Liu Bei was also shocked upon hearing this.
Even the bandits of Mount Tai have defected to Yuan Tan?
Looking at Yuan Tan's army again, although their numbers were slightly fewer,
But the armor was clearly visible, and the formation was well-organized.
Facing an enemy force several times their size, the soldiers' eyes showed not fear, but rather a fierce fighting spirit.
Especially the Taishan Army, which had just arrived, was full of murderous intent!
If a real battle were to break out, even if one could win, it would inevitably be a pyrrhic victory.
I'm afraid I'll have to squander all the savings I've worked so hard to accumulate.
They will also become mortal enemies with Yuan Shao!
In an instant, Liu Bei suppressed his anger, forced a smile onto his face, stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said:
"So it's Governor Yuan Tan. Indeed, a handsome and promising young man. But why did your men injure my third brother so severely? I demand an explanation from you!"
Seeing Liu Bei respond, Yuan Tan felt somewhat relieved, and his tone became even more sincere, with a hint of helplessness:
"Oh dear! Lord Xuande, it's truly a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding!"
He pointed at Zhang Fei, and the scattered horses and supplies on the ground.
"When our troops were on patrol here, they suddenly encountered a group of men who tried to rob our supplies and horses without saying a word. My men thought they were notorious bandits who had come here, so they fought them off with all their might!"
To my utter surprise… it was none other than the mighty General Zhang Yide! Had I known it was General Zhang, Tan would have treated him with the utmost respect, and this conflict would never have occurred. This is truly… a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple!
He's just spouting nonsense.
He clearly recognized the other party at the beginning and personally ordered that the other party be shot to death.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Fei jumped up and shouted:
"Yuan Tan, stop talking nonsense! You clearly recognized your Master Zhang just now, but now you say you don't. Aren't you obviously trying to kill me?"
Upon hearing this, both Liu Bei and Guan Yu's faces darkened.
If Yuan Tan truly intended to kill, then even if the other party was Yuan Benchu's son, it would still be a fight to the death.
He kept calculating the likelihood of success in his mind.
Yuan Tan's army was small and exhausted.
If we disregard casualties and launch a forced attack, perhaps we can succeed?
We might be able to take over Qingzhou in one fell swoop in the future, but that would completely offend Yuan Shao...
Yuan Tan showed no embarrassment whatsoever, his smile remaining unchanged:
"At the time, I thought it was a bandit impersonating Third Master Zhang to steal my horse. I had always heard that Lord Xuande loved the people like his own children and that his men were all benevolent and righteous, so I thought Third Master Zhang was an imposter. I am truly sorry for my disrespect."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei was speechless for a moment.
After all, it was indeed us who stole their horse first, and they were forced to retaliate. It doesn't seem like we did anything wrong, does it?
But why did I feel that the murderous intent in Yuan Tan's eyes at that time was not fake? Could it be that I saw it wrong?
Liu Bei glanced at the speechless Zhang Fei, knowing that he was definitely in the wrong.
Just as I was thinking of what excuse to use to get out of this,
Yuan Tan spoke again:
"Lord Xuande, today's events arose from a misunderstanding. General Zhang's injuries are serious, and I dare not obstruct him further. As for the other injuries, I will certainly offer generous gifts to apologize in the future! I hope that you will consider the bigger picture and not let your subordinates' misunderstandings damage our harmony."
Before Liu Bei could speak, Yuan Tan's voice suddenly rose, and he sternly ordered his own troops:
"All troops, listen to my command! Sheathe your weapons! Clear the way! General Zhang and his men, please leave! Do not obstruct them!"
Upon receiving the order, Yuan Jun, who was preparing for a major operation, was puzzled.
But it was still executed quickly.
The sword is sheathed, the bow hangs down.
The tight formation slowly moved to both sides.
This cleared a path leading to the valley entrance.
This move demonstrated Yuan Tan's absolute control over the army while also showing a gesture of reconciliation.
Liu Bei had a feeling that something was amiss, but he couldn't find an excuse for it at the moment.
Moreover, Zhang Fei was indeed in the wrong first.
If I were to launch another attack, wouldn't I be disgracing my reputation for benevolence and righteousness?
Thinking of this, he cupped his hands again and said:
"Young Master, you flatter me! Since it's a misunderstanding, it's best to clear things up. My third brother was impetuous and offended your imposing presence; I apologize on his behalf. You are very understanding, and I am deeply grateful! In that case, I will take my leave now; tending to my third brother's wounds is of utmost importance!"
"Lord Xuande, please! We shall meet again another day!"
Yuan Tan bowed slightly on his horse.
Liu Bei said no more and gave Guan Yu a wink.
Guan Yu snorted coldly, his Green Dragon Crescent Blade still held horizontally in front of him. After stepping forward to support Zhang Fei, he then directed the army to retreat slowly and orderly through the passage cleared by Yuan's army, exiting the valley.
Only after Liu Bei's army disappeared into the valley did Yuan Tan's humble smile vanish instantly, and his expression gradually darkened.
"My lord, why did you release the tiger back into the mountains?"
Yan Liang couldn't help but ask.
"A tiger? Liu Bei is now a wounded and trapped tiger. If pushed too far, the backlash will be even more ferocious."
Yuan Tan said coldly,
"If we don't let him go today, are we really going to start a war with Liu Bei here prematurely? Liu Bei and Lü Bu are like lips and teeth. If war breaks out, the hard-won peace of Qingzhou will be completely lost."
(Please vote with monthly tickets! Thank you so much, my dear godfathers!)