ATPnovel Chapter 13: Another glimmer of hope after despair
Chapter 13: Another glimmer of hope after despair
The next two days.
Yuan Tan spent all his time with the Wu Yu sisters, working with great enthusiasm, and even the servants in the courtyard could often hear his laughter.
By the afternoon of the third day, the sun was already high in the sky.
He then summoned all the servants in the mansion and announced a very important decision.
"I've decided to accompany my beauty on a trip to the countryside to relax. You all stay home and do your jobs well."
As he spoke, he gave Xin Pi and Guo Jia a meaningful look.
Xin Pi was deeply worried, pondering how to advise his lord not to be distracted by beauty.
Guo Jia nodded indifferently, pondering to himself:
"My lord's acting skills are truly superb! In this way, we will have no obstacles in our journey to Qingzhou."
After everyone had left, Xin Pi said to Guo Jia with a complicated expression:
"Fengxiao, I suddenly feel that we have entrusted ourselves to the wrong people. If I had known that our lord was so obsessed with women, we should not have agreed to his request in the first place."
He was genuinely worried that the boat he had just boarded would run aground in the Rouge River before it even set sail.
Guo Jia, however, said with an indifferent expression:
"Don't worry, George. Our lord is a man of great wisdom. Let's proceed according to our previous plan. You go to the Zhen family to ask for military rations, while I will go and see what kind of people those arrogant and fierce soldiers are made of."
……
Shen Pei's residence.
Wu Yu and the sentries in the eldest son's mansion have already sent over information about Yuan Tan's nightly revelry.
Shen Pei's lips curled into an almost uncontrollable smile as he whispered his praise:
"Young people really don't know how to control themselves! I've never seen him so eager before. It turns out that my move to send Miki here was the right one!"
Shen Rong wondered to himself:
"Uncle, why don't you tell the lord about the eldest son's nightly revelry? Wouldn't the lord then rescind his previous appointment?"
"What do you know?"
Shen Pei glared at his nephew.
"How can the lord's appointment be changed so easily? Besides, if Yuan Tan goes to Qingzhou in the same manner, his head might be hanging on the city wall of Linzi in two or three days."
"Once Yuan Tan dies, the Third Prince's position will be unshakeable! Isn't that better than him staying in Ye City?"
Shen Rong listened, stunned, feeling that something was wrong, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.
He could only bow and say:
"Uncle is indeed incredibly insightful!"
Shen Pei laughed loudly, neither confirming nor denying, and said to his informant who had come to report:
"Tell Wu Yu to praise this hedonistic behavior to the eldest young master, saying that he is exceptionally capable. She can even subtly hint that the eldest young master should use more drugs and not ruin his enjoyment. But she must do it discreetly so that they don't notice anything amiss."
"promise!"
The informant responded loudly and then quickly walked out of the room.
……
Yuan Tan's convoy headed north in a grand procession, heading straight for Changshan County.
Inside the magnificent carriage, the soft singing of a woman and Yuan Tan's slightly frivolous laughter could be heard from time to time.
Wu Lian and Wu Yu were summoned to the carriage from time to time, where they were either entertained with music or kept company and talked.
Although Yuan Tan appeared to be surrounded by women, his mind was already wandering outside the car window.
His trip to Changshan was certainly not for sightseeing, but to find Zhao Yun, who had once again resigned from his post.
At this time, he should have returned to Changshan after Gongsun Zan's defeat and death, and had not yet joined Liu Bei.
Therefore, this is his only window of opportunity to recruit Zhao Yun.
"Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong, is the dream idol of countless Three Kingdoms fans. If we could recruit him, he would be more useful than ten Zhang Hes."
His eyes were bright, and he couldn't help but smile slightly. He withdrew his gaze from the distance and turned to the car. Wu Yu, who was beside him, had a hint of a smile in his eyes.
Just then, Wu Yu nestled closer, her slender finger pointing to the vast expanse of water outside the window, and softly pleaded:
"My lord, look at that vast lake, how magnificent it is! I was born in the borderlands and rarely see such misty waters. Shall we take a stroll by the lake?"
Yuan Tan looked in the direction she was pointing and nodded with a smile:
"That's Daluze. Let's go take a look and pay our respects to the sages of the past."
Wu Yurou asked:
"Does the Continental Marsh have any stories? I was born in a wild and uncivilized place, so I don't know much about it."
Men love to show off their erudition in front of women.
This was a trick that Wu Yu learned at Shen Pei's residence.
Seeing that Wu Yu was offering emotional support, Yuan Tan explained:
"Daluze is one of the 'Nine Marshes' recorded in the Erya (a Chinese dictionary), a vast and famous marshland. During the reigns of Emperors Yao and Shun, Yu the Great's flood control efforts took place here."
Wu Yu blinked her pure, large eyes and looked at Yuan Tan with nothing but respect.
She pressed on, asking again:
What does "九薮" refer to?
Yuan Tan said with great interest:
"Chu has Yunmeng, Wu and Yue have Juqu, Qi has Haiyu, Yan has Zhaoyuqi, Zheng has Putian, Song has Mengzhu, Zhou has Jiaohu, Qin has Yangyu, and Jin has Dalu. These are the so-called Nine Lakes, which are the nine great lakes of our China."
He stepped down from the carriage and looked around. He saw a vast expanse of water, where the sky and water blended into one, and the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the lake surface into a magnificent orange-red.
Wu Lian and Wu Yu followed behind, also awestruck by the magnificent sight.
Yuan Tan thought to himself:
"This is the 'mainland' recorded in the 'Yu Gong' (Tribute of Yu). In ancient times, Yu the Great dredged the rivers here and quelled the floods that plagued the land, thus creating the nine provinces of China."
"I stand here today, with Lu Bu, the jackal, in front of me, and Shen Pei, the cold arrow, behind. The situation in Qingzhou is nothing less than a vast ocean waiting for me to dredge."
Wu Yu listened intently, nodding repeatedly, her eyes filled with admiration.
He was constantly flattered for his erudition and the excessive praise he received, which gave him a feeling of euphoria.
Yuan Tan's emotional value was maximized, and he thought to himself:
"A professional spy really knows how to flatter people. If I were a newbie just entering society, I might have been completely fooled by you."
Wu Yu was secretly delighted:
"The young master is so happy. It's true that what I learned in the manor is correct. As long as you coax a man, you can please him."
Wu Yu and Wu Lian, one on each side, accompanied Yuan Tan as they strolled along the soft riverbank for a while. Not far away, a small forest appeared.
Yuan Tan said excitedly:
"That place is quite secluded, why don't we go there and have some fun?"
Wu Yu instantly understood, her face flushing red, and she said in a voice barely audible:
"I will obey your orders, young master."
Yuan Tan laughed loudly, put his arm around the two beauties' slender waists, and disappeared into the grove.
What I didn't have the chance to accomplish when I was studying in my previous life, I unexpectedly managed to achieve in ancient times by some twist of fate.
……
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground.
It provides a unique kind of fun for the three people wrestling together.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and the rushing water masked the embarrassing groans.
The sun shines brightly, and spring is in full bloom.
A moment later,
The three of them tidied their clothes and sat down on a blue stone slab by the river.
Looking at the gently flowing river in front of him, while eating the fruit that Ermei handed him, he remarked, "I feel good today, let's continue later."
Just then, a rapid sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from afar.
It was as if a thousand troops were marching in from afar.
Yuan Tan's heart tightened:
"Could it be that Shen Pei sent troops to hunt me down?"
But that shouldn't be the case! This is Hebei, Yuan Shao's heartland. Why would he chase me here? Does he have a death wish?
Yuan Tan slowly released his hand from the hilt of his sword, his heart filled with doubt and unease.
In the distance, where dust and smoke rose, there were not the armored soldiers as expected.
Instead, it was a boy of about twelve or thirteen years old.
Riding a magnificent black horse,
He was skillfully driving a dozen or so unsaddled wild horses.
They rushed towards the shore of the mainland marshland.
The young man moved freely on horseback, as if he were one with his mount. His shouts were clear and melodious, and he managed to tame the wild horses with remarkable skill.
"What superb riding skills! This kid is a real talent!"
Yuan Tan secretly praised him, thinking that such a natural rider and horsemanship skills, if given a little training in the army, would make him a rare cavalry talent.
Just then, Wu Yu beside him let out a soft gasp, her voice trembling:
"Lou Ban? Brother! You... what are you doing here?!"
Upon hearing the sound, the boy on horseback suddenly pulled on the reins, and the black horse reared up with a neigh.
He looked over in confusion, but when he saw Wu Yu's face clearly, a smile of surprise and delight immediately bloomed on his face:
"Sister!"
He nimbly dismounted and quickly ran to the front.
However, upon seeing Yuan Tan and his entourage, he instinctively stopped in his tracks, his eyes filled with vigilance.
Building class!
Yuan Tan was deeply shocked.
If I remember correctly.
This Louban is Qiuliju's son, the future Wuhuan Chanyu!
He actually released his horses here?
And he's Wu Yu's younger brother?
This is simply a godsend!
Yuan Tan suppressed his elation, a perfectly measured gentle smile appearing on his face as he looked at Wu Yu:
"Oh? Yu'er, who is this young man?"
Wu Yu quickly straightened his robes and said:
"My lord, this is my younger brother, named Lou Ban."
She turned to the boy, her tone carrying a hint of reproach:
"Lou Ban, weren't you...working as a servant in the Prefect's residence? How come you're herding horses here?"
Upon hearing this, Lou Ban's face flashed with resentment. He bit his lip and whispered:
"Not long after you were sent away, Shen Rong, the nephew of the Prefect Shen, said that the mansion does not support idlers and kicked me out."
"I...I had nowhere to go, and I didn't know anything else. The manager of this horse farm was short-handed, so I came to help him herd the horses. At least...at least I had something to eat."
Lou Ban's voice grew softer and softer, filled with resentment and a hint of fear of Wu Yu.
Wu Yu's eyes reddened slightly as she listened, and her hatred for Shen Pei deepened.
Yuan Tan understood perfectly well that Shen Pei, that old fox, probably had no idea of the value of Lou Ban, nor did he know the other party's identity. Otherwise, why would he treat him as a mere menial servant?
But this is fine too, it's a good deal for me.
He stepped forward and said in a kind tone:
"Young man, you are so young, yet your horsemanship is so remarkable. It is truly rare."
Lou Ban raised his head and looked at the distinguished young man in front of him, who was clearly an important figure.
The wariness in his eyes lessened slightly, but a sense of distance remained.
"Thank you for the compliment, it's just a skill I use to make a living."
"Just trying to make a living?"
Yuan Tan smiled, squatted down, and looked him in the eye, his gaze sincere:
"How about following me? I guarantee you'll not only have enough to eat every day, but you'll also have meat to eat."
I see you have the makings of a general. Come with me, and you'll train my cavalry in the future.
"If you train well, I'll appoint you as a cavalry captain, allowing you to hold a respectable official position and bring honor to your ancestors. Wouldn't that be better than staying here, enduring the elements and serving as a slave?"
Upon hearing this, Lou Ban was instantly moved.
Although he was a prince in distress, the pride of the Wuhuan nobles flowed in his blood. How could he be willing to spend his whole life herding horses for others?
He looked at his elder sister, Wu Yu, and saw her nod slightly, her eyes full of encouragement and expectation.
The boy took a deep breath, his chest heaving, clearly also somewhat excited.
He stared at Yuan Tan:
"Are you serious? You really going to let me lead troops? You really going to make me an official?"
A gentleman's word is as good as his bond!
Yuan Tan reached out and patted his muscular shoulder.
"I am Yuan Tan, the Governor of Qingzhou, and I keep my word!"
"The Prefect of Qingzhou..."
Lou Ban murmured to himself. Although he was young, he knew that this was a very high-ranking official.
He looked into Yuan Tan's clear and firm eyes, then at his elder sister, and finally nodded emphatically:
"Alright! I'll go with you! As long as you let me and my sister be together, have enough to eat, and be able to lead troops, my life, Lou Ban's life, will be yours from now on!"
"Haha! Great!"
Yuan Tan laughed and stood up, feeling extremely happy. This was the biggest unexpected joy of the trip!
"Come on, take me to meet the owner of your horse farm. I think these horses you have are quite nice, so I'll just buy them all as your first possession!"
Led by Lou Ban, Yuan Tan and his group found the private horse farm, which was not very large.
Seeing Yuan Tan's extraordinary demeanor and the fact that he was the newly appointed governor of Qingzhou, the venue owner dared not be negligent, much less raise the price.
Yuan Tan did not treat him unfairly; he readily bought three hundred fine horses, including Lou Ban's black horse, at market price or even slightly higher.
As dusk fell, the caravan stopped at an inn near Changshan Zhending.
If we continue searching aimlessly like this, it will probably be difficult to find any trace of Zhao Yun.
On the contrary, it may arouse suspicion regarding the approval process.
He summoned his trusted confidant Peng An and gave him a stern command:
"Peng An, you personally take a few clever and reliable brothers, change into civilian clothes, and sneak into Zhen Ding County and the surrounding villages early tomorrow morning. Secretly inquire about someone, and be sure to do so discreetly."
"Please tell me, sir, who are you seeking?"
Peng An bowed and asked.
"Zhao Yun of Changshan, Zhao Zilong."
Yuan Tan lowered his voice,
"This man is from Zhen Ding and once served under Gongsun Zan. He was a master of martial arts, riding a white horse and wielding a long spear. After Gongsun Zan's defeat and death, he should have returned home. Find him, hand him my secret letter, and tell him that I have long admired him! If you really can't find him, you can bring his mother to Qingzhou first."
Hehe! Zhao Yun is historically known for his loyalty and righteousness, so he must have been very filial as well.
As long as we can bring Zhao Yun's mother over, I'm not afraid he won't come.
"Yes, sir! This subordinate obeys!"
Although Peng An did not know who Zhao Yun was, seeing his lord's solemn attitude, he knew that Zhao Yun must be an extremely important person. He immediately agreed and turned to select men.
When Wu Yu, who was pouring tea for Yuan Tan, heard the name "Zhao Yun," his hand holding the teapot trembled violently, and the warm tea almost spilled.
Her face instantly drained of color, and a barely concealed look of fear flashed across her eyes.
Yuan Tan, being extremely perceptive, immediately noticed the other party's unusual behavior and raised an eyebrow, asking:
"Yu'er, have you heard of Zhao Yun?"