Chapter 387 Battle of Xiapi - Conclusion (2/2)
”M-My lord!”
”Call the physicians!”
The moment Yuan Shao collapsed from the shock, the onlooking soldiers spread the news. Like wildfire, everyone learned about the burning granaries to the north and Yuan Shao's health. The army morale sunk to the abyss once more.
Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Shang gathered all officials and Xiahou Yuan, trying to rally their soldiers. Everyone gazed at Xiahou Yuan as he was their last hope.
”General, do you think we can win?”
Xiahou Yuan glanced at Guo Jia, who stepped forward, ”Allow me to answer that question.”
”And you are?”
”I am Feng Xiao. I'm the strategist of Sir Miao Cai Army, just in case you've forgotten.”
Yuan Tan remembered the scholar, ”Oh, right! My apologies. Do you have an exit plan in this situation?”
”It depends on whether my lord is willing to place yourself in troubles, or you will give up fighting for the hegemony.”
”What do you mean?”
”First, you can get an easy way out by surrender to Cao Cao. As a courtesy, Cao Cao will bestow you a title or a position for your cooperation.”
Yuan Tan frowned. He did not like serving Cao Cao.
”I'm against surrendering. Do you have another way?”
”The second choice, which is the last option, we'll fight them to the death.”
”…”
Yuan Tan and others stared at Guo Jia.
”Are you serious? There is no other plan?”
”No. However, we can assign all of our strongest bodyguards to protect everybody here, if you would like our army to provide you our best men. We'll also send our strongest warrior to Lord Yuan's side.”
Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Shang stared at Guo Jia, suspicous of this strategist. They turned around and huddled together, whispering.
”How about we let them fight to the death. When shit happens, we surrender?”
”Great idea! How about we kill someone and pretend that it is a general's head?”
”That good, too. Well, I think Cao Cao knew our father, so we can't fake his corpse.”
”I heard Cao Cao is workaholic. Usually, workaholics seek women more than ordinary men. How about we offer him a few good looking girls and pretend that they are wives of some big-shots?”
”Genius! Let's do that!”
The three Yuans turned around and agreed with Guo Jia.”
”O-Of course. Please give us your best soldiers. We'll pray for your victory from here.”
Guo Jia smiled and bowed, ”We will give you our best.”
With all the formality, Guo Jia and Xiahou Yuan assigned a thousand men to guard all officers inside the inner city. Meanwhile, Xu Chu went to Yuan Shao's side, acting as his new bodyguard. However, they reassigned all private troops of the nobles to the frontline.
Half a day later, Cao Cao, Pu Jing, Sun Jian, and all generals surrounded the city once again.
When the preparation was ready, Cao Cao gave Xiahou Yuan a signal by telling him in the clan chat.
”Open the gates for us. It's time.”
Xiahou Yuan was protecting the west gate today. He sent a messenger to Xu Chu and the thousand soldiers inside the city.
His message was simple, [KILL].
As soon as Xu Chu obtained the order, he killed all bodyguards who were protecting Yuan Shao and rushed into his room.
Guo Tu and Shen Pei were still there at Yuan Shao's side, looking at Xu Chu in shock.
”You … what are you doing!?”
”…”
Xu Chu did not reply to the men. He swung his blade and beheaded the two.
The super bodyguard walked to Yuan Shao, who was sleeping on his bed.
*SEOK*
The blade penetrated into Yuan Shao's heart. The warlord woke up in shock and stared into the eyes of the killer.
As Yuan Shao lost his heart and all blood pressure, his strength escaped him. He died with his eyes open as he watched Xu Chu leaving the room.
Meanwhile, the one thousand soldiers also took out their weapons and murdered every officer that they were protecting, including Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang, and Yuan Xi.
In one move, all officers under Yuan Shao were slaughtered.
The one thousand soldiers rushed to Yuan Shao's manner afterward and began killing all females, elders, children, servants, and everyone who had ties with the Yuan Clan.
Yuan Shang, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Tan did not survive the slaughtering.
An hour later, Xu Chu and all soldiers visited Xiahou Yuan at the west wall. Their bodies covered in blood and sweat, which attracted the attention of the garrison soldiers.
”It's done,” Xu Chu confirmed his kill to Guo Jia and Xiahou Yuan.
”Alright,” Xiahou Yuan turned to Yuan Shao's infantries on the wall, ”Open the gate! We're surrendering to Cao Cao!”
The garrison soldiers widen their eyes in disbelief.
”S-Sir, Lord Yuan said we have to protect the city …”
Xiahou Yuan smirked, ”I've received a new order from Lord Yuan. We're surrendering! Anyone that resists will be killed!”
Hearing that it was an order from the lord himself, no one dared to make a fuss.
Xiahou Yuan, Guo Jia, and Xu Chu rode out of the west gate to meet the invaders while garrison soldiers on the wall raised white flags.
Cao Cao, who stationed at the west, also rode forward to meet with his trusted generals and strategist. Also, Tian Feng was next to Cao Cao when they reunited.
Just like when Zhang He killed Han Fu and surrendered Ye City to Tong, Xiahou Yuan destroyed Yuan Shao's forces and gave Xiapi to Cao Cao.
”Mission accomplished. Took you a while, Mengde.”
”I messed around for too long. Sorry about the stupid fight the other day.”
”Meh, it's fine. How did you know that Yuan Shao would try to kill me?”
”A hunch. Fortunately, this strategist at my side isn't in the city. Or else, you three would have been dead.”
Xiahou Yuan turned to Tian Feng, who had a wry smile on his face. Judging from Cao Cao's words and Tian Feng's expression, it was not hard to tell that Cao Cao spoke the truth.
”It's my mistake to lead a force outside the city. I should have let Yan Liang handle it, but I didn't trust that birdbrain general,” Tian Feng sighed in regret. He could have done better.