Chapter 390 Sun Jians Choice (2/2)
Tong: ”Tell my head eunuch to buy something in Zeng and disguise yourself as merchants. Don't stay in Zeng for too long.”
Taishi Ci: ”Yes, your majesty.”
Tong: ”Kong Rong, report.”
Kong Rong: ”This lowly servant reports to his majesty.”
Tong: ”Gather all your men and mobilize south. South of your county, Gaomi County is there. Fortify your troops there and forcefully draw Cao Ren from Langye to you.”
Kong Rong: ”Are we waging war against Cao Cao, your majesty?”
Tong: ”No. Just draw them to the field. Do not engage with them.”
Kong Rong: ”Wouldn't they attack me?”
Tong: ”Don't worry. They won't be able to afford that. Don't forget your cannons when you fortify Gaomi County.”
Kong Rong: ”This servant understood. I shall prepare the troops at once.”
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October 13th, 190 A.D.
Taishi Ci, Sun Jian, and others reached Zeng County.
Zeng County located between Langye and Xiapi, which served as a check-point for the traveling merchants in the areas. Everybody had to journey through here if they traveled between these two cities.
As instructed, Taishi Ci passed on Tong's command and disguised the entire crews as merchants. The eunuch sacrificed his accessories and his royal carriage to fund their group, so they could buy merchant carts, pottery, and other wares, making their disguise believable.
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October 14th, 190 A.D.
The group exited the city with haste. While they were leaving the town, a group of 100 horsemen arrived at the county.
These men glared at the group of moving caravan.
”Halt!”
Taishi Ci and Sun Jian paused and turned to the soldiers.
At the moment, they wore civilian clothes. All of their bodyguards also hid their weapons on their wagons, disguising them as their wares. However, each still hid their shotgun and a pistol beneath their robe.
”By order of the Marquis of Wei, every caravan has to be searched!”
Taishi Ci, pretending to be their bodyguard leader, bowed to the soldiers.
”What are you looking for, sir?”
”We're looking for a group of criminals! One is a eunuch, and the other is called Sun Jian. Have you heard of them?”
”Never heard of them.”
”Anyway, we'll search your carts and wagons!”
The soldiers proceeded ahead and scrambled through their wares without their consent. Still, they could only find pottery, food supplies, and weaponry for sale.
”It's just a merchant caravan, sir,” A searching soldier reported to their captain.
”Eh, what a waste of time. Let's go! Search the others and shut the gates. Don't let anyone leave Zeng County!”
”What about these men, sir?”
”Leave them be. They're not the fugitives anyway. All eunuchs are known to be prideful and arrogant pricks. I don't think he is among those poor-looking bastards. Let's go!”
”…”
All scouts entered the city.
Meanwhile, Sun Jian turned to the eunuch, who had disguised as an old woman.
This person had a feminine voice because of his abnormal hormone. With a female robe and make-up, everybody would mistake him for an ugly woman.
Still, the eunuch did not look perturbed by the scout's remark.
”My apologies, Lao Gonggong,” Sun Jian bowed to him.
”No harm. Well, you should call me by my alias, or we will get suspicious.”
”Lao Gonggong, we don't dare to call you that. Isn't that your real name?”
”Who cares! Just use my real name.”
”Understood, Sir Wei You.”
Wei You was a former subordinate of Liu Yu and served as his advisor. When Liu Yu went to Luoyang and got himself killed by Dong Zhuo, Wei You maintained his position as Ji's deputy governor before the barbarian tribes overtook his county.
Afterward, Wei You joined Tong's ranks. Unfortunately, he was not used to Tong's system, so he did not manage to display his talents.
When Tong ascended the throne, Wei You tried again by cutting his manhood and joined the palace as a eunuch. Using his experience in the internal affair, he finally earned Tong's trust and was sent to this mission.
In reality, Tong learned about his name later after Wei You had joined the palace as a servant eunuch. When Tong discovered Wei You's past, he promoted the man into a head eunuch, hoping to use him as a domestic assistant or a secretary.
”Let's move out.”
Wei You, Sun Jian, Taishi Ci, and others continued their journey toward Langye County.
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October 30th, 190 A.D.
Winter was around the corner, but a piece of bad news arrived at Cao Ren's ears in Langye.
A force of 30,000 soldiers approached the border, north of his county. The leader of this army was Kong Rong, Tong's subordinate!
Not many warlords were willing to dispatch their armies in winter as the soldiers would consume more resources, firewood and food.
”Are they insane!? Attacking us in the winter!?”