Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 50 Jiang Gan: Lei Bu and Chen Lan? I should tell you!
"If that's the case, why doesn't Gongjin assist Sun Ce in establishing his career and thus get rid of Yuan Shu's constraints?"

Jiang Gan was overjoyed. He hadn't expected that he and Zhou Yu would hit it off so well. Apart from the fact that Yuan's camp was a bit too frightening, the mission went so smoothly.

He then went on to persuade him.

"Given the current situation, the friendship between us as classmates is no longer the same as Gongjin's feigned politeness."

To tell you the truth, I have come here to lend Gongjin a helping hand in relieving the siege of Yangdi.

If Sun Ce encounters any difficulties in establishing his enterprise, Gongjin, please speak frankly, and Cao Cao's army will certainly provide full assistance.

"Ziyi, you are unaware of this!"

Zhou Yu sighed softly, half insincere and half feigning, and began to explain in detail.

"Bo Fu has always harbored great ambitions, and has long desired to soar like a bird in the blue sky and swim like a fish in the sea. I have also done my best to plan for him."

Unfortunately, Yuan Shu also had a powerful patron behind him.

Upon hearing Zhou Yu's words, Jiang Gan knew that there must be some inside story about the relationship between Yuan Shu and Sun Ce that they, as outsiders, did not know, and hurriedly asked:
"Appreciate further details."

"Ziyi is my old classmate and friend, and I will not lie to him now."

The relationship between Yuan Gong and Bo Fu was not as close as outsiders believed, treating each other like family; rather, Yuan Gong harbored deep resentment towards Bo Fu.

In reality, when Bo Fu presented the imperial seal to Yuan Gong, he feigned borrowing troops to cross the river and attack Liu Yao to rescue his mother, in order to break free from Yuan Gong's control.

Unexpectedly, this plan was seen through by Yuan Shao's mastermind, which not only made Bo Fu increasingly entangled in the trap, but also allowed Yuan Shao to seize Jiangdong and increase his power even further.

"Is this really true? We outsiders can hardly know the inside story. We only know that Lord Yuan treats Sun Lang even better than his own son, and even married his eldest daughter to him to make him his right-hand man."

Seeing his skepticism, Zhou Yu smiled bitterly, feeling helpless.

He then recounted how, after meeting Sun Ce, he had repeatedly devised ways to help him escape, and how Yuan Shu's mastermind had seen through and thwarted his plans time and again.

In the end, he let out a long sigh from the bottom of his heart.

"If you give birth to Yu, why give birth to him?

This person anticipates my every move and suppresses me with every strike!
Previously, I had also secretly contacted Taishi Ci, a loyal and righteous man in Yuan Ying's camp, hoping to use him as an ally.

Unexpectedly, he even guessed this, and brought Taishi Ci's mother over in advance to win her over, thus winning Taishi Ci's heart completely.

Bo Fu failed to make contact and instead became suspicious; he now feels that I misled him.

"Ziyi, just tell me, in this situation, if you come to me, what can I do?"

Zhou Yu's words were entirely truthful, and he explained every detail no matter how much Jiang Gan pressed him for answers.

Since everything he said was the truth, how could Jiang Gan not believe it? He couldn't help but sigh and say:

"I was already amazed by Gongjin's talent, but I never imagined that there was such a person in the world who was even better than Gongjin."

No wonder Cao Cao often said that Yuan Shu was a skeleton in a tomb and would surely be destroyed one day. Unexpectedly, he is now rising to prominence and has called on the lords of the world to attack Cao Cao from four directions. His power is unparalleled for a time.

Recently, the strategist's schemes have been repeatedly foiled, which suggests that this person was behind it all. But who exactly is this person?

"I also do not know. He is extremely well hidden, always staying behind the scenes of Yuan Gong's staff, and has never appeared in public."

Even I could only deduce this person's existence from subtle clues and inconsistencies in Yuan Gong's behavior.

Zhou Yu followed up, saying that everything he had said before was from the bottom of his heart. In his heart, if he could really use this to contact Cao Cao's army and help Bo Fu escape from his predicament, it would not be a bad thing.

But the more he thought about it, the more desperate he felt.

From the moment Yuan Gong heard your name, Jiang Gan, everything between us has fallen into that man's scheme, all part of his plan. Now that things have come to this, what else can we possibly scheme for?

Jiang Ziyi, it's not that I, Zhou Gongjin, want to harm you, but only by offering you up as a pledge of loyalty can I preserve the trust that Bo Fu and I have worked so hard to earn during this time, and avoid arousing Yuan Gong's suspicion.

All of Zhou Yu's previous truths were a prelude to the following statement, which was personally revealed by Yuan Shu:

"I only heard Yuan Gong accidentally slip up once and say the two characters: 'Fengxiao'."

To be honest, Zhou Yu didn't recognize this "Fengxiao" at all, but based on his understanding of Yuan Shao over this period, he was sure he was up to something again. Jiang Gan was also greatly surprised when he heard this, "Fengxiao? I've never heard of him before, but when I get back, I can report to the strategists. They know many heroes in the world, so perhaps they know this person."

"So good."

Zhou Yu nodded slightly before returning to the main topic, "He had taken precautions against Ziyi's arrival this time."

Before you could even enter Yuan's camp, Bo Fu was already imprisoned on the grounds that he refused to eat Cao's army food and must be colluding with the enemy.

Without Bo Fu (Sun Ce) to lead, even if I were willing to conspire with you, none of the Sun family's generals would obey my orders.

"what?"

Jiang Gan was shocked. "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. Is this any different from fabricating a crime?"

"The only solution now is to ask Ziyi for help."

Zhou Yu suddenly bowed deeply to Jiang Gan, bowing deeply.

"What does Gongjin mean by this?"

Jiang Gan grasped Zhou Yu's hand tightly and helped him up.

"If that is the case, our two families should work together and become allies."

If you encounter any difficulties, please tell me. If it is within my power, I will certainly help.

Moved, Zhou Yu handed him a document to explain.

"This is my imitation of the general's order to release Bo Fu."

I have heard that Lord Yuan greatly admires Ziyi's talent. If he knew that Ziyi had awakened, he would surely have a long talk with you by candlelight to inquire about the state of the world.

We can feign compliance and wait until he is tired and asleep, when we are sleeping side by side, then secretly affix General Yuan's seal.

After Ziyi leaves, I will secretly contact the generals of the Sun family, and three days later, using this document, I will falsely claim that the General ordered me to release Bofu to start an uprising, and use fire as a signal.

"At that time, I hope Ziyi will immediately lead Cao's army to our aid. If we can decisively defeat Yuan's army, both our families will be freed from this predicament."

"Talking late into the night with Lord Yuan by candlelight, and sleeping side by side?"

The thought of talking by candlelight and sleeping side by side with that demon king who would "eat your flesh and drink your blood" sent chills down Jiang Gan's spine.

However, considering that the success or failure of this campaign to defeat Yuan Shikai hinged on this one move, he gritted his teeth, accepted the document, and agreed.

"Gongjin, rest assured, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

Zhou Yu was deeply gratified, and then offered his advice:
"Does Ziyi know Lei Bu and Chen Lan?"

Although Jiang Gan had heard Xi Zhicai mention the two men and say they had the demeanor of famous generals of the past, he pretended not to know them at this moment.

"Although I have never heard of them, Gongjin must have some profound insights to offer when he mentions these two people. I shall listen attentively."

"These two generals often had unique skills in using troops and could be called unparalleled generals."

Zhou Yu, without batting an eye, continued to speak eloquently, following Yuan Shu's instructions.

"Previously, they were suppressed by Liu Xun, so their reputation was not well-known."

Now that Liu Xun is dead, not only have they not been given important positions, but their troops have also been seized by Yuan Gong due to his jealousy and envy of their abilities.

Although Yuan Gong used their strategies for commanding troops, he treated them only as his personal guards and did not give them any official positions, so the two men often harbored resentment towards him.

"Now, Ziyi, you can persuade him to join Cao Cao. If we can get the help of these two men, then in three days, our great undertaking will be accomplished."

Jiang Gan thought of Xi Zhicai's praise of Lei and Chen. If they were really persuaded to join Cao Cao, what a great achievement that would be.

"With my silver tongue, this matter is easily accomplished!"

(End of this chapter)