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

Chapter 91 You are surely feigning surrender; you must not believe it!
"Liu Bei is renowned throughout the land for his benevolence and virtue. I have long been grateful for your kindness, my lord, and have come to join you. I will never betray you. Yun Chang, do not doubt me!"

With his narrow phoenix eyes fixed on Chen Lan, who was riding towards them, even Guan Yu was slightly taken aback upon hearing the news.

During a battle between two armies, when the generals were locked in combat, the enemy general rode out on horseback and shouted that he was surrendering.

If you truly want to surrender, why not continue to lie low, secretly make contacts, and wait for the right opportunity?
Moreover, in the Battle of Yangdi, Xiahou Dun was captured alive, and the names of Lei Bu and Chen Lan became renowned throughout several prefectures.

The most famous of these is the phrase "Do not doubt our allies." Now, if we say "Do not doubt Guan Yu," how can Guan Yu not have doubts?

Furthermore, everyone knows that Lei Bu and Chen Lan are inseparable and have a close relationship, like one person. He just killed Lei Bu, and instead of avenging his brother, Chen Lan surrenders.

This must be a feigned surrender; do not believe it!
This is utterly absurd! Does he think Guan Yu, a mere warrior, is unaware of intrigue and treachery?

Moreover, accepting surrender carries the risk of feigning surrender. We can execute this person on the spot. With Lei Bu and Chen Lan dead, the morale of Yuan's army will be crushed. No matter how you look at it, it's a win-win situation.

Having made up his mind, Guan Yu stood with his sword drawn, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed.

"Since General Chen has come to surrender, why don't you come forward and say something?"

Chen Lan, who had slowed his horse and was somewhat wary, was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately spurred his horse forward to speak with him.

"General Guan, to be honest, Yuan Gonglu is a heartless man who has taken all of my and Lei Bu's troops."

"You two unparalleled generals are relegated to the position of mere personal guards, constantly ordered around and given no real responsibility. Am I right?"

Unexpectedly, before Chen Lan could explain, Guan Yu continued along with what he had said, which surprised Chen Lan.

How did General Guan know this?

"Does General Chen really think I am unaware of the old stories of Yangdi?"
In one battle, they annihilated Cao Cao's main force of 30,000 men and captured Cao Cao's general Xiahou Dun, thus securing Yingchuan.

The two generals, along with Sun Lang, had a reputation for feigning surrender that shook several prefectures. Which of the feudal lords wasn't terrified? How could the details be investigated?

Chen Lan was shocked upon hearing this and hurriedly tried to explain.

"General, you misunderstand. I have my own difficulties and it is not a feigned surrender."

"Whether you truly surrender or not, I, Guan, have always despised traitors like you!"

Without saying a word, he raised his sword and slashed through the snow-white pupils of Chen Lan's eyes, like a thunderclap from a clear sky!
"You wretch, if you survive this blade, I'll listen to your words again!"

How could Chen Lan possibly withstand the Green Dragon Crescent Blade?
His magnificent head was held high, and only the reflection of that person in his pupils showed him standing on horseback, sword in hand, looking incredibly imposing.

"A mere rat dares to call itself peerless?"
Guan Yu is here!

"Nanyang Ji Ling, come quickly for a battle! Let us settle this once and for all!"

On that day, Guan Yu killed the peerless generals Lei Bu and Chen Lan in the state of Chen, and his might shook the states of Yan and Yu.

Seeing Guan Yu slay two unparalleled generals in succession, Liu Bei's army was greatly encouraged.

Conversely, in Yuan's camp, a report was heard: "Report! Chen Lan has also been beheaded! Even though he shouted for mercy and surrender on the battlefield, he could not save his life."

The soldiers were thrown into a panic and their morale plummeted.

"How is this possible? Even General Chen has been beheaded?"

"Guan Yu is so incredibly brave, how can we possibly defeat him?"

"All the peerless generals have died in battle, who else can stop Guan Yu?" Yuan Shu had long anticipated these alarming words.

As you can see, at Sishui Pass, Hua Xiong slew several generals in succession. The peerless general Pan Feng and the fierce general Liu Sandao were both dead, and the morale of the allied forces of the feudal lords collapsed.

But when Guan Yu warmed the wine before beheading Hua Xiong, morale was immediately boosted, turning defeat into victory.

The same was true at Hulao Pass. After Lü Bu killed several generals, and Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei defeated Lü Bu together, the morale of the allied forces of the feudal lords reached its peak, and they broke through Hulao Pass in one fell swoop.

If someone like Guan Yu were to come up and slaughter the enemy general, it would greatly boost morale, but the soldiers would only think you are powerful, without understanding just how powerful you really are.

Therefore, they might even think that an enemy general who is not even a match for them is weak.

I'm not saying I could do it myself, but who knows, I might be able to fight the enemy general, a complete novice, for three hundred rounds.
However, if we defeat an enemy general who has killed several of our generals and appears extremely powerful, causing fear among our soldiers.

Under this extreme contrast, the morale of the soldiers will be boosted to its peak. This is the so-called "suppression before praise", which is Yuan Shu's sacrificial tactics.

Of course, the premise of such tactics is that morale can be shrunk but not collapsed. But how can we ensure that morale does not collapse under such circumstances?
Then we must mention that there was another person in Yuan's camp at this time!
Do not rejoice unnecessarily when things go smoothly;
Adversity does not discourage us;
Peaceful, without extravagance;
Be in danger, but do not be afraid;
A person who harbors thunderous thoughts yet maintains a calm and composed demeanor!
It was none other than Ji Ling of Nanyang, Yuan Shu's top general!
With him here, there shouldn't be any problems.

This is precisely why Yuan Shu, in his previous letter, did not instruct Ji Ling to remain entrenched and not venture out, but instead taught him how to deal with Guan Yu without regard for martial virtue.

After all, even in the original owner's timeline, Ji Ling was a general who could fight Guan Yu for thirty rounds to a draw, shouting "Take a break!" and then "calmly" retreating.

Even if one disregards martial ethics and is prepared, one can still hold out for several rounds, even if one cannot win the battle.

Moreover, in the current timeline, Ji Ling took advantage of Guan Yu's carelessness and lack of vigilance to achieve the terrifying feat of defeating Guan Yu in three rounds.

Sure enough, when Guan Yu's might shook the three armies and Yuan Shao's camp was filled with fear and trepidation.

All eyes were drawn to the composed general standing beside Yuan Gong.

Everyone looked up at Ji Ling with expressions of astonishment.

If Guan Yu could kill a peerless general in succession, like a god, then what kind of general must Ji Ling of Nanyang, who defeated Guan Yu in three rounds, be?
The soldiers recalled Ji Ling's heroic battle with Guan Yu not long ago. At that time, they did not know how powerful Guan Yu was and thought he was overrated.

Now that they had witnessed Guan Yu's prowess firsthand, they were utterly astonished by Ji Ling.

He truly deserves to be called the number one general under Lord Yuan!

This is why, after his previous defeat, Guan Yu was willing to don armor and go into battle again to fight Ji Ling, and he challenged him to a duel every day, shouting "Let's settle this once and for all!" to get Ji Ling to come out and decide the outcome.

If he doesn't defeat Ji Ling to prove himself, no matter what heroes he kills in battle, people will only say that Ji Ling, who defeated Guan Yu in three rounds, was amazing!
At that moment, all the soldiers in Yuan's camp looked up at Ji Ling. Amidst their fear, they found their backbone again. Immediately, General Yangwei Li Feng stepped forward to offer advice.

"My lord, Guan Yu's valor in killing Lei Bu and Chen Lan is unmatched; ordinary people would find it difficult to defeat him."

"Only by summoning General Ji Ling and recreating his unparalleled prowess in defeating Guan Yu in three rounds can we achieve victory."

Upon hearing this, everyone exclaimed, "Excellent!"

"My lord, quickly send General Ji Ling out! The morale of the army is low right now. Only General Ji Ling can defeat Guan Yu and crush the enemy's fighting spirit."

"General Ji Ling is unparalleled in the world. Fortunately, he is here and will surely prevent Guan Yu from showing off his power."

"With Ji Ling here, there shouldn't be any problems."

(End of this chapter)