Three Kingdoms: Mistakenly Becoming Liu Bei's Adoptive Father at the Start

Outside Anxi City, the night was as black as ink.

A group of remnants of the army staggered to the city walls. There were about two or three hundred of them, covered in blood, their armor in disarray, and their cries could be heard clearly across the moat.

"Open the door! Open the door now! We are Liu Bei's soldiers! We were ambushed by Yuan Shao's men on the way!"

The soldiers on the city wall raised their torches and shone them down. Sure enough, they looked like a defeated army. Some had arrows stuck in their arms, and others had to be supported to stand.

The first man, head thrown back, screamed, his voice cracking: "I am Wang Hu, a garrison commander under General Zhao! Open the gate! The pursuers are almost here!"

Upon hearing the news, Pei Yuanshao climbed the city wall, glanced down, and frowned deeply.

"Which battalion are you from? What are you doing here?"

The man was frantic, jumping up and down: "General! We were escorting grain back from Luoyang when we encountered Yuan Shao's men in Hejian, and all the grain carts were lost! My brothers fought their way out, and only a few of us are left! Please open the gate quickly and let us in to treat our wounds; the pursuers will be here in no time!"

Someone nearby chimed in, "Yes, General! We truly are Lord Xuande's men! Look, this is our identification badge!"

Several waist tags were hung on the city wall with ropes.

Pei Yuanshao took it and examined it by the torch. It was indeed the standard material used in his own camp, and the writing on the wood was still legible despite being blurry.

He glanced down again.

Two or three hundred people crowded at the city gate, some slumped on the ground, some groaning softly, and the smell of blood wafted up on the night wind.

"Open the door," Pei Yuanshao said.

The drawbridge slowly lowered, and the city gate creaked open a crack.

Those at the front swarmed in.

Pei Yuanshao was about to go down the city wall to ask questions when he suddenly heard screams coming from the city gate.

It wasn't the groans of wounded soldiers, but the muffled thud of blades piercing flesh, the dying cries of the dying.

"not good!"

Pei Yuanshao drew his sword and charged down from the city wall, only to be met by a flood of Yuan's army pouring in.

Those men were no defeated soldiers; beneath their armor were layers of fine iron armor, their swords and spears gleaming brightly.

The first general, clad in black armor and riding a black horse, with a long beard and a red face, wielded a large sword in a wide arc, and none who stood in his way were able to escape.

Pei Yuanshao roared and swung his sword straight at the center gate.

He didn't even lift his eyelids, just casually flicked them.

"when!"

Pei Yuanshao almost dropped his sword, and he and his horse were jolted back three steps, staggering and nearly falling to the ground.

He steadied himself, shook his numb right hand, and felt a chill run down his spine.

Is that a person or an iron tower?

In the second exchange, Pei Yuanshao learned his lesson and dared not confront the opponent head-on. Instead, he took a more unorthodox approach, trying to find an opportunity from the side.

It was as if the blade had read his mind; it turned and struck his blade squarely.

Pei Yuanshao felt a tremendous force come over him, and half of his body went numb. His swordsmanship immediately became chaotic, leaving him wide open.

The third round didn't come.

The general sheathed his sword and stood still, saying calmly, "There's no need to fight anymore."

Pei Yuanshao stood frozen in place, holding his sword, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

He hadn't lost yet, he hadn't fallen yet, how could this happen...?

But when he looked down at his trembling hands and then at the composed demeanor of the other man, he suddenly understood!

But it was too late when he realized what was happening. Pei Yuanshao spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes rolled back, and he fell off his horse.

Everyone was dumbfounded. That general was extremely arrogant and actually used his strength to kill Pei Yuanshao!

It turned out that the general was none other than Yan Liang, a top-tier general under Yuan Shao, known as one of the "Twin Jewels of Hebei".

Back then, Yan Liang killed Song Xian and Wei Xu in succession, and quickly defeated Xu Huang in twenty rounds, making Cao Cao's generals tremble with fear.

Yan Liang at this moment would easily defeat Pei Yuanshao in three moves.

Yan Liang sheathed his sword, glanced at Pei Yuanshao lying in a pool of blood, and said coldly, "He's quite loyal."

Behind him, Yuan's army swarmed into Anxi County like locusts.

The two thousand garrison soldiers of Anxi County had just woken up from their sleep and were cut down at the entrance of their barracks before they could even put on their armor.

The streets were filled with fleeing soldiers and terrified civilians. Yuan's army killed anyone they saw and burned any houses they saw. Flames shot into the sky, illuminating half the night sky.

Jian Yong had just put on his clothes in the county government office when the door was kicked open.

Two soldiers from Yuan's army rushed in, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged him into the courtyard.

Jian Yong struggled to look back, only to find the county government gate engulfed in flames, and all the documents and records inside were probably destroyed.

"You..." Jian Yong had just opened his mouth when he was punched in the face, his vision went black, and he was thrown onto the horse like a broken sack.

When Jian Yong woke up again, he was already tied to a wooden stake in front of Yuan Shao's tent.

The tent was brightly lit, and Yuan Shao was discussing matters with Feng Ji and Guo Tu.

Yan Liang strode in, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "My lord, Anxi has been captured. I fought Pei Yuanshao in battle and captured Jian Yong alive. The city's grain, fodder, and weapons are currently being inventoried."

Yuan Shao was overjoyed: "Excellent! There will be a reward!"

Guo Tu laughed and said, "Congratulations, my lord, the plan has succeeded."

Feng Ji also said, "Liu Bei has lost his foundation, so Luoyang is like a tree without roots. When he can't stand the hunger over there, he will naturally come to beg for help from our lord."

Yuan Shao was extremely pleased with himself and said loudly, "Bring Jian Yong up here."

When Jian Yong was pushed into the tent, he was covered in blood, his face was bruised and purple, but he still stood straight.

Yuan Shao said, "Jian Xianhe, Anxi has been captured, Lü Bu has taken Chang'an, and he will soon march on Luoyang. Liu Bei will be attacked from both sides and will be wiped out in the blink of an eye. If you are willing to surrender, I will guarantee you wealth and honor."

Jian Yong raised his head, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, as if he were smiling.

"Yuan Benchu, what kind of skill is it to arrest me and kill me?"

Yuan Shao frowned slightly.

Jian Yong continued, "If you're so capable, go and capture Liu Zishan. My worthless life is worth less than a single hair of Master Zishan's. You may kill me today, but tomorrow Master Zishan will still be in Luoyang, still helping Liu Bei gather provisions and train troops. Can you kill them all?"

Yuan Shao's face darkened.

Jian Yong, however, continued, "Whose scheme was Hulao Pass? Whose scheme was Hangu Pass? Who saved the more than 100,000 people in Luoyang? As long as Master Zishan is alive, Liu Bei will not fall. What's the use of your sneak attack on Anxi and capturing Jian Yong?"

Yuan Shao placed his hand on the table, and his face visibly changed from black to white, and then from white to red.

He thought back to those days.

Liu Liang assisted Liu Bei, who gained control of Hulao Pass, Luoyang, and a reputation. Liu Liang also helped Cao Cao, who broke through Hangu Pass, occupied Chang'an, and then escaped unscathed.

And what about Yuan Shao?

He was the leader of the Sour Jujube Alliance.

The feudal lords dispersed, and he listened to Ju Shou's advice and did not attempt to seize Luoyang.

Later, wanting to move westward, they listened to Guo Tu's advice and came to attack Anxi.

We took Anxi.

But then?

Liu Bei was still in Luoyang, while Cao Cao returned to Yanzhou.

What did he get?

An empty county, two thousand shi of grain and fodder, and a stubborn Jian Yong who cursed him.

Seeing that he remained silent, Jian Yong added, "Yuan Benchu, instead of wasting your time interrogating me, you should go after Mr. Zishan. If you do, you might be able to ask him for some advice as well."

Yuan Shao suddenly stood up.

"Guards! Drag this scoundrel out and execute him!"

The tent flap was lifted, and two axemen rushed in, grabbed Jian Yong, and dragged him out.

As Jian Yong was dragged away, he kept shouting, "What's the use of killing me? Even if you kill me, Mr. Zishan is still alive! Can you kill him? Can you...?"

The sound faded into the distance and gradually disappeared.

Ju Shou strode into the tent and stopped the two axemen.

"slow!"

Then he strode towards Yuan Shao: "My lord, please calm your anger! Jian Yong must not be killed!"

Yuan Shao's face turned ashen: "Why can't I kill him?"

Ju Shou said, "Jian Yong is merely a staff member under Liu Bei. Killing him will not harm Liu Bei. However, our lord is of noble status. If word gets out that we have killed a prisoner, what will the world think of the Yuan family, which has held high office for four generations?"

Yuan Shao frowned.

Ju Shou then said, "If our lord is to kill someone, he should kill Liu Zishan. Killing Jian Yong would only bring him a bad reputation and would be of no benefit whatsoever."

Yuan Shao stood still, his chest heaving.

A moment later, he waved.

"Drag him back. Give him thirty lashes to teach him a lesson!"

The executioners dragged Jian Yong back and pinned him down in front of the tent.

Ju Shou wanted to persuade him again, but he knew that Yuan Shao was narrow-minded and it was already a blessing that he was not killed. He could not possibly let Jian Yong go. He could only hope that this weak scholar could withstand the thirty strokes of the cane.

"Clap clap clap!"

The board fell again and again, tearing skin and flesh apart, blood and flesh flying everywhere.

Jian Yong gritted his teeth and remained silent.

He had already passed out after being hit about twenty times.

After thirty strokes, he was a mangled mess.

Yuan Shao didn't even glance at it before turning and entering the back tent.

Ju Shou squatted down and checked Jian Yong's breath.

still alive.

"Take him away and get a physician to apply medicine. Don't let him die."

The soldiers carried Jian Yong away.

A pool of blood remained on the ground in front of the tent.