Chapter 385: Playing Both Ends

Seeing Lu Lingqi like this, Yan just sighed and said, "Aren't you afraid that he will deceive you?"

Lu Lingqi asked, "Mother, do you think Yuan Shu has no plans against us?"

"At least there is a promise here. If I give birth to a boy, he can be adopted by the Lu family to inherit the family line. Isn't this what my mother wants?"

"If I marry Yuan Yao, my father will take a concubine. If I give birth to a boy, my mother won't be happy in the future, right?"

After hearing this, Yan was speechless and sighed helplessly.

Seeing that the time had come, Lu Lingqi whispered, "Doesn't mother hate the unclear relationship between Madam Wei Xu and father? There is a good opportunity tonight."

After hearing this, Yan immediately said happily: "What, is there a way to kill that bitch?"

Lu Lingqi hesitated and said, "As long as mother invites him to meet, I will figure out the rest."

After hearing this, Yan said happily, "Ling'er is still capable. Even if I don't kill her, I will teach her a big lesson!"

"I'll send someone to invite her right away!"

Lu Lingqi came out of Yan's room and thought to herself, if only things could go so smoothly that evening.

At night, all the generals gathered at Lu Bu's residence. Wei Xu stood up first and said, "You all have seen today that Yuan Shu's army is strong. If this continues, we will not be able to hold out in two days."

"What's the best plan now?"

Some people cursed in their hearts, wasn't this disadvantage caused by your misuse of the Trap Camp?

There are not many people in the city, and you even let the Xianzhen Camp charge under the city wall. This should have been used to charge the enemy's central army at the critical moment. How can you use it like this?

Chen Gong said, "Just defending without attacking is not a solution either."

"The enemy has many soldiers, and it is difficult for the Xianzhen Camp to break into the enemy camp and kill the main general."

"For now, the best strategy is for someone to lead a cavalry unit and wait for an opportunity to harass the central army, so that they will be timid and retreat."

"I think Yuan Yao has not fought much. If he is threatened or even injured, he will most likely be scared."

Everyone nodded. After hearing this, Wei Xu asked, "Who's willing to go?"

He looked at the generals. Neither the civil official Chen Gong nor the infantryman Gao Shun were suitable. The only ones left were Hou Cheng, Song Xian, and Cheng Lian.

When Hou Cheng and Song Xian saw this, they both lowered their heads and said nothing. They were idiots to do this. There were so many people on the other side, what would they do if they were surrounded?

Seeing this, Cheng Lian said, "I still have a hundred or so cavalrymen. The rest have been given to Wen Hou to take away. If you give me 500 more soldiers, I can give it a try."

After hearing this, Wei Xu said, "It's hard to say whether the city can gather 500 cavalrymen."

"Don't you think the current situation is very bad?"

"With our current military strength, we can't stop Yuan Shu's army!"

Yuan Xi said at this time: "How about sending someone to ask for help from Marquis Wen?"

Wei Xu shook his head, "Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst."

"I do have an idea."

"Since Lord Wen has entrusted the city affairs to me, I must ensure the safety of the people in the city."

"If we continue fighting like this, and there are casualties on both sides, and we anger Yuan Yao, if the city falls, we might not even be able to save our lives!"

"What's more, there are Marquis Wen's family members. If they are kidnapped by him, we will not be able to stay under Marquis Wen's control!"

"The best solution now is to negotiate with Yuan Yao."

"Marquis Wen will definitely understand our painstaking efforts. When the two families marry, they will surely be able to turn hostility into friendship."

After hearing this, Yuan Xi sneered and said, "I think you don't take me seriously."

"Marquis Wen has already promised me marriage, is it your turn to decide?"

"You may have colluded with Yuan Shu a long time ago, right?"

After hearing this, Wei Xu said with a fake smile: "Your Excellency's words are a bit harsh."

"Compared to Yuan Benchu ​​who had a falling out with Wen Hou, I would rather trust Yuan Gonglu."

"The two Yuans are fighting, why should we be caught in the middle and become the scapegoat?"

"Isn't that right, everyone?"

Seeing that the generals didn't react, he threw the cup and said, "Come here, tie him up!"

Yuan Xi saw dozens of soldiers rushing over and asked in surprise, "So General Wei has been planning to attack me for a long time?"

The soldiers rushed forward and tied Yuan Xi up tightly.

Cheng Lian saw several soldiers tying up Yuan Xi tightly, and he was stunned and asked, "What's going on?"

Hou Cheng and Song Xian stood up and stood on both sides of Wei Xu. Wei Xu saw that Chen Gong and Gao Shun were also surrounded by soldiers, and knew that the situation was already decided. He smiled at Cheng Lian and said, "General Cheng, everyone now agrees to make peace with Yuan Shu. Only a few diehards are left."

"Besides, this fierce tiger is Yuan Gonglu's enemy. He specifically wants him alive. If we hand him over, we will be able to make a great contribution and have a bright future!"

Cheng Lian stammered, "We made the decision on our own. What if Marquis Wen comes back?"

Wei Xu laughed: "We have voted for Yuan Gonglu, so why should we care what Wen Hou does!"

"Now that the fierce tiger has been captured, we will open the gates and surrender the city. Who is in favor and who is against?"

He looked around and found that Hou Cheng and Song Xian had already colluded with him, and Chen Gong and Gao Shun were suffering from Lu Bu's suspicion. According to the paper, joining Yuan Shu was a way out.

Who will stand on Lu Bu's side?

Yuan Xi had wanted to persuade the Yan family to deal with him before, but he didn't know that he had already heard the news. Now he had to strike first!

In order to confuse the ferocious tiger, he kept a calm face and let his wife attend the banquet. The ferocious tiger thought he had succeeded!

Yuan Xi, with his hands tied behind his back, said, "Why, I don't understand why the general betrayed Marquis Wen?"

Wei Xu's face was grim, "No one would tolerate anyone's wife having an affair with Marquis Wen!"

"Do you think we are so generous?"

When Yuan Xi saw that Wei Xu was pointing at Hou Chengsong Xian, he was stunned. It turned out that there was not one, but three!

Lu Bu is really lame.

It would be fine if she was a widow, but he was having an affair with a married woman, one of his own subordinates. Isn't that laying hidden dangers for himself?

He couldn't help but look into the backyard.

Upon seeing this, Wei Xu immediately remembered that his wife was still in Yan's backyard. He stood up with a sneer and strode out.

"You keep an eye on these people!"

"Anyone who rapes another's wife or daughter must be raped himself. I gladly accept the wife and daughter of Marquis Wen. I will hand them over tomorrow so that Marquis Wen can wear more hats!"

He led a dozen soldiers and rushed to Yan's wing room. Just as he arrived in front of the wing room, he saw Lu Lingqi holding a short spear against his wife's throat, so he stopped.

Lu Lingqi shouted, "Wei Xu, you dare to rebel!"

Wei Xu laughed: "I know the girl is good at fighting, but how many people can you beat?"

"Come on!"

Lu Lingqi raised the short spear, and the tip of the spear pierced into Madam Wei Xu's neck half an inch, and Madam Wei Xu screamed immediately.

Lu Lingqi shouted, "Stop!"

"Or I'll kill her!"

Wei Xu laughed, "It's up to you. There are plenty of women in the world. Do you think you can threaten me with this old shoe?"

"superior!"

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment. They knew that Lu Lingqi was a member of Marquis Wen's family. If they took action now, what if Marquis Wen retaliated against them afterwards?

Wei Xu sneered, "There's no turning back now. If you join Yuan Gonglu, you'll have plenty of wealth and glory!"

He was urging the soldiers to move forward when he heard footsteps behind him. Turning around, he saw Chen Gong, Gao Shun and others approaching.

He didn't care at all and said with a smile, "Are you two here to persuade me?"

"Marquis Wen is so suspicious of you two, so he should have figured it out, right?"

"Isn't it better to join Yuan Gonglu than to stay here?"

But a man flashed out from behind Gao Shun, rubbing his wrist and saying with a smile: "That's not necessarily true."

Wei Xu's eyes suddenly widened in shock, it was Yuan Xi!

He instinctively felt something was wrong and reached out to draw the long sword at his waist, but Gao Shun stepped forward and the ring-handled sword behind him had already chopped down on his head, cutting off one of Wei Xu's arms!

Wei Xu let out a terrifying scream, fell to the ground, holding his shoulder, and rolled over.

Yuan Xi shouted to the soldiers, "Wei Xu rebelled. Put down your weapons and I will forgive you for what you did!"

The soldiers had been hesitating, but when they heard Chen Gong and Gao Shun speak, they quickly put down their weapons.

Gao Shun stepped on Wei Xu's chest, searched for a secret letter from his arms, shook it out, took a look, and handed it to Yuan Xi, saying, "It is indeed a secret letter from him to collude with Yuan Shu."

Yuan Xi took it, showed it to Chen Gong, then put it in his arms and said with a smile: "Mr. Gongtai, I will keep this evidence for now and give it to Wen Hou when he comes back. How about that?"

Chen Gong listened and nodded, saying, "Let's do as you say, young master."

Wei Xu was about to faint from the pain. He covered his shoulder and said in a hoarse voice: "What's going on? Why do you know my plan?"

Yuan Xi smiled slightly, thinking that of course it was because he had known it long ago.

Wei Xu's plan was originally done with his help.

Chen Gong and Gao Shun were able to mobilize the soldiers of the Xianzhen Camp in advance. Under their suggestion, the Xianzhen Camp learned that its former commander Qu Yi was a general under Yuan Xi, who was attacked and killed some days ago, and Yuan Xi avenged him personally.

After Lu Lingqi's intentional or unintentional confirmation, the soldiers in the Xianzhen Camp had a great change in their views on Yuan Xi.

Especially today, Wei Xu caused many people to die in vain, which completely ignited the anger of the Xianzhen Camp. Wei Xu asked them to tie up Yuan Xi, but in fact they were just acting.

As soon as Wei Xu left the hall, the soldiers of the Xianzhen Camp immediately controlled Hou Chengsongxian and others and untied Yuan Xi.

As for why Yuan Xi knew Wei Xu's overall plan, we have to mention the secret letters that Wei Xu received.

These secret letters were secretly delivered to Wei Xu by spies outside the city several days in advance, promising him high positions and generous salaries if he opened the city and surrendered to Yuan Yao.

Wei Xu was immediately attracted. After verifying it several times, he determined that the letter was genuine and decided to cooperate.

However, what he did not expect was that this letter was not written by Yuan Shu or Yuan Yao, but by Yuan Xi!

The letters sent to Wei Xu by his spies pretending to be Yuan Shu's men were actually forged by Yuan Xi. He used several fake letters to promise generous conditions and seduce Wei Xu to take action, thus exposing his identity as a traitor in advance!

As for why Wei Xu was deceived, it was because the standard seal and signature in the letter were exactly the same as those in the real secret letter from Yuan Shu.

To explain why Yuan Xi knew so much about this, we have to trace back to the day when Taishi Ci sent a letter to Yuan Xi.

The letter said that Lu Xun suggested to sow discord between Yuan Shu and Sun Ce. Yuan Xi attached great importance to this and finally got it done after a lot of effort and twists and turns.

After getting certain promises, Sun Ce secretly gave Yuan Xi a lot of information about Yuan Shu, including details such as the seal format of his secret documents.

So Yuan Xi was ready and planned this plan to lure the snake out of its hole. He thought that he had done his best for Lu Bu. If Lu Bu treated his subordinates like this, it would be only a matter of time before the thunder exploded. It would be better to detonate the thunder himself in advance and keep the losses to a minimum.

Otherwise, the death toll would not be just a hundred or so, but possibly everyone in the city, including Lu Bu's generals and their families.

Wei Xu was chosen by Yuan Xi as the person with the greatest suspicion and the most likely to betray. As expected, he had long been dissatisfied with Lu Bu and immediately had the intention of rebelling. He was deceived by Yuan Xi's letter and, after a while, he decided to surrender the city.

He had no idea that his plan was already known clearly.

Of course, Yuan Xi also sent someone to send the contents of Wei Xu's letter to Yuan Yao.

Wei Xu agreed that the day for the rebellion would be tonight, and the one that Yuan Xi had chosen to open the city gate for Yuan Yao was also tonight!

Yuan Xi was like a middleman, taking advantage of both sides and luring Wei Xu and Yuan Yao into his trap.

What he had to do now was to pretend to open the city gate so that Yuan Yaojun, who was waiting outside the city, would be caught in a trap.

He flexed his wrist and smiled at Chen Gong and Gao Shun: "Tonight will be a long night."