Chapter 391: The Plan of Separation

Seeing that Yang Feng insisted on telling him the secret of Taiping Qinglingshu Kung Fu, Zhang Yan knew that it would be useless even if he continued to ask. After all, the truth or not was all in the other person's mind. How could he really see it?

He said, "I came to see Commander Yang this time to discuss what to do if Black Mountain can't hold out."

Zhang Yan's Black Mountain Army, as an important force during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, was nominally under the control of Zhang Jiao, the Heavenly Master of the Taiping Dao. This was understandable, because the core of the Yellow Turban Army organization was the Taiping Dao.

Without the support of the Taiping Dao from top to bottom and the establishment of a unified organizational structure within the army, the Yellow Turban Army, including the Black Mountain Army, would have been unable to form effective mobilization and management capabilities.

But it was also because of this that after Zhang Jue died of illness, with the deaths of Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao in battle, the Yellow Turban Army's superior system collapsed. The so-called millions of Yellow Turban soldiers and civilians fought on their own and were unable to gather together effectively. They were eventually defeated one by one.

The reason why there was no new leader like Zhang Jue was that the generals of various branches of the Yellow Turban Army, such as Zhang Yan and others, did not obtain the title of Tianshi Zhenren, which was a title that the Yellow Turban Army could accept, through the morality of the Taiping Dao.

Only one person walked ahead of the crowd.

While other princes made their fortunes by suppressing the Yellow Turbans and gaining military merit, Cao Cao had already used the family knowledge of the Cao family to recruit Taiping Dao alchemists to build momentum for himself, secretly cultivating his own power among the remaining Yellow Turbans and improving his prestige in the Taiping Dao.

The rewards were also generous. The surrender of the Qingzhou Army greatly enhanced Cao Cao's strength. Among the other Yellow Turban remnants, Cao Cao's reputation soared. Yang Feng knew this very well, but she did not object.

After all, Cao Cao did a lot for the Taiping Dao. In Yang Feng's opinion, if Cao Cao ascended to the throne, he would not abandon his identity as the Taiping Daoist. Maybe the Taiping Dao could even surpass Confucianism and become the state religion!

However, Yang Feng hated Yuan Xi very much for spreading rumors in the name of Taiping Dao. It was obvious that the other party wanted to learn from Cao Cao and pave the way for himself to absorb the Yellow Turban Army and the remnants of Taiping Dao. His previous rumors had already put Heishan in danger. What if he continued like this and was able to occupy the Taiping Dao's nest and dig into its corner?

Yang Feng originally looked down on the children of aristocratic families. These people are Confucianists in their hearts. When they ascend to the throne in the future, how could they tolerate the Taiping Dao?

But Cao Cao was different. He was the descendant of a eunuch and was naturally incompatible with the gentry. Moreover, his practice of employing people from humble backgrounds was more in line with the Taiping Dao's moral principle of saving the people, compared with Yuan's benevolence with the gentry and indulgence in their privileged behavior.

Zhang Yan guessed that Yang Feng had a very high status in the Taiping Dao, because when Yang Feng came to the Black Mountain Army, he brought a large number of core Taiping Dao alchemists with him, helping the Black Mountain Army build a top-down system and raising the Black Mountain Army's combat effectiveness to a higher level. Therefore, Yang Feng's prestige in the Black Mountain Army was second only to Zhang Yan.

It is precisely because of this that Zhang Yan has extremely complicated feelings towards Yang Feng. He needs Yang Feng's help in managing the Black Mountain Army, but he is also secretly wary of Yang Feng suppressing him.

When Yang Feng heard Zhang Yan ask him about this, he said without hesitation, "If it really comes to that, I suggest that we follow the example of the Qingzhou army and join Cao Cao, the governor of Yanzhou."

Zhang Yan's eyes flashed: "Why Cao Cao?"

"Heishan and Yanzhou do not border each other. Even if we surrender to him, what can he do for us?"

Yang Feng replied, "I heard that he is leading his troops to Anyi to welcome the emperor, not far from Black Mountain."

"Besides, he is an ally of Yuan. If we join him, we can stop the war with Yuan."

Zhang Yan said, "Have you ever thought, Chief Yang, that things are not that simple?"

"In order to open up the road to Bingzhou, the Yuan family is determined to take Black Mountain. How could they give it to Cao Cao?"

"To be honest with you, Chief Yang, Cao Cao has also sent me several secret letters in private, promising me many benefits, including reporting to the emperor and increasing rewards for the Black Mountain generals."

"I was quite moved at the time and almost agreed."

Yang Feng listened quietly. She could tell that Zhang Yan's thoughts now were definitely different from before.

Zhang Yan explained: "The reasons for my change of mind are mainly as follows."

"First, the Youzhou Army put too much pressure on Black Mountain, especially after the Jizhou Army intervened. I no longer have the confidence to defend Black Mountain after joining Cao Cao."

"Second, Cao Cao's welcoming of the emperor in Anyi was not smooth. The emperor was surrounded not only by the Baibo Army, but also by the coalition forces of Lu Bu and Yuan Xi. Both sides were against him."

When Yang Feng heard this, his eyebrows raised. Why was it Yuan Xi again?

This person seems to be everywhere, and is involved in everything. What on earth does he want to do?

She said calmly: "I heard that he is in Huaicheng now."

"If the General nods, Feng will bring ten men into the city, which will be enough to kill him."

Zhang Yan hesitated after hearing this and said, "It's still too risky."

Zhang Yan now doesn't dare to place all his bets on Cao Cao.

It would be fine if Cao Cao could defeat other forces and welcome the emperor, but he did not show overwhelming strength in Anyi. Zhang Yan had to consider the consequences of Cao Cao's failure and his own failed gamble.

After all, Jizhou is right next to him. If he fails to take it down this time, it will come back again next year. He cannot even resolve the current crisis, let alone other things.

Although the Black Mountain Army and the Yuan family had a great hatred for each other's sneak attack on Ye City, judging from the results alone, the Black Mountain Army did not kill Yuan Shao's family, so there is still room for maneuver.

Yuan Shang also sent someone to say that if Zhang Yan surrendered, he would guarantee his life and status in front of Yuan Shao.

There is another reason that Yang Feng doesn't know.

The ferocious tiger from the Yuan family sent someone to deliver a secret letter the day before yesterday, detailing the fact that Yang Chou had colluded with Cao Cao, attacked Lu Bu's mansion, and attempted to drag the Black Mountain Army into the water.

The evidence was conclusive, including the fact that Yang Chou's family had been sent to Yanzhou, which Zhang Yan had already known.

The letter also provided proof that Yang Chou was Yang Feng's sworn brother. The Yang family adopted Yang Feng back then, and Yang Feng also learned his marksmanship from the Yang family!

As soon as Zhang Yan saw it, he believed it to about 70%, because he also knew a lot of the inside story, but it was not as clear as in the letter. Now he connected everything together!

No wonder Yang Feng ran to Nanaikou to pick someone up the day before yesterday, and then he received the news that Yang Chou was killed by a ferocious tiger, and the two sides had a fierce fight.

So, Yang Feng should be Cao Cao's man!

Zhang Yan was extremely alert. If Yang Chou and Yang Feng were both Cao Cao's men, then what on earth were they going to do in the Black Mountain Army?

Some things in Yuan Xi's secret letter are true, and some things are made up by him. The disgusting thing is that it is a mixture of true and false. Eight out of ten are true and one out of ten are false, and the remaining one out of ten is left for Zhang Yan to fill in the blanks in his mind.

As for what Zhang Yan could guess, it was naturally what he was most willing to believe.

Yuan Xi's goal is to alienate the relationship between the two, make Zhang Yan and Yang Feng turn against each other, and finally force Yang Feng to leave Heishan. Without the support of the Heishan army, Yang Feng will be a toothless tiger. That is when Yuan Xi will encircle and suppress Yang Feng!

Zhang Yan stared at Yang Feng and said slowly, "So I don't dare to bet now. If I lose, I can still get away with it, but the Black Mountain Army will be buried here by me."

"If that's the case, how can I be worthy of my foster father who is the first leader?"

Yang Feng was silent. She lowered her head and said nothing. After a while, she suddenly raised her head and said, "The General of the Central Army said that Cao Cao was obstructed by Yuan Xi's subordinates when he was welcoming the emperor?"

"Feng heard that the fierce tiger is still in Huaicheng?"

"Isn't it all over if I lead some people to sneak into Huaicheng and kill him?"

"Once he dies, his subordinates in Anyi will surely scatter like birds and beasts, and will certainly be unable to stop Cao Gong."

"If I can capture Lu Bu's wife and daughter, I can force him to surrender."

"In this way, the two forces in Anyi that are against Duke Cao will collapse, and Duke Cao will be able to welcome the emperor smoothly, right?"

Zhang Yan laughed and said, "Commander Yang is very optimistic about Envoy Cao."

Yang Feng said casually: "Of course, Cao Gong is the chosen one to revitalize the Taiping Dao in the future."

Zhang Yan's eyes flashed with a strange look, and he nodded and said, "Since Commander Yang has made up his mind, I can't say anything. I will ask someone to find out the situation in Huaicheng first, and when the time is right, I will notify Commander Yang."

"But the situation on the Black Mountain front is tight, and we still need Chief Yang to take charge."

After hearing this, Yang Feng bowed and said, "Thank you, General Zhonglang. I will go and get ready first."

Zhang Yan looked at the background where Yang Feng left and narrowed her eyes.

It turns out that Yang Feng was not optimistic about himself, but Cao Cao?

No wonder!

At present, he still needs Yang Feng to resist the Jizhou army. When things get impossible, it will not be too late to let him assassinate Yuan Xi.

If Yang Feng wants to die, then let her go. No matter what the outcome is, she will not suffer any loss.

If Yuan Xi could be killed, Cao Cao would welcome the emperor in Anyi, and he would go to Cao Cao to show his loyalty.

If Yang Feng failed and died in the city, he would be able to completely unify the Black Mountain Army. At that time, it would be up to him to decide whether to join the Yuan family or the Cao family.

It would be better if both sides died together. He could take the credit for himself and at the same time seek credit from both Cao Cao and Yuan Shang to see which side was better since there would be no evidence anyway.

There were so many choices that he was confused because there was a fourth choice.

Zhang Yan couldn't help but wonder, what benefits would he get if he leaked the news of Yang Feng's assassination to Yuan Xi?

Yuan Xi, who was still in Huaicheng at this time, never dreamed that the letter he sent to Zhang Yan to sow discord might very well bring disaster back to himself after taking several detours.

After all, when using strategies, even the best strategists cannot take all factors into account.

At this time, he was in the backyard of Lu's mansion. He and Lu Lingqi set up an incense table and paid tribute to Qu Yi from afar in the direction of Beixincheng.

Lu Lingqi was feeling a little depressed and said, "I wonder if Master's coffin has been sent back."

Yuan Xi thought that because there was no urgent military information, the letter from Beixincheng had not been delivered yet, and sighed: "I have already instructed the escorting soldiers to hand it over to the people in my mansion for proper placement."

"According to the time, he has probably been buried. I cannot be there in person now, so I can only go back to Beixin City to hold Brother Qu's funeral."

Lu Lingqi nodded and said, "You still have a conscience. When are you leaving?"

Yuan Xi said, "If everything goes well, Marquis Wen and Zilong will join forces to welcome the emperor to Huaicheng, and my work will be done. I will then set out to return."

"you"

Lu Lingqi thought about it, her face slightly reddened, "I won't go back with you!"

Yuan Xi smiled and said, "It's up to you. If you don't want this marriage, I won't force you."

"It's better to spend more time with your parents. In this chaotic world, who knows when they will die and you won't be able to see them anymore."

Lu Lingqi snorted coldly, "Don't curse my father and mother!"

She suddenly thought of something: "Did Mrs. Du really not send it to you?"

After hearing this, Yuan Xi shook his head and said, "I really don't know."

Lu Lingqi asked suspiciously, "Really?"

Yuan Xi defended himself, "Although I am lustful, I am not afraid to do it. If I really coveted her, I would definitely do it openly."

"But I really don't know her whereabouts. Huaicheng was in such a turmoil those days. Maybe she met with an accident. Who knows."

"Anyway, she's not with me, otherwise I'd be hunted down every day!"