EBE Chapter 530 Zhuge Liang deceives Li Yan, Wu Yi is not here!
Chapter 530 Zhuge Liang deceives Li Yan, Wu Yi is not here!
Li Yan's Residence
Seeing Zhuge Liang walk in calmly, Li Yan revealed a mocking smile:
"Hey, isn't this Zhuge Liang?"
What brings you here?
"My residence has no fine tea or water to offer you."
"Come here, see the guests off!"
If Zhuge Liang hadn't mentally prepared himself beforehand, he would have stumbled upon hearing the words "Someone, see the guest out."
However, by observing Li Yan's expression, Zhuge Liang determined that this fellow probably had not yet received news of his lord Liu Bei's defeat at Yangping Pass.
It's good that he didn't receive it; otherwise, Zhuge Liang would have been in a passive position.
Zhuge Liang ignored Li Yan's sarcastic remarks and instead bowed respectfully to him.
“Brother Zhengfang, we are both from Jingzhou.”
Before he could finish speaking, Li Yan interrupted:
"Kongming, don't try to get close to me."
"You are from Langya in Xuzhou, while I am a native of Nanyang."
"To be precise, neither of us can be considered natives of Jingzhou."
"It's just that you spent your childhood in Jingzhou, and Nanyang was nominally under the administration of Jingzhou."
"But if we're really talking about it, we're completely unrelated!"
There was a hint of arrogance in Li Yan's eyes.
His ancestors had a glorious past during the Western Han Dynasty.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, many high-ranking officials emerged from this period.
In terms of family background and social standing, he was far superior to Zhuge Liang.
Moreover, Li Yan knew perfectly well that Zhuge Jin and his siblings had been expelled from the Zhuge family.
Otherwise, when Zhuge Liang's uncle Zhuge Xuan met with misfortune, the Zhuge family would not have failed to provide shelter to the still-adult Zhuge brothers.
However, Li Yan's intelligence was still somewhat outdated.
He was unaware that only Zhuge Jin and Zhuge Liang were considered unofficial members of the Zhuge family.
Zhuge Liang's sister, Zhuge Qi, and brother, Zhuge Jun, have both returned to the Zhuge family home under Su Yu's arrangement.
In the future, when Zhuge Jun has completed his studies, it is not impossible for him to compile a separate family genealogy.
Seeing Li Yan's arrogant and domineering demeanor, Zhuge Liang clenched his fist, and his voice suddenly changed:
"Li Zhengfang! Do you want to live or die?"
Zhuge Liang's shout stunned Li Yan.
But Li Yan quickly smacked his lips, thinking, "That's more like it!"
He was quite unaccustomed to Zhuge Liang's obsequious behavior just now.
Zhuge Liang was so angry he laughed.
Okay, I shouldn't have used that pleading tone when negotiating with him; I should have been more assertive.
Immediately afterwards, Zhuge Liang said:
"Our lord fell into Cao Cao's trap at the front, his army suffered a crushing defeat, and he returned alone."
"Oh, we lost."
"What!? Returning alone?"
As Zhuge Liang finished speaking.
Li Yan's emotions suddenly experienced a huge fluctuation.
It was normal for Liu Bei to lose battles; his win rate was already extremely low, and everyone was used to it.
But the phrase "returning alone" carries many meanings.
Is Fa Zheng also dead?
Li Yan suddenly felt a strange, indescribable feeling.
Before Liu Bei went on his campaign, Li Yan was outmaneuvered by Fa Zheng, and he and Zhuge Liang became a check and balance.
Li Yan couldn't help but feel some resentment towards Fa Zheng for this.
But it wouldn't come to the point of never speaking to each other again.
Now, Fazheng, the leader of the Dongzhou faction, is gone.
So, does that mean... he, the number two, should take the position?
But soon, Li Yan hesitated again.
With Cao Cao's advance so fierce, it's hard to say whether Liu Bei can hold onto Yizhou.
If we can't hold onto it, even the position of leader of the Dongzhou faction will be worthless.
To put it bluntly, Li Yan and Liu Bei didn't have a very deep relationship at this point.
He recently betrayed Liu Zhang and colluded with Liu Bei.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to collude with Cao Cao again now!
Zhuge Liang took in all of Li Yan's expressions.
Upon hearing the news of Liu Bei's crushing defeat, he immediately rushed to visit Li Yan, hoping to offer him some kind words of advice (and perhaps try to persuade Li Yan).
Li Yan holds military power, and without his support, things will become very difficult.
As for Dong He and Fei Guan, Zhuge Liang had his own ways of persuading them.
As long as the Dongzhou faction remains united and not in turmoil, Liu Bei can retreat to Luocheng and protect Chengdu.
Cao Cao's army was on a long expedition and wouldn't be carrying much food.
If Liu Bei holds out until Cao Cao's army runs out of food, he can retake both Yangping Pass and Hanzhong.
Thinking of this, Zhuge Liang angrily rebuked Li Yan:
"Li Zhengfang! Don't forget you're from Nanyang!"
“The locals of Yizhou would definitely want to pledge allegiance to Cao Cao now.”
"Do you think Cao Cao would prioritize accepting their surrender, or choose yours?"
"I……"
Li Yan fell silent.
He already knew the answer in his heart.
Outsiders cannot suppress locals indefinitely, unless it is just a separatist force!
The Han court under Cao Cao was clearly not like that.
Our Minister Cao carries the legitimacy of the Han Dynasty wherever he goes.
What he needs to consider is the public sentiment and stability of the entire state.
Cao Cao would be insane to continue relying on the outsiders from Dongzhou, letting them ride roughshod over the locals of Yizhou!
after all.
When the Dongzhou faction entered Sichuan, they brought with them a number of refugees.
However, the overall population is still less than that of the locals in Yizhou.
It can be said that, in the eyes of the locals of Yizhou, Yizhou has long suffered under the Dongzhou faction!
Zhuge Liang calmly waited for Li Yan's reply.
When it comes to his own interests, no matter how powerful Cao Cao was, Li Yan would choose between surrendering and fighting to the death rather than surrendering.
Unless Cao Cao still agrees to let the Dongzhou faction suppress the locals of Yizhou, but that is clearly impossible.
Just as Zhuge Liang had predicted.
After careful consideration for two and a half minutes, Li Yan cupped his hands and said:
"I, Li Zhengfang, swear to live and die with our Lord!"
Having resolved the major problem of Li Yan, Zhuge Liang then persuaded Dong He and Fei Guan separately.
But when Zhuge Liang appeared at the gate of Wu Yi's residence, he was told by the steward:
"Reporting to you, sir, it is unfortunate that my master is not at home today."
"I don't know exactly where he went. Master's whereabouts are always unpredictable, and no one can say for sure."
Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang felt a surge of tension.
He was surprised to find that Wu Yi was not at home!
Although Wu Yi had previously lost power to Fa Zheng Li Yan and lost his status as the leader of the Dongzhou faction.
But a dying camel is bigger than a horse.
It's important to know that Wu Yi himself was the founder of the Dongzhou School!
At this critical juncture, Wu Yi is not here.
If it appears in Cao Cao's camp, or somewhere else, then...
Zhuge Liang dared not think any further.
……
Southern Yizhou
Jianning
The place where Liu Zhang was placed under the supervision of Liu Bei's men.
Wu Yi, disguised, entered the room.
But Liu Zhang recognized him at a glance because of his unique physique and features.
"Wu Ziyuan, tsk tsk, I never thought you would dare to show your face in front of me, the governor!"
"If it weren't for you, how could I, the governor, have wrongly killed Zhang Song, and how could I have been imprisoned here by that treacherous Liu Bei!"
Liu Zhang cursed loudly.
Anyway, he was already a crippled body, waiting to die.
Those who are barefoot are not afraid of those who wear shoes.
If you're so capable, then Liu Bei should let him die!
If you're not even afraid of death, what is there to fear?
……
PS: Extra chapter delivered! I'd love for your support, please give me some gifts and clicks to show your love and support. I'm extremely grateful!