Chapter 40: Sneaking Into the City
Just then, Huang Fusong asked, "The plan is good, but how do we spread the message to let the soldiers inside the city know about our strength?"
"Ah... well... what should we do?" Dong Zhuo panicked, sweating profusely. His inner turmoil echoed, "My son-in-law hasn’t told me about this yet! What should I say?"
Seeing Dong Zhuo’s reaction, Huang Fusong became almost certain.
"This plan is not from Dong Zhuo’s thoughts," he secretly contemplated. "If not him, then who could it be?"
As everyone racked their brains, suddenly, Long Chen stood up and said, "I have a good plan to handle this!"
His voice wasn’t loud or slow, yet it exuded conviction, surprising even the seasoned generals.
"Just you!? Such big words from someone so young," mocked an old general in the tent.
Upon witnessing this, Wang Yun, irritated, slammed the table and rebuked, "Who are you to speak? This lad is under my care; you have no authority to lecture him!"
Seeing the tension, Huang Fusong tried to ease the atmosphere, "They say heroes rise in their youth. Since General Long has spoken up, let’s sit down and listen."
"See that? Even General Huang supports him. Sit down and listen!" Wang Yun scolded the old general.
The old general was close to pulling out his white beard in anger. He thought, "How can a mere junior general who deals with bandits compare to seasoned veterans like us? Let’s see how he embarrasses himself."
Most others held similar thoughts, coldly eyeing Long Chen.
Long Chen cupped his hands towards everyone and calmly said, "To spread our army’s strength, the premise is to have someone infiltrate Guangzong City."
"Gain the trust of the Yellow Turban army, then openly publicize our military prowess. Only then can our fabricated news become real!"
Seeing Long Chen steal his thunder, Dong Zhuo’s nostrils flared, his lips puckered as he snidely remarked, "I know this method too! But will it work?" frёewebηovel.cѳm
"Yeah! Will this plan actually work?" Others who supported Dong Zhuo and didn’t like Long Chen’s attitude joined in.
After all, no matter what, Dong Zhuo was their contemporary and a retainer of the prestigious Yuan family, a status far above Long Chen’s.
Dong Zhongying, huh! I’ve got you marked!
This brute Dong Zhuo committed countless atrocities. During the capital’s relocation to Luoyang, countless commoners lost their lives!
Moreover, he invaded Chang’an and defiled the three thousand beauties in the palace.
What irked Long Chen the most, even brought murderous thoughts, was that in the original story, this fatso even toyed with his darling Diaochan!
Luckily, he married Diaochan beforehand. Otherwise, according to historical events...
This audacious man Dong Zhuo, if he ever saw Diaochan’s stunning face, would certainly have malicious intentions.
In short, Long Chen couldn’t stand this fatso no matter how he looked at him!
So, he retorted directly.
"Oh! Now you know? Just a moment ago, when General Huang asked you so many times, you took forever to come up with a single word."
"And now that I’ve spoken, you suddenly have ideas? General Dong, you’re really impressive!"
Dong Zhuo, not skilled in rhetoric and more inclined towards brutality, found himself turning red with anger under Long Chen’s retort.
The critical point was, he had lost face!
"Alright, enough is enough. Long Chen, tell us how you plan to execute your scheme. How will you infiltrate Guangzong City and gain the trust of the Yellow Turban rebels?"
"Remember, Guangzong City is surrounded by our forces, and the Yellow Turban rebels are highly exclusive."
"Rest assured, General Huang. I have my ways!" Long Chen revealed a mysterious smile.
"Humph! Playing tricks. I want to see how you’ll get inside! You might end up as a hedgehog, pierced by arrows!" Dong Zhuo sneered.
After the military meeting, an infuriated Dong Zhuo returned to his tent. A tall, slender man in a dark gray robe sat there, exuding a subtle sense of malice.
With a pair of triangular eyes, shrouded in darkness, and an evil-looking eight-character mustache, this man was none other than Li Ru, Dong Zhuo’s son-in-law and chief strategist.
Over the years, Dong Zhuo’s rapid expansion of power was closely tied to Li Ru. Hence, Li Ru was the person Dong Zhuo valued the most, consulted on both minor and major matters.
Listening to Dong Zhuo’s grievances, Li Ru thought to himself, "This lad is extraordinary, coming up with such a plan..."
.....
A few days later, outside the south gate of Guangzong City, dense ranks of Yellow Turban soldiers were stationed, nearly three thousand strong, guarding the city.
Everything appeared normal until the late afternoon. The Yellow Turban soldiers, relaxed during their break, began changing shifts and having their meals.
As they eased up, a cloud of dust rose, accompanied by the sound of galloping hooves. Distinct shouts and the clash of arms filled the air.
The leader of the Yellow Turban guards quickly reacted, sounding the alarm and signaling everyone to prepare defensive measures such as powerful fire oil and crossbows. Simultaneously, they notified the reserve forces within the city to be ready to rush up and support the city defense.
As the hoofbeats drew nearer, everyone saw a group of several thousand troops, wearing yellow scarves, being chased by another group clad in Han Dynasty armor.
"Big brother! Those are our brothers! Open the city gates and let them in!" shouted a Yellow Turban soldier.
However, the leader paid him no mind, focused on the fleeing leader of the pursuers.
He said, "You fool, have you forgotten General Heaven’s admonition? We must not open the city gates recklessly!"
"How do we know if these people are not Han troops in disguise, intentionally trying to deceive us?"
"...Ah, big brother is indeed wise!"
Just then, the group escaping the pursuit of Han troops neared the south gate of Guangzong City.
The leading young officer shouted, "Brothers on the city walls, open the gates! We are the Yellow Turbans from Runan commandery in Yuzhou."
Seeing the situation, the leader of the Yellow Turbans hesitated briefly and responded, "Do you have proof?"
"Yes, yes, yes, brothers! This is the Little General’s command token!"
Long Chen raised the small token strapped to his waist high, allowing those on the city walls to get a clear view.
"Big brother! It really is the Little General’s command token! Shouldn’t we open the city gates?"
The Yellow Turban soldier in armor said, "Brothers, quickly open the city gates! The Han troops are catching up from behind!"
Long Chen anxiously shouted, the yellow scarf on his head fluttering in the wind.