Zhang Yan saw that Yang Feng was not hiding any secrets about Taiping Qinglingshu's skills. She knew that even if she continued to ask, it would be useless. After all, the truth or not was all in the other person's mind. How could he find out?
He said aloud: "I came to Commander Yang this time to discuss what to do if Black Mountain cannot resist it."
Zhang Yan's Black Mountain Army, as an important force during the Yellow Turbans uprising, was nominally under the control of Zhang Jiao, the Heavenly Master of Taiping Dao. This is reasonable, because the core of the Yellow Turban Army organization is Taiping Dao.
Without Taipingdao's top-down support and the establishment of an integrated top-down organizational structure in the military, the Yellow Turban Army, including the Black Mountain Army, would simply not be able to form effective mobilization and management capabilities.
But it is precisely because of this that after Zhang Jue died of illness and Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao died in battle, the superior structure of the Yellow Turban Army collapsed. The millions of Yellow Turban soldiers and common people fought independently and could not effectively gather together, and were eventually defeated one by one.
The reason why there is no new leader like Zhang Jiao is because the generals of various branches of the Yellow Turban Army, such as Zhang Yan and others, have not obtained the name of Tianshi Zhenren in the moral principles of Taiping Dao, which makes the Yellow Turban Army convinced.
.
Only one person walked in front of everyone.
While other princes were making fortunes by annihilating the Yellow Turban Army, Cao Cao had already used the Cao family's family knowledge to recruit Taiping Taoist alchemists to build momentum for himself, and secretly cultivated his own power among the remaining Yellow Turban Army.
Improved his prestige in Taipingdao.
The rewards were also generous. The surrender of the Qingzhou Army greatly enhanced Cao Cao's strength. Among the other remnants of the Yellow Turbans, Cao Cao's reputation increased. Yang Feng knew this very well, but she did not resist it.
After all, Cao Cao has actually done a lot for Taiping Dao. In Yang Feng's view, if Cao Cao ascends to the throne, he will not abandon his identity as a Taiping Daoist. Maybe Taiping Dao can overpower Confucianism and become the state religion!
And Yang Feng hated Yuan Xi who spread rumors in the name of Taiping Dao. He obviously wanted to imitate Cao Cao and pave the way for him to absorb the Yellow Turban Army and the remaining forces of Taiping Dao. His previous rumors had put Heishan in danger. If this happened
What should I do if I go down to occupy the magpie's nest and dig out the corner of Taiping Road?
Yang Feng originally looked down upon the children of aristocratic families. These people were Confucian at heart. How could they tolerate Taiping Dao when they ascended to great positions in the future?
But Cao Cao was different. After being eunuch, he was naturally at odds with the nobility, and his approach of reemploying poor families was more in line with the Taiping Dao's moral principles of saving the common people compared to the Yuan family's behavior of befriending the nobility and condoning their privileges.
Zhang Yan guessed that Yang Feng had a high status in the Taiping Dao, because when Yang Feng came to the Black Mountain Army, he brought a large number of backbone Taiping Dao alchemists and helped the Black Mountain Army build a top-down system, which raised the combat effectiveness of the Black Mountain Army to a higher level.
, so Yang Feng’s prestige in the Black Mountain Army is second only to Zhang Yan.
It is precisely because of this that Zhang Yan has extremely complicated feelings about Yang Feng. He needs Yang Feng's help in managing the Montenegrin Army, but he is also secretly wary of Yang Feng overpowering him.
When Yang Feng heard Zhang Yan ask about him, he said without hesitation: "If it really comes to that point, I suggest following the Qingzhou Army and joining Yanzhou Mu Cao Cao."
Zhang Yan's eyes flashed: "Why Cao Cao?"
"Heishan and Yanzhou have no border. Even if we take refuge with him, what can he do to help us?"
Yang Feng replied: "Feng heard that he was leading troops to welcome the emperor in Anyi, which is not far from Heishan."
"And he is an ally of the Yuan family. If we take refuge with him, we can cease war with the Yuan family."
Zhang Yan was stunned and said: "Have you ever thought about it, Leader Yang, that things are not that simple?"
"In order to open up the road to Bingzhou, the Yuan family must capture Heishan. How can they give it up to Cao Cao?"
"To be honest, Chief Yang, Cao Cao also sent me several secret letters in private, promising many benefits, including showing off to the emperor and increasing rewards for the generals in Montenegro."
"I was very excited at the time and almost agreed."
Yang Feng listened quietly, and she could tell that Zhang Yan's thoughts must be different from before.
Zhang Yan explained: "The main reasons for my change of mind are as follows."
"First, the Youzhou Army put too much pressure on Heishan, especially after the Jizhou Army intervened. I no longer have the confidence to defend Heishan after joining Cao Cao."
"Secondly, it was not smooth for Cao Cao to welcome the emperor in Anyi. The emperor was surrounded by not only the Baibo Army but also the coalition forces of Lu Bu and Yuan Xi. Both sides were working against him."
Yang Feng raised his eyebrows after hearing this, why is it Yuan Xi again?
This person seems to be everywhere and has a hand in everything. What on earth is he going to do?
She said calmly: "I heard that he is in Huaicheng now."
"If General Zhonglang nods, Feng leads ten people into the city, enough to kill him."
After hearing this, Zhang Yan hesitated and said, "It's still too risky."
Zhang Yan now dares not place all her bets on Cao Cao.
If Cao Cao could defeat other forces and serve the emperor, it would be easy to say, but he did not show the strength to overwhelm others in Anyi, so Zhang Yan had to consider the consequences of Cao Cao's failure and his own gambling failure.
After all, Jizhou is by his side. If he cannot defeat it this time, it will come back next year. The current crisis cannot be resolved, let alone others?
Although the Black Mountain Army and the Yuan family had a big hatred for the sneak attack on Yecheng, judging from the results alone, the Black Mountain Army did not kill Yuan Shao's family members, so the matter was not without room for change.
Yuan Shang also sent people to tell him that if Zhang Yan surrendered, he would definitely protect his life and status in front of Yuan Shao.
There is another reason that Yang Feng doesn't know.
The fierce tiger of the Yuan family sent a secret message the day before yesterday, detailing the fact that Yang Chou colluded with Cao Cao to attack Lu Bu's mansion in an attempt to drag down the Black Mountain Army.
The evidence is conclusive, including that Yang Chou's family members were sent to Yanzhou, which Zhang Yan already knew.
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's marksmanship was also learned from the Yang family!
Zhang Yan believed it as soon as he saw it, because he also knew a lot of inside information, but it was not as clear as what he said in the letter. Now it all connected!
No wonder the day before yesterday, Yang Feng ran to the South Pass to pick up someone, and then news came that Yang Chou had been killed by a fierce tiger, and the two sides had a fierce fight.
So, Yang Feng should be Cao Cao's man!
Zhang Yan was extremely vigilant. If Yang Chou and Yang Feng were both Cao Cao's men, what on earth would they be doing in the Black Mountain Army?
Some things in Yuan Xi's secret letter are true, and some things he made up. The disgusting thing is that it is true and false, eight points true and one part false, and the remaining part is left to Zhang Yan's imagination.
As for what Zhang Yan can guess, it is naturally what she is most willing to believe.
Yuan Xi's purpose was to drive a wedge between the two, turn Zhang Yan and Yang Feng against each other, and finally force Yang Feng to leave Montenegro. Without the backing of the Montenegro army, Yang Feng would be a toothless tiger. That was Yuan Xi's plan to encircle and suppress Yang Feng.
hour!
Zhang Yan stared at Yang Feng and said slowly: "That's why I don't dare to place a bet now. If I lose the bet, I can escape unscathed, but the Black Mountain Army will be buried here by me."
"In that case, how can I stand up and become the adoptive father of the first leader?"
Yang Feng was silent. She lowered her head and said nothing. After a while, she suddenly raised her head and said, "General Zhonglang said that Cao Cao's invitation to the emperor was blocked by Yuan Xi's subordinates?"
"Feng heard that the fierce tiger is still in Huai City?"
"If I lead someone to sneak into Huai City and kill him, won't that be the end of it?"
"Once he dies, his subordinates in Anyi will scatter and they will be unable to stop Duke Cao."
"If I can catch Lu Bu's wife and daughter by the way, I can force them to submit."
"In this way, the two forces opposing Duke Cao in Anyi will collapse, and Duke Cao will be able to successfully welcome the emperor, right?"
After hearing this, Zhang Yan laughed and said, "Commander Yang is very optimistic about Commander Cao."
Yang Feng said casually: "Of course, Mr. Cao is the chosen one to revitalize Taiping Road in the future."
A strange color flashed in Zhang Yan's eyes, and she nodded: "Since Commander Yang has made up his mind, I can't say anything. I will let people inquire about the situation in Huaicheng first, and when the time is right, I will inform Commander Yang."
"But the front line in Montenegro is tight, and Leader Yang still needs to be in charge."
After hearing this, Yang Feng cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, General Zhonglang. I'll go and make preparations first."
Zhang Yan looked at the background where Yang Feng left and squinted her eyes.
So it turns out that Yang Feng is not optimistic about himself, but Cao Cao?
No wonder!
At present, he still has to use Yang Feng to resist the Jizhou army. When nothing can be done, it will not be too late to let him assassinate Yuan Xi.
If Yang Feng wants to die, just let her go. Anyway, no matter what the outcome, it will not be a loss to herself.
If Yuan Xi can be killed and Cao Cao welcomes the emperor in Anyi, he will express his loyalty to Cao Cao.
If Yang Feng failed and died in the city, he would be able to completely unify the Black Mountain Army. It would be up to him to decide whether to join the Yuan family or the Cao family.
It would be better if both parties died together. He could take the credit on himself, and at the same time ask for credit from both Cao Cao and Yuan Shang. Let's see which one is better. Anyway, there is no proof of death.
There were so many choices, but he became entangled because there was a fourth option.
Zhang Yan couldn't help but think about what benefits she would gain if she leaked the news about Yang Feng's assassination to Yuan Xi.
Yuan Xi, who was living in Huaicheng at this time, never dreamed that the letter he sent to Zhang Yan to alienate Zhang Yan would probably bring disaster back to him after a few twists and turns.
After all, when it comes to strategy, even the best strategists cannot account for all factors.
At this time, he was setting up an incense burner with Lu Lingqi in the backyard of the Lu Mansion, and went to the North New City to pay homage to Qu Yi.
Lu Lingqi felt a little depressed and said, "I wonder if Master's coffin has been returned."
Yuan Xi thought that because there was no urgent military situation, the letter from Beixin City had not yet been delivered, and sighed: "I have already ordered the escort soldiers to be properly arranged by people in my house."
"Calculating the time now, he has probably been buried. Now that I can't be there in person, I can only make up for Brother Qu's funeral after returning to Beixin City."
Lu Lingqi nodded and said, "You have a conscience. When will you leave?"
Yuan Xi said: "If everything goes well, Marquis Wen and Zilong will join forces to welcome the emperor to Huaicheng. I will consider the matter settled here and return then."
"you"
Lu Lingqi thought for a while, her face turned slightly red, "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 it."
"It's good to spend more time with your parents. In this troubled world, who knows when people will die and never see each other again."
Lu Lingqi snorted coldly, "Don't curse my father and mother!"
She suddenly thought of something: "Mrs. Du really didn't send it to you?"
After hearing this, Yuan Xi shook his head and said, "I really don't know."
Lu Lingqi said suspiciously: "Really?"
Yuan Xi defended: "Although I'm a lustful person, I don't dare to do anything. If I really covet her, I will definitely do it openly."
"But I really don't know her whereabouts. Huaicheng was so chaotic in those days. Maybe something unexpected happened to her. I don't know."
"Anyway, she is not with me, otherwise I will be hunted down every day!"