The Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Tan, intercepted Guo Jia's...

Chapter 76 The Brocade Sail Thieves

Qingzhou, Linzi, the governor's residence.

Wu Yu presented Yuan Tan with the information he had recently gathered from brothels across the country, and whispered:

"Young Master, a secret message has arrived from the Tingtao Pavilion branch in Xiakou. Gan Ning, the leader of the Jinfan pirates, has gathered his old troops and intends to sail north to plunder our cargo fleet returning from Huainan."

Yuan Tan took the silk and examined it carefully by the lamplight. It contained a detailed record of the scale of the Jin Fan rebels' gathering and their general movements.

After reading it, he handed the silk to Guo Jia beside him, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"This Gan Xingba has a keen nose; he came right away from the smell of money."

Guo Jia quickly glanced at the screen, lightly waving his feather fan:

"My lord, they are just a band of pirates who roam the Yangtze River. Although they are somewhat fierce, the sea is not their familiar territory. You can order Zilong or Junyi to lead an elite naval force to patrol and intercept them in the sea areas where they may attack. Destroy them with lightning speed to prevent future troubles."

His strategy was also quite pragmatic, with eliminating the threat as the primary objective.

Yuan Tan shook his head:

"Fengxiao is easy to defeat, but talented people are hard to find. Gan Ning, Gan Xingba, I have heard of his name for a long time! This man is exceptionally brave and fierce, proficient in naval warfare, and can inspire his soldiers to fight to the death. On the Yangtze River, he has given Sun Ce and Huang Zu a lot of headaches. How can such a water dragon be defeated and be done with it?"

Gan Ning was one of the Twenty-Four Tiger Generals of Jiangdong in history, and in terms of martial prowess, he might be ranked first in Jiangdong.

If I were to recruit him into my ranks, wouldn't that be crippling a major force in Jiangdong?

He stood up and said slowly:

"Qingzhou aspires to long-term goals, pacifying Youyan in the north and contending for the Jianghuai region in the south. A powerful navy is indispensable! Lou Ban excels in horsemanship and archery, but is not a true naval commander. Gan Ning is the perfect candidate, a gift from heaven, to fill this gap!"

Guo Jia, being exceptionally intelligent, immediately grasped Yuan Tan's deeper meaning and clapped his hands, laughing:

"Does the lord wish to subdue this barbarian? However, his nature is like a raging fire, unruly and untamed; how could he easily submit?"

"Therefore, we can't confront him head-on; we must outsmart him and make him truly convinced!"

Yuan Tan turned around, his gaze intense.

"He wants to rob us, right? Let's give him a taste of 'wealth and honor,' and then give him a reason he has no choice but to submit!"

He then summoned his trusted confidants and whispered instructions.

Soon, Zhen Yao was secretly led into a secret room.

Yuan Tan frankly revealed his plan, finally staring intently into Zhen Yao's eyes:

"Lord Zhen, this matter is quite risky. Gan Ning is fierce and brave. If you reveal any flaws or make the slightest mistake in your actions, your life may be in danger. If you are unwilling, I will not force you. We can find another way."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yao's face turned pale instantly, and cold sweat broke out on his palms.

How could a wealthy man like him have ever experienced such a dangerous situation as confronting desperate river pirates head-on?

A terrifying image flashed through his mind: himself being hacked to pieces by the Jin Fan bandits.

He almost knelt down, his voice trembling as he said:

"My lord... this matter is far too dangerous, it must not be done!"

However, Zhen Yao thought of the huge returns his family had made from investing in Yuan Tan, the trust Yuan Tan had placed in him, and even more so, the position he would secure in Yuan Tan's group if he could handle this matter well!

This is not just a task, but a tremendous opportunity—a perfect chance to demonstrate one's value to this future son-in-law!

Finally, he took a deep breath, bowed deeply to Yuan Tan, his voice still trembling slightly:

"My lord trusts me greatly; how could I possibly hesitate to risk my life? These water bandits, though fierce, are nothing but the bravery of a mere mortal. I... am willing to lure this dragon into the trap for my lord! Even if there are countless dangers, I will not retreat!"

He must seize this opportunity to further bind the Zhen family to Yuan Tan.

Yuan Tan gave him a deep look and patted him on the shoulder:

"Good! Lord Zhen, you have extraordinary courage! I will ensure your safety. Fengxiao will inform you of the detailed plan. Remember, remaining calm and composed is the first key to survival."

……

Qingzhou, Donglai County.

The waves gently lapped against the rocks.

A richly decorated merchant ship, escorted by several small boats, slowly sailed into Donglai Harbor.

A man stood at the bow of the ship, dressed in fine clothes, his face slightly pale. He was Zhen Yao, the head of the Zhen family.

His palms were sweating profusely as he gripped the railing, but remembering Yuan Tan's entrustment and the future of his family, he forcibly suppressed the fear in his heart.

"Sir, the winds are strong and the waves are high here; it's not a safe harbor. We'd better leave immediately!"

The old butler stood by, offering worried advice.

Zhen Yao took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm:

"It's alright, let's lay low here for now and get some fresh water."

His gaze kept sweeping across the dark sea, and he silently thought, "It's about time..."

As if in response to his expectations, lights suddenly appeared on the distant sea.

Immediately afterwards, a captivating sound of copper bells drifted on the wind, ringing and growing ever closer!

"It's the Jinfan bandits!"

The sailors on board were immediately thrown into a panic!

Zhen Yao's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of his throat.

If I had known this matter was so dangerous, I would have sent one of my subordinates to help him.

He personally took action, wasn't it all to improve his standing in Yuan Tan's eyes?

He shouted sternly:

"Don't panic! On your marks, prepare to... abandon ship and go ashore!"

Although he was trembling all over, he managed to keep his composure and continued to give instructions.

Just as the Jin Fan pirates' fast boats closed in like arrows, Zhen Yao, protected by his servants, was the first to board a small boat and rowed desperately toward the nearby port.

He looked back and saw that the merchant ship used as bait was surrounded by dozens of fast boats.

Zhen Yao scrambled onto the dock, his legs weak, but he gritted his teeth and stood firm. Instead of continuing to run, he turned to face the sea, as if to confirm with his own eyes that the thieves had fallen into his trap.

Gan Ning nimbly leaped onto the deck of the merchant ship and found that apart from some worthless junk, there was no gold or silver as expected. He immediately realized that he had been tricked.

He laughed in fury, his gaze instantly locking onto the conspicuous figure in brocade robes on the dock, and he sneered:

"What a cunning merchant! How dare he trick your Grandpa Gan! Prepare to die!"

He leaped into the air and, in a few bounds, chased after him to the dock, blocking him at the end of the pier.

"Running? Why did you stop running?"

Gan Ning, carrying his ring-pommel sword, looked mockingly at Zhen Yao, whose face was deathly pale.

"Could he be paralyzed with fear?"

Zhen Yao's teeth chattered, but he still forced himself to shout, following the words Guo Jia had taught him beforehand:

"Gan...Gan Xingba! You've fallen into my lord's trap! Surrender now, and we might spare your life!"

"Hahaha!"

Gan Ning felt as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"A plan? What a load of rubbish in the face of absolute power! I'll send you on your way first, then I'll go and meet your lord!"

Having said that, he raised his knife to strike!

Zhen Yao was so scared he almost peed his pants, and hurriedly shouted:

"No...no! I still have valuables here..."

Gan Ning, however, did not hesitate at all and raised his sword to strike.

At the critical moment.

"General Xingba, spare his life!"

A clear voice came from behind the dock.

In an instant, torches blazed all around, illuminating the area as if it were daytime!

Surrounded by generals Zhao Yun, Zhang He, Yan Liang, and hundreds of elite soldiers, Yuan Tan slowly walked out, blocking Gan Ning's retreat.

Seeing that reinforcements had arrived, Zhen Yao was overjoyed at surviving the ordeal, and his courage surged. He pointed at Gan Ning and cursed him:

"Gan Ning, you traitor! Our lord's heavenly army has arrived! Kneel down and beg for mercy at once!"

Gan Ning felt a chill run down his spine. Looking around, he realized he was surrounded.

But he was exceptionally brave and fearless, his fighting spirit soaring. His gaze swept over Yuan Tan's generals, finally settling on Zhao Yun, clad in white and wielding a silver spear. His pupils contracted slightly, and he said in a deep voice:

"Your presence is extraordinary; could you perhaps be Zhao Zilong of Changshan?"

Zhao Yun slightly raised his phoenix eyes, glanced at Gan Ning with indifferent eyes, and did not answer, as if he disdained to speak with a mere bandit.

This contempt infuriated Gan Ning more than any insult.

"My lord! This humble general requests permission to engage in battle and capture this pirate!"

Zhang He stepped forward and asked Yuan Tan for permission to take command.

He was the first to join Yuan Tan's forces, but now his official rank is lower than Zhao Yun's, so he urgently needs to prove himself through military achievements.

Seeing Gan Ning's arrogance, he could no longer restrain himself.

Yuan Tan, having seen Gan Ning's martial arts skills, nodded slightly: "Junyi, be careful."

Upon receiving the order, Zhang He shouted and thrust his spear at Gan Ning!

Seeing that the approaching general was no ordinary man, Gan Ning put aside his contempt and drew his sword to meet him!

Instantly, swords flashed and energy surged across the dock!

Zhang He's spear technique was fierce and ruthless, like a storm.

Gan Ning's sword techniques are fierce, unpredictable, and as turbulent as a raging storm.

The two exchanged blows with swords and spears, and in an instant, they had fought more than fifty rounds, and were evenly matched!

Zhao Yun, who was watching the battle, frowned slightly and whispered to Yuan Tan:

"My lord, General Junyi's spear technique is fierce, but his strength is slightly diminished in prolonged battles. Gan Ning has a long and steady breath; although he appears to be attacking relentlessly, he is actually handling the situation with ease. I fear Junyi may suffer a loss."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Tan felt a chill run down his spine. If he were to sacrifice Zhang He for the sake of Gan Ning, it would be a great loss.

He was about to order an order to stop it.

But then the situation on the field suddenly changed!

After another ten or so rounds, Zhang He's breathing became heavier and his spear technique became slightly sluggish.

Gan Ning spotted the opening, shouted loudly, and his blade slashed down like Mount Tai pressing down!

Zhang He raised his spear to parry, but with a loud clang, his hand was ripped open, the spear slipped from his grasp, and he staggered back several steps, his face flushed, completely exhausted!

"Prepare to die!"

Gan Ning, having gained the upper hand, pressed his advantage relentlessly, leaping forward to strike and kill Zhang He!

"presumptuous!"

A clear, sharp shout rang out like a thunderclap!

A white shadow flashed!

Zhao Yun had already darted into the arena like a ghost, striking first despite being behind. His Dragon Gallant Silver Spear transformed into a cold star, thrusting straight at the most difficult-to-detect point of force conversion in Gan Ning's sword technique!

Gan Ning felt an overwhelming chill assail him. If he didn't turn his sword to save himself, he would surely be pierced through the throat by a spear!

He was shocked and abruptly stopped his attack, parrying with his own blade!

"bite--!"

It was a soft sound, not a loud one.

Gan Ning felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow. He felt a surge of internal force travel along the blade, and his entire arm instantly went numb and tingled. He could no longer hold onto the ring-pommel sword.

It crashed to the ground with a loud bang!

He himself was so caught off guard by this clever move that he lost his balance and fell to his knees with a thud. With Zhao Yun's spear tip pointing at his throat, he was unable to move!

The entire room fell silent!

Gan Ning, who had fought Zhang He for sixty rounds without defeat, couldn't even last a single round against Zhao Yun!

Gan Ning's face was ashen, his neck stiff, still defiant, and he roared:

"Kill me if you want! A mere frown shows you're not a hero! I only regret that I fell for their scheme today!"