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

Chapter 66 Exposure

Shouchun East Gate Tower.

As the sun sets, it paints the walls of Shouchun City with a blood-red hue.

General Qiao Rui, sword in hand, patrolled to the East Gate.

After days of bloody battles with Cao Cao's army at the North Gate, his men suffered heavy casualties, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted. He also paid extra attention to the defenses of various places.

He climbed the East Gate tower and, as usual, examined the defenses.

The banners remained, the armor stood in full force, and everything seemed normal.

But his intuition as a professional soldier made him frown slightly.

It's too "neat".

The fighting was also fierce at the North and South Gates, but the situation there was far worse.

Not to mention the city walls, which were riddled with craters and logs.

Even the guards, after the battle, were all like they had lost a layer of skin, too lazy to even move.

Where can they stand guard with such high spirits like the soldiers in the East City?

Is Yuan Huan truly as rumored to be, a first-rate commander, or is Yuan Tan of Qingzhou simply incompetent, always coming to his death?

Just as he was deep in thought, a deputy general guarding the gate came running over and greeted him warmly.

"General Qiao has been working hard these days."

"You have all worked hard."

Qiao Rui casually asked the adjutant,

"Having repelled the fierce attacks of the Qingzhou army for several days, how many soldiers have been killed or wounded? Where are the seriously wounded being cared for? I will report this to Your Majesty and request that they be given compensation."

The lieutenant's eyes flashed, and he quickly bowed and replied:

"Thank you for your concern, General Qiao! Thanks to His Majesty's great fortune, General Yuan's decisive command, and the soldiers' valiant efforts, the casualties... are not too heavy, and the seriously wounded have been properly taken care of in the camp."

Qiao Rui hummed in agreement, neither confirming nor denying, and strolled to the top of the battlements to look down.

Scattered below the city walls were the remains of burnt battering rams and broken arrows, suggesting a fierce battle, but he quickly noticed more details:

Why are there no corpses of Qingzhou soldiers at the foot of this city wall? Could it be that Yuan Tan would clear away the remains of his soldiers so quickly?

His doubts grew heavier.

Back inside the city gate, he summoned the quartermaster at the east gate and demanded records of recent losses and casualties.

The record clearly states: a certain number of arrows were used, a certain number of logs and stones were used, and dozens of people were injured or killed.

What happens to the bodies of the fallen?

Qiao Rui suddenly asked a question.

"They have been...incinerated in accordance with regulations to prevent the spread of disease."

The quartermaster was clearly not a professional actor; he only uttered one sentence before sweat beaded on his forehead.

This kid, why are you so nervous just to ask a question?

There must be something wrong here.

Qiao Rui immediately sensed that something was wrong:

"Where are the seriously injured? Take me to see them!"

"The seriously wounded... are all... resting in the rear camp, and it's not convenient to disturb them..."

The quartermaster became even more nervous and stammered.

Qiao Rui's doubts had reached their peak!

He suddenly stood up and strode towards a group of soldiers resting at a corner of the city wall.

When the soldiers saw Qiao Rui, the commander of the North Gate, walking towards them with a gloomy expression, they all stood up in a fluster.

Qiao Rui's gaze swept across the group of soldiers like lightning, finally settling on a young soldier.

The man had a vacant look in his eyes, a ruddy complexion, and even his bandaged arm looked exceptionally clean.

Are these people really veterans of bloody battles?

Soldiers who have experienced bloody battles would never act like him.

He grabbed the soldier's arm; the arm was strong and powerful, unlike that of an injured person.

Qiao Rui pulled hard, and with a "rip," the bandage came off, revealing her perfectly intact arm underneath!

"what!"

The soldier gasped in surprise, his face turning ashen.

"Take it down!"

Qiao Rui shouted, and his personal guards rushed forward and pinned the soldier down.

The other soldiers guarding the area immediately stirred and looked terrified.

Qiao Rui ignored the crowd, staring intently at the soldier, her voice as cold as ice:

"Speak! Where did you get this injury? The Qingzhou army has been attacking the city for days, why are you almost unscathed? Where are the corpses below the city walls? If you utter even the slightest lie, you will be executed on the spot!"

The soldier had never seen such a sight before. Overwhelmed by the chilling killing intent of Qiao Rui, a veteran of countless battles, his mental defenses crumbled instantly, and he cried out, tears streaming down his face:

"General, spare me! I'll tell you everything! It was... it was General Yuan who told us... told us to pretend! Most of the arrows were blanks fired into the air! The Qingzhou army... the Qingzhou army didn't really fight! It was all an act, General!"

These words struck like a bolt from the blue!

Although Qiao Rui had already guessed, being confirmed by his own words still made him tremble violently, and a surge of anger rushed to the top of his head!

"Yuan! Yao! Qing!"

Qiao Rui squeezed out these three words through gritted teeth, her eyes blazing with fury.

He instantly understood everything: why were the battle reports from Dongmen always "tragic" but with no actual casualties, and why was Yuan Shu increasingly trusting Yuan Huan?

I'm afraid Yuan Huan and Yuan Tan had already colluded, and this whole charade was clearly meant for His Majesty's benefit.

There was no bloody battle at the East Gate at all!

"Keep an eye on him! The rest of you, stay put. Anyone who makes a move will be killed without exception!"

Qiao Rui ordered his personal guards to grab the ashen-faced soldier as a witness, then turned and strode down the city wall, heading straight for the palace.

He must see His Majesty immediately and expose this conspiracy!

……

Inside the East Gate garrison, Yuan Huan had just seen off another group of envoys sent by Yuan Shu and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

His successful "performance" over the past few days not only dispelled Yuan Shu's suspicions but also earned him the reputation of "the pillar of the southeast," consolidating his control over the east gate to an unprecedented degree.

As he was calculating how to transform this "trust" into greater value, his trusted subordinate rushed in, his voice trembling:

"General! Something terrible has happened! General Qiao Rui was inspecting the city walls just now when he suddenly seized several of our soldiers and began demanding details of the recent battles! He... he seems to have sensed something!"

The teacup in Yuan Huan's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter" and shattered into pieces.

His face changed drastically, and his heart pounded.

Qiao Rui was a veteran general under Yuan Shu. He was straightforward and had always disliked "scholars in charge of troops" like himself. Moreover, he was sharp-eyed and not someone to be trifled with.

He arrested people and interrogated them, so he must have seen through their deception.

"Useless! Why didn't you stop him!" Yuan Huan was both shocked and furious.

"We can't stop him, General! Qiao Rui, accompanied by his personal guards, is taking a hard line, saying he wants to see His Majesty to report important matters!"

Yuan Huan felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

Once Qiao Rui reveals the suspicious points to Yuan Shu, given Yuan Shu's suspicious nature, not only will all his previous efforts be wasted, but he himself will immediately face death!

All previous plans will be in vain.

We can't wait any longer! We must act before Qiao Rui meets Yuan Shu!

A resolute glint flashed in his eyes. He immediately summoned his trusted bodyguard and said urgently:

"Immediately lower yourself down the city wall and go to see Yuan Xiansi of Qingzhou! Tell him: The situation is urgent! Qiao Rui has sensed something is wrong and may be about to meet with the emperor. In one hour, light a fire as a signal, and I will open the east gate! This is a golden opportunity; delay will only lead to unforeseen circumstances! Tell him that if he doesn't come, I will abandon the city and leave!"