Jia Xu sipped his wine and said at leisure, "What's the hurry? The ten days aren't up yet. I have things in hand. Rest assured, Second Young Master."
Hearing that familiar form of address, Yuan Xi could not help shuddering. He hastily waved his hands. "No, no, just call me General of Chariots and Cavalry. I've already severed ties with Yuan Shao."
Whenever he heard Jia Xu call him Second Young Master, he felt uncomfortable all over and invariably remembered the time Jia Xu had ensnared him.
While the two were talking, Taishi Ci entered the command tent and reported to Jia Xu, his face full of delight, "Reporting to the Army Supervisor! Julu Commandery has opened its gates! The commandery deputy has come out of his own accord with the commandery governor's head to surrender!"
The sudden news caught Yuan Xi completely off guard. His eyes widened, and he wondered whether he had heard wrong.
The governor of Julu Commandery... was dead?
Yuan Xi's heart filled with bewilderment and shock. How had the governor died? Why had the enemy opened the gates and surrendered? What on earth had happened?
"Dead, then?"
Jia Xu set down his Wine Cup and shook his head. "I thought they would hold out a few more days. It seems I overestimated their courage."
"Come, let's take possession of Julu City."
With that, Jia Xu rose and walked out of the tent.
Yuan Xi was left standing alone inside.
Watching Jia Xu's departing figure, he felt a bone-piercing chill rise from the soles of his feet. Even the blazing stove that made the tent as warm as spring could not ward off that cold.
Pingyuan Commandery.
Zhang Liao was directing the army to cut off the flow of water into the moat surrounding Plain