In order to prevent the news from leaking out, Xiahou Yuan thoroughly checked the spies in the camp overnight. All suspicious people were first detained in the rear camp, and another 10,000 elite soldiers were selected as reserves.
The next morning, he sat in the tent waiting for military intelligence. Although he seemed calm, he was actually extremely anxious.
Unexpectedly, after a day, there was still no movement on the mountain. He only drank one bowl of water the whole day and became anxious at night.
Xiahou Shang advised: "Don't worry, uncle. It is not convenient to march from the small road to Taibai Road. I am afraid it will take two days to return."
Xiahou Yuan waved his hand and said, "I am not worried about Ji Quan. This plan is related to success or failure. We have to be cautious. If the news leaks out, all our efforts will be wasted!"
Xiahou Shang comforted him, "There are military advisors in the camp to make arrangements, which will ensure that everything goes well. We will have to fight against the enemy later, so it is important that you take care of yourself, uncle."
Xiahou Yuan realized that he had lost his composure and ordered, "Ask the kitchen to bring a bucket of rice and two chicken legs."
Xiahou Shang was overjoyed and quickly ordered people to prepare food. As the commander, if he did not eat or drink, it would definitely affect the morale of the troops.
Waiting until dawn again, Xiahou Yuan's eyes were bloodshot. He sat in the tent and sighed. He felt very complicated. He was afraid that Liu Qi would come, but also afraid that he would not come.
At noon, a drum suddenly sounded in the camp. Xiahou Yuan was refreshed and hurried out of the tent. He looked up at the top of the mountain and saw a group of soldiers coming down the mountain. He hurriedly ordered, "Get ready!"
After they were dressed, the garrison came to report that Liu Qi had sent someone to convey the message that he wanted to have a meeting with Xiahou Yuan on the mountainside and that he was only allowed to bring 500 guards.
Xiahou Yuan did not hesitate. He left Xun You to guard the camp and took Xiahou Shang and his trusted men up the mountain. There was a grassy slope on the mountainside, and they saw Liu Qi also waiting with only 500 soldiers.
Liu Qi smiled and clasped his fists, saying, "I have heard for a long time that you are a general who travels thousands of miles and often catches the enemy by surprise. Seeing you today, I can see that your reputation is well-deserved."
Xiahou Yuan's face was gloomy, and he had no intention of arguing. He shouted coldly, "Liu Qi, stop being so weird. Where is my son?"
Liu Qi smiled and said, "My dear brother, you are enjoying the good food and drink in the army, and you don't miss Wei anymore. You are ready to go to Xiangyang to see your sister."
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Xiahou Yuan was shocked and shouted: "My son is loyal and brave, how could he betray his master? You must have kidnapped him by force, let him come to confront you face to face."
"As expected, no one knows a son better than his father!" Liu Qi sighed and said, "Since the general knows that Xiahou Wei is loyal and brave, he should also understand that although I will not kill prisoners, I will never tolerate those who refuse to surrender and leave them as trouble for the future."
After saying this, he waved his hand, and Zhang Yi came out with Xiahou Wei. His hands were tied, a cloth was stuffed in his mouth so he couldn't speak, and a shiny knife was placed on his neck.
Xiahou Yuan shouted, "Liu Qi, what do you want to do?"
Liu Qi said: "As the saying goes, even a tiger won't eat its own cubs, but a mother's love for her child is deep. I will give you and your son a chance to live. How about exchanging my life for yours?"
"How dare you!" Xiahou Yuan said angrily, "How can I, a great general and commander-in-chief of the three armies, lose the greater good because of a small one?"
Liu Qi's face darkened: "So, General, you are unwilling to redeem your son's life?"
Xiahou Yuan's face turned pale, and he gritted his teeth for a long while before saying, "Let him go and let him answer the question himself."
Liu Qi gestured to take down the cloth. Xiahou Wei gasped and shouted, "Father, I am not afraid of death. You must not let me ruin important things and make a fool of yourself."
"Good son!" Xiahou Yuan was very pleased and gritted his teeth and said, "Liu Qi, you underestimate my Xiahou son. Although my son is young, he is not a coward. If you want to threaten me with state affairs, you are dreaming."
"You are worthy of being the son of a general. I will help you and your father fulfill their loyalty!" Liu Qi was unmoved and said coldly, "Behead him!"
Xiahou Wei looked up to the sky and laughed loudly, "Eighteen years later, I, Xiahou Wei, will be a brave man again!"
"Wei'er!" A cold light flashed over Xiahou Wei's head. Xiahou Yuan screamed, his eyes went dark, and he almost fell off his horse.
"Hahaha, Liu Qi, why don't you dare to do it? Kill me if you have the guts!"
In the midst of despair, he heard Xiahou Wei laughing wildly. He looked up and saw that the knife just slid across the top of his head, cutting off a few strands of hair.
"This bastard!" Xiahou Yuan cursed in his heart, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh, his forehead already covered with sweat.
"If I kill you, won't that help you achieve a great reputation?" Liu Qi stroked his chin and shook his head, "But I gained nothing. Isn't that a big loss?"
Xiahou Yuan felt hopeful when he heard this, and hurriedly said, "Liu Qi, what are your conditions? Tell me quickly."
Liu Qi sighed helplessly, "The Xiahou clan is so stubborn, it's really hard for me to deal with it. In this case, let's follow the old rules: redeem the people with money. Xiahou Dun is worth five million, and Xiahou Wei is worth three million. How about that?"
"Ah?" Xiahou Yuan was stunned. Liu Qi's conditions surprised him.
Xiahou Wei roared, "Liu Qi, you little brat, if you want to kill me, then go ahead. I am a man of seven feet tall and will never be humiliated. How can I be measured by money?"
"You are really a newborn calf that is not afraid of a tiger!" Liu Qi felt a headache, as if he had no way to deal with this father and son. He gritted his teeth in pain and said, "For the sake of your relationship with my third uncle, I will reduce the amount by another 500,000!"
"Father, I am not afraid of death, so you don't have to redeem me!" Xiahou Wei shouted, "Liu Qi, don't even think about getting a single copper coin from me, don't even think about—"
Liu Qi was startled and waved his hands, saying, "Take him away quickly and keep him under guard."
After Xiahou Wei was taken away and the field was quiet, Liu Qi clasped his fists and said, "General Xiahou, I have already made some concessions. Your son is an idiot. The dead cannot be resurrected. After all, he is a descendant of Xiahou. Could it be that you are reluctant to part with even this little money?"
"I don't have that intention!" Xiahou Yuan looked strange and asked, "Are there any other conditions?"
"Everyone knows that I, Liu Qi, never care about money!" Liu Qi shrugged and said helplessly: "Given the general's temperament, other conditions will definitely not be negotiated. Why bother to make a fuss and leave in a bad mood?"
"This..." Xiahou Yuan hesitated to speak. He couldn't take the initiative to suggest withdrawing the troops, right
Liu Qi then said, "I am also worried that Xiahou Wei will commit suicide, and end up with nothing but his life and wealth. Please return quickly and prepare, so as to avoid any more trouble."
"Let me think about it!" Xiahou Yuan secretly regretted that he had spoken too confidently just now, which frightened Liu Qi so much that he did not dare to threaten him with official business. He wanted to slap him in the face.
"Wait a minute!" Just as he turned his horse's head, he heard Liu Qi shouting again.
Xiahou Yuan turned around and asked, "Sir, have you changed your mind?"
Liu Qi said, "We are meeting privately today only for the sake of my uncle, but when our armies clash, you and I are rivals after all. The general attacked Huang Hansheng earlier and has been seriously injured and has not recovered yet. The generals are eager to take revenge. I can only give you one day to avoid disappointing your subordinates."
"This..." Xiahou Yuan was speechless again. Did he have to thank him in person
Xiahou Shang leaned forward and whispered, "Liu Qi only cares about money. What should we do?"
Watching Liu Qi and his party go up the mountain, Xiahou Yuan felt lost. He had never expected that Liu Qi would not play according to the rules. He wanted to catch up with Liu Qi, grab him and scold him.
"You are a royal relative, have you never seen money? You are such a loser, you only care about money. How can you accomplish anything great if you don't know the importance of Jigu and Guanzhong?"
But Liu Qi had already led his troops back to the camp and disappeared, so he could only sigh and go down the mountain in depression.