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Chapter 690: A Fight to the Death
🕑 Added 2024-10-03 07:22:09 +0000 UTCXu You deliberately exposed the seal at his waist for the He family to see. Although it was only for a brief moment, the head of the He family immediately grasped the gravity of the situation concerning his family’s life and death.
"Sir, is there something the He family can assist you with?" Upon seeing the seal that Xu You unintentionally displayed, the head of the He family became even more deferential.
It wasn’t that the head of the He family recognized Xu You, but he understood that the group before him came from the north under Yuan Shao's command. The single character "Ji" on the seal was enough to reveal their identity.
As for forgery, even though it was the late Han period, with the Han dynasty still technically in power, no one dared to counterfeit official seals. This was one reason why the various warlords of the time did not hold excessively high official titles.
Of course, there were those bandits and rebels who self-styled themselves with grandiose titles like "Dragon Soaring General" or "Emperor of Heavenly Might." However, true contenders for supremacy acknowledged the legitimacy of the Han dynasty, for their strength was not yet sufficient to replace it entirely.
"I’m offering you a dangerous opportunity for wealth and power. If you accept, someone will ensure the protection of your family." Xu You’s tone was light as he looked at the head of the He family, then he gently sipped from a porcelain teacup before placing it back down with a serene expression.
Hearing this, the head of the He family froze for a moment, his face showing signs of struggle. He knew that every opportunity for wealth and power came with risks. The fact that Xu You even mentioned the danger showed he was giving the He family considerable face. Given the stakes, the He family had little room for maneuver.
"My eldest son is the quartermaster at Feicheng. Perhaps, sir, you were mistaken earlier," the head of the He family replied after a moment of intense thought, ultimately deciding to take the gamble.
To him, this crisis was also an opportunity for the He family to advance. If successful, his eldest son would no longer need his support, and there would be no more disputes over the family’s legacy. If they failed, the consequences would be obvious and not worth fighting over.
"Haha, very well," Xu You responded with a chuckle. It didn’t matter what decision the He family made; the key point was that after today, the noble families under Liu Bei’s rule would learn that the massive army from Ji Province had arrived. Once Feicheng fell, this information would quickly spread among the aristocratic families throughout Liu Bei’s territory.
As Xu You left the He family, he pondered a crucial question: who truly owned the world—the nobility or the common people? After a long consideration, Xu You arrived at an amusing conclusion: it belonged to neither. The world belonged only to the strongest individual, and everyone else was merely subservient to the strongest person or group, essentially slaves—just with a looser chain.
No matter how institutions change, the fundamental nature of power does not. From the mythical era to the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, through the Spring and Autumn periods, and now to the Qin and Han dynasties, nothing has changed. The world belongs to the strongest, which is the greatest fairness and, at the same time, the greatest injustice.
[The greatest fairness, and also the greatest injustice.] A smile appeared on Xu You’s face. [Yet it’s precisely because of this unfairness that we have value. In essence, regardless of how we disguise it, what we do is merely re-consolidate power and then redistribute it among the people.]
After Xu You and Wen Chou led 500 soldiers and successfully seized Feicheng with the assistance of the He family, they also managed to cut off communication between Liu Bei’s soldiers, who might have warned others. Thus, the supply depot at Feicheng fell entirely into Xu You’s hands.
Ordering his soldiers to seal off Feicheng, Xu You stood atop the city walls, watching his troops make their final preparations. Once mounted, they would ride hard for three days straight, catching the Linyi forces off guard with a surprise attack.
As for the possibility of any messengers escaping to warn Chen Xi about the fall of Feicheng, Xu You wasn’t particularly concerned. This sudden strike was so unexpected that even if word got out, there wouldn’t be enough time to prepare.
"The internal vigilance within Liu Bei’s army is indeed not weak, or perhaps they’ve been on guard against the aristocracy from the start," Xu You mused aloud to Wen Chou as he observed the soldiers cleaning up the bloodstains in the city.
"Haha," Wen Chou laughed, not comprehending Xu You’s thoughts.
"That’s fine." Xu You didn’t mind Wen Chou’s confusion. For him, the more Liu Bei guarded against the nobility, the better. Whether this vigilance was due to inherent caution or deliberate strategy, it provided Xu You with the perfect opportunity to agitate the noble families under Liu Bei’s rule.
Seeing Wen Chou’s simple grin, Xu You didn’t want to dampen his spirits. While Wen Chou believed the situation was already decided, Xu You knew there was still a significant gap. The next step—completely crushing any counterattack from Chen Xi’s side—was the most crucial.
"Wen Chou, prepare to move out. The next battle will be extremely dangerous, and I need soldiers who are fearless and ready to die. Tell your men that those willing to follow should come along, and those who aren’t can stay behind to guard the city," Xu You said, turning to Wen Chou.
"Huh? Isn’t every battle dangerous?" Wen Chou responded carelessly. "I may not be the top warrior in the world, but I’ve never been afraid of anyone. If the strategist has any concerns, just say it!"
"I know you’re not afraid of death, but that doesn’t mean your soldiers share your courage. This battle is incredibly risky. My troops will be up against forces several times their number. Only those who are fearless and ready to fight to the death can survive. Any hesitation will be fatal, and one wavering soldier could demoralize the entire army, ruining our strategy," Xu You said seriously, his gaze fixed on Wen Chou.
"My soldiers are all men of honor from Bingzhou who volunteered to follow me. They brought their own weapons and horses, and later, my lord Yuan Benchu rewarded them with fine steeds and treasured blades. How could such men not give their all? The spirit of Yan and Zhao lives on. These men, won over by kindness and justice, would never fear death!" Wen Chou knelt on one knee, his voice filled with emotion.
Wen Chou was a warrior who didn’t understand the complexities of strategy and had no need to flatter his superiors. Instead, he used his loyalty to follow the lord he had chosen and his simple-minded sense of honor to inspire his soldiers.
"Good," Xu You said after a long look at Wen Chou.
"Thank you for your trust, strategist. Even if this path leads to certain death, once my soldiers set out, they will not retreat without your order. If any man hesitates, I request they be punished according to military law!" Wen Chou stood up and declared firmly.
"Very well, I will remember your words today," Xu You replied, his voice calm but cold. In his current state, if the situation Xu You described actually occurred, he would not hesitate to execute Wen Chou. However, whether Xu You would still possess the same intelligence and resolve in such a moment remained uncertain.
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