Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 726 - 690: Desperate Situation

Xu You intentionally revealed the seal ribbon at his waist for the Head of the Hee Family to see. Although it was just for a moment, in matters concerning the very survival of one’s clan, the Head of the Hee Family made a judgment in an instant.

"Sir, is there any way the Hee Family can be of assistance?" After seeing the seal ribbon Xu You inadvertently revealed, the Head of the Hee Family became even more humble.

It wasn’t that the Head of the Hee Family guessed who Xu You was, but the mere knowledge that this group of people came from Northern Yuan Shao and that there was a character "Ji" on the seal ribbon was enough to illustrate the identity of this group.

As for forgery, although it was now the Late Han, with the Han Dynasty not yet extinguished, no one truly dared to forge a seal ribbon—that also explained why the feudal lords’ official positions were not very high at present.

Of course, there were rebels among mountain bandits and thieves who would bestow upon themselves titles like "Dragon Cavalry General" or "Emperor of Heavenly Might." The lords who truly aspired to rule the whole land kept a low profile in this regard, acknowledging the Han Dynasty as the legitimate power, because their strength was not yet sufficient to replace the Han Dynasty completely.

"I offer you a dangerous path to wealth and rank. Accept it, and the Hee Family will have its own protection," Xu You said with a sly look to the Head of the Hee Family, picking up the celadon teacup and taking a slow sip before placing it down with a gentle expression.

Upon hearing this, the Head of the Hee Family stiffened, but then showed a look of struggle. All riches came with their dangers, and Xu You being upfront about it was already a show of respect. Moreover, with things having come this far, the Hee Family really didn’t have much room to maneuver.

"The Quartermaster of Feicheng is my legitimate son—I presume you must have remembered wrongly earlier," the Head of the Hee Family thought things through and ultimately decided to take a gamble.

As for Hee Qi, the youngest and most beloved son of Feicheng, this was both a perilous situation and an opportunity for the Hee Family to advance. If successful, the Head of the Hee Family would no longer need to pave the way for him and wouldn’t have to worry about the issue of legitimate succession; if it failed, what was there to consider, to contend for?

"Ha ha ha, very well, very well," Xu You laughed. It didn’t matter how the Hee Family chose; what mattered was that, from today onward, the noble families under Liu Bei would hear that Yuan Shao’s Army from Jizhou had come, especially after Feicheng was taken. This news would quickly spread to every corner of the noble families under Liu Bei’s control.

As Xu You left the Hee Family, he couldn’t help thinking about one issue: who truly owned the world, the noble families or the common people? After a long time, Xu You arrived at a wry conclusion: it belonged to neither; the world only belonged to the most powerful individual, and everyone else was simply submitted to servitude under the most powerful person or group, reduced to mere slaves, albeit slaves with some relaxed controls.

All systemic changes had not altered the fact that since the Mythical Era, through the Xia and Shang, to the Spring and Autumn Period, and then to the Qin and Han, nothing had changed. The world belonged to the strongest, and this was both the greatest fairness and the greatest unfairness.

"The greatest fairness, as well as the greatest unfairness," Xu You mused with a smile. "But it’s precisely because of this unfairness that we have value. Essentially, no matter how it’s disguised, what we do is nothing more than gather the power of the people and redistribute it."

With Xu You and Wen Chou leading five hundred troops and relying on the Hee Family to successfully take Feicheng, and then using the scattered thousands of soldiers to completely block all communication to Liu Bei’s troops, Chen Xi’s Feicheng supply transfer station fell completely into Xu You’s hands.

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Ordering his troops to seal off Feicheng, Xu You stood on the ramparts, watching his soldiers make their final preparations. Once he mounted up, he and his soldiers would ride hard for three days, and then, with the Linyi army completely unprepared, they would complete the encirclement.

Should a stray fish slip through the net, causing Chen Xi to receive news from Feicheng, Xu You had nothing to worry about. Such a surprise attack, even if someone were to unexpectedly escape, they would absolutely not be prepared.

Xu You’s men each had two horses. Although this battle had many flaws, none could detract from one fact—his army’s marching speed was too fast, so fast that Liu Bei’s Army simply had no way to respond. And that was enough.

"It seems that Liu Bei’s Army’s sense of precaution is not weak, or perhaps they had always been wary of the noble families," Xu You said to Wen Chou as he watched Yuan Shao’s soldiers cleaning up the bloodstains in the city.

"Heh heh heh..." Wen Chou didn’t understand at all what Xu You was talking about.

"All the better." Xu You didn’t mind Wen Chou’s bewildered expression at all. To him, the more Liu Bei guarded against the noble families, the better. Whether that caution stemmed from inherent vigilance or was deliberate, it was always an opportunity to unsettle the nerves of the many noble families under Liu Bei’s rule.

Xu You didn’t want to dampen the mood of an elated Wen Chou. In Wen Chou’s eyes, the situation seemed all but decided, but for Xu You, there was a significant gap. The most crucial thing was to utterly crush Chen Xi’s side’s potential counterattack.

"Wen Chou, prepare yourself. We are about to set off. The upcoming battle will be perilous. I need soldiers who are not afraid to die. There’s a chance the whole army could be annihilated if anything goes awry. Tell the soldiers under your command to follow if they are willing. Those who aren’t can stay to guard the city," Xu You turned and said to Wen Chou.

"Huh? When is being a soldier not dangerous?" Wen Chou said nonchalantly, "My strength may not be the best in the world, but I’ve never been afraid of anyone. If the military strategist has any concerns, please speak plainly!"

"I know you’re not afraid to die, but that doesn’t mean your soldiers aren’t either. This battle is filled with peril. We’ll be facing an enemy force many times our size. Only those who are fearless in the face of death can emerge alive. Those who harbour hope of luck, will certainly die. A single person’s hesitation can affect the morale of the entire army, and thus ruin our grand strategy!" Xu You said to Wen Chou with a stern face.

"The soldiers under my command are all loyal followers from Bingzhou. They were armed and ready with their own weapons and horses the moment they joined. Later, my lord Yuan Benchu blessed them with fine steeds and precious swords. How could soldiers like these not give their utmost in battle? The lament of Yan and Zhao still echoes; brave men won over with righteousness will not fear death!" With a knee on the ground, Wen Chou spoke earnestly and with anguish.

Wen Chou was a military general; he wouldn’t mull over complicated matters or know how to flatter his lord. He could only follow the lord he had chosen with his loyalty, assimilating the soldiers under his command with his straightforward and righteous temperament.

"Very well…" Xu You said after a long look at Wen Chou.

"Thank you for your trust, strategist. Even if this road leads to certain death, once my soldiers embark upon it, without your command, if there be any who retreat, I implore military law to take its course!" Wen Chou stood up and declared resolutely to Xu You.

"Good, I will remember what you said today," Xu You said calmly and indifferently. In his current state, if the situation he mentioned were to arise, he would undoubtedly not hesitate to take Wen Chou’s head. However, whether Xu You would still possess the same intelligence and resolution by that time was another matter. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is the greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)