Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Does the Cui Family of Qinghe really have such resolve and determination? Or is there truly a visionary and capable individual within the Cui Family of Qinghe?” Liu Ye spoke up, pinpointing the core of the issue.

”Cui Yan and Cui Jigui of the Cui Family of Qinghe are noteworthy figures,” Fa Zheng quietly remarked. ”And from our current situation, it seems that he is positioned at a crucial point. The question is whether the opposing side has the courage to make a decisive move.”

”The Cui Family of Qinghe and the Cui Family of Boling were originally one family, so the possibility of taking a bold step is quite high,” Liu Ye noted, being well-versed in the survival habits of aristocratic families, and thus fully understanding the possibilities Chen Xi suggested.

”I always feel that this method resembles someone else’s tactics,” Fa Zheng gazed up at the sky, failing to find a single cloud, then silently looked at Chen Xi and said, ”This matter can be left to me. Though it is quite dangerous, I relish this kind of feeling.”

”Let’s wait a bit longer. It’s best not to act rashly now. There are still many hidden risks here. Let’s make a decision after we’ve deliberated it thoroughly,” Liu Ye shook his head, directly rejecting Fa Zheng’s idea, as it seemed too hasty.

”We must time this perfectly; otherwise, we risk not achieving total success,” Chen Xi calmly said, ”From east to west, over the Four Commanderies of Bohai Sea, Zhongshan, Qinghe, and Wei Commandery, we must be fully prepared to make a decisive strike.”

”I think we should retreat a bit, don’t you feel the heat is overwhelming?” Fa Zheng remarked, pursing his lips. He realized the heat waves were pressing in, and even from a hundred meters away, the heat from the burning city was palpable.

”Let’s set camp nearby tonight. I reckon Zijian won’t have much luck either. We should study how to proceed with this plan,” Chen Xi said with a smile, the rolling heat waves making the fabric of his clothes feel hot.

”Xun Shen is far too cautious,” Liu Ye said helplessly, admitting that Chen Xi had a point. Hua Xiong had little chance of reaping rewards.

That being said, Chen Xi led his troops to set up camp on the spot, forming five groups, encircling the Central Army at the core. In truth, when it came to the technique of setting up camp, Chen Xi was quite proficient in ensuring the best defense for his encampment.

As Chen Xi had anticipated, after Hua Xiong pursued them, he found Yuan Shao’s Army had fortified their rear defenses extensively. Clearly, they wished to avoid a mutually destructive ambush with the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, so they displayed all their forces openly.

Upon catching up, Hua Xiong saw the opponent’s tightly arranged rear formation, hesitated for a moment but did not attack, opting instead to silently follow them, waiting for the right moment or for nightfall to lead his troops back.

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long before Chunyu Qiong and Sui Yuanjin led the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry from the flanks, executing a grand maneuver, merging on two fronts with Guo Yuan. The Xiliang Iron Cavalry, which was poised to strike like a tiger, silently retracted its claws, following quietly with no provocations, merely waiting in constant readiness.

In this tense atmosphere, Yuan Shao’s Army retreated slowly, with Hua Xiong’s troops cautiously trailing behind. Neither side dared to make any extreme moves, fearing that mishaps might incite an all-out clash.

When the sun finally tilted to the west, Hua Xiong raised his hand to halt the Xiliang Army, signaling the end of the precarious standoff between the Yuan and Liu forces. The fierce tiger must tread carefully even amidst circling wolves.

”Withdraw!” Hua Xiong said no more, the previous tension having also put him under considerable pressure.

In the event of a full-scale battle, Hua Xiong could not guarantee a decisive victory for the Xiliang Iron Cavalry. Although they were a force built for head-to-head confrontation, such clashes should not happen in strategically insignificant skirmishes.

”Was it truly like this from the start? Did they possess a psychological advantage against us?” Xun Shen murmured, contemplating after hearing Guo Yuan’s report. ”Yuanjin, lead your troops to Eastern Wuyang and report these events truthfully to our lord. Deliver this letter to Xuu Ziyuan.”

”Understood!” Sui Yuanjin replied with a cupped fist salute. He had previously fought alongside Yuan Shao against Liu Bei in Eastern Wuyang and, after several defeats, was ordered back to Ye City to rally more forces. As for why he was present with Xun Shen, it was by Sheni Pei’s command to report the situation in Eastern Wuyang to Xun Shen, showing due respect.

”Is there anything else?” Xun Shen inquired of Sui Yuanjin, who had not yet departed. For Xun Shen, Sheni Pei’s cautious actions were hard to comment on, as he was not a petty man. Moreover, since Sheni Pei was chosen by Yuan Shao, Xun Shen would not readily express any dissatisfaction.

”Military Advisor Sheni hopes you might offer some guidance,” Sui Yuanjin replied with a bowed posture, indicating the close relationship between him and Sheni Pei.

”They’ve done well so far. Even if I were to intervene personally, there wouldn’t be much change,” Xun Shen shook his head, speaking honestly. The disparity between Yuan Shao’s and Liu Bei’s armies wasn’t about strategy or leadership but stemmed from the differing rates at which each side’s capabilities were declining as the war dragged on.

”I will relay these words to Military Advisor Sheni,” Sui Yuanjin said serenely. He didn’t desire for Xun Shen to exhibit startling intellect, as such a situation might not bode well for him either.

”Hmm, just hand my letter to Zheng Nan,” Xun Shen decided after a moment of contemplation.

”By your command.” Sui Yuanjin saluted and slowly withdrew, leaving Xun Shen alone with a slightly troubled expression as he sat by his desk.

[I cannot simply remain on the defensive; a small victory is needed to secure our position. Chen Zichuan is exceedingly steady, while Liu Ziyang is full of ingenious plans. Their combination of stability and creativity makes them difficult to counter.] Xun Shen thought silently, finally lifting his head after a long while, ”Let’s proceed this way, then!”

”Summon Guo Yuan, Chunyu Qiong, Li Pu, Chen Heu, and the others,” Xun Shen instructed the waiting Chief Secretary by his side. While defeating Chen Xi was extremely challenging, achieving a small victory to raise morale was not particularly difficult for a strategist like Xun Shen.

Subsequently, Xun Shen decisively ordered the army to split into dozens of squads, dispersing across the river to harass Chen Xi’s rear. Each squad was small in number but largely composed of cavalry. Their purpose wasn’t direct assault but harassment, with dozens of cavalry squads numbering over a hundred individuals traversing from Puyang through Chenliu into Jiyin.

By the time Chen Xi received reports from the rear, the roaming cavalry had already severely disrupted the summer harvest around Jiyin.

Though a cavalry squad of a hundred men was not a significant threat to Liu Bei’s army and posed little danger even to well-fenced villages, for most villagers, they were a deadly menace. The marauding cavalry threw Jiyin into chaos. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please support us by voting with recommendation and monthly votes on Qidian.com, as your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)