Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1481: Chapter 1426: Entering Youzhou

”Hoo...” Fa Zheng let out a long breath. It was fortunate that Xu You was not foolish and had no intention of sacrificing himself. Given the current strange situation, opening the city gates not only wouldn’t harm his dignity but would uphold his sense of justice.

”Is that it?” Huang Zhong said incredulously.

”Yes, by a stroke of luck, everything just happened to end here. Xu Ziyuan no longer has any reason to continue fighting. If he does, he won’t be able to save the Yuan Family, and he will only meet his own downfall along with leaving countless infamies. Xu You has no other choice.” Fa Zheng said with a faint smile. His spiritual talent was indeed to understand the human heart.

Soon, the gates of Beixin City opened. Beixin City, which had blocked Fa Zheng and Huang Zhong for several months, finally fell. Xu You once again returned to the ranks of the Han Dynasty. Jiangh Qi and other generals loyal to Yuan Shao could only sigh deeply in such circumstances, locking themselves at home, no longer venturing out. The Northern Huns!

By the time Jia Xu arrived at Beixin City, Fa Zheng was already preparing his troops. Jia Xu, upon seeing this scene, showed an uncommonly satisfied expression. Fa Zheng had fully matured and emotion had less impact on him.

”Master Jia, why are you here?” Fa Zheng was rather respectful towards Jia Xu, either calling him ”Master Jia” or ”Master Wen He,” though he didn’t get along well with Guo Jia.

”I came to persuade Xu Ziyuan. I didn’t expect you had already accomplished this. I had originally worried that after learning of being deceived, you would fiercely attack the city.” Jia Xu nodded calmly.

”I did think of doing that earlier, but later, after thinking it would just result in losses without meaning, I decided to contemplate more.” Fa Zheng said with a smile.

”Xiaozhi, head north with Zilong as his adviser,” Jia Xu said to Fa Zheng, then turned to Zhao Yun and instructed, ”He has already developed enough quality; I need to go to Guangchang.” Then he looked at Xu You and asked, ”Xu Ziyuan, are you heading north or going to Guangchang with me?”

”I’ll go to Guangchang with you.” Xu You replied after a slight consideration.

Beside them, Fa Zheng couldn’t help but smile wryly, ”Yuanzhi should not be attacking the city, right?”

”Do you think you would have done so two years ago?” Jia Xu said in a disgruntled tone. To be honest, he had been prepared for both Fa Zheng and Xu Shu to directly attack the city, but unexpectedly Fa Zheng had matured this much without notice.

”I will give the Northern Huns a proper lesson!” Fa Zheng was taken aback for a moment, then confidently declared that he was no longer the same.

”Don’t underestimate the Northern Huns. They are different from the ordinary Hu people, in terms of single-soldier quality they won’t lose to ours,” Jia Xu advised a couple of times before heading to Guangchang.

Upon reaching Guangchang, Xu Shu, Wei Yan, Zang Ba, and others were preparing soldiers for a renewed attack on the city when suddenly Jia Xu arrived unexpectedly.

”Strategist Jia!” Everyone immediately saluted.

”The affairs in the north will be under General Zhao’s command. Be prepared for a great battle with the Northern Huns,” Jia Xu said in an indifferent manner, completely different from his expression while in Fa Zheng’s camp. Regardless of Wei Yan’s or Xu Shu’s performances, Jia Xu was not particularly satisfied.

”But we are currently blocked at Guangchang and cannot enter Youzhou,” Wei Yan immediately said, clearly frustrated at being held off by Xun Shen.

”Fa Zheng captured Beixin a few days ago,” Jia Xu said expressionlessly. Even with horses riding nonstop, due to physical quality, it took several days.

”How is this possible? Did Xiaozhi seize Beixin in one continuous assault after that day?” Xu Shu asked, puzzled.

”The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting, next is to ruin their alliances, next is to attack their troops, and the worst is to besiege cities!” Jia Xu sighed and instructed, ”From now on, leave it to me, and you prepare for the fight against the Northern Huns.”

By this point, under Jia Xu’s insights, Xu Shu had fully realized, cold sweat pouring at the realization. Jia Xu felt a pang of emotion; Xu Shu was indeed a genius, but his youth was spent lazily, and he came to his senses a bit too late; otherwise, he wouldn’t be in such a state.

Xun Shen could no longer maintain his elegant demeanor; Guangchang City had sparse troop resources and after being assaulted by Xu Shu for several days, even Xun Shen found it difficult to hold up. However, unless Xu Shu opened negotiations for surrender, Xun Shen had no way to step down.

”Hmm, who is that...” Xun Shen looked at the two mounted figures approaching the city; one should be the stationed Xu You from Beixin, the other was unfamiliar but estimating the age, he guessed it to likely be Jia Xu.

In one respect, the age fit only Jia Xu or Li You, other civil officials even if Xu You surrendered, it would not be easy to subdue Xu You. By ability, there were only a few, on the other hand, Li You was generally the one overseeing from the rear and not present on the battlefield.

[Finally gave me a way down.] Xun Shen let out a long sigh of relief. As far as he was concerned, surrendering to Cao Cao or Liu Bei mattered little; the Xun Family had bets on both sides, and were well-positioned and influential. Whether he went to either, he was safe, so to Xun Shen, his safety was secured.

”Xun Youruo, the Northern Huns are trampling through the Central Plains. You are a descendant of the Xun Family, the genuine lineage of Yani Huang. Opposing the Northern Expedition against the Huns, are you intending to aid evildoers?” Jia Xu directly questioned his identity, knowing Xun Shen’s mind was sharp and well-aware of everything.

”Count me in for the expedition against the Huns. When have I ever aided evildoers? Instead, it is I who wanted to return northward against the Huns but was besieged for days,” Xun Shen stood openly on the city walls, speaking calmly.

”As long as you have said it, open the city gates; the Xun Family awaits your return.” Jia Xu looked up towards Xun Shen and said. Unlike Xu You, Xun Shen himself was one of the Xun Family’s stakes; after Yuan Shao’s defeat, Xun Shen could return to the Xun Family as a defeated party.

Xun Shen sighed; he had two letters in hand, one from Xun Yu, another from Xun Yue. At this point, nothing further needed to be said, he could only choose Xun Yue; any further hindrance was already meaningless.

”Yuan Benchu never wronged me; in exchange for my allegiance to Lord Xuande, I must protect the Yuan Family,” Xun Shen said as he instructed for the city gates to be opened.

”No problem. With your wisdom, if you truly wish to protect the Yuan Family, there will be no worry for them,” Jia Xu said calmly. He was being honest. If Xun Shen sincerely wanted to protect the Yuan Family, he naturally had means to make them set aside grudges and live peacefully.

Xun Shen’s complexion slightly darkened. Honestly, he and Xu You saying those words were more out of habit; if they were to spend their lives protecting the Yuan Family, it would truly depend on the Yuan Family’s conduct.

Just like Cai Yan, Li You might have promised to protect her for life, but if Cai Yan repeatedly courted disaster and constantly contradicted others, she would exhaust goodwill. At this point, it was no longer as simple as merely repaying Cai Yong’s kindness.

After that, Xun Shen had little more to say, just nodding. Whether Yuan Benchu’s Yuan Family could continue its legacy really relied on the performance of Benchu’s descendants. They could at most provide support temporarily.