Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Okay.” Jia Xu agreed without the slightest hesitation.

”Then so be it.” Huyan Chu calmly reined in his horse and turned around.

”The Northern Huns have a population of less than a million, and yet they can still afford to be tossed about like this a few more times.” After Huyan Chu reined in his horse and turned back, Jia Xu suddenly asked with a smile.

Huyan Chu clearly paused for a moment, but did not answer, instead directly reining his horse away.

[It seems my conjecture was correct. Huyan Chu’s purpose is very clear, and this indeed aligns with a sage’s choice. But do you think I’ll just let you have your way?] Jia Xu sneered as he urged his horse to turn back. What reason does he need to care about the Huns? A mortal enemy is a mortal enemy.

The relationship between the Han and the Huns was destined never to allow for the emotion of mercy to be mixed in. No matter what the Huns schemed, Jia Xu’s aim was to kill every Hun as quickly as possible, preferably leaving not a single one alive.

It should be known that it was already well into July by then. Though it seemed to still be summer, in reality, as the lunar calendar suggested, autumn had already begun. Moreover, the Han-Hun battlefield was located in the north. The so-called ’snow flying in August’ was no joke.

Therefore, whether it was Jia Xu, Chen Xi, Xun Yu, or Xun Youi, they all understood one thing clearly: at the latest, by the beginning of October in the lunar calendar, if things were not settled by then, it would definitely not be possible to resolve the Huns that year. To let the Huns cross the year—what a joke!

[Given this year’s celestial phenomenon, autumn might extend until the end of September, meaning there are at most three more chances for a grand battle. I wonder how much of my intention Zichuan can grasp. The combat power of the Northern Huns is not inferior to ours. To annihilate them all is not something that can be accomplished by war in a short time.] Jia Xu appeared calm, but in reality, he was quite troubled.

For Jia Xu, the combat power and troop numbers of the Huns were not the biggest issues; the problem lay in the climate. Resolving the Huns in the first year they appeared as opposed to defeating them after they crossed the year would have entirely different impacts on the morale of the Han Empire.

[Let’s see Cao Cao’s cooperation with Zichuan. If they can truly work in concert, perhaps it would take just two battles to collapse the Huns. But truly, it’s not easy.] Jia Xu turned his head to glance at Huyan Chu. The Huns led by a brave warrior were entirely different from those led by a sage!

On the other side, Huyan Chu was also contemplating Jia Xu’s earlier behavior. Suffice it to say, he never placed his hopes on the mercy of the enemy. His aim was very clear: to ensure the survival of the Huns, and ideally to restore the empire’s former glory, though this was more of a fantasy.

[The aim of this battle is to test the Han Army’s strength, and the Han Army probably holds the same idea. I must retain absolute control over my people while systematically weakening their power and showing them the might of the Han Army...]

At this moment, Huyan Chu was incredibly troubled. Being able to undertake this task was proof of his cold-bloodedness, but to truly achieve this effect, mere cold-bloodedness wasn’t enough. A greater need for wisdom arose, as the Han Army not only possessed sufficient strength but also had the wisdom to match that strength.

[Hopefully, the descendants of the Kunlun Deity will not be buried by my hands. It seems we can’t drag this on any longer. Since that’s the case, I’ll change strategies and draw the Han Dynasty’s attention, allowing the main battlefield to be within my grasp, and convene a grand battle to make my people understand the ruthlessness of war.]

A fierce light flashed in Huyan Chu’s eyes. Like all other sages, he could harden his heart to do certain things when necessary. Even if it meant sacrificing his own people, as long as it held sufficient meaning!

[I can use my Spiritual Talent twice more this year. I used it once when choosing to return earlier, breaking through a death situation with a glimmer of hope. Using it once more now is truly tied to the fate of my people.]

Huyan Chu, expressionless, instructed the Lan Clan to collect the corpses of their fallen tribesmen, while Jia Xu sent Li Tong and others to gather the bodies of the Han Army. Soldiers from both sides moved across the battlefield, their eyes bloodshot when they caught sight of each other, yet remaining remarkably restrained without making a move.

”Do any of you have a way to acquire the other party’s Spiritual Talent?” Jia Xu inquired upon his return to the group. He now felt that the Huns were not playing by the book. The Chanyu wasn’t the ultimate brave warrior but was instead more of a sage-like figure.

”What did you say?” Fa Zheng dug in his ear, looking incredulously at Jia Xu. Beside him, Lul Xun directly covered his mouth, looking at Jia Xu in shock. The Hun Chanyu actually possessed a Spiritual Talent.

”Just as you heard.” Jia Xu replied, frowning.

”I think we should consider why the Hun Chanyu, if inclined towards a sage, would make such a choice?” Zhuge Liang looked at Jia Xu and said.

”No need.” Chen Gong shook his head. ”If you were in the enemy’s position, having come here, what would your mindset be?”

Fa Zheng raised an eyebrow, ”So confident?”

”Since you’ve already come and taken action, what kind of reasoning do you think is at play?” Chen Gong asked.

Fa Zheng nodded silently, ”It seems we have to be more cautious then.”

”No need to say much. Regardless of where the enemy’s confidence stems from, their national power ensures their strength is far inferior to ours. And with Lord Xuande and others arriving, our strength will far surpass theirs, even if they use a method akin to drinking poison to quench thirst, they cannot surpass us.” Chen Gong exuded confidence.

Fa Zheng, Zhuge Liang, and Lul Xun all nodded, deeply feeling the reason.

”That’s not what concerns me. What concerns me is, what is the Northern Huns’ objective?” Jia Xu stroked his beard and said, ”Since the opponent’s Chanyu is not a reckless person, they won’t make such foolish mistakes.”

Fa Zheng, Zhuge Liang, and Lul Xun all frowned, only Chen Gong seemed to understand.

”Since they can’t make such foolish mistakes, what then is the meaning of their return here? I didn’t perceive any loss of control over the Northern Huns; their actions must have surely passed through them.” Jia Xu stated calmly.

”Let’s go. It seems we need to retreat and wait for the arrival of our lord. If I’m not mistaken, at least until the last step, the situation remains very favorable to us.” Jia Xu urged his horse to turn back. A mocking smile appeared on his previously gloomy face, a mockery directed at Huyan Chu.

[As expected, if what they are thinking is indeed like this, such confidence actually makes them think they are Chen Zichuan? What a joke. Even Zichuan, in wars with such disparity, does not rely on strategies that are clearly leading to death.]

Lul Xun looked puzzled at the frowning Fa Zheng and Zhuge Liang, still unable to understand how Jia Xu had made such a judgment.