Chapter 155 Sudden Rush (1/2)
Chapter 155 – Sudden Rush
”Still, that is an optimistic estimation. I believe he will send more edicts to our neighbor lords to make them attack our city.”
Jia Xu continued. ”From our relationship history with our neighbors, Liu Yan will definitely comply with the edict. But Han Fu and Yuan Shao forces will pretend to attack us in the surface while they were glaring at each other's throat.”
”Han Fu and Yuan Shao? Yuan Shao is back at Nanpi?”
Jia Xu nodded. ”Yes.” He had received the letter from He Xing which gave him the recent update of the changes in Nanpi.
Both former Empress He and He Jin were now seeking asylum in Nanpi. In addition, Yuan Shao and his main family escaped from Luo Yang to this city.
From the content of the letter, Yuan Shao was dissatisfied with Liu Ping, and he wanted to help He Xing regaining back her influence power within the court. So that he could eliminate the eyesore, Liu Ping. It was so obvious to Jia Xu, Yuan Shao wanted to make both He Jin and He Xing his puppets in the long run. With both of them under his control, he could go on a rampage as if he was the Emperor himself.
Jia Xu had a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. He was making a tough decision if he should reveal the identity of Liu Xie to Tong or not.
”Han Fu should not be a problem. I have a mole inside his force, but I've lost contact with him. Our latest spy reports said that he's the grand commander in Han Fu Army, but I don't know if he can switch to our side at the most crucial moment.”
Hearing another shocking intelligence, Jia Xu snapped back from his thought. Another idea was inspired after he realized the existence of the mole.
”What's his name?” Asked Jia Xu.
”Zhang He.”
”Good. Then we should lay siege on Ye City right away! Please give the order to the army now!”
”Wait, now?” Tong was puzzled, baffled, and amazed by Jia Xu's decisiveness.
”Yes. As soon as possible. And preferably we should rush there within a week at the latest!”
”May I hear your reason?”
”We'll talk as we proceed with the deployment. Please use your [Create Food] for the army provision and stock them in your space inventory for now. We'll rush the deployment. As the matter of fact, we will travel light with only weapons. The soldiers don't have to bring their armors on this trip.”
Tong gulped. The request was absurd as they did not have enough information from Zhang He. If Tong were the local lords in this era, he would have denied this suggestion of Jia Xu.
However, Tong knew exactly how sharp Jia Xu was.
…
In the true history in 198, Jia Xu plotted against Cao Cao and drove him back at the battle of Wan Castle where Dian Wei and Cao Cao's eldest son was buried. Cao Cao wanted to continue sieging Wan Castle after his defeat, but the reports from the north terrified him.
The report said Tian Feng had advised Yuan Shao to attack Xu Chang, Cao Cao's Capital City. Afraid that Yuan Shao wanted to make a move on himself, Cao Cao and his force decided to retreat from Wan.
Zhang Xiu wanted to launch a counter-attack after he heard that Cao Cao began retreating, but Jia Xu advised against him not to pursue and predicted that Zhang Xiu would lose if he were to chase after Cao Cao. In the end, Zhang Xiu pursued Cao Cao's retreating force and was defeated, just like Jia Xu's prediction.
Regretted by not listening to Jia Xu's advice, he came back and asked Jia Xu again and consulted him if he could defeat Cao Cao.
This time, Jia Xu advised Zhang Xiu to launch a swift attack on Cao Cao's troops which contradicted to his earlier advice. Though doubted, Zhang Xiu heeded Jia Xu's words and launched a quick raid on Cao Cao' retreating troops.
He won that battle!
After Zhang Xiu returned, he questioned the reasons behind Jia Xu's suggestion, which he explained.
”Changes can happen in warfare. He has retreated his troops in the battle haft-way, there is only one explanation. Something might have happened at his bases, or someone threatened to invade his cities. When he retreated, I knew he would be the rearguard for his troops. Even though both troops are equal in terms of strength, Cao Cao is still a much better commander than you, general. Thus, you can't win. But after he defeated you, he would let down his guard and rush his troops into retreat and entrust his rearguard duty to someone else. Since his generals are no match for your leadership skills, thus you've won.”
In that battle, Jia Xu demonstrated his battle-flow reading skills as he could grasp the changes in the situation and make use of it, which was one of the reasons why Cao Cao valued Jia Xu's talents and forgave his sins for killing his son and his bodyguard general after Jia Xu and Zhang Xiu surrendered to him in the year 199.
…
”I trust you.” Tong passed Jia Xu his command token. ”I'll give you my authority. Get our troops ready. I'll be going with you, too.”
Surprised by the quick ”Yes”, Jia Xu gulped. He stared into Tong's eyes and pondered.