Chapter 315 Khans Confidence (1/2)
Chapter 315 – Khan's Confidence
Tong, Jia Xu, and Xun Yu returned to their camp. The two strategists did not speak much in the meeting as they only observed the participating warlords and analyzed their capability through their actions.
They came to a conclusion. Aside from the opportunist Cao Cao, the young fox Jiang Man, and the untrustworthy Yuan Shao, the rest of the lords would soon become food for Tong in the future. As long as Tong destroy these three forces, the unification of the country was a guarantee.
Putting Liu Bei and his brothers on the frontline was Jia Xu's idea. As for the other troop placement, Xun Yu had pre-planned before the meeting.
Regardless had they volunteered or not, Tong would have done the same.
However, they still disagreed that Tong wanted to follow Cao Cao's condition to get Cao Clan, Xiahou Clan, and all Cao Cao's subordinates to Tong's side.
They wanted Tong to be their Emperor, not the inexperienced Liu Xie.
Jia Xu and Xun Yu flanked Tong's sides and kept persuading their lord to change his mind.
”We've already released our propaganda about your coronation. Changing it now will damage our credibility as a ruler! Your officials will also be dissatisfied with your lack of ambition. Remember that Zhang He? Didn't he see you as his Immortal King? If you bow your head to your foster son, how can you call yourself the Immortal King?”
”Lord, if we give favorable treatment to a couple of minor clans for their submission, the other lords will demand more conditions for their surrender. You must not grant Cao Cao anything!”
”That's right! My lord, we will enthrone you first. Then, you can dominate Cao Cao by force if you have to. You have the guardian spirits as your trump cards, but Cao Cao did not have any. Even if that Pu Jing grows wings, he will be outgunned because we have more immortal members than theirs. See? We have absolute power. No matter how trickery they are, sheer power will put them into his place.”
”Indeed. Lord, my cousin Xun You sent me a letter if he can switch to our side. Do you know what it means? It reveals a sign that there should be more of Cao Cao's subordinates who want to join you, but they can't. Once you've gone through the coronation, you will gain the righteous cause to unify the land. No one can stop or dissuade you from mobilizing armies or recruit anyone anymore.”
Listening to his advisors, Tong had a headache.
They had a point, but Tong was cautious of Cao Cao's luck and his real skills as a liege. If Tong can avoid the confrontation with Cao Cao, he would do it. Unfortunately, the cost of that was too great to disregard.
”I'll think about it. For now, I'm tired.”
Jia Xu and Xun Yu paused as they observed Tong's facial expression. Seeing the eyes of their lord gazing into the distance in a daze, they shut their mouth.
Both of them bowed and called it a day, allowing Tong to rest.
…
In his private tent, Tong began interrogating Friday, spamming the chat log.
Tong: ”Friday, what did you do in Xuchang?”
Tong: ”Answer me. I knew you're reading this.”
Tong: ”Cao Cao told me that you raided his city and killed his general. Do you know that I'm trying to recruit him into my clan, so we can avoid the unnecessary bloodshed?”
Tong: ”Now that you've caused some damages. His stance is friendly, but I can tell that he's holding a grudge. He demanded me to abandon the throne to give it to Liu Xie, or he won't join us.”
Tong: ”Answer me, Friday! Why did you disobey my order?”
In Shangdang City, Friday read at the clan chat while she was sweating. She did not know what to reply.
Diaochan sat beside her, watching her wry smile and sweating face.
”What's wrong?”
”Tong called me out in the clan chat. He found out …”
”Did he meet Cao Cao in the gathering?”
”Yeah, he said that Cao Cao told him about my visit.”
”What did he say in there?”
”He's pissed. He said he tried to recruit Cao Cao, but he was probably rejected.”
”Put me in the clan chat. Let me handle it.”
”Okay.”
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Li Feihong, Hua Shi, and Te Langpu almost choked blood when they read the notification. No idiot would not know this legendary woman's name.
But Tong knew who she really was.
Diaochan: ”This is Medusa. Tong, I'm with Friday.”
Diaochan read the backlog of the conversation while she appeased Tong's anger in the chat. Though Friday went against Tong's order, she had her reasons.
Diaochan: ”I've heard from Friday that Liu Yang blackmailed her into joining the Xiongnu, or she will kill me. She went to Xuchang to rescue me because of that.”
Diaochan: ”Also, assassins from Xiongnu are disguising as my bodyguards. I was that close from being killed. Don't blame her, Tong.”
Dong Bai: ”I'm sorry, Tong. This is my mother. Her life comes first.”
Tong, Friday, and Diaochan did not sleep that night as they had a lot of things to talk about. Sometimes, job and family affair did not get along.
…