Book 12 - Chapter 4 – Eastern and Western Tujue (1/2)

Book 12 Chapter 4 – Eastern and Western Tujue

Xu Ziling sat cross-legged on a large flat and saze was fixed on the crystal clear water reflecting the blue sky and white clouds above; his ht

To hi, Susu was the only person who could worry him, other people were like a far away, fuzzy ihan had their separate goal in their lives, but Xu Ziling only wanted to live an unconstrained, free and easy life, where he could be at home wherever he was

It did not ress; it just oal he had to achieve In tere, he already derived pleasure in the process; it was a significant part of who he was

Thiscame over and sat by his side He spoke seriously, “It’s not that I want to conceal anything from you, but I do not wish Old Ba to know tooI always feel that he is not too reliable; he could turn his face against us and show no htest bit of care, Xu Ziling said, “You don’t have to tellwas upset, “Can you not talk to me like that?” he said, “One lifetime two brothers You are the only one I can completely trust, plus I do need your help very ly asked

After answering his question, Kou Zhong spoke heavily, “If I a would definitely lose this battle, because he practically is not Li Mi’s , those Li Yuan, Li shi+min, Dou Jiande, Ol’ Die Du, or what have you, would all have to return to their hometown to till the fields; but even then they would have to rely on their fa Otherwise, they would be lucky if they could re was emotionally moved, “What exactly the information that you heard?” he asked

After briefly recounting what he knew, Kou Zhong gave hith is actually ‘self restrain’ He obviously hurt Zhai Rang that day, but since he was unclear of the degree of his injuries, he restrained hi exposed the cards in his hand before launching the offensive and taking over Zhai Rang’s Da Longtou [big boss] throne”

Xu Ziling nodded in agreement

If Li Mi rose in rebellion too early, even if hestill had his prestige, plus he still had solid relationshi+p with the leaders of Wagang Arrate Such a tragic victory would not be worthsaid, “After obtaining the authority over the military, he actually had the opportunity to launch a direct attack to Guanzhong and thus occupying the Western Capital If that happened, wouldn’t he have the Eastern Capital inside his bag as well? But he was afraid that after entering the Pass, Zhai Rang’s former loyal subordinate would clai, and refuse to obey his coly defended his position in Henan, and replaced the Wagang Arenerals loyal to hiy, it was a wise one”

After a short pause, he went on, “Tiain Li Mi opened the storehouse to provide relief to the people, so that he won the popular sentireat boost, plus all the heroes of various region caiance to him If he were a reckless man, he would denounce the canal construction early on, and deployed his troops south to attack Jiangdu But Li Mi restrained hiu to rise in rebellion and killed E like a chicken in a basket, and then when he led his troops north to return to his base, Li Mi raised his troops to u is not a lay practitioner of Buddhisuards under his command, yet he still lost to Li Mi’s ‘self-restrain’ Do you still want to listen er-eyes flashed a chilling murderous intent “Of course,” he said sihed in admiration, “Even self-restrain needs to be particular about tactics, be particular about deceit And Li Mi is aand Yuwen Huagu’s left and right pincer attack, unexpectedly Li Mi shaoodwill toward the puppet e shi+chong He even expressed to Yuwen Huagu his willingness to atone for his crime, so that he would not have to worry of trouble in the rear”

Knitting his brows, Xu Ziling said, “But by doing that, wouldn’t his reputation take serious hit?”

Kou Zhong continued, “In ti everywhere, ould care if that kind of information is true, or whether this kind of infor is afraid Li Mi would join hands with Yuwen Huagu to attack the Eastern Capital, so for the ti, just contend to sit on the ht It would be best if Li Mi and Yuwen Huagu fight until both sides suffer, or perhaps they would be locked in perpetual hostility against each other Nothing could be more ideal than that for hi so clearly?” Xu Ziling asked in auessing!” Kou Zhong replied, “Ha! You ought to know that !”

And then, slapping his thigh he said, “Yuwen Huagu set his e when he led his troops to attack Liyang Li Mi exercised self-restrain against hi, to avoid direct confrontation, but to guard the storehouse city to the west Needless to say, not the least bit aru!”

Listening to hi’s interest was piqued; he asked further, “Can’t Yuwen Huaji seize the opportunity to pursue and attack? How could the storehouse city defend thee ar said, “You have to hand it to Li Mi He personally led twenty-thousand cavalrywith Xu shi+ji, they excavated deep trenches and built high wall, but refuse to have direct confrontation with Yuwen Huagu If Yuwen Huagu attacked the storehouse, he would pull his rear leg to foru lacked provisions; that old fox still deceive hiu think that they were in cease-fire, and no longer limit the soldier’s ration Li Mi picked this tiu’s grain was depleted, he ran away in defeat to Wei Jun [Wei County], his power took a serious beating The reason Li Mi achieved victory was not because Yuwen Huagu’s knowledge is inferior to hiy and tactics could not match the opponent’s Rather, he lost to Li Mi’s self-restrain”

And then his eyes shone as he went on, “Therefore, as long as I can break Li Mi’s resolves in exercising self-restrain, I would be able to make the invincible Li Mi to suffer the first major defeat in his entire life, a defeat so bad that he would not be able to recover fro shi+chong, and then I will have a way toto Li Mi”

Xu Ziling’s heart was severely shaken

Kou Zhong was correct And he did understand Li Mi’s strengths and advantages As long this strength could be used against hi did have enough ability and wisdom to lay a trap and lure Li Mi to enter it

Even with Li Mi’s wisdom as deep as the sea, he would never have expected that a terrifying adversary such as Kou Zhong atching in the dark, had a good grasp of his strategy, and waiting for an opportunity to deal hito listen to him?

In the present case, it was out of the question

Thisthe two boys’ discussion

※ ※ ※

By dusk that day, the tree left the le by the south bank of River Ru, the night already fell

The ht sky, the specks of stars filled the firhan drew his sword to cut a tree trunk Paring its branches and leafs, he said, “I a to toss this tree trunk into thestone to reach the opposite bank Who’s first?”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Xiao Ling should be first! Actually, who’s first who’s last shouldn’tsuddenly lowered his voice, “Soht I don’t knohat it is, but ever since we left the , a bit like that tihan was aghast, “Actually, I a technique,” he said, “Just now, I have used all kinds of ’s feeling is un in the darkin asaid, “Why hasn’t he h confidence to deal with us all at the saain, it is very likely that he is Qu Ao hi a sudden attack e are crossing the river, to kill one of us first, and then leisurely clean up the other two”

Ba Fenghan said, “I don’t care who he is; even if he is Qu Ao himself, so what? We will find a way to lure him out, and then with ten-thousand catty thunderbolt strike we kill hi shook his head and said, “This is not the time to show off your bravado; since our whereabouts is already detected by the enemy, our route will be full of thistles and thorns all the way to Luoyang If we sih, ould eventually fall into bitter battle and die of exhaustion It’s really not worth it”

Frowning, Kou Zhong asked, “Do you have any suggestion?”

“Whose territory is Xiangcheng anyway?” Xu Ziling asked back

“wang shi+chong’s, of course,” Ba Fenghan replied, “Otherwise the Eastern Capital would be done for long ago”

Lowering his voice, Kou Zhong said, “If anybody is watching us right now, they would think that ere going to cross the river If we suddenly run along the River toward Xiangcheng, other than tucking their tail in wild pursuit, the opponents practically don’t have any other choice”

Ba Fenghan was delighted, “The wilderness outside the city of Xiangcheng is a wide open space; it does not give anybody any shelter If anybody is following us, ill knoho it is!”

After further discussion about the details, as well as deciding any contingency measures, the three of thehan transferred his strength to his ar the tree trunk to the middle of the river

‘Splash!+’

Water burst everywhere

With a loud shout the three

Chapter 4 - Part 2

Xiangcheng was located on the north bank of River Ru, connecting the vast area of mountains with the upstrearaphic location, it was a very strong and inaccessible fortress Whoever had any control of it would have a significant role in deterer

The Xiangyang city walls were surrounded by chain, the as solid and grand, the gate and the city watchtoas spectacular, arroer stood tall; in short, it was an austere scene to behold

About a li away from the city, they crossed the River Ru and reached the section where the river was diverted tothe tall grass

Looking back, the vast wilderness was cohost was to be seen

The tall and lofty, reaching up to fifteen zhang high, city as brightly lit, so that the ht as daytiuards’ eyes

Other than charging in from the outside, there was no other way to enter the city

Ba Fenghan sighed and said, “If so us, this person must be so brilliant that he willspoke heavily, “Zi Ling’s intuition is well-tested; he can’t be wrong”

Xu Ziling’s gaze fell on a small hill in the distance; he spoke with complete confidence, “The enemy is on top of that hill”

With a deep frown on his forehead, Ba Fenghan asked, “Shall wei here, where we can neither advance nor retreat If the ene trouble Hey! I heard hoof beats!”