Chapter 1169 – Attacking Xu Pei, the First Kill of the Lords (Part 39)
Xu Pei’s territory lies to the south, while Huang Song’s territory borders Jiang Pengji, positioned at the intersection of north and south.
Although Huang Song and Xu Pei have formed an alliance, the two families are not well acquainted and harbor low levels of trust, currently existing in a state of “sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams.”
On the surface, they claim to unite in attacking Jiang Pengji, but the real military might lies with Xu Pei’s forces, while Huang Song merely assists from the sidelines—a supporting role.
It’s not that Huang Song doesn’t want to confront Jiang Pengji directly; the key issue is that the main battlefield is near Hujun, Zhejun, and Hushi. If Huang Song were to dispatch a large army to join the fray, he would need Xu Pei’s consent to pass through Xu’s territory, navigating numerous checkpoints. Such an action would be akin to Huang Song dismantling his own shell to reveal his tender, unguarded flesh to Xu Pei—a risk Huang Song wouldn’t dare take.
This is one of the reasons, but there’s another major factor.
Huang Song hasn’t recovered from previous battles; if he were to expend all his strength now, who could guarantee Xu Pei wouldn’t betray him midway?
Even though they are allies, they still watch each other warily—neither side is willing to place complete trust in the other.
Naturally, these justifications for strained ally relations cannot be openly stated; both parties understand the underlying issues perfectly well.
While Huang Song didn’t dispatch his main forces, he did send thirty thousand elite troops to assist Xu Pei, which is the actual number of participants.
If we factor in thousands of workers from the grain transport and the temporarily recruited “filler soldiers,” the number skyrockets.
After rounding up and exaggerating, Huang Song boasted of an army of one hundred thousand.
With his “one hundred thousand troops” combined with Xu Pei’s “three hundred thousand,” the allied forces total four hundred thousand—let’s see if Liu Xi is scared!
Jiang Pengji: “…”
【The brilliant strategist Xun Lingjun】: _(:з)∠)_ Suddenly reminded of my boss Cao’s eight hundred thousand troops, a benchmark for inflating numbers.
【Emperor Liu Xuan of Han】: Hahaha, you’re really leaving Cao none the wiser, better watch out for the little fairy Lao Cao giving you a hard time.
Jiang Pengji, of course, wasn’t scared. Four hundred thousand troops is indeed a daunting figure, but she wasn’t the type to be easily intimidated.
Perhaps due to Jiang Pengji’s calm reaction, Huang Song felt his pride jolted and decided to go big.
Based on reconnaissance by scouts, a shipment of fifty thousand stones of grain was set to be transported from Hushi to the frontline Qichuan Plain.
If they could intercept this shipment, it would undoubtedly boost their morale immensely while striking a blow to the enemy’s spirit.
Old General Yuan Xin requested to lead the charge, eagerly preparing to make a name for himself.
Nie Xun furrowed his brow, opposing, “While it’s commendable for the old general to be willing to fight for our lord, our understanding of the terrain in Hujun is limited. My lord, in my opinion, it would be better to let a general familiar with Hujun lead the troops in intercepting the grain. If I recall correctly, under your command…”
Before Nie Xun could finish, Yuan Xin interjected, “In great endeavors, my lord’s business must take precedence. Military adviser Nie should know the importance of weighing matters carefully and not mix in personal grudges.”
Everyone present understood that the relationship between Yuan Xin and Nie Xun had deteriorated to the point of being irreconcilable.
Yuan Xin asked to engage in battle, but Nie Xun publicly belittled him, suggesting that he was not suitable and instead recommending a rookie with no credentials.
To Yuan Xin, this action was like publicly challenging him.
While promoting a newcomer to build connections within the military, he was simultaneously tarnishing Yuan Xin’s reputation in front of their lord. This person’s intentions were truly sinister.
Yuan Xin, although a martial artist, spoke sharply and pointedly, immediately branding Nie Xun as one who “fosters private alliances.” Honestly, this skill of slinging insults wouldn’t be out of place in a harem drama—it could totally last a few episodes!
Nie Xun’s face darkened as he scanned the tent, forcing himself to hold back a retort.
With war on the horizon, a clash between civil and military could only spell trouble.
“The old general’s words pierce the heart; my concern is only for precaution. The old general is unfamiliar with the terrain of Zhejun; if we fail to intercept the grain and risk being encircled, falling for the enemy’s trap, how will we extract ourselves?” Nie Xun suppressed his anger, patiently explaining, unknowingly setting himself a terrible flag, “If I had the slightest selfishness, my lord’s keen sight wouldn’t fail to see through it, would it?”
Yuan Xin countered with a cold laugh; he didn’t believe a word Nie Xun said.
Nie Xun’s concession for the greater good only made Yuan Xin suspect him even more, intensifying his confrontation.
He knew precisely who Nie Xun intended to recommend—a general from Hujun with a low profile and little combat experience.
Nie Xun wanted to assign such an important task of intercepting grain to a newbie? As if Yuan Xin couldn’t see through that!
It was clearly an attempt to balance military power by nudging their lord to support a rookie since the original generals had amassed too much power.
If Nie Xun succeeded, the influential generals would owe him a favor, thereby elevating his position under their lord’s command.
Hmph—
He had already branded Nie Xun with “betrayal” and “malicious intentions,” so no matter what Nie Xun said or did, he could twist it into a conspiracy theory. Yuan Xin stepped forward with a cold smile, declaring, “I vow to uphold a military order, and if we fail to intercept this grain, I willingly accept punishment under military law!”
With a military order established, Huang Song couldn’t overtly favor Nie Xun, so he had no choice but to leave the grain interception to Yuan Xin.
Nie Xun could only retreat with a crestfallen expression.
Coming across a madman like Yuan Xin—he must have run out of luck for hundreds of generations.
Reluctantly, Nie Xun could only privately ask Cheng Jing and Feng Jue to provide Yuan Xin with a supplementary brain.
Yuan Xin, the reckless one, dares to clash with everyone including Nie Xun, but he wouldn’t dare confront Huang Song’s most trusted advisers.
With their suggestions, Huang Song chose a strategist to accompany Yuan Xin, ready to lend a tip at a crucial moment.
However, Huang Song and the others were too naïve, underestimating how inflated Yuan Xin had become. The grain interception went smoothly; despite encountering resistance from the guards, Yuan Xin’s sheer numbers prevailed, and before long, he drove them back, merrily leading five thousand stones of grain back home.
“Hmph—Nie Chengyun has no more words to say now!”
Yuan Xin led the charge, sporting a smug grin as if envisioning Nie Xun’s darkened face and the lord’s dissatisfaction.
The strategist sent to act as a supplementary brain remained silent.
After days of observing, he had come to realize how terrible the relationship was between Yuan Xin and Nie Xun.
Honestly, Yuan Xin’s conspiracy theories left even an authentic strategist awestruck, wide-eyed at his twisted logic.
If it weren’t for Yuan Xin’s “analysis,” the strategist wouldn’t have been aware of Nie Xun’s supposed “ten heinous crimes.”
Yet ironically, Yuan Xin’s assessments were quite brainwashing; if you only heard his slanted words, it almost made sense.
Alas, poor Nie Xun.
“General, do not be careless; we are still in Hujun’s Xingcheng South Path—”
We are still on enemy territory; if we don’t keep our tails tucked, what do we think we’re doing?
But Yuan Xin wouldn’t hear it; he was excessively confident.
“The strategist is being overly cautious; how could there be ambushes in this area?” he laughed heartily, “Although Hujun is under Liu Thief’s domain, the terrain here is flat, with only Xingcheng South Path providing some cover. Past the South Path, the sky’s the limit for birds to fly!”
