Chapter 163

Chapter 163

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 5: The Han Divided, Battles Settle the West Chapter 163: Heaven-Sent Strategist

“Can you slow down a bit? You’re young and can handle the rough ride, but I’m not as young and can’t take it,” Jia Xu sighed helplessly, speaking from behind Yan Xing.

Nominally, he was with Yan Xing because he happened to be nearby when Yan Xing was fleeing Jincheng County.

As an unlucky hostage, he also served as a human shield.

During Yan Xing’s escape from Jincheng County, Qiao Yan wouldn’t go easy on him, but due to delayed information, he could use Jia Xu’s name to break through, or make others hesitate because Jia Xu was still in the group.

But essentially, he wasn’t a hostage.

As soon as Jia Xu spoke, Yan Xing immediately slowed his horse.

They had reached Hanyang County; passing Shanggui ahead would take them into Youfufeng, entering the Sili region.

With fierce cavalry common throughout Liangzhou, Jia Xu and Yan Xing’s group wouldn’t be suspected of fleeing Jincheng County unless they deliberately acted panicked.

Yan Xing turned his horse and saw Jia Xu wave his hand.

Though Jia Xu claimed he was too old for this, being from Liangzhou and trained by Qiao Yan in both civil and military affairs, he could still handle riding.

No need to worry about him being jostled to death.

It seemed so, but Yan Xing couldn’t help asking, “With your skills, why are you only a deputy under Lord Qiao and not promoted higher? Why suffer like this?”

Yan Xing had faced Jia Xu at Kuiyuan Gorge.

Though Chu Yan and Qu Yi did the actual fighting, without Jia Xu’s strategies, Yan Xing doubted they could have gained a foothold so quickly.

Thus, Jia Xu could easily be a chief strategist.

Comparing the famous Yan Zhong, almost made a figurehead by Liangzhou forces, to Jia Xu, the difference was clear.

Jia Xu was the kind of talent Liangzhou people would worship.

Yet in Bingzhou, Jia Xu was only a deputy.

This made Yan Xing feel it was unfair.

Seeing the young man’s confusion, Jia Xu smiled, “Do you think Lord Qiao wouldn’t use me because of my background?”

“No.”

Yan Xing was certain.

Qiao Yan had many Liangzhou people under her, like Qu Yi, Jia Xu, Fu Gan, and even former Dong Zhuo captives like Zhang Xiu and Xu Rong.

Even as former surrendered generals, they held important positions.

Similarly, General Huangfu, also from Liangzhou, was respected by Qiao Yan.

She didn’t seem biased.

“Then do you think Lord Qiao is a mediocre ruler who fears using people?” Jia Xu asked again.

Yan Xing shook his head.

That wasn’t it either.

In the dungeon, Qiao Yan asked him to choose between loyalty and filial piety, mentioning his parents outside the prison. Not owing Han Sui his life like Cheng Gongying, Yan Xing decided to defect.

But before surrendering, he asked Qiao Yan two questions.

First, having led many troops, why wasn’t she afraid he’d incite his old followers to cause trouble.

Second, since he was surrendering for his parents, but family ties in Liangzhou were weak, why wasn’t she wary.

Qiao Yan replied, “If I dare use Ma Teng and his son, why not you? Han Sui is dead; the trouble you can stir is minimal. If I questioned everyone’s loyalty, I’d have no one to use. Not only do I dare use you, but I’ll also use you in a special way.”

This special and bold use was sending him with Han Sui’s letter to Chang’an to spy on Dong Zhuo!

And Jia Xu was his strategist for this mission.

This made it impossible for Yan Xing to say Qiao Yan wouldn’t or couldn’t use people.

Jia Xu replied, “A person’s role under Lord Qiao isn’t about their title but their actual power. Sometimes, being just a deputy is an advantage.”

If his rank were too high, seeming like Qiao Yan’s confidant, it would raise suspicions.

But as it was, he was perfect as bait and a blade.

“But if we fail, wouldn’t this trip be wasted?” Yan Xing asked.

He trusted Jia Xu’s judgment.

If Jia Xu saw through Dong Zhuo, escaping wouldn’t be hard, but it would waste effort.

A failed deception would also tarnish Qiao Yan’s reputation.

Jia Xu replied, “Do you really think so? Put yourself in Han Sui’s other followers’ shoes. How would you feel? Just this makes the mission worthwhile.”

Hearing this, Yan Xing pondered.

Qu Yan’s quick defection meant many switched sides without hardship.

The city fell, people surrendered, and they felt Bingzhou’s military might but lacked respect for Qiao Yan.

Short-term, the battle against Han Sui had few losses, good for Bingzhou’s population.

Long-term, this lack of authority would cause problems.

Thus, they needed a life-and-death experience to fill this gap.

Yan Xing’s apparent defection provided the trigger.

Before Qiao Yan’s “assigning roles,” she had planned to crush them all but chose not to, not wanting to punish all for one’s mistake.

This unexecuted thunderous deterrence showed she could take the city anytime.

They shouldn’t underestimate Qiao Yan!

Achieving this, Qiao Yan had already won.

Completing the mission against Dong Zhuo wasn’t as crucial.

Of course, success was better than failure.

To Xun You and others, Jia Xu and Yan Xing went to Luoyang to secure an insider for attacking Chang’an, preventing Dong Zhuo from threatening Xun Shuang and Lu Zhi.

But Jia Xu knew his real responsibility.

He looked at the sky.

Necessity had them traveling at dawn, the sun about to rise.

Seeing the morning light, he remembered when Qiao Yan summoned him from Suiyuan City to Wufeng Mountain during the autumn harvest.

Back then, Qiao Yan spoke of “vigor filling the land,” worth striving for.

But now, it was “storms shaking the world.”

Normally, Jia Xu wouldn’t take such a troublesome mission.

But having boarded this ship and knowing her ambitions, why not aim for an unparalleled achievement?

Their group entered Sili and soon encountered Duan Wei.








The troops were stopped.

Since Qiao Yan took Gaoping, Dong Zhuo had adjusted the defense of his Middle Generals, fearing that Qiao Yan would directly attack the capital from Gaoping City.

If another surprise attack happened, Dong Zhuo would have no way to retreat.

Therefore, since Duan Wei took over the defense west of Mei County, he had used all his meticulous skills from his time farming in Huayin to fortify the area.

If not considering the possibility of a large army directly crushing through, Duan Wei’s current defense could be considered impenetrable.

As soon as Yan Xing entered the territory, he was spotted by the patrols.

Even though Yan Xing and his “subordinates” were brave, after being surrounded twice, they were now in a desperate situation.

If Yan Xing hadn’t quickly stated his purpose, he might have ended up dead.

Jia Xu wasn’t having a comfortable journey either.

To act, one must act thoroughly.

As a hostage, despite the respect Liangzhou people have for scholars, he was tightly bound and thrown into a small cart carrying grain.

Peeking through the grain sacks Yan Xing had looted from the Hanyang nobles, Jia Xu observed Duan Wei, who was guarding the area, and got a sense of him.

Dong Zhuo’s generals suffered heavy losses in Luoyang, but he still had a few capable people left.

This was Dong Zhuo’s luck, and also… Qiao Yan’s luck.

A subtle smile flashed in Jia Xu’s eyes as he heard movement ahead.

After Yan Xing clashed with Duan Wei’s generals and revealed his identity, Duan Wei himself hurried to the scene.

Hearing that Qiao Yan had subdued Ma Teng and defeated Han Sui, Duan Wei was shocked and quickly asked for details.

The delay in message transmission, exacerbated by the rugged terrain of Liangzhou, was even more pronounced.

Moreover, after the defeat in Luoyang, Dong Zhuo, while defending Chang’an, had recalled his old troops from Liangzhou to strengthen the new capital’s defenses, leaving only a few spies scattered in Liangzhou.

Originally, Dong Zhuo could have learned about the changes in Liangzhou through his good relations with some Qiang tribes.

But Longxi and Jincheng, being counties in western Liangzhou, had their communication channels cut off under Qiao Yan’s influence, with some even killing Dong Zhuo’s informants upon surrendering to Qiao Yan.

Thus, it had been over ten days since Qiao Yan took Han Sui, but the news was still confined to Jincheng County, waiting for her to pacify Huangzhong and execute Jia Xu’s fourth strategy of purging Han Sui’s old associates before it could be known to the outside world.

Duan Wei was startled by the speed of Bingzhou’s army. After confirming Yan Xing’s story was true and not a lie, he immediately sent a message to Dong Zhuo.

This was truly life-threatening news.

After doing this, he turned to look at the troops Yan Xing commanded.

According to Yan Xing, these were the remnants of Han Sui’s forces he had managed to bring out from Jincheng.

Unfortunately, after dealing with pursuers, only a few were left.

At a glance, these men were wounded and had the aura of Liangzhou people.

A few Qiang among them confirmed they were indeed Han Sui’s men from Jincheng.

Duan Wei then looked back and saw Jia Xu lying in the grain cart. “Who is this?”

Yan Xing replied, “This man was assigned by the Governor of Bingzhou to confront me at Kuiyuan Gorge as a strategist. I managed to escape Liangzhou and meet you, General, thanks to taking him hostage, or I would have died on the way. He serves Qiao Yan, and I would have killed him, but he claimed to be from Wuwei Commandery and an old friend of yours, General Duan, so I spared him.”

“What? According to you, General, you don’t know Jia Xu?”

Before Yan Xing finished speaking, he drew his sword and swung at Jia Xu, seemingly regretful for being fooled.

Hearing the name, Duan Wei quickly shouted, “Wait!”

If Yan Xing hadn’t stopped, Duan Wei would have drawn his sword to intervene.

Having saved Jia Xu, Duan Wei quickly had the grain sacks covering him removed and helped him up, confirming it was indeed Jia Xu.

He subconsciously sighed in relief.

Jia Xu…

Though not familiar with him, Duan Wei had heard of Jia Xu when he was recommended as a Filial and Incorrupt in Wuwei Commandery.

He only knew Jia Xu had served as a subordinate in the Grand Commandant’s office and was later taken by Qiao Yan as an official when she became Governor of Bingzhou. He knew little more.

But who was Jia Xu?

He was the man Liangzhou scholar Yan Zhong called a talent like Zhang Liang and Chen Ping!

If he died here, what would happen?

At most, Duan Wei teased on the way to Chang’an, “Over twenty years ago, Master Wenhe lied to survive the Qiang, claiming to be Duke Duan’s grandson. Today, to save your life, you lied about being my old friend…”

“Master, though I’m younger than Duke Duan, we are of the same generation. You’ve just elevated yourself two generations in one sentence, taking advantage of the Duan family.”

Jia Xu brushed off the grass dust and replied, “Times change.”

Duan Wei asked, “But I heard from Commander Yan that after nearly three years with the Governor of Bingzhou, you’re still just a minor official?”

That’s hardly a change of times.

Jia Xu, unperturbed, replied, “If not for bad luck, succeeding at Kuiyuan Gorge and Han Sui’s death would have been enough for a promotion. Why bring it up, General Duan? Isn’t it uncomfortable running around with Dong Zhuo?”

Duan Wei didn’t respond, just smiled at Jia Xu’s stubbornness and had him settled upon reaching Chang’an.

Jia Xu’s situation wasn’t urgent; what mattered was the news Yan Xing brought.

Qiao Yan’s Bingzhou army now had the capability to attack Chang’an!

“How could it be so fast!”

Even with Yan Xing present, Dong Zhuo almost lost his composure, slamming the table.

He, Huangfu Song, Zhang Wen, and Sun Jian were all skilled commanders.

Yet, they had all suffered defeats in Liangzhou, allowing Han Sui to take root.

Though Dong Zhuo knew Qiao Yan had established herself in Gaoping and joined forces with Huangfu Song, he never expected her to clear out Han Sui and Ma Teng by June.

One surrendered, one dead—

This news was like a blade at his throat, making it hard to breathe.

With Liangzhou pacified, raising a force comparable to Han Sui’s wouldn’t happen soon.

Even if it did, it wouldn’t be his ally.

Yet, Yan Xing, seemingly unaware of Dong Zhuo’s plight, presented a blood-stained plea for help, eager to avenge his former master, saying, “General Han had high hopes for you, Prime Minister. Before the plea for help could be sent, he died. Shouldn’t you send troops to seek justice for General Han?”

Send troops?

Dong Zhuo wished to recruit more troops in Chang’an to strengthen defenses, not send them out!

But facing Yan Xing, he couldn’t say that directly.

He recalled Duan Wei’s words from yesterday.

Duan Wei’s generals had tested Yan Xing’s strength when he entered.

According to Duan Wei, Yan Xing had the bravery of Sun Jian, just younger.

Han Sui was dead, but Yan Xing was now before him, not entirely useless. In his current lack of generals, this was perfect.

Even better, Jia Xu, mentioned by Duan Wei, was also brought to him due to Yan Xing’s plea!

A civil official who, after nearly three years under the Governor of Bingzhou, was still just a minor official—

A Liangzhou scholar highly regarded, showing talent at Kuiyuan Gorge, and a Liangzhou native himself!

Dong Zhuo couldn’t help but feel this was a heaven-sent strategist for him!