Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 1390 - 1342: The Concluded Siege and Defense Battle of the First Stage
To be honest, since my encounter with Xu You, I’ve realized my own shortcomings. Although I can come up with countless clever plans and adopt strategies on the fly, facing those more experienced individuals, I am at a disadvantage.
However, this asymmetric confrontation has also allowed me to discover my strengths in strategic plotting. Besides crafting exceptional tactics, I’m better at sudden bursts of insight, which is essentially a kind of leap in thinking.
It might be due to the enhancement in understanding others’ minds provided by my Spiritual Talent. My moments of enlightenment often involve suddenly grasping the reason behind someone’s actions, or directly comprehending why someone behaves in a certain way.
While strategists dig pitfalls bit by bit, my flashes of insight are akin to suddenly understanding the thoughts across the table. Sometimes, the opponent only has a vague idea, which becomes clear as they proceed.
Due to my skill in perceiving others’ intentions, I can suddenly deduce what the opponent plans to do from their behavior, often before the person even fully comprehends their own goals. By then, I’ve already anticipated the next steps.
It leads to quite a miraculous situation. Sometimes even before Xu You figures out his own plan, I’ve already intercepted him.
As Fa Zheng puts it, although you haven’t fully thought it through, your actions are already moving in that direction. To me, your nature is transparent, and both your disposition and current actions have destined the steps you will take.
It can be said that this sudden flash of insight is the most frustrating aspect for Xu You. Though he got caught in only two instances, both times Fa Zheng managed to foil him right when Xu You thought victory was assured. Naturally, Xu You was more cautious the second time, so it wasn’t too severe.
Yet even so, Xu You remains quite apprehensive toward Fa Zheng. Had Xu You not successfully plotted against Fa Zheng to reclaim the Troop Deployment Order, the anxiety he felt towards Fa Zheng would have been substantial.
"In short, the siege battle of Beixin has reached a conclusion. Xu You is likely waiting for the final opportunity, but he might be disappointed this time, as I am also waiting for it," Fa Zheng said with a cold smile.
"The Xianbei are moving south," Huang Zhong remarked with a concerned expression.
"Yes, when the time comes, our army will exert the strength of a hundred thousand troops to completely defeat Yuan Tan," Fa Zheng said with a smile. At this stage, there is nothing to hide, as the forces in Youzhou are all gathered at the border between Youzhou and Jizhou; the Xianbei moving south is a foregone conclusion.
"It’s a pity for the people of northern Youzhou," Huang Zhong sighed.
"There’s no other way, it’s unavoidable." Fa Zheng said after a moment of silence, "Send a message to the rear and inform the Lord of everything happening now. Our army’s First Phase of the mission is considered complete."
"Hah, cheer up. In any case, our side captured five thousand of the enemy’s troops, which counts as a great victory. As for northern Youzhou, we’ll discuss that once we get there," Fa Zheng suddenly said with a smile, "Thinking too much is pointless."
At the Beixin City Yamen, Xu You sat casually in front of the desk, appearing with a calm and scholarly demeanor, as if he wasn’t at all worried about his strategems.
[Fa Xiaozhi must have already deduced the so-called "truth." What remains to be done is to uphold this truth for over two months, and by then, everything will become clear.] Xu You slowly lifted the teapot and steadily poured tea into the cup.
On the other side beneath Guangchang City, Xu Shu had been observing for a long time, while Xun Shen completely ignored Wei Yan’s provocations, standing silently on the city wall in a confrontation with Wei Yan.
Currently, Xun Shen showed no concern for Wei Yan’s taunts. Even when Wei Yan suddenly made a stance for an assault, Xun Shen and his troops handled it calmly. It’s apparent that since the failed ambush, Xun Shen has abandoned the idea of leaving the city.
"It seems the opponent has no intention of leaving the city to engage us in combat," Xu Shu said helplessly; Xun Shen’s unrestrained behavior had already revealed the whole situation.
It’s not that plots are inferior, just that formation battle isn’t an opponent. Even if all strategies on the opposite side can be seen through, ultimately, you still have to face them head-on, and you’re unable to win in direct combat. You might gain an initial advantage through strategy, but once Xu Shu stabilizes his positioning, he can swiftly push back.
Continuous probing led to success only once when Sheni Pei was present, which has completely extinguished Xun Shen’s desire for direct formation battles with Xu Shu.
"Seems the opponent is low on strength for shouting. Go tell Xu Shu that Guangchang is here, if he has the ability, he should come and take it!" Xun Shen said with a scholarly smile, indifferent to the possible outcome, drank the wine from the cup, then turned to the burly guardsmen who had been ready all along.
"Yes!" The guardsman respectfully saluted Xun Shen, then drank the bowl of wine Xun Shen handed, finishing it in one gulp, and proceeded towards the gate tower.
"Hear me, Xu Shu on the opposite side, our strategist says Guangchang is right here, come and take it if you can. If you can’t take Guangchang, just stay here!" The guardsman’s shout echoed across the battlefield, causing Xu Shu’s face to darken with fury.
At this moment, Xun Shen, who had been sitting at the top of the city wall all along, stood up, looked in Xu Shu’s direction, "Xu Yuanzhi, I respect you as a man. After all this commotion, if you’ve got guts, come siege the city; we’ve three to five thousand brothers waiting for you here!"
Having said this, Xun Shen tossed the wine cup in Xu Shu’s direction, then turned with a cold smile, walking towards another section of the city wall, leaving Xu Shu visibly upset.
However, having been a rascal, Xu Shu was quite experienced in life. He chuckled, turned, and left. Xun Shen made it clear he wouldn’t leave the city, and as for sieging, just like Xun Shen said earlier, Guangchang has three to five thousand brothers waiting.
Xun Shen isn’t the opponent of Xu Shu in a battlefield, whereas Xu Shu’s tactics are outmatched by Xun Shen. Both sides have their strengths and weaknesses, but with a battlefield placed in such a setting, Xun Shen only defends and doesn’t attack, while Xu Shu has no recourse.
"Seems this is the only option, send a message to the rear and inform the Lord about all the present conditions here." Xu Shu sighed, realizing Xun Shen essentially rejects any of Xu Shu’s strategies and is not bothered about defeating Xu Shu or rescuing the North, leaving Xu Shu without any solutions.
"Xun Shen, that cowardly rascal!" Wei Yan slapped a palm on the desk, seething in anger. Unlike Fa Zheng’s side where a major gain was made at the end, Wei Yan here is still suffering from the setback with Sheni Pei and hasn’t fully recuperated.
"As I see it, this strategy is actually the best choice." Zang Ba said with a bitter smile, "In formation battles, Xun Shen is no match for Yuanzhi. Then what’s the point of continuing to fight? The Yuan Family now needs to calculate carefully." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
"Next time I’ll suggest to the Lord not to have me deal with such types of strategists. I’m suited for battles that test sheer strength!" Xu Shu voiced his frustration, feeling incapacitated as Xun Shen managed to see through all his strategies, halving the efficacy of his skills.
