NOVPUBZhang Clan, with Zhen Mi in tow, had left when Chen Xi, hand pressed against his forehead, took a while to rally himself. He sighed deeply, "This matter has ended, all is settled, I should return to Mount Tai. I wish never to come to Jizhou again."
"Zizhong, we’re heading back to Mount Tai!" Chen Xi declared in a loud voice as he stepped out of the room.
"Alright!" Mi Zhu’s voice came from afar. He had understood the situation in Jizhou the moment Zhang Clan personally arrived. Although he sometimes felt Chen Xi was unreliable, he greatly recognized his capabilities.
Seated in the carriage, Chen Xi silently contemplated the entire incident in Jizhou and finally confirmed there were not too many loopholes. What remained was a contest of raw power between the Yuan Family and Liu Bei. Now, it was no longer a matter of strategy like before, but a case where martial force would speak for itself. Only if Liu Bei emerged victorious would he earn the right to deploy the Zhen Family as a chess piece.
"Zizhong, did I seem somewhat sickly before?" Chen Xi asked, wearing a white brocade robe, gracelessly leaning against the carriage, eyes closed in repose.
"If Zichuan truly fancies Zhen Mi, there’s no need for such actions. With your status, if you approached the Zhen Family with a marriage proposal, it’s highly unlikely they would refuse," Mi Zhu responded without directly addressing Chen Xi’s sickliness, suggesting he directly pursue a marriage with Zhen Mi.
"Not suitable. If married, she would only serve as an ornament," Chen Xi replied with a bitter smile, "Her demeanor is strikingly similar to another person in my memory."
"Ornament?" Mi Zhu repeated, puzzled.
"Even if I were to marry her, she would only be a stand-in for someone else, which is unnecessary. In the future, unless it’s essential, please spare me from visiting Jizhou," Chen Xi slowly opened his eyes and said, "I don’t wish to see a woman as a replacement for another."
The icy look in Chen Xi’s eyes caused Mi Zhu to wince with a prickling sensation, and he almost understood why Chen Xi had lost his composure upon seeing Zhen Mi.
"Strategist, the Southern City Gate of Nanpi is closed!" Zhao Yun called out softly as he rode back to the carriage.
"Oh, Ju Gongyu seems to have noticed me. Never mind, I’ll go out and meet him. If the situation turns dire, remember to do as I instructed on my arrival," Chen Xi’s previously bitter expression shifted to one of mockery upon hearing Zhao Yun’s words. Ju Shou, you really are playing right into my hands.
"Where is Ju Gong? Come out and meet me," Chen Xi stepped out of the carriage and stood on the carriage shaft, looking in the direction of the city gate.
"Hulao and I parted a year ago, and now, after not seeing each other for a year, I didn’t expect that the once-young man would now be renowned throughout the land, having defeated a million Yellow Turbans. I wonder if Zichuan would care to stay a while in Bohai?" As soon as Chen Xi finished speaking, the previously sealed gate opened to make way, revealing Ju Gongyu with a smiling face looking at Chen Xi.
"Indeed, it has been a year," Chen Xi replied casually, jumping down from the carriage and walking towards Ju Shou without any attendants, "What advice does Ju Gong have for me?"
Seeing Chen Xi approaching, Ju Shou also smiled and went to meet him. With the city of Nanpi under lockdown, the few men Chen Zichuan had brought couldn’t possibly break out. Even Zhao Zilong would be powerless under the attack of well-organized troops and would meet his end in battle.
"Since Zichuan has come, it would be rude not to visit me, your host," Ju Shou said with a hearty laugh, convinced of Chen Zichuan’s intelligence. Anyone capable of quelling a million Yellow Turbans within a month certainly wouldn’t lack wit, and in just one short year, he managed to bring Mount Tai from the brink of ruin to a level of prosperity comparable to that of Jizhou’s Wei Commandery. Such a talent, placed anywhere, would be highly esteemed. It’s just a pity that, after all, he is still young, and his youthful arrogance hasn’t changed.
"Hehe, now that I’ve met the master, Ju Gong, may I have your permission to leave?" Chen Xi asked with a light laugh, standing only a step away from the other man.
"Won’t you stay a few more days, Zichuan, so that I may extend the courtesy due to a host?" Ju Shou said, not giving Chen Xi any grip on the conversation as he looked at him.
"Hehe, it seems that Ju Gong intends to keep me here by force. I’m sure you’ve investigated Mount Tai thoroughly before making a move, taking precautions. Chen Zichuan is no joke," Chen Xi said mockingly, his left hand already placing the dagger on Ju Shou’s neck.
"The ways of an assassin won’t let you leave Bohai Commandery City, and if I die here, you, Chen Zichuan, will be even less likely to get out of Bohai. Moreover, Liu Xuande has a fragile foundation. Losing you, Chen Zichuan, would be much more severe for my master than losing me, Ju Gongyu. If pushed too far, he might attack out of anger and ruin a great endeavor. I’ve heard that Liu Xuande is a ruler of benevolence and surely wouldn’t bear to see his left and right arms perish," Ju Shou said, utterly disregarding the dagger at his neck with an indifferent expression.
"If I didn’t even know that, then I wouldn’t deserve to be called Chen Zichuan. Those two must be Zhang Junyi and Gao Yuanbo, right?" Chen Xi looked mockingly at Zhang He and Gao Lan, who were unflappable. It seemed that Ju Shou had already discussed with them all possible counteractions Chen Xi might take when he arrived.
"Zilong!" Chen Xi turned his head and looked back at Zhao Yun.
Seeing this, Zhao Yun took a Precious Bow from his horse’s back. In an instant, the previously nonchalant Zhang He and Gao Lan, along with their subordinate generals behind them, became alert.
Zhao Yun didn’t even glance at the two men, drew his bow, and fired an arrow skyward. A silver-blue arrow shot straight into the sky and then exploded above.
"Not good!" Ju Shou was the first to realize what was happening, his expression turning to panic. He twisted his head and shouted to Zhang He and Gao Lan, "Zhang He, Gao Lan, order your subordinate generals to guard the four gates immediately, defend Nanpi. You two hurry back to the camp and call the infantry into the city. Chen Zichuan, do you really want to start a war between Qingzhou and Jizhou!"
"Hehehe, it’s not me who’s starting a war between Qingzhou and Jizhou, oh no, it’s Ju Gong. A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall; I have no reason to put myself at risk for the sake of one city or one territory. And after all, I am still a guest of Ju Gong, right?" Chen Xi didn’t take Ju Shou’s threats seriously at all.
Chen Xi wouldn’t dare or seek to initiate a war between the states of Qing and Ji, and neither would Ju Shou. Both were cautious about causing harm to the other. This was the very reason why Chen Zichuan dared to come to Bohai alone; otherwise, he would never have risked his life for a plan. And to be precise, Ju Shou’s earlier offer for a short stay was truly just three months, not a real attempt at detention.
"What do you want, Chen Zichuan?" Ju Shou asked coldly.
"Jizhou is prosperous, and Bohai is wealthy. Ju Gong, you have frightened me half to death, so I’ll just take a small part of Nanpi to calm my nerves. By the way, once Zhang He and Gao Lan lead their troops out, Nanpi City will surely fall, as the city gates without the defense of a large army won’t withstand a single strike from my vanguard," said Chen Xi nonchalantly. "It would have been so much better for Ju Gong to let me leave earlier. Look at the trouble now."
In the time it took for one incense stick to burn, a loud boom was heard, and the east gate of Bohai Commandery was blown apart, "Yan People Zhang Yide has come!"
"See, I knew it," Chen Xi said with a grin. "Zhang He and Gao Lan are clearly generals, yet you use them as personal guards. If I don’t take advantage of this opportunity, wouldn’t I be letting you down?"
Ju Shou had now fully understood Chen Xi’s intention. If he didn’t stop Chen Xi, Chen Xi would just leave, but to stop him, it would inevitably involve Zhang He and Gao Lan for safety’s sake, which would lead their lieutenants to follow them. This would directly result in the military force lacking a command structure, and an ancient army without its commanders is nothing but a rabble!
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