“You never considered becoming mortal enemies with Cao Cao, and you’re still thinking about taking Zhang Xiu to join Cao Cao?”
Zhang Xiu was utterly dumbfounded by Zhuge Liang’s second sentence, as Jia Xu hadn’t understood the first one.
“What? Take me to join Cao Cao?” No one ever told me about this!
Zhang Xiu felt he must still be dreaming, not fully awake—look, he was even hearing a stranger talk nonsense.
Whether expected early or late, Jia Xu didn’t explain, but he still seized this critical moment to ask Zhang Xiu:
“I’m going to join Cao Cao. Are you coming with me?”
If he didn’t ask now, Zhang Xiu would blow his top—stubborn little dogs are so hard to placate.
“Of course I’m coming! There’s nothing good about staying under Liu Biao’s thumb anyway—he’s always giving us a hard time day in and day out. Let’s go see what it’s like under Cao Cao.”
Zhang Xiu instantly followed up, finding his own reasons, and even had a sudden epiphany after speaking, looking at Jia Xu with eyes full of “How are you so clever?”
Zhuge Liang was speechless. Who exactly was the strategist here, and who was the lord?
This was acting first and reporting later! Once Dian Wei was released, this “surrender to Cao Cao” plan would be more than halfway to success!
Was Zhang Xiu also acting as a puppet lord here? If Zhang Xiu had a throne, he’d be the perfect candidate for Cao Cao to control!
“I’m coming too!” another voice chimed in.
Xiao Jun, why does he join in on every bit of excitement… Wait, Zhuge Liang paused for half a second, realizing something was off—the voice wasn’t right. It wasn’t his brother’s cracking adolescent voice but a female voice! It was Huang Yueying!
Under Zhuge Liang’s astonished gaze, Huang Yueying firmly told Jia Xu, “If you’re going to join Cao Cao, I’ll follow you. If you go to Yuan Shao, I’ll follow you too. Just teach me the principle behind this explosion.”
In Huang Yueying’s hands were the familiar small clay pot and a cup of water, her eyes fixed on Jia Xu with intense curiosity.
Huang Yueying didn’t even glance at Zhuge Liang. A partner is easy to find, but a master is rare! Especially now, after Qin Shi Huang’s burning of books and burying of scholars, and Emperor Wu of Han’s dismissal of the hundred schools of thought. Huang Yueying prided herself on having read many books, but! Jia Xu’s technique—she had never seen it in any book nor learned it from her former teachers. It was a unique skill! Finding a mentor and friend in the same field during these chaotic times was too difficult!
“Me too, me too! You don’t have to teach me this—wherever you go, I’ll follow!” This was Zhuge Jun’s voice, his eyes sparkling like a clingy, high-maintenance cat, his claws still clutching Jia Xu’s sleeve.
Well then.
Two sentences, and he’d managed to “lose his wife and children.”
Zhuge Liang withdrew into himself.
Jia Xu was surprised that the “kittens” had such high favorability toward him. At this moment, he was like the host of the Eastern Han, saying things like “I’ll take everyone, everyone,” “I’ll take you too, and you as well,” “I won’t forget you,” before finally thinking to comfort Zhuge Liang.
After taking a deep breath, Zhuge Liang composed himself.
“Let’s deal with our current predicament first. Tomorrow, I’ll take command. As a newcomer, I should also demonstrate my abilities.”
These words—this was what I was supposed to say!
Zhuge Xuan stared at his nephew in shock.
Zhang Xiu didn’t sleep well that night either, having been cornered at his own doorstep. He thought the same as Jia Xu: even if they wanted to surrender, they couldn’t do so at first sight—they had to show Cao Cao their blades. Otherwise, he’d really think they were the kind of people who bowed and submitted because they had no ability.
Several shifts of guards were arranged overnight, and even traps were quietly dug in advance according to Jia Xu’s previous “instructions.”
But just as Zhuge Liang had said, Cao Cao’s camp made no move that night.
The next day, Zhuge Xuan was bedridden with illness, and Zhuge Liang stood atop the city wall.
Jia Xu watched from below at Zhuge Liang’s tall and straight figure, which in his mind seemed like an extension of the city wall, making Rangcheng even more impregnable and giving him a strong sense of security.
“Am I not giving the military advisor enough sense of security?” Zhang Xiu muttered beside Jia Xu.
“Go guard the side gate! Don’t let anyone slip through—that would be too embarrassing. Don’t disgrace our Rangcheng!” Jia Xu pushed Zhang Xiu outward.
“Our,” Zhang Xiu chewed on the word, a smile spreading across his face again. Jia Xu still considered him one of his own!
He had always said that newcomers like Zhuge Liang could never surpass him!
Like Zhang Xiu, the soldiers following him were also heartened by these words, each one filled with renewed vigor, their footsteps thudding resolutely.
“Why isn’t it Jia Xu? Who is this person?”
Guo Jia watched the stranger on the city wall from below, but no matter how he looked, the man didn’t resemble the portrait of Jia Xu.
“He’s a guest brought by Jia Xu, and he came to see me too,” Dian Wei said with dissatisfaction, feeling like a trophy put on display and then released by Jia Xu like prey.
From Dian Wei, Guo Jia learned how he had been brought to Rangcheng by Zhang Xiu and questioned by Jia Xu, reaching the same conclusion as Zhuge Liang.
“Jia Xu wants to surrender, but he doesn’t want to join us without demonstrating any ability.”
Dian Wei didn’t understand. He himself had pledged loyalty to Cao Cao without hesitation. As for ability, couldn’t that be showcased after joining their lord?
Besides! Wasn’t capturing him alive a demonstration of ability? And then letting him go! Was it just to toy with him? Did they not take him seriously?
Guo Jia didn’t explain further. He was a lazy man, too lazy to bother explaining such trivial matters that could be easily understood.
He had prepared all night for his confrontation with Jia Xu. As for the explosive device Dian Wei mentioned, he believed Jia Xu wouldn’t use it.
It was likely just a prop to attract Dian Wei’s attention. Even after meeting their lord, Dian Wei wouldn’t forget the explosion he witnessed.
But still, why?
Why was this person standing on the city wall?
A battle, understood by both Zhuge Liang and Guo Jia, began in Rangcheng—one that didn’t require a fight to the death but demanded a display of their abilities.
What was Jia Xu, the one who had created this situation, doing?
He was showing Huang Yueying limestone.
“It’s not an ability I bestowed. This substance itself reacts violently when it encounters water. Look, if you get close, you can feel the intense heat. When this reaction and heat occur suddenly inside a small container, the container can’t withstand it and explodes.”
In all his days in Rangcheng, Jia Xu had never felt more at ease than today.
Zhuge Liang was in charge of the main gate, Huang Chengyan followed Zhang Xiu to guard the side gate, and Zhuge Jun led a group to maintain order within the city.
Anyone with ill intentions or attempting to collaborate with the enemy during the battle would be dragged out and “executed after autumn.”
Jia Xu was completely liberated, happily sharing knowledge from the rear.
If possible, Jia Xu wished he could impart all his knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology, and geography to Huang Yueying—she was the true powerhouse who needed to master these skills!
“Military advisor!” “Military advisor!” “Military advisor, we will definitely defend Rangcheng!”
In just a short while, countless civilians armed with wooden shields surged forward.
At first, Huang Yueying thought all the soldiers and civilians of Rangcheng were participating in the battle, but she soon noticed that some people seemed to have made several trips back and forth…
“Are they delivering shields to the front lines?” Huang Yueying realized.
“Yes, yes. We rehearse this scenario once a month. Participants receive rewards based on the number of trips they make, so they’re quite accustomed to it—no panic. Look, the civilians aren’t afraid either. Everyone is doing their part to defend Rangcheng!”
Jia Xu knew nothing of war. Modern China had protected its ordinary citizens exceptionally well.
The only gunpowder he had ever seen was fireworks during holidays, and the only real dangers he had experienced were natural disasters like earthquakes and floods. The likelihood of encountering danger in daily life was far lower than in other countries.
But Jia Xu, putting himself in others’ shoes, believed that panic was inevitable in the face of danger—and panic inevitably led to mistakes.
So, he emulated the “fire drills” and “anti-terrorism training” taught in modern times and conducted rehearsals in advance.
Huang Yueying was astonished—truly amazed. She had seen many scholars and strategists, and Zhuge Liang was not the only one with exceptional talent. She had long known this, but…
How could anyone achieve something like this?
She recalled when she first arrived in Rangcheng, how the civilians had eagerly shared news about Zhang Xiu with Jia Xu…
Could strategizing over people’s hearts be taken to such an extent? Huang Yueying had witnessed people fleeing in advance upon hearing of impending war, and she had seen cities set ablaze from within and gates opened to the enemy while battles raged bloodily on the front lines.
But this unity between soldiers and civilians, defending together—without coercion or threats, with no sorrow or fear of death on anyone’s face, only a shared determination to strive—was unprecedented.
Was this Jia Xu’s strategy?
Jia Xu’s plans had secured safety and peace for the people of Rangcheng in these turbulent times, and he had even prepared an escape route for them.
Unwilling to let Cao Cao’s massacre befall them, he had even considered seeking Cao Cao’s protection as a last resort.
Yet, given his abilities, he might not have been unable to stand against Cao Cao.
Perhaps this was what it truly meant to strategize for the people?
Huang Yueying was left speechless with awe. Misinterpreting her silence, Jia Xu thought she believed he was exploiting the civilians and hurriedly explained.
“Not everyone participates. There are requirements—the elderly, weak, sick, or disabled cannot join. They have other tasks they can handle. Look over there.”
There was more?
Huang Yueying followed Jia Xu’s pointing finger to an ordinary-looking house where people were coming and going. Without his explanation, she would have thought it was just another common place.
“Positions reserved for those not in peak physical condition—they’re responsible for registration.”
Speaking of this, Jia Xu raised his eyebrows, looking quite pleased.
“Most people in Rangcheng now recognize the numbers 1, 2, and 3. Though I taught them numerals rather than Han characters, it’s still progress! They’ve also learned the Han character for ‘正’ and can use the tally method for registration.”
According to Huang Yueying’s knowledge, Jia Xu had only been in Rangcheng for a few months. During these months, Rangcheng had not fought any defensive battles, while Zhang Xiu had been constantly launching attacks. This, this…
It was as if he had done this thousands of times before, with such familiarity.
Jia Xu was truly a remarkable man.
“Where did Jia Xu find this person? He looks so young, yet his mind works so quickly! Or is he just standing there putting on a show?”
Some enjoy peace and tranquility, while others bear heavy burdens. Zhuge Liang shouldered Jia Xu’s current peace and tranquility, while Guo Jia was nearly driven mad by Zhuge Liang!
“Every single arrangement, he knows them all and makes preparations in advance. Did he bring these soldiers himself? Why do they obey him so readily?”
Guo Jia rolled his eyes. Even when he commanded Cao’s army himself, he never had it as smooth as that kid on the other side.
As for Cao Ang, watching Zhuge Liang on the city wall and thinking of Jia Xu, who had not yet appeared, his eyes burned with fervor. He hit upon the truth that made Guo Jia feel constrained at every turn.
“It must be Jia Xu’s training model for soldiers, right? When you have someone who understands military formations, obedient soldiers are crucial.”
Xiahou Yuan looked at these soldiers, then glanced at his own men. He leaned over and said to Dian Wei, “General Dian, how about you sneak onto the battlefield and capture a few enemy soldiers within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn?”
Upon hearing this, Dian Wei took a deep breath through his nose, like an enraged bull.
“What do you take me for?!”
Capturing enemy soldiers on the battlefield? Do you think I’m a hunting dog?!
————————!!————————
Dian Wei: Not a dog [cat paw]