Chapter 3: Capturing Feng Yi Alive, Marching to Hebei

I have to say;

——the instructions were right.

Gu Yi does not need to control Gu Xiao at every moment; rather, once he makes a decision, Gu Xiao will act according to his chosen path of development.

Take this banquet, for example.

Once Gu Yi formed the intention to follow Liu Xiu.

Gu Xiao would grow increasingly close to Liu Xiu in accordance with Gu Yi's thoughts.

And the miraculous part does not end there; the flow of time in this game is completely different from reality.

The time of the entire game progresses at a truly astonishing speed.

But the most crucial thing is that Gu Yi sees everything happening within the game with absolute clarity, and no information gap has been created by the rapid flow of time.

He truly watches over everything like a deity.

Making the entire Gu family move forward according to his will.

Gu Yi understands that this must be the effect of being immersed in the character; if he could not immerse himself, he would be nothing more than a spectator at best.

However, Gu Yi did not dwell on it.

After confirming that Gu Xiao would truly act according to his thoughts, he began to study the other functions of the game console.

Namely, [Family Information].

I have to say, in an era like this, for someone of common birth like Gu Xiao to become an Infantry Captain and command seven hundred troops, he truly has ability.

At least in terms of martial prowess.

Gu Xiao can certainly be considered a fierce man.

[Name: Gu Xiao]

[Rank: Infantry Captain]

[Internal Affairs: 31; Diplomacy: 30; Politics: 43; Command: 68; Martial Prowess: 82]

[Current Reputation: Slightly Famous (Levels: None, Slightly Famous, A Call Brings a Hundred Responses, Known Throughout the World)]

Aside from Gu Xiao.

The current Gu family still has four other people.

Three younger sisters and one younger brother.

They are currently living in Dingling City; these individuals are still young, and their attributes have nothing remarkable about them—in fact, Gu Yi feels they are even a bit low.

They are truly far, far inferior to Gu Xiao.

This is also the helplessness of this era.

In an era where one's life hangs by a thread, just feeding all the children is a difficult task, let alone raising them all well.

If not for Gu Xiao being an Infantry Captain, I fear these younger siblings would not have survived.

Gu Yi carefully reviewed the attributes of all the current family members and decided to keep them in Dingling City.

Since he wants the family to make a change.

In the days to come, Gu Xiao will certainly be risking his life everywhere.

Since the system now counts these people as direct descendants, Gu Yi needs to ensure their safety.

Follow Gu Xiao to fight for the world with Liu Xiu?

That is too risky.

Gu Yi must keep a way out.

Some people always feel that compared to the founding emperors of other dynasties, the process of Liu Xiu founding his nation was much, much easier.

Something about being the Son of Heaven, something about being a Great Archmage...

A series of titles that netizens have modified for Liu Xiu has made countless people overlook the hardships of Liu Xiu's nation-building.

But Gu Yi is very clear.

At the very least, looking at the current situation, Liu Xiu does not even have a ticket to compete for the world yet!

No, not just now.

Before Liu Xiu takes the entire Hebei, he does not have this ticket.

While lost in these thoughts, Gu Yi immediately made a decision, then closed this interface and returned to the game.

"Zhanhong."

"I intend to press the advantage and lead the army to attack Yingyang County; what is your opinion?"

In just this brief moment, many days have already passed in the game.

At this time, Gu Xiao has clearly succeeded in joining Liu Xiu's command, and Liu Xiu is discussing the upcoming military affairs with him.

Through this Battle of Kunyang.

Liu Xiu's prestige is no longer what it once was.

Although his current official rank is only that of a General of the Household for Ceremonial, no one will ignore his thoughts anymore.

Hearing this, Gu Yi immediately frowned.

The news of Liu Yan being killed has actually not arrived yet.

According to historical development, in the days following the Battle of Kunyang, Liu Yan captured Wancheng, and Wancheng even became the temporary capital of the Gengshi regime.

Following that, the Gengshi Emperor, Liu Xuan, felt that the brothers Liu Yan and Liu Xiu were too great a threat.

He found an opportunity to have Liu Yan killed.

According to the timeline, it should have already happened.

Yet the news has not arrived!

Gu Yi had no intention of making a scene; he did not care about the life or death of Liu Yan, so he immediately nodded and said with a bow: "This subordinate will obey the General's orders entirely!"

"Good!"

Liu Xiu was overjoyed, "With the courage of Zhanhong, our army will surely break the city!!"

The army set out.

I have to say, Liu Xiu's ability to command troops is far more terrifying than Gu Yi had imagined.

Regarding this history of the founding of the Eastern Han.

Gu Yi had always believed that Liu Xiu was the number one commander of his time; whether it was his grasp of military opportunities or his ability to command the three armies, Liu Xiu was incomparable to others.

Now it seems this statement is absolutely true.

Under the fierce reputation of the great victory at the Battle of Kunyang, Liu Xiu's march south was like a hot knife through butter.

The mere Yingyang County could not stop him at all.

And Gu Xiao also built up merit repeatedly during this time, and his status under Liu Xiu grew higher and higher.

Under Liu Xiu's command, the Han army continued to march south, reaching Yingchuan and attacking Fucheng.

Yet this time, the Han army was finally stopped.

They had no choice but to camp near Jinche Township.

"He is truly worthy of being one of the Twenty-Eight Generals of Yuntai who left their names in history; if this talent of Feng Yi had not been recruited by Liu Xiu in the end."

"I fear he would have been a truly significant trouble."

Listening to the news sent back by the scouts, Gu Yi could not help but sigh inwardly, while simultaneously persuading Liu Xiu: "General, there is no need to be anxious."

"A mere Fucheng can be broken in a day or two."

"I ask the General to give this subordinate some time; I will surely be able to recover Fucheng for the General without wasting a single soldier!"

Hearing this, Liu Xiu immediately showed a look of shock, "Zhanhong, are you serious? One must never speak lightly in military matters!"

Based on his performance over these days, although Liu Xiu knew of Gu Xiao's bravery.

But to say he would take an enemy city without wasting a single soldier.

How could that be possible?

"General, rest assured." Gu Yi nodded without the slightest hesitation, his tone very calm.

"Good!"

Liu Xiu was overjoyed; he stood up, walked to Gu Xiao, grabbed his arm, and said: "If Zhanhong can truly do this, you shall take the first merit in this battle!"

In the days that followed, Gu Yi was not idle.

Almost every day, he had Gu Xiao personally lead troops to scout the vicinity, and he even sent out all his subordinates.

Gu Yi remembered very clearly.

According to historical records, this fellow Feng Yi was captured by the Han army while he was out inspecting the subordinate counties.

In the end, Liu Xiu released him.

Only then did he choose to surrender the city and follow Liu Xiu.

Such merit.

How could Gu Yi not want it?

But history is like that; it only records that Feng Yi was captured, but it does not clearly record where he was captured.

Gu Yi could only cast a wide net.

Heaven rewards the diligent; just a few days later, the people Gu Xiao sent out actually sent back news.

They had captured Feng Yi and brought him back!

The Han army camp.

When Gu Xiao personally brought Feng Yi back under guard, Liu Xiu was completely stunned.

Although he had just received the news.

At this moment, it was still hard to believe.

To think that he had actually managed to capture the enemy’s resisting general just like that.

Feng Yi was actually doubting reality himself.

He truly could not understand why the Han Army had dispatched so many men; everything seemed as if they had known in advance that he would leave the city.

He hadn't even gone very far before he was directly surrounded by the Han Army's scouts!

He even began to suspect that he had been betrayed.

Otherwise, how could the Han Army have acted this way?

Just as he was doubting reality, Liu Xiu, who was sitting in the seat of honor, finally calmed down. He stared fixedly at Feng Yi and said with an icy gaze, "Feng Yi!"

"Your ancestors were also subjects of our Great Han."

"Why do you aid the tyrant and act as an enemy to our Han Army?"

Liu Xiu’s gaze was cold, his words carrying a deep, chilling murderous intent.

Upon hearing this, Feng Yi immediately revealed a look of shame.

In this era.

Such words were extremely insulting, especially since he had now been captured alive.

Seeing this, Gu Yi immediately controlled Gu Xiao to speak: "General, this man possesses considerable talent."

"That he acted as an enemy to our great army, I imagine, was due to threats from the rebels."

"Why not give this man a chance?"

Hearing this, Liu Xiu immediately furrowed his brows and looked at Gu Xiao; the murderous intent in his eyes gradually faded a little.

He did indeed acknowledge Feng Yi’s ability.

If he were incompetent.

He would not have been able to block his great army.

Feng Yi was also startled; he had never expected that Gu Xiao, who had personally brought him back, would actually intercede for him. His expression instantly became complex.

After pondering for a moment, he said:

"What this general says is absolutely correct."

He looked at Liu Xiu, "My elderly mother is currently in the city; if the General can release me to settle my mother."

"I am willing to offer up the five cities under my supervision to repay your kindness."

His tone was exceptionally frank.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiu immediately revealed a thoughtful expression, clearly somewhat moved.

"General!"

At this moment, two urgent shouts suddenly came from outside the tent.

Immediately following.

Feng Xiao, Ding Lin, and Lü Yan, three veterans in Liu Xiu’s army, walked in urgently from outside the tent.

First, they looked at the bound Feng Yi.

Then, they bowed to Liu Xiu.

"We beg the General to spare this man's life and take him into your service!"

Feng Xiao was Feng Yi’s elder brother.

As for Ding Lin and Lü Yan, both were fellow villagers of Feng Yi.

These men clearly all knew of Feng Yi’s talent and had come specifically to jointly recommend him.

Seeing this, Liu Xiu could finally no longer remain calm.

Surprise flowed in his eyes.

He stared fixedly at Feng Yi, then looked at the three men including Feng Xiao, and finally let his gaze fall upon Gu Xiao.

And Gu Yi also controlled Gu Xiao to nod directly at Liu Xiu.

Only then did Liu Xiu speak again: "Good!"

"I shall trust you once!"

He waved his hand directly, signaling for someone to untie Feng Yi.

And Gu Yi also directly controlled Gu Xiao to personally release Feng Yi.

"Thank you, General!"

Feng Yi stared fixedly at Liu Xiu, bowed earnestly to Liu Xiu, and then looked at Gu Xiao: "Many thanks to you, brother, for interceding for me!"

"If there is an opportunity in the future, I, Feng, will certainly repay you!"

"General Feng, just make sure not to let the General down."

Gu Yi said with a hint of teasing: "Otherwise, I, the one who interceded, will be punished by the General."

Feng Yi nodded very earnestly.

He bowed to Liu Xiu once more, then followed his three friends and relatives out.

The entire hall was suddenly left with only Liu Xiu and Gu Xiao.

"Zhanhong, do you believe this Feng Yi will truly surrender the city?"

Liu Xiu could not help but look at Gu Xiao and ask.

"General, rest assured."

Gu Yi immediately nodded, "This man will absolutely keep his promise, and in the future, he will certainly follow the General and become one of the General’s greatest assets."

"Having you, Zhanhong, and the others is enough for me."

Liu Xiu smiled and waved his hand, "If he can truly surrender the city and defect, you shall be credited with the primary merit. Added to your contributions over these days, Zhanhong, I imagine you will at least be a Lieutenant General."

"That would make you equal in rank to me."

"There is no need for that."

Liu Xiu clearly did not have the intention of being his own master at this time; what he thought of was always helping his subordinates seek official positions from the Profound Han court.

"General."

Gu Yi’s expression suddenly became serious, "I do not intend to return to the court with you."

"Hm?"

Liu Xiu was stunned for a moment, his whole person suddenly becoming anxious, "Zhanhong, why do you say this?"

"News has already come from Wancheng; my elder brother has already taken Wancheng. The momentum for the Great Han’s resurgence is unstoppable. What is it that you intend to do, Zhanhong?"

He was truly a bit anxious.

After all, during this period of time, the relationship between Gu Xiao and him had already become much closer; hearing this, he was naturally worried.

But Gu Yi was very firm and said with exceptional earnestness: "General..."

"Over this period of time, I have seen clearly that the court is now filled with nothing but incompetent fools."

"I can conclude that if this group of people does not have the General and the Grand Minister, they will never accomplish anything great."

"I, Gu Xiao, have followed you, the General, personally, not those mediocre people."

"If the General returns to the court, then I, your subordinate, will go to Hebei first!"

He naturally would not let Gu Xiao take the risk of returning to Wancheng with Liu Xiu.

According to historical records, the Liu Xiu that followed experienced countless brushes with death.

If he returned to Wancheng.

And handed over his military power, that would truly be handing his life over to others.

Liu Xiu might be able to escape.

But that did not mean he would necessarily be able to escape.

Rather than that, Gu Yi preferred to choose to believe in himself.

Keep the military power in his own hands, go to Hebei to struggle first, and when Liu Xiu fled to Hebei, come to defect then.

This merit would absolutely not be a single bit less.

On the contrary, it would be quite a bit more.

After all, according to historical records, the life Liu Xiu lived when he first went to Hebei was not exactly good.

Hearing this, Liu Xiu was suddenly somewhat moved.

He did not oppose what Gu Yi said.

He and his elder brother knew best what kind of people were in the court.

Even though they had already achieved this much.

Those people in the court were still guarding against them.

However, he would not let Gu Xiao leave just like that; instead, he grabbed Gu Xiao’s arm and said, "Zhanhong, there is no need to be impatient."

"This very moment is the time for you and me, brothers, to establish our achievements."

"As for those people in the court, you need not worry."

Liu Xiu clearly wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to establish complete merit.

Gu Yi, of course, would not tell him about the things that were about to happen, silently listening to Liu Xiu’s strategic vision.

In the days that followed.

The entire Han Army was waiting for Feng Yi to defect.

But before this, the news that Liu Yan had been killed finally arrived.

After confirming the cause and effect.

Liu Xiu’s extraordinariness was immediately reflected; knowing he had no chance of victory at this moment, he suppressed all of his anger.

He decided immediately to return to Wancheng at once and plead guilty to the Gengshi Emperor, Liu Xuan!

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(End of chapter)