Chapter 145

"However, we can continue to attack the city relentlessly!"

"In addition, send a message to General Huangfu Song, telling him to take Guangping as quickly as possible and come here to rendezvous with us!"

"Inform him of the situation regarding Zhang Jiao's potentially critical illness as well!"

As Su Xuan spoke, he immediately wrote a letter, summoned a member of the Shadow Guard, and ordered them to deliver it with all speed.

Upon seeing this, Xi Zhicai's eyes brightened slightly as he said, "The Lord is preparing to use overwhelming force to pressure them, forcing Zhang Jiao's true condition out into the open!"

"This is indeed a prudent method."

"If Zhang Jiao is truly critically ill, that would be fantastic news for us."

In that case, there would be an opportunity to capture Guang Sect City in the short term, seize and kill Zhang Jiao, and obtain the primary merit for suppressing the rebellion.

"Perhaps!"

Su Xuan nodded, then said to Huang Zhong, Dian Wei, and Xu Chu, "Next, I will have to trouble you all to continue participating in the siege!"

"If you can seize a city tower and open the city gates while taking advantage of the chaos, that would be even better."

"Understood!"

Huang Zhong and the others immediately accepted the order.

Afterward, Su Xuan summoned the trio of Liu, Guan, and Zhang.

He encouraged them, saying, "I believe Xuande, Yide, and Yunchang have already noticed that the rebel army within Guang Sect City seems to be experiencing problems;"

"Next, I need you to continue participating in the high-intensity siege alongside Huang Zhong and the others, so that the Huang Jin army reveals its flaws;"

"If you can break through a city gate, I will personally request rewards for you from His Majesty. I hope you will continue to exert yourselves!"

Painting a pie, as they say! He was very skilled at it.

In any case, as long as Liu Bei didn't achieve some earth-shattering merit, he estimated that Liu Bei would remain the same as in his past life's history, and would not make much progress in this campaign against the Huang Jin.

Who told him his foundation was too poor and he was too destitute?

The so-called Han Imperial Clan was the least valuable thing in this era.

Especially for a so-called Han Imperial clansman like Liu Bei, who was at the very bottom and had completely lost both his title and official position; his life was as cheap as grass, no better than that of an ordinary commoner.

"Understood!"

Upon hearing this, the three of them were overjoyed.

"General, rest assured! I, Zhang Fei, will definitely break through that bird-cage of a city, seize and kill Zhang Jiao, and win great merit for my eldest brother."

"We will certainly not fail the General's high expectations!"

The three of them hurriedly expressed their commitment.

"Very good! Then go and prepare!"

Su Xuan nodded with satisfaction and dismissed the three of them.

In truth, he still felt some regret that he hadn't been able to recruit Guan Yu and Zhang Fei back then.

But his circumstances at the time hadn't allowed it; he had no choice.

In the end, he could only let the opportunity pass.

A year ago, when he had just awakened the memories of his past life, he was nothing but a commoner;

At that time, he could have gone to recruit Zhang Fei, but Zhang Fei was, after all, a local magnate of some standing. Without any official rank or reputation, how could he have convinced him to pledge his loyalty?

In the end, after considering everything, he had no choice but to give up.

As for Guan Yu?

Heaven knows where he was before he swore brotherhood with Liu Bei.

In the early stages, he also lacked the strength, wealth, and status, and his intelligence network hadn't been established yet, so he couldn't find the man.

What could be done?

However, if he couldn't recruit them, so be it! The fierce generals he currently had under his command already left him very satisfied.

As for the Liu, Guan, and Zhang side,

"Haha! Eldest Brother! Our opportunity has arrived! This time, we must win the primary merit for breaking the city, and if possible, seize and kill Zhang Jiao. When that happens, Eldest Brother, you will surely be appointed a general and enfeoffed as a marquis!"

After leaving the commander's tent, Zhang Fei couldn't help but say happily to Liu Bei.

Their hard days seemed to be coming to an end.

"Perhaps!"

Liu Bei smiled slightly upon hearing this: "However, nothing is set in stone yet. Let's talk about it after we win the primary merit!"

"Moreover, General Su's subordinates, Huang Zhong, Dian Wei, and the others, are all peerless fierce generals no less capable than Second and Third Brother. We might not be able to outcompete them."

Over the past few months, it wasn't as if Liu Bei hadn't tried hard to make contact and attempt to poach Su Xuan's subordinates, wanting to win over Huang Zhong and the others.

After all, the great generals under Su Xuan, and even his chief strategists like Xi Zhicai, were all very enviable!

But these people were completely unmoved.

Their relationship with him remained neither distant nor close.

On the contrary, Huang Zhong and the others had a better relationship with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

From time to time, they would even spar with each other.

"That is true!"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei both nodded.

Then, Guan Yu said, "Also, Eldest Brother, you were wrong about one thing. The strength of Dian Wei and Huang Zhong is above that of myself and Third Brother;"

"The two of them are, one a mid-stage Gangjin expert, and the other a peak-stage Gangjin expert, while Third Brother and I are currently only at the early stage of Gangjin;"

"There is still a gap between us and them;"

"However, the sparring during this period has benefited me greatly!"

Clearly, Guan Yu held Huang Zhong and Dian Wei in high regard.

"Indeed!"

Zhang Fei also nodded with a smile: "I feel that if things continue like this, I have the confidence to break through to the mid-stage of Gangjin within a year, hehe!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei sighed helplessly: "It is a pity that such heroes cannot be used by me. What can be done?"

Liu Bei wished he could trick all the talents in the world into his own camp.

He didn't stop to think whether he had the qualifications to do so.

It was only because Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had happened to be tricked by him back then.

Hearing Liu Bei's words, Zhang Fei couldn't help but retort: "Eldest Brother! Regarding this, I feel you have absolutely no chance!"

"General Su's conditions in every aspect are much better than yours right now, he treats his subordinates well, his character is solid, and Hansheng and the others are heroic figures who do not lack loyalty. How could they easily defect to you, Eldest Brother?"

"If they really did that, I would look down on them myself!"

"Wouldn't you say so, Second Brother?"

As he spoke, Zhang Fei looked at Guan Yu.

Liu Bei: "..."

"Indeed!"

Guan Yu stroked his long beard and nodded with a smile.

This was also one of the reasons why he admired and appreciated Huang Zhong and the others.

They were loyal enough.

Liu Bei: "..."

"Are you two here today specifically to strike at and mock me?"

Liu Bei could no longer hold back, looking gloomily at his two sworn brothers.

Had they started siding with outsiders already?

Liu Bei thought with sudden vigilance: "It seems that in the future, I should stop letting Second and Third Brother have so much contact with Huang Zhong and the others, lest they fail to poach anyone and instead get poached themselves. That would be the end of me."

Judging others by himself, Liu Bei was very wary of Su Xuan, feeling that this might be Su Xuan's scheme all along.

Otherwise, why had he treated them so well back then?

Why had he valued and employed them so heavily?

One can only say that those whose minds are full of filth see filth in everyone else.

At this moment, inside Guang Sect City,

In the Great Virtuous Teacher's Mansion, which had been converted from the Commandery Governor's Mansion,

Zhang Jiao, who had been unconscious for the better part of the day, finally opened his eyes slowly and woke up.

"Father! You're awake? That's wonderful! You scared your daughter to death!"

"If anything were to happen to you, what would your daughter do?"