Chapter 532

In Yang Yu's view, giving Chen Wuji advice on how to fight is truly showing off before an expert.

The Chen clan, the world's foremost military family, though declined, anyone who knows a bit of the inside story is clear that the Chen clan's populace is huge, and its lineage has never been broken.

They merely conscript clansmen and can quickly assemble a well-trained army of a thousand.

Even if Chen Wuji himself cannot fight, his clan must certainly contain those versed in battle formations and fierce generals who charge the front; this has been the case for the Chen clan for a hundred years.

Otherwise, they would not deserve the six words "the world's foremost military family".

Besides, under Chen Wuji's command are also the former chief strategist of the Western King, and that iron-faced, merciless Yang Pojun, invincible in battle, whose fate is lamented by countless people as the greatest regret of the past thirty years.

Even to this day, many still mention it and feel regret for Yang Pojun.

Had he and Xu Zengyi not followed the wrong lord, they would surely have become renowned throughout the world.

Based on these two points, Yang Yu sincerely admits that, in warfare, this Confucian scholar of his is far inferior to Chen Wuji.

Yes, his label for himself has always been "Confucian scholar".

Regarding his experience in San Guan Jun, even though the outcome is now good, in Yang Yu's view he merely forced himself to cope, relying on sheer stubbornness to settle the situation, not because he had any great ability.

"If Chen XiaoYou insists, then I'll just casually talk; it's not meant as instruction, but rather a joint discussion on how to deal with Lu Ping'an." Yang Yu set down his chopsticks, pushed the empty bowl to the center of the table, poured tea for Chen Wuji and his own cup, then, imitating Chen Wuji, leaned back in his chair.

"Lu Ping'an is arrogant and overconfident, yet also extremely suspicious. He now seeks Chen XiaoYou's favor; XiaoYou can readily agree, then make a lion's mouth demand—vast amounts of grain and money, even the cession of one or two cities of Qingzhou as conditions."

"For someone like Lu Ping'an, if XiaoYou asks for too little, he'll suspect you have other motives; but if you ask for too much, he'll fly into a rage, turn on you instantly, and conceive the idea of killing XiaoYou."

"XiaoYou might as well make a lion's mouth demand, give him a chance to strike back, and then strike him down."

Chen Wuji listened intently: "Yang Gong's meaning is that I should deliberately reveal a weakness."

"Exactly so."

"I still need to think this over carefully, but what worries me most is Qingzhou's strong city; if Lu Ping'an doesn't come out, I temporarily have no way to deal with him."

Yang Yu smiled: "You can rest assured, XiaoYou; someone like Lu Ping'an, when in power, is wild and arrogant, thinking himself supreme. But once he loses power, his suspicion will peak—saying he's as timid as a mouse is not an exaggeration."

"Perhaps, by then XiaoYou won't need to do anything; he will kill himself."

"Is that still possible?" Chen Wuji felt somewhat surprised.

He was genuinely surprised, not just putting on a smokescreen for Yang Yu.

They had already discussed tactics for Qingzhou, but this point truly hadn't occurred to them.

Yang Yu's knack for reading people truly opened Chen Wuji's eyes a little.

"XiaoYou will know as soon as you try; I ask myself I won't misjudge Lu Ping'an." Yang Yu said with a light smile, "And this is the fundamental reason I'm not afraid of his attack on San Guan Jun; if he dares to come, I have a way to make sure he doesn't return."

Chen Wuji, convinced, clasped his hands: "Hearing Yang Gong's words, I am greatly shaken; I have been taught. With Yang Gong's parting advice, my confidence in dealing with Qingzhou next instantly doubled."

"XiaoYou, whenever you move troops, you may send word to me early; I will always have ten thousand troops ready for you within two months." Yang Yu said solemnly.

"Good!"

Yang Yu took a few sips of tea, patted his belly, and laughed heartily: "I've stayed in Hezhou for ten days; the fat I lost is almost back. I won't bother you further; I should be going."

"XiaoYou, we'll meet again someday!"

"Take your leave slowly, Yang Gong!" Chen Wuji clasped his hands and personally saw Yang Yu's party out the door.

As Yang Yu's party of dozens on fast horses had just left Hezhou City, they collided head-on with a cavalry unit.

The leading hundreds rode white horses in black armor, followed by hundreds of knights in leather armor; from afar their fierce aura came rushing at them, and the party quickly made way for the cavalry to pass.

"Sir, Chen Wuji's command has more than one cavalry unit." A attendant, watching the dust‑kicked cavalry speed away, said quietly.

Yang Yu, without answering the question, sighed: "This is why I disregarded everyone's opinion and insisted on coming to Hezhou myself—Chen Wuji's holing up in Hezhou isn't because he's weak, but because he's sharpening his troops."

"This cavalry unit must have just been formed; their horsemanship isn't superb, but this detachment must be elite in infantry combat, and their fierce, brave spirit is something some of our officers would need a lifetime to learn."

The attendant asked: "Sir, why aren't you curious where Chen Wuji got so many warhorses from?"

"Do we have many warhorses?" Yang Yu countered.

"Many!"

"How did they come about?"

"The Qiang people gave them." The attendant said, and finally realized the answer to his own question.

Likewise, the Qiang people gave them.

Chen Wuji once annihilated a clan of the Qiang's Canlang tribe, filling their entire small tribe into ditches.

The Qiang people have many warhorses, and Chen Wuji having so many is hardly surprising.

Yang Yu tugged at the wolf skin under his seat, shook the reins, and said: "Let's go; we too should return to sharpen our troops. Chen Wuji is the true enemy at our rear; as for the others, they're just a bunch of good‑for‑nothings, not worth worrying about."

"Yes!"

……

Chen BaoJia, whose face was as dark as a jujube, dismounted at the city gate, underwent inspection, then the cavalry turned infantry, leading their horses in a mighty march to the government office.

At that moment, Chen Wuji's party had just left the inn, and the two groups collided on the street in front of the government office.

"Pay respects to the lord!"

Seeing Chen Wuji from afar, the nearly thousand‑strong mighty throng halted abruptly and, in unison, clasped their fists in salute.

"Chen BaoJia, get over here!" Chen Wuji shouted.

Chen BaoJia handed the reins to his personal guard beside him, strode forward, and said, "Family Head!"

"How did you bring the troops into the city?" Chen Wuji demanded.

Chen BaoJia stared blankly: "The family head's urgent order—I thought something had happened; I figured I shouldn't bring troops into the city, just come myself, I was afraid I couldn't handle it…"

Chen Wuji remained silent for a moment, then said: "You thought it was an urgent order, yet you went halfway to round up those defeated soldiers?"

Chen BaoJia, holding his head, muttered: "It's not that I first met Commander Qian, who brought nearly ten thousand troops; I figured that even if there were a bigger matter, a ten‑thousand‑strong army would be enough to settle it, so I only delayed a little, but didn't dare delay too much. After dealing with the main body of defeated troops, I left the infantry to pursue the remnants, and I personally led the cavalry forward first."