Mythical Version of Three Kingdom

”Hmm, it seems about time,” Jia Xu stood at the entrance of Li Ru’s residence, glancing at the moon. He looked around to ensure no one was nearby and then called out softly, ”Zi Jian!”

As soon as Jia Xu’s voice fell, Hua Xiong descended from the sky, ”Is it done?”

”Now go in and carry Wenyou out. I assume taking both of us out of here won’t be a problem for you,” Jia Xu pointed at the main door of Li Ru’s house, signaling Hua Xiong to proceed.

Li Ru’s house was brightly lit but devoid of servants, so Hua Xiong walked in boldly. Sure enough, Li Ru had passed out at the table. Hua Xiong’s heart leaped with joy.

”Strategist, strategist, strategist?” Hua Xiong called a few times, but there was no response. Without hesitation, he hoisted Li Ru onto his back, ready to leave Chang’an and head north, taking care of the Emperor’s safe passage.

”Let’s go,” Hua Xiong, carrying Li Ru, motioned to Jia Xu and headed towards Jia Xu’s home. Tonight, the city walls were heavily guarded. Hua Xiong alone might barely manage to sneak out, but with two others, it would be much more difficult.

The next day, Hua Xiong had gathered his troops and was quickly heading north with Li Ru and Jia Xu. As they passed the outskirts of Chang’an, Hua Xiong’s keen ears picked up the sounds of fighting from within the city. After a while, the sounds turned into cheers.

”Mr. Jia, has Chancellor Dong fallen so far out of favor?” Hua Xiong asked bitterly, kneeling before Jia Xu.

”Not just out of favor, many wish to devour his flesh and drink his blood. He is no longer the Dong Zhongying of Western Liang,” Jia Xu sighed. ”Although I never admired Dong Zhongying, I must admit he was a hero in Western Liang. But after entering Luoyang, he fell into decline, wasting Wenyou’s efforts.”Hua Xiong remained silent, listening to the cheers from Chang’an. He remembered Dong Zhuo’s former heroism and grandeur. People change, and heroes fall.

”Where are you heading now? Your soldiers are quite impressive,” Jia Xu commented, watching the disciplined troops outside, displaying qualities of elite soldiers.

”These are new recruits I trained in Taishan. As for our current mission,” Hua Xiong grinned menacingly, ”we’re going to strike back at those traitorous Xiliang soldiers who dared to disgrace our pride!”

”New recruits?” Jia Xu was astonished. The soldiers’ silence and resolve reminded him of Gao Shun’s invincible camp, something not easily trained.

”Yes, new recruits. They are strong enough to challenge the invincible camp. Formation change, four armies in arrow formation, shields at the front, spears next, followed by archers!” Hua Xiong shouted.

An astonishing scene unfolded. The marching troops seamlessly shifted formation. A fiery cloud in the sky dissipated towards the edges, forming a red halo around the outer soldiers, while the arrow formation solidified into a sharp, illusory arrowhead.

Hua Xiong was also taken aback. This rare occurrence meant the soldiers’ internal energy and the world’s energy harmonized and were effectively distributed where needed. This was a commander’s dream, as it greatly enhanced the army’s power.

Such synchronization was the pinnacle of military strategy, and Hua Xiong had only heard of a few commanders who could achieve this.

”Impressive,” Jia Xu remarked, watching the display. ”I underestimated you, Hua Zijian. You’re quite the expert in training soldiers.”

”...” Hua Xiong remained silent, knowing this was mostly luck. Achieving such cohesion on the first attempt was almost miraculous.

”March at double speed, maintain formation, full speed ahead!” Hua Xiong ordered, intending to take advantage of the momentum and crush the traitors. Though the distance was considerable, the formation’s power made it manageable.

Hua Xiong’s four thousand infantry charged forward, a massive red blade nearly a hundred meters long slashing towards the Xiliang soldiers’ camp. The ensuing barrage reduced the area to a crater, obliterating the enemy.

After the assault, Hua Xiong was pale, and his soldiers’ red blades faded. They could manage one more such attack before being exhausted. Thirty seconds had wiped out the enemy with no casualties.

Riding to the devastated camp, Hua Xiong saw bodies buried in the dirt, some still trembling in fear. Spitting disdainfully, he muttered, ”Scum, garbage!”

As Hua Xiong rode through, none of the buried Xiliang soldiers dared to rise. They could only watch helplessly as Hua Xiong’s men took their horses and left. Afterward, they crawled out, sobbing.

Hua Xiong was furious. The Xiliang cavalry’s vigilance, training, and pride were gone. They had lost their fighting spirit, hiding in the dirt. These weren’t his former comrades.

Riding away, Hua Xiong’s face was grim. The Xiliang army was corrupted from top to bottom, beyond redemption, no longer the invincible force it once was.

”Your performance wasn’t great either, Zijian,” Li Ru, now awake, said as Hua Xiong returned. ”I didn’t expect to be tricked by Jia Wenhe, cough cough...”

”Just a surprise attack,” Jia Xu smiled.

”Strategist, you’re awake!” Hua Xiong exclaimed joyfully.

”Yes, take me to see Taishan. Let me meet Liu Xuande, who dared to issue a recruitment order. I know everything that happened, so no need to explain. My body may be weak, but my mind is clear,” Li Ru waved off Hua Xiong’s concerns.

”Chancellor Dong has likely fallen,” Hua Xiong said sadly.

”A self-inflicted demise,” Li Ru, having accepted his fate, regained his scholarly demeanor. Leaving Chang’an, away from its oppressive atmosphere, he no longer sought death.