Chapter 1088: Zhang Xiu's Hidden Strength

Zhang Xiu, currently itching for action at the frontlines, had no idea about the recent significant events that had unfolded back home. His thoughts were solely focused on how to prove his worth.

Whether it was the instructions his uncle Zhang Ji had left him before his death or the advice from Zhong Yao, Zhang Xiu understood that to remain stable and secure within Cao Cao’s forces, he had to demonstrate his value.

Once, Zhang Xiu had considered himself one of the top warriors in the land. However, after being knocked down by Dian Wei’s headbutt, he was rudely awakened to the truth. As his uncle had said, the Central Plains held the best of the best, and perhaps he wasn’t as exceptional as he had thought.

This realization humbled Zhang Xiu, and his shift in mindset allowed his martial prowess to grow even further. Following Zhang Ji’s death, he shouldered the responsibilities his uncle had left behind. Without his elders to shelter him, Zhang Xiu clearly matured.

Now, serving as a vanguard, Zhang Xiu brought all of Zhang Ji’s elite forces with him, eager for a decisive and invigorating battle to vent his frustrations.

However, things didn’t always go as planned. While Zhang Xiu was ready to prove himself on the battlefield, the Xianbei did not offer him the opportunity—more precisely, Lü Bu didn’t give him the chance.

In recent days, Zhang Xiu had remained in camp, training his troops. His relationship with the likes of Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan was somewhat distant—merely polite nodding acquaintances. As an external general, Zhang Xiu naturally faced some barriers with Cao Cao’s inner circle, especially since he wasn’t skilled in flattery. Consequently, his relationships with them remained lukewarm.

Xu Huang, who was participating in a large-scale battle under Cao Cao for the first time, was in a similar situation. Having surrendered from Yang Feng’s faction, Xu Huang was still regarded with some suspicion by Cao Cao’s forces. After all, Yang Feng had been absorbed into the Yang clan, making it reasonable for Xu Huang to be viewed cautiously.

However, compared to Zhang Ji, who had the backing of Zhong Yao and commanded over 4,000 elite cavalry, Xu Huang’s forces were weaker by comparison.

This was one of the reasons why Cao Ren and others weren’t worried about Xu Huang causing any trouble. What they didn’t know, though, was that Xu Huang possessed impressive training and command skills. In a real battle, even with fewer troops, Xu Huang might not lose to the Xiahou clan’s forces.

In addition to commanders like Cai Yang, Yue Jin, and Li Dian, it was undeniable that Cao Cao’s forces were filled with brave generals. The only reason they hadn’t become more well-known was that their troops hadn’t yet been fully trained into powerful forces.

No matter how brave a general might be, unless their personal strength was extraordinary, no single person could stop an entire army. While the Xianbei army’s morale had diminished, their sheer numbers remained a significant factor.

Even someone as powerful as Lü Bu only reached his level after gaining the support of the Army Soul and the accumulated beliefs of a thousand years. Unfortunately for Cao Ren and his forces, they had neither a miraculous belief system nor an Army Soul to bolster their power.

Without the support of an Army Soul, they couldn’t fully unleash their combat potential within the oppressive cloud of enemy morale. Though Zhang Xiu, leading the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, wasn’t afraid of the Xianbei army, both he and Cao Ren were smart enough not to waste their elite troops in a battle with common soldiers.

These were the decisive forces that could determine the outcome of a battle. In the clash between Yuan and Liu, Hua Xiong had already taught the cavalry of the world an important lesson: mounted archers were one thing, but the true role of charging cavalry was to break the deadlock of battle and deliver a decisive blow.

As a commander with a broad strategic perspective, Cao Ren, fully aware of Cao Cao’s current situation, would never squander his forces over mere suspicions.

"General Zhang, General Cao has summoned you for a discussion," a messenger announced, clasping his hands as Zhang Xiu was contemplating whether or not to engage.

"Alright, I’ll be there shortly," Zhang Xiu nodded and replied. Turning to the messenger, he added, "Find Hu Che’er and bring him to me."

Soon, a burly man with sparse, dry hair appeared, carrying a large, iron staff as thick as a bowl. "My lord, what can I do for you?"

"I need you to scout the Xianbei camp. You’re the only one capable of doing it," Zhang Xiu sighed. Hu Che’er was his trusted subordinate—a warrior without internal energy, yet so strong that even Zhang Xiu had no confidence in defeating him easily.

"I’ll go at once," Hu Che’er said, clasping his hands in salute. Zhang Xiu had picked him up from Xiliang years ago, and over time, this once inarticulate wild man had been transformed into a soldier who understood basic etiquette.

"Be careful. Avoid conflict with others," Zhang Xiu waved his hand, dismissing Hu Che’er. He wasn’t worried about his safety, but more concerned about him causing trouble.

Before encountering Dian Wei, Zhang Xiu hadn’t fully grasped Hu Che’er’s potential. He had regretted that Hu Che’er couldn’t cultivate internal energy, despite his formidable physical strength. But after seeing Dian Wei in action, Zhang Xiu realized that Hu Che’er was naturally walking a different path.

As long as Hu Che’er didn’t expose his ability to unleash strength equivalent to a mid-level Internal Qi fighter, no one in Cao Cao’s camp, aside from Dian Wei, would take any notice of him.

It’s often said that enduring hardship leads to growth. Without Zhang Ji’s protection, Zhang Xiu had learned to conceal his strengths, revealing only what was necessary while keeping his most important cards hidden. And Hu Che’er, as his personal guard, was Zhang Xiu’s greatest hidden ace.

Zhang Xiu had once taken Hu Che’er to observe Dian Wei from a distance. According to Hu Che’er, if Dian Wei were to lose his weapons, they could fight on even terms, and Hu Che’er even thought he had a slight chance of winning.

Of course, Zhang Xiu didn’t fully believe this, but he had gained a clearer understanding of Hu Che’er’s capabilities. In close combat, Hu Che’er was close to the pinnacle of Internal Qi mastery. Though he couldn’t fly, his pure physical strength granted him explosive power and endurance far beyond ordinary warriors.

That was why Zhang Xiu had forged Hu Che’er an iron staff as thick as a bowl. A loyal warrior capable of rivaling the power of Internal Qi was always worth investing in.

However, Zhang Xiu’s cover for Hu Che’er was that he was a simple brute, full of raw strength but incapable of using internal energy. Although Hu Che’er fit that description to some extent, Zhang Xiu wasn’t telling the full story.

After all, once anything reaches a certain extreme, it undergoes a qualitative change. Ordinary brute strength might be easy to handle, but when that strength reaches a level close to Dian Wei’s, it becomes anything but easy to deal with.

As he watched Hu Che’er leave the camp, Zhang Xiu wasn’t too concerned about his safety. His focus remained on how he would perform in the upcoming battle. As the vanguard of Cao Cao’s army, he couldn’t afford to return empty-handed—he couldn’t allow his first battle to end without results.

"Lü Bu charged into the central army and killed the Xianbei Chanyu. If I could do the same and kill Kebineng or Murong Mohetuo, the leader of the White Tribe, with the support of the Qiang and Hu, I could achieve a resounding victory," Zhang Xiu half-pondered, half-dreamed.

Previous Chapter | | Next Chapter