Chapter 752: The Powerful Aura

"Xiaozhi, why did you switch to a carriage when you were already riding a horse just fine when you approached the city?" Gan Ning asked as he rode his horse, looking toward Fa Zheng, who was seated inside the carriage, his figure obscured.

"To maintain an air of mystery," Fa Zheng replied with a smile. In reality, he simply thought that a grand entrance would be more impactful.

"That large carriage will be a prime target for attack!" Gan Ning warned. The carriage was too conspicuous, and if it were hit by a powerful crossbow bolt, the consequences could be dire.

"Don't worry, they won't leave the city to engage us. Zhou Gongjin's intelligence is remarkable. He naturally knows what choice will best serve their interests in such an uncertain situation," Fa Zheng chuckled. "Without the suppression of spiritual energy, you can block all their crossbow bolts. I trust you."

"..." Gan Ning said nothing more. If Fa Zheng trusted him, would this confident man undermine himself?

After Zhou Yu and Zhou Tai arrived at the government office, Yuan Shu didn't say much and immediately led Zhou Yu toward the north gate of Shouchun.

"Gongjin, do you have any plans?" Yuan Shu asked as they walked.

"Shouchun cannot be taken. They are merely here to flaunt their power," Zhou Yu responded without hesitation, giving Yuan Shu a sense of reassurance. "However, we must determine where Liu Bei's army came from. I don't believe that the 100,000 troops from Yu Province were defeated in Xiapi so quickly!"

Yuan Shu nodded. Although he had been somewhat anxious, his years of experience had kept him from showing it. Zhou Yu's words also fully calmed him down. Shouchun, with its high walls and strategic minds guarding it, was nearly impregnable.

While Zhou Yu spoke of confirming the source of Liu Bei's army, in truth, he already had some guesses. Just as Fa Zheng had anticipated, once Zhou Yu considered the situation, he quickly made a decision.

When Yuan Shu and his entourage climbed to the north gate tower to look out, the noble families followed, squeezing together. Seeing the relatively small army below, they began whispering nervously.

"Gan Xingba!" Zhou Tai said in a low voice.

"He's here too? Who could be sitting in that carriage beside him?" Zhou Yu muttered with a slight frown.

"Why not use crossbows to target that carriage?" The head of the Li family scoffed upon hearing Zhou Yu's question.

Many of the noble families of Yu Province believed that if it hadn't been for Zhou Yu’s previous decisions, they wouldn't be in this position with the enemy at their gates. Although it was largely their own insistence that had brought things to this point, no one ever remembers their own mistakes when they can blame others.

"Gan Xingba is one of the top warriors of this era. Without the suppression of spiritual energy and in a situation like this where there’s no battle, mere crossbows are nothing!" Yuan Shu gave Ji Ling a glance, and Ji Ling sneered as he swept his gaze over the noble families.

"Who dares challenge the rule of Yuan Shu!" Yuan Shu stepped up onto the wall’s edge with a rogue-like demeanor and roared down at the enemy.

"I am Gan Xingba, general of Han! Here to punish the traitor!" Gan Ning shouted back, equally undeterred, and flipped the accusation on its head.

"The Emperor is still in power, yet Liu Xuande dares to wage war as a member of the imperial clan?" Yuan Shu sneered. When it came to sharp tongues, no one from a noble family was untrained in this art.

"Yuan Gonglu secretly harbors the Imperial Seal. Do you think my lord, Liu Xuande, would be unaware? I am here to reclaim the treasure of the Han Dynasty and restore it to its rightful place!" Gan Ning retorted. While Liu Bei might have his own flaws, Yuan Shu’s were far too blatant to ignore.

"Return it to the Han Dynasty? Your lord Liu Xuande is merely a distant branch of the Han family, rising through the support of the Chen clan. How does that compare to my Yuan family, with four generations of Three Excellencies? I, Yuan Gonglu, openly declare that I possess the Imperial Seal. But with Dong Zhuo having seized power and Li Jue holding the Emperor hostage, at least with the seal in my hands, the people can live in peace! I have no need to steal anything!" Yuan Shu sneered at Gan Ning.

"..." Gan Ning was at a loss for words. Yuan Shu dared to proclaim in front of everyone that he had no desire to steal, and though it hinted at disdain for imperial authority, it was enough to show that he wasn't after power in that way.

Even Zhou Yu was taken aback. He had assumed that Yuan Shu restrained his greed out of a sense of honor, but now it seemed that Yuan Shu's pride simply made him disdain such actions.

In truth, only Ji Ling among them understood what Yuan Shu meant. Yuan Shu needed to steal something like the Imperial Seal? If Yuan Shu did something, it would be done openly. Sneaky, underhanded actions? The Yuan family, with its legacy of four generations of Three Excellencies, could not afford such disgrace!

"Xingba, there's no need to argue further. It seems that Yuan Shu, despite his erratic behavior, is firm in his principles. His methods may be unorthodox, but his resolve is clear." Fa Zheng's voice echoed in Gan Ning's ear, quelling his desire to continue the debate.

"General, the man in the carriage silenced Gan Xingba," Zhou Tai whispered to Zhou Yu, which made Zhou Yu’s heart tighten. Gan Ning held a significant position under Liu Bei, and to be rebuked without complaint indicated the immense authority of the person in the carriage.

Crack! Fa Zheng slowly extended his hand from the carriage and opened the folding door. Standing up, he straightened his body with a calm expression, lifted his head slightly, and then, as if sensing the glare of the sunlight, raised his hand to shield his eyes. After a moment, he slowly lowered his hand.

"Yuan of Yu Province," Fa Zheng gave a courteous bow, like a noble scion, and then spoke with a calm tone, "Long time no see..."

"Who are you?" Yuan Shu’s pupils contracted. He could sense the scholarly elegance of the man, reminiscent of Zhou Yu, but he had no memory of who he was. What shocked him most was how young the man appeared.

"I forgot to mention. The Governor of Yu Province may not recognize me yet, but you will soon," Fa Zheng smiled faintly, lightly shaking his sleeve. "I am Fa Zheng, styled Xiaozhi, from Yizhou, serving as Prime Minister of Qi under my lord Liu Xuande."

Zhou Yu stared at Fa Zheng's smiling expression, feeling a chill in his heart. As young as Zhou Yu was, in that moment, he saw before him a strategist even younger and equally brilliant, someone who would rise to power in Yu Province.

The walls above fell into an eerie silence. Even the clueless nobles of Yu Province quieted when they saw Fa Zheng. The psychological pressure he exuded was palpable.

It was the same kind of tension people felt when Zhou Tai unleashed his full strength. The moment Fa Zheng appeared, most of the people on the walls felt the same sense of danger.

"The previous arguments are meaningless. The Yuan family’s four generations of Three Excellencies, and my lord Liu Bei’s imperial lineage—right or wrong no longer matters. What matters is who writes the history." Fa Zheng's calm and confident tone sent a wave of shock through those on the walls. Even Zhou Yu, as he gazed at the figure below, showed a hint of caution in his eyes.

Previous Chapter | | Next Chapter