"General, there are messengers from Zhao Hao's side outside."
Xu Rong, who was inspecting the front and back walls of Hulao Pass, frowned slightly upon hearing this.
"What the hell? It's gone!"
The person who came to report twitched at the corner of his mouth.
After thinking it over, he sighed and continued to speak frankly.
"General, do you remember the other day when I mentioned that someone needed to relieve themselves?"
Xu Rong was stunned. "Niu Dali, what is all this nonsense? I just promoted you to centurion, don't give me any nonsense!"
Helpless, Niu Dali had no choice but to recount everything in detail.
“General, actually no one needed to relieve themselves that day. It was just that Military Advisor Li Ru needed a clever and sensible fellow to do the work. So I assigned that young Hu to Li Ru.”
Xu Rong seemed thoughtful. "I have a vague recollection. After all, there aren't many generals as young as him. You wouldn't be suggesting that Zhao Hao's envoy was that young Hu, would you?"
Niu Dali nodded helplessly, "That's right, General... I don't know how that kid ended up with Zhao Hao. Should we see him or not?"
Xu Rong was furious that one of his soldiers had become a traitor!
But then he thought again, Xiao Hu hadn't been in his army for long, and now the tide was turning in Zhao Hao's favor. So why should he resent others for turning their backs on him, and why shouldn't he let a child find his own way to survive?
"A traitor dares to come back to us? This kid's got guts. Fine, go and bring him here!"
"Yes, General. He also has a guard with him. Should we bring him along as well?"
"He has guards? Then let me see how strong Zhao Hao's men are!"
After saying this, Niu Dali left with his guards.
Before long, Hu and Ban were brought to Xu Rong's tent.
"Hu Ban greets the General!"
Yuwen Chengdu crossed his arms. Although he was not carrying any weapons, he could disarm these people with his bare hands at any time and was not afraid of these small fry at all.
"Boy, I heard you used to serve under Niu Dali? Now you've surrendered to Zhao Hao, making us enemies. Coming to me as a traitor, are you not afraid of death?!"
Zzzzz!
"Could it be that you think my sword is ineffective?"
Snap!
Yuwen Chengdu approached Xu Rong with a ghostly figure, before Xu Rong could react, and then quickly slapped him so hard that his scalp tingled, and took the sword from his hand.
"You no longer have a sword, yet even a little kid is willing to have a proper chat with you. Don't you know how to speak properly?"
If you truly don't understand, I, Yuwen Chengdu, can certainly teach you again!
Yuwen Chengdu?
Zhao Hao actually sent his most valiant general, Yuwen Chengdu, to act as this young upstart's bodyguard?
Is this kid really worth Zhao Hao's attention? Xu Rong wondered to himself.
"What, are you scared by me? You can't even speak?"
Xu Rong snorted and gestured to the guards inside and outside the tent not to make any rash moves.
These people really can't beat this fierce general Zhao Hao, who has been on the battlefield for many years and has almost wiped out the Hu people!
"In that case, please state the purpose of your visit!"
If there's nothing else, please leave!
Hu Ban gently tugged at Yuwen Chengdu's sleeve, signaling him to step back for the time being.
He then bowed to both sides, saying, "We have come to talk, not to make enemies. Generals, please do not act rashly."
Hu Ban straightened up and looked directly at Xu Rong.
"General Xu, I once served in your army and know that you love your soldiers like your own children and have never looked down on any of your subordinates."
Now that the general has become a pawn, Hu Ban cannot bear to see the general and his old brothers die in vain.
I urge the general to heed Hu Ban's advice and surrender to General Zhao in exchange for better treatment. Don't let your brothers die meaninglessly!
Xu Rong snorted coldly, "You? A kid who hasn't even grown his first hair yet, I don't trust you! If Zhao Hao himself came, I might be able to believe him."
But I don't trust a nobody like you, who has no official position and is as insignificant as a piece of driftwood!
Yuwen Chengdu followed Xu Rong's example and responded with a cold snort.
"Their ancestors were from the Hu family of Yingchuan, but they were forced to flee to Liangzhou because of the Yellow Turban Rebellion."
Besides, my general sent me to accompany him, which is a great honor for you, Xu Rong, and also shows that he has enough trust in that young Hu!
Xu Rong, don't try to fathom the magnanimity of my general with your limited understanding!
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Hu Zhao quickly interrupted them.
"Gentlemen, hold on for now! General Xu, to be honest, the strategist has defected to Zhao Hao!"
Hu Ban played a trump card right away, leaving Xu Rong stunned on the spot.
He lowered his head and pondered for several seconds before slowly raising it.
"So... the events in Luoyang, and all the plans, were premeditated by Li Ru and Zhao Hao?"
Hu Ban swallowed hard and looked at Yuwen Chengdu, as if asking for Yuwen Chengdu's permission.
"Say whatever you want, you don't need to look at me."
Yuwen Chengdu crossed his arms, completely unconcerned about the matter.
Seeing this, Hu Ban nodded in relief and said.
"General Xu, you may not believe it, but it is the truth. Military Advisor Li Ru may be disappointed in Prime Minister Dong, or perhaps... he has other plans."
When I learned that the strategist had sided with General Zhao, I was utterly shocked. He was clearly the one who had contributed the most to getting to where he was today, working alongside the Prime Minister. Why would he so decisively switch sides at the very moment when the situation seemed hopeless? The strategist only told me it was for the sake of the world.
I don't know what the strategist is pursuing, but since he chose the Marquis of Qin, I want to try to believe in his choice.
Moreover, the Qin Marquis's rule is peaceful and prosperous, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. Perhaps... that is the peaceful and prosperous world that the strategist is pursuing!
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