SFS Chapter 420 Guan Xing is recalled to Jianye
Chapter 420 Guan Xing is recalled to Jianye
Guan Xing could indeed disregard Guan Yu's orders. He was Guan Yu's own son and had just won a battle. What could he do if he disobeyed orders? Even if Guan Yu was angry, could he behead him?
That being said, don’t forget that he is a soldier now. Military orders are like mountains, and this is not just an empty phrase, but an ironclad rule that must be strictly followed once an order is received.
Otherwise, just as Shen Yi said, if you disobey orders today, what will you do if we follow suit tomorrow?
Many bad practices should not be started, as they can lead to endless troubles, like the White Robe Crossing the River.
For example, the Xuanwu Gate succession system in the Tang Dynasty—how many coups and rebellions occurred throughout the Tang Dynasty?
Guan Xing nodded and said, "You're right. We can't set a bad precedent by disobeying orders. You lead the army and wait for me in Yuhan. I'll go back to Jianye."
After saying this, he led thirty personal guards away from the main army, each on two horses, and rushed to Jianye at top speed.
Speed is of the essence in war, and Guan Xing had important matters to attend to and no time to waste. Therefore, he did not enter any of the counties along the way, and ate and slept on the road, eating dry rations when he was hungry. Finally, five days later, he appeared at the gates of Jianye City.
When Lu Xun, Lü Dai, Zhuge Jin, and others returned, Guan Yu led all the civil and military officials to go out of the city for ten miles to welcome them. However, when Guan Xing returned in triumph, Guan Yu only sent Xia Tong to go out of the city to welcome him.
At this moment, Xia Tong stood alone at the huge city gate, looking all alone, which was heartbreaking.
Guan Xing, however, couldn't dwell on that. Instead, he looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar Xia Tong and asked in astonishment, "Have you been taking hormones lately? How did you grow so tall?"
When Xia Tong parted ways with Zhang Cheng after capturing him twice, Xia Tong was just a shy boy who was a little over 1.7 meters tall. Now, he's almost 1.8 meters tall and is almost as tall as me. And judging from his height, he still has room for improvement. It's only been a few days. Even if he took hormones, he couldn't grow this fast.
Xia Tong scratched the back of his head and chuckled, "The old general said I was at the age where I was growing, so he forced me to eat meat every day. After I finished eating, he personally taught me martial arts. I don't know how I grew so tall?"
Guan Xing understood. Xia Tong was only seventeen this year, which would be the age of just starting high school in later generations. Wasn't that the time when he was growing up?
Moreover, boys develop later, and most of them only grow taller after entering high school. This was also the case in his previous life. In just three years of high school, his height increased by an astonishing 15 centimeters, and then it was fixed.
In addition, Xia Tong was so poor that he couldn't even get enough to eat before, and his long-term malnutrition naturally affected his height. After being transferred to Guan Yu's command, he somehow caught Guan Yu's eye, and Guan Yu began to train him in all aspects, including diet and martial arts.
The saying goes, "The poor study literature, the rich study martial arts." Practicing martial arts requires a good body, and a good body needs ample nutrition. Knowing this, Guan Yu naturally wouldn't skimp on Xia Tong's food, so...
In short, after following Guan Yu, Xia Tong ate well and got better nutrition, even making up for what he had lacked before. He was also trained and drilled by Guan Yu every day. Under these circumstances, it would be difficult for him not to grow taller.
Guan Xing smiled with satisfaction: "It's good that you've grown taller. Judging from your current posture, you have a very good chance of becoming a fierce general like my father. Keep up the good work."
Xia Tong grinned foolishly and said, "General, don't worry, I definitely will. By the way, General, what are hormones?"
Guan Xing laughed in surprise, "That's not important. Take me to see my father first; he needs to see me."
The two quickly returned to Guan Yu's residence. Guan Yu, as if he knew Guan Xing was returning today, had been waiting for him in the residence for a long time. When Guan Xing entered, he said calmly before Guan Xing could even bow, "Hey, isn't this our great hero of our victory? What brings you back to see me today?"
Guan Xing: "Uh..."
Didn't you call me back?
Besides, I won the battle, not lost it. Did you have to be sarcastic the moment we met?
Even after suffering a crushing defeat, you still haven't gotten rid of your barbed tongue.
If it were anyone else, Guan Xing would have punched them, but since the other person was his father, what could he do? He could only smile and say, "Look at what you're saying. Even if I won the battle, wasn't it all thanks to your excellent teaching?"
"Besides, without you holding off Cao Ren's 100,000 troops on the front lines, how could I have had a chance to perform, right? You forced Cao Ren's 100,000 elite troops to make no progress for months with tens of thousands of newly recruited soldiers. Compared to you, my meager skills are nothing, and I am far inferior to you."
Standing behind Guan Yu, Wang Fu looked down at Guan Yu and then up at Guan Xing, and couldn't help but complain wildly, "Listen to this, listen to this, they both have mouths, but the words they say are so different!"
Upon hearing this, Guan Yu's expression immediately softened. He stroked his beard and said, "You did a good job this time. I have settled Lu Xun, Zhuge Jin, and the others. In addition, after receiving the news of Lu Xun's capture, Cao Ren withdrew from Wanling and retreated to Liling. I have also ordered Xin Fei to lead the army to occupy Wanling. I summoned you back this time to discuss the next battle plan with you and talk about how to recover Jingzhou."
Then he explained his plan to keep Cao Ren occupied while Guan Xing led the army west to capture Jiangling, and asked, "What's your opinion?"
Guan Xing laughed and said, "You know, we father and son are really in sync. Don't we want to go together?"
"Father, rest assured, I have ordered Shen Yi to lead 60,000 troops to Yuhan. As soon as I return, we can attack Nanchang and head north to Jiangling."
Guan Yu turned around and said, "That's good, but there are two things to note. First, Yu Fan, who is guarding Nanchang, will not surrender. You should give up on trying to persuade him to surrender so as not to fall into his trap."
Guan Xing promptly chimed in, "How so?"
Guan Yu said, "You know what kind of person Yu Fan is. His foul mouth has offended too many people, which has made him very unpopular in Eastern Wu. But it is often the kind of person who is most reliable at critical moments. Unless Sun Quan gives the order himself, he will not surrender."
"You should know that a barking dog doesn't bite. The more a person complains, the more pure they are. The more taciturn a person is, the more likely they are to betray you at a crucial moment, just like Mi Fang."
That makes sense. Only those who have no intention of betraying you will complain. Those who have intentions of betraying you will not say anything sarcastic, but will secretly prepare and wait for the right moment to deliver a fatal blow.
Guan Yu had learned this lesson the hard way and understood it deeply.
Guan Yu continued, "So after you arrive in Nanchang, you must be prepared to launch a fierce attack on the city and fight a tough battle. Also, beyond Yuhan lies the Poyang Lake Plain, which is favorable for cavalry to roam. I may not be able to contain the Wei cavalry, so you must be careful of Wei cavalry attacks when you are attacking the city."
"Understood..." Guan Xing nodded emphatically, then glanced around and said, "Xia Tong, take your men and guard the door. No one is allowed to come in without my father's orders."
Xia Tong looked at Guan Yu, and only left after Guan Yu nodded, clasping his hands in a fist salute.
Guan Xing squatted down and leaned over the table, beckoning Wang Fu to squat down as well before whispering, "Father, Wang Zhizhong, this is what I'm thinking..."
The surprise attack on Jiangling can be kept secret from others, but it is unnecessary to keep it from Guan Yu and Wang Fu. In fact, it is necessary to inform them in time so that they can cooperate better.
The two were stunned for a long time after hearing this, and Wang Fu said in surprise, "You want to do the surprise attack on Jianye again? Isn't that too risky?"
"Moreover, according to news from the front lines, there have been unusual movements in the Wu army in Chaisang, and Zhou Tai has most likely been transferred back to Jiangling by Sun Quan. Under these circumstances, can a surprise attack succeed?"
Guan Yu excitedly said, "We can give it a try. The conditions in Jingzhou are much better than in Jiangdong. We even successfully launched a surprise attack on Jianye and secured Jiangling. What is there to be afraid of? But this time, you don't go. Stay here to distract Cao Ren. I will personally lead your three thousand elite troops over there."
He has been stationed in Jingzhou for many years, and his influence there is much greater than that in Jiangdong. He will definitely thrive in Jingzhou once he returns.
Moreover, Jingzhou had become his obsession. Since it was lost from his hands that day, he naturally wanted to take it back with his own hands now.
Upon hearing that Guan Yu was going to personally lead the surprise attack, Guan Xing and Wang Fu's expressions changed drastically, and they said in unison, "No, absolutely not."