The Third Volume of Kuaike Chapter 48: The Arriver is Not Ordinary

  Night, Pei County.

  Outside the city camp, a bonfire was burning, dry firewood crackling, a group of people sat around the fire, silent for a long time.

  Someone looked out at the distant crossroads and said, "It's been a whole day, why hasn't Xiao He come back yet?"

  "Really! Doesn't Xiang Liang trust us?"

  "Third Brother...... Ah, Lord Pei, Xiao He still hasn't returned, could something be wrong?" The speaker was none other than the fierce Fan Kuai.

  "Wait a bit!" The middle-aged man with a few strands of white hair, sat by the fire heap with a cold face, silent for many moments. His mood was perhaps somewhat tense, but his complexion remained calm and unruffled, unusually calm and steady. This person was none other than Liu Ji, the former head of Pei County's Sui Water Pavilion, who had just proclaimed himself as Duke of Pei and changed his name to Liu Bang.

  From that day on, when discussing military affairs in the "Wang Palace" of Pengcheng, Liu Bang was convinced that Jing Ji and Qin Jia were outwardly strong but inwardly weak, just a mob, and it would be difficult to achieve great things. With the great enemy in front of them, the two sides debated whether to fight or make peace without stopping, completely lacking the determination to unite as one. As the mainstay, Qin Jia insisted on fighting, but inexplicably asked for everyone's opinion, with a weak will and wrist, this battle was bound to be defeated, this was Liu San Ge's conclusion.

  So he played Qin Jia without hesitation, and Liu Sangou insisted that this move was called Jin Chan escape. With Jing Ju and Qin Jia being dead sooner or later, Liu Bang decisively led his men back to Pei County, taking the lead in severing ties.

  Brother won't accompany you in death, then I'll torment you to death. Perhaps this is also Liu San's style!

  Liu Bang knew that his forces were weak and he was no match for Qin Jia, so after discussion, he sent Xiao He to meet with Xiang Liang in the south. He hoped to attack from both north and south, either eliminating Yong Chi's troops or... Hmph, if they could take advantage of the chaos to capture Pengcheng... his prestige among the righteous army's vassals would greatly increase.

  As for someone's suggestion to surrender to Xiang Liang, Liu Bang did not want to do so, as he had already made a mistake by surrendering to Jing Ju and Qin Jia. A lesson from the past, he must learn from it! Moreover, his inner ambition drove him to establish himself independently. Therefore, this time with Xiang Liang could only be a cooperative relationship, not submission.

  Many years later, Liu Bang still took pride in this and more than once ridiculed Yin Xu. Yin Xu always smiled and said: What's the big deal? Analyze specific problems specifically, the one who laughs last is the winner!

  A faint rumbling sound came from afar, Fan Kuai was excited and shouted: "Cao Shen, do you hear? The hoofbeats, is it Xiao He who has returned?"

  The clever fellow beside him pricked up his ears and listened intently, saying: "That's right, it's the sound of horse hooves!"

  Fan Kuai exclaimed excitedly: "It must be Xiao He who has returned! Zhou Bo, go and receive him!"

  Alas! Liu Bang also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that Xiao He could bring back good news. This time, he sent someone to discuss the alliance, and many of his generals were not in favor, but they were all vetoed by Liu Bang one by one. Xiao He was a wise and steady person who understood the importance of things, was good at speaking, and although he came from a civilian background, he was indeed the most suitable person for the task.

  Zhou Bo returned, and everyone was greatly disappointed. The one who came back was not Xiao He, but two of his personal soldiers.

  Fan Kuai was a hot-headed man and hastily asked, "What's going on? Where is Xiao Gong Cao?" Xiao He had always held the position of Gong Cao in Pei County, so he was used to being called by this title.

  "General Pei, there's no need to hurry, Xia Gongcao is perfectly fine!"

  The crowd slightly relieved, Liu Bang asked: "Get up and answer me, where is Xiao Gong Cao now? What's the situation?"

  Xiao Gongcao is now in the camp of the Wu army, Lord Pei need not worry, we have already discussed and agreed on a joint operation.

  "Oh?"

  "Now, Xiang Liang's main force is pressing from behind. The vanguard, Generals Yin Xu and Ying Bu, have already led 8,000 troops to Tongshan. They have promised to attack Tongshan with all their might, lure Yong Chi to come and rescue, and then we will attack them from both front and back."

  "Yin Xu, Ying Bu?"

  "Report to Lord Pei," Zheng said solemnly, "Xiao Gongcao specifically instructed that these two vanguard generals, especially Yin Xu, are not simple men. Please be cautious in your response and do not act rashly."

  "Two unknown soldiers, how can it be that simple? Don't tell me you have three heads and six arms?" Fan Kuai was joking, but also had a bit of discontent.

  Xiao Gong Cao said: "I have inquired about Yin Xu from the soldiers of Kuaiji. He is only a young man, born in a remote village in Yu Province. He was once a bandit in Poyang Lake, and the government sent out thousands of people to capture him, but he still managed to escape with over a hundred men under his command. In the end, the entire army was defeated. It is said that Xiang Liang was able to quickly pacify Jiangdong because he had released Zhou Kang's 30,000 troops stationed in Shanyin, giving Xiang Liang an opportunity to take advantage of."

  "Can a hundred bandits deal with several thousand government soldiers? Is that possible? Isn't it just the soldiers boasting in their own ranks?" Fan Kuai was somewhat skeptical, so he first expressed his doubts.

  Xiahou Yuan, who had never spoken before, spoke up: "This man is only in his early twenties, yet Xiang Liang entrusted him with the vanguard of our troops; this is enough to show that he is no ordinary person."

  Zhou Bo also said: "Heroes emerge in their youth, perhaps this person really has something extraordinary about him. Last year I indeed heard that the government army in Jiangdong and surrounding areas was suppressing bandits, maybe there's some truth to it!"

  Fan Kuai was taken aback, and Xiao He's next words left everyone speechless.

  Qin Bingdao said, "Not bad, Xiao Gongcao and I also had our doubts, but we couldn't help but believe. That Yin Xu was indeed familiar with Lord Pei, it's as if he knew him like the back of his hand!"

  "Is it possible that you have already figured out Cao Gong's plan?" Cao Shen asked in surprise, and Liu Bang was also startled. He cast a profound glance at his personal guards.

  Qin Bing said, "Yes, Yin Xu seems to have known that Lord Pei would declare independence early on. He also seemed very familiar with Xiao Gong Cao, without any surprise. What's even more astonishing is that he actually called out the new name that Lord Pei had just changed yesterday!"

  Fan Kuai had not yet reacted, but the crowd discovered that everyone's faces had changed. Liu Bang's name change was only a day old and had not been spread around, so how could Yin Xu, who was far away in another province, possibly know?

  Liu Bang exclaimed: "Is this really true?"

  The close guard nodded: "I dare not deceive Lord Pei, this matter is absolutely true. This man also knows that he has a feud with Lord Pei and says that killing him will be a gift to Lord Pei."

  This time, everyone couldn't help but disbelieve. It seems that Yin Xu really understood Liu Bang very well. This is just the case, and as long as you pay a little attention, you can also get some information. But what does this name thing mean?

  Yin Xu never thought that his casual remark would first shock Xiao He and later make the founding heroes of the great Han dynasty suspicious. What's even more unexpected is that this suspicion, after many years, still played a subtle role in the enmity between the Yin and Liu families.

  Liu Bang was stunned for a moment, wondering if there was an internal ghost around him? Could the news have been passed on quickly? Impossible! Xiao He led his men out and took a shortcut to get there quickly. Others couldn't possibly overtake them. He had deep faith in this matter, with Xiao He's cautiousness, such things would never go wrong. Xiao He deliberately let his personal soldier inform him, intentionally reminding himself to be cautious in cooperating with Xiang Liang, not to have any crooked ideas.

  Liu Bang had some plans, and even had some thoughts about Pengcheng, but after hearing the words of Xiao He, who was conveyed by his personal soldier, all his thoughts were gone. Yin Xu was able to agree so readily to joint operations, apart from Xiao He volunteering to stay behind as a hostage, there must be strong confidence based on something.

  It seems that it's still better to cooperate with the alliance, if you accidentally offend Xiang Liang, your days will be difficult. Liu Peigong is also open-minded, seeing the benefits and knowing when to stop, after all, there are already many advantages, those who know contentment will have long-lasting joy!

  At this time, the guard reported that over a hundred people had appeared outside the camp, asking to see Lord Pei. Cao Shen went to investigate and brought back a man in his mid-twenties, who was calm and composed. Liu Bang took a glance from afar and saw that the man's footsteps were steady and confident, with a deep and solemn air about him. Although it was dark and he couldn't make out the man's features clearly, he knew that this was no ordinary person, and he involuntarily straightened his posture and sat up straight.

  PS: Guess who the extraordinary visitor will be?