novelhk Chapter 827 You want to die, how can I stop you!
Chapter 827 You want to die, how can I stop you!
Gao Yao's words were sharp and direct, and he made no secret of his judgment that Xiao He was "useless." In his eyes, Xiao He was a pillar of state governance and a strategist, but he should not be a reckless man who personally participated in the battlefield.
Upon hearing this, Xiao He didn't flinch. Instead, he raised his head, a scarlet mark already on his forehead. He stared at Gao Yao with a blazing gaze. His voice was low, but every word was clear, carrying an undeniable insistence and a tragic spirit: "Your Majesty can go. Why can't I go?!"
He took a deep breath, his voice suddenly rising, quoting from classics, his voice resounding, "Since ancient times, 'a king humiliates his subjects, and they die'! Your Majesty is worth a fortune, yet he is not afraid to personally face danger. As your right-hand man, how can I sit back and do nothing?! I am not going here to show off my bravery, but to fulfill my duty as a subject! Your Majesty has just promised to grant my request. Could it be..." Xiao He changed the subject, his eyes taking on a sly, almost demanding look, "Your Majesty, are you planning to... go back on your word?"
This glance, like a flash of lightning, instantly awakened Gao Yao!
Gao Yao's heart skipped a beat, and then a wave of both anger and amusement washed over him. You're such a good fellow, Xiao He! So you were waiting for me right here! All this "dying remonstration," all this "minister dies for the king's disgrace"—it was all a carefully crafted trap by this old sly fellow! He'd calculated that I had just agreed so generously to the "reward," that as a monarch, I couldn't easily go back on my word on the principle of "loyalty," and that I, even more so, was helpless against and cherished his "undying loyalty"!
What a way to advance by retreating! What a way to use "loyalty" to control the monarch! As a minister, he dared to so blatantly "plot" against the monarch, and the purpose of the plot was not to fight for power, but to follow the monarch to his death... This Xiao He is truly a unique "odd" loyal minister in history!
Gao Yao looked at Xiao He's eyes, which held a mixture of determination, pleading, and a hint of triumph, and felt a deep sense of powerlessness. He sat back heavily on the throne, his fingers unconsciously tapping the cold armrests. After a long pause, he let out a long, helpless sigh.
"Okay! Okay! Okay! Let's go together! Let's go together!" He practically squeezed these words out from between his teeth, with a kind of helplessness of being "dependent". "Xiao He, Xiao He, you really are...an eye-opener for me!" He waved his hands, as if to dispel the pent-up feeling. "Forget it! But, I have to say this first!"
Gao Yao's eyes suddenly became sharp, with the majesty of a military command: "We are heading to Yangping Pass, the military situation is urgent! I will not deliberately wait for you! I will not delay the military plan because of you, a civilian official! If you, Xiao Xiangguo, cannot keep up with the marching speed, fall behind the team, or are captured by the Chu army scouts..." He paused, his tone cold, "Then you can't blame me! Life and death are your own responsibility!"
This is both a warning and a final dissuasion.
Xiao He's eyes gleamed, and without the slightest hesitation, he kowtowed again: "Your Majesty, thank you for your permission! I will do my utmost and will never dare to burden Your Majesty!"
Gao Yao stopped looking at him and slammed the armrest. His voice resounded through the hall like a bell: "Someone come!"
The guard general standing outside the hall responded and came in, kneeling on one knee: "I am here!"
"Order!" Gao Yao's voice was resolute and filled with an undeniable murderous aura. "Everyone in the personal guard battalion! Prepare immediately! Bring five days' rations and be fully armed! In three hours, follow me—and march to Yangping Pass!"
"Yes!" The general responded in a deep and powerful voice. He then stood up and strode out of the hall to convey the king's order.
With this command, the previously quiet surroundings of the palace erupted in a commotion. The clatter of heavy footsteps, the clashing of armor, the neighing of warhorses, and the rapid shouting of commands intertwined into a tense yet orderly prelude to battle.
Gao Yao poured countless efforts into his personal guard battalion, and his standards were almost unbending. All candidates had to be between twenty and thirty years old, in their prime, physically fit, skilled in martial arts, and of clean family background and unwavering loyalty. Once they reached the age limit, they could either retire and enjoy their retirement with land and property granted by the court, or transfer to other military units as junior officers. There was no possibility of them simply sitting idle and enjoying the fruits of their labor.
From the initial five hundred death warriors who followed him, to the elite division now numbering three thousand men, this rise in status meant a stronger guard, but the quality never declined. This personal guard battalion enjoyed the highest salaries, finest equipment, and most rigorous training in the entire military. To them, the title of "Glorious Man" was a supreme honor, bringing glory to their family and ancestors, and many would have been hard-pressed to get in.
To say that each of them could "fight a hundred with one" would be an exaggeration. But "fight ten with one"—proven through trials of blood and fire—is no empty statement! They are Gao Yao's sharpest spear and strongest shield! It is precisely because of this core force of absolute loyalty and exceptional combat power that Gao Yao dares to personally journey to such a dangerous place as Yangping Pass.
Gao Yao was no conceited man. He knew full well the raging storm that was about to hit Yangping Pass. Once the Chu army arrived, they would undoubtedly attack with unstoppable force, regardless of the cost! Furthermore, intelligence indicated that Xiang Yu, the King of Western Chu, known for his "mountain-moving strength and unparalleled courage," was very likely among them!
When it comes to strategic planning and winning battles from afar, Gao Yao is confident he has no fear of Xiang Yu. But when it comes to commanding troops in battle, personally braving arrows and stones, and leading them into battle amidst mountains of blood and gore... Gao Yao feels only a deep fear and clear admiration. Xiang Yu, later hailed as "the greatest general of all time," his exceptional military prowess is etched in the monuments of history!
Many later generations simply dismissed Xiang Yu as stubborn and lacking in wisdom and strategy, but this is a gross misconception. Xiang Yu was far from foolish; on the contrary, he was incredibly sharp and quick-witted. His intelligence lay in his beastly intuition and impeccable execution on the ever-changing battlefield. In terms of his pinnacle of command, even Han Xin, later hailed as the "God of War," could hardly surpass him in certain respects.
Not to mention the likes of Lu Bu who were famous for their personal bravery. In front of Xiang Yu, the overlord who combined unparalleled bravery and extraordinary command ability, the difference between them in terms of personal combat power and ability to command troops was immeasurable!
Although Gao Yao had defeated Xiang Yu under certain circumstances, even briefly outmaneuvering him, he understood that battlefield dynamics were ever-changing, and that victory there could never be replicated today. To approach this "unparalleled general" with the indifferent mindset of "Xiang Yu is a defeated general" was to court his own destruction.