novelhk Chapter 825: Xiao He, you are trying to make a death warning to me!
Chapter 825: Xiao He, you are trying to make a death warning to me!
Just when Xiao He was immersed in his admiration for Gao Yao's rapid improvement in ability, Gao Yao's next order was like a bolt from the blue, shattering all his thoughts!
"Xiao He," Gao Yao's voice had regained its usual calm, yet it carried an unquestionable resolve. "You will depart immediately and personally head to Hanzhong to take charge! Stabilize the rear, coordinate food and fodder, suppress the local forces, and ensure that Hanzhong remains peaceful! At the same time, send orders to the counties and prefectures of Bashu, instructing all garrison troops that can be mobilized to immediately gather in the direction of Yangping Pass. As many as you can go! And I—"
He paused, his gaze sharp as a hawk, looking out the window toward the south where smoke of gunpowder could already be seen. "I will immediately muster three thousand personal guards, lightly armed and with a simple following, and march day and night straight to Yangping Pass!"
"What?!!!" Xiao He was like being struck by lightning. He suddenly jumped up from his chair, his face instantly pale as paper, and his voice became shrill and cracked with extreme horror and fear: "Your Majesty! Absolutely not! This is absolutely not allowed!"
He almost rushed in front of Gao Yao, and in his haste, he even forgot the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects. He grabbed Gao Yao's sleeve, his voice trembling with excitement:
"Your Majesty! You... you are now a supreme ruler! You are the pillar of the Great Qin Empire! You are the only backbone of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and millions of ordinary people! A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall! Yangping Pass is now the center of the storm, a Shura battlefield! The Chu army will surely launch a fierce attack with all their might, arrows and stones raining down, swords and spears are merciless! How could you... how could you personally risk your life and place yourself in such a desperate situation?!"
Countless terrifying images flashed through Xiao He's mind: Gao Yao being wounded by a stray arrow while supervising the battle on the city wall, being ambushed by the elite Chu army amidst the chaos, and even... the city wall being lost and the king being captured! Any slight misstep would have devastating consequences!
"Your Majesty! Nanjun… We can give up Nanjun!" Xiao He's voice was almost pleading. This was the first time he had lost his composure. "If Wei Bao wants to break the alliance, let him do it! We can also temporarily give up Jiujiang County! We can afford to lose some troops and cities! It's nothing more than a strategic retreat, and we'll slowly build up our forces later! As long as there's green mountains, there's no shortage of firewood! But you… if you make the slightest mistake, the promising future of our Southern Border Army will be shattered… It will fall apart in an instant! Your Majesty! Think again! Please think again!!"
Xiao He's words of dissuasion were tearful and heart-wrenching. In his heart, Gao Yao's safety had already surpassed all strategic locations and all military gains and losses. Without Gao Yao, everything they had fought for so far would be in vain, and the entire force would instantly fall into a desperate situation of being leaderless and fighting each other! This price, Xiao He, and the entire southern region could not afford! He grabbed Gao Yao's sleeve tightly, and his intention was very clear. He must not let Gao Yao mess around.
Looking at Xiao He, who was trembling with excitement, his face as pale as paper, Gao Yao's face was not angry at all. Instead, a complex and bitter smile appeared on his face. He knew that Xiao He's words came from the heart, every word for him, Gao Yao, for the foundation they had supported together. This sincerity was unquestionable.
Gao Yao's eyes gradually became deep and firm, as if they were as unshakable as a rock. He shook his head slowly, his voice low but with an unquestionable majesty:
"Old Xiao..." He called out by his old nickname, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness, but more of a determination that brooked no argument. "We've known each other for years. Do you really not know my personality? What I want to do, what path I've decided to take..."
Gao Yao paused for a moment, his gaze like lightning, staring directly into Xiao He's panicked eyes. Every word he spoke weighed heavily: "—Under all the land, no one has ever been able to stop him!"
This is not arrogance, but the result of countless struggles on the brink of life and death, and the tyranny that is deeply engraved in his bones!
"Your Majesty!" Xiao He's heart trembled upon hearing this! He knew Gao Yao's words were true. Once this lord made up his mind, no one could change it! Despair washed over him like an icy tide. In his desperation, a wave of resolute grief and indignation surged in his heart!
He turned abruptly, and before the two elite guards at the study door could react, he leaped to the side of one of the guards with agility that belied his frail frame! As the guard stared in astonishment, Xiao He actually grabbed the hilt of the sword at his waist!
“Clang!”
There was a sharp metallic clatter! A flash of cold light flashed! Xiao He had forcibly wrenched the guard's well-maintained, razor-sharp sword from his grasp! He gripped the hilt tightly, his knuckles turning white from the exertion, and without hesitation, he brought the icy blade across his aged neck! The sharp edge had even left a faint mark of blood!
"Your Majesty!" Xiao He's voice was hoarse and shrill, with a tragic sense of martyrdom. "If... if you insist on taking the risk yourself and sacrificing your life on the Shura battlefield... then please kill me first! I am incompetent and cannot dissuade Your Majesty. Only death can preserve my loyalty! It is better... better than witnessing Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." He choked with sobs for the rest of the words and could no longer speak. Only turbid tears slid down his wrinkled cheeks and dripped onto the cold sword blade.
This sudden turn of events completely stunned the two guards at the door! They froze in place like two statues under a spell. Guard A's hand was still subconsciously pressed against the empty scabbard, his face filled with astonishment, bewilderment, and helplessness. This man before them was Prime Minister Xiao He!
The king's most trusted and relied-upon chief civil official! He was powerless, yet now he was taking such a drastic action! Seize the sword? Or seize their swords? What...what was going on? To intervene? If they even managed to injure the prime minister, how many heads would they have left? To stay silent? Would they watch helplessly as the prime minister committed suicide before the king? Cold sweat instantly soaked their backs.
Gao Yao watched this scene, a flicker of genuine surprise in his eyes. He hadn't expected the usually calm and strategic Xiao He to be driven to such a desperate act of warning, even taking the sword and committing suicide! This was completely beyond his understanding of his old partner.
Then, that hint of surprise turned into deep helplessness, and a barely perceptible touch of... emotion. He understood that this was Xiao He's final, most desperate attempt to dissuade him.
"Alas..." Gao Yao let out a barely audible sigh. He was not angry, but just waved his hand casually.
The guards, receiving the order, reacted as if they had been granted amnesty! Guard A reacted extremely quickly. Taking advantage of the moment when Xiao He's mind was completely focused on Gao Yao, his hands trembling slightly with excitement, he reached out with lightning speed and precisely grasped Xiao He's sword-gripping wrist! His movements were as swift as a ghost, and his strength was perfectly controlled. He instantly dissipated Xiao He's sword-gripping strength without injuring the old minister in the slightest.