Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 1751 - 1649: Zhang Xiu’s Choice (Part 2)
On the other side, Zhang Xiu looked at Hua Xiong with a conflicted expression. To be honest, he didn’t really want to acknowledge this uncle, as he had never seen someone who would set up their nephew like this.
"Uncle Hua, you’ve already shown me the ultimate secret of Xiliang Iron Cavalry. Isn’t it time to return those fifteen hundred soldiers to me?" Zhang Xiu said expressionlessly.
Hua Xiong was slightly embarrassed, but he thickened his skin and said that he would return them to Zhang Xiu twofold. Originally, what remained of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry meant for the Flying Bear were only Zhang Xiu’s current fourteen hundred men and the three thousand men under Li Jue, Guo Si, and others.
However, just because these core elites were gone didn’t mean the Xiliang Iron Cavalry was gone. Li Youu, Hua Xiong, Li Jue, Fan Chou—any of them could train the Xiliang Iron Cavalry. Even Zhang Xiu could, but to produce a quasi-Military Soul level super elite, it would take at least one to two years and a dozen or so battles.
So, Hua Xiong could only return three thousand Xiliang Iron Cavalry to Zhang Xiu for now, but these elites were only the ones Jia Xu had brought to Zhang Fei and Huang Zhong. In terms of combat power, they could definitely compare to the Northern Huns Elite Cavalry led by Xubo Cheng before and were much stronger than the current batch conscripted by Kun Wan.
After all, everyone was well-off now and couldn’t be like the old days in Xiliang, where you were given a wooden spear with an iron spearhead and sent into battle, and had to remember to bring the weapon back before you died. After all, Dong Zhuo was too poor to afford equipment back then, and it was challenging enough to have enough food for his subordinates.
A wooden spear with an iron spearhead, with a sheepskin snatched from the Qiang people at best, was already considered decent armor. Hua Xiong, Guo Si, and Fan Chou came from that era.
Those who survived such battlefields and made it to the ranks of the world’s top three elite cavalry, and even ultimately gained an invincible reputation, promoted to a Military Spirit Legion, are not on the same level of ferocity and lethality as the current environment’s trained soldiers, even if both are called Xiliang Iron Cavalry.
Real combat training with live weapons and training with wooden weapons are truly two different levels.
As Hua Xiong put it, if you don’t dare use real weapons in training to see blood, and yet claim you’re elite, are you maintaining combat power with this approach?
So, logically speaking, if Hua Xiong and the others’ core elites were stripped of their armor, swapped steel spears for wooden spears with iron heads, they wouldn’t fall behind in a fight against the Hun Elite Cavalry. Therefore, after changing to good equipment, fighting from ten to fifteen or more is not a big problem.
At this time, Hu Feng, who had been standing beside Hua Xiong with a hand over his chest and a sunken rib, teasingly said to Zhang Xiu, "Oh, Boyuan, we’re all brothers, why make such a clear division? Besides, becoming a Military Spirit Legion has been our ambition all along, hasn’t it?"
Zhang Xiu felt a metaphorical mouthful of blood stuck in his chest thanks to Hu Feng, and before he could reply, Wang Fang beside him also spoke up, "Boyuan, let me tell you, why not join us? After General Hua, we certainly don’t have the qualifications to command a Military Spirit Legion, but you do!"
Wang Fang, Hu Feng, and others are of the same generation, especially since Hu Feng is Li Jue’s nephew, and they had all met before and worked together in Xiliang. So, after surviving a great battle, teasing Zhang Xiu wasn’t pressured at all for this group.
Although Zhang Xiu’s previous self-disclosure of his combat power really distanced these peers somewhat, after the real separation, many things faded significantly. Like Hua Xiong and Li Jue, if they reunite, they would certainly toast and feast as brothers, rather than become alienated by their respective circumstances.
Sometimes, years cannot erase friendship, but they can help both parties forget initial unpleasantness. Looking back and smiling at each other, the past feelings become like old wine, increasingly mellower.
This time, Zhang Xiu almost spit out a mouthful of old blood, but when he looked up at Hua Xiong, he found Hua Xiong watching him very sincerely and solemnly.
Hua Xiong couldn’t speak out such words himself, but the others’ words behind him were, in fact, genuinely Hua Xiong’s thoughts. After all, Zhang Xiu was Zhang Ji’s nephew, and now that he had so much capability, he was well-qualified to protect Zhang Xiu.
Frankly, all four General System elders had their independent legions, and even though Hua Xiong repeatedly declined, he also had a division of six to seven thousand people.
It could be said if Zhang Xiu came to Liu Bei’s side, he absolutely wouldn’t be mistreated. Although a Military Spirit Legion couldn’t be directly granted to Zhang Xiu, with Hua Xiong handling things, the odds of Zhang Xiu eventually having it are almost certain.
After all, the hereditary nature of military systems without changing the essence was an unsolvable issue even in later generations. Though civilians aren’t without a complete path to promotion, encountering someone like Guan Ping or Zhang Xiu, who has a better talent than you and is exceptionally hardworking, with fathers, uncles, and brothers holding titles as elite generals, how do you compete? 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
Someone more hardworking than you isn’t scary; someone better isn’t scary; someone with a more prominent background isn’t scary; scary is, someone has all these qualities and works even harder than you, other than dreaming, how do you compete?
Similar to how Guan Yu told Guan Ping, as a father, he wouldn’t lend him a hand, but with Guan Ping’s talent and efforts, as long as he earned all the honors he should, one day he would qualify to stand by Guan Yu’s side.
Receiving a better education than you, striving in a direction more correct than yours, even without assistance from those behind, the other party could rely on promotion methods within the rules to leave you speechless. Sometimes, when hoping for help from behind, one also needs to think about oneself.
And Zhang Xiu’s situation now fits well. He has Legion Talent, Ultimate Inner Qi Manifestation combat power, and independent combat experience. It can be said that he possesses all that a brilliant general needs, and in such a context, Hua Xiong’s promise can actually be fulfilled.
Although the possibility of facing criticism exists, as long as Zhang Xiu gains enough qualifications while following along, Hua Xiong guarantees that when he retreats, Zhang Xiu will undoubtedly take over his legion.
By then, as long as Hua Xiong spreads the word, Zhang Xiu’s strength, capability, along with Hua Xiong’s own reputation, wouldn’t even need Jia Xu or Li Youu to intervene for the matter to proceed smoothly, and the nonsensical criticism below really wouldn’t impact the decision-making level.
Though Hua Xiong might be dull, he understands this simplest matter. Hua Xiong dare not guarantee whether his unborn child will have potential for Inner Qi Manifestation, but Zhang Xiu is enough. Provided his child doesn’t go too far astray, having such a brother and with Hua Xiong’s affection is already sufficient.
Zhang Xiu understood Hua Xiong’s gaze, and at that moment, he was somewhat tempted. This is truly one of the top-notch elites in the world. Upon hearing of the Military Spirit capability of the Iron Cavalry from the soldiers, Zhang Xiu already realized that if he inherits the Iron Cavalry, it’ll grow stronger.
Because Zhang Xiu himself still possesses Legion Talent, and Hua Xiong’s Legion Talent has been refined, whether the Xiliang Iron Cavalry itself has the ability to inherit the Legion Talent from the Chief or only refines Hua Xiong’s Legion Talent, it all signifies that the successor of Xiliang Iron Cavalry would be a bit stronger!
"I..." Zhang Xiu indeed felt tempted at this moment, but after much hesitation, he finally said, "Uncle Hua, sorry, but I’m not planning to betray Lord Cao. He has treated me well, and I can’t do such a thing."
Hua Xiong looked at Zhang Xiu; given the situation, the only promise he could give was that if they met on the battlefield one day, or should Zhang Xiu be defeated, he’d ensure Zhang Xiu’s safety, beyond that he couldn’t promise. As for the Military Spirit Legion, he’d have to wait until he had a capable son to inherit.
"Are you sure?" Hua Xiong moved his lips a few times, seemingly having much to say, but ultimately only uttered four words.
Zhang Xiu nodded silently, seeing Hu Feng, Wang Fang, Duan Wei, and the others looking at him with hopeful eyes, he averted their gaze. Lord Cao treated him well; it was as simple as that without any reproach, and so he couldn’t bear to betray.
