My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 415 Adding flowers to brocade is not as good as providing charcoal in the snow.
"He Liuhun! The reason Gao Aocao dared to act this way is because you indulged him in every way!"

Why should he have to speak Mandarin as soon as he arrives? Why should we greet him with a smile?

Hou Jing, still furious, angrily shouted at Gao Huan.

"We're all comrades, the bigger picture is what matters..."

"Heh, comrade-in-arms?"

Hou Jing sneered repeatedly, "That Gao Aocao keeps calling us 'Chile brats' and 'Xianbei brats.' Does he consider us his comrades?"

Gao Huan was speechless for a moment, then waved his hand in frustration, "I will go and reprimand him myself."

At this moment, Hulü Guang also came to report, and from his words, everyone learned the cause and effect of the matter.

Hou Jing continued to sneer, "Mingyue, next time you see him, just ignore him. This guy likes to show off and looks down on everyone just because he's a little brave. Let him die because of his arrogance. This kind of brainless warrior will end up like this sooner or later!"

Hulü Guang was about to reply, but when he looked up, he saw Hulü Jin giving him a wink, so he lowered his head and kept quiet.

Gao Huan forced a smile. "Mingyue, you did the right thing. You've worked hard this time. You should go and rest now."

"Here!"

Hulü Guang bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

As a junior member of the military, he held the position of a trusted commander within the tent, able to meet with Gao Huan at any time, but not responsible for specific matters; everything depended on Gao Huan's orders.

It's about keeping them around so they can see and learn more, and incidentally level up by helping them fight monsters.

Gao Huan then waved his hand, signaling Hou Jing and the others to leave. He then stood alone in front of the map, not contemplating his next move, but rather staring blankly into space.

After a long while, he let out a soft sigh.

"Perhaps... I've been oversimplifying things."

"Without Erlang, nothing could be accomplished; only Erlang could resolve this situation."

"Zhaojun...did I really do the right thing?"

"Throughout history, there has never been a ruler who became emperor without merit."

Gao Huan reviewed the events of the past year or so in his mind, from his marginalized status to his rise to the table of power.

What he did was indeed unethical. He deceived Erzhu Zhao, destroyed the foundation of the Erzhu clan, and even schemed against Gao Yu, which is how he came to his current position.

But is all of this really a good thing?

"Greed blinds one's judgment..."

………………

Outside Guangping, the army's camp stretched for dozens of miles.

Erzhu Rong, upon learning that Hebasheng had returned to camp wounded, hurriedly came to visit him.

It was just a minor external injury, yet Erzhu Rong made such a fuss.

"Po Hu, if you encounter this situation again, do not act recklessly. How can you lose a brave soldier for a little bit of food?"

"If it weren't for the enemy reinforcements, I would definitely have been able to capture Gao Aocao alive!"

Hebasheng was somewhat indignant. He felt that he was much stronger than Gao Aocao, and it was only a matter of time before he captured Gao Aocao alive.

Erzhu Rong was greatly surprised. "Gao Aocao? Everyone in Jizhou says he has the bravery of Xiang Yu. Po Hu was able to capture him alive. Doesn't that mean his bravery far surpasses that of Xiang Yu? With Po Hu's help, how can we not be sure of the outcome!"

Hebasheng, however, was quite straightforward: "He doesn't deserve it. There is only one person in this world who can rival the might of the Overlord..."

Erzhu Rong's smile froze.

The expressions of the people around him also froze slightly.

They knew all too well who this true 'contemporary overlord' was; just two years ago... this 'overlord' was still their comrade-in-arms.

"Anyway... it's good that everything is alright."

Erzhu Rong changed the subject, patted Hebasheng on the shoulder, and said, "He Liuhun has nowhere left to retreat and will eventually fight us to the death. Po Hu, you should take good care of yourself. We will need your courage to fight the enemy then!"

"Thank you, Prime Minister."

Erzhu Rong's attitude towards the Wuchuan faction was unusual. Previously, both the Huai Shuo faction and the Wuchuan faction had been suppressed.

But now?
Even if it's an blatant, nauseating display of affection, Erzhu Rong will not tire of it. He knows very well that he needs to rely on the people of Wuchuan right now.

After he left.

Hebasheng returned to his tent.

Heba Yue arrived in a hurry shortly afterward.

“Brother, you shouldn’t have mentioned Moheduo in public…”

"Who told the Prime Minister to say that? What do you mean by 'her bravery far surpasses that of the Overlord'? I wouldn't dare to be so arrogant."

Hebasheng is very arrogant.

But he also knew who he couldn't be arrogant towards.

Back then, even the three brothers combined couldn't defeat Gao Yu, and ever since then, he's known...

When the three Heba brothers joined forces, they were invincible except for Gao Yu!
"Alright, speak less in the future."

Heba Yue shook his head. He ran to the tent entrance and looked around warily. He then summoned Heba Sheng's personal guards and said, "Go, don't let anyone near the tent. I have important matters to discuss with the prince."

"Why are you being so cautious? What important matter is it?"

Hebasheng couldn't help but be curious.

Heba Yue approached him expressionlessly and said in a low voice, "Last night, my elder brother's confidant sent a letter."

"In the letter, my elder brother stated that he had decided to defect to Mohedu... If I am not mistaken, the outcome of the battle in Yingzhou has been decided, and Mohedu's army may already be on its way to Xiangzhou."

"What??"

Hebasheng was shocked. At Hebayue's prompting, he lowered his voice again, "Big brother...did he vote?"

Heba Yue nodded. "Why would your elder brother lie to you or me?"

"Then how should we, the two of us, face the Prime Minister?"

There's no need to panic about this.

Heba Yue remained calm. "The news hasn't reached us yet. Even if the Prime Minister finds out, he won't do anything to you or my brother. He still needs to rely on us."

Even though Erzhu Rong learned about the battle situation in Yingzhou through some channels.

They might also choose to keep it a secret.

After all, if this news were to spread within the military, it would inevitably severely damage morale and fighting spirit.

"Then, in your opinion... what should we two do? Should we, like our elder brother, defect in the face of battle? Or should we side with Moheduo?"

Heba Yue shook his head, "No..."

“Now that my elder brother and I are serving two masters, no matter what happens in the end, my Heba family will have a way out.”

"Moreover... after Moheduo defeated Hou Yuan and pacified the three prefectures of Ying, Yan and You, he was already on par with the Prime Minister... and his situation was even better than the Prime Minister's."

"If we were to defect to them now, it would only be icing on the cake; how could we possibly gain any real responsibility?"

"what do you mean……"

"Let's observe further. The Prime Minister has many elite troops and fierce generals under his command, so he may not necessarily be defeated. We will make a decision when the outcome is about to be determined. If Moheduo's battle is unfavorable, you and I can lead our troops to join him. That would be a timely help. If the Prime Minister's battle is unfavorable, you and I, as brothers, can stay by his side and never abandon him. That would also be a timely help."

Heba Yue clearly wanted it.

Awaiting price.

He and the others from Wuchuan formed a formidable force capable of deciding and influencing the outcome of the battle.

They will inevitably be courted by both sides.

Then...

Let's see who offers the higher price.

(End of this chapter)