Ye City, the Imperial Palace, Tai'an Hall.
After Jia Xu, Guo Jia, and Cui Yan each completed their assignment to capture a commandery, they did not accompany the armies to rendezvous in Hejian Commandery. Instead, they returned to Ye City to report.
"Your Majesty, I have captured Julu Commandery. It took eight days in all. I have fulfilled Your Majesty's expectations and kept my word."
Jia Xu cupped his hands toward Liu Xie. He had originally set a deadline of ten days, but in fact had needed only eight, two days ahead of his target.
"Good."
Liu Xie smiled. "I have already read the battle report. You brought down Julu City without an assault or the loss of a single soldier. Your strategy was truly brilliant, Wenhe."
Jia Xu's skill at manipulating hearts had been displayed to the fullest in the battle for Julu. A stack of forged letters and a few words from an emissary had brought down Julu City, whose defenses were as impregnable as metal walls and boiling moats.
Sun Tzu had once said that the highest warfare attacked strategies, the next attacked alliances, and the lowest resorted to assault.
Taking a city without expending one's own troops was the finest method of all.
"You flatter me, Your Majesty."
At Liu Xie's praise, Jia Xu put on a show of humility. At the same time, he glanced at Guo Jia beside him, the corners of his mouth rising despite himself.
Before setting out, he and Guo Jia had made a wager to see who could capture his assigned target fastest and with the fewest losses.
He had taken Julu in eight days with zero casualties. He had every confidence that this result would beat Guo Jia's.
Guo Jia naturally understood that look. After a slight smile, he