Over the next few days, events truly unfolded as Huan Wen had predicted.
At the end of July, Sima Xun, Inspector of Liangzhou, led ten thousand troops out of Hanzhong and into Guanzhong on schedule. Guanzhong shook once again... and this time, it really did shake. At the very least, once news of Sima Xun's deployment arrived, the changes in the situation and atmosphere could be clearly felt here at Bashang. The effect was as immediate as a shadow appearing beneath a pole planted in sunlight.
The great magnates of Guanzhong who had previously declared allegiance to Huan Wen only in words now sent envoys one after another, hoping to receive appointments. Naturally, Huan Wen demanded hostages in return and assigned them certain attacks and harassment missions, which the envoys from the various houses generally agreed to.
This meant that these Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Han aristocratic magnates of Guanzhong, already estranged from the Di regime, had clearly shown a measure of sincerity and inclination in response to developments.
And if things continued this way, those thirty thousand fresh Di troops would essentially have no choice but to scatter or be forced to initiate another decisive battle with extremely slim chances of victory.
Then they really could pull it off.
In a sense, set against Huan Wen's great talent and sweeping vision, Liu Duhu's worries and loss of composure really did seem rather clownish.
Of course, our General Who Attacks the West remained as broad-minded as ever. As his spirits improved day by day, almost every time he met those envoys, he would solemnly introduce him: "Look, this is my Guo Fengxiao!"
Especially since Xi Chao was overseeing the supply routes and often only came to stay for a day every three to five days, Huan Chong was absent, and Luo