Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 849: Wearing armor doesn’t necessarily make you a warrior!

Although these scattered county troops were weak in combat, they bore the stigma of the "Southern Border Army." Their mere presence served as a symbolic deterrent and control. Even with just a few hundred men stationed in the county seat, raising the Southern Border Army banner would instill unease in the newly allied local tyrants and officials, who were still unsettled and wary of any rebellion or surrender. This signified that Gao Yao's nominal rule over this land continued.

Gao Yao was well aware that the foundation of his rule lay in "not disturbing the people" and "not imposing excessive taxes." This was what distinguished him from the tyranny of the old Qin Dynasty and from other vassal states like Xiang Yu. But he also knew that Xiang Yu and his advisor Fan Zeng would never be so merciful! If Yangping Pass fell, and the Chu army advanced rapidly, finding the counties defenseless, wise men like Fan Zeng and Yi Xiaochuan would inevitably resort to forced conscription, leveraging the Chu army's might to coerce the young and strong in Hanzhong and transform them into a source of troops for their attacks!

By then, Hanzhong, which he had painstakingly conquered, would not only fail to serve as a barrier to resistance, but would instead become a breeding ground for the enemy, continuously providing soldiers and supplies to the Chu army. This would be like handing the handle of a knife to the enemy, and then letting them use it to cut him! This is a truly "disadvantaged" situation!

Therefore, Gao Yao's strategy was to fight tooth and nail at Yangping Pass, buying time and wearing down the Chu army. If this proved impossible, he would decisively abandon the pass, preserve the core strength of his personal guards, and retreat to key points in the heart of Hanzhong, relying on the city walls and the people's support to mount a deep resistance. Meanwhile, the county troops remaining in the various counties, while unable to fight in the field, could at least maintain order, slowing the Chu army's efforts to seize control of the area and replenish it locally, buying him time to react and organize.

Now, the unauthorized transfer of over 2,000 county troops to Yangping Pass not only failed to change the inevitable fall of the pass, but also exposed the deserted state of Hanzhong's counties prematurely. This was tantamount to proactively removing the fig leaf and symbolic barrier that was better than nothing at the worst possible moment.

Gao Yao watched the approaching "reinforcements" cloaked in the dust, feeling no joy, only heavy worry and a tinge of anger at the shortsightedness of the decision-makers on the front lines. The desperate situation at Yangping Pass hadn't been resolved yet, yet a greater strategic risk had quietly been planted. He had to immediately determine who had mobilized these troops and how to address this exacerbated situation.

Gao Yao's cold, furious gaze, like a tangible blade, pierced the figure panting and stumbling toward the city wall—Xiao He! The moment Gao Yao laid eyes on this reinforcement, he had already locked onto the man who had mobilized the troops. Besides Xiao He, whom he had entrusted with the crucial task of Prime Minister and overall control of the rear, who else could mobilize the county troops in Hanzhong without his approval?

Xiao He had clearly come all the way at top speed. The hem of his official robe was stained with dust, his hair was a little disheveled, and beads of sweat covered his forehead. He rushed to Gao Yao and was about to explain, "Your Majesty, I..."

"Xiao He!" Gao Yao's voice was like a thunderclap, instantly drowning out the sound of the wind on the city walls and the distant wails, brimming with wrath. "How dare you! How dare you mobilize the army without my royal order! You are simply... a bastard!"

Gao Yao's chest heaved violently, the exhaustion from days of bloody battles overwhelmed by his current fury. He understood Xiao He's motives—he was simply worried about the fall of Yangping Pass, putting himself, the "King of the Southern Territory," in danger. But risking the collapse of Hanzhong's entire strategic depth, and even potentially aiding the enemy, just to save him? To Gao Yao, this was an extremely foolish and short-sighted act! It was also a serious challenge to his absolute authority!

Gao Yao's rise from a humble cook to the king of his day was a result of his unwavering determination to face fate and his absolute control over his decisions. He would never allow anyone, not even his most trusted servant, Xiao He, to step in and make strategic decisions for him that affected the entire situation. This was his bottom line, the core of his struggle that had remained unchanged throughout his entire life.

Faced with Gao Yao's overwhelming rage, Xiao He did not make any excuses or evasions. He fell heavily to his knees on the cold bricks with a plop, and dust stained his official robe.

"I acknowledge my guilt!" Xiao He's voice was sincere and filled with a subtle urgency. "I mobilized troops without permission from the king. I cannot escape responsibility. I plead guilty and accept any punishment from the king! But," he suddenly raised his head, staring directly into Gao Yao's eyes, which were burning with anger, "I mobilized these county soldiers not just to protect you! But... but for another purpose! Perhaps, perhaps we can use them to defend Yangping Pass. Who knows!"

"Defend Yangping Pass?" The fury in Gao Yao's eyes faltered slightly, replaced by a sense of absurdity and a faint, desperate curiosity. He stared at Xiao He, kneeling on the ground, his brow still furrowed. The fury in his eyes hadn't completely dissipated, but the urge to punish him immediately was forcibly suppressed. He needed an explanation, one that would convince him that this "ridiculous act" had real merit.

"Speak!" Gao Yao's voice was still cold, as if squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Yes!" Xiao He received permission and spoke faster, clearly outlining his plan: "Your Majesty, this time I have brought not only these two thousand county soldiers, but also..." He paused, emphasizing, "over a thousand sets of fine armor from the Third Legion!"

"Hmm?" Gao Yao's frown deepened, his eyes filled with confusion and questioning. The Third Legion's armor? That was indeed the mark of the Southern Border Army's elite. But... putting it on these county soldiers? Two thousand sheep covered in wolf skins, would that turn them into a pack of wolves? Could combat effectiveness be increased simply by changing clothes? This was child's play! He was on the verge of another outburst.

Xiao He seemed to see through Gao Yao's thoughts and immediately responded, "Your Majesty, I don't expect them to be as brave and skilled as the Third Legion! My intention is to bluff and confuse the enemy!"

His gaze blazed as he pointed towards the Chu army, which was slowly retreating below the city, still in shock. "The Chu army suffered heavy casualties today from this 'heavenly thunder'. Their morale has been shaken! They only saw the explosion, but have no idea of ​​the strength of our interior, let alone our potential reserves! Right now, they are in the thick of their uncertainty!"

"My plan is to have these two thousand county soldiers outfitted in the Third Legion's superior armor! Tomorrow morning, have them scale the city walls, refreshed and with their banners clearly drawn! From afar, the Chu army will only see a sudden surge of elite troops, brightly armored and in meticulous formation, on the city walls! How can they tell if these are new reinforcements or a deliberate back-up plan we've concealed? They'll also have no way of knowing how many reinforcements we have!"