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墨書 Inktalez
"All personnel, prepare for action!"
With his final words, Zhu Ji stepped forward, leading the members of the Chu Family to set off first. Xiahou Xing quickly followed, rallying the young members of his family closely behind.
Beside Xiahou Xing, Xiahou Lan leaned in and said disdainfully, "Father, this Chu Family Leader is overstepping his bounds."
Xiahou Xing gazed at Zhu Ji's departing figure, seemingly lost in thought. "Son, do not underestimate the Chu Family Leader; this is merely a display of his ability to create momentum."
Xiahou Lan frowned in confusion and asked, "Create momentum? And at our expense?"
Shaking his head, Xiahou Xing replied, "Consider the current situation carefully."
Xiahou Lan paused for a moment, realizing this was a test from his father. The Han Dynasty court was blinded by treacherous officials, the Ten Attendants were wreaking havoc on the political landscape, and officials were selling themselves for power while forming cliques for personal gain. Natural disasters had plagued the land for years, leaving the people in turmoil. The Han Dynasty was bound to descend into chaos sooner or later.
"But what does all this have to do with the Chu Family Leader's show of force?" Xiahou Lan questioned. "Does he intend to...?"
Xiahou Xing shook his head again. "You see the essence of the situation clearly, but your understanding of human nature is still lacking. He may not dare to take risks. His purpose in creating this momentum is simply to forge a strong image for both our families. If things truly become irreparable and we are both living in the same village, he might leverage our combined strength to seek opportunities for himself."
Xiahou Lan's eyes widened in realization; he had never considered that the Chu Family Leader harbored such ambition.
"Then should we allow him to act as he pleases?" he asked.
Xiahou Xing shook his head and responded, "If he truly possesses talent and skill, following him may not be a bad idea."
For a hundred years, although our two families have maintained their own names, in reality, we have long since merged and coexisted, indistinguishable from one another.
Xiahou Lan was taken aback by this statement. He understood what his father meant. Over the course of a century, despite still appearing as two separate families, the Chu Clan and the Xiahou Clan had become inseparable. Some of his friends came from the Chu Family; many of his uncles were part of the Chu Family; several of his brothers' wives were from the Chu Family; and even some of his sisters had married into the Chu Family. The same situation existed among the members of the Chu Family. Though they bore different surnames, their lives were deeply intertwined.
In such a relationship, Zhu Ji only needed to continuously enhance his personal reputation. Once chaos erupted, if he raised his voice, many would surely rally around him. Xiahou Lan understood this well. However, it held little practical significance for him. This was clearly a direct confrontation-style conspiracy that relied on personal influence to attract crowds.
It was certain that more than just his father in the Xiahou Family had noticed this subtlety. Everyone was quietly waiting and observing to see if this leader was worthy of their loyalty. Moreover, if true chaos descended upon the world, would it really matter whom they followed? Following someone familiar was always more reassuring than randomly choosing an unknown figure.
A grand procession composed of over a hundred young men marched majestically towards Zhao Family Village. Along the way, villagers saw this group and hurriedly avoided them. No one dared to speak up, fearing unnecessary trouble. Soon, they arrived at the outskirts of Zhao Family Village.
Zhao Family Village boasted vast lands, and before anyone could catch sight of its majestic earthen walls, they were greeted by lush fields stretching as far as the eye could see. In stark contrast to the drought afflicting their own fields, the crops in Zhao Family Village thrived vibrantly. Clear water flowed continuously through the intricate network of ditches, creating an oasis that seemed untouched by thirst.
Witnessing such a bountiful water source, members of the Chu Family and Xiahou Family instinctively knelt down, bending low to scoop handfuls of Qing Shui from the ditches, splashing it onto their faces to savor the rare coolness. Since the onset of the drought, such indulgence had become a distant memory. Water had become too precious, measured drop by drop; more importantly, this extravagant use of water seemed to signify a resignation to life itself.
This behavior spread rapidly through the group like wildfire. More and more people gathered by the water's edge—some drinking to quench their thirst, others washing away the dust of their travels, while a few submerged their heads completely in the ditches, reveling in the pulsating vitality that flowed within.
Zhu Ji and Xiahou Xing observed this scene without intervening. They understood that only by personally experiencing the beauty of water could the warriors ignite a fiercer desire to fight. Even if their opponents had yet to reveal their strength, both Zhu Ji and Xiahou Xing were prepared for battle; they did not believe that the people of Zhao Family Village would relinquish their precious water resources without resistance, inevitably leading to a bloody conflict.
Indeed, when these water-soaked men returned to their ranks, a fierce anger burned within them. They no longer questioned the decisions of their elders; instead, they harbored deep hostility towards the unseen members of the Zhao Family. If only Zhao Family had not blocked the flow of Hutuo River—those waters should have belonged to them! They should have enjoyed such abundant resources without having to dream daily about drops in their home water tanks; their wilting crops would have revived with life-giving water; their hopes for life and future would have grown ever stronger.
The troops reassembled, with morale soaring among the young men from Chu Family and Xiahou Family. In battles where numbers were not overwhelmingly decisive, high spirits often tipped the scales of victory. The army's morale had never been higher.
As they swiftly approached Hutuo River, Zhao Family Village's earthen walls loomed not far ahead. Yet, it seemed that everyone's gaze was fixed elsewhere; their goal was solely to seize control of the river's waters rather than attack Zhao Family directly. Avoiding unnecessary siege warfare was ideal. After all, launching an assault on an earthen fortress would be akin to confronting an opponent in their area of expertise—a foolhardy move indeed.
As they drew closer to Hutuo River, they could see over a dozen waterwheels standing by the riverbank.
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