Chapter 39: Joining Forces Requires First Submitting a Letter of Intent

  "Master, look over there!" Li Tiezhu pulled on Zhao Xing's sleeve as he was busy showing off his barbecue skills to his two wives.

  Then Zhao Xing turned his head and saw Xu Huan and Hu Lianya dancing hand in hand together. "Plop!", Zhao Xing's eyeballs fell to the ground.

  "Hehe" Similarly, Hu Xiang'er turned her head to see this scene and smiled lightly, "Hu Lian is really bold, actually taking the initiative to invite a Han man to dance!"

  "Do you know that girl?" asked Xu Wanting curiously beside him.

  "Wan Ting, this girl is my uncle's daughter. Now, only she and her younger brother Hu Fei Ya are left in their family," said Hu An Er, whose voice gradually became softer afterwards.

  Zhao Xing handed over the roasted mutton to Er Nü and stood up, walking towards the study room. "You two play by yourselves first, I'll be right back."

  Zhao Xing walked while saying to his little follower Li Tiezhu behind him: "Go and call Xu Huan to my study."

  "Alright!" Li Tiezhu, who had received the order, couldn't hide his excitement and rushed to a distant place.

  "Nice to meet you, Master Zhao!" Xu Huan entered Zhao Xing's study and bowed to Zhao Xing, who was sitting at his desk with a thoughtful expression, still writing and drawing.

  "Oh, Gongming is here, please sit down. There's water in the teapot, help yourself to a drink. And there's wine on the tea table over there, feel free to pour yourself a cup." Zhao Xing casually greeted Xu Huan and then lowered his head to continue writing and drawing.

  Watching this scene, not only Xu Huan was a bit inexplicable, I guess everyone else is too? Logically speaking, for someone like Xu Huan who is so fierce, anyone who wants to win him over should be "reversing their shoes and waiting with bated breath" to express their admiration and longing. Why didn't Zhao Xing rush forward and prostrate himself in front of Xu Huan today? What's going on here?

  Haha, this is indeed Zhao Xing's unique skill! Although Zhao may not be as skilled in martial arts as Lü Bu or Guan Yu, and his strategic thinking may not be on the same level as Jia Xu or Guo Jia, when it comes to understanding human nature, he is second to none.

  Why? Because a certain rascal had studied psychology in his previous life. Figuring out people is the most difficult thing, otherwise how would there be the saying "knowing people's faces but not their hearts". It can be said to be simple, and there are also tricks that can be found.

  According to Maslow's demand theory, Xu Huan was definitely in a state of extreme frustration after his defeat and needed recognition and confidence. At this time, some flattery and praise might have moved Xu Huan to surrender and acknowledge Cao Cao as his superior. In fact, Xu Huan did consider this option.

  Zhao Xing claims to be a "nonconformist", but he's playing the "hunger theory" again at this time! Aren't you looking for some comfort and face-saving from me? I'm not going to give it to you, I'll treat you like one of my own, no courtesy, suffocate you, make you so desperate that you can't wait to prove yourself!

  Seeing Xu Huang's restless expression, Zhao Xing knew that his plan had already succeeded by 80%. "Sir, you seem to be restless, is there something on your mind?" Isn't this a redundant question? Whoever loses three battles in a row and doesn't react would be a ghost!

  "Hmm, I was defeated by him yesterday, please let the master decide...". Xun Xuang steeled himself and admitted it with a nod.

  "Oh, so that's what you were thinking of? At the time, I thought your words 'do as you please' were just a joke, why take it seriously! Besides, in our Tiger Manor, we never treated you as a reckless person looking for trouble, but rather as a guest. Yesterday, you got drunk and fell asleep, so we had to put you up in the manor. Today is the first day of the new year, you should hurry back home and spend the holiday with your family!" After saying this, Zhao Xing turned to Li Tiezhu who was standing in the corner and said: "Tiezhu, go find Zheng Bo and arrange for Xu Zhuangshi to have a top-notch horse!"

  "Is that it? Did they not even think of recruiting him?" Xu Huan was stunned, completely stunned! The very depressed Xu Huan didn't know what to say either, so he turned around and walked out of Zhao Xing's study door, following Li Tiezhu towards the outside.

  "Xu Zhuang Shi, Master treated you like this, don't be angry. Actually, Master was just because last night the manor was attacked by the county soldiers, many brothers were injured, and he was momentarily heartbroken, but neglected you. Yesterday after you got drunk, he even personally took off your shoes and socks, and asked the servants to take good care of you!" Li Tiezhu muttered in front.

  "What's going on, the county soldiers are attacking!" Xu Huan heard this and was initially still in a daze, but when he came to his senses, he stood up straight, staring at Li Tiezhu with wide eyes.

  "Yes, the Shangdang County Lieutenant pretended to be a bandit from Taihang Mountain and attacked Li's Village, while the County Governor Zhang Yang led over a thousand soldiers to attack Wohu Village. Meanwhile, in Changzi County, a group of real bandits snuck in with the wind, and even the county magistrate Zhu and Zhang Baiwan were beheaded!" Li Tiezhu threw one heavy bomb after another at Xu Huan's heart!

  "I don't know where the governor and the chief are now, Xu wants to go find them and reason with them!" Xu Huan shouted.

  "According to Zhuang Ding, Zhang Biao was killed by Zhao Zhuang's master in the chaos of war when he went to rescue Li Jia Village without knowing his identity. And Zhang Yang heard that his own county government was surrounded by a 'strong wind', and hastily retreated, but halfway through, he fell into an ambush, and when he was discovered, his body was thrown under Mount Taihang, only his head was gone!" Li Tiezhu gave Xu Huang two large hand grenades again.

  "There must be some unknown conspiracy in this!" Xu Huan was young and had a bit of a hot temper, but he wasn't stupid. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been called "one of the five talented generals" by Old Cao, who even said he "had the style of Zhou Yafu".

  "Why did the county soldiers attack two villages separately, and why did he come alone to challenge them, resulting in so many things happening? Why, after the big army surrounded the village, was the Sleeping Tiger Village still prosperous and joyful? Why did Zhang Binglin, as a captain, pretend to be a mountain bandit? And why did real mountain bandits appear in the county city?" One by one, these questions flooded into Xu Huan's mind, no matter how much he used his imagination, he couldn't see through the subtleties.

  Can't figure it out? Ask! Xu Huan turned around and returned to Zhao Xing's study.

  Watching Xuhuang hurry back and forth, Li Tiezhu had his own thoughts in mind. "The master is really brilliant! Without telling Xuhuang himself, he lets him come to ask, naturally taking the initiative. Following the master can indeed learn a lot of things!"

  "Zhao Zhuangzhu, please dispel my doubts!" Xu Huang said loudly after entering the door!

  "Oh, I don't know what's unclear about it?" Zhao Xing asked with a smile, waiting for Xu Huan to ask.

  "The affair of the county soldiers besieging the village yesterday!"

  "Oh, Gongming really wants to know the whole story?" Zhao Xing teased Xu Huang.

  "Exactly!"

  " Iron pillar, notify Li Jin Si to bring Zhang Gong Cao to the council hall, notify all households to go to the council hall!" Zhao Xing stood up and said "Follow me, Gong Ming!"

  Seeing Zhang Gongcao being tied up, Xu Huan was shocked and bewildered. This is an official of the county government, with a higher status than himself, and yet he was caught by the Sleeping Tiger Villa just like that. "Zhang Gongcao, what's going on with you?" Xu Huan asked.

  Zhang Gongcao had already been intimidated by the evil Li Jinsuo, and he carefully told Xu Huan about Zhang Yang's plan to kill him, even including their joint conspiracy against Xu Huan.

  After hearing Zhang Gongcao's words, Xu Huan's face turned extremely terrifying, his hands clenched tightly, and the joints of his fingers made a cracking sound! "Please ask the host to hand this person over to Huan for disposal!"

  "Fair enough, it's not that I don't trust you, but you're not from Wotou Village. If I were to hand this person over to you so hastily, even if I believe in you, the brothers within the village would likely be unwilling!" Zhao Xing let out a low sigh!

  "Go ahead and pretend!" Xu Huan thought to himself, seeing the depth of the situation, "Isn't it just that you want me to join forces? Why not say so clearly?"

  "Xu Xiang, please enter Wozhuang Manor. From now on, you will be the master of the manor!" Xu Xiang said in a deep voice!

  "Want to join in? Simple! Just honestly submit your name and you're done!" Zhao Xing also replied in a low voice.

  "What is meant by 'casting a name and appearance'?" Xu Huan asked in confusion.

  "Chop off Zhang Gong's head and put it on a pike!" Zhao Xing replied.

  "Good, Zhāng has this intention!"

  It's done! Zhao Xing's plan to abduct Xu Huan has been a huge success!