Mythical Version of Three Kingdom

”Yunchang, tell Yide not to say anything when he sees what happens in a moment,” Chen Xi said, turning to Guan Yu while standing on the carriage.

”Understood!” Guan Yu, as always, was sparing with words.

”Yunchang, go to the front lines. Xiaozhi and I will be enough here. With you and the main army at the front, if it’s not safe, then nowhere on the battlefield is safe.” Chen Xi indicated to Guan Yu that he could lead the charge and didn’t need to stay behind to guard the central command.

”Zhongtai, make sure the command flag is well-guarded. Although we don’t rely solely on it for command, it is a matter of morale.” Chen Xi ordered Sun Guan.

”Yes!” Sun Guan responded loudly and personally led a group to protect the command flag, as Chen Xi’s plan included driving it into the enemy lines.

”It feels like something isn’t quite right,” Fa Zheng murmured, frowning as he pondered Chen Xi’s arrangements. He felt there was something off about them.

”Never mind whether it’s right or not. Use your spiritual power to coordinate the formation. The fewer casualties, the better. We have too few medics and not enough clean bandages. We can’t make medical alcohol, and even when we get it up to sixty percent, it keeps getting stolen to be drunk!” Chen Xi glared in the direction of Zhang Fei. It had been hard enough to make some spirits for disinfection, only to have Zhang Fei drink a significant portion of it.

”Uh, Zichuan, watch your demeanor. That strong liquor of yours is indeed good, but it consumes too much grain. It shouldn’t have been made in the first place,” Fa Zheng glanced at Chen Xi, then righteously stated.

”Grain isn’t as valuable as veteran soldiers. You’ll understand when I show you my cost analysis table back at camp,” Chen Xi said, ignoring Fa Zheng’s comment. After all, Ru Su wasn’t blind; he needed a reasonable explanation to get approval from him.”Cost analysis table?” Fa Zheng asked, puzzled.

”Idiot, it’s the cost and strategic gain analysis per individual and item. For example, if the price of defeating the Yellow Turbans is my death, then it’s a massive loss, and the battle isn’t worth fighting,” Chen Xi sneered at Fa Zheng, then thought for a moment and gave an example, since Fa Zheng still needed some training.

Fa Zheng’s eyes gleamed with understanding. Chen Xi continued, ”Let’s say the cost of defeating the Yellow Turbans is your death. In that case, we’d evaluate the value of Qingzhou and your worth. Although the gain might exceed the loss, long-term, it’s not worth it. So, no battle victory in Qingzhou is worth sacrificing you.”

”You bastard!” Fa Zheng fumed, though he was secretly pleased with how Chen Xi weighed Qingzhou against himself and found it wanting.

”That’s what cost comparison is. The example I just gave is more intuitive. For practical items, I have a detailed cost analysis table. For example, ensuring low casualties in each battle but consuming a thousand stone of grain. Compare this to the value of veteran soldiers, morale, and immediate effects, and you’ll see the thousand stone of grain is worth the investment.”

Chen Xi explained while helping Zhao Yun and others control the flow of qi in the formation. Fa Zheng, awestruck by Chen Xi’s examples, could only listen. He was impressed by Chen Xi’s effortless mental control.

”That’s enough,” Chen Xi clapped his hands, stabilizing the qi flow with his spiritual power. In the heat of battle, the qi would solidify with the rising bloodlust and wouldn’t scatter easily.

Chen Xi looked at Fa Zheng, pale from overexertion, and marveled, ”Your spiritual power is too low. Just adjusting the qi flow for ten thousand men has you like this. So weak!”

”...” Fa Zheng had no strength left to retort, glaring at Chen Xi.

”Young man, practice more!” Chen Xi squatted and patted Fa Zheng’s shoulder, spreading his spiritual power to smooth the qi flow. His own spiritual power was considerable.

”Are you even human?” Fa Zheng stared at Chen Xi for a long time before blurting out.

Chen Xi looked skyward with a lonely expression, saying blandly, ”You wouldn’t understand my loneliness.”

”...” Fa Zheng was nearly choked by his words.

Just then, the Yellow Turbans finally appeared, their formation ragged and their weapons shabby, marching with a muddy yellow cloud of qi overhead. Seeing this, Chen Xi felt the urge to charge. However, he knew his strategy was better served by a direct confrontation rather than a surprise attack.

Before Chen Xi could speak, a rider emerged from the Yellow Turban ranks, clearly here to challenge them. Zhang Fei and the others immediately recognized him and stifled their urge to charge—they realized it was their own spy, here to earn merit. No wonder Chen Xi had told them to keep quiet.

”Zhongtai, this is your chance. Xuangao will go easy on you. Go for it!” Chen Xi called to Sun Guan, who was guarding the command flag.

”Uh, alright. As you command!” Sun Guan, initially startled by the enemy general’s appearance, now wore a broad grin as he mounted his horse and charged, spear in hand.

”Isn’t that Zang Xuangao?” Fa Zheng felt his face twitch. He had seen Zang Ba drilling with three thousand cavalry outside Fenggao several times. Now he was a Yellow Turban leader? This was too much.

”What do you think of my spy?” Chen Xi asked with a grin.

”If the Yellow Turbans win now, I’ll give you my head,” Fa Zheng said, excited. With Zang Ba infiltrating the enemy ranks, how could his plans fail?

”What use is your head to me?” Chen Xi retorted, leaving Fa Zheng fuming.

”I am Sun Zhongtai of Taishan! Enemy general, prepare to die!” Sun Guan’s voice rang out as he charged, spear aimed at Zang Ba.

”Good timing!” Zang Ba shouted back. He had expected someone like Guan Yu or Zhang Fei to engage him, and was relieved it was a familiar face. This way, he could maintain his heroic facade among the Yellow Turbans, which he needed to rally them later.

The two clashed fiercely on horseback, evenly matched and unable to gain the upper hand. Their intense duel fired up the troops on both sides, boosting their morale. Meanwhile, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Tai Shici watched quietly, ready to unleash their might as soon as Sun Guan retreated.