Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Xiaozhi, I heard that you’ve gotten married, young man,” Guo Jia said as he strolled around with Fa Zheng until Fa Zheng felt a prick of discomfort when Guo Jia suddenly asked a question.

”A man should take a wife when he’s of age, and a woman should marry when she’s of age, isn’t that as it should be?” Fa Zheng responded, not quite sure what Guo Jia was getting at.

”Hmm, that makes sense,” Guo Jia said, gazing at Lyu Bu’s military camp in the distance before posing a rather strange question to Fa Zheng, ”That over there is Chen Gongtai’s camp. Would you like to see the demeanor of the world’s foremost martial artist?”

”The world’s first?” Fa Zheng sneered, ”There really are people bold enough to accept that title without fearing death.”

”Looking at the situation now, it seems no one is capable of killing him,” Guo Jia said with a smile. ”So, calling him number one in the world isn’t unreasonable. Maybe later, General Guan, General Zhao, and General Zhang may possess his strength, but the only one who can be called the number one in the world is him.”

Fa Zheng fell silent, now understanding what Guo Jia meant by his words. Even if one had the same potential, the sooner it was demonstrated, the better.

Just like with the current situation, when Guan, Zhang, and Zhao reach their peak, they might possess strength not inferior to Lyu Bu’s. Even then, many others might have the same level of strength, but what meaning would it hold? By that time, Lyu Bu would have retired from the stage.

As everyone would have similar levels of power, it would be impossible to dispute who the strongest was. Looking back then, the martial artist who had already left the stage would once again come into focus because he was the only one who had defeated this group of people. Although they were not at their peak at the time, who would pay attention to such details? He won, you lost, that is all there is to it.

”The world’s first?” Fa Zheng said with a furrow in his brow, ”Sometimes, timing is more important than ability. I’m certainly much luckier than the geniuses of the previous generation and also much luckier than the next one. I’m confident I am of the founding generation, and this world’s expansion and conquest will certainly bear my mark.”

Guo Jia chuckled lightly, then laughed heartily, bursting into wild laughter. After three years, Fa Zheng finally understood what he had meant back then.

”Xiaozhi, you’re very smart, but your ambition is too small,” Guo Jia turned and said. ”Our era is better than it has been for the past three thousand years, I dare say. We have more cards in our hand than they did.”

”I will do better than you,” Fa Zheng finally voiced the words he had long wanted to say, speaking boldly and openly for the first time in front of Guo Jia.

”We shall see,” Guo Jia responded, clapping Fa Zheng on the shoulder. ”Well, if you’ll do better than me, then I’ll leave the next matter to you. I’m off to drink.”

”...” Swept by a gust of spring breeze, Fa Zheng suddenly realized he had been played by Guo Jia again and walked off toward Lyu Bu’s camp with a gloomy face.

”Strategist, Prime Minister of Qi State Fa Xiaozhi requests an audience,” Gao Shun entered Chen Gong’s tent and said after bowing to Chen Gong.

”Fa Xiaozhi? Let him in,” Chen Gong nodded after a brief contemplation, and soon Fa Zheng was invited by the patrolling Gao Shun into Chen Gong’s tent.

”I’ve often heard that Prime Minister Fa is a hero at a young age, that he has made Qi State prosperous within a year. Today, I am honored to finally witness it in person indeed—truly commendable,” Chen Gong stood up to welcome him.

Chen Gong’s words were not spoken in jest. The first time he met Chen Xi he was struck by how young Chen Xi was, and now seeing Fa Zheng, he was even more astounded. After all, the prosperity of Qi State was something widely known in both Jizhou and Yanzhou. Seeing Fa Zheng even younger than Chen Xi, truly filled him with amazement.

”Strategist Chen musn’t jest, Xiaozhi’s success is purely a matter of fortune. Had Chief Secretary Sun not passed through Linzi, there would be no such prosperity in Qi State today,” Fa Zheng modestly said.

In fact, at this point, Fa Zheng had developed a great appreciation for Chen Gong. After all, everyone enjoys hearing praise, and Fa Zheng was particularly proud of the matters concerning Qi State. Hence, Chen Gong’s comments naturally engendered a favorable impression in him.

”Even with such convenience, the ruler must have vision and courage,” Chen Gong said with a beaming smile, coaxing Fa Zheng to sit down. Sun Qian’s ability to build infrastructural foundations was now so envied by all the Feudal Lords under heaven that it seemed like cheating. In just a month, the framework for an Inner City at the prefecture level was already completed.

The two chatted idly for a while, then quickly got down to business.

”Gongtai, on this visit, our army brings a great gift for your army,” Fa Zheng said with a smile on his face.

”You may speak freely, Xiaozhi,” Chen Gong replied impassively, but his mind was already turning. After all, regarding the return to the north, Liu Bei’s side had indeed offered substantial support, and now mentioning a great gift, Chen Gong’s face remained unchanged but he couldn’t help weighing the matter internally.

”There are many wealthy but unkind Aristocratic Clans in Yanzhou. I’m sure you are aware of our army’s policies; these people naturally need to be dealt with. However, upon learning of our army’s entry into Yanzhou, they have fled to Chenliu and Guanzhong. Now, our army lacks the strength to pursue, so I ask for your assistance,” Fa Zheng said, still smiling cheerfully.

The talk about relocating families were definitely those Aristocratic Clans that despised Liu Bei’s policies, and among them were surely some that weren’t so corrupt, but who cared at such a time? Let Lyu Bu carry the burden and suddenly Yanzhou’s situation looked great. As for troubles with Lyu Bu, he was about to head to Bingzhou with great justice on his side, how could they pursue him?

”All confiscated goods will be ours; I’ll accept this matter,” Chen Gong said bluntly, without a moment’s hesitation.

”...” Fa Zheng was momentarily taken aback; he had been most worried that Chen Gong might suspect Liu Bei’s army was intentionally dividing Lyu Bu’s forces to surround and annihilate them, completely destroying Lyu Bu. He hadn’t expected Chen Gong to harbour no such concerns.

This was a conclusion Fa Zheng had drawn by harnessing his Spiritual Talent. Otherwise, if the matter was as straightforward as it seemed, he wouldn’t have had any reason to argue with Guo Jia.

”I trust that Lord Xuande wouldn’t deceive my army with this. Of course, if we are deceived, it’s just our bad luck,” Chen Gong said, seeing the hesitation on Fa Zheng’s face, then burst into laughter.

”Good, it’s settled then; all confiscated goods will be yours. I leave this matter in your hands,” Fa Zheng did not mull over too many things. If the matter could be resolved this simply, nothing could be better.

”Rest assured, no one will suspect you all. I’ll openly seize everything by force, so there’s no need for you to worry,” Chen Gong’s remarks left Fa Zheng even more astonished. The words he intended to say were already articulated by Chen Gong, which made Fa Zheng somewhat wary of this seemingly dull middle-aged man before him.

”Aren’t you worried that such plundering of Aristocratic Clan wealth might one day lead to a reckoning by these families?” Fa Zheng inquired, puzzled.

”That’s why I ask Prime Minister Fa to secretly share with me all the unsightly details about these families,” Chen Gong laughingly said. ”I suppose with Mount Tai’s planning for Yanzhou, this information should have been prepared in advance, right?”

”No problem, I will entrust all future arrangements to Gongtai,” Fa Zheng still had some doubts, but he did not delve deeper, realizing that Chen Gong seemed to have a thorough understanding of their side. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to vote for it at . Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)