Mythical Three Kingdoms

Xu Shu’s arrival did not attract much attention; Liu Bei simply hosted a private banquet at his home to invite Xu Shu.

After all, with Liu Bei’s current status and reputation, it was no longer suitable for him to hold a grand ceremony to welcome a newcomer. Such an event would not only signify recognition of ability but also impose an astonishing pressure.

Speaking of Xu Shu’s abilities, Chen Xi had no doubts. If Xu Shu could boldly state that he was finally qualified to meet Liu Bei, it meant that he was confident in handling any situation. Otherwise, given the personality of this former gang leader, he wouldn’t have made such a claim.

Liu Bei specifically arranged a banquet for Xu Shu, which moved Xu Shu deeply. With Chen Xi also seated beside him, a few cups of wine later, Xu Shu felt much less constrained. After all, he was well-prepared, and his confidence grew as the conversation flowed.

”I wonder how Yuanzhi has been in Jingzhou these past few years.” Liu Bei smiled and asked Xu Shu about his life in Jingzhou. He was curious about what could have caused such a dramatic change in Xu Shu, who used to be a petty rogue.

”At first, I encountered Lord Pang De, who became a true confidant. With his help, I was able to achieve what I have today.” Xu Shu recalled the cold reception he initially faced upon arriving in Jingzhou, then thought of his fateful encounter with Lord Pang De. A faint smile appeared on his face as he slowly recounted his experiences over the past few years.

”So it seems that Lord Pang De is indeed a great talent. It’s a pity I’ve never had the chance to meet him,” Liu Bei said with slight regret. He could sense the reserved temperament in Xu Shu, somewhat reminiscent of Chen Xi when he first entered the scene. Although knowledgeable and confident, there was still a certain naïveté in dealing with people.

”He truly is a remarkable individual,” Xu Shu said, nodding his head, and then continued, ”But Lord Pang De has lived in Jingzhou for ages, deeply attached to his homeland and unwilling to leave. There’s no way to invite him here, but if my lord wishes, I could write him a letter.”

Xu Shu’s words were clearly spoken in jest. It was evident that he knew Lord Pang De would not leave Jingzhou, yet he was aware of Liu Bei’s appreciation for talent, which was why he made such a remark.

”That’s unnecessary,” Chen Xi said with a smile. ”After all, this entire Han Territory belongs to us. What distance is too far? There will be a day of reunion eventually; there is no need to rush.” With that, Chen Xi raised his cup to toast Xu Shu—a rare gesture for someone who hadn’t toasted others in a long time.

”That’s indeed the truth,” Xu Shu nodded slightly, not surprised. He smiled and finished his drink in one gulp. In his view, with Liu Bei’s current situation, control of the Central Plains would soon be followed by dominion over all lands under Heaven. As for the Han Territory, it would no longer involve Liu Biao.

Chen Xi smiled faintly, clearly satisfied with Xu Shu. Whether discussing strategies over drinks or planning the Northern Expedition, Xu Shu’s reasoning was impeccable. Despite some errors stemming from his lack of familiarity with Mount Tai, it was undeniable that Xu Shu had entered his peak the moment he agreed to emerge from obscurity, whether in this life or the previous one.

”My lord, Strategist Jia has something to report.” At that moment, an escort arrived with a message. Liu Bei came to his senses—it was the appointed time for Jia Xu to update him on the current troop organization progress.

”Let him in,” Liu Bei said to the escort.

”My lord,” Jia Xu greeted with a slight bow. He then noticed Xu Shu seated beside Liu Bei. Without asking further, Jia Xu immediately realized Xu Shu’s identity. After all, anyone who could warrant simultaneous invitations from both Chen Xi and Liu Bei had to be someone exceptional.

”Wen He, take a seat. How is the state of our army?” Liu Bei did not shy away from Xu Shu, nor did Xu Shu make any effort to excuse himself. After instructing the maids to add a set of dishes and utensils for Jia Xu, Liu Bei smiled and inquired.

”Within three days, we have gathered over 44,000 men, among whom more than 13,000 are seasoned veterans. Of these, over 7,000 have fought in ten or more engagements, while those with more than fifteen battles under their belt—this includes former veterans who were rejected from city management assignments—number over 4,000,” Jia Xu reported as he casually settled into his seat.

”Weren’t those veterans who fought in over fifteen campaigns supposed to return home to farm? Aren’t they all around forty years old by now?” Chen Xi sighed, visibly troubled. ”Didn’t we agree not to take anyone over thirty-two?”

Xu Shu was mildly startled. The so-called count of battles wasn’t something trivial like skirmishes between scouts; these figures were based on full-scale, legion-level conflicts. To have survived so many engagements was no trivial feat. Even so-called ’hundred-battle veterans’ had typically experienced only a dozen or so legion-level battles.

”After returning home to farm for a month, they found they couldn’t adapt and couldn’t tolerate such a lifestyle at all. My intelligence indicates that while they were initially content upon returning, after a month, they began to exhibit frustration over petty matters,” Jia Xu explained nonchalantly.

Before Chen Xi could reflect on the challenges of reintegrating veterans, Jia Xu continued, ”Moreover, this group largely consists of elite troops whose daily training in the military emphasized single-minded mastery of combat skills. As such, farming is completely beyond them.”

”So you’re telling me I’ll need to finance an academy to teach retired soldiers regular skills, giving them some sort of trade for survival?” Chen Xi said, exasperated.

”That’s essentially the idea. On a related note, compared to their lives in the army, their time at home hasn’t been great,” Jia Xu added, ignoring Chen Xi’s troubled expression. ”These are issues you’ll need to handle, considering this falls under your purview since Lub Su’s resignation.”

”In the military, their meals and accommodations were provided. As long as they could fight, there was plenty of bread, two servings of meat per month, and even their stipend was twenty percent higher than what they earn now. On top of that, nine out of ten of these ’brutes’ have zero understanding of finances—essentially living by the logic of ’drink today if there’s wine today,’” Jia Xu said impassively, making Chen Xi feel even more conflicted.

Initially, Chen Xi had planned for the veterans to retire with 80% of their stipend, giving them the means to settle into a new profession and livelihood. This way, even if they were initially unskilled, they could afford shelter and food while picking up skills over a few years. After all, their stipends were guaranteed at 80% for the first three years after discharge.

”And in three years, the stipend decreases to 50%, eventually tapering down to a mere 20% as an old-age pension,” Jia Xu said with a sly smile, his implication unmistakable.

”In short, these guys basically have no idea how to live properly, right? When they were in the army, there was nowhere to spend their money, so they just sent it home. Their families lived well, and so did they. But now that they’re back, the money is in their own hands, and they don’t know how to manage it. I’m at my wit’s end!” Chen Xi groaned, utterly exasperated.

”That’s about the size of it,” Jia Xu replied with a cheerful grin, adding, ”Which is why they aren’t comfortable at home. Upon hearing about the Northern Expedition, they all came back—and they’ve already crushed an entire legion of Qingzhou Soldiers.” (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)