Mythical Three Kingdoms

Perhaps in the eyes of most of the feudal lords, Liu Bei’s detour to Yuzhou in search of talents back then was nothing more than a joke.

In those days, Liu Bei lingered in Yuzhou and was accompanied by Chen Xi, who led him there and brought him back. Although from the current perspective, the scholars of Yuzhou back then were mostly blind to true talent, it cannot be denied that Liu Bei indeed brought himself disgrace during that visit.

Nevertheless, he managed to take Chen Xi with him. Even with an act of embarrassment, it has to be said now that Liu Bei at least took away the most exceptional figure of Yuzhou at the time. Though it seemed he entered the treasure mountain and garnered little, a great gem was already in his possession.

Xu Shu’s arrival at Mount Tai was to redeem that joke of the past, to prove that Liu Bei was not forsaken; it was merely that others failed to recognize true genius, mistaking a Luanfeng for a Cold Crow. Liu Bei not only took away the finest talent of Yuzhou but also took away its strongest individual of the time—Xu Shu.

[I must prove that among the so-called brilliant minds of Yuzhou, only I remain; the rest are mere mediocrities!] Xu Shu raised his hand, downed his drink in one gulp, and gazed resolutely at Liu Bei, thinking to himself—this is the foremost point he wishes to prove.

[Xin Pi, Cheng Yu, Xun Yue, Xun Yan—I’ve carefully examined this. Back then, only you were in Yuzhou. I know that defeating you now may not be easy, but it cannot be said to be difficult either. Xin Pi, Cheng Yu, let us meet on the battlefield!] Xu Shu drank the wine in his cup, and his eyes were clear and unwavering; he was indeed determined to challenge his old hometown comrades.

Afterward, Chen Xi didn’t stay long and departed, leaving Liu Bei to host Xu Shu, as it was undoubtedly the most appropriate arrangement. Chen Xi no longer intended to test Xu Shu further, as Xu Shu had absorbed the materials he had sent to Jingzhou remarkably well—far surpassing the abilities of the historical figure of the same name.

”Wen He, why are you here?” Upon stepping out, Chen Xi saw Jia Xu leaning against the wall. He furrowed his brows and inquired.

”I didn’t want to dampen our lord’s mood during the banquet earlier, so there’s something I didn’t mention.” Jia Xu spoke calmly and handed Chen Xi a folded piece of paper.

”What is it?” Chen Xi asked, puzzled. He slowly unfolded the paper and quickly browsed through it before saying, ”General Gongsun has passed away!”

”Indeed, he’s gone.” Jia Xu sighed and replied.

”Rare to see you sentimental.” Chen Xi steadied his emotions, his tone almost devoid of significant fluctuation.

Chen Xi wasn’t particularly familiar with Gongsun Zan. At the time of Hulao Pass, Chen Xi had barely encountered the man, and his impression was faint. As for his deeds, apart from the Jiéqiáo defeat, the most striking memory was of the White Horse Soldiers and the notion of Gongsun Zan as a national hero. Unfortunately, his excessively unyielding nature left him deaf to counsel.

”You don’t comprehend the hatred Northeners harbor toward the barbarians beyond the Great Wall. Though the Great Han Dynasty is powerful, it cannot entirely vanquish these Hu Captives.” Jia Xu shook his head silently, his expression faintly dim.

Jia Xu had wished to save Gongsun Zan. Despite Gongsun Zan’s many faults, Jia Xu, understanding the real circumstances of the North, could empathize with this deep-seated animosity toward the Hu people.

To be precise, Jia Xu, though a man with self-interest at heart, still adhered to the Confucian principle of ”cultivate moral character when poor, benefit the world when prosperous.” Previously, when he couldn’t do much, he let it be. Now, since aiding the Northeners wouldn’t harm him, Jia Xu naturally extended a hand.

”Someday, we will, and when the time comes, we’ll wield the blade together,” Chen Xi said to Jia Xu, noting the rare melancholic air about him.

”Another Minister defending the borders for the Great Han has passed away. Guan Jing, Zou Dan, Tian Kai, and others perished in battle alongside Gongsun Bogui. Zou Dan fought Zhang He to the death, holding the city gates, receiving over a dozen wounds before succumbing to exhaustion.” Jia Xu murmured.

”There was no betrayal then. What of their parents and families?” Chen Xi asked.

Gongsun Zan, even when escape was within his grasp, chose death with unwavering resolve. Chen Xi felt helpless, knowing that he had explicitly mentioned in his letters that there would still be opportunities to return to Youzhou and continue defending the borders for the Great Han in the future.

Yet, Gongsun Zan ultimately refused, saying only that others would succeed him in his duty after his demise, and that if Liu Bei could solidify control over the North, he hoped his son would continue guarding the frontier.

”Such righteous warriors could never betray!” Jia Xu rebuked indignantly. ”As for their wives, children, and elderly parents, they had already boarded ships, free from concerns. Thus, they could follow Gongsun Bogui unreservedly into death—it’s a pity.”

”Consider my words retracted,” Chen Xi acknowledged his misstep. As for how to care for the widows and orphans, there was no need for him to give special reminders.

”Yuan Shao no longer has any threats remaining in the North. Moreover, to hold a funeral for Gongsun Bogui and to demonstrate his promise to protect Youzhou as Gongsun Bogui had, he drove over ten thousand Hu people into Changli City and burned the entire city to the ground as a burial offering. He has already gone to Chang’an to request the Emperor’s posthumous recognition.” Jia Xu revealed calmly.

”How ruthless!” A visible chill ran through Chen Xi. ”Is this Shen Pei’s scheme? How brutal—this act alone ensures that even if Youzhou’s populace were displeased with Yuan Shao’s campaign against Gongsun Bogui, they wouldn’t trouble Yuan Shao further. After all, such is the nature of these feudal wars, and Yuan Shao’s actions would appear magnanimous enough in the eyes of the common folk.”

”While requesting the Emperor’s posthumous recognition, he also renovated the ancestral tombs of the Gongsun Clan, relocated Gongsun Zan’s mother’s grave there, and inducted it into the Ancestral Temple—fulfilling a wish Gongsun Bogui had left undone.” Jia Xu’s gaze lingered on Chen Xi, his expression difficult to decipher.

”Truly seamless. I suppose the people of Youzhou wouldn’t even know where to criticize Yuan Shao anymore. Later, as long as Yuan Shao ensures the people of Youzhou are well-fed, Gongsun General’s achievements will gradually transform into history.” Chen Xi clicked his tongue.

While it had been clear from the outset that Shen Pei was no mere pawn, Chen Xi hadn’t anticipated that this otherwise unremarkable individual could handle matters with such precision. He couldn’t help but marvel—no wonder Shen Pei had been able to withstand Cao Cao’s relentless assaults.

”We are well aware of Shen Pei’s capabilities. Among Yuan Shao’s cadre, Xun Shen, Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Xu You, Shen Pei, Dong Zhao, and Xin Pi are all individuals of exceptional caliber.” Jia Xu stated calmly.

As Chen Xi remained silent, Jia Xu continued to elaborate: ”It’s undeniable that these people each have their flaws—Xun Shen tends to distance himself from Yuan Shao’s other advisors, Tian Feng lacks tact in human relations, Ju Shou is overly upright and inflexible, Xu You indulges his own greed excessively, Shen Pei is overly authoritative, Dong Zhao has questionable character, and Xin Pi is too pragmatic.”

”They’re human; naturally, they have strengths and weaknesses—doesn’t that make them normal?” Chen Xi rolled his eyes and responded. ”While these people’s flaws are apparent, as long as Yuan Shao doesn’t lose his senses and coordinates this group efficiently, he’ll have no lesser advantage compared to us when it comes to strategists. After all, we have our own share of shortcomings as well.”

(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and support with recommendation tickets or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)