Mythical Three Kingdoms

”A double-sided copper coin?” Liu Bei was stunned for a moment before recalling its meaning. ”You rascal, you truly have a knack for trickery and deceit. Don’t think you can fool the immortal gods.”

”I’ve no idea how many times I’ve already fooled the Left Immortal Elder,” Chen Xi mumbled. Hearing this, Liu Bei and the two others immediately looked up at the main beam; it seemed there really were immortal gods...

”Immortal gods, alas!” Jia Xu sighed. He truly held no reverence for these so-called divine beings. Back when he cornered Zixu to inquire about the future, it was not just to confirm the course of events but also to understand the true nature of these so-called otherworldly immortals. The results, however, were utterly disappointing.

”Let’s stop with these tangents. I originally intended to discuss who should oversee the south in the near future. After all, the current situation has become quite clear, and Xiaozhi has essentially secured North Huai River in his grasp,” Li You sighed, his tone less formal after Chen Xi’s antics.

”Xingba and Kongming will defend the south,” Liu Bei responded almost without any hesitation, as Chen Xi and Jia Xu exchanged knowing glances.

”Xiaozhi and Yide will later be reassigned to Yanzhou to campaign against Bingzhou and guard against Cao Mengde’s reinforcements to Yuan Benchu. I have a hunch that Cao Mengde won’t be that easy to subdue. I wonder how Ziyang, Zijian, and Wen Ze are faring now—supporting the king in Sili might...” Liu Bei turned to look at Chen Xi, letting out a sigh.

Although Liu Bei couldn’t precisely pinpoint the issue, his intuition told him that supporting the king might not proceed as smoothly as hoped.

”Hmm, what Lord Xuande said does make sense,” Chen Xi replied with composure, nodding slightly. ”But it won’t be as dire as it sounds. Honestly, at this point, is there anyone who could really stop us?”

”True,” Liu Bei muttered, the concern on his face easing at Chen Xi’s words. A confident smile emerged as he nodded in agreement. ”Xiaozhi is indeed remarkable. Back when I was his age, I was still merely traveling for study, yet he’s already conquering lands on all sides. Truly, comparisons can be humbling.”

”Let’s have Ziyi remain by the Huai River. Constantly shifting him around is not a sustainable solution. After establishing him at the Huai, give him command of a corps,” Chen Xi suggested to Liu Bei after some thought. It was the kind of proposal only he could make so unabashedly.

”Ziyi has followed me in campaigns to the north and south for so many years; it’s high time he was promoted. Unfortunately, circumstances always got in the way—first, Navy rotations, and later the campaign against Yuan Shu. Assign him a conscription order and structure, and allow him to select his own troops; that should allow him to act as he sees fit,” Liu Bei said with a laugh, displaying no concern that Chen Xi might harbor ulterior motives.

”I plan to pull back Shuzhi’s White Spear Soldiers by then, but I’m yet to decide who should be sent in their place,” Liu Bei said, glancing at the three before him for counsel. Chen Dao’s troops were trained specifically for service as personal guards.

”Tanzhi and Wen Ze are more suitable candidates,” Jia Xu speculated after some deliberation.

Chen Xi nodded in agreement, recognizing that Jia Xu’s suggestion had considered all angles. Sending them would allow Yu Jin to evade the pressure from the northern allies and logically advance in rank, becoming the supreme leader of the southern Yuzhou land forces and tasked with defending South Huai River. This would essentially constitute Yu Jin’s primary role moving forward.

Simultaneously, Guan Ping could also be promoted from deputy to chief general, while Chen Dao, following a rotation in duties, could upgrade from a semi-corps leader to a full-fledged chief general.

”What Military Advisor Wen said aligns perfectly with my thoughts,” Liu Bei declared with hearty laughter.

Chen Xi, uninterested in engaging further, spread his hands dismissively at Liu Bei’s laughter. As for the subsequent defensive rotations and arrangements, they were decided just like that.

When Chen Xi, Jia Xu, and Li You left the room, the trio found themselves sighing faintly. Though Liu Bei hadn’t accomplished anything monumental over the years, he had indeed grown somewhat into the role of a monarch.

”Not too bad,” Chen Xi said with a smile.

”Hardly fawning praise,” Li You remarked with a slight shake of his head. ”But I don’t have many expectations. As long as our lord keeps moving steadily in one direction, we’ll naturally handle all other troubles.”

Jia Xu cast a glance at Chen Xi. ”Our foundation has been firmly established. All the conditions needed to achieve our goals are in place; what’s left is the direction. So keep a close watch. When the time comes for the northern expedition, I will give it my all.”

”I, too, will put forth my full effort,” Chen Xi replied, tilting his head to look at Jia Xu.

”I’ll be watching closely. Though I must advise you not to step onto the frontlines yourself. Even if you’ve won every time, it’s been far too perilous,” Jia Xu said, casting a sideways glance at Chen Xi.

While others might not notice anything awry in Chen Xi’s command, Jia Xu was well aware that Chen Xi’s military strategies were often unconventional and chaotic. Yet, even knowing this, Jia Xu chose not to expose him; Liu Bei’s faction needed an infallible banner.

”I’m not so foolish as to take unnecessary risks,” Chen Xi retorted with an eye roll.

At the Mao period the next morning, Wei Yan led his troops to depart first. Alongside them were Xu Shu, who had bid farewell to his mother, and Guan Ping, who had taken leave of his parents.

”The moment for us to achieve glory and greatness is finally upon us!” Wei Yan roared toward the heavens after setting off, while the 300 personal soldiers beside him kept their eyes straight ahead, silent and unmoved, showing no reaction to Wei Yan’s outburst.

”Oh~” Guan Ping howled like a wolf in response, his youthful fervor erupting in a display of unbridled exuberance.

”To achieve glory and greatness,” Xu Shu murmured as he slowly opened a folding fan to conceal the lower half of his face, a wild grin spreading across his lips. The long-awaited day had finally arrived.

Wei Yan glanced nervously at the laughing Xu Shu, suddenly unsure if he’d misjudged him. Was the ever-genteel Xu Shu behaving as wildly as himself at this moment, or had he taken some kind of strange medicine?

”Advisor, are you alright?” Wei Yan asked, his concern evident.

”Nothing’s wrong,” Xu Shu replied warmly, closing the folding fan with a soft click and smiling. ”Hearing your words, I realized my purpose. Back when our lord made me his assistant official in Yingchuan, I swore to repay him, yet have achieved nothing thus far. Now, at last, I can fulfill that promise.”

”Wen Chang, are you planning to rendezvous with General Lu at Linyi?” Xu Shu asked with a smile.

”Indeed,” Wei Yan nodded. ”I expect Military Advisor Guo to arrive in Linyi soon as well. Once we combine our forces, we will launch a coordinated strike against Yuan.”

Having witnessed Guo Jia’s brilliance back in Qingzhou, Wei Yan had no intention of missing the chance to ally himself with such a formidable strategist.

”If that’s so, Wen Chang, your wish to become renowned through a single battle might be dashed,” Xu Shu remarked, studying Wei Yan. ”Military Advisor Guo is one of the most capable ministers under the heavens. Under his command, no one will notice you, no matter how outstanding you are—you won’t be able to escape his radiance.”

”Uh...” Wei Yan froze for a moment. Then, after some quick thinking, he understood. The synergy between Guan Yu and Guo Jia was already legendary, and if he were to join Guo Jia, his role would inevitably be subordinate; how could he become a leading general?

Soon after, Wei Yan recalled how Guo Jia and Guan Yu had given him and Guan Ping many chances for solo engagements in the past. At the time, he’d merely felt gratitude. Now, he realized it might have been their way of helping him develop independence and leadership qualities. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)