Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1262: Chapter 1216: The Approaching War

Xun Yue was speechless. Saying such words so directly was indeed good, but if Chen Xi could understand, it would be even better. Even families like the Xun Family, known for their decent family style, had scoundrels; other families undoubtedly had even more scoundrels running around.

”Now, let’s discuss who will oversee and which family will be relocated. Since it’s the first, it has a large experimental component and may present many issues.” Chen Xi’s calm gaze swept over everyone present.

”Do we need to give a conclusion now? Shouldn’t we carefully contemplate this?” Jia Xu asked with a frown, ”The selection of personnel and aristocratic families must be done with caution.”

”Let Kongming go there; as for the aristocratic family, the Chen Family is most suitable.” Li Youu turned his head and looked at Chen Xi, saying, ”The doctors under Physician Hua and Kongming’s fiancée can also be taken along.”

Everyone frowned, pondering Li Youu’s proposal. It was undeniably a very good suggestion.

Then Li Youu slowly explained the reasons for his proposal, ”You’re all aware of Kongming’s political strategy. Though he’s young, he has already mastered 90% of what I’ve learned, and it’s time to let him take charge. As for military strategy...”

Li Youu turned to Chen Xi, ”I believe Kongming has a great potential in military strategy. If his intelligence is limited to just governmental affairs, it would be underestimating him. He can become an excellent commander-in-chief, not just a civil official managing one side.”

”Kongming?” Jia Xu assessed Zhuge Liang. Most of his interactions with Zhuge Liang were merely in government affairs, yet he decided to support Li Youu’s proposal. After all, there was a near master-disciple bond between Li Youu and Zhuge Liang. ”I second.”

The Xiliang soldiers were notorious for their astonishing combat power and unruly nature. This was a common trait among most elite veterans; however, they were the easiest to manage despite their wily nature.

Even if Liu Bei sent Liu Ye over, it would take a considerable amount of time to integrate, and there might even be long-term conflicts between generals. Zhuge Liang didn’t have such issues.

If Li Youu said this, he would surely write to Li Jue and others later with instructions. Li Youu’s face must be honored, so once Zhuge Liang demonstrated sufficient capability after going, it wouldn’t be hard to manage Li Jue and others.

”I second,” Fa Zheng said with a smile. If Zhuge Liang couldn’t be sent out, competing with him on the same stage would be extremely difficult, and he didn’t wish to take advantage of Zhuge Liang.

”The Chen Family, which nurtured Zichuan, should find it not too difficult to establish a military-governance framework, right?” Guo Jia chuckled.

”Kongming, what is your opinion?” Lub Su, having developed a friendship with Zhuge Liang through extra work hours, felt a bit reluctant about Zhuge Liang going so far.

”The Western Regions? How do I get there?” Zhuge Liang asked Chen Xi, which already implied he agreed to Li Youu’s suggestion.

”The battle of Youzhou is inevitable; at the most, in another ten-day period, our last troops will set off for Liaodong under General Zhang’s leadership.” Chen Xi did not answer Zhuge Liang but instead took out a bamboo rod, pointing to the sea from Jizhou to Liaodong on the map.

”In another month, the ice here will melt. By then, Kongming, you’ll just follow General Zhang to Liaodong, but only to oversee the allocation of resources from the rear,” Li Youu took the bamboo rod from Chen Xi and pointed at the sea on the map.

”This...” Zhuge Liang looked at the map gravely, ”Am I to traverse the Northern Grasslands to reach the Western Regions?”

”Isn’t it possible?” Chen Xi said with a smile, ”The Northern Xianbei were defeated in Bingzhou without securing much grain; meanwhile, last year’s heavy snowfall trapped the Eastern Xianbei in snow disasters, preventing them from raiding southward. If they don’t move south after the snow melts, aren’t they courting death?”

”Faced with death either way, they will surely act. The battle of Bingzhou left them with lingering fears, so they can only attack Jizhou and Youzhou.” Chen Xi sighed, ”This is essentially a back-to-water expedition.”

”Last year, Yuan Tan was focused on building beacon towers and fortifications in regions bordering us, with no northern defense enhancements,” Guo Jia chimed in slowly at this time.

”That’s it,” Chen Xi chuckled, ”With the capabilities of Sheni Pei, Xuu You, and Xun Shen, even if the north lacks many defensive measures, facing the Northern Barbarians comes down to how many people we lose.”

With that, a hint of coldness flashed in Chen Xi’s eyes. In this era, the upper classes and aristocratic families had little awareness of the common people; they typically saw the populace as a renewable resource without understanding the need for compassion.

”Thus, I plan to eradicate the Yuan Family this year,” Chen Xi said with a sinister smile. A large strategical encirclement, striking the Hu People while simultaneously attacking the Yuan Clan from the north and south.

Chen Xi realized he was no longer as benevolent. Though once he wouldn’t have acted to save every single person, he would’ve done his best. But as Chen Xi rose through the ranks, he went through several changes; at least he understood the concept of necessary sacrifices.

Forcing the Hu People to attack the Yuan Clan from the north to reduce our losses while depleting the Yuan Clan’s resources was acceptable in Chen Xi’s view. As for the northern populace’s losses, Chen Xi would only say he would strive to improve the living conditions of the survivors; as for the dead, all that could be done was to conduct a ceremonial sacrifice with livestock.

”No wonder during the festival you didn’t dismiss the troops from the previous campaign against the Yuan,” Lub Su frowned, usually not much involved in military matters.

”Some have already been sent to Liaodong. Before the end of the year, we borrowed troops to aid the Gongsun Family. Gongsun Gong and Liangg Mao have returned to Liaodong; at least Xiangping has been reclaimed.” Chen Xi explained, no one expected Gongsun Du to collapse so quickly.

”But it won’t be easy; there are quite a few Hu People in the north. Although we can clear them out once, completely defeating them isn’t easy—at most, we’ll deter them for decades. Even if we crush them, it won’t solve anything...” Rarely, Zhuge Liang voiced his opinion on such a significant matter as it concerned himself.

”After we eliminate the northern threat, I’ll handle it. Xiaoo Zhi will go north to clear out the Hu People. How did the task I assigned you before the end of the year go?” Chen Xi turned to Fa Zheng and asked.

”No good, we’ll likely need to adapt to circumstances at that time,” Fa Zheng shook his head.

”Alright, it’s up to you. What you need to do is defeat the Hu People and capture as many prisoners as possible,” Chen Xi instructed Fa Zheng.