Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1327: Chapter 1280: It Shouldn’t Be This Way

Not long after, Rome commenced the long unheld public assembly, and the other four Dukes of the Border Commandery returned to the Roman Peninsula one by one. By this time, Severus had successfully established his authority, with no one belittling him anymore.

Similarly, Ganasis, who had delivered significant news and immediately sided with Severus, successfully entered Severus’s circle and soon returned to Mesopotamia.

Unlike before, within half a year, Severus would deploy the Council Guard and the Sixth Legion to Mesopotamia under Ganasis’s command, along with a large number of elite foreign troops like the Teutonic Throwing Axeman.

With Severus establishing his authority in the Roman Parliament, his first order was to eliminate and subdue the Germans in the north of Rome, resolving the troubles left by Commodus, and significantly strengthening the military.

Unlike historically when Romans were mortally afflicted by the ubiquitous use and consumption of lead, in this world, due to the Divine Stone, large-scale use of lead led to an extreme polarization of the populace, either becoming very robust or half-dead.

The issue largely revolved around Inner Qi. With a high degree of Inner Qi, lead poisoning was negligible. The continuous assault on the life system actually led the living beings to instinctively strengthen themselves to escape demise.

It mimics the immune system; only after injury does the system become more complete. Yet most Romans could not withstand it, rendering themselves incapacitated.

Of course, those resilient were the robust individuals, so in this world, Romans continued their affinity for lead, regarding it as a hero’s material, fatal to ordinary men.

Romans perceived themselves as heroes, leaving two-thirds of them half-dead and only a third exceptionally strong, who were considered true Roman citizens.

In combat and wars, aside from the foreign mercenaries, these Roman citizens were the true formidable forces; strengthened by lead usage, they internalized the hero concept.

This is why Roman Heavy Infantry exceeded expectations in prowess, explaining why Li Jue’s Xiliang Iron Cavalry, after re-equipment, using Legion Talent, defeated only over a thousand true Roman citizens aside from those archers lacking counter abilities.

Romans viewed themselves collectively as a heroic race, just as the Great Han Dynasty collectively viewed itself as superior to any non-Han adversary!

If the fighting ability of the Four Great Empires in this era differed, it would stem from self-perception, with Kushan and Parthia remaining within normal bounds, while Rome and the Great Han Dynasty possessed an extremely unusual idealistic perception!

One heralded national heroism, the other perpetual superiority over opponents, a grand idealism indeed; in warfare, these idealistic attributes often underpin morale.

In this era where Heaven and Earth Essence revitalized, belief could transform much, though this collective vague belief lacked cohesion, yet stark differences emerged during warfare.

This probably predetermined the varying combat strength at the legion level among the Four Great Empires; an empire ultimately competes in all aspects with citizenry and soldiers’ confidence affecting outcomes.

Affairs in the West Extremity drew little attention from the Central Plains currently, besides some observers near Liu Bei, most Feudal Lords classified them as Barbarians.

Moreover, the distance was considerable; before the Northwest official road was established, communication remained challenging, leading the Central Plains to remain indifferent to Great Qin’s actions, continuing their separate affairs.

At Ye City, Chen Xi observed the bustling streets and alleys, seated at the main position in the Political Office reviewing affairs. As the weather warmed, Chen Xi began working outside his home, needing to show his efforts in the Political Office.

”Sheni Zhengnan is indeed mad.” Chen Xi remarked, reviewing intelligence sent from the Youzhou border; Sheni Pei had dispatched a second reinforcement army from Youzhou, directly reversing the strategic situation in Southern Youzhou.

”Going mad is better than dying.” Lub Su glanced down at his paperwork, without looking at Chen Xi, he guessed most of the Southern Youzhou situation, probably choosing between giving up the south or the north, though abandoning the south was impossible for Sheni Pei.

”Something’s off with Sheni Pei’s behavior.” Chen Xi said, gazing at the beam.

”In such circumstances, no one would perform well; ask Wen He?” Lub Su replied swiftly while managing paperwork, already mastering chatting while reviewing affairs.

”Wen He, what do you think?” Chen Xi, biting his pen with a frown, inquired, pondering why Sheni Pei, who single-handedly dealt with Cao’s Five Plotters and Five Sons’ Good Generals, performed so clumsily.

Though Chen Xi admitted even Lub Su, Zhuge Liang or others couldn’t choose differently in this situation, he felt Sheni Pei’s performance didn’t match his earlier strategic prowess with Cao’s Five Plotters.

”...” Jia Xu didn’t respond immediately, rubbing his temples to quell his unease, he looked at Chen Xi and said, ”At least for now, Sheni Pei has no issues; his choices aren’t wrong, trying to cover both ends in such times would fail on both fronts.”

Chen Xi felt slightly disheartened, resigned to the notion that circumstances create heroes, realizing Sheni Pei’s solo defiance against Cao’s was partly due to luck.

”How did Lord Xuande handle it?” Chen Xi turned to ask Li Youu.

”Lord said recent military affairs less crucial, should be handled by you, as he is marrying his Legal Wife.” Li Youu replied, glancing at Chen Xi.

”Oh, then deploy Zhang Yan, Yin Li, and Zhu Ling to the north, test the waters with a couple of battles, if ineffective, maintain pressure to pin Yuan Tan’s Army.” Chen Xi nodded, starting to allocate military affairs.

Though Chen Xi’s military strategy wasn’t top-notch, he managed assignments methodically; furthermore, focusing on major objectives wasn’t flawed, as the immediate aim wasn’t confronting Yuan Tan outright but delaying him, awaiting Xianbei’s arrival for a bilateral assault.

”Wen Ru, any deficits remaining?” Chen Xi asked.

”It’s good as it is.” Li Youu, after a brief thought, replied, ”Now we’re waiting for the news of Xianbei entering Youzhou, uncertain how Kongming fares currently?”