Mythical Three Kingdoms

”So, you can’t go north to deal with the Huns, you can only head south to tidy up these Vassal States?” Carano laughed, ”That does seem to be the Han Dynasty’s way of thinking. But are you so certain the Huns will be defeated so quickly?”

”If I guessed correctly, the Huns’ bones should be cold by now,” Zhang Ren said proudly, ”Even while you and I are here fighting, their bones should be cold.”

”...” Carano looked at Zhang Ren slightly surprised, ”You still don’t know the enemy’s strength but are so certain?”

”That’s because you don’t know how many Valiant Generals and Civil Officials we deployed after the Han Dynasty received the news,” Zhang Ren said with a bitter smile, ”There were probably around a dozen generals like General Wuo, and several dozen with Legion Talent like me, among them more than twenty General-level commanders like General Yan who are skilled in commanding troops.”

This time Zhang Ren clearly heard the sound of the Kushan side taking a cold breath. If it’s truly as Zhang Ren said, then perhaps the Huns are indeed facing an empty basket of water. But whether the Huns would be utterly wiped out, the Kushan people hadn’t really considered, as these people are masters at hiding and fighting for over a hundred years, unlikely to be completely exterminated in one swoop.

”Leiblalei, is he speaking the truth?” At this moment, Brack couldn’t help but show shock on his face and immediately transmitted his voice to Leiblalei. Unlike most military generals, the Buddha he visualizes doesn’t possess strong combat power, but he can discern truth from falsehood in speech.

”It’s true...” Leiblalei replied bitterly through voice transmission to Brack, ”The Han Empire remains overwhelmingly powerful, enough to make one despair. What’s the deal with this nation? I’ve never seen it decline in its history. Surely heaven is unfair.”

”Dozens with Legion Talent?” This time Carano really trembled when speaking. Those are only the ones heading north. Here there are at least three who haven’t gone north yet, and elsewhere there surely are more slipping through the net. The Han Empire truly deserves its standing as a powerful empire in this world.

”Hmm, perhaps I even understated it; our nation is quite chaotic,” Zhang Ren sighed, remembering the domestic situation. When will these internal struggles ever end?

”Ask them what’s wrong domestically?” Hirilah immediately transmitted to Carano.

”Is something happening domestically?” Carano asked with curiosity.

”Tell them the truth, directly tell them the fact. There’s no point in hiding it, as the person among them named Leiblalei can discern truth in speech,” transmitted Zhang Song and Zhang Su directly to Zhang Ren before he could speak.

The civil officials on the Han Dynasty’s side are also shrewd, constantly observing the other side. Though they didn’t hear what Brack and Hirilah were transmitting earlier, from the change in expression they deduced the situation and understood.

”The situation domestically is a bit complicated. The overall condition is better than before, but our Emperor is facing issues,” Zhang Ren said with a couple of bitter smiles, deciding not to mention Liu, Cao, and Sunx. As for the truth discernment on their side, it wasn’t a concern.

[Emperor, what a title indeed, the son of heaven. No wonder with such high luck and favorable conditions.] Leiblalei inwardly scoffed while also remembering to inform Brack the truth of their words.

But Zhang Ren only touched upon this topic briefly and then changed the subject, as avoiding mentioning Liu, Cao, and Sunx was better given the internal division. Even if they could hold off Kushan with a great army, courting trouble was best avoided.

”By the way, we’re planning to reopen the Southern Silk Road. Are you interested in transporting goods as was done hundreds of years ago?” Zhang Ren said with a smile toward Carano.

”Of course, that’s a good thing, we’d help protect the trade routes. However, you’ll have to wait a bit, as we need to prepare in the Western Regions,” Carano replied without hesitation.

Back when Kushan was still called the Great Yuezhi, transporting the goods brought in tons of money easily. Though later on they had to abandon such profitable business due to losing Central Asia, they still gladly seize the opportunity if it arises again. After all, no nation would avoid making money.

”Not the Western Regions, it’s over here,” Zhang Ren shook his head.

”That’s no problem either, even here works; we can transfer it elsewhere,” Carano said with a smile. Such commerce doesn’t harm national interest and offers many benefits; only fools would refuse.

”Then on taxes and pricing we’ll have to calculate thoroughly,” Zhang Ren chuckled, as the banquet returned to a lively and cheerful atmosphere.

”That’s not our concern. We have people handling such tasks,” Carano pointed with a hand at Hirilah, who was now squatting with Zhang Su, amused.

”I noticed something: your soldiers lack special coordination, and except for the Cloud Qi Army Formation and Legion Talent, it seems you lack unique Blessing Abilities,” Carano transmitted to Zhang Ren as he saw Leiblalei and others being pulled away by Han Dynasty’s civil officials.

”Do you have special Blessing Abilities?” Zhang Ren asked curiously.

”Well, hearing about your Han Dynasty having dozens of commanders with Legion Talent did alarm us, but calming down, one realizes that while you’re strong now, nothing guarantees future strength,” Carano shook his head replying.

”What does that mean?” Zhang Ren frowned.

Carano shook his head, revealing a Radiance, followed by his Belief Blessing, then looked at Zhang Ren, ”General Zhang, if we battle again, could you beat me?”

”Legion Talent?” Zhang Ren was greatly surprised.

”Yes, Legion Talent. As someone defeated by you earlier, I won’t hide. My Legion Talent is Conversion, refining diverse beliefs into my visualized image, and showcasing Blessing from this Buddha Body. Earlier, what you saw in our fight wasn’t my true Buddha Body. My Buddha Body is an avatar of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, King of Invincible Light,” Carano declared seriously.

”General, do you believe you can beat me in another fight?” Carano sighed.

Zhang Ren frowningly, with some confusion looked at Carano wondering if he was bragging just to show off, suspecting he was not thinking straight.

”Are you confused about why I’m saying this?” Carano eyed Zhang Ren.

”Indeed, unclear,” Zhang Ren nodded.

”Simply realizing Kushan isn’t inferior to Han Dynasty,” Carano calmly replied.

”Oh,” Zhang Ren responded indifferently.

”While Han Dynasty now surpasses us, on one hand, your soldiers lack innate coordination; on another, you lack distinct traits. You have Legion Talent which we also possess, military formations which we similarly have, but we have Belief Blessing you don’t. On potential, you lag behind in two aspects,” Carano stated with confidence, but Zhang Ren only nodded.

”Why are you seemingly unfazed?” Carano asked, expecting to see anger or other emotions in Zhang Ren, only to see a completely indifferent demeanor instead.

”Not ’seemingly,’ I am truly unfazed. Where do you think I rank in our nation?” Zhang Ren crossed-legged, asking Carano.

Carano shook his head, to which Zhang Ren casually said, ”I’m not on the leaderboard. So when you discuss this before me, I honestly feel indifferent. More so, I genuinely don’t find you that formidable, and if you think strength is defined this way, it’s best you don’t.”

”You’re not on the leaderboard?” Carano was incredulous. How could a commander with Legion Talent not be ranked? If not knowing that there’s no point in lies, this would cause a disputatious exchange.