Mythical Three Kingdoms

”I wonder if that guy will curse me. This time I’ve been very straightforward, ensuring he arrives a few days earlier than Kongming and the others, giving him some preparation time,” Jia Xu gazed far into the Western Regions with a hint of sarcasm.

[However, I wonder if Kongming and the others will be a match. The wisdom of Kongming and the others is indeed not inferior to ours, but in other areas, they are still far behind, compared to those who have experienced cruel reality, underwent significant changes in mentality, and can even rival the abilities of old Wen Ru, there might still be some difference.] Jia Xu sighed as he thought.

[For him, apart from one thing, perhaps there’s nothing he cannot give up; I wonder if Kongming and Zhongda will be able to accept it.] Jia Xu thought somewhat helplessly, although the other party was someone he flung to the side, to say he could completely control the situation would be thinking too much, Jia Xu could at most ensure not being backfired.

”Wen He, you’re distracted,” Chen Xi nudged Jia Xu with his elbow and said.

”Thinking about what those people will face when they head to the Western Regions,” Jia Xu said flatly.

”They will eventually grow, but as for what they’ll grow into, that’s not something we can control. However, there probably won’t be any major issues,” Chen Xi said with a smile.

Little did they know, while Chen Xi was saying this, Li Jue had already started mobilizing troops, intending to lead them to Parthia to partake in what he believed to be a war that only required shouting for support.

”I’ve borrowed eight thousand horses from the various states of the Western Regions for you. Any more, and even if I went to borrow, it wouldn’t be easy to get,” with everyone gathered in a circle, Li Jue sighed and said to Gao Lan. Back then, Yuan Tan went too far north and didn’t manage to gather many wild horses.

Of course, Yuan Tan didn’t inform Li Jue how many warhorses they captured while fighting the Northern Huns in the North, though captured, Yuan Tan didn’t arm them, but left them at Sizhao City under Jiang Qi’s training to guard their homeland.

Thus, Li Jue had to take elites over, making the borrowing of warhorses inevitable, and naturally, for someone like Li Jue borrowing meant no return.

The various states of the Western Regions were very displeased with this, but tribute still had to be provided, thus Li Jue’s pasture still had eight thousand supplementary warhorses, although these horses were kept in the pasture at the mountain’s foot, the horse breeders were also recruited from the Western Regions.

”I plan to take our Yuan Family main force along, as for the barbarians under my command, I only intend to take the one thousand who have climbed up,” Yuan Tan shook his head and said, ”Therefore, for warhorses, the gap on my side is only three thousand, but thank you General for your support, after this battle, the Yuan Family will repay as much as we borrowed!”

”We are taking our elite main force over, not lacking warhorses, as we have quite a few horses among our resources,” Zhuge Liang shook his head. Although theirs was a mix of infantry and cavalry, their warhorses were sufficient, but most infantry couldn’t be converted into cavalry.

”The same on our side,” Sima Yi shook his head and said, with Cao Cao having the backing of Liangzhou and Bingzhou, lacking grain was impossible, lack of warhorses even less so, if need be, they could capture wild horses.

”We’re bringing Elite of Danyang and veterans who have climbed up, so our warhorse gap is around two thousand,” Sunx Quan said with an unpleasant look.

Recently Sunx Quan distinctly felt the disparity in treatment; simply put, in this place he’s practically transparent, while Zhuge Liang is more like a big shot.

”No need to mention Bingzhou,” Li Jue casually interrupted Zhang Liao who was preparing to speak, completely disregarding face since he already knew what Zhang Liao was about to say.

”Thus, Xiliang Iron Cavalry will dispatch seven thousand, General Yuan will dispatch six thousand, Kongming will dispatch six thousand, Zhongda will dispatch five thousand, this dispatching four thousand, Bingzhou surely seven thousand then, plus each of their special troop types, dispatching approximately forty thousand.” Li Jue said with satisfaction.

”Are you looking for a fight?” Zhang Liao asked Li Jue.

”Hey, aren’t you dispatching seven thousand?” Li Jue retorted.

”Only this once, next time I’ll consider it provocation,” Zhang Liao glanced at Li Jue and said calmly, he understood why Li Jue acted this way.

”The reward Parthia offers us will be distributed according to each’s achievements.” Zhuge Liang said, ”Regarding the calculation of achievements, we’ll follow the Central Plains’ method, all captures and losses must be recorded.”

This point was undisputed, such matters seldom change, and the simpler they are the better, ideally, even soldiers should know how to calculate achievements.

”Since there’s no issue, I propose Kongming as the leader,” Li Jue looked at the others’ reactions, confirming there was no problem, he then immediately proposed.

Chen Gong, Sima Yi, and others nodded silently, Yuan Tan glanced at Zhuge Liang, ”If he doesn’t make major mistakes, I can accept.”

Sunx Quan felt suppressed but given the current situation, even with irritation, he could only agree.

[I want to see how you, Zhuge Liang, manage tens of thousands of people. Hmph, if you don’t make mistakes, I want to see how you manage not to make mistakes.] Sun Quan thought gloomily to himself, no one is better at undermining efforts than him.

Since everyone agrees, Zhuge Liang rises and slowly bows, his gaze sweeping over everyone, ”Thanks to everyone’s support, since I am leading, I want to make it clear before the handover that on this expedition, we must unite and strive together. If anyone violates this agreement, they will be executed without mercy!”

After saying this, Zhuge Liang’s cold gaze swept over everyone, and everyone immediately felt a chill in their hearts. Zhuge Liang did not mention military regulations or discipline, directly addressing the biggest problem facing all coalition forces.

”If you violate this agreement, execution will be merciless,” Sima Yi stood up and extended his hand, causing Li Jue and Wei Yan to realize this was forcing others to take a stand.

”United and striving together, if violating this agreement, execution will be merciless!” Li Jue, Guo Si, Guan Hai, and Wei Yan immediately stood up and said.

Yuan Tan calmly joined hands, Zhang Liao also stood, Sun Quan grudgingly suppressing his dissatisfaction, as it seemed directed at him personally, but since everyone else spoke, if he did not agree, he would be isolated.

”This is the military regulation I have drafted. The framework is similar to that of the Central Plains, except some protective regulations executed in the Central Plains are removed here, and others have no significant differences.” Zhuge Liang was apparently highly prepared.

Li Jue and Wei Yan didn’t need to look at all, they are Zhuge Liang’s true supporters, so first to Chen Gong, as he is an ally, and his approval places Zhuge Liang back with most people, preventing any execution issues.

Just as Zhuge Liang predicted, Chen Gong quickly glanced over the military regulations, with Zhuge Liang marking the revised parts specially, so Chen Gong quickly finished reading.

”It’s fine.” Chen Gong expressionlessly passed the regulations to Sheni Pei, who reviewed and then passed them to Sima Yi, after which Sun Quan, hesitated and handed them to Lyu Meng, which speaks volumes about Sun Quan’s awkward status.

Seeing everyone confirming without error, Zhuge Liang collected the military regulations, completing the process and solidifying Zhuge Liang’s position.

”General Zhang will serve as vanguard, leading the Wolf Cavalry first, scouting thoroughly without error.” Upon winning everyone’s approval, Zhuge Liang immediately began issuing orders.

Generally speaking, the vanguard easily gains merit, but equally is easily attacked, and as it’s the first response, the attack methods tend to be diverse, however, the Wolf Cavalry’s versatility ensures they won’t encounter major issues after an attack, thus avoiding morale and other impacts on the rear forces.

Coupled with Zhang Liao’s steadiness, it essentially ensures the vanguard won’t suffer, while Zhuge Liang’s cautious character requires leaders who won’t recklessly charge ahead.

”Understood!” Zhang Liao clasped his fist, bowing in salute.

”General Gao, General Sunx, General Pan, lead your troops to hold firm in the vanguard.” Zhuge Liang ordered Gao Shun, Sun Quan, and Pan Zhang, implying that if the vanguard faltered even despite the Wolf Cavalry, then the vanguard must have enough capability to withstand and momentarily suppress the enemy, providing rear troops time to regroup for battle.

Gao Shun’s Vanguard Camp can act as the vanguard’s stabilizing legion, and the Elite of Danyang led by Sun Quan, partnering with the Vanguard’s defense, will absolutely suppress the opponent in a short time even if they are super elites or Military Spirit Legion.

”Understood!” Gao Shun rose with a calm expression, bowing in salute, while Sun Quan reluctantly stood up and offered a hand salute.

”Generals Li, Guo, and Fan, lead the Xiliang Iron Cavalry to conduct guerrilla operations on the left and right wings and rear.” Zhuge Liang commanded Li Jue, Guo Si, and Fan Chou.

The Xiliang Iron Cavalry is Zhuge Liang’s toughest card, too precious just to serve as left and right wings alone, rather better used in guerrilla roles—in fighting back during attacks from the front or rear instead of serving purely as defensive forces.

The three had no dispute, preferring action over guarding, and Zhuge Liang’s order delighted them.

”General Guann, you will protect the left wing, your Legion Talent can ensure simultaneous reaching of the vanguard and rear troops, aiding once the vanguard or rear encounters an attack.” Zhuge Liang commanded Guan Hai, the fastest runner among the entire army.

”General Cao, you will be on the right wing, but only responsible for defense when it suffers an attack, unless the Central Army commands, don’t act rashly!” Zhuge Liang ordered Cao Zhen, inducing a faint smile from Sima Yi, as from familiarity with Zhuge Liang, he understood Zhuge Liang’s defense strategy.

”General Wei, you will sit with me in the Central Army, if the vanguard or rear encounters an issue, then we shall lead troops in response!” Zhuge Liang ordered Wei Yan, possessing Five Legion Talent combined with inherent elite status, the mobilization of the Central Army without light movement surely surprises enemy troops.

”General Yuan, General Gao, please let the two of you guard our rear army, same as the right wing, only defending when attacked, unless commanded by the Central Army, don’t act rashly.” Zhuge Liang ordered Yuan Tan and Gao Lan, while Sheni Pei’s attention momentarily wandered, as he also speculated about certain strategies.