Chen Qun seeking to pressure Chen Xi wasn’t something that Chen Xi knew about; even if he had known, he would have just chuckled dismissively. Xun Yu posed a real dilemma for Chen Xi, but as for Chen Qun, Chen Xi felt no significant pressure. Yes, Chen Qun was smart, but that was about it. There was a gap between him and those at the very top, and that slight difference was enough to leave none of Chen Qun’s radiance when overshadowed by Xun Yu.
Well, a character forced to live in the shadow of Xun Yu while he was alive, Chen Xi felt, had no grounds to challenge him. Given the current situation, it was his role, Chen Zichuan, that matched Xun Yu’s in standing; as for Chen Qun, better he go and keep Lub Su, my right-hand man, company. Soldier to soldier, king to king, you are simply not qualified!
Of course, if Chen Xi were aware of Chen Qun’s recent petty schemes, he would have been even more disdainful. If such maneuvers could bring down Xun Yu, Cao Mengde would have to cease needing his services before allowing someone to dismiss his own right-hand man, not to mention Xun Yu’s upright character. Even if Xun Yu were like Guo Jia, frequently hard to find, Cao Cao would not let someone sideline his indispensable strategist.
As for Chen Qun’s chances of toppling Xun Yu, Chen Xi could only sigh, resigned to the notion that it was pure daydreaming. If Chen Qun had arrived before Xun Yu, he might have had a chance to contend with him. Of course, there was a high likelihood that he would eventually be outmaneuvered by Xun Yu and his nephew Xun You. But whether in this instance or historically, Chen Qun always arrived on the scene later than Xun Yu.
Could someone not as capable as another, who had also not shared hardships with the superior, overthrow someone who had endured together with his superior, was extremely capable, upright, and well-regarded by friends far and wide? That was even more ludicrous than dreaming!
Realizing this, upon learning that Chen Qun had joined Cao Cao, Chen Xi could only silently pity him. Even if this time Chen Qun used the counties of Yingchuan as a stepping stone and joined much earlier than in the original history, and even if the Chen Family wholeheartedly supported Cao Cao, Chen Xi was well aware that all these tactics, at best, could maintain Chen Qun’s glory only temporarily.
With Chen Qun’s skills overlapping too much with Xun Yu’s, and in the very area of governance that Cao Mengde needed most, Chen Qun was essentially a lesser version of Xun Yu. Faced with this situation, how was Cao Cao supposed to choose? Anyone sane would reward Chen Qun with a high position for appearances but keep the real power firmly in Xun Yu’s hands.
Meanwhile, Yuan Shu had retreated to Xiangyang, and Jiangxia County was entrusted to Sunx Ce, who had distinguished himself by covering the rear, killing three thousand enemies, and capturing over ten thousand. Sunx Ce also officially received the five thousand rearguard soldiers he had brought from the boats, integrating them into his private troops. Naturally, Sunx Ce was ecstatic, pledging to staunchly defend the cities around Jiangxia and Hanyang.
"My Lord, the latest intelligence from Yuzhou states that Liu Bei’s Army, which previously occupied the Four Commanderies, has now completely withdrawn. Except for Chen Zichuan’s force, which is still in the heart of Yuzhou, the other two divisions have reached the edges of Yuzhou and may retreat from Yuzhou at any moment. Even the central forces are slowly pulling back," Yang Hong reported the fresh intelligence to Yuan Shu with his head bowed.
"Liu Bei has retreated?" Yuan Shu was surprised, followed by elation. In that case, he hadn’t lost his homeland in Yuzhou after all. He had initially thought he would face a fierce battle upon his return to Nanyang, yet Liu Bei’s Army had unexpectedly withdrawn.
"Lord, we were too anxious before and overlooked the fact that Liu Xuande simply had no capability to occupy Yuzhou. His foundation is in Mount Tai, and he has now taken Qingzhou. That he could barely defeat our residual forces showed his strength, but maintaining a front in Yuzhou was too stretched for Liu Xuande. Besides, my Lord, you have the people’s hearts in Yuzhou; defeating a state and occupying it require completely different amounts of troops. Unless Liu Xuande is willing to commit between one hundred and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand soldiers in Yuzhou, he could not suppress the rebellion of Yuzhou’s local forces," Yang Hong said with a bitter smile, with even more unsaid.
"Are you saying that we shouldn’t have retreated?" Yuan Shu fixed his gaze on Yang Hong and asked, burning with fury!
"Lord, the situation that Liu Xuande faces has also arisen for us; our power in Yuzhou is simply not sufficient to fully absorb so much land. Even if we manage to take Jiangling, we won’t have enough troops to defend so many places! It can be said that we are already stretched to our limits!" Yang Hong explained to Yuan Shu helplessly, suspecting that Yuan Shu had no idea how much territory he actually owned.
"Our military strength is stretched to its limits?" Yuan Shu asked in surprise, completely unaware of this issue.
"Lord, although it seems that we have only occupied South Commandery and Jiangxia, we did not have full control over Nanyang County to begin with. Liu Biao had done a great deal to thwart us there. Now, all of Nanyang has been occupied by our forces, and during our sweep through Jing-Xiang, both Lujiang and Jiujiang submitted and pledged allegiance to us." A smug smile appeared on Yang Hong’s face. He hadn’t expected such a good opportunity to arise when he was meddling in Lujiang of Jiujiang, allowing him to take over two commanderies in one fell swoop.
"What?" Yuan Shu was taken aback, then overjoyed, "Hahaha, indeed Yuan Gonglu is the chosen of the Mandate of Heaven. Ziheng has done a splendid job. With these two commanderies, the lands of Yuzhou and northern Jing are now completely connected, without any danger of being split apart!"
"Congratulations, Lord!" Yang Hong’s face was also filled with joy.
"Since this is the case, let’s temporarily halt our military operations. Let Liu Jingsheng live a few more days. Hmm, pacify Sunx Bofu’s feelings, and don’t let him get any wrong ideas. Right, send Fengxian to teach Cao Aman a lesson for me and, by the way, bring me the head of the Chen Family Head. How dare he seize my Yingchuan behind my back!" Yuan Shu was good-natured when in high spirits, having newly acquired several Commanderies. He felt it was necessary to rest and recover for a while, but he hadn’t forgotten about dealing with Cao Cao.
As for Liu Bei, the intelligence gathered from various sources conveyed one message: this man’s power was not weak at all. In Yuan Shu’s view, the other party was also quite sensible, not clashing with him, so there was only a need to deal with Cao Cao and the disruptive Yingchuan Chen Family.
After all, it wasn’t Yuan Shu’s style to be attacked and not fight back. Liu Xuande was out of reach, but you, Cao Aman, daring to still occupy my Yingchuan after I’ve returned, I must teach you a lesson. Yuan Shu felt it would be too much of an insult to himself, the newly crowned number one among the Feudal Lords, not to do so.
"Ziheng, dispatch Zhang Xun and others to return to Yuzhou immediately, reorganize the troops, conscript new soldiers, and train them locally. By this time next year, I want to see a hundred and fifty thousand new troops!" Yuan Shu declared arrogantly. Although Yuzhou had been raided by Liu Bei, with its strong foundation there should be no significant problems. This was something Yuan Shu firmly believed.
"Yes!" Yang Hong quickly recorded the orders with a letter.
"Treat the family of Qiaoi Rui well! Alas, although he was somewhat irresponsible while alive, in times of crisis, it was still he who stepped forward bravely. Tell his family, once Qiaoi Rui’s eldest son comes of age, he can assume Qiaoi Rui’s position!" Yuan Shu added another sentence. Although Pingyu had not been defended properly, Qiaoi Rui had fought to the death to protect the Yuan Family, and for someone with Yuan Shu’s sense of loyalty, he couldn’t settle his own conscience without taking care of Qiaoi Rui’s posthumous affairs. (To be continued. If you work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian ). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)