Liu Bei deflected the previous events onto Lyu Bu with a single sentence. After all, most of these men were originally Hua Xiong’s private troops, and Hua Xiong had performed to Liu Bei’s satisfaction in terms of both loyalty and valor. Therefore, Liu Bei wouldn’t dispute trivial matters and hence would not disgrace Hua Xiong.
"Zijian, are you confident that you can take full control of these men?" Chen Xi asked, frowning. He had already considered how to deal with Hua Xiong’s division after Hua Xiong was captured. However, he hadn’t expected that Lyu Bu would really bring all of Hua Xiong’s division with him, making it difficult to divide them up.
"There’s no need for concern, sir. Since they have already surrendered to our lord, their previous identity as my private troops is no longer relevant. Prisoners are counted as prisoners, and military achievements are military achievements. They should not be treated specially simply because they were once under my command," Hua Xiong said earnestly. In this regard, the man was still quite rigid and doctrinaire.
Chen Xi and Liu Bei exchanged glances and, seeing Liu Bei nod, Chen Xi turned to Hua Xiong and said, "You select your private troops from these men and keep them under your command as before. I believe after such long cooperation, it would hamper their combat power to disband and reorganize them suddenly. As for the rest, they’ll be handled by Lord Xuande. However, if your troops don’t maintain their current standard once they’re back under your command, don’t blame me for stripping away their organization."
"Agreed!" Hua Xiong responded loudly, his voice clearly conveying his pleasure.
After all, military laws are military laws, and personal feelings are personal feelings. Although Hua Xiong could adhere to military laws when they clashed with personal feelings, it was even better that he could consider both sides, as China has always been a society that values personal relationships.
Soon, Hua Xiong selected his former private troops, and it was obvious that these men were fully accustomed to Hua Xiong’s commands. Under Hua Xiong’s leadership, the well-organized division instantly unified, forming a solid and unyielding mass of Cloud Qi, akin to a Flaming Cloud.
Similar to Guan, Zhang, and Zhao, this mass of Cloud Qi, resembling a Flaming Cloud, also enveloped Hua Xiong and his division, with himself as the Chief General at the forefront. It looked even more magnificent than that of Guan, Zhang, and Zhao. It was clear that as a Xiliang Fierce General, Hua Xiong was also a highly competent Cavalry Commander.
After Hua Xiong selected four thousand men, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei almost drooled with envy. They had previously thought the Xiliang Iron Cavalry was a disgrace, but now that Hua Xiong had taken charge, they immediately demonstrated their elite nature.
Chen Xi looked at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and at Zhao Yun, who seemed uninterested as he polished his weapon, and sighed. This really wasn’t sufficient to divide among them, even though these troops would be formidable for a minor feudal lord. But considering the future achievements of the few present, it would seem too few even if all were assigned to one individual.
"Allocate five hundred men to Zichuan as guards, and distribute one thousand five hundred each to Yunchang, Yide, and Zilong. Hand over any excess to me," Liu Bei issued the distribution order.
After allocation among Guan, Zhang, and Zhao, there wouldn’t be much left, but Liu Bei himself didn’t command troops directly. Previously, he had a thousand trusted aides from the Yellow Turban Rebellion, but they had been led by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Now that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were assigned cavalry, he could once again gather those veteran trusted aides under his own command, which was another way of settling matters.
It must be said that Guan, Zhang, and Zhao, though they haven’t been through too many tough battles yet, had already laid the foundations of becoming renowned generals. At the very least, they quickly stabilized the Xiliang Iron Cavalry. Although they couldn’t exude the menacing evil qi like Hua Xiong, they no longer looked like the captives of a recent defeat; they were beginning to show the air of elite troops. It seemed that after returning and reorganizing, they would be ready to enter the battlefield again.
Watching Guan Yu and Zhang Fei each leading fifteen hundred cavalry on the plains, joyfully racing in circles, Chen Xi couldn’t decide what expression to wear. Second Brother, your life is just too bitter, isn’t it? Over just fifteen hundred cavalrymen, do you need to be this joyous? Don’t you know better days are still ahead?
Well, Chen Xi couldn’t be bothered with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei anymore. He wasn’t clueless; these were the times when Dong Zhuo caused chaos throughout the empire. The entire land had very few cavalry forces, except for Dong Zhuo, Gongsun Zan, and Ma Teng. But Ma Teng, how did your cavalry come about? Isn’t Xiliang, which is so weak, Dong Zhuo’s territory?
In short, cavalry forces were rare at this time. Of course, whether it’s Cao Cao before Guandu or Sun and Liu after Red Cliff, horses were scarce; there was no helping it. Whether it was Yuan Shao or Cao Cao, they knew that horses were strategic materials and could not be traded excessively. And so, despite the large herds of wild horses on the steppes,the Feudal Lords only had so few cavalrymen.
"Lord Xuande, notify both Generals Guan and Zhang that we need to return to camp," Chen Xi said, turning to Liu Bei, as he watched the two gradually mastering their formations below. "We’ll see the true faces of the various Feudal Lords. After that, we must walk our own path. But if Li Ru can use Luoyang as bait, then it’s only natural that he leaves other bait to divide the Feudal Lords. I wonder if this bait is enticing enough?"
"Zichuan, is Li Ru really as terrifying as you say?" Liu Bei asked, somewhat perplexed by Chen Xi’s words.
"Facing this man, one must never harbor hope for luck; otherwise, a perfectly good situation could end up in total disarray because of him. It’s just a pity that he chose the wrong lord. If there had been a more stable-minded person in Dong Zhuo’s place, China would’ve already changed hands!" Chen Xi said unabashedly.
Seeing that Liu Bei still didn’t quite believe him, Chen Xi sighed and said, "Zijian, from Xiliang to Luoyang, before Dong Zhuo became corrupt, were there ever any mistakes in all of Li Ru’s planning?
"Ah?" Hua Xiong was taken aback, completely unexpected Chen Xi to turn the conversation to him. But after hearing it, he began to reflect and grew increasingly solemn. Finally, with a look of amazement, he said, "No, there have been no mistakes. I never noticed. It seems he’s always been hiding his tracks, entirely in the shadow of the Chancellor!"
"There, you see—it’s terrifying, isn’t it? Zijian has been following him for so many years, benefiting so many times from his schemes without ever realizing he never made mistakes. So, Lord Xuande, never underestimate him," Chen Xi said with his hands spread open and an innocent look on his face.
Chen Xi had long known that before coming to Luoyang, Li Ru’s planning had no failures, not just because Dong Zhuo could distinguish right from wrong but also because Li Ru was exceedingly powerful. Of course, it was also because from Xiliang to Yongzhou in that period, there had not been any real strategists; those who clashed with Li Ru had been minor characters.
Liu Bei sighed, "There are so many capable people in the world! Even someone like Dong Zhuo had followers like Lyu Bu and Li Ru, such talented people!" Then he looked at Chen Xi, saw his innocent face, and felt a bit better. Afterward, he glanced at his four formidable generals, and the frustration in his heart eased.
[Lyu Bu was defeated by my younger brothers and Zilong, and Li Ru has been outmaneuvered by Chen Xi; inevitably, he will break with Lyu Bu. I have civil officials stronger than Dong Zhuo’s and better military generals than he does. One day, I shall surely take his place!] Liu Bei silently thought.