Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chen Xi gave a wry smile. How could he say that Xuzhou was too peaceful? There had not been any wars for three whole years, and the Xuzhou Soldiers were mainly used to maintain public order. What kind of combat power could they have?

”The Xuzhou Soldiers should be selected again, and all those who do not meet the requirements should be dismissed. Just give them enough severance,” Li Youu also seemed annoyed with the Xuzhou Soldiers, at least they could no longer be treated like a retirement home as during Cao Bao’s time.

”Clear out all the commanders who are drawing salaries without doing any work! We’ve given the Xuzhou Aristocratic Family face, but they cannot be too excessive,” Liu Bei nodded and said.

It is said that other generals in times of chaos constantly look for ways to expand their forces, even secretly exceeding their troop limits. However, these worthless troops from Xuzhou were drawing salaries without doing any work, and their teams were not even fully staffed. A team that should have had five thousand people might not even have three thousand, and even the Elite Troops of Danyang nearly had their pay drawn away by Cao Bao. As for the other units, there is even less need to mention them.

After chatting idly with Chen Xi about the situation in Xuzhou, Liu Bei did not bother him any further. After leaving an extra squad of guards with the Feng Family, Liu Bei quickly returned with his party.

The movements of Liu Bei were closely observed by the Xuzhou Aristocratic Family. The fact that he chose to live inside Xuzhou City instead of in the military camp outside the city reassured the Xuzhou Aristocratic Families a great deal. Their greatest fear was that Liu Bei would say he held no grudges while harboring plans to deal with them from behind. If that were the case, the Xuzhou Aristocratic Family would inevitably have to fight desperately to the end.

The next morning, Liu Bei took over the politics of Xuzhou, formally appointing Chen Deng as the Prefect of Guangling, Zhao Yu as the Xiapi Prefect, and ordering Li Youu to oversee various affairs in Xuzhou, with Chen Deng and Zhao Yu as his deputies. Afterward, no further arrangements were made, but even so, this greatly relieved the Xuzhou Aristocratic Family.

Chen Deng looked at Chen Xi and Jia Xu, who arrived together, and gave a wry smile. It turned out his father was right; this matter was not so easy to settle.

”I have seen Marquis Chen, I have seen Strategist Jia,” Chen Deng greeted them respectfully with a bow, then made a welcoming gesture, inviting the two into his home.

”Yuanlong, I don’t know what you think of this matter in Xuzhou,” Chen Xi prompted after sipping his tea.

”Xuzhou is affluent, but its military strength is weak, and its generals are inferior. To govern Xuzhou, one must first strengthen the army to defend the land,” Chen Deng said gravely.

”Oh, that makes sense,” Chen Xi said indifferently. He didn’t bring up the issue of the aristocratic families, which piqued Chen Xi’s curiosity, but that was all—mere curiosity.

”Then what does Yuanlong think should be done to strengthen the army?” asked Jia Xu, glancing at Chen Xi, who was now silent and smiling to add pressure, and asked with a blank expression.

”Standardize the military conscription standards, uniform the soldiers’ allowances, benefits, and condolences, then weed out the unfit soldiers from the Xuzhou Soldiers, and recruit new soldiers. Train all according to General Yu Wenze’s training model,” Chen Deng said with a slightly helpless expression. Such a move meant that the influence of the Xuzhou Aristocratic Family, including the Xuzhou Chen Family, in the army would be greatly reduced.

”That’s a good plan. Yuanlong will be tasked with selecting suitable soldiers from Mount Tai to come and train the soldiers of Xuzhou,” Jia Xu nodded and then presented the conditions that were already prepared to Chen Deng.

Chen Deng was momentarily stunned, then a surge of secret joy filled his heart. This meant they were giving the Chen Family an opportunity to build good relations with the military. Although this chance was limited by Liu Bei’s control over the military power, it was still enough to bring many benefits to the Chen Family. As for how much trouble this would cause the Xuzhou Aristocratic Family…

At this thought, a glint of cold light flashed across Chen Deng’s eyes as he nodded slightly. The Xuzhou aristocratic families had been left in disarray by Tao Qian, and now the Chen Family had such an opportunity to rise up while the strength of these families was greatly diminished. To become the most dominant family in Xuzhou was a tantalizing prospect right before their eyes. Whether to act on it or not, that was a big question.

Holding his teacup, Chen Xi took a light sip of tea. This opportunity had been given to Chen Deng; how to handle it was his affair and had nothing to do with them. However, considering that both Chen Deng and Chen Gui spent their lives considering the welfare of their family, it would probably be difficult for them to ignore such an opportunity.

”Let the aristocratic families deal with each other. Even without our intervention, Chen Yuanlong will undoubtedly use this power to suppress other families. After all, an aristocratic family inevitably acts in its own interests.” Jia Xu thought, his expression indifferent.

”It’s also good if the Chen Family rises in power, forcing the Xuzhou aristocratic families to rely on Lord Xuande. As for the Xuzhou Chen Family, once Chen Yuanlong grows in power, he’ll understand what the right choice is. And even if that fails, reducing the targets to just one would still make the situation easier to handle.” A flicker of mockery passed over Chen Xi’s face and disappeared as quickly as it had come.

That was indeed Chen Deng’s greatest vulnerability; not that he lacked intelligence, but that, on many occasions, his judgment was clouded by the goal of revitalizing his family.

”I am grateful for the goodwill of Marquis Chen and Strategist Jia,” Chen Deng said, keeping a composed face. It seemed he had made his decision with little difficulty.

”After all, Yuanlong has given us a great deal of help. We’re simply returning the favor. Xuzhou will depend on you to exert more effort, and the prosperity of your jurisdiction relies on your family’s abilities,” Chen Xi said with a smile, setting down his teacup and gently sliding his fingers across the table.

”Marquis Chen jests. How could I dare not do my utmost?” Chen Deng responded earnestly, feeling a cold sweat on his back. Something about Chen Xi’s words made him uneasy.

”Yuanlong need not worry,” Chen Xi said, his smile widening, ”Regarding the assassination attempt outside Xuzhou City, is there any progress? Although Lord Xuande has declared that we should let bygones be bygones, we still need to be cautious. If bed crossbows can be so easily tampered with, we need to be more vigorous in regulating the Xuzhou Army.”

Chen Deng easily picked up on the sarcasm in Chen Xi’s words, and his expression turned slightly unsightly. He finally understood why his father had insisted on giving up the bed crossbows.

”Marquis Chen, we’ve made progress regarding the bed crossbow incident. It was the doing of a group of military craftsmen, whom I have already arrested and had make confessions. These are the arrest documents, along with the contracts they signed,” Chen Deng said as he retreated. When he returned, he was holding a wooden case, which he placed on the table and opened. A stack of paper contracts was neatly arranged inside.

”That’s very good. Send the completed bed crossbows to the military as well. I suppose these craftsmen didn’t just make a few of them,” Chen Xi commented, picking up the stack of documents and quickly glancing at them before tucking them away.

The fact that Chen Deng was able to produce them meant the Chen Family had decisively abandoned these dangerous items that could threaten their very existence.

”The finished products have been sent to the government office, awaiting the lord’s inspection,” Chen Deng reported, his head bowed, showing not a hint of reluctance.

When it was time to act, Chen Deng knew that bed crossbows, albeit a powerful deterrent against other families, posed a significant risk to the Chen Family itself. For this reason, losing them—despite some regret—he quickly adjusted his mindset.

Chen Xi and Jia Xu exchanged a brief smile, as their predictions were confirmed. The Xuzhou Chen Family understood the situation, or perhaps they, too, had realized that the bed crossbows were more of a liability than an asset to their family. This could explain why they had deliberately exposed the weapons in the Cao Song incident, as a means to secure peace in the future. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on . Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)