Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1035: Chapter 991: Chen Gong’s Confusion

Gao Shun’s words gave Cao Xing no face at all, causing a hint of embarrassment to appear on Cao Xing’s face. Indeed, he didn’t have the ability to harness the power of Inner Qi Manifestation; power that comes out of nowhere isn’t so easy to wield.

The Military Spirit can indeed greatly enhance the Chief General’s strength. Like Gao Shun and Juo Yi, their own strength is only at the Qi Refining to Gang level, but with the Military Spirit, they can show combat power at the Ultimate Inner Qi Manifestation level.

However, they are ultimately the most unique. For normal military generals, even those like Cao Xing who train together and can even be considered members of the Trap Formation, enduring a Military Spirit beyond their limit doesn’t mean they can unleash that power.

To forcefully harness the strength of Inner Qi Manifestation with a mindset and ability of Qi Refining to Gang, and to perform as if one has Inner Qi Manifestation would be strange, and Cao Xing is just such a case. However, in this situation, he can still shoot the Xianbei Chief dead—one can only say that his archery skills are extraordinary.

Cao Xing didn’t mind Gao Shun and Lyu Bu’s slight disdain in their words. He knew very well that besides those archery skills, he wasn’t even worthy to carry their shoes in other respects.

It can be said that if it weren’t for Gao Shun taking the wrong path initially, rendering him unable to achieve Inner Qi Manifestation through his own power, just based on his mindset, he would not be inferior to top generals like Zhang Liao. Sometimes opportunities can be more daunting than talent, but most people succumb, while Gao Shun did not.

It can even be said that Gao Shun has now successfully forged his own path. Although it’s not a path relying on Inner Qi, who could underestimate it?

”Fully scout the Xianbei’s movements. If they make any unusual moves, be sure to report them to me immediately. This time, don’t use any strategies; use strength to wake them up legitimately! Beat them into submission!” Lyu Bu glanced at Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Chengg Lian, Hao Meng, and others as he slowly spoke.

In Lyu Bu’s words, the Hu people deserve a beating; they won’t submit to intellect, won’t show reverence for wisdom. They only use, and can only use, their eyes to witness the opponent’s strength and pave the path of the strong with their own corpses.

”Understood!” Chen Gong cupped his fists and said, ”Although no strategies can be used, the selection of the battlefield is another kind of advantage.”

”Let’s stop all the little tricks this time. We need no means, only the most forceful, most bloody, most shocking method to crush them and forever engrave my mark in the spirit of the Northern Barbarians!” Lyu Bu said with a calm tone tinged with arrogance.

Chen Gong looked into Lyu Bu’s eyes. After a long silence, he said, ”It’s up to you. Ever since we reached the North, we have done practically nothing, just played a supporting role for you.”

”Because the opponents here are the Hu people and not the strategists of the Central Plains. Here, one can conquer everything with fists and thus gain everything,” Zhang Liao sighed and said.

After staying in the Central Plains for so long, accustomed to solving all problems with intellect, using benefits to win over others, using power tactics to suppress others, they forgot that the essence of strength is oneself. Alliances and fragmentation ultimately depend on oneself.

”...” Chen Gong was silent for a long time before he said, ”Sometimes, rules are established by wisdom, and sometimes, rules are established by martial strength. This was my oversight.”

”We fight at the front, and you construct at the rear. How can you say you are just playing a supporting role?” Zhang Liao said with a smile, ”It’s just a difference in division of responsibilities. We can’t do your construction, can’t win over people’s hearts like you, can’t cultivate the wasteland like you, can’t...”

Zhang Liao’s words didn’t bring Chen Gong a recovery. Although his expression had recovered, the heart is the most important thing. If a strategist has nothing to do for a long time, questioning one’s worth is just a matter of time. Doing nothing and carrying a heavy burden both bring equal suffering.

”Gongtai, in truth, a civil official who governs the nation in peace and stability is more important than a strategist who devises schemes,” Hu Zhao also spoke up.

The war in the North indeed does not require these high-rank civil officials, but Hu Zhao never intended to offer strategies for the battlefield from the start. He positioned himself as someone who governs people’s livelihood and educates the common people and the subjugated Xianbei Huns from the outset.

Likewise, Zang Hong positioned himself as someone who carries out quick and reasonable extermination of the Outer Barbarians from the outset. He therefore had no confusion; his initial approach was to cause massive scales of death.

Only Chen Gong could never adapt to this indolent life. It should be understood that in the Central Plains, regardless of Lyu Bu’s might, without him, Lyu Bu’s forces would face peril of collapse in an instant.

Now that they have arrived in Northern Bingzhou, even with the Xianbei influence map given to him by Chen Xi, Chen Gong has not had much opportunity to show his worth.

Unlike the Central Plains, where a single miscalculation by a top strategist could inflict a massive blow to a force, in the North, this place is practically Lyu Bu’s dominion, with no need for Chen Gong’s strategizing!

Chen Gong feels that the value of his existence has gradually been lost. He is not a civil official good at political strategy, especially in front of Hu Zhao, who can manage government affairs distinctly well. Chen Gong’s sense of presence is significantly diminished.

Sometimes, Chen Gong even contemplates whether he should gracefully retire. In a faction, what is the meaning of a strategist whose value does not manifest?

In an efficient, proactive faction, where a top strategist like him has nothing to do, what’s his value in existing? Is it just to be a rice worm, quietly watching Lyu Bu and others battle upfront, while Hu Zhao and others work hard in the rear? What can he do? Chen Gong introspects!

Since he forsook the official position of the Great Han Dynasty, Chen Gong knew what he pursued—he needed a platform, a stage where he could fully unleash his potential. He needed powerful adversaries, even if it meant a resounding defeat, so long as it gave him enough time to prove himself before dying without regrets.

What is the reason to live? Chen Gong hasn’t pondered this question, but his efforts constantly reflect his choice—he, Chen Gong, does not want to live like a rice worm; he wants to prove himself.

Only in this way can he know he is truly alive. Otherwise, a pointless rice worm life is tantamount to waiting for death, and living to wait for death is absurd!

Without the machinations of the Central Plains, without the precariousness of the Central Plains, without the intricate planning, the idle Chen Gong began to contemplate his own significance, to the point where he somewhat regretted his original choice to move north.

The North’s Bingzhou does not need him. This has been Chen Gong’s clearest feeling over this long period of time; his greatest significance within this power is gradually being erased...(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)