Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1286: Chapter 1240: Zhuge Liang’s Contemplations

Fa Zheng wrapped his bear-skin coat tighter around himself. Just reaching the border of Youzhou was already this cold; he couldn’t help but silently mourn for Zhuge Liang. Youzhou must be even colder.

Fa Zheng wasn’t wrong. Youzhou was indeed extremely cold now, and Liaodong was still experiencing snowfall. This was also why the Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Fuyu groups had stopped attacking Liaodong, as it remained in a freezing winter where water turned to ice instantly.

However, thanks to this, Zhang Fei and his group could skate across the ice-sealed sea to quickly reach Liaodong. Of course, once they landed, this group had more fun with sleds.

Lub Su had fortunately prepared a large amount of winter clothing and furs, and Fenggao was wealthy enough to equip all the soldiers heading north with thick winter boots and sweaters.

”Kongming, how’s it going? Can you still handle it?” Zhang Fei, wearing only a thin layer of clothing, walked through the snowy plains, skiing and skating along. Eventually, he had to slow down and walk towards Liaodong to prevent the soldiers from falling behind; most of the soldiers on this trip were veterans.

These veterans had participated in many formation battles, and their spirit was entirely different from others. So much so that these soldiers could now almost be considered full-time professional soldiers.

”I’m fine.” Zhuge Liang used his feather fan to cover the lower half of his face to block the snow and wind from entering his nose and mouth and tightened his thick bear-skin coat.

In fact, the army always provided preferential treatment for civil officials, and they weren’t required to march like ordinary generals. They had carriages. However, Zhuge Liang did not ride in one.

”Oh, you even have a fan now.” Zhang Fei’s hearty laughter dispersed into the snow and wind.

”Yes.” Zhuge Liang replied flatly.

”So you’re considered a high-ranking civil official now.” Zhang Fei laughed. In his impression, the civil officials under Liu Bei, when they had a fan, it meant they had reached maturity, and those who could wield a fan were absolutely trustworthy figures.

”Probably.” Zhuge Liang recalled the time Li Youu let him choose a fan. Thinking back, those folding fans indeed carried their own meaning, but the one in his hand was still the most suitable.

”I shall have to call you Military Advisor Zhuge in the future.” Zhang Fei laughed heartily.

Although Zhuge Liang was unusually young, Zhang Fei, having witnessed Fa Zheng’s method of disrupting the Central Plains, placed great importance on civil officials who could wield a fan. If they could hold a fan, it implied they had the power to sway the entire era.

”You’re too kind, General.” Zhuge Liang replied warmly, using the feather fan to cover his expression even more to prevent others from seeing his face.

[Does this mean I’ve officially embarked on my career?] Zhuge Liang silently stroked the handle of his fan, feeling that he still had many immature aspects, many deficiencies, not even mentioning the gap compared to Chen Zichuan, but even compared to his half-mentor Li Youu.

[I need to be more cautious in the future and trust my subordinates.] Zhuge Liang silently encouraged himself, also reflecting on his previous working methods.

[How should I trust General Zhang?] Zhuge Liang pondered silently. As an intelligent genius with no friends, he traditionally harbored skepticism about others’ intellect.

[Let me think about why I trusted Fa Xiaozhi and others?] Zhuge Liang began to ponder why he trusted Fa Zheng and others, eventually recalling a phrase Chen Xi had told him.

[I can handle this matter because it’s within my capabilities, just as you come to me to resolve this matter because you believe it’s within my ability.]

Although in Zhuge Liang’s mind, Chen Xi’s capabilities were almost maxed out. In his mind, there was only the distinction between something being unmanageable and manageable.

[So trusting a comrade involves ensuring that the situations one creates are within the manageable scope of the other.] Zhuge Liang thought as he looked up at the sky. If the other could handle it, there was no need to worry about the means, as results in war were what mattered.

[How wide is General Zhang’s range of abilities?] Zhuge Liang looked up at the sky, grey and indistinct, making it impossible to determine the time.

[Let’s practice little by little.] A smile appeared on Zhuge Liang’s face; this was to be his first task.

”Kongming, what are you thinking about?” Zhang Fei noticed Zhuge Liang seemed a bit absent-minded and asked out of curiosity, without underestimating Zhuge Liang in the slightest.

”Just thinking that General Zhang might become a very reliable general.” Zhuge Liang said warmly.

Zhang Fei laughed loudly, patting Zhuge Liang. Suddenly, he unleashed his aura, causing the drifting snowflakes and icy wind to naturally veer away from the two of them, as if nature itself avoided them.

”This way, you don’t have to cover your face. Though I don’t mind, the winter wind and snow could have a significant impact on you all.” Zhang Fei chuckled, immediately warming up to Zhuge Liang.

”Then, I must thank General Zhang.” Zhuge Liang slightly tilted his head, his ears ringing a bit from Zhang Fei’s laughter, yet he still expressed his gratitude for Zhang Fei’s good intentions.

[General Zhang seems easy to get along with.] Zhuge Liang silently put away his feather fan. Unlike the fans that fit together with Chen Xi and others, Zhuge Liang’s fan was unique.

[This is my first battle in the true sense. I can’t let my momentum falter.] Zhuge Liang gazed towards the north. There, recorded on Chen Xi’s map, stretched a wide river, and beyond that, rich fields awaited.

Thus Zhuge Liang, while pondering how to face the impending battle in the North, slowly advanced, even though Chen Xi only tasked him with logistics, it didn’t mean he couldn’t perform exceptionally.

”Reporting to the General, there is a group of fifteen cavalry approaching us from eight miles away.” A scout dressed in white robe, wrapped in a white hood, and riding a white horse, rushed towards Zhang Fei and reported.

”A few of you go bring that group over here, the rest form up in place and prepare for possible attack.” Zhang Fei immediately ordered his Eighteen Riders of Yan and Yun to personally deal with the approaching cavalry.

After the Eighteen Riders of Yan and Yun named by Zhang Fei disappeared into the snowstorm, Zhang Fei slightly frowned. With persistent wind and snow, scouts couldn’t be sent too far for fear of getting separated, ten miles was almost the limit, unexpectedly there were cavalry heading towards them.

The Eighteen Riders of Yan and Yun went fast and came back quickly, soon a blurry figure emerged within the snowstorm, followed by a group of cavalry as the Eighteen Riders of Yan and Yun returned with the others.

”Whoa~” Around a hundred steps from Zhang Fei, the cavalry reined in, ”Are you General Zhang Yide, under Lord Xuande?”