Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1310: Chapter 1263: Hebei Has Many Noted Scholars, Who Can Match Sheni Zhengnan

In the battle for Northern Control of the Central Plains, whether Liu Bei or Yuan Shao won, the overall situation was already determined. Later on, regardless of who it was, as long as they proceeded steadily, the Feudal Lords of the realm were basically like mantises trying to stop a cart.

To put it bluntly, if Liu Bei’s side had brought all his forty thousand troops during the Yanzhou battle, retaining only basic forces sufficient to suppress Sun Ce, who was tidying up internally in the South, and Cao Cao, constructing in Yongliang in the West, Yuan Shao might not have lost, and he absolutely would not have died.

Exactly because both sides appeared evenly matched, and neither winning would benefit them, the Feudal Lords sat on the sidelines watching the Yanzhou battle with no intention of intervening or biasing the outcome.

During the Yanzhou Great Battle, even though Yuan Shao was pushed from the southern to the northern part of Yanzhou by Liu Bei, everyone, including top sages like Tian Feng and Ju Shou, didn’t think Yuan Shao was much inferior to Liu Bei.

And when nearing Cangting, Liu Bei’s side unexpectedly suffered minor defeats, leading Yuan Shao’s army to naturally feel, as the supply line shortened and the war continued, that Liu Bei’s side was declining in patience and persistence, and they saw the hope of victory.

Then the situation reversed; while Cao Cao, Sun Ce, and others couldn’t react, Liu Bei’s army directly succeeded in dragon slaying, eliminated Yuan Shao, and took away half of Yuan Shao’s high-ranking personnel, seizing the head of the Nine Provinces Yuan Shao had founded.

To put it bluntly, this was similar to the Changping battle of Qin and Zhao, where other countries watched the spectacle, thinking both sides had similar combat power, and would certainly suffer mutual destruction when fighting, eager to take advantage when the moment arose. Yet, as they indulged in watching from their seats, they swallowed two bites entirely observant and found Zhao State had already knelt!

Even more important, Qin State still possessed combat power. At this point, how could anyone not be bewildered? Moreover, compared to the enigmatic intelligence during the Late Warring States, the intellects of Cao and Sun were incredibly frightening.

At that time, if Liu Bei had truly brought out forty thousand troops, even if he had won, the current situation of the realm wouldn’t be so relaxed.

More importantly, if Liu Bei had acted that way, it would have been brainless. Not to mention anything else, Cao Cao and Sun Ce would struggle with their internal instability to unite with Yuan Shao to first weaken Liu Bei. Under such circumstances, Chen Xi simply wouldn’t be able to retain the Vital Energy of the Central Plains, and effortlessly eliminating Yuan Shao would be impossible!

Even if the three families had internal conflicts, with Yuan Shao’s unmatched sharpness in adversity, coupled with Cao Cao and Sun Ce, it was definitely not easy to deal with. Even if Chen Xi could win, with the strength at the time, forceful sweeping might take ten years; prolonged wars lower human baseline to bottomlessness!

Initially, with Chen Xi holding them down, Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Sun Ce could all be considered excellent leaders, and the common people might live better than during the Late Eastern Han Dynasty. However, as long as wars continue, life is bound to become more difficult.

Just as if there were enough grains, why would Cheng Yu need to slaughter, making jerky from living people? It wasn’t that they didn’t know good from evil, nor was it a lack of baseline morality, but situations led to such extremes where truth, goodness, beauty, benevolence, righteousness, and morality were secondary to survival.

When granaries are full, only then one understands propriety; when one has enough clothing and food, only then one understands honor and disgrace. As war reaches its zenith, even if Liu Bei won, there would be a devastated Central Plains left behind.

Without sufficient funds and grains, it’s impossible to establish a healthcare system. Without a complete healthcare system, just one pandemic could wipe out half of the late Han’s Vital Energy. In that era, the number of doctors was simply not enough, and at present, there were only two Great Talents among the Three Divine Doctors.

Though this time a cold was eradicated, if next time it’s influenza, perhaps Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing could once again find solutions, and herbal medicine is abundant everywhere, but what about manufacturing difficulty?

Zhang Zhongjing could strangle the cold entirely because his prescription was foolproof no matter how you boiled it. What if next time it isn’t the same situation? What if next time it’s the Spanish flu, malaria, bubonic plague, cholera?

Indeed, there is traditional Chinese medicine that can cure, and with the abilities of these two at the time, they could definitely concoct medicine. Still, two people can’t save millions, even tens of millions; saying the cold was strangled had a part of luck. What if this medicine only works after a certain level of decoction?

Prolonged large-scale war deals a devastating blow to a country’s social structure and functional framework. Simply put, the country’s resources focus on the direction of war, paying attention to other aspects when there’s energy left, but neglecting when there isn’t.

Chen Xi can confidently state that if really so-called overwhelming forces were exercised against Yuan Shao during their battle, Yuan Shao would definitely not die, even the generals on Yuan Shao’s side wouldn’t suffer heavy damage, and endless war would certainly last for years until the realm’s Vital Energy was severely damaged, allowing Liu Bei to prevail.

But at that time, even prevailing held no real significance; pursuit would stop at the Central Plains, and Western Regions might remain untouched for thirty years.

It’s even possible that Yuan Shao or Cao Cao would invite Hu People to knock at the gates. Chen Xi would need thirty years just to restore the realm’s foundation to break out of the Central Plains Vital Energy.

However, could one even break out at that time? Chen Xi didn’t believe so himself, as it would require chaotic war for ten years even if Chen Xi could prevail over Cao Cao, Sun Ce, and Yuan Shao. In those ten years, Chen Xi’s predominant focus would remain on warfare, unlike now, where gradual social transformation is underway, aiming for auto-regulation and balance.

As we bring chaos to the realm, nevertheless the legacy we leave for our descendants an unprecedented golden age!

So-called big picture is us; put simply, it is akin to the Late Warring States, the Qin-Zhao battle. Bai Qi had confidence in defeating Zhao, others unsure of win or loss, but I already know the outcome.

The big picture belongs to us, like Qin during the Late Warring States. Though one state simply can’t vanquish the Six States, Qin knew, through the successive fiery seasons, it’s destined to establish the capital!

Sun Tzu’s Art of War says, ”War is the Deceptive Way. Hence, display strength but feign weakness, display use but feign disuse.” The so-called big picture is not to expose oneself entirely to the world, courting disaster, but to lead them to follow one’s own step, driving the big picture to press upon them!

Everyone on Yuan Shao’s side believes that a bit more effort and they will win, but never ponder why, clearly a bit more effort would seal victory, yet they never achieved results.

Instead, every time Liu Bei truly strikes, regardless of the opponent, the result is the adversary falls, even if before that both sides seem evenly matched!

Chen Xi knows such things can’t be done excessively; doing so risks erroneous estimation harming oneself, and more may reveal signs to others. Many sages exist during this time, and Chen Xi doesn’t think he can deceive them all.

Sometimes, even fully aware of the situation, in-the-loop, despite high intelligence and planning, one can’t see through the mist. Yet sometimes grasping some subtle edges can reveal the full picture, such is the case with Sheni Pei, who recognized the entirety and understood his own conclusion!

However, Sheni Pei remains loyal; knowing the cause and effect, he still isn’t willing to hand over the Yuan Family’s legacy, thus he connects strategies from front to back, hoping to extend the Yuan Family’s Vitality Number several further years.

As for victory or defeat, Sheni Pei knew crystal-clear there was no luck for the Yuan Family, even if he could make the Vanguard reappear, it would remain futile; Liu Xuande could destroy once, he could destroy twice.

Yet, Sheni Pei made the choice anyway, prepared even to eliminate one or two beloved generals under Liu Bei to express his will. Unlike Xun Shen and Xuu You, Sheni Pei needs no retreat, making the resolution to sacrifice himself for righteousness when he realized all this!

Sheni Pei’s Lord is sole, that is Yuan Shao. Since Yuan Shao has perished and he can’t preserve the Yuan Family foundation, he shall accompany the Lord’s former foundation into the Yellow Springs!

Alas, Military Spirit is truly Military Spirit, a real Faith Will that can’t be stolen by any cunning means. Though Sheni Pei’s determination and belief to sacrifice for righteousness, he can’t recreate the Vanguard from his vision.

Before the military doctors arrived, Sheni Pei had already stood, enduring the cranial-splitting headache silently.

[Lord, I, Sheni Pei, will not die; the Yuan Family’s foundation shall never be taken by others!] Sheni Pei, with a cold expression and bloodshot eyes, gazed unwaveringly towards the North.