Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chen Qun was not a foolish person; on the contrary, he could leave his mark even in this era of shining stars.

It can be said that if most of the aristocratic families had not approved of the Nine-Rank Merit System at that time, Chen Qun could not have even presented it.

This time, Chen Qun devised an even more terrifying system, but he had no intention whatsoever of handing it over to anyone. Such things must absolutely not be done within the Central Plains, which is Chen Qun’s bottom line. He could accept perpetual aristocratic rule over the common people, but he would never accept a situation where no new talents would emerge among the aristocracy and common people alike, as that would destroy Huaxia.

Perhaps initially, Chen Qun’s vision did not extend beyond five generations of the Nine-Rank Merit System, with the decline in family talents, but in this era disrupted by Chen Xi, Chen Qun’s eyes could already see through certain mists and notice the hidden dangers of this system.

This system is only suitable for governing foreign nations, and the upper echelon of rulers must continually rotate; otherwise, it would destroy not only the foreign nations but also the ruling class at the very top.

Xun Yu casually asked, and seeing Chen Qun didn’t respond, he refrained from asking further, as his previous inquiry stemmed mostly from mere interest.

Cao Cao didn’t overly concern himself with Sun Ce, though Sun Ce’s foolish side had been vividly displayed before Cao Cao, Cao Cao believed in Sun Ce’s moral principles.

Even someone as foolish as Yuan Shu confronted the Jade Seal and showed loyalty by not taking things belonging to women and children. Sun Ce, in matters of great importance, would not waver. A Feudal Lord who cannot establish his conviction could only face extermination.

Exactly as Cao Cao predicted, after getting beaten by Dian Wei, both Ma Chao and Sun Ce held some resentment, but when it came to finding trouble with Dian Wei, on one hand, their foot combat skills were not a match, and on the other, flying in the air to fight Dian Wei was indeed somewhat shameful.

Thus, both of them abandoned the thought of messing with Dian Wei and instead headed to Sanfu Region with their people, fighting the Huns was indeed much more thrilling than fighting Dian Wei.

As for Pang De, he witnessed today’s events and really didn’t know what expression to make toward Sun Ce and Ma Chao. Similarly, he couldn’t grasp Cao Cao’s intentions at all.

Upon returning home, Ma Chao changed into battle attire, mounted Lifeisha, and before Sun Ce could bring his underlings, he went to greet Pang De.

”Ling Ming, aren’t you coming with us?” Ma Chao looked at Pang De in confusion.

”No, you and General Sun go on.” Pang De replied with resentment, looking at Ma Chao.

”Why not come? I’ve already discussed this with Lord Cao.” Ma Chao questioned Pang De, utterly confused as to why Pang De, his brother who grew up with him, wouldn’t join him and Sun Ce, forming a trio of Inner Qi Manifestation, more powerful than Liu Guan Zhang.

Pang De felt mentally exhausted, helplessly waving his hand to indicate he would not go.

[Meng Qi, you haven’t considered that if we all go to fight the Huns with Sun Ce, where would it leave Lord Cao’s dignity? While I know you wouldn’t defect to Sun Ce, if we all went, what would others think? What would happen to the alliance between the Ma Clan and Cao Family?] Pang De thought helplessly after watching Ma Chao depart, Ma Chao’s intellect really is lacking.

Unlike Ma Chao, who was straightforward and not very smart, Pang De was the kind who might appear like a brute but was actually diligent and thoughtful.

Therefore, in Pang De’s eyes, originally Ma Yunlu marrying Cao Ang, the marriage alliance between Ma and Cao families was disrupted by Guan Yu and Ma Chao, which inherently disrespected the Cao Family, and Cao Cao and Cao Ang already showed leniency for the sake of friendship between the two families.

Now, Ma Chao goes off to fight the Huns with Sun Ce again—where does that leave Cao Cao’s dignity?

That’s why Pang De conscientiously felt he absolutely couldn’t go, at least leaving behind a main force for Cao Cao. If none were left, wouldn’t the alliance between the Ma and Cao families become a joke?

Of course, this was mostly Pang De’s overthinking. In reality, Cao Cao did not overly concern himself with Ma Chao and Sun Ce heading north to suppress the Huns, because Cao Cao understood very well that Ma Chao’s personality could allow him to be friends or foes with Sun Ce, but Sun Ce wishing to make Ma Chao a subordinate was indeed somewhat wishful thinking; to subdue Ma Chao, Sun Ce still had far to go.

Even Cao Cao himself found it somewhat daunting to subdue Ma Chao; Ma Chao’s personality destined him to be difficult to control.

Similarly, Sun Ce, traveling with Ma Chao, did not deliberately attempt to subdue Ma Chao. Speaking of which, Sun Ce rarely had the intention of subduing others, often going with the flow without needing to do anything.

Because they were traveling together, Ma Chao saw the four people Sun Ce picked up along the way. Unfortunately, after just a glance, Ma Chao lost interest—they lacked the bearing of valiant generals or the arrogance of top civil officials Ma Chao had encountered.

Well, perhaps the impression Fa Zheng left on Ma Chao was too deep or for some other reason. In short, in Ma Chao’s mind, those powerful civil officials always had an undertone of arrogance beneath their seemingly gentle façade, treating the majority as garbage.

It’s an arrogance that evokes discomfort but also a reassuring feeling; the discomfort arises as Ma Chao himself wasn’t sure if, in the other’s eyes, he was seen as large garbage, while the reassuring feeling stems from knowing that with such a person around, he didn’t have to worry about being schemed against.

[I wonder how Fa Xiozhi is doing lately.] After glancing at people like Jia Kui, Ma Chao’s mind conjured Fa Zheng’s disdainful expression.

Honestly, removing personal psychological factors, Ma Chao greatly admired Fa Zheng, as he was the first to teach him what it means for those who use their minds to merely move their mouths while those who use their bodies run their legs to exhaustion.

[Surely not doing poorly, that guy was already a Marquis, wielding power, a youthful arrogant rascal.] Ma Chao cursed inwardly, [But this time, if we meet, I must teach him a lesson; there’s no way I’ll let go without getting some advantage this time.]

”Meng Qi, you seem pretty distracted,” Sun Ce said as he rode, glancing back at Ma Chao and noticing Ma Chao’s gloomy expression; he presumed Ma Chao was thinking of his wife, ”Are you thinking of your wife?”

”Thinking about your own wife!” Ma Chao retorted with irritation.

”Haha, I do indeed miss Da Qiao a bit, and I didn’t bring my brothers, not sure how they’re doing.” Sun Ce chuckled dryly, recalling how he dropped a message and left. Sun Ce honestly didn’t know how Zhou Yu would react once he showed up later.

”Zhou Gongjin?” Ma Chao raised an eyebrow and said, ”Just take care of yourself.”

Ma Chao had an impression of Zhou Yu, someone akin to Fa Zheng whom he met, both youthful achievers with outstanding intelligence. Speaking of it, Ma Chao envied Sun Ce a bit; Sun Ce’s ability to smoothly secure the land of Jingchu was greatly aided by Zhou Yu’s wisdom.