Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 2412: Chapter 2129: Gan Ning Returns

Lu Yu remained silent; how could he not be strong? Their education was essentially a mode of thinking through problems. Those who emerged from this form of education learned a self-consistent and personally cognitive method of analysis.

Combined with their identity and societal status, possessing an analytical method aligned with their cognitive style was generally sufficient to face any situation. Even if environmental limitations prevented them from solving current problems, they would have their own ideas, not entirely helpless.

“Is the education I’m receiving here the way aristocratic families educate their legitimate sons?” Lu Yu asked Jia Xu after a long pause.

“I don’t know either; I’m merely guiding you to think in your own way. Whether what I teach has issues depends on your thinking,” Jia Xu replied calmly. Lu Yu nodded and said nothing further. Which should one identify with—family or nation?

After Jia Xu finished, he showed no intention to probe further, allowing the servant who had been like a stone all along to continue directing the carriage back home. The first year since the North was pacified had passed smoothly without incidents. Things would only get better from now on.

“You can go home first; if you have any issues, come find me. If I’m not around, you can look for Zichuan.” Jia Xu’s carriage proceeded at a leisurely pace towards the gate of the Jia Clan, which had closed doors and a clean road with no guards in sight. Jia Xu shook his head, aware that his sons were likely to continue working tirelessly into the next year.

[It seems Zichuan and the others are truly grooming Suzhi as the next generation, but there is no problem.] Jia Xu casually glanced at the gate situation and speculated about everyone’s mindset.

After paying his respects, Lu Yu leapt off Jia Xu’s carriage. His home was not far from there, and after taking a few backward steps, Lu Yu turned and went to his own house.

“Knock, knock, knock!” Jia Xu habitually knocked three times. The steward quickly came out to open the door and didn’t even ask who was there. If he couldn’t recognize Jia Xu’s knock after serving as the Jia Clan’s steward for so many years, he might as well quit.

“Greetings, Family Head!” The steward opened the main door, stood to one side, and bowed in salute.

“Aren’t Suzhi and the others home?” Jia Xu casually removed his cloak while asking.

“The Eldest Son and the others haven’t returned home; the Marquis of Dongting said there was political business to handle with the Eldest Son,” the steward explained, multitasking as a doorman, while he tidied up the cloak.

“Where’s Yun’er?” Jia Xu asked casually.

“The eldest lady went to the outer residence,” the steward said lowly. Jia Xu raised an eyebrow but didn’t delve into the matter further. Just from this sentence, Jia Xu basically surmised what Li Youu had been up to lately; it was likely that Li Yuan had been sent to the Western Regions. Li Youu, that monster!

The steward had been with Jia Xu for many years and had met Lady Tang in Luoyang. Though he knew some things should be treated as unknown, the proper respect was still due.

“Send this to the outer residence,” Jia Xu paused for a moment as he took a lacquerware gift box from the charioteer’s hand and handed it to the steward. Since Jia Yun wasn’t present, he would have someone else deliver it.

The steward remained completely expressionless, merely calmly taking the gift box with plans to personally deliver it to Lady Tang afterward.

After completing these tasks, Jia Xu didn’t speak further and strode briskly toward the inner residence. He wouldn’t go to the Political Office today; he would rest and visit tomorrow.

[Education for the legitimate sons of aristocratic families, hmm, indeed…] Jia Xu scoffed coldly. Even he knew the expansive gap between this educational form and the widespread education promoted by Chen Xi — catching up would not be easy.

Of course, Jia Xu understood the drawbacks of this educational method. Figures like Yang Xiu and Yuan Shu had experienced such education, yet neither was a successful model. The tragedies that arose under this educational approach were sometimes quite unexpected.

On the other side, Gan Ning led the fleet and finally crossed the Yangtze River. After Zhou Yu sent a group back unexpectedly, he followed Gan Ning northward, possibly due to concern over Sunx Ce, whose mindset was frequently off.

“Phew, this journey was indeed dangerous enough. We almost got caught by the Kushan navy before, but considering their situation, they seemed somewhat wary. Otherwise, if we had fought, we might have had to sink quite a few ships.” After crossing the Yangtze River, Gan Ning was completely relieved, adjusting his inner gloom, his complexion looking much better.

Speaking of which, Gan Ning’s carelessness had nearly cost him earlier; hundreds of large and small ships were almost fully loaded with iron ore, which slowed them down on their return northward. Moreover, there were quite a few hidden reefs along the way, causing frequent grounding. Fortunately, the ship speed wasn’t fast, and the group defense formation generally meant collisions didn’t pose much of a problem, yet it ultimately made Gan Ning’s entire fleet move at a snail’s pace.

Of course, it’s possible Gan Ning heard Lyu Bu’s announcement to challenge Zhao Yun in a month’s time and intentionally acted so outrageously. In general, Gan Ning’s fleet was shockingly slow, as if they were towing the ships.

Lyu Bu didn’t comment much on such behavior, after all, having boarded Gan Ning’s pirate ship, he couldn’t refuse others face in front of Diao Chan, which made him endure this turtle-paced journey towards the Central Plains, although the challenge date had already passed while crossing the Yangtze River a few days ago, Gan Ning still didn’t speed up.

Gan Ning, when passing Malacca on his northern return, unsurprisingly encountered the small scout boats released by Kushan. It was as if poking a hornet’s nest; hundreds of ships immediately sailed out from Malacca, forming an attack formation on the other side of Gan Ning.

No other commander would dare to treat warships as cargo ships and load them so fully, aside from Gan Ning himself. If a war broke out now, Gan Ning wouldn’t be able to flee even if he wanted to, and letting go of several tens of thousands of tons of iron ore wasn’t an easy task.

Luckily, the Kushan side seemed also apprehensive of the Han Dynasty here, observing the leisurely speed of their warships and the imposing Mahesvara Demon Lord standing on the gunwale, wielding a Sky Piercer, ready for action, thus remained ten miles away without daring to make a move.

Nevertheless, this situation left Gan Ning extremely frustrated; the Kushan group hung behind Gan Ning’s fleet, following all the way to Zhuya County, known in later times as Hainan Island. Upon reaching this place, the Kushan group turned back, infuriating Gan Ning, who several times considered turning to fight.

“It’s not reverence; Kushan seems eager to act but unsure of our strength.” Zhou Yu leaned against the gunwale. “I’ve basically sorted out a combat strategy suitable for our navy, but the time is too short. This method has strong explosive power but lacks endurance.”

Gan Ning gazed gloomily at Zhou Yu. He finally understood what talent meant; a year’s effort only compared to Zhou Yu’s casual learning. Zhou Yu was practically born to command the navy.

“You’re impressive,” Gan Ning said with some irritation. “Hmph, being bullied by Zhou Commander who can command hundreds of thousands of troops seamlessly doesn’t prove anything.”

“It’s not bullying, just some regret that Chen Zichuan indeed captured too many advantages. Our navy was supposed to be excellent, yet you forcefully leveled it out. In terms of sea battles now, nearly all of our inherited Central Plains naval combat methods are ineffective.” Zhou Yu, leaning against the gunwale, gazed at the sky. “As for my method, it’s only suitable for me. Even if I teach it to you, it won’t form combat power in the short term.”

This was Zhou Yu’s most helpless point. Kushan’s sea battle was indeed formidable, but in Zhou Yu’s view, it had quite a few flaws. More importantly, witnessing such naval combat techniques naturally led Zhou Yu to supplement suitable naval strategies for the Central Plains.

The problem was that Gan Ning spent a year studying Kushan’s sea warfare techniques. Regardless of anything, Gan Ning was also a top-level general in the navy, spending a year like this. Similarly, even if Zhou Yu’s techniques aligned with Central Plains People’s habits, they couldn’t form combat power swiftly.

“Don’t worry, tactics are crucial but only so much. Marquis Chen once said, if there are tactical differences, differences in battlefield command, differences in command, then the simplest way is a soldier sea strategy.” Gan Ning seemed quite relaxed, “Moreover, in your view, the Kushan naval combat techniques I learned are meaningless; actually, in my view, it’s just that the ships aren’t big enough!”

“Since our Han Dynasty’s warships develop in strength, and Kushan’s warships develop group strategic defense including Cloud Qi storage, why don’t we develop both? Previously, the inability to develop both was simply because the ships were too small?” Gan Ning said with a sneer, refusing to acknowledge his failure, never conceding defeat!

“That is another thought, but big ships aren’t easy to build.” Zhou Yu nodded; he once considered this mindset, but helplessly gave up. Those ships balancing both were too massive, larger than even the seventh-generation product ship Xingba Vessel, which might not meet standards!

“You’ll understand when you return and meet it.” Zhou Yu turned his head, not speaking further with Gan Ning. In his view, the Xingba Vessel was nearly the pinnacle product of shipbuilding technology.

“Oh, could it be that Jir Cai already built the Seventh-Generation Ship?” Gan Ning stroked his chin, feeling quite satisfied, “Just perfect, I need a few Seventh-Generation Ships to regroup.”

“Achoo!” Lul Jun, secretly observing the construction of his True Seventh-Generation Ship, suddenly sneezed. “Could it be that my misappropriation of funds has been discovered? It shouldn’t be; those who came are young people mingling for qualifications, I’ve pleased each one, they shouldn’t react yet. Maybe I’m just overly sensitive.”

“Ah, Seventh-Generation Ship, my dream indeed, I must build you up.” Lul Jun embraced half a Dragon Bone, grinning in allure, “Steel can now be appropriated from buildings, in the short term seems no issue, but the quantity is still far from enough!”