Mythical Version of Three Kingdom

Though Xun Yu appeared gentle and approachable on the surface, his pride was deeply ingrained in his bones. This was understandable, given his status in this world.

To put it simply, although Nanyang was known as one of the richest places under the heavens, it couldn’t support the massive army that Cao Cao commanded. However, Xun Yu made it work by exhausting all resources, with no regard for the future, essentially draining Nanyang dry. It would take at least a decade for the region to recover. This was the true reason behind Cao Cao’s rapid rise to power.

At the time, Xun Yu’s approach was the right one. He drained Nanyang to fuel the army, recaptured Yanzhou with military force, and established agricultural colonies. His ultimate goal was never Nanyang itself; it was just a stepping stone to Yōuzhōu.

During this period, the Zhengguo Canal had already been abandoned, along with 40,000 hectares of fertile land. This irrigation project once produced 50 million shi of grain annually, solving Qin’s military food supply problems. However, it had been ruined due to ongoing warfare.

Initially, Xun Yu planned to use the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans to build a strong foundation for Cao Cao, but that plan was thwarted by Chen Xi. Frustrated, Xun Yu resolved to use the Xiliang cavalry to forge a new foundation for Cao Cao.

Defeating the Yellow Turbans wouldn’t require much strength, just time. Xun Yu wasn’t too concerned about that. But taking control of the Sili region was a different story—an extremely difficult task. The situation demanded a strong force, so Xun Yu cunningly manipulated Yuan Shu and recklessly drained Nanyang to quickly raise a formidable infantry force.

Unfortunately, despite his meticulous planning, Xun Yu couldn’t have anticipated the catastrophic defeat at Xuzhou. His plans were once again disrupted by Liu Bei. Outraged, Xun Yu decided to take matters into his own hands this time. This was a situation with no room for retreat; failure was not an option for Cao Cao.

As Xun Yu wrestled with his dilemma, praying to the gods for the first time in his life, Chen Xi had already reached the mouth of the Yangtze River. Meanwhile, Mi Fang and Gan Lan had separated from Gan Ning and were headed toward Yizhou.

“The speed was impressive, but now we’re going against the current. Xingba, can we maintain our pace?” Chen Xi asked as he gazed at the vast expanse of water.

“Hahaha, don’t worry, Strategist! My naval troops will row with all their might. We’ll reach our destination within the planned time. Fortunately, we’re heading to Lùjiāng and Chāo Lake, where the Lu family’s shipyard is located. If it were elsewhere, navigating these large ships might have been difficult,” Gan Ning replied confidently, showing no concern.“By the way, Xingba, remember to replace the oars with this design,” Chen Xi said, asking Zhuge Liang to bring paper and ink to draw a paddle steamer. Using foot-powered paddles would be faster than rowing with hands.

“It’s best to let the Lu family work on that. The structure seems simple enough, so it shouldn’t be difficult,” Gan Ning said, though he was puzzled by the design, he agreed.

“Yes, I didn’t draw it perfectly, but remember the waterwheels we saw? It’s the same principle. Of course, we’ll need to make adjustments to the design to avoid damage. Hmm... now that I think about it, it might be hard to break. Once the iron beads are well-tempered, they could even serve as bearings!” Chen Xi’s excitement grew as he realized the potential of the ship’s design.

As Chen Xi considered steel balls and their applications, he stumbled upon a vital piece of information that had been overlooked.

Chen Xi’s expression darkened as he asked, “Xingba, how long does it take to fully temper a ship with inner energy?”

Gan Ning’s eyelid twitched, “Who tempers a ship? With so many people aboard, it would take at least ten years of constant tempering to succeed. By then, the ship would have sunk!”

“I suspect that the ships we’re about to face have been tempered, possibly to perfection. You’ve heard the reports, right? All of Huang Zu’s ships in Jingzhou are over fifteen years old,” Chen Xi said, his face twitching.

Gan Ning’s headache intensified. Tempered objects were on a completely different level compared to non-tempered ones. In every aspect, they would be superior.

“This is definitely not good news,” Gan Ning frowned, then laughed heartily. “But what’s there to fear? Sun Bofu’s captured ships are just small ones. Fifteen years ago, the Yangtze River didn’t have large warships. I’ve got ways to deal with their small boats!”

Chen Xi glanced at the confident Gan Ning and nodded. At this point, turning back wasn’t an option.

“Do we have spike boats, oil, and sawdust ready?” Chen Xi asked cautiously. He didn’t want to underestimate Zhou Yu and inadvertently help build his legend.

“The supply ship has everything prepared. Whenever we set sail, I make sure we have double the necessary supplies for the trip and the battle,” Gan Ning boasted. With such large ships and ample storage, carrying everything they needed was no problem. He always packed plenty of oil, regardless of the mission.

“Good,” Chen Xi nodded, then pulled Zhuge Liang aside to explain the current situation. Zhuge Liang listened in stunned silence, clearly bewildered by the complexity. It was easy to manipulate the young Zhuge Liang, who hadn’t yet fully matured.

“I’m leaving this task to you. If we encounter Zhou Yu and the situation is as I described, you must find us a way out. Consider this your vacation assignment,” Chen Xi said, patting Zhuge Liang’s shoulder.

As he spoke, Chen Xi couldn’t help but recall a joke: Sometimes, the problems a university professor can’t solve become the students’ final projects...