Mythical Three Kingdoms

"The main issue is their inherent weakness. If their individual factions could contend with Great Qin's forces to this extent, they wouldn't have fallen to such a state. When disaster is imminent, they still fail to see that under the overturned nest, no egg remains intact!" Li Youu said disdainfully.

"Um, why are you telling me this?" Chen Xi looked at Li Youu in confusion, feeling that Li Youu was straying from the main point.

"You should do your best. The opponent is stronger than you said! I don't wish for our nation to merely survive because of geographical advantage. That Wusun merchant once said that centuries ago, an emperor considered an expedition against us." Li Youu said, looking at Chen Xi.

"It's not just my responsibility, it's also yours." Chen Xi nodded, "I'll do my best to handle those matters, but you need to help me suppress internal issues."

"Alright, I'll help you in suppressing internal issues." Li Youu sat up very seriously and said to Chen Xi, "The previous incidents will not repeat."

"Then tell me, in the past two waves, who was stirring up trouble? Who turned a blind eye when Cao Cao and Yuan Shao's factions intervened?" Chen Xi stared at Li Youu.

"You said you wouldn't pursue it." Li Youu shook his head, indicating he could not say.

"Fine, I won't pursue it, but in the future, regarding policies affecting people's livelihood, anyone causing trouble, you must suppress them for me. I don't expect help, but I don't want obstacles either." Chen Xi nodded.

From the start, policies on people's livelihood were decided solely by Chen Xi, with others only having advisory power. However, Chen Xi didn't want to micromanage and delegated tasks to Lub Su and others, mainly for them to work, not create issues.

"Agreed." Li Youu nodded, "But let me be clear, we both know the capabilities of others. If you make too big a move, I might not be able to suppress all of it."

"Just do your best." Chen Xi didn't say much, understanding Li Youu's difficulties, since Liu Bei's civil officials were not easy to deal with. Fortunately, they all prioritized the greater good.

Li Youu offered Chen Xi assurances, allowing Chen Xi not to constantly monitor the civil officials. Overall, Li Youu's promise was mostly fulfilled. With Li Youu taking the lead, Jia Xu and Guo Jia mediated, and there were no major conflicts among Liu Bei's civil official faction.

The festival passed quickly, and as its atmosphere had not yet faded, the gathered individuals hurriedly set off to their various positions again. The Xiliang Soldiers, increasing their training, did not show any astonishing transformations. They were already strong, and at most could improve slightly further.

However, as the civil officials and military generals began heading to their posts, the Xiliang Soldiers also reached the point where they needed to select a Chief General. It was at this time that a letter arrived at Mount Tai and was then forwarded to Ye City.

The household registration system in Mount Tai gave Li Jue's trusted aides a major headache. They were discovered upon entering Mount Tai. Fortunately, Li Jue had chosen fairly smart people, considered the most elite of the cavalry, who realized this before entering the city and quickly retreated to Yanzhou.

Yanzhou, Jizhou, and Yuzhou, recently acquired, had yet to complete their registrations. This allowed Li Liang and his men to escape. Otherwise, if Wang Xiu had gotten hold of that letter, with his integrity, he would have reported it to Liu Bei. Some matters are fine if kept quiet, but once exposed, there's no stepping down.

Nevertheless, it was thus that Li Liang and others learned Liu Bei had moved high-ranking civil and military officials to Ye City. They immediately headed to Ye City but unfortunately were still noticed, although by then, they were under Li Youu's watchful eye.

Li Liang and others were blocked in Ye City. Although the Xiliang Iron Cavalry was indeed fierce, the patrolling veteran soldiers of Ye City were no pushovers either. Charged with important tasks, Li Liang took down three teams of city patrol veterans before being surrounded by a dozen people.

"You reckless fools, dismount and surrender at once." These veteran patrollers were generally under Mann Chong's name. Seeing such a major incident, Mann Chong naturally hurried over. After surrounding Li Liang and others, he immediately reprimanded them.

After all, with the Heavy Crossbows not yet in place, it was clear the opponents had military backgrounds. The veteran patrollers informed Mann Chong that the dozen were all true Veteran Soldiers. If actual combat broke out, taking down those dozen would cost about twenty of theirs.

Mann Chong chose to negotiate surrender. Having tested it out, he knew they weren't old soldiers from the Yuan Family, and had only injured, not killed anyone before.

Thus, Mann Chong assumed they were old soldiers whose salaries or provisions had been withheld, and had come for justice. Such cases he generally treated leniently, as soldiers needed gentle handling.

Li Liang and his group were now troubled. If this continued, they'd be captured sooner or later. Having traveled to so many places, it was under Liu Bei's rule that they faced the most problems, attracting attention without doing anything. They couldn't even enter Mount Tai, and while they got into Ye City, they were trapped.

At this moment, Hua Xiong rode over from the previous street, hearing of madmen the city patrolling veterans couldn't subdue. Hua Xiong was curious about who could be so foolish.

The result was shocking upon sight — it was Li Jue's trusted aides. Wasn't this group of fools supposed to have gone to the Western Regions with Li Jue, why were they back?

For whatever reason, it was crucial to secure them at this moment. "Boning, stop, stop! These are my Xiliang Iron Cavalry. I don't know how these fools slipped out of the camp."

"General Hua!" Li Liang and his group quickly greeted Hua Xiong.

Li Liang and others were indeed Li Jue's personal soldiers, having dealt with Hua Xiong before. Soldiers who recognized Li Ru of the Xiliang Soldiers were generally familiar with Hua Xiong.

However, Hua Xiong wasn't wrong. Without superior officers, the ad-hoc Xiliang Iron Cavalry would naturally adhere to the hierarchy, supporting a senior leader.

"How did you slip out of the barracks? Aren't you currently conducting winter combat training?" Hua Xiong reprimanded with annoyance.

"Didn't you say winning during the festival allowed us to go out? But we conflicted with the patrolling guys. General knows us. We train with real swords, and in a few moves, we knocked them down and of course had to run quickly..." Li Liang, hearing of winter training, instantly knew how to explain.

Mann Chong glanced at Li Liang. Not many knew about the Xiliang Soldiers' camp being sealed for combat training, and only a few knew they trained with real swords. Li Liang's words indicated they were indeed the Xiliang Iron Cavalry.

"Boning, ahem, I know you're incorruptible. How about this? I'll find replacements for the injured patrols and compensate their medical expenses, giving them some money. These guys are exceptionally strong, able Veteran Soldiers." Hua Xiong took Mann Chong aside to propose a private settlement, worried Mann Chong might not agree.

"Take your soldiers back, strengthen their training, and prevent this from happening again." Mann Chong looked at Hua Xiong and said. Although truly incorruptible, inter-military conflicts were not within his civil law, so he wouldn't pursue excessively. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)