Mythical Three Kingdoms

Now, Lub Su had nothing to say. Since Chen Xi, as the Chen Family Head, didn't mind, what could he, an outsider, have to say?

"Let's leave it at that, then. There shouldn't be any problems. Although there are quite a few issues with the Yuan Clan, we currently have the strategic offensive, so we don't need to worry too much." Chen Xi waved off the matter of the Chen Family's relocation and turned to the next enemy in the north that should be eradicated.

Jia Xu received a look from Chen Xi and replied helplessly, "If the Yuan Clan has any conspiracy or plots, I will handle them first, but it's best if you assist from the side. I have a feeling something's amiss, and I wouldn't want the operation to fail at the last minute."

"Uh..." Chen Xi looked at Jia Xu, incredulity written all over his face. "Are you saying you could be outmaneuvered?"

"Not really; it's just that there's something that hasn't clicked for me yet. I previously used my Spiritual Talent to sort through all the threads of the Yuan Clan, and I felt something was slightly off." Jia Xu contemplated before sharing his assessment.

"That can't be. Is there really an issue with us destroying the Yuan Clan? With Zhang He and Gao Lan exiled to Bingzhou, the Yuan Family no longer has any renowned generals to boast." Chen Xi furrowed his brow as he spoke to Jia Xu. "Though Sheni Pei, Xuu You, and Xun Shen are all men of wisdom, the difference between a renowned general and an ordinary one is significant."

"I just feel like there's an issue." Jia Xu couldn't pinpoint a definitive answer. Despite using all the intelligence in his simulations, he still sensed something wasn't right in the conclusions he reached.

"I'll pay attention to it when the time comes. By the way, how did the interactions with Zhang Wenyuan go?" Chen Xi decided to trust Jia Xu's judgment.

After the War Eagle delivered the intelligence from Bingzhou Jiuyuan to Ye City, Liu Bei immediately dispatched several scouts to hasten to Bingzhou to interact with Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Chen Gong, and others.

To be honest, except for Lyu Bu being too unreliable, whose personal ethics were indeed contemptible, the group under his command was actually quite impressive. Whether it was the invincible Vanguard Camp or the historically famous Zhang Liao from Xiaoyao Crossing, or Chen Gong, who single-handedly escaped from the Five Planners, they were all exemplary figures.

Furthermore, with Chengg Lian, Cao Xing, Hao Meng, and Song Xian, they were considered decent deputy generals. They all possessed the Qi Refining to Gang strength, especially Cao Xing, who as Gao Shun's deputy general, wielded the Vanguard Soul, and his arrows posed a threat to Inner Qi Manifestation.

These were not mere cabbages. Whoever among the Feudal Lords secured them would significantly enhance their own strength. Therefore, upon learning of Lyu Bu's ascension and the Bingzhou Army being leaderless, various Feudal Lords sent people to recruit them.

Cao Cao and Yuan Tan seemed to have the advantage of proximity, but previously Cao Cao wanted to kill two birds with one stone. As a result, the Western Xianbei were annihilated, but Lyu Bu ascended in front of the whole world.

Afterward, Cao Ren made a tentative attack, only to find that without Lyu Bu, the formerly frenetic offensives of the Bingzhou Army had become much more stable. The anticipated situation of the Bingzhou Army becoming easier to deal with did not occur.

Zhang Liao was no pushover either. Although Cao Ren withdrew after a probing engagement, he still gave Zhang Liao an exceptionally high evaluation.

Cao Ren was unaware that his ability to retreat was purely because Zhang Liao sought stability. In terms of military strategy, Zhang Liao surpassed Lyu Bu, even though his martial arts were far less extraordinary than Lyu Bu's.

Then came the attempts to win them over. Cao Cao sent people with Liu Xie's Imperial Edict to recruit Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Chen Gong, and others. Though Yuan Tan had removed Zhang He and Gao Lan in anger, he also understood that the Yuan Clan could not be without renowned generals, so after Lyu Bu's ascension, he too sent people to recruit this group.

Naturally, Liu Bei also sent people, but to this day Zhang Liao has yet to provide a definitive response. However, compared to ignoring Cao Cao's representatives entirely, at least he responded to Yuan Tan and Liu Bei.

"From Gao Shun, Zhang Liao, Chen Gong's letters, and the situation our scouts have gathered, it seems that after Lyu Bu's ascension, his subordinates have developed diverse intentions." Jia Xu answered calmly.

"Oh, then who is leaning towards us?" Chen Xi curiously inquired.

"For Chengg Lian, Hao Meng, and others, coming to our side does not present much advantage. After Lyu Bu's ascension, they've had more contact with Cao Cao." Jia Xu remarked calmly, noting that there might be four or five hundred of such Qi Refining to Gang level individuals within Liu Bei's ranks now.

Even though Chengg Lian, Hao Meng, and Song Xian belonged to the relatively stronger end of the Qi Refining to Gang generals, due to the military system here, they would still have to start anew from the position of Garrison Commander if they came to Liu Bei's side.

Indeed, the ability to eat one's fill does relate to personal strength, especially after the initial birth of Inner Qi. Being able to eat abundantly and train frequently would rapidly enhance strength. However, even with years of campaigns, those who reached Qi Refining to Gang levels among the 20 million people under Liu Bei's rule probably only number a thousand or so.

Excluding a small number of the injured, those unwilling to be soldiers, and some private soldiers of aristocratic families, Liu Bei's current active Qi Refining to Gang personnel probably only amount to four or five hundred. Most were recently promoted, and those truly capable were likely the ones who already had reached Qi Refining to Gang levels back in the Yellow Turban era.

The resurgence of Heaven and Earth Essence indeed made reaching Qi Refining to Gang easier, but with it, the average standard also declined. Back in the Yellow Turban era, a Qi Refining to Gang individual could fight three to five of today's standards without much surprise.

"I see; it's expected to some extent. What about the three I am most concerned about?" Chen Xi crossed his hands to support his head, looking slightly serious.

Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and Chen Gong were the three Chen Xi had always aimed to recruit, even observing them more closely than Lyu Bu before Lyu Bu's demise.

"Chen Gong has some other ideas, but Zhang Liao and Gao Shun are unwilling to participate in the Central Plains conflicts, especially Gao Shun, who, before Lyu Bu's ascension, was left with something that now has him striving for the Ultimate Inner Qi Manifestation." Jia Xu said with a touch of admiration.

Back when Li Youu served under Lyu Bu, he had high hopes for Gao Shun and Zhang Liao. However, due to their close ties with Lyu Bu, Li Youu couldn't act but kept a close watch instead. Gao Shun was indeed a case of accumulated strength erupting at once.

"This is a bit troublesome." Chen Xi felt slightly troubled. Including the previous failure with Tian Yu, there were now three truly capable individuals unwilling to get involved in the Central Plains war.

Unlike coercive situations like with Lyu Bu, if Zhang Liao and Gao Shun say so, there's a real possibility they mean it. They might very well become like Tian Yu, who is currently stationed north of Youzhou defending against the Hu people, unaffected by the conflicts in the Central Plains—they are only concerned with external threats.

"Indeed, that's the case. Zhang Liao still has some leeway, but Gao Shun may only focus outward for the rest of his life. According to the intelligence I've gathered, the thing Lyu Bu left for Gao Shun likely includes the conviction to guard the frontier." Jia Xu revealed his speculation quietly.