Three Kingdoms: Start by marrying Cai Yan, then vie for supremacy.

34

"Let's just observe and see." Chen Deng's gaze was profound. "The Mi family has long ago laid hidden traps for the Marquis of Wu in Xuzhou, and they have control over the key points of each county. That elusive secret guard is clear evidence of that."

Recalling Lu Qi's ghostly appearance at the Chen residence, Chen Gui couldn't help but gasp: "It's the Mi family? Back then, when their entire clan pledged allegiance, how many people laughed at them for degrading themselves..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was stunned. Back then, the Mi family had gone so far as to offer their eldest daughter as a concubine to curry favor with the Marquis of Wu; now it seemed that their actions were far-sighted and strategic. What was even more alarming was that the Marquis of Wu had already made his move in Xuzhou several years ago. Such foresight and strategic brilliance were truly awe-inspiring and terrifying.

"Could it be..." Chen Gui's voice tightened, "that Lord Wu had already foreseen today's situation back then?"

A breeze rustles through the corridor, casting swaying bamboo shadows. The robes of two generations of wise men flutter gently in the twilight.

【

Chen Gui was shocked: "If this is true, Lord Wu's strategy is far more profound than I thought!"

Chen Deng was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. Recalling his previous conversation with Lu Feng, he suddenly realized the hidden meaning in Wu Hou's words and couldn't help but gasp: "Father! Perhaps it is indeed so! Wu Hou had already begun planning the overall situation back then, or even earlier!"

Donglai's rapid development was no accident; it was undoubtedly the result of years of careful planning. But how dare Lord Wu have laid out such a strategy back then? It should be noted that the emperor was still in power at the time, and he could have been transferred from Donglai at any moment. Yet he went without hesitation—the only explanation is that he was certain he would not be transferred!

In contrast, during his tenure as governor of Nanyang, no significant changes were observed in Nanyang, and its development was far less than that of Donglai. The contrast between the two reveals his true intentions.

"It is truly a blessing for the Chen family to be loyal to such a person!" Chen Gui looked intently at Chen Deng. "Yuanlong, you did the right thing! Decisiveness is the key to winning the favor of Lord Wu. The future of the Chen family is now in your hands!" His words were full of satisfaction.

Chen Deng smiled and nodded: "I hesitated at the time whether to ask Father first, but the opportunity was too good to pass up—only by pledging allegiance in person could I show my sincerity. Now it seems I made the right move!"

Life choices are like forks in the road; a single step can lead to vastly different destinies.

At that moment, Chen Gui suddenly remembered something, and his gaze sharpened.

(

Jiangdong Secrets

In the winter of the third year of Jian'an, the Chen family mansion in Guangling was brightly lit. Chen Yuanlong stroked his short beard, his eyes gleaming, and said, "Lord Wu has already made a wise decision; he will take Xuzhou by this time next year, within a difference of no more than three months."

"If we were to surrender our entire clan now, it would not please Lord Wu." He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips. "With my Chen clan as our inside help, taking Xuzhou will be as easy as taking candy from a baby."

Incense wafted through the air below. Chen Deng suddenly smiled and said, "Even if Lord Wu were to summon me now, I would still politely decline. Such an opportunity to achieve merit is a once-in-a-lifetime chance; how could I so easily let it slip away?" His eyes gleamed. "One day, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with Xun Gongda and Xi Zhicai under Lord Wu's command; this achievement is of utmost importance."

The copper lamp flickered, casting his face in shifting light. "In any case, the roles of ruler and subject are already set, and I've left a good impression on General Lu. It makes no difference whether I take office sooner or later."

"Excellent!" Chen Hanyu exclaimed with great satisfaction, clapping his hands in praise, "My son is truly capable of shouldering great responsibilities!"

Chen Deng quickly bowed: "Father, you flatter me." But he couldn't hide the smile on his lips. He was always composed and wouldn't get carried away with pride.

The conversation abruptly shifted: "When you returned, I heard that Xuzhou is currently at war with Yuan Shulu?" He frowned slightly. "The Yuan-Tao-Liu alliance, which was just forged before the new year, was supposed to jointly attack Lujiang and Jiujiang. How could things have changed so drastically?"

Could Tao Gongzu actually be a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty? Seeing Yuan Shu's usurpation of the throne, therefore...

"Alas!" Chen Gui sighed, leaning on his cane. "Isn't this all the trouble caused by Liu Bei of Zhuojun?" The old man's beard and hair trembled. "Relying on Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, two warriors capable of defeating ten thousand men, he became arrogant and ignorant! Half a month ago, he insisted on borrowing troops from Tao Qian, determined to punish the traitor..."

(New Year's greetings have been deleted)

Chapter 301 Is Tao Qian's Time Approaching? (Part Four)

【

Tao Qian surprisingly agreed. However, the brothers Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei did not demonstrate the legendary strength they were rumored to possess. They were repeatedly defeated by Ji Ling, a general under Yuan Shu, who led an army of 300,000, and retreated all the way to the border of Xuzhou. In this critical moment, Tao Qian realized his mistake and quickly dispatched reinforcements to support Liu Bei, blocking the enemy army outside the border of Xuzhou.

The current battle is at a stalemate! Ji Ling is unlikely to break through the Xuzhou defense line in the short term, and the Xuzhou troops are also powerless to advance on Yuzhou.

The key to victory or defeat lies in the logistical support capabilities of both sides.

Whoever runs out of food and weapons first will be defeated.

In this respect, Tao Qian actually had the upper hand—Xuzhou was rich in resources, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion had not severely damaged the area, so its grain reserves were more abundant. In a protracted war, Yuan Shu was no match for Tao Qian.

"So that's how it is!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Deng suddenly realized, "So it was Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei leading the army? No wonder!"

"Unfortunately, Liu Bei was all talk and no action; his campaign against Yuan Shu was merely a means to gain prestige and status."

They underestimated Yuan Shu's level of concern—with 300,000 troops pressing in, even if Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were brave and skilled in battle, how could they possibly turn the tide with a tenfold difference in troop strength?

"That's true."

Chen Gui wholeheartedly agreed: "When I first met Liu Bei, I saw through his hypocritical nature. His so-called benevolence and humility were all a facade; this man's ambition was far from ordinary."

"Benevolence and righteousness are not empty words. Father's ability to see their true nature is truly remarkable."

Chen Deng sneered, "Their mutual attrition suits me perfectly. Ideally, they should both be severely weakened; then, our lord can seize Xuzhou with twice the effort."

"rational."

Chen Gui nodded, then frowned and said, "However, Tao Qian's health has been deteriorating recently... I'm worried that this old man won't make it through the year. If that's the case, he might very well entrust Xuzhou to Liu Bei!"

(

Words: 1070

If that were truly the case, it would probably not be a good thing for either the Chen clan or the Marquis of Wu.

Compared to that old fox Tao Qian, Liu Bei was much more difficult to deal with.

If he were to actually gain control of Xuzhou, his power would undoubtedly expand rapidly.

That would likely cause a lot of trouble for Lord Wu.

"But my son thinks this matter is harmless!"

Chen Deng, however, held a different view: "Father has underestimated the strength of the troops under Lord Wu's command!"

"Furthermore, we shouldn't overpraise Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. While their martial arts are indeed strong, it depends on who they're compared to. Under our lord, aren't Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, Dian Wei, and even generals like Xu Chu and Gan Ning far more formidable than them?"

Therefore, the child felt there was nothing to worry about.

"Of course, if Tao Qian truly cedes Xuzhou to Liu Bei, my Chen family should also quickly pledge our allegiance, demonstrate our value, and seize real power from Liu Bei, waiting for the future..."

Compared to the cunning and treacherous Tao Qian, Liu Bei was actually easier to deal with.

Chen Gui was surprised to hear this: "The Marquis of Wu has so many fierce generals under his command? Zhao Yun and Dian Wei are one thing..."

He had long heard of the two men's reputations; to be able to fight Lü Bu to a draw was clearly no small feat.

It's likely that Huang Zhong, Xu Chu, and others were no ordinary people either.

"Exactly."

Chen Deng explained to his father, "Actually, the strongest under Lord Wu is General Huang Zhong. According to reports from our spies, General Huang's martial arts skills have reached the level of a supreme martial saint."

"Supreme Martial Saint? Isn't that a legend in martial arts? Can anyone really reach that level?"

Chen Gui looked horrified.

He always thought it was just a vague and unfounded legend.

"Absolutely true."

Chen Deng nodded: "When I first heard this, I couldn't believe it either. But it's true! There are even rumors that Lord Wu's martial arts skills surpass those of Huang Zhong..."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Gui's eyes widened in disbelief. "Lord Wu is stronger than Huang Zhong? Could it be that he... How is that possible? He's only in his early twenties!"

Can someone in their early twenties really reach such a legendary level?

Lord Wu is not only exceptionally skilled in martial arts, but also outstanding in all other aspects!

Even someone with extraordinary talent shouldn't be this strong.

"But it is the truth! Lord Wu is indeed a genius that comes along only once in a century. It would be truly inconceivable if such a person could not achieve hegemony!" Chen Deng said with a smile.

He was absolutely certain that his decision was correct.

"That's true." Chen Gui nodded, still unable to calm down. This time, the Chen family had made the right bet.

Chen Gui suddenly remembered something and asked Chen Deng, "I've heard that reaching the Supreme Martial Saint realm can greatly extend one's lifespan. Is that true?"

For Chen Gui, who is over fifty, the allure of longevity is simply irresistible.

"This matter..." Chen Deng hesitated slightly, "I'm not quite sure either. I can ask the lord or Xun You later. However, the Marquis of Wu looks unusually young, probably in his early twenties."

"This suggests that what Father said might be true. Reaching the Supreme Martial Saint realm can indeed grant one a longer lifespan."

This is not without basis. After all, even a top-tier grandmaster-level martial artist can maintain their vitality for decades, let alone an unparalleled grandmaster. It makes sense that a supreme martial saint can extend their lifespan.

Half a month later, Yanzhou Academy officially started classes.

On the first day of school, tens of thousands of students from all over the country flocked to Rencheng County in Yanzhou to take the exams. Many of them came to study under Zheng Xuan.

In addition, there were many illegitimate sons of powerful clans and wealthy families, as well as scholars from humble backgrounds. Although these families still harbored hostility towards Lu Feng, they might as well send their illegitimate sons to test him out, thus leaving themselves more options for the future.

These illegitimate sons are insignificant; they can be considered a pastime.

This naturally also reflects their fear of Wu Hou's strength.

On that day, Yanzhou Academy enrolled its first students, with 5000 students flocking to it.

This attracted the attention of the feudal lords from all directions.

Each of them was calculating, their thoughts swirling within them.

"Brother Ziyi, you truly possess extraordinary spirit! However, with this method of education, the aristocratic families will likely decline in the future!"

Cao Cao saw through Lu Feng's scheme at a glance.

The aim was to break the monopoly of the gentry on knowledge and official careers.

This matter actually benefited Cao Cao. He even thought that if this method proved effective, he could use it to defeat Lu Feng in the future.

Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Liu Biao, and their ilk, however, scoffed at it.

They believed that Lu Feng's efforts in cultivating illegitimate sons from humble backgrounds were far less worthwhile than their direct recruitment of talented individuals from aristocratic families.

Two months later,

In the Prefecture of Rencheng County,

Lu Yi rushed into the government hall, panting: "Young Master! A secret report from Youzhou: General Lu Zhi is critically ill!"

"How could that be?"

Lu Feng abruptly stood up and asked urgently, "Teacher, you've always been in good health. What caused this sudden misfortune?"

Lu Zhi had shown him great kindness and loyalty; how could he not be surprised?

Lu Yi replied, "The doctor's examination suggests that the illness is caused by worry, combined with a severe cold, and exacerbated by Yuan Shao's repeated pressure."

"Yuan Shao?" Lu Feng's eyes suddenly turned cold. "How did he force Master Lu?"

"This..." Lu Yi hesitated, "Yuan Shao repeatedly invited General Lu to serve him, but to no avail. So he suppressed the Lu family of Fanyang. If it weren't for the intervention of his secret guards, the Lu family would have met with disaster long ago. Yuan Shao even sent assassins to kill Lady Lu in order to coerce her into submission!"

"Your Highness knows best how loyal General Lu Zhi is to the Han Dynasty. Seeing the nation crumbling, it's no wonder he's fallen ill from worry."

This is indeed understandable.

"Ugh!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Feng sighed and said, "Why must my mentor do this? I must go and visit him personally to treat him!"

After saying this, he ordered people to prepare a boat to travel by water to Youzhou.

"My lord, please wait!"

Xun You hurriedly dissuaded him, saying, "The war in Youzhou is raging. Gongsun Zan has already seized most of the territory from Liu Yu. We have a grudge against Gongsun Zan before. How can our lord so easily enter such a dangerous place?"

"That's definitely inappropriate!"

Xi Zhicai also suggested, "I urge you, my lord, to reconsider! Why not send secret guards with miraculous medicine to treat him, and then secretly bring General Lu Zhi's entire family to Donglai? At that time, you can comfort him in person, and with the assistance of Mr. Cai Yong and others, it will be even more beneficial for General Lu Zhi's recovery."

We must not allow Lu Feng to set foot in Youzhou at this time.

"Please, my lord, consider this carefully!"

Xun You reiterated his warning: If Gongsun Zan learns that Lu Feng has entered the country, he will surely send a large force to intercept and kill him.

"Fine."

Seeing that the two were adamant, Lu Feng realized that he had not thought things through properly and had no choice but to agree.

"call--"

Xi Zhicai and Xun You felt a great weight lifted from their shoulders. Their lord's willingness to accept advice was truly fortunate.