Chapter 1170: Troublesome Xiliang Soldiers

For someone like Qu Qi, a naturally talented leader of a thousand-year-old aristocratic family, official positions didn’t hold much significance.

Even though the Qu family had fallen on hard times, they were still a legitimate thousand-year-old clan. No matter where they went, they could thrive, so official titles meant little to Qu Qi. After all, a title doesn't necessarily equate to real power.

For instance, even though Liu Bei’s position as Grand Marshal had been taken by Yang Biao, he remained one of the most powerful figures in the Han Empire.

"Thank you, my lord, for your understanding. When the north is pacified, I hope you will bestow upon me the Golden Eagle of the Xianbei," Qu Qi said calmly. It was a long-held obsession of his. Although this obsession had gradually faded with his service to the people, he still wanted to prove he had not forgotten.

"If I can obtain it, I will certainly give it to you, Hanmou," Liu Bei replied earnestly, completely unaware that the Golden Eagle atop the Xianbei King's tent had already been smashed by Lü Bu.

Liu Bei did not stay long. After giving instructions to Hua Tuo and Zhang Ji, he left.

It was around this time that Chen Xi saw Zhou Tai. At first glance, he seemed like just another robust man, but then Zhang Fei commented, "This man has lost all his internal energy, yet his body is still stronger than mine. If he recovers, he will undoubtedly be a fierce warrior."

Zhang Fei's words shocked Chen Xi. Just recently, Zhang Fei had finally completed his own physical training, overcoming the most difficult phase of his training. Unfortunately, with Lü Bu already ascended, Zhang Fei had no one left to challenge.

After asking around, Chen Xi learned that this was Zhou Tai. Only then did he come to understand the full story. "Doctor Hua, take your time studying him. Don’t wake him up within the next three years. Once the world is unified, then let him wake. It would be a shame for such a great warrior to die in a civil war."

To be honest, Chen Xi didn’t want to see figures like Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou die either. The more of these mighty generals and renowned ministers that could be preserved, the better. Even if Yan Liang and Wen Chou weren’t great at leading troops, they were fantastic at boosting morale and charging into battle!

Each warrior at the Inner Energy Separation level was a treasure for the empire, and each one added to the strength of the nation. To lose them in civil wars would be a tragedy.

"In truth, we aren’t capable of waking him up yet. If we could, we wouldn’t have delayed it this long," Hua Tuo said calmly. Even if they could wake Zhou Tai, both he and Zhang Zhongjing wouldn’t do so until their research was complete. Who knew when they’d get another chance to study such a perfect subject?

"Oh, by the way, we recently acquired some natural, colorless crystals, which should allow you to upgrade the magnification of your microscopes," Chen Xi added with a smile. While he couldn’t produce optical glass, he could still procure some top-quality crystals.

Optical instruments, like telescopes, also required the best crystals. As it stood, Chen Xi couldn’t yet create a telescope capable of seeing the moon clearly.

This news visibly excited both Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing. With microscopes, they had already made significant advancements in many fields.

Medicine was no longer simply a matter of accumulated experience—it had become a science that could be observed and explored in greater depth. And finally, they could start pushing out the charlatans and so-called spirit mediums from the field of medicine.

Afterward, Chen Xi left with Jia Xu and Li You. For some reason, he found himself having more in common with them, while Lu Su took Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing to their new residence, making sure they had everything they needed.

"If Hanmou had been born thirty years earlier, the world wouldn’t have fallen into such chaos," Li You sighed as he watched Qu Qi leave.

"Not necessarily. The true skill is in knowing how to use talented people. Hanmou is only twenty-five years old, yet within a few short years of research, he’s already surpassed the wisdom of hundreds of generations. How could no such talents have been born before?" Jia Xu shook his head. If Hua Xiong hadn’t taken Qu Qi under his wing, he might have died in Shanglin Garden, and none of this glory would have existed.

"His heart is different. He’s the type to focus on practical matters, only doing what he believes to be right. Other things don’t concern him," Chen Xi remarked with admiration. Though he knew little about agriculture, he had given Qu Qi a few pointers, but Qu Qi had come so far on his own.

"He’s a prime example of hard work paying off. Speaking of which, Wenru's efforts were largely wasted," Jia Xu suddenly brought up Li You’s past contributions.

"Not entirely. At least the most elite, battle-hardened Xiliang soldiers are still under my command," Li You said calmly.

After pacifying the Qiang, Li Jue and Guo Si had handed over more than twenty thousand Xiliang soldiers to Hua Xiong. Among them, more than ten thousand were injured. By the time they reached Liu Bei’s territory, fewer than twenty thousand remained, but almost none of the Xiliang soldiers had died from their wounds once they arrived.

Now, most of the wounded Xiliang soldiers that Hua Xiong had brought back had fully recovered. They were ready for battle, capable of wielding long spears and riding Xiliang horses, easily crushing most other armies in the Central Plains. Their combat prowess was no exaggeration.

Hua Xiong was currently training these recovered Xiliang soldiers with his own forces. Every day, they could be seen running drills. However, unlike the Central Plains soldiers, some of the Xiliang cavalry had a noticeable bloodthirst, a violent and unruly nature.

This was the result of Li You’s past focus on pure combat ability, with little regard for discipline. Out of the twenty thousand men, three or four thousand were brutal killers, merciless and eager to shed blood. They were restless unless they were causing death.

Normally, such people would have been expelled from the army long ago, but these men were among the most experienced veterans. Chen Xi had once sent city patrol troops to test them, and while both sides were evenly matched in terms of skill, the larger and more imposing Xiliang soldiers were better fighters.

Expelling them would be a waste, but keeping them meant they’d keep fighting amongst themselves. They constantly brawled in the barracks, sometimes even using weapons. Although Hua Xiong kept a close watch and the medics were always on standby, there were no fatalities, but every day someone ended up being treated for injuries. Strangely, these men seemed to enjoy it.

Chen Xi had asked Li You to manage them, but Li You simply responded, "The fighting prowess of cavalry is maintained through bloodshed. After seeing enough combat, they get used to it."

But this was just training! What kind of army uses real weapons in training, where blood is shed every day and you just "get used to it"? Li You, you’re something else!

Chen Xi couldn’t bear to watch any longer. He even considered imprisoning the three or four thousand war criminals and being done with it. But every day, people like Wei Yan and Guan Ping would visit Hua Xiong’s camp, enviously eyeing the ferocious soldiers. They really wanted these men under their command. Despite their unruliness, they could fight!

Compared to these men, the Danyang soldiers seemed weak. The Xiliang soldiers carried a lingering scent of blood wherever they went. Ordinary soldiers instinctively avoided them—they were the elite among the Xiliang soldiers!

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