Chapter 993: Losing from the Starting Line

“But it doesn’t matter. Let Cao Ah-man do as he pleases; we’ll just focus on our own matters. What does the Central Plains have to do with us?” Chen Gong suddenly laughed heartily, as if all the previous gloom had disappeared.

“I only worry that while the tree desires calm, the wind will not stop,” Hu Zhao said after a moment of silence, his tone slightly heavy.

“Oh? Well then, let it be.” Chen Gong’s face showed a mocking smile. For some reason, Hu Zhao felt as if everything about him had been thoroughly seen through by Chen Gong in that moment.

“Let it be?” Hu Zhao looked at Chen Gong in confusion.

Chen Gong didn’t continue explaining and only smiled. Suddenly, everything became clear to him, and from that point forward, all he had to do was help Lü Bu achieve his dreams.

[It seems only the strategic battles of the Central Plains can make me feel my worth. But...] Chen Gong’s mind conjured the image of the composed and eloquent Chen Xi.

[Someone like you, who is devoted to protecting the Central Plains and ending wars, would never agree with my thinking. I won’t bring harm to the Central Plains again. If that’s the case, so be it!] A faint smile of indifference toward life and death appeared on Chen Gong’s face.

At this moment, Chen Gong freed himself from his restraints; he had come to terms with everything.

[Ah-man, let’s see if you truly have the courage. Let’s see if you really care for the people. You want me and Lü Bu? Then come for us.]

[I’ll be waiting for you. Let’s see whether I fall at your feet or you fall at mine. Even if it costs me my life, it will be worth it. If I can end the chaos with my death, then so be it. The time for the true warlord to rise is now.]

Ever since the incident in Xuzhou, Chen Gong never hesitated to consider Cao Cao with the most sinister intentions. Even though Cao Cao had changed and admitted his mistakes, Chen Gong’s perception of him remained unaltered.

“Cheng Zhongde, don’t disappoint me. I truly hope you expose every dark side of Cao Ah-man to the light. Only then will he deserve his death.” Chen Gong’s voice was calm, but his words were icy cold. Sometimes, when you kill with lofty ideals, it only strengthens your resolve.

Leaving aside Chen Gong’s thoughts, Cheng Yu’s trip was genuinely for the handover, without any trickery involved. Although he felt some disappointment at not meeting Lü Bu or Chen Gong, he knew he would see them eventually. There was no need to dwell on it; after all, he would return soon.

At the same time, Chen Xi looked at Liang Mao, who was gazing at him with utmost admiration. He couldn’t help but feel a little helpless. Ever since Liang Mao’s recent visit to Mount Tai, he had returned with this level of respect for Chen Xi, so much that it was practically written on his face.

“Governor Liang, if you truly wish to be considerate, you should return to Liaodong soon. This will put General Gongsun at ease and let us focus on our own matters as well,” Chen Xi said helplessly. He really couldn’t bear having an older man look at him with such fiery admiration.

However, this reaction was what one would expect from a normal person after visiting Mount Tai. People like Lu Su and Li You had witnessed the slow, steady growth of Mount Tai. Although it had changed dramatically since the beginning, seeing gradual development is very different from witnessing a sudden transformation.

“You need not worry, Lord Chen. I already sent word to Liaodong on the third day of my stay in Mount Tai. General Gongsun should be mobilizing his troops soon,” Liang Mao said confidently, patting his chest as he assured Chen Xi.

“Oh, and what about young General Gongsun?” Chen Xi asked with a wry smile.

“He’s grown quite reluctant to leave after seeing the prosperity of Mount Tai,” Liang Mao replied with a smile. “Liaodong is a bitterly cold place; he’s never seen such bustling wealth.”

“I see,” Chen Xi nodded, secretly admiring how well Lu Su had handled Gongsun Gong. They had quickly won over a childless heir like Gongsun Gong, turning him into a valuable pawn.

“Lord Chen, may I ask a question? With Mount Tai’s prosperity and its abundant resources and provisions, why haven’t you continued expanding? After the battle between Yuan and Liu, Lord Xuande didn’t suffer much damage,” Liang Mao asked, unable to suppress his curiosity any longer.

“Because it’s unnecessary. We’re not after a broken land and scattered people, but a unified and whole realm. We need to prepare for a nation that can wage war immediately after unification,” Chen Xi replied with a gentle smile.

“Wage war after unification? Will there still be war then?” Liang Mao looked at Chen Xi in confusion.

“Do you truly believe that after unification, all weapons will be sheathed and there will be no more conflict?” Chen Xi asked, with rare disdain in his voice. “What’s happening now is nothing more than petty squabbles—beggars fighting over scraps.”

Chen Xi’s disdainful words, tinged with arrogance, left Liang Mao utterly shocked. He didn’t know how to respond. To Chen Xi, the land that warlords fought for was mere scraps, so what then was the true feast?

“They don’t even know how vast the world truly is,” Chen Xi said softly. “A group of beggars who don’t even understand the scope of the land they fight over... What could they possibly be competing for? Nothing but leftovers.”

“People can only judge based on their own understanding. When reality surpasses that understanding, their greatest dreams can only elevate from what they already possess,” Chen Xi said, his voice slow and steady, speaking a truth that sent chills down Liang Mao’s spine.

“A peasant’s idea of an emperor’s life is nothing more than a golden yoke to carry, as that is the limit of his imagination. Wisdom can bridge many gaps, but when the difference in level becomes too vast, beyond the reach of even wisdom, what then…” Chen Xi’s calm words conveyed a truth that left Liang Mao shaken.

“That’s the reality we face now. The world exceeds their imagination, surpassing their understanding. Everything that the so-called wise men of the Central Plains dream of is already within my grasp. But even after gathering it all, I’ve only claimed the leftovers left behind by those before us,” Chen Xi’s tone carried a hint of fanaticism.

From the moment he awoke, Chen Xi’s heart was never confined to the Central Plains. If they couldn’t even secure something as simple as the Central Plains, how could they lead the world? This land, so cherished by countless heroes, was merely the foundation he needed to grasp firmly.

For figures like Cao Cao and Sun Ce, this was the finish line. For Liu Bei, it was merely the starting point. This is perhaps the most tragic form of defeat: losing from the starting line.

Cao Cao and Sun Ce might spend their entire lives fighting and striving, yet they might never reach the level Liu Bei started from. How cruel is that?

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