Chapter 928: The Pit That Is the Central Plains

Chen Qun was slightly stunned as he looked at Xun Yu. A conclusion as decisive as this was not something that Xun Yu, known for his caution, would typically arrive at.

"Chen Xi’s spiritual talent limits his speed, but protecting him ensures that the Han dynasty will face no disasters for a hundred years. Everyone knows how to make the right choice," Xun You said with a mystical air. They were all aware of Chen Xi’s spiritual talent.

"The biggest issue now is that Chen Xi has solidified Liu Bei’s foundation more and more, to the point where he doesn’t have to worry about his rear whenever he takes action. Moreover, the next generation of their talents is already emerging," Zhong Yao said with admiration. To be honest, he held great respect for his fellow countryman, Chen Xi.

"Using overwhelming force. Ever since breaking the Yellow Turbans in Qing Province, Chen Xi hasn’t resorted to risky strategies. It’s not that he can’t use them, but rather, he chooses to be stable and upright. He doesn’t need tricks or cunning; sheer force is enough to crush the opposition," Du Xi said helplessly.

The value of a cunning strategy lies in exploiting flaws. But with Chen Xi’s method of overwhelming force, no flaws could be found.

"What we need now is to strengthen our own power," Xun Yu said calmly. "Only when our strength reaches a certain level can we influence the overall situation. When the time comes, my lord, you could request the emperor to grant titles to Sun Ce and Zhou Yu."

"That’s a good idea," Cao Cao nodded in agreement. Aligning with Yuan Shu was necessary, and with Yuan Shao’s death, even if Yuan Shu had issues with him, he would likely be filled with rage at Yuan Shao’s demise. The relationship between Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao wasn’t something as simple as a personal grudge.

Zhong Yao tapped the table for a long time before speaking. "Let’s open the trade routes in Right Fufeng. Do nothing else."

"Hanzhong is indeed easy to defend and hard to attack," Xun Yu said helplessly. "Zhang Ren is truly a great general, but Zhang Lu has fortified Hanzhong many times over, so taking it won’t be easy."

"First, take Xiliang. Let the Qiang people rebel. If we drag this out any longer, once Liu Bei makes a move, the Qiang will seize the opportunity to rise up, and we’ll be hard-pressed even to defend. Better to control all uncertain elements now," Xun You said in his usual mystical tone.

"Gongda is right. Although our forces have yet to fully unify the power of Yong and Liang provinces, the Qiang and Hu tribes are also unprepared. With Han Sui’s intel, the Qiang and Hu may be more complacent, which gives us an opportunity to gain a strong army. Though Xiliang is a bitterly cold land with few people, those who live there are all warriors," Cheng Yu agreed.

Han Sui’s supposedly secret actions were well-known to everyone present. It was clear that neither Chen Xi’s camp nor Xun Yu, Xun You, or Cheng Yu thought highly of Han Sui’s ability to outmaneuver them.

"Yuan Chang, do you have anything to add?" Cao Cao asked, noticing Zhong Yao’s furrowed brow.

"The Qiang people submit to strength. Everyone knows this. It’s why the Xiliang cavalry, though led by Han Chinese, can still command the Qiang. But this submission is purely a submission to force," Zhong Yao said slowly. Having spent years in Chang’an, he was well-acquainted with the nature of the Qiang and Hu tribes.

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Zhong Yao stopped feigning ignorance and revealed what he knew. "Their submission to force is absolute. As long as the Xiliang cavalry maintains overwhelming superiority, the Qiang and Hu will never dare to rebel. But this submission doesn’t mean they won’t rise up in the future."

"The Qiang and Hu are different from the Han. They can submit to us, but it’s hard for them to fully integrate with us. Based on my calculations, even with absolute strength, it would take two or three generations to fully integrate them," Zhong Yao said, shaking his head helplessly.

People think Zhong Yao was just a mindless fan of Cai Yong, spending all his time studying his calligraphy. But on the contrary, when bored, he would think about how to strengthen the country.

"This submission is mostly out of fear. But from my years of studying the Qiang and Hu, I’ve found that they can be beaten into submission, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually," Zhong Yao said with a strange expression, recalling how odd it had been when he first realized this.

"There’s really such a way?" Cao Cao asked, startled, before breaking into a smile. While the Qiang and Hu’s combat prowess wasn’t extraordinary, they were still people. If they could be made to submit completely, they could be settled on the land to farm, freeing up more manpower for training. After all, there were about two million Qiang and Hu, and Yong and Liang were vast but sparsely populated.

"This method is similar to what we’ve been doing. Essentially, it’s about beating the Qiang and Hu into submission. But this time, the one who must do it has to come from their own tribe. In their mythology, a king will emerge who will defeat all the warriors and unite the Qiang," Zhong Yao explained.

"Are you saying we should support one tribe and have them defeat all the others?" Xun Yu asked, tilting his head. He wasn’t well-versed in the ways of the Qiang and Hu. In truth, only a few strategists in the world, such as Fa Zheng, Li You, Jia Xu, and Zhong Yao, truly understood the Qiang and Hu, having spent over a decade among them in remote regions.

"It’s worth a try, but the chances are slim. This submission requires defeating all the Qiang warriors. That means not just in battlefield skirmishes, but also in single combat. The champion must win over a hundred high-intensity fights, with the possibility of facing nine-on-one battles," Zhong Yao explained with a wry smile.

"Sigh, if only E Lai could participate," Cao Cao sighed. This kind of continuous, high-intensity combat would be no problem for Dian Wei. In fact, Dian Wei was one of the few who wouldn’t fear taking on multiple opponents in close combat.

"Only Qiang people can participate in this kind of fight, and from what I’ve learned, the Qiang's alliance and sacred gathering grounds are guarded by three Qiang warriors, all with internal energy detached from their bodies," Zhong Yao said, his face twitching slightly. "No one has managed to become king yet because these fights allow multiple opponents, and even the high priests and altar guardians will join in."

Cao Cao’s face twitched. Even if the Qiang internal energy masters were weak, three of them? And Zhong Yao had made it clear that these selection fights didn’t shy away from multiple opponents ganging up on one.

"Who could possibly manage that?" Cao Cao asked, exasperated.

"Lu Bu could," said Dian Wei, who had been silently standing behind Cao Cao, acting like a gatekeeper. "As long as they aren’t three extreme internal energy masters, I can win too. Even if they were at the peak of internal energy, as long as it’s not in the Central Plains where we face peak masters every day, I could even kill them."

Dian Wei’s words made Cao Cao finally understand why they said half of the heroes in the Central Plains must fall. Only then could those who survived be truly exceptional. Even if two warriors were of the same rank, those who survived the brutal battles of the Central Plains would always be the strongest of their kind.

Previous Chapter | | Next Chapter