Chapter 776: Everyone's Reactions

“Zhen Mi, go refill the tea,” Chen Xi said calmly after the second wave of oppressive pressure swept across the Han Dynasty. As the pressure faded, Chen Xi tapped his fingers on the table, giving the instruction to Zhen Mi.

“Alright,” Zhen Mi replied, her face showing a hint of shyness, but she quickly regained her usual calm expression. She picked up the teapot and slowly walked out, closing the door behind her. She knew the conversation that would follow was not something she should be listening to.

“Wenru, it seems the thing that had you uneasy was this,” Chen Xi said with a headache. “Let’s not talk about the Imperial Seal for now. As for the Xuanyuan Three Cauldrons, I bear some responsibility as well.”

“What if I told you that the two cauldrons you saw before were actually fakes I had forged? Would you believe me?” Li You, now that things had spiraled out of control, calmed down. After all, they had weathered many storms. This wasn't something that could topple Taishan.

“Those were fake?!” Chen Xi felt his face twitch involuntarily. “You really outdid yourself...”

“It must have been some kind of anomaly. Forget it, we need to think about how to handle this situation now,” Li You said, crossing his hands under his chin. They had made the mess, and now they had to clean it up. Fortunately, the situation wasn’t catastrophic—they could still manage it.

“What is there to think about?” Chen Xi sneered. “We go to war.”

“I was thinking the same,” Li You agreed. “Timing doesn’t matter anymore. If we allow Yuan Shao to truly seize control of the Imperial Fate, no matter how much of an advantage we have, we’ll only be left lamenting ‘heaven’s will.’”

“We must act immediately and seize it. There’s no time to play games,” Chen Xi said seriously. “Mobilize the 120,000 Qingzhou Army northward. All mid-level officers studying strategy at Taishan Academy are to be reassigned. Reserve officers from the regular army should be transferred to the new corps to lead them.”

“Activate the emergency reserves. Open the supply lines on the official roads. Dispatch food and weapons immediately. Equip retired soldiers and Tuntian troops with full combat gear. Place the territories under military control,” Li You added. This was his area of responsibility.

Chen Xi and Li You exchanged glances, both seeing the fire in each other's eyes. If they had known the cauldrons were real, they would have dug them up long ago. It was frustrating to realize they'd let things get this far.

“Get ready. Everyone will soon be on their way here. We can't avoid it anymore. Even if we have to fight on two fronts, we must seize the cauldron!” Chen Xi said to Li You, his eyes now cold and sharp.

“Bang!” Jia Xu burst into the room first, his face as dark as a pot's bottom.

“I’m ready to cut off all the enemy’s spies in the north. Activate the secret networks in Jizhou. The plan to disrupt the trade routes will begin tomorrow. All hidden assets in the north are ready to be mobilized. The first wave of the Jizhou disruption plan is set to start!” Jia Xu barked coldly at Chen Xi as he stormed in.

“Sit. Wenru and I have been considering the same. It will take ten days to gather and deploy our elite forces,” Chen Xi half-explained. As for Jia Xu's preparations, they no longer needed discussion. They had to act, and nothing was more important than this.

“Bang!” The door slammed open again, and Mi Zhu rushed in, his forehead covered in sweat. “This is bad! The Xuanyuan Cauldrons have emerged!”

“We know, we know,” Chen Xi waved his hand dismissively. “Zizhong, how are you holding up?”

“Just exhausted. But I made it through. Afterward, I realized my previous vision was far too narrow,” Mi Zhu said, wiping his sweat and trying to regain his usual composed demeanor. He had been frantic because of the situation and its implications for Liu Bei. However, seeing this group of people gave him reassurance.

“Zizhong, how is everything on your end?” Chen Xi asked.

“No issues. Once the northern campaign begins, we will do everything to stabilize food prices, salt, and other essential goods. Even if prices rise, I will ensure the increase stays below 10%. I’ve been strengthening management in this area ever since the merchant guild was founded,” Mi Zhu nodded, confident in his preparations.

“After the war begins, I’ll personally oversee the laws in Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Taishan. Anyone who dares violate the law will be severely punished!” At that moment, Man Chong entered, his voice cold and unyielding. The others instinctively gave way to his commanding presence.

“How much pressure should we apply to Jizhou?” Xun Yue asked, posing the most crucial question.

“Before we seize the Xuanyuan Cauldrons, all efforts must be focused on obtaining them. We’ll only start with basic relocation of refugees, and city defenses…” Chen Xi pressed his fingers against his temples. After a long pause, he raised his head to look at the group.

“Use full force. Destroy the city if we must. Once we confirm a cauldron is within, demolish the walls and deliver the final blow,” Li You cut in, echoing Chen Xi’s thoughts. “We can’t afford to make the same mistake twice.”

“Alright.” Chen Xi sighed. “Do it. Once we locate the cauldrons within a city, tear down the walls and seize them.”

“Bang!” The door burst open once again, and Qu Qi appeared in the hall. “It’s time for the northern campaign. I’ve been waiting long enough, and this time, we don’t need any other justification.”

“There’s no avoiding it now. The Xuanyuan Cauldrons have surfaced, and given the current situation, no one will believe us if we say the cauldrons are fake. How’s your work on the cotton and cold-resistant crop improvements? Time is running out,” Chen Xi asked. From the start, their northern campaign had always aimed at more than just Yuan Shao—Liu Bei intended to sweep through the entire northeastern plain in one fell swoop.

“I’m researching other substitutes, and I’ve made some progress,” Qu Qi said with a smile. “After so many years of waiting, I finally see hope.”

“The Xuanyuan Cauldron has appeared!” Wang Yi rushed in, flustered, with Huang Yueying following closely behind, her expression showing mild annoyance.

“We’re aware,” Chen Xi responded irritably. “Master Liu Bei should be here soon. Everyone, get ready. No need to elaborate further. We already have one of the Heaven and Human Cauldrons, so we can rest assured on that front. As for the other one, Yuan Shao’s army will likely get it, so our target is clear.”

“Zichuan, are you that certain?” Liu Bei stepped in, looking at Chen Xi.

“Greetings, my lord.” “Greetings, Master Liu.” A mix of responses followed. In Liu Bei's ranks, addressing him as "Master Liu" was common practice, though it sometimes caused confusion.

“No need for formalities. Let’s discuss what we’re going to do,” Liu Bei said as he waved them off, taking his seat at the head of the table.

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