Chen Qunâs desire to put pressure on Chen Xi was something that Chen Xi was completely unaware of. Even if he had known, he might have just chuckled. Xun Yu was someone who could make Chen Xi feel a bit conflicted, but Chen Qun? Not so much. While Chen Qun was undoubtedly intelligent, there was still a thin line separating him from the very top tier of strategists. And that thin line was enough for Xun Yu to completely overshadow him.
To Chen Xi, Chen Qun simply didn't have what it took to go toe-to-toe with him. Chen Xiâs status was on par with Xun Yu, while Chen Qun was better suited to contend with Chen Xiâs right-hand man, Lu Su. After all, in Chen Xiâs view, it was a battle between equalsâking against king, general against general. Chen Qun just didnât make the cut.
If Chen Xi had known about Chen Qun's recent machinations, he would have held him in even lower regard. Petty schemes wouldnât be enough to topple Xun Yu, unless, of course, Cao Cao no longer needed him. But considering Xun Yuâs impeccable character and vast network of allies, it was clear that Xun Yu was indispensable to Cao Cao.
As for whether Chen Qun could ever surpass Xun Yu, Chen Xi could only sigh. That was nothing but a pipe dream. Even if Chen Qun had arrived earlier than Xun Yu, he might have stood a chance at vying for influence. But given that Xun Yu had not only been first to join Cao Cao but had also established himself as an essential advisor, any attempt by Chen Qun to displace him was doomed to fail.
The fact remained that Chen Qun and Xun Yuâs skills overlapped far too much, and in the area of governanceâwhich was precisely what Cao Cao needed mostâChen Qun was essentially a watered-down version of Xun Yu. In such a situation, it was only logical that Cao Cao would grant Chen Qun a high-ranking position, but keep the real power firmly in Xun Yuâs hands.
Meanwhile, Yuan Shu had retreated back to Xiangyang, leaving Jiangxia County to Sun Ce, who had performed admirably in covering the retreat. Yuan Shu also officially recognized the five thousand soldiers Sun Ce had brought from the boats, incorporating them into Sun Ceâs personal forces. Sun Ce, overjoyed by this development, vowed to defend Jiangxia and the surrounding regions.
âMaster, weâve received the latest intelligence from Yu Province. The Liu Bei forces that occupied four counties in Yu Province have now fully withdrawn. Except for Chen Zichuanâs central force, which is still in the interior, the other two forces have retreated to the borders and are likely to leave the province soon. The central force is also slowly pulling back,â Yang Hong reported to Yuan Shu, his head bowed.
âLiu Bei has withdrawn?â Yuan Shu was momentarily stunned, then elated. This meant that he hadnât lost his base in Yu Province after all. He had expected a tough battle upon returning to Nanyang, but to his surprise, Liu Beiâs forces had already pulled out.
âMaster, we initially overestimated the situation and forgot that Liu Xuande has no way to fully occupy Yu Province. His power base is in Taishan, and he has recently absorbed Qing Province. The fact that he was able to defeat our garrison forces speaks volumes about his strength. But occupying an entire province requires far more resources than merely winning a battle. Liu Bei would need to commit at least fifteen to twenty thousand troops just to suppress any local resistance,â Yang Hong explained with a wry smile. There were some things he left unsaid.
âDoes that mean we shouldnât have retreated?â Yuan Shuâs anger flared as he stared at Yang Hong.
âMaster, Liu Xuandeâs situation mirrors our own. We donât have enough forces to fully occupy all this territory either. Even if we had captured Jiangling, we wouldnât have the manpower to defend it properly. Our resources are stretched thin,â Yang Hong said, exasperated as he tried to make Yuan Shu understand just how large his domain had become.
âOur forces are stretched thin?â Yuan Shu asked, astonished that he hadnât realized this sooner.
âMaster, it may seem that weâve only taken Nanjun and Jiangxia, but we never fully controlled Nanyang. Liu Biao had already infiltrated the area with his influence. Now, weâve secured all of Nanyang, and during our campaign in Jingxiang, both Jiujiang and Lujiang have surrendered to us,â Yang Hong added, his expression filled with pride. He hadnât expected his earlier efforts to sow discord in those regions to pay off so handsomely.
âWhat?â Yuan Shu was taken aback, then burst into laughter. âHahaha! Truly, I, Yuan Gonglu, am destined by heaven! Well done, Ziheng! With these two counties, our territory in Yu Province and northern Jing Province are now fully connected, eliminating any risk of separation!â
âCongratulations, Master!â Yang Hong shared in Yuan Shuâs joy.
âIn that case, letâs cease our campaigns for now and allow Liu Jingsheng to live a little longer. Hmm, make sure to appease Sun Bofu and ensure he doesnât get any wrong ideas. Also, send Lu Bu to teach Cao Cao a lesson and bring me the head of the Chen family patriarch. How dare they seize my Yingchuan!â Yuan Shu, in high spirits, was now inclined to let things rest for the moment. He had gained new territories and felt it was time to consolidate, but he hadnât forgotten his desire to deal with Cao Cao.
As for Liu Bei, the intelligence Yuan Shu had gathered all pointed to one conclusion: this man was no weakling. Yuan Shu appreciated Liu Beiâs restraint in not pushing further against him, so he decided to focus on dealing with Cao Cao and the meddlesome Chen family in Yingchuan.
After all, Yuan Shu was not one to take a hit without retaliating. He couldnât catch up to Liu Bei, but Cao Cao, who dared to occupy his Yingchuan, would have to be taught a lesson. Yuan Shu felt it was only fitting as the newly crowned âNumber One Warlord in the Land.â
âZiheng, send Zhang Xun and the others back to Yu Province to regroup and train new recruits. By this time next year, I want to see fifteen thousand new soldiers!â Yuan Shu ordered confidently. Although Yu Province had suffered some losses due to Liu Beiâs raids, Yuan Shu was certain that the provinceâs deep roots would allow it to recover quickly.
âYes, Master!â Yang Hong quickly recorded Yuan Shuâs orders.
âEnsure that Qiao Ruiâs family is well taken care of! Although he was somewhat unreliable in life, he stood up when it mattered most. Inform his family that his eldest son will inherit his position once he comes of age!â Yuan Shu added. Although Qiao Rui had failed to hold Pingyu, he had died fighting to protect the Yuan family, and for a man like Yuan Shu, known for his sense of loyalty, ensuring Qiao Ruiâs familyâs well-being was a matter of personal honor.