"It's good that you're aware. I fear neither Guo Junshi, nor you, nor the strategists on Yuan Benchu's side have good intentions this time," Zhuge Liang mused.
"Probably, I'm the only one not thinking that way," Chen Xi replied with a wry smile. The geographical position of the Black Mountain Army dictated the scope of the battlefield, but would Chen Gong and Lü Bu really tolerate such a situation? It wouldn't be easy.
Chen Xi didn't elaborate further. The truth was that whether it was Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, or Yuan Shu, they were all troubled by the presence of Lü Bu, who was stuck in the middle. If they chose to fight, they had to be wary of others stepping in. But if they didn't, any future move would be met with hesitation.
Chen Gong had clearly never intended for Lü Bu to vie for dominance over the entire realm. Yanzhou was just a foothold, a place to establish themselves. Lü Bu lacked the ability to conquer the world; he could be a general, a commander, even guard the borders, but he wasn't fit to be a ruler. Thus, Chen Gong's plan was to wait for a change in the situation, to become a valuable ally when the time came for the world to decide its overlord. In doing so, both he and Lü Bu would secure peaceful lives in their later years.
As for the seemingly precarious situation they were currently in, with Chen Gong's careful planning and Lü Bu's strength, it was actually not as dangerous as it seemed. Once the situation stabilized, Yanzhou might be difficult to expand, but no one would dare to attack them either.
Chen Gong had thoroughly compared the strengths of Liu Bei and Yuan Shao. From what was visible, Liu Bei and Yuan Shao had their own advantages and disadvantages, and both had victories in terms of military power. Yuan Shao's cavalry and Liu Bei's navy were unmatched in the north, with no other lords able to compete.
Because of this, Chen Gong knew that the struggle between Yuan and Liu would not be resolved quickly. Both had outstanding rulers, advisors, and armies. Chen Gong was confident that his wisdom would allow him to act as the decisive factor, tipping the scales at a critical moment. In this way, no matter who won or lost, he and Lü Bu would be safe.
Chen Gong's intentions were clear to the advisors under Liu Bei, Yuan Shao, and Cao Cao, but they hesitated to make a move because of the delicate balance. They weren't afraid of Lü Bu but were wary of the other lords. Such was the reality.
Earlier, Zhuge Liang had mentioned the Black Mountain Army, implying that both Yuan Shao's strategists and Guo Jia intended to shift the battlefield to Yanzhou, taking advantage of the chaos to eliminate Lü Bu.
By now, the situation in the north was clear. One of either Yuan Shao or Liu Bei would eventually dominate. Both Yuan Shao and Liu Bei were confident it would be themselves, and both understood that the other was the real enemy. Therefore, before the final showdown, there would be a clearing of the field—removing any obstacles in their way. The choices for those in the way were clear: submit or be destroyed.
Zhang He and Qu Yi had taken control of Youzhou, spending over half a year driving Gongsun Bogui out of Youbeiping. Gongsun Zan was unlikely to attempt a southern push anytime soon.
With one hand free, Yuan Shao now turned his attention to crushing the Black Mountain Yellow Turbans, quelling internal rebellion, and simultaneously hindering Liu Bei's progress.
Guo Jia had similar plans. He didn't want anyone disrupting the Yuan-Liu conflict either. Any lords who could potentially interfere, such as Yuan Shu, Lü Bu, or Zhang Yang, had to be severely weakened or eliminated before Yuan Shao and Liu Bei clashed.
In this way, Yuan Shao's and Liu Bei's strategists shared a common goal. Both aimed to drag Lü Bu into the fray and use the opportunity to destroy him, confident that their plans were flawless.
Chen Xi thought about this with a bitter smile.
It wasn't that Chen Xi doubted the cooperation between Guo Jia and Guan Yu, but when two strong forces clash, with eyes only for each other, it's easy for a previously underestimated third party to take advantage. If it were only Guan Yu and Guo Jia leading the army against Chen Gong and Lü Bu, Chen Xi would be confident. But in this complex situation, Chen Gong might find an opportunity to strike back.
Chen Xi recalled Zhang Liao's boldness and couldn't help but frown. Lü Bu's generals were indeed formidable!
The carriage sped along the road, protected by hundreds of cavalry sent by Liu Bei. With such an escort, there was no hindrance, and any merchant caravans quickly gave way upon seeing them. Although Qingzhou and Taishan were now peaceful, a convoy guarded by soldiers was clearly on a different level.
"We'll rest here for the night," Chen Xi said after two days of camping out. They had finally arrived at a place under Fa Zheng's administration.
As Lu Xun stepped out of the carriage, he was curious to see the locals bustling about. It was nearly dusk, yet construction was still in full swing. Judging by the scale, it looked like they were building a city.
"What's going on here?" Lu Xun asked curiously. "Aren't they enforcing a curfew? What if something happens at night?"
"There is a curfew, but it hasn't started yet," Zhuge Liang replied calmly, listening to the distant sounds of labor. "Fa Xiaozhi is really something."
"Indeed, he's done a great job," Chen Xi nodded in agreement. "It's more than I expected. I didn't think he'd take it this far."
"Linzi will likely become more prosperous than we can imagine. Within three years, it might even rival Fenggao," Zhuge Liang observed, watching the busy workers. "He always downplays his abilities, but he's truly impressive." Zhuge Liang couldn't help but praise Fa Zheng, though he then remembered Fa Zheng's rather peculiar personality and smirked. "His personality is the only problem."
"Personality doesn't matter as long as he gets the job done. He's done a remarkable job here, and I bet even Gongyou didn't realize it," Chen Xi remarked, admiring the wide roads leading to the city center. In such a short time, Fa Zheng had become increasingly adept at governance. Truly, a smart person is a smart person.
"He probably wants to build canals too, fully utilizing both land and water transportation," Zhuge Liang speculated, shaking his head. "He definitely knew how to do this before, but he just didn't want to. Now that he's started, he's going all out."