章 15: Chapter 15: The War Potential of Dong Zhuo
...
Chen Xi sighed and began to introduce Liu Bei to the ruthless characters from Yingchuan. "There are some people without fame, but any one of them, if given authority by a monarch, is capable enough to support a Feudal Lord."
Chen Xi's greatest advantage lay in knowing everyone's future prospects and the abilities of all those with names and surnames since all of them had been tested by history, proving themselves either on the battlefield through their military exploits or in the rear with their abilities.
For this reason, Chen Xi was very clear that the initial Strategists under Cao Cao, followed by the later five, would be difficult to poach.
Under Chen Xi's introduction, Liu Bei's eyes shone brightly. Whether it was Chen Xi's assessment of Xun Yu's political strategy or his approval of Xun You's strategic planning; whether it was his analysis of Guo Jia's unbound way of thinking or Cheng Yu's ruthless restraint, it all opened Liu Bei's eyes. If their abilities were truly as Chen Xi described, any one of them on the right platform would be able to turn the world upside down.
"Zichuan seems to understand these people quite well," Liu Bei said with a smile. He indeed wished he could secure these individuals, but after listening to Chen Xi, he guessed that only the Xun uncles and nephews might be a bit hopeful. Of course, he also knew this hope rested on his status as a Han Imperial Kinsman and the need for having some territory.
"Hmm, basically, I have some impression of all the capable people in this world. To tell you the truth, Dong Zhuo actually had a great chance of defeating all the Feudal Lords. Unfortunately, his ambition was too great, and he lost his direction. He's no longer the brave warrior from Xiliang he once was; he has been bewitched by the lifestyle in Luoyang," Chen Xi said, first with a trace of pride, then with a hint of lament.
"Dong Zhuo actually has such strength?" Liu Bei raised an eyebrow, expressing some disbelief.
"Yes, he has that strength. He has the number one cavalry in the world, the number one military general under his command, and also two Civil Officials who could be ranked in the top ten in the world, one of whom could even be in the top three! Moreover, he had the advantage of Xiaohan, the momentum of Western Qin. If he hadn't lost himself in the luxuries of Guandong and had proceeded slowly, he might have been able to swallow up the world like the King of Qin in the past. Even now that Dong Zhuo is intoxicated, as long as he awakens, he still possesses the ability to cook a feast with a lost deer!" Chen Xi said with emotion.
As for Li Ru, Chen Xi didn't feel great commenting. Judging by Dong Zhuo's current strength and the plans before entering Luoyang, Li Ru's abilities, starting from the Yellow Turban Rebellion until the fall of Western Sichuan nearly a century later, were enough to rank in the top ten. But after entering Luoyang, it seemed like Li Ru began to fall into chaos, and his strategic intelligence sharply declined.
Li Ru turned Dong Zhuo from a mere Xiliang warrior into the strongest warlord of the Late Eastern Han Dynasty. Even when the Eighteen Feudal Lords formed a coalition against Dong Zhuo, he still had the ability to annihilate all the heroes. In this regard, Li Ru's strategic intelligence was undoubtedly at the pinnacle of the Late Eastern Han period.
The most important thing Chen Xi knew was that historically, this guy had seen through the chain trick, straightforwardly telling Dong Zhuo, who ignored him. He had already anticipated Dong Zhuo's inevitable doom. When Lyu Bu killed Dong Zhuo and wanted to find Li Ru, he had already fled Luoyang and gone to join Li Que. Later, when Cao Cao cleaned up Li Que, this guy just mysteriously disappeared.
As for the other, that's Jia Xu, also a Subordinate General under Dong Zhuo. He was not just a nameless Chief Clerk as described in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Bear in mind, Li Que and Guo Si were Generals commanding a hundred thousand Xiliang Soldiers. Under Jia Xu's persuasion, they suddenly saw the light and, without a second word, followed his command. If his ability weren't already known, would they have been so compliant?
Liu Bei frowned as if tangled in thought, "The most elite forces, the number one military general, two Strategists among the top ten, one even within the top three, the dangers of Xiaohan, and the momentum of Western Qin."
With each phrase he recited, Liu Bei involuntarily furrowed his brows tighter, "Setting aside the claim to be the world's most elite, let's talk about being the world's number one military general. Who dares to proclaim such a title for themselves? And as for the top ten civil officials in the world, who is to evaluate that?"
"The title of the world's number one military general will soon be proved, and as for the top ten strategists, Xuande should consider where Dong Zhuo rose from, how long it took, and how much power he now holds," Chen Xi said with a wry smile. To answer this question wasn't easy; it could only be proven by facts.
Liu Bei pondered for a moment and nodded, "Indeed, from a Xiliang warrior to the present chancellor who dominates over all, it seems Marquis Liu was no better. What a pity to have allied with a tyrant!"
"..." Chen Xi rolled his eyes and said nothing; this was one point he couldn't agree with. If Li Ru managed to outmaneuver them, the one labeled as the tyrant would be decided at that time, and it would have to be accepted.
"As for the other strategist I mentioned, his strength lies in producing ingenious strategies without fail. This person is easy to win over, as long as Dong Zhuo dies and someone can provide him with a sense of security," Chen Xi thought for a while and then brought up Jia Xu's situation, who was relatively easy to win over. However, sufficient power was necessary; otherwise, if one wasn't seen as worthy or didn't provide a sense of security, he definitely wouldn't associate with you.
"Succeeds without fail!" Liu Bei looked at Chen Xi in astonishment; that was the highest praise for a strategist. Such an evaluation, in Liu Bei's view, meant that Chen Xi's previous assessments were not exaggerated, as long as one could achieve this standard.
"Yes, succeeds without fail, whether it is minor tactics or overall strategies," Chen Xi sighed and continued, "You could say that, amongst the current practicing strategists, none can really compete with him, well, except perhaps Ju Gongyu, whom Hann Jizhou has recently recruited to his ranks..."
Chen Xi originally intended to say that at this point in time no one could match Jia Xu. Then he remembered that after Pan Feng's death, Hann Fu recruited Ju Shou, whom he had left in charge of Jizhou. In this respect, Hann Fu was quite solid, no wonder Yuan Shao wanted to take him down. Thinking again of Zhang He, who was also under his command, Chen Xi couldn't help but feel envious; indeed, Hann Fu was solid.
Looking somewhat unsettled, Liu Bei glanced towards Hann Fu's main tent; he had a good conversation with Ju Shou but had no idea Ju Shou was so impressive.
"And what about you? What about yourself, Zichuan?" Liu Bei asked with curiosity, noticing that Chen Xi had mentioned several other people but not himself.
"As for strategy, I'm purely theoretical, and when it comes to political strategy, my ideas are nothing but whimsical fantasies. In terms of real competence, I have little to offer," Chen Xi reflected on himself, eventually admitting somewhat reluctantly.
"Hahaha, Zichuan, why be so modest? Remember, ever since you joined my camp, your strategies have never failed. Why be so timid?" Liu Bei looked at Chen Xi's resigned expression, first startled then bursting into laughter. In his view, Chen Xi's current lack of confidence was just a result of youthful introversion. As long as he showed his strength in time, he would naturally gain confidence.
On this point, Liu Bei was even more confident than Chen Xi; at least, as he saw it, the current Chen Xi truly spoke with unerring accuracy, and his strategies never failed!
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