Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 1514 - 1457: A Barrier for the Nation

When Zhuge Liang led the troops back, his achievements alone made Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Zhang Liao smile wryly. Their ages were almost old enough to be Zhuge Liang’s father, and they had all experienced many battles. However, in terms of military achievements, they did not match up to Zhuge Liang, who was going to the battlefield for the first time.

"The Eight Gates Golden Lock?" Chen Gong pondered and spoke.

"Yes, it is indeed a military formation upgraded from the foundation of the Eight Gates Golden Lock by Master Li." Zhuge Liang did not say much more, as he greatly valued what Li Youu taught him.

In fact, after Li Youu passed the entire formation to Zhuge Liang, he told him that he could use this to exchange and learn from others. The Eight Gates Heavenly Lock was ultimately Li Youu’s path, not Zhuge Liang’s. If he truly wanted to achieve something in military formations, he had to learn from the strengths of others.

However, Li Youu also understood that the basic knowledge of military formations is easy to learn everywhere, but once it reaches a certain level, it truly becomes a treasure of each school.

Even someone like Jia Xu would only know the simplest formations if Li Youu had not disregarded his eavesdropping. So, after systematically passing the entire military formation system to Zhuge Liang, it was meant for Zhuge Liang to exchange and learn.

Zhuge Liang understood Li Youu’s intention, but Li Youu had treated him very well, so he felt awkward using Li Youu’s teachings to exchange with others. Moreover, Li Youu’s Eight Gates Heavenly Lock system was detailed, and there was a lot of potential to be explored, so Zhuge Liang thought it best to perfect the Eight Gates Heavenly Lock first.

Chen Gong nodded and did not ask further. Inquiring about such core secrets, if the relationship is not very good, it’s already courteous if the other party doesn’t cause trouble for you.

Not to mention Xubo Cheng’s escape to north of Youzhou, when Jia Xu led a group of civil and military officials, along with Huang Zhong and others, arrived at Jicheng, it actually announced that Liu Bei had completed the control of Youzhou, as well as the end of the Northern Yuan Family’s rule.

However, unlike other eras where the enemy monarch must be executed, both Jia Xu and Fa Zheng were kind to Yuan Tan. Xun Shen and Xuu You became more courteous to Yuan Tan after the events at Jicheng. The Yuan Family never needed protection from others. Even if they fell into decline, someone could still hold up the sky!

The Four Generations Three Dukes, no, it should now be said the Five Generations Three Dukes, the old Yuan Family has its survival principles. They might have been cowardly, they might have done shameful things, but the will they sometimes show is indeed shocking.

"The Northern aristocratic families are quick. They already have troops gathered at Jicheng, and you just watch them go to the Yuan Family to pay respects?" Jia Xu spoke while looking at the map, addressing Fa Zheng beside him, while Zhuge Liang and Chen Gong continued studying the map as if they hadn’t heard anything.

"The Northern aristocratic families are not like those idiots in the South." Fa Zheng tossed aside the map, leaned back, supporting himself with both hands, and looked at the ceiling.

"The visit to the Yuan Family is in recognition of its inevitable survival due to the blood battle of Yuan Tan at Jicheng. Even in the current situation, Yuan Tan can rely on his reputation to lead several aristocratic families, but the Northern aristocratic families definitely won’t give Yuan Tan a chance to deal with us," Fa Zheng said with a smile.

"The foundation of the Five Generations Three Dukes, the blood battle at Jicheng, the courage to fight to the death without retreat, these are things the aristocratic families must acknowledge. But these alone are not enough for Yuan Tan to make these people work for him, at most to gain some favor," Fa Zheng continued.

"Kongming, what do you think?" Jia Xu turned to ask Zhuge Liang.

"Let the aristocratic families be led by the aristocratic families. With Marquis Chen absent, the Northern Yuan Family is indeed the best choice. Since Yuan Tan is unlikely to act extravagantly, why not seize the opportunity to let the Northern aristocratic families feel the grandeur of our Lord?" Zhuge Liang raised his head and spoke.

"Gongtai, do you have nothing to say?" Jia Xu asked Chen Gong.

"I’m waiting to go to the Western Regions. Let you handle the Central Plains battlefields. That map you showed me indeed amazed me; one night of deep thought suddenly made me understand the sentiment of the ancient tribal chieftains expanding into barbarian lands," Chen Gong said, looking at Jia Xu.

"Have you decided?" Jia Xu asked, looking at Chen Gong.

"It’s much better than being tied up in the Central Plains," Chen Gong said with a smile. "The world is so vast, how can heroes be content to live in peace? I, Chen Gong, have the courage and ambition to expand the territory for the Han Dynasty!"

His words were resounding and powerful, and his aura no longer had the gloom of untapped talent with nowhere to apply it, instead displaying a look of confidence and a demeanor of looking down on all heroes.

"Since you speak so, I suppose General Gao and General Zhang are also of the same mind?" Jia Xu inquired.

"Gongzheng has never had an interest in civil war, and followed Fengxian purely out of gratitude, while Wen Yuan’s thoughts are more on the borders. They are not suited for Central Plains civil wars. Moreover, with Marquis Chen’s arrangements, it has probably reached the point of planning for the whole world," Chen Gong said, looking at Jia Xu.

"Then that’s settled. Kongming will go with you, and the Chen Family and Xun Family will send a large number of personnel. As for the person in charge, the situation there is extraordinary and concerns our arrangements for centuries hence," Jia Xu said solemnly.

Zhuge Liang said nothing. He understood that even if given significant power now, he could not restrain those under his command; he still needed several years of training.

Chen Gong nodded, "However, if I take this path, neither Gongzheng, Wen Yuan nor I will submit to Lord Xuande as vassals."

"Han officials will suffice," Jia Xu replied solemnly.

"Very well," Chen Gong said woodenly, but a strange expression flickered in his eyes. Could Liu Xuande truly achieve this for the Han Dynasty?

[With this, the troops stationed in the Western Regions would approach fifteen thousand strong. If, as Zichuan claimed, the land is fertile enough, then the personnel sent by the Chen Family and Xun Family would naturally enable the over fifteen thousand to be self-sufficient.] Jia Xu thought peacefully.

[It seems there are no problems then. The troops from Bingzhou, together with the troops Zhuge Liang is taking, plus those under Li Jue and others, should be able to station effectively, meaning the land could sustain at least three hundred thousand people. This approach indeed seems geared to strengthen our homeland’s defenses.]

Chen Gong quickly calculated the situation and felt more confident about the map Jia Xu had shared with him, also gaining a judgement of the enemy’s strength.

A land capable of fostering an empire inevitably harbors abundant talents, and thinking of expanding the country’s territory in such a distant place stirred Chen Gong’s blood. Every Huaxia person bears an imperial dream, regardless of the era!

The long history bestows the Huaxia People with a sense of mission, enabling them to emerge from the narrow, barren plains of barbarism, establishing one civilization after another, and further enriching and expanding them generation after generation.

From the mythical era to the tribal era, from the tribal era to the slave era, and then to the Han Dynasty, the steps of Zhuxia have never halted, flowing with the heroic spirit of expansion in the blood of every ancestor!