...
Chen Xi's arrogance left Lu Su momentarily stunned. He had considered various scenarios but never thought this prodigious talent he admired could be so audacious.
"Do you think I'm arrogant?" Chen Xi laughed heartily, completely unconcerned with Lu Su's dazed expression. "We are both under twenty. If we aren't arrogant now and instead act all prudent and mature, wouldn't it be dull when we need to be prudent and mature in the future?"
Chen Xi's words made Lu Su pause again. Before he could speak, Chen Xi laughed again. "Under Lord Xuande's rule, I'm the only one who can truly be called a civil official. The others, though holding civil positions, are temporarily filling such roles. I need someone who can help me."
"Being smooth and leaving no traces isn't something we should be doing at our age. In youth, we should have the attitude of looking down on heroes from all over the world. I've been a head of a powerful family for too long and forgotten my current identity," Lu Su said, closing his eyes slowly. When he opened them again, a confident aura radiated from him. He stared at Chen Xi, "I've never handed the initiative to others!"
"Good, good! Let me hear your thoughts," Chen Xi laughed. An organization needed this kind of boldness and confidence to rapidly advance. Only with such drive could they forge an unparalleled legacy against the tide of the times.
As for the saying that maintaining success is harder than achieving it, it's merely because there are more rulers who maintain success than those who achieve it. Having never experienced the vast sea, they think the small waves of a lake are terrifying, not realizing the waves of the sea are beyond their imagination.
"What is Zichuan aiming for?" Lu Su stared at Chen Xi.
"To sweep across the land and reshape the world!" Chen Xi said calmly.
"Conquer Qing Province, merge with Xu Province, swallow Yu Province, defeat Yuan Shao, then expand westward to Bing Province, amassing power in the Central Plains to engulf the world," Lu Su said with a cunning smile, as if to say such plans are evident even to him.
"Not too far off. At most, there's an additional step to contend with the entire world, then consolidate power in the Central Plains before swallowing the world," Chen Xi was indifferent to Lu Su's smile.
Lu Su could see through it because Chen Xi intentionally displayed such arrogance. Such outwardly gentle yet inwardly arrogant strategists would naturally devise the most domineering and audacious plans, appearing simple and brutal. Yet, it was precisely because of their simplicity and brutality that people wouldn't expect such strategies from a madman.
"A crazy plan. The first three steps are not an issue given your current prowess. I even suspect you're already scheming against Yuan Shu. As for the fourth and fifth steps, those are the crucial points," Lu Su pondered, tapping the table. Unintentionally, he began contemplating this madman's strategy. Challenging the top family and the top two lords of the realm was something only a madman would dare. For some reason, the thought of it made Lu Su's blood boil.
"No, only the fifth step is crucial," Chen Xi sneered. "As long as we move quickly, the difficulty of the first four steps is almost negligible."
"That's impossible. Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao are family, despite their differences. If a force threatens the Yuan family, they will unite to crush it. Resistance will increase from the third step onwards. Yuan Shu may be reckless, but before he realizes it, he'll be crushed by you. However, Yuan Shu's fall would alert Yuan Shao!" Lu Su shook his head, disagreeing with Chen Xi's statement. He doubted Chen Xi's calculations.
"We won't tackle the third step alone. There will be others involved. The Imperial Seal is still with Sun Ce, who is under Yuan Shu. When the time comes, we just need to sway Sun Ce and use prophetic words to dazzle Yuan Shu," Chen Xi's foreknowledge came into play, and he looked at Lu Su with intense confidence, almost saying that he could make these events happen even if no one else wanted them to.
Lu Su's expression grew serious as he considered the feasibility of this. After a difficult moment of contemplation, he looked at Chen Xi. For the first time, he felt pressure in Chen Xi's presence. Could anyone really plan so meticulously?
"If so, the third step indeed becomes a matter of toppling a wall. Yuan Benchu would be forced to stand aside," Lu Su said with difficulty. Planning in this way was complex. One misstep could overturn the entire plan. He hadn't even considered Yuan Shu and Sun Ce. One oversight, and the situation changes drastically.
"Actually, by the fourth step, strategies are no longer crucial. By then, the power balance means no single defeat can entirely negate us. Essentially, it's not the battlefield strategies but the logistics that matter. Unfortunately for Yuan Shao, I've already accounted for him," Chen Xi said mockingly. Besides battlefields, many other methods could defeat an enemy.
Lu Su sighed and said, "Zichuan, aren't you afraid I'll defect to Yuan Benchu?"
"If you wanted to defect, you wouldn't be considering so much for Xuande Gong," Chen Xi smirked. "Though I don't know why you haven't directly pledged to Xuande Gong and are still hesitant, your thinking shows you are on his side. Even in finding flaws and countering me, you haven't taken the enemy's perspective. You're already involved."
"Sigh! Chen Zichuan, you truly are a prodigious talent," Lu Su sighed. "I hesitated because pledging now feels contrary to my earlier statement of assessing for a while. But now, I'm willing to join Taishan as a guest official, both to evaluate and assist you."
"Good, good!" Chen Xi laughed heartily. "Since you're willing to join Taishan, I finally have someone to discuss Taishan's direction with."
"Uh..." Lu Su was stunned. So, the previous talk about conquering Qing, merging Xu, swallowing Yu, and defeating Yuan Shao was just banter? That couldn't be. Clearly, Chen Xi was already working on these plans. Both Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, the top two forces, were already in his calculations.
"Well, this is different from that kind of strategy. It's another type. The previous was about external plans. Now, it's internal. I've long wanted to study governance with someone, solidify the foundation, and strengthen our position until we achieve victory without battle," Chen Xi said with a smile, eyes closed. This was his true plan.
"I'm all ears," Lu Su said respectfully, bowing. Unlike the previous discussion, this time Chen Xi seemed ready to share valuable insights.
"Zijing, do you think strategists and commanders are vital in this chaotic world?" Chen Xi asked solemnly.
"Very important. An excellent strategist or commander can fend off ten thousand troops," Lu Su replied, unsure of Chen Xi's intent but stating his view.
"Yes, fending off ten thousand troops. What if an overly cautious commander, leading a few ordinary strategists and ten thousand well-supplied elite soldiers, faces an underfed but renowned commander with exceptional strategists leading a thousand troops?" Chen Xi asked, gazing out into the night.
"Probably..." Lu Su pondered for a long time but couldn't come up with an answer. However, he felt he was onto something.