Chen Xi led an army of twenty thousand infantry and cavalry toward the border between Jizhou and Qingzhou. As they approached Jizhou, he realized it was already May, and his wedding would likely need to be postponed.
"Sigh, ending this chaotic world is truly difficult," Chen Xi mused, gazing at the clouds in the sky. He had been using his mental talent continuously, though he still wasn't entirely clear on its precise nature. However, he had a general understanding. Historically, Taishan had a minor bumper crop in 191, but under his influence, it had become a major bumper crop. Now, he hoped to enhance the good weather of 192 to even better conditions.
In Lujiang, a Daoist dressed in rough cloth, known for his knowledge of celestial phenomena, curiously observed the sky. Although it was daytime and stars couldn't be seen, Zuo Ci noticed a change in the celestial signs in the north, particularly around Taishan and Qingzhou.
"Who's crazy enough to alter the celestial phenomena on such a large scale and for so long? Let me see," Zuo Ci wondered aloud. Changing the weather wasn't difficult, but doing so over a large area was challenging. To do it for an extended period essentially meant altering the climate for the year.
"What's going on?" Zuo Ci was stunned as he calculated. The overall timing of rain, sunshine, and wind hadn't changed.
Zuo Ci carefully observed the celestial phenomena over Taishan. Finally, he sighed, recognizing the work of a formidable individual. Although he couldn't understand how it was done, this person hadn't changed the overall climate. They had merely adjusted it slightly, making an already good year even better. The minor irregularities in the weather had been smoothed out, turning the conditions ideal for crop growth.
"This will turn an originally good year in Taishan and Qingzhou into a bumper crop year. How is such a degree of climate modification even possible?" Zuo Ci pondered, intrigued by the direction. "It's probably some individual's mental talent, but it must have significant limitations."
"Let me deduce this extraordinary mental talent," Zuo Ci muttered, beginning a detailed calculation to uncover the mental talent of the person altering the climate on such a large scale.
"A mental talent that naturally enhances favorable weather conditions?" Zuo Ci concluded, finding the result surprising. "The Han dynasty has so many people with unusual talents. This ability must be uncontrollable, yet it's a remarkable strategic talent."
Meanwhile, heading north, Chen Xi continued pondering the effects of his mental talent. Over time, he realized his talent didn't enhance physical objects but rather influenced the environment subtly. He could broadly alter weather patterns, although he wasn't sure if he merely improved conditions or suppressed adverse weather, leading to a potential future outbreak.
Regardless of which it was, Chen Xi knew his talent's significant importance. His mental talent operated continuously, passively affecting the environment around him. This made it a passive skill, unlike Lu Su's active skill.
Whether his talent improved conditions or suppressed bad weather, it was crucial for Chen Xi to stockpile enough grain during these favorable years. Even if catastrophic weather events followed, they would be prepared with enough food reserves to withstand them. Historically, the period was marked by poor harvests, so having stored grain would mitigate the impact of any disasters.
With this in mind, Chen Xi wasn't overly afraid of his mental talent potentially causing future disasters. After all, the region had already experienced severe droughts leading to failed crops. Additional disasters wouldn't worsen the situation further; they would still need disaster relief efforts. As long as they had grain reserves, they could handle any crises that arose.
"Phew!" Chen Xi sighed, looking at the letter from Li Ru. It seemed Li Ru had overstepped by openly using tribute items, but Chen Xi knew he had to cover for Li Ru since he was considered a friend.
"Strategist, is there any bad news?" Zhao Yun asked, noticing Chen Xi's displeased expression.
"Zijian is too slow in presenting tributes to the emperor, although it's partly due to dealing with Dong Zhuo's remnants," Chen Xi replied, giving a convenient explanation.
"Oh, I haven't seen Zijian since last November. I hope he's doing well. But since the strategist has arranged it, I'm sure there won't be any mistakes," Zhao Yun said, reassuring Chen Xi, who seemed agitated since realizing he might miss his wedding date.
"Forget it. Although I didn't give him clear instructions, with Jia Xu and Li Ru around, they should understand my intentions," Chen Xi said with a smile. He hadn't given Hua Xiong explicit directions, but Jia Xu and Li Ru were sharp enough to grasp his plans.
Meanwhile, Hua Xiong had already presented the documents in Chang'an. As the first warlord to offer tribute after the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo and a member of the Han imperial clan, this pleased the young Emperor Xian greatly. He saw it as a sign that the Han dynasty was stabilizing again, believing that the empire was returning to normalcy after Dong Zhuo's rebellion.
Naturally, such an act that displayed the Han dynasty's authority couldn't be overlooked by the emperor. Delighted by the tribute, he decreed that Hua Xiong and his entourage stay at the Chang'an inn, while the rest were to stay thirty li away. After nine days of purification rituals, Hua Xiong would be allowed to see the emperor.
"Strategist, Mr. Jia, please refrain from leaving the inn these days. If you need anything, just let me know," Hua Xiong said, uneasy as he escorted Li Ru and Jia Xu to the Chang'an inn.
"We know better than you what to do. But as for you, do you even understand why Chen Zichuan sent you to Chang'an?" Jia Xu scoffed at Hua Xiong.
Li Ru, mostly disinterested in conversations, spent most of his time resting with his eyes closed or awaiting death. Fortunately, before Hua Xiong left, Chen Xi, worried about Jia Xu and Li Ru's health, sent ten doctors with them, ensuring Li Ru's survival.
"You!" Hua Xiong was incensed but took a deep breath to avoid embarrassing himself in front of Li Ru. "Please, strategist, enlighten me."
"After presenting the tributes and grain, request that the emperor grace Taishan with his presence. Although it's unlikely to be approved, just making the request will suffice. Chen Zichuan simply wants to prevent others from criticizing him," Li Ru said, not even bothering to open his eyes.
"If you don't understand, just follow orders. Neither Chen Zichuan nor Wenyou would harm you. This move will earn you a favorable position. But once it's done, leave quickly. Although Lü Bu is strong, he can't withstand Li Que and Guo Si for long. Our time is limited," Jia Xu said, noticing Hua Xiong's confusion. He provided a brief explanation, ensuring Hua Xiong understood the benefits and urgency.