As for Sima Yi parachuting in as the top leader, forget it; this is a stage Li Youu set up for his apprentice. Being second-in-command is no problem with Chen Xi's influence, but being top leader? Li Youu flipping out isn't surprising.

It's not just that Sima Yi is Chen Xi's distant cousin; even if he were a brother, Chen Xi wouldn't do such a thing. Breaking the rules he set isn't wise.

If it's about getting Sima Yi a second-in-command position and he himself toppling Zhuge Liang, becoming the top leader, then as long as the stage was set by Li Youu for Zhuge Liang, if someone occupies it, it's just a matter of lacking ability.

Even if Li Youu has a lot to say, in the end, it all revolves around ability. If such a situation arises, Chen Xi will surely provide backing and assurance. While one shouldn't bully the small, if my kid wins something by ability, why yield it?

But is such a thing possible? No chance; that's Zhuge Liang, not some dried salted fish pulled out from the ocean. Sima Yi can hold his own for a bit, but to topple him, without thrice Zhuge Liang's resources, forget it.

This becomes an old tale again. As friends and family, I can offer you power matching your ability. Nepotism, even sages can't avoid, but as our backgrounds are similar, let's not play that game—whoever has ability rises.

Both Li Youu and Chen Xi are open-minded about this. They won't break the rules, but they provide good opportunities and maintain the rules, preventing sabotage. If that fails, they won't help anyone.

While Chen Xi contemplated having Zhuge Liang sign for a delivery named Sima Yi, Sima Yi and Cao Ang had already arrived in Qiyuan County, a place marking the boundary between Sili and Bingzhou, and a necessary path for Southern Huns migrating south.

Meanwhile, due to population issues, this county facing abolition recently welcomed a new immigrant wave, with tens of thousands moving from Northern Bingzhou. The Southern Huns' condition is a mess; it's evident they can't control their subordinates anymore.

Upon arriving, after reorganizing his soldiers, Cao Ang halted. Other people thought he was crazy as he distributed army provisions to impoverished, displaced folks.

In essence, Cao Ang started delivering food to these near-destitute people, promising to defeat the Southern Huns and reclaim their lost land to redistribute it, along with seeds and grain for winter.

At that moment, Xiahou Shang wanted to strangle Cao Ang. They hadn't brought much military food due to rapid marching plans, yet now a majority of provisions are handed to refugees—how would they fight Southern Huns then? 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Well, food is gone, so be it. They are Han Dynasty people after all. Also, isn't ten days plenty?" Cao Ang chuckled dryly under Xiahou Shang's roars.

"Humph, can you defeat Southern Huns in ten days? We've got twenty thousand men, tell me how twenty thousand soldiers beat Southern Huns five times their size?" Xiahou Shang roared at Cao Ang, "Our goal is to hold them until uncle's larger troops rescue us."

"But we can't just watch these people die, right?" Cao Ang said helplessly, knowing defeating Southern Huns within ten days is extremely tough, but holding for ten or twenty days estimating Cao Cao's vanguard cavalry will return.

The issue is Cao Ang couldn't bear heartlessly watching these refugees starve on the way, so he provided food to let them reach Chang'an, where solutions awaited.

"Do you realize how long it takes to send a message to Chang'an and have food sent here? There's no direct road!" Xiahou Shang nearly exploded.

At that moment, Sima Yi entered the tent, glancing at the two, with Xiahou Shang glaring indignantly, "Who let you in? Can't you see we're discussing?"

"Oh, my official position is slightly higher, and I'm here with results—once Southern Huns arrive, we act. Liu Qubi, Liu Bao, and Huchuquan agreed to my proposal," Sima Yi said coldly.

"What?! When did you liaise with them?" Xiahou Shang was shocked.

"Just the other day, I personally went," Sima Yi replied with fatigue.

"How dare you leave camp alone?" Xiahou Shang shouted.

"It wasn't alone, and you call this a camp? Don't be ridiculous. The camp is full of flaws; I can find twenty ways to counter it effortlessly. The patrol setup is messy, covert sentries look no different from ordinary ones, and there's no password at the entrance," Sima Yi casually commented.

Furious, Xiahou Shang almost scolded, but Cao Ang inquired, "Zhongda, you're sure Hun Chanyu agreed to cooperate with us?"

"They've got no alternatives," Sima Yi said with weary indifference, "I noticed in this entire setup, only Cao Zidan's soldiers are well-trained and know their tasks, the rest are rabble."