Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 1762 - 1655: Even Being a Bystander on the Battlefield Is Dangerous!
However, turning back to look at Liu Bei’s side configuration, though the civil officials and military generals heading north are not complete, the military generals are indeed luxurious, with nine individuals manifesting Inner Qi: Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei, Hua Xiong, Zang Ba, Huang Zhong, Chen Dao, Wei Yan, Guan Ping, and Xu Chu.
Although it seems the number of personnel is not as many as the opposite side, the quality is not inferior to Cao Cao’s, perhaps even surpasses it, and the number of Legion Talents is entirely comparable to the opposite, with as many as seven.
Of course, if you include Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and others among his own people, then both the quantity and quality exceed Cao Cao’s side. However, for some reason, even though Chen Xi has weakened Cao Cao’s civil official group several times, Cao Cao’s civil official group remains luxurious.
Although Zhong Yao, Sima Yi, and Yang Xiu are still in the rear handling construction and keeping an eye on things, the northbound Xun Yu, Xun Youi, Cheng Yu, Chen Qun, Liu Ba, Sima Lang, and others truly have none who are second-rate, and even adding the less diligent Fan Qin, Cao Cao’s civil official group is still very reliable.
Incidentally, Cao Cao also picked up Dong Zhao for free on the road. Although Jia Xu dislikes Dong Zhao somewhat, one resembling himself, frankly speaking, anyone whom Jia Xu dislikes and yet hasn’t died must not be a second-rate person, and naturally, Dong Zhao is not second-rate.
Seeing Dong Zhao’s sincerity and with Xun Yu’s introduction, Cao Cao was naturally pleased to grant Dong Zhao, who hadn’t yet made any achievements, the position of Councilor. Though this position is not of high rank, it allows Dong Zhao to sit beside Cao Cao’s tent and listen in.
Naturally, Cao Cao would inquire of Dong Zhao from time to time and had to admit that Dong Zhao indeed has sufficient talent; each response has an impressive aspect. Under the modesty of Xun Yu and others, Cao Cao quickly discovered Dong Zhao’s highlights and had a notion of absorbing him into his circle.
As for Chen Xi’s brother-in-law Fan Qin, nothing has changed much from before. Cao Cao has also observed that this figure is merely muddling through life. Though he indeed has abilities, prolonged inertia has knocked him down from initially being slightly superior to Chen Qun at first-class to now just high first-class.
For such a person wasting their talents, even Cao Cao could only feel a kind of admiration. The biggest problem with the counterpart is simply the lack of earnest work, yet in terms of scandalous matters, Cao Cao hasn’t truly observed any, with the counterpart entirely having an attitude of passing the time.
So over time, Cao Cao extinguished the intention of incorporating Fan Qin into the core group; if the counterpart likes to hang about, let him be. At least in terms of internal affairs, the counterpart has never so much as delayed anything, as for wasting talent, that is ultimately the counterpart’s problem.
Conversely, regarding Chen Qun, initially Cao Cao thought he was merely a backup for Xun Yu, but with Chen Xi’s rise, Cao Cao discovered that Chen Qun seemed to change every day. Even after entering Chang’an, Cao Cao suddenly noticed that Chen Qun appeared to grow to almost the level of Xun Yu.
This is practically an incredible momentum, and indeed if one were to mention the moment their skills seemed comparable, it might be when Fortune Manifestation occurred, with Chen Qun’s Red Qilin phenomenon only momentarily behind Xun Yu’s Five Virtues Qilin.
Though there is a reason for Chen Qun encountering the Human Cauldron Fortune a moment earlier than Xun Yu, the difference in the speed of Fortune Manifestation between the two being shortened to such a negligible span actually sufficiently illustrates the minor disparity between Chen Qun and Xun Yu at that point.
It can be said that ever since understanding his gap with Xun Yu and following Xi Zhicai to Fenggao to see Chen Xi, Chen Qun has changed a lot in silent moments.
Chen Qun’s talent was not poor, only perhaps somewhat overly proud. After restraining his pride and striving upwards, Chen Qun finally began to genuinely advance towards the peak.
More often than not, it is not others who hinder one’s progress, but oneself. After shedding superficialities and striving upwards, Chen Qun soon started to approach Xun Yu. However, regrettably, he merely approached, as the counterpart was also continuously making progress.
Nevertheless, on the whole, under Chen Qun’s continuous efforts, he grew much stronger, a fact Cao Cao could clearly perceive, and evidently, the counterpart had no overly complex thoughts. Thus, not long after, Cao Cao incorporated him into the core group.
When Liu Bei mentioned Cao Cao, Cao Cao also talked about Liu Bei. Both of them had a sense of the shifts over time, recalling how they once fought together at Hulao for the Han Dynasty, a lot happened in between, and this time they finally allied again.
"Indeed, Liu Xuande and I require a common enemy to team up. Our goals may be similar, but our means of operation are different." Upon entering the grasslands north, Cao Cao’s mood broadened.
"As long as the outcome is right, the process, though important, shall be judged by future generations," Xun Yu replied with a smile. "I have long missed the chance to meet Chen Zichuan; this time I finally get my wish. After hearing about him from Changwen so many times, there is always a sense of distance." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"Chen Zichuan, ah." Cao Cao recalled the now somewhat hazy figure of the young man under Hulao Pass in his mind and smiled, "You two are quite alike, but his character is softer, and he views the common people somewhat differently."
Xun Yu nodded without responding. By this time, they had passed N County, where Xiahou Yuan had been stationed. After Cao Cao passed through, he abandoned N County to follow with his troops, while Xiahou Dun had already disappeared without a trace.
