Zhuge Liang didn't concern himself with what kind of shadow he might be leaving on Lu Xun. After all, he had gone through similar ability tests himself. But compared to this relatively simple test he was conducting for Lu Xun, his own experience had been much more intense—administered by none other than Chen Xi, with Lu Su, Liu Ye, Jia Xu, Li You, Man Chong, and Mi Zhu all involved.
Of course, Guo Jia wasn't present at that time, so Fa Zheng took his place. Every time Zhuge Liang thought back to that test, he felt that after surviving that ordeal, no test could ever intimidate him again. Imagine being tested by such top-tier individuals in the areas where they excel—it's the kind of experience that leaves a lasting impression.
After that test, Zhuge Liang gained a thorough understanding of his strengths and weaknesses, and he also came to know those who tested him better. Because of that, he actually felt quite satisfied with the experience, except for the deep embarrassment he felt over his inability to answer certain questions at the time.
"At least you passed one aspect," Zhuge Liang said calmly. "We won't test the classics and literature; you probably won't have any issues there. Can you manage to remember everything you read?"
"Just barely..." Lu Xun replied softly, feeling his face flush with embarrassment at Zhuge Liang's comment about passing just one aspect. Today, he had been thoroughly humbled.
"Good," Zhuge Liang nodded. "Start by reading. For the things you don't like studying, just make sure you have a general impression of them. Later, I'll help you build a solid foundation. You understand your current situation, right?"
"Yes," Lu Xun replied, dejectedly lowering his head.
"Since you understand, start learning. You'll pick up the necessary skills soon enough," Zhuge Liang said, trying to offer some encouragement as he noticed Lu Xun's low spirits. However, Lu Xun hardly reacted.
Zhuge Liang glanced at Lu Xun but said nothing more. Is he really this affected? When I was tested by that group, I didn't let it get to me like this. Is his mental toughness really so lacking? he thought.
Meanwhile, Chen Xi was unaware that Lu Xun was currently suffering from an intense psychological blow, courtesy of Zhuge Liang. Lu Xun's young heart was being pummeled, and it was likely he wouldn't be eager to challenge Zhuge Liang again anytime soon.
After initiating the weather change, Chen Xi finally felt a slight pause in his vast mental reserves. Although his abilities continued to function afterward, the brief pause allowed him to gauge his total mental capacity. It was no longer a matter of merely being "large"—it was immense.
"Xingba, if we encounter Sun Ce's ships in the Yangtze River, don't hold back. Use whatever strength you have and, most importantly, keep moving. I'm worried that the enemy may try to encircle us," Chen Xi said with a furrowed brow.
Chen Xi's greatest concern now was that Zhou Yu was also timing things perfectly. If they entered the Yangtze and confronted Sun Ce's forces, who had somehow reached the lower river, while Jiangxia's navy attacked from behind, they would be trapped. Even though Chen Xi had great faith in Gan Ning's abilities, he couldn't envision them escaping unscathed from such a situation.
"The Jiangxia navy..." Gan Ning muttered, frowning. "That could indeed be a problem. But their overall strength won't change—they only have so many soldiers. If they spread themselves too thin, we might find an opportunity to annihilate one or two of their forces."
"Hopefully," Chen Xi nodded, feeling that he might be overthinking things. After all, Zhou Yu's forces were limited, and he couldn't afford to act recklessly. "Since we have some time, I'm going to relax. Get me a fishing rod—I'll catch some fish and unwind."
Holding the fishing rod, Chen Xi's thoughts wandered. Ever since he noticed that Zhou Yu's navy wasn't where they should be, he felt that something was off. But even now, he couldn't pinpoint the exact problem.
As he watched the ferrymen's boats near the reeds along the riverbank, Chen Xi felt as though he had overlooked something. His grip on the fishing rod tightened, and his brow furrowed.
"Zichuan, what are you thinking about?" Lu Jun asked as he noticed Chen Xi's deep contemplation during another of his outings.
"..." Chen Xi had been on the verge of grasping a critical realization, but Lu Jun's question scattered his thoughts. Sighing, Chen Xi replied, "How are you holding up, Jicai?"
"With an army protecting us, what could be wrong? In the past, my family's trade routes were always stop-and-go, constantly requiring bribes or negotiations. But now, with the army escorting us, even the most notorious river pirates avoid us. It's truly effective," Lu Jun said with a smug expression. Although the Lu family hadn't encountered any accidents on the river, the constant stops due to safety concerns had been frustrating. If it weren't for the need to protect their family members, they would have preferred to move swiftly.
"Oh..." Chen Xi nodded, his thoughts racing. Lu Jun's comment had clarified everything for him. He now understood why the Jiangxia navy hadn't appeared upstream and how Zhou Yu had managed it. The Jiangxia navy, apart from its regular forces, likely included conscripted river pirates. Unlike Gan Ning, who incorporated them into his navy, Zhou Yu had allowed these pirates to remain in their own domains, continuing their illicit activities.
If that's the case, the river pirates in the middle and lower Yangtze must have gathered by now. On one hand, Zhou Yu aims to use these pirates to block us, and on the other, he might be trying to eliminate some of the more disobedient pirate leaders by using us. Chen Xi's expression darkened as he realized the implications. Zhou Yu's tactics were bordering on shameless.
Zhou Yu has probably even prepared an official excuse for mobilizing the Jiangxia navy—something like 'the river pirates have gathered in Jiujiang, posing a threat to Shouchun.' If I remember correctly, the Jiangxia navy's primary mission under Yuan Shu was to suppress river pirates. This gives them a legitimate reason to deploy. Zhou Gongjin, you are truly ruthless—raising bandits to serve your own interests! Chen Xi wasn't slow to catch on. Once the pieces fell into place, everything became clear.
In fact, Chen Xi had hesitated to think this way because he wasn't sure about Zhou Yu's character. But now, with a clearer picture, he realized that the forces gathering near Jiujiang and Shouchun could number around 30,000. While he had initially suspected there might be bandits among them, Chen Xi was now certain that these were the secret forces Zhou Yu had prepared for Sun Ce. Even if Sun Ce wasn't fully aware, Zhou Yu certainly knew.
Having 30,000 troops stationed near Shouchun was a significant concern. Even if Chen Xi hadn't fully grasped Zhou Yu's intentions, he couldn't help but suspect what Zhou Yu was plotting. Yuan Shu's only son, Yuan Yao, was reportedly close to death. For a warlord, having an heir was crucial. If Yuan Yao fell and Yuan Shu followed, then those 30,000 troops on the Yangtze would be enough to suppress everyone and secure Sun Ce's rise to power.