Chapter 36: The Sea Is Wide Enough for Fish to Leap, the Sky High Enough for Birds to Soar (Please Keep Reading!)

"Father is well-informed indeed."

"It is not that I sought to cultivate a relationship with him, but rather that this Mr. Li took the initiative to visit me during the day."

"He brought me two grass carp. Unexpectedly, while I was dining, my illness flared up again, and the pain was truly unbearable."

"Who would have thought that besides his strategic brilliance, this Li Ziyu also possesses the miraculous skill of healing?"

"He gave me a bottle of miraculous medicine. After taking it, the pain vanished instantly. It is truly magical, something I have never seen in all my life."

Oh?

Could such a thing be true...

Even a man as cunning and experienced as Chen Gui found the experiences of Li Yi to be legendary. It was enough to surprise even a veteran like him. A young man, trained by a reclusive master, not only capable of orchestrating military formations and strategy but also possessing medical skills that surpassed most physicians in the world. This sounded quite fantastical.

"This medicine is truly miraculous; even if Bian Que were to return to life, he might not necessarily surpass it."

Chen Deng could not stop thinking about this antibiotic. Every time he considered that he would no longer be plagued by illness, his admiration for Li Yi grew deeper.

Chen Gui, however, furrowed his brows, his expression troubled, and asked in a low voice:

"What did Li Ziyu want with you?"

Chen Deng feigned surprise and asked:

"Didn't I just say, Father? He came specifically to bring me grass carp."

"Hmph, do not try to deceive me!"

Chen Gui flicked his sleeve. "A young man who has attained the rank of military advisor is hardly a man of no consequence. I suspect his schemes are no less profound than yours or mine, and he certainly would not have come merely to curry favor with the Chen clan. What, then, was his true purpose?"

Hearing this, Chen Deng suddenly laughed.

"Indeed, nothing can be hidden from Father. Very well, the truth is that Li Ziyu came to recommend me as the Administrator of Guangling."

Chen Gui’s eyelids twitched slightly as he asked in a deep voice:

"Was this Liu Bei's intent, or that young man's scheme?"

"I suspect both, but I am certain that Li Ziyu was the driving force behind it," Chen Deng replied. "Father, you have come at the right time. I was just about to discuss this with you. In your opinion, should I take up the post of Administrator of Guangling or not?"

Chen Gui stroked his white beard, paced back and forth, and pondered aloud.

"Liu Bei is the Governor of Xuzhou whom we, the noble families, collectively supported. Since this request comes from Liu Bei, reasonably speaking, we should not refuse. Moreover, it is a formal petition to the Imperial Court."

He paused slightly, then added, "I imagine that young man knows our Chen clan has a feud with Yuan Shu, so he intends to use our clan to contain Yuan Shu and threaten his flank in Jiujiang. This is indeed a brilliant move."

"I never expected that our Xuzhou would be hiding such a crouching tiger and hidden dragon..."

Saying this, Chen Gui took the appointment document and examined it carefully. After a long while, he slowly asked:

"Yuanlong, do you wish to take this post as Administrator of Guangling?"

Chen Deng actually had the answer in his heart long ago.

"Father, since childhood, I have harbored the lofty ambition of serving the ruler and saving the people. Li Ziyu gave me a piece of advice when he came: 'Instead of standing by the pool and envying the fish, it is better to go home and weave a net.' I deeply agree with this. Guangling is the most important commandery in Xuzhou, and it is the perfect place for me to stretch my wings. Furthermore, Yuan Shu is not a ruler capable of restoring order, and Guangling already shows signs of leaning toward him. I believe it would be a misfortune for the soldiers and people of Xuzhou if Guangling were to defect to Yuan Shu. Both for public duty and private interest, I should accept the post."

After a brief pause, Chen Deng seemed to have gathered his thoughts and poured out the words he had kept buried deep within his heart for a long time.

"In the world today, Yuan Shao has the greatest power, followed by Cao Cao. The likes of Lu Bu, Yuan Shu, and Gongsun Zan cannot accomplish great things. Although Cao Cao has grand strategies, he has invaded Xuzhou twice, burning, killing, and looting; he slaughtered cities and filled wells, even causing the Si River to cease its flow. We, the people of Xuzhou, hold a blood feud with him and can never submit to him. Liu Xuande is a man of outstanding character and regal ambition, and now he is aided by a remarkable talent. As long as our clan serves him wholeheartedly, the achievements of the Five Hegemons are within reach. If we succeed, our Chen clan will have the honor of being among the founders; if we fail, we can still protect Xuzhou. What does Father think?"

Chen Deng spoke his true feelings. In his heart, he truly admired Liu Bei; if it were not for the constraints of his family, he would genuinely be willing to accomplish great things alongside him. Furthermore, setting aside Liu Bei, he and Li Yi had hit it off immediately. Not only were their personalities compatible, but Li Yi had also saved his life. Though Chen Deng was arrogant, he knew that a kindness received should be repaid with a fountain of gratitude. Based on this debt alone, Chen Deng sincerely wished to repay Li Yi.

Chen Gui looked at the appointment document in silence. After a long while, he handed it back to Chen Deng.

"Since you wish to go so much, then go!"

Chen Deng was slightly startled. "Father, do you truly mean it?"

Chen Gui chuckled. "You must have been preparing these words for a long time, which shows that this has been in your heart for a while. As a father, what reason do I have to stop you?"

The sea is wide for fish to leap, and the sky is high for birds to fly. Now that his child has grown, no parent would wish to bind his hands and feet.

"Then has Father decided to use the strength of our Chen clan to resist Yuan Shu?" Chen Deng confirmed once more.

Once he took the post of Administrator of Guangling, he would be directly bordering Yuan Shu’s territory of Jiujiang. It would be impossible for conflict not to erupt between them. By then, even with abilities as great as Chen Deng's, he would have to borrow the family's strength to resist Yuan Shu.

"Yuan Shu has appointed himself to affairs in Yangzhou and simultaneously claims the title of Earl of Xuzhou. He is arrogant, conceited, and provokes enemies on all sides; sooner or later, he will bring disaster upon himself. Once Yuan Shu gets his hands on Xuzhou, it will be difficult for our Chen clan to protect ourselves. Our clan guarding Guangling is not just for the people of Xuzhou, but even more so for Liu Bei. At least on this point, our stance is identical to Liu Bei's."

Chen Gui stated his views calmly. In truth, it did not matter who governed Xuzhou, as long as it did not harm the interests of their family. But this was exactly the point many others failed to achieve. Thus, the father and son of the Chen family chose Liu Bei; they admired him and recognized his capabilities. The atrocities Cao Cao committed in Xuzhou were still fresh in their minds. People are not made of wood or stone; how could they have no feelings? If it were not for the irresistible trend of the times, the Chen clan would never bow to Cao Cao.

Therefore, for now, Liu Bei was their only correct choice. Chen Deng was a clever man, and Chen Gui was an old fox. They saw the stakes involved more clearly than anyone else.

"Liu Bei won a great victory against Cao's army the other day, earning sufficient prestige. It also shut the mouths of the Danyang faction, allowing him to become the master of Xuzhou without needing to borrow our hands. I believe this victory will also serve to intimidate the likes of Zang Ba and Chang Xi in the north. Sooner or later, Xuzhou will be unified under Liu Bei. The Mi brothers have always favored Liu Bei; I expect they will now exhaust their family fortune to assist him in achieving his grand cause. Since the trend is now clear, if our Chen family does not show some sincerity, would it not diminish our influence in Xuzhou?"

After hearing this guidance, Chen Deng suddenly felt enlightened.

"Father's words are like parting the clouds to see the sun; they have cleared all my doubts. Father is always so thoughtful; I have learned much. Since this is the case, I shall depart tomorrow to take up my post in Guangling."

At the thought of the sea bream in Guangling, Chen Deng’s appetite was piqued, and he could not help but crave it.

"Go with peace of mind. No matter where you are, our Chen clan will be your solid backing. And if you face any difficulties, Liu Bei will certainly not stand by and watch."

After seeing Chen Deng off, Chen Gui stood on the city wall with his hands behind his back. Looking out over the mountains and rivers of Xuzhou, he muttered to himself:

"The wind rises from the tip of a blade of grass, and the waves form from the slightest ripple..."