Chen Xi smiled bitterly. Could he say that Xuzhou had been too peaceful? There hadn't been any wars for three whole years, and the Xuzhou troops were mainly used for maintaining public order—how could they have any real combat power?
"Re-select the Xuzhou troops, and those who don't meet the requirements should be dismissed with appropriate severance pay," Li You said, also clearly frustrated with the Xuzhou troops. They couldn't continue using the military camps as retirement homes, as had been the case during Cao Bao's time.
"Eliminate all the officers who are taking pay for troops that don't exist! We've given the Xuzhou aristocratic families face, but they shouldn't push their luck," Liu Bei said, nodding in agreement.
Unlike other generals in this chaotic era who sought to expand their forces by any means, some in Xuzhou were guilty of doing the opposite—padding their payrolls with ghost soldiers. Troops that were supposed to number five thousand might actually consist of fewer than three thousand, and even the elite Danyang soldiers had nearly been hollowed out by Cao Bao. What could be said about the other units?
After a brief conversation with Chen Xi about the situation in Xuzhou, Liu Bei left him in peace. He assigned an additional guard unit to stay at the Feng residence, and then he and his entourage quickly departed.
The movements of Liu Bei did not escape the notice of the Xuzhou aristocrats. Seeing that Liu Bei was staying in Xuzhou City rather than in the military camp outside eased their concerns considerably. Their greatest fear was that Liu Bei would say he forgave the past, only to plot against them behind the scenes. If that were the case, the Xuzhou families would have no choice but to fight to the death.
The next morning, Liu Bei formally assumed control of Xuzhou's governance. He appointed Chen Deng as the Grand Administrator of Guangling, Zhao Yu as the Grand Administrator of Xiapi, and put Li You in charge of overseeing Xuzhou's affairs, with Chen Deng and Zhao Yu assisting him. Beyond that, no further appointments were made, which reassured the Xuzhou aristocratic families.
Chen Deng greeted Chen Xi and Jia Xu with a wry smile. His father had been right—this matter wasn't going to end so easily.
"Greetings, Lord Chen, and General Jia," Chen Deng said respectfully, bowing deeply before inviting them into his home.
"Yuanlong, what are your thoughts on the current situation in Xuzhou?" Chen Xi asked after taking a sip of tea.
"Xuzhou is wealthy, but its military is weak. To govern Xuzhou effectively, we must first strengthen the military to protect the territory," Chen Deng said calmly.
"Oh, that makes sense," Chen Xi replied blandly, curious that Chen Deng hadn't mentioned the aristocratic families. But his curiosity didn't extend much further.
"And how do you propose we strengthen the military?" Jia Xu asked, casting a glance at Chen Xi, who had fallen silent and was merely smiling while subtly applying pressure.
"Unify recruitment standards, standardize pay and benefits for soldiers, and eliminate unqualified personnel from the Xuzhou forces. We can recruit new soldiers and train them according to General Yu Wenze's methods," Chen Deng said, though there was a hint of resignation in his tone. Implementing such changes would significantly weaken the influence of Xuzhou's aristocratic families, including his own Chen family, within the military.
"This method is sound. Yuanlong, you will select suitable officers from Mount Tai to train the Xuzhou troops," Jia Xu nodded, tossing the pre-arranged condition to Chen Deng.
Chen Deng was momentarily stunned, and then a surge of joy welled up within him. This was an opportunity for the Chen family to establish ties with the military. Although this opportunity would be limited by Liu Bei's control over the military, it would still bring significant benefits to the Chen family. As for the impact on the other Xuzhou families…
With this thought, a cold gleam flashed in Chen Deng's eyes. The Xuzhou aristocratic families had already been left in disarray by Tao Qian's actions. Now, with this opportunity, the Chen family could rise above the others and become the most powerful family in Xuzhou. The chance was right in front of him—would he seize it or let it slip away?
Chen Xi sipped his tea, leaving the decision up to Chen Deng. How he handled it was his own business and had nothing to do with them. However, both Chen Deng and his father, Chen Gui, had spent their lives thinking of their family's future, so it would be hard for them to ignore such an opportunity.
Jia Xu maintained a neutral expression, but his thoughts were cold and calculating.
Chen Xi's face briefly displayed a mocking smile.
This was Chen Deng's greatest weakness—not his intelligence, but his tendency to be blinded by the desire to uplift his family.
"Thank you, Lord Chen and General Jia, for your kindness," Chen Deng said, his expression unchanged, but clearly, he had already made his decision.
"After all, Yuanlong, you've helped us so much. We're merely returning the favor. Xuzhou will need your efforts to prosper, and the wealth of your family will be vital," Chen Xi said with a smile, lightly tapping the table with his fingers.
"Lord Chen, you jest. How could I dare not give my all?" Chen Deng said solemnly, though cold sweat ran down his back. Chen Xi's words had unnerved him.
"Don't worry, Yuanlong," Chen Xi's smile deepened. "Regarding the assassination attempt at the gates of Xuzhou, has there been any progress? Although Lord Xuande has declared that past grievances will be forgiven, we must remain cautious. The fact that even military-grade ballistae were used suggests that the Xuzhou military requires a more thorough inspection."
Chen Deng easily detected the sarcasm in Chen Xi's tone, and his expression darkened slightly. He now understood why his father had advised him to relinquish those dangerous items.
"Lord Chen, the ballista incident has been traced back to a group of military craftsmen. They have all been detained, and their confessions have been secured. Here are the documents and contracts they signed," Chen Deng said, retreating briefly before returning with a wooden box. He opened it, revealing a stack of neatly arranged paper contracts.
"Good. Send any finished ballistae to the military camp. I doubt these craftsmen made only a few," Chen Xi said, picking up the documents and casually flipping through them before storing them away.
The fact that Chen Deng had handed them over indicated that the Chen family had decisively abandoned these potentially dangerous items.
"The finished ballistae have already been delivered to the government office, awaiting inspection," Chen Deng said, his head bowed, showing no signs of resentment.
When it's time to act, one must act decisively. Keeping ballistae within the Chen family was indeed an excellent way to intimidate other families, but it was also a tremendous liability. Recognizing this, Chen Deng quickly adjusted his mindset, despite his initial reluctance.
Chen Xi and Jia Xu exchanged knowing smiles. As they had predicted, the Chen family of Xuzhou was sensible. Perhaps they had realized that keeping such dangerous weapons would do them more harm than good, so they had exposed them during the Cao Song incident to buy peace for the future.