"Go ahead, once you've written it down, just explain it clearly to Xingba and the others," Chen Xi sighed. "As long as they can learn it, that's enough. The lower-level officers can just use numbers to communicate. Xingba and his men should be able to grasp the more complex aspects."
"Don't worry, I already understand the principle you mentioned. Following that principle, I can easily create codes that even you won't be able to decipher," Zhuge Liang said, barely containing his excitement. He was the type to grasp the underlying logic quickly. With the insight Chen Xi had provided, he already knew how to develop further, even beyond what Chen Xi had explained.
"I've realized you're incredibly smart," Chen Xi said with a smile. "I just gave you a starting point, and you already figured out the rest. You even know how to take it further. I'm sure there's never been anyone as intelligent as you."
Zhuge Liang blushed. It was rare for someone to praise him so openly. In the past, others had always complimented him in a roundabout way, but no one had ever been as direct as Chen Xi, who called him unparalleled.
"Haha, I'm just teasing," Chen Xi laughed, and Zhuge Liang's brief moment of joy faded as he looked somewhat frustrated. After bowing to Chen Xi, he left to deal with the task.
"Alright, let's get back to our discussion," Chen Xi said, turning to Gan Ning. "Once Kongming creates the code, you can rest assured that as long as there's no insider betrayal, no one will be able to crack it."
Gan Ning and Taishi Ci exchanged a glance, curious but not asking further questions. After all, Chen Xi had made it clear that the conversation was over their heads, and Zhuge Liang had promised to explain it to them later. Given Chen Xi's approval, they didn't press the issue.
However, they were now more curious about Zhuge Liang. After all, a boy of only twelve or thirteen had understood something so profound that even they couldn't grasp. It was hard not to be intrigued.
"Xingba, how long will it take us to reach the mouth of the Yangtze River? And how long to get to Lujiang?" Chen Xi asked.
"To reach the mouth of the Yangtze, it'll take about six days. As for Lujiang, considering the possibility of battle, I suggest we take four days at a slower pace. Otherwise, if we arrive at the battlefield too quickly, some of the navy might not be battle-ready. We could end up failing the rescue and losing ourselves in the process," Gan Ning replied. Although he had a good relationship with Lu Jun and the Lu family, as a general, his priority was minimizing his troops' losses. He knew how to balance personal feelings with professional responsibilities.
"Let's do it your way. This time, the opponent is also a skilled naval commander. If a conflict arises, it will likely be Zhou Yu, who defeated Huang Zu," Chen Xi nodded, trusting Gan Ning's judgment.
"Zhou Yu?" Gan Ning frowned. While others might not pay much attention to this name, Gan Ning certainly did.
As a naval commander, Gan Ning couldn't ignore Zhou Yu's reputation. Zhou Yu, who had famously defeated Huang Zu, was one of the most dangerous figures in the realm of naval warfare. Gan Ning knew better than to underestimate him.
Even if Gan Ning didn't openly admit it, he knew that his naval skills might not match Zhou Yu's. After all, Zhou Yu had managed to defeat and absorb Jiangxia's navy with just a ragtag group of water bandits—a feat that made him a force to be reckoned with.
"Yes, him. He's incredibly skilled, especially in naval battles. I went through the limited records we have on him. Zhou Yu is particularly adept at using small boats to trap larger ships and then boarding them for combat. He's also very good at sacrificing his own forces when necessary," Chen Xi said with a frown. He didn't like Zhou Yu's willingness to sacrifice his men, something Chen Xi, being soft-hearted, would only do as a last resort.
"Skilled at using small boats to trap large ships and then boarding them for combat, and good at sacrificing his own troops?" Gan Ning frowned. Aside from the part about sacrificing men, the rest sounded a lot like his own tactics from earlier days.
"If that's the case, I think I know how to counter him. Even if he's better than me at naval warfare," Gan Ning said, raising an eyebrow.
While he wasn't entirely sure of Zhou Yu's exact tactics, based on what Chen Xi had shared, Gan Ning was confident that he could catch Zhou Yu off guard. As someone who had mastered similar strategies, he was well aware of their weaknesses.
"That's good to hear. I don't recommend engaging in a prolonged battle with him. Our goal is to rescue people—getting the Lu family and their shipbuilding expertise is enough. As for fighting, we should avoid getting too deep into it. Fighting in enemy territory is too unpredictable," Chen Xi advised, seeing that Gan Ning seemed to have a plan.
Gan Ning nodded, thinking things over. If all went well, he wouldn't need to engage Zhou Yu in battle.
"When we reach the mouth of the Yangtze, Zi Fang, you and Gan Lan can take the captured Cao soldiers to Yizhou. We don't want them getting discovered," Gan Ning said to Mi Fang after a long pause.
"Isn't that a bit too much?" Mi Fang said with a wry smile. "It feels like you're sending me away before the battle even starts. That's not a good look."
"Whack!" Gan Ning slapped Mi Fang on the back. "What nonsense! It's not sending you away—it's escorting the prisoners. Besides, I could take half my men and still beat Zhou Yu. The Cao prisoners are important, and rescuing the Lu family might not even require a fight. Who knows, we might get there before Sun Ce takes Lujiang. We just need to pick them up and head downstream. They won't be able to catch us."
"Really?" Mi Fang nodded. "Alright, then. When we reach the Yangtze, Gan Lan and I will head to Yizhou. Best of luck to you."
"Yeah, without those supply ships slowing us down, we'll be faster. If we move too slowly and get caught in Zhou Yu's trap, a bloody battle will be unavoidable," Gan Ning said seriously.
Although Gan Ning spoke confidently to Chen Xi, he was already preparing for a possible confrontation with Zhou Yu. His instincts told him that a fight at Lujiang might be inevitable.
"You're right," Chen Xi agreed. Then he remembered something else. "Xingba, has General Guan sent anyone to you recently?"
"Hmm?" Gan Ning looked a bit troubled, glancing at Mi Fang and Taishi Ci before sighing and turning to Chen Xi. "To be honest, Strategist, General Guan did send someone to me, along with orders to meet all of this person's requests. He also sent a document from our lord, but didn't tell me the person's identity or allow me to inform others."