Chapter 2378 - 2101: Choice

This is also an important reason why the Xiliang Iron Cavalry could break out from the harsh and cold Xiliang. Following Dong Zhuo, there was at least a chance for survival, and Dong Zhuo did not fail his own people in this aspect.

Even with such a high mortality rate, the Xiliang Iron Cavalry could still bear it and gradually grow stronger, reaching the pinnacle. This is mainly because, by following Dong Zhuo, at least they could stay alive!

Of course, this is not to mention how the Xiliang warriors, who had never seen prosperity, were corrupted by the magnificent Central Plains. There’s no reasoning with that.

But before that, the Xiliang Iron Cavalry went from having nothing to solidifying their military spirit into an invincible Military Spirit Army. The long and brutal battles they experienced, the number of generals who could reach this level was definitely not few.

Although, over twenty years, some have grown old, some have retired, and some have died in battle, many have survived. Not to mention others, Li Jue, Guo Si, Fan Chou, these three guys are definitely the standouts in Qi Refining to Gang.

Among the Xiliang people, there is no shortage of Qi Refining to Gang. After all, besides the most orthodox cultivation methods, there are modes that rely on life-and-death struggles to break through current limits, and any soldier who has survived the most dangerous battlefields for over ten years won’t be weaker than those who practice Qi Refining to Gang.

"Tsk tsk tsk, there’s nothing more to see next." Chen Xi turned his head to look in the direction of Guan Yu. As expected, after seeing that two of his men entered the semifinals, Guan Yu was contentedly stroking his beard, thinking that his men could indeed fight.

"Yuanjian and Yuanshao, General Guan seems to have swept the board this time." Zang Ba and others had already begun to congratulate Guan Yu.

This martial arts contest, though full of unexpected events, ended quite well. At least the two eventually advanced are smart and powerful individuals.

Although Pei Yuanshao relied on his brothers’ help and successfully disguised himself as a corpse to mix into the round-robin, this also represents a kind of wisdom; brains are crucial.

Speaking of which, Liaoo Hua and Pei Yuanshao are among the few from Guan Yu’s Yellow Turbans who understand how to learn from experience and study military strategy to improve themselves.

As for other Channel Commanders from the Yellow Turbans, many use their muscles to remember how to command and fight. However, they are still relatively reliable thanks to their experience of not being defeated for ten years, and they can manage five hundred to a thousand men without issues.

Watching Liaoo Hua effortlessly defeat Pei Yuanshao, the generals watching below all showed satisfied expressions. They had heard of Liaoo Hua because among Guan Yu’s Legion, those who practice Qi Refining to Gang only had Liaoo Hua persevering in studying military strategy.

Most other Channel Commanders probably can’t even read, which is due to Chen Xi’s enforced education improving their abilities, otherwise, things would be worse.

"Liu Xuande’s subordinates are indeed brimming with talent." Weii Ji expressed helplessness as he patted his old brother Weii Zi’s shoulder.

"Brother, I won’t turn back. Life’s about pursuing what’s pleasing. If it weren’t for working with Meng De for so long, I’d choose to turn back. But now, I don’t plan to. If our Chenliu falls, the Weii Clan relies on you all to carry on." Weii Zi said with a rather carefree tone as he watched the spectacular scene on the field from afar.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Weii Ji didn’t look at Weii Zi, knowing he surely had a reckless and defiant look.

"I’ve dedicated my life to the family, can’t I, as the Family Head, be indulgent for just once?" Weii Zi laughed. "I appreciate Cao Mengde. Even if he fails, I’m willing to follow him to the end. He’s worth it."

Weii Ji remained silent, wishing he could do the same, but he couldn’t. Behind him was the vast Weii Family of Hedong. Thinking about things from the past, he really regretted it.

"Cao Mengde is indeed a Mighty Lord, but unfortunately, he encountered Liu Xuande. Yuan Benchu is an aristocratic family’s rare role model, but he was born in the wrong era. Since you’ve chosen this path, the Weii Family of Hedong can’t join you." Weii Ji sighed deeply and bowed respectfully to Weii Zi.

With this bow, the consistent policy of the Weii Clan between the Weii Family of Hedong and the Wei Clan of Chenliu ended, and the Five Great Merchants completely went independent.

Weii Zi watched Weii Ji leave and, after shaking his head silently, withdrew his gaze. From then on, the two Weii Families could no longer cooperate perfectly like before, aligning for mutual benefit. Hedging bets on both sides is unacceptable, even if it is for the sake of the family, it is unacceptable.

[The choice of the Weii Family of Hedong can only be described as damage control, but what’s the point of damage control in the current state of affairs? A centuries-old aristocratic Weii Clan retreating at this time, have they, by being merchants for so long, forgotten their roots? Could it be that the Weii Clan no longer has the courage to fight one last battle amidst defeat?] Weii Zi thought coldly.

[Mere tens of billions in floating wealth, if lost, so be it. The Old Weii Family thrived without it after all. For us, wealth simply embellishes, even without those tens of billions, as long as the Weii Clan’s reputation doesn’t fall, as long as the family heritage remains, what does temporary victory or defeat matter? Endure for now and rise again!]

Looking at the distant arena, Weii Zi casually flicked his sleeve and left. The Weii Clan of Chenliu is far from being decayed. Even if Cao Mengde surely fails, our clan will never abandon him. If money runs out, we can just earn it again.

The so-called Five Great Merchants are merely titles that the Weii Clan of Chenliu can easily discard. If lost, it’s lost. Without wealth, we can go back to scholarly pursuits instead. The Yuan Family, Xun Family, and Chen Family, even without billions in cash, can still oppress all aristocratic families until they can’t catch their breath! Wealth is no more than an external possession!

"Five Great Merchants, this title is nothing more than something we can discard at will. Have you forgotten what our ancestors did it for?" Weii Zi jumped onto the Weii clan’s carriage, recalling his previous outburst in the family.

"The so-called merchants were merely our family’s experiment to verify whether enough money could make us stronger!" At that moment, Weii Zi coldly laughed while yelling at the clan elders at home.

"But compared to three hundred years ago, we have become much stronger!" The clan elder of the Weii family fearlessly retorted facing Weii Zi’s rage.

"Is it still possible to become stronger? Can we continue relying on wealth to strengthen at our current level?" Weii Zi coldly questioned back.

"Indeed, our ancestors’ approach was correct at the time, and our Weii family has indeed become multiple times stronger, but that was the past. At our current level, can we still rely on wealth to grow? Look at the Zhen Family, look at Hedong, look at the Wu Family, stuck at this current level for so many years without change." Weii Zi pointed directly at the core with his questioning.

"Earlier, I already discovered the issue." Weii Zi arrogantly looked at all the elders in the clan, "Everything that can be settled with money, we’ve settled; what’s left cannot be solved with money. Money is important, but after a certain limit, besides digging a money cellar to pile it up, tell me what else it’s good for."

The elders of the Weii Clan of Chenliu, after exchanging glances, found that although Weii Zi’s words were radical, they were truthful. Their wealth genuinely, if claimed to be useful, hasn’t been found to be of any use, feeling earning money is just a habit.

"In my view, anything above the level of an aristocratic family cannot be resolved with money. Our family has more money, right? More than the Yuan Family, Xun Family, and Chen Family combined, but what’s the use? Any one of them stretches out a hand, and our family would have to shed a layer!" Weii Zi said with a cold smile.

Although the elders of the Weii Clan of Chenliu displayed a face of defiance, they couldn’t refute. The Yuan Family has been in the Three Dukes mode for years; though the super powerful Yuan Shao has fallen, Yuan Shu is still arrogantly holding on, not very capable but with sharp insight!

More importantly, even if the Sunx Family, Zhou Family, and Jing-Xiang all collapsed, the Yuan Family has now voluntarily removed themselves from the game, adopting a mode of dining, drinking tea, and observing the chess game. Even if all pieces are exterminated, as long as the next generation of the Yuan Family is competent, the position of the Three Dukes is still stable!

The Xun Family, possessing sages with spiritual talent, is innumerable, which isn’t something to fear. What’s more, they have strategists, ruling types, planning types, calculating types, all complete, lacking merely the Inner Qi Manifestation.

As for the Chen Family, there’s no need to mention it; in this era, aristocratic families depend on the Chen Family for survival.

After such lateral comparison, when Weii Zi questioned again, the rebuttal from the elders of the Weii family became a lot more subdued; wealth isn’t that important for aristocratic families like theirs anymore.

Naturally, Weii Zi took out his momentum and successfully convinced everyone that if the Weii family continued on this Five Great Merchants position without mutual promotion methods, they’d remain at the bottom tier among aristocratic families.

Instead, by shedding this superficial wealth and losing the capital to become merchants, given the current foundation of the Weii family, they might even produce some prominent figures, pushing the family reputation up a couple of notches.

Eventually, the clan elders of the Weii family accepted Weii Zi’s proposal. Although everyone knew that a large part of Weii Zi’s reasoning was for Cao Cao, his words indeed moved the clan elders.

Even if wealth is abundant, if it cannot enhance family stature, then it doesn’t even count as a resource, which is awkward.

Since it doesn’t even count as a resource anymore, as the family head of the Weii family, it would be better to dispose of it, using it to demonstrate the family’s determination. After all, it might look like trying to stop an oncoming chariot, but if this will is displayed well, it should make everyone understand how reliable their family is.

If the allies’ situation is dangerous, investing anything isn’t meaningful. Supporting them may not resolve the issue, but the willingness to help is another matter, and how much effort one is willing to put forth is an exhibition of inner grandeur.

Many people might think that someone "knowing their ally can’t be saved but still desperately trying to save them, even at their own cost" is foolish, but if choosing allies, such a person is definitely the first choice.

Because in choosing them, not only is there no need to worry about being betrayed, one can also act without worries, and as long as the other considers you a friend, they won’t let you come to harm.