Chapter 2025: Chapter 1808: Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, and Pang Tong (Part 2)
"Indeed, but Shiyuan’s talent is somewhat wasted." Zhuge Liang nodded, not taking Chen Xi’s warning to heart, as he had admonished too many times, and Zhuge Liang didn’t know what expression to use anymore.
"Wasted? That’s not necessarily the case. His mind is pure, walking that single path. You excel in comprehensiveness, but it’s very challenging to surpass others. Simply put, look at Xun Wenruo and Xun Gongda. Clearly, Xun Wenruo is a generalist while Xun Gongda specializes, yet Xun Wenruo cannot surpass the other." Chen Xi pointed in the direction of Xun Yu and Xun You.
Xun Yu and Xun You were speechless upon hearing this and couldn’t be bothered with Chen Xi.
"Here’s the thing, if it’s about overall accumulation, Pang Shiyuan is far inferior to you, but if it’s just about accumulating military strategies, you have a significant gap with him. His experience in battles and the ones he led are many." Chen Xi seriously cautioned.
"I know this; Shiyuan has experienced far more wars than I have." Zhuge Liang nodded, not denying this point.
"As long as you understand, Wen Ru’s education allows you to transform every bit of potential you’ve seen and accumulated into tangible abilities, with minimal waste in the conversion process. Shiyuan lacks such a person, but he’s gone through these wars in reality; he just needs a framework to piece together his accumulated experiences." Chen Xi looked at Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang was slightly stunned, then nodded after a while, understanding what Chen Xi meant. Because Pang Tong focuses solely on one field, once someone provides a blueprint to connect experiences and theories, Pang Tong will see significant growth strides.
This is the advantage of specialization. While overall accumulation across all aspects might be far inferior to Zhuge Liang, everything accumulated by the other is in one area, enough to leave Zhuge Liang far behind.
"So after benefitting from me, Shiyuan won’t bother you anymore once he understands because you’ve ultimately chosen completely different paths." Chen Xi said with a smile, Zhuge Liang nodded.
"Zhongda is different from Shiyuan. As you said, Zhongda is a proud person, so he will follow a path similar to yours; he will also pursue breadth and depth. But who do you think is stronger compared to him?" Chen Xi asked calmly.
"Zhongda is a rare talent in this world." Zhuge Liang said with a smile.
"And you are unique, right!" Chen Xi laughed out loud, Zhuge Liang smiled without replying.
"That’s how it is. He’s obviously inferior to you now. I want you to push him to see the reality." Chen Xi retracted his smile with a hint of sigh, pondering the somewhat dreary nature of Sima Yi’s character, requiring a pursuit goal to be set for him.
"Okay, though I don’t seek him out, when he sees me, it can’t be avoided." Zhuge Liang nodded.
"Mhm, don’t let him win a round, better let him lose until heartbroken." Chen Xi chuckled, "Dear cousin, your big brother is sending you Zhuge Kongming, remember to sign for it."
"I’ll just say I’ll do my best." Zhuge Liang smiled, while Sima Lang shook his head repeatedly, feeling bad about sabotaging his own brother.
"Actually, Boyan is also suited for breadth and depth; his talent is not inferior to mine." Zhuge Liang suddenly said as he was about to leave after Chen Xi’s instructions.
Upon hearing, Chen Xi glanced at the nearby Lul Xun eavesdropping and beckoned him over, "Boyan, you’ve been listening for so long. How do you think you should be cultivated?"
"I will fully listen to Master’s teachings." Lul Xun said without hesitation.
"You sly one." Chen Xi replied, somewhat vexedly, "Kongming believes you are suited for breadth and depth, much like Kongming’s developmental model; earlier there was Wen Ru. Such people excel in everything, with no obvious weakness, and since each aspect is at least first-class, it’s unlikely for individual adversaries of same level to defeat." Chen Xi tantalizingly asked.
"What do you think?" Chen Xi asked, piquing Lul Xun’s curiosity, "If you want to follow Kongming’s path, it’s not impossible."
"I want to know how Master views me." Lul Xun restrained his jovial expression and looked seriously at Chen Xi.
"For me, I plan to cultivate you towards the Commander-in-chief direction, modeled after Gongjin—a person who can command troops, devise strategies, and administer regions, adept in military operations; governance emphasizes maintaining rule and employing talents." Chen Xi explained succinctly.
Zhuge Liang, rather than avoiding the discourse between master and apprentice, seriously listened to Chen Xi’s positioning of Lul Xun, quickly grasping Chen Xi’s intent for Lul Xun’s role.
"Kongming’s position is as Prime Minister and a very capable one, overseeing governmental affairs and major directions, whereas your aptitude leans more towards military administration. Of course, this path is rather challenging." Chen Xi shrugged.
"A comprehensive Commander, inclined towards independent frontline command?" Lul Xun pondered, "Indeed very suitable for me, Master."
"As long as you find it suitable." Chen Xi smiled, "Actually, this is called Governor-General, overseeing military and local administration."
"Oh, I see." Lul Xun nodded, indicating understanding.
"Work hard; being a Grand Commander is not acquired by reading books. In future, mingle more with the army, be amicable; they will teach you." Chen Xi said contentedly, Lul Xun indeed is teachable.
"In reality, my versatility might be leaning towards governance, right?" Zhuge Liang asked, "In fact, I am very interested in military matters."
"As for whether you excel at military or internal affairs, you’ll know after more practice. With Wen Chang alongside, we can be more at ease; however, speaking of which, the promise made last year hasn’t been fulfilled." Chen Xi recalled the year-end letter from Li Jue, feeling a bit awkward but quickly resumed normalcy.
Zhuge Liang shook his head upon hearing, Li Jue is in the Western Regions, and he is about to go there for training, reportedly a very complex situation.
"Kongming, perceive Boyan’s Spiritual Talent." Chen Xi transmitted the message to Zhuge Liang, noticing some changes in Lul Xun.
Given Lul Xun’s intelligence, awakening the Spiritual Talent now isn’t problematic, especially since recently Chen Xi could sense fluctuations in Lul Xun’s Spiritual Capacity when near him, but now it’s gone; was it a brain fever earlier?
Hearing this, Zhuge Liang briefly activated his Spiritual Talent, with various mental and Legion Talents coming online, yet no new Talent emerged recently, so Zhuge Liang shook his head.
"I haven’t detected, even with Changwen there, I cannot certain. Marquis Chen, did you discover anything?" Zhuge Liang shook his head.
"Boyan, have you awakened the Spiritual Talent?" Chen Xi directly asked, such joyful news need not be concealed.
"Hmm..." Lul Xun hesitated for a moment, seeing many turning towards him upon hearing, he nodded, "Awakened recently, but unaware of effects."
Chen Xi clicked his tongue, Zhuge Liang was surprised, again attempted to sense Lul Xun’s Talent but couldn’t detect it.
"Strange, why can’t I sense your Spiritual Talent?" Since suffering from Wei Yan’s Legion Talent, Zhuge Liang had stopped relying on Spiritual Talents for judging allies.
"I don’t know either." Lul Xun feigned ignorance; he surely wouldn’t reveal his Spiritual Talent to others. Zhuge Liang simply couldn’t activate his Spiritual Talent, though suspected during awakening, in reality, it’s very fortunate.
