Three Kingdoms, Myth

After some reflection, Taishi Ci realized that he couldn't control Gan Ning no matter how much he tried. Whether it was the mutual disdain between the army and the navy, Gan Ning's authority, or the envy and jealousy from commanders like Guan Yu and Zang Ba due to Gan Ning's unrestricted power to deploy troops, it was clear that no one could stop him from doing what he wanted.

Realizing this, Taishi Ci felt a bit helpless. He also wished he had such authority over military matters. Just look at how Gan Ning could do whatever he wanted at sea. Now, Gan Ning was even talking about attacking Yuan Shao, and there were no legal obstacles—he had the highest level of authority. He could fight however he pleased.

"In that case, Xingba, you might as well give it a try," Taishi Ci said cautiously, unsure of the situation. After all, Gan Ning had the highest authority over the navy. Although Chen Xi hadn't explicitly stated the level of power granted to Gan Ning as the naval commander, the rumors suggested that Gan Ning at least had the authority to conduct independent operations.

"I guarantee you, the strategist must have a deeper plan in mind. So, after I deliver you to your destination, I'll stay along the coast of Youzhou and Jizhou, waiting for the right moment!" Gan Ning said confidently, fully convinced of his judgment. After all, a commander as strong and capable as he was, and with the navy just beginning to take shape, it made perfect sense for Chen Xi to give him a test.

Gan Ning was bold, confident, and liked to show off. He had just perfected what he believed to be a powerful navy and was ready to make a grand return and deal with Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin. But then, Chen Xi gave him this mission, which made Gan Ning overthink the situation. He thought to himself, "Look at the land armies; even Zang Ba and Sun Guan have had their moments to shine. Isn't it my turn to show off now?"

He looked at the map. "Wow, this is dangerous and challenging. If I succeed, it will be incredibly impressive. This kind of tough and glorious mission is perfect for someone like me!"

As Gan Ning connected the dots, he realized that this mission was likely designed for him. It was an opportunity to act when the moment was right and to test whether he really possessed the "battlefield intuition" that Chen Xi had mentioned when sending him off.

Gan Ning recalled Chen Xi's words when he left. "When it's time to act, don't hesitate. As a commander with independent authority and the power to deploy troops, you must have an excellent eye for opportunity. You need to learn to 'seize the moment'!"

The more Gan Ning thought about it, the more he believed this was a test. It was likely that the land army wasn't satisfied with the power he had, so the higher-ups created a test without explicitly stating it. If he passed, he could continue his naval adventures from the South China Sea to the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea, and they would have a reason to silence the land army's complaints. If he failed, then it would mean he wasn't fit for the role. This reasoning was so sound that he couldn't refute it.

Gan Ning had always believed that one's abilities should match their authority. As the naval commander, he remembered and agreed with Chen Xi's words. If he couldn't seize the moment, what was the point of giving him the power to deploy troops?

The thought of possibly losing his commander's authority sent a chill down Gan Ning's spine. This was a matter of his reputation. If he lost this power because of incompetence, it would be utterly humiliating.

Taishi Ci suddenly noticed the malicious look in Gan Ning's eyes. Was he planning to throw him off the ship?

Taishi Ci chuckled nervously, "Xingba, why the sudden change in expression? You wouldn't be planning to tie me up and go to Youzhou alone, would you?"

"Hmph, don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You just want me to go back, don't you?" Gan Ning said with a smug expression, his face practically radiating the words "I've seen through the land army's scheme."

"Uh, aren't you going back?" Taishi Ci's face twitched. How did Gan Ning turn into this in such a short time?

"Hmph, I'm not going back!" Gan Ning said proudly. "I'm the naval commander, with the authority to deploy troops independently. I can veto any unreasonable requests related to the navy, and I can attack any force that might become an enemy at any time! As for forces already deemed hostile, I can engage them directly without needing to report!"

Taishi Ci listened to the extent of Gan Ning's authority, growing more and more astonished. By the time he heard that Gan Ning could unilaterally start a war, his jaw practically dropped. This power was enormous! Sure, everyone knew Gan Ning had significant authority, but not this much.

Taishi Ci stared enviously at Gan Ning. Everyone knew that Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Hua Xiong had the power to deploy troops independently, and Zhao Yun had the authority to intervene in any battlefield at any time. These four were already envied by many, but now it turned out that a rarely-seen figure had even more power than all four combined!

But then, Taishi Ci realized that perhaps Chen Xi really did have a deeper plan. If there was no deeper meaning, it would be unthinkable to send someone like Gan Ning for this mission.

Before long, Taishi Ci and Gan Ning, who shared similar levels of intelligence, came to the same conclusion, and they both looked at Gan Ning with a knowing, teasing smile.

"What are you laughing at?" Gan Ning wasn't stupid; he saw the teasing look in Taishi Ci's eyes and knew what was going on.

"Good luck, Xingba. I'm rooting for you!" Taishi Ci said, patting Gan Ning on the shoulder. "Don't embarrass yourself. If you lose your commander's hat, tsk tsk tsk!"

"Hmph, I already know what to do. I plan to be the naval commander for life, making certain people envious until they die!" Gan Ning boasted.

Taishi Ci almost choked, staring at Gan Ning in confusion. He was indeed envious, but did Gan Ning really have to say it out loud? He suddenly felt a bit irritated.

"Do you want to fight?" Gan Ning asked, baring his teeth in a menacing grin when he saw Taishi Ci's unfriendly expression.

"Bring it on!" Taishi Ci grabbed his spear, staring down Gan Ning, who also grabbed his large machete.

"Clang!" The sound of metal clashing rang out as the two warriors unleashed their power. They both leaped back, landing firmly on the deck, and then charged at each other again, starting their thirty-fifth duel since boarding the ship.

There were no bursts of internal energy, no overpowering techniques—those were all neutralized by the ship's collective aura. The only thing left to compare was skill, and it was clear that they were evenly matched, with neither able to gain the upper hand.

Chen Xi had no idea that his order for Gan Ning to deliver supplies had been interpreted with such deep meaning, nor that Gan Ning had flaunted nonexistent authority, leaving Taishi Ci in shock.

If Chen Xi knew, he would likely have a headache. But he was already dealing with enough headaches.

The porcelain kiln Chen Xi had used to fire white porcelain had reopened, but this time it was for firing tiles. Compared to white porcelain, tiles were much simpler since color didn't matter as much. However, it seemed there was a problem with the location in Fenggao. Half of the tiles that came out of the kiln were red, and not even uniformly red. These haphazardly red tiles posed a serious challenge for Chen Xi, who planned to use them.

At this time, porcelain was still considered a luxury item. The crimson-colored tiles were even more dazzling to people like Jia Xu, who saw them as a treasure trove worth billions.

"You want to use these tiles to roof the lord's house?" Sun Qian asked, shocked as he held one of the counterfeit red glazed tiles.

"And I want to cover the exterior walls with these," Chen Xi said, handing Sun Qian a red tile.

"These are too..." Sun Qian murmured in disbelief.

"And this will be the flooring!" Chen Xi ordered someone to bring in a two-foot by two-foot white porcelain tile. There weren't many of these, but they were easier to make than white porcelain cups.

Sun Qian swallowed hard. "This is too luxurious..."

"Bring me the glass window," Chen Xi shouted out the door. Soon, someone brought in a three-foot by one-foot glass window. Unfortunately, it wasn't transparent and had a few impurities. Given the current level of craftsmanship, even glass cups weren't perfectly clear.

This time, Sun Qian was completely stunned. In his eyes, this was akin to using a priceless treasure for a window.

"Don't be foolish; just build it as I said. Remember, our goal is to make sure the lord is never tempted by another mansion again! Do you understand? A little bit of money is nothing compared to this," Chen Xi said proudly. He was used to seeing these things in his time, so he didn't find them impressive. But to the people of two thousand years ago, these were extreme luxuries, far beyond what they could afford.

"Zi Chuan, how much did all this cost?" Sun Qian asked, clutching his chest, bracing himself for a number that would make him faint from shock.

"Oh, if I sold them, they'd probably fetch about a billion or so in money," Chen Xi said, noticing that Sun Qian's eyes were starting to roll back. He laughed and reassured him, "Don't worry, Gongyou. These things only cost a bit of labor, nothing more. The total cost couldn't be more than a thousand coins, so relax."

"Huh?" Sun Qian was stunned. He had prepared himself for an astronomical number, but Chen Xi had given him a bargain-bin price. "Zi Chuan, tell me the real price. I can handle it, don't worry."

"Sigh, nobody believes me when I tell the truth. Whatever, think what you want. Just get it built, and make sure even the toilets are tiled!" Chen Xi waved dismissively. Then, as if remembering something, he warned, "And keep a close eye on everyone. Anyone caught embezzling, just kill them!"