The Three Kingdoms: Home Travel

The shouts shook the heavens, and the people of Xuzhou City spread the news, celebrating the defeat of the Yellow Turbans and the capture of a bandit general. The whole city was filled with the same story.

"Have you heard? Mr. Jiang saw through the Yellow Turban rebels' scheme, turned the tables on them, and utterly defeated their army, even capturing one of their generals!"

"Mr. Jiang? Which Mr. Jiang?"

"You...you don't even know Mr. Jiang? (With a disdainful look) He's the teacher of the Chen family's young master! Mr. Jiang!"

"Oh... (suddenly realizing) It's Mr. Jiang!"

"Who do you think there's another Mr. Jiang?"

"I've heard that Mr. Jiang is a celestial being descended to earth, knowing five hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future!" another interjected. "Breaking through that bandit army's scheme is as easy as eating for him!"

"That young master of the Chen family is lucky to be able to become a disciple of a celestial being. Sigh! I always thought that boy had the face of divine fortune, that he was blessed by the heavens, and now it's true..." An old man's words drew sidelong glances from those nearby.

In any case, regardless of whether it was Jiang Zhe or Chen Deng, their names resounded throughout Xuzhou City. Although the threat of the Yellow Turbans still existed, these two names were deeply imprinted in the hearts of the people of Xuzhou. Since they could defeat the Yellow Turbans once, they could defeat them a second time, the people thought.

Meanwhile, Chen Deng, whose story was being told by everyone, was hanging his head, enduring Jiang Zhe's overwhelming arrogance...

"What on earth are you thinking!" Jiang Zhe said angrily. "At such a crucial moment, you actually sent two hundred elite soldiers to trap me at home. What kind of general stays at home during a war? I killed several Yellow Turban rebels back then! Why wouldn't you let me go! Tell me! If you don't give me a reason today, we're not done!"

Chen Deng hung his head, feeling wronged. He thought, "I was only doing this for your safety. Your martial arts skills... oh! I won't say anymore, I'm afraid it will hurt your pride..."

"Husband..." Xiu'er felt a little sorry for him, and also a little embarrassed. Chen Deng kept calling her "Master's Wife" and was always very polite. Moreover, he had repeatedly found excuses to send her wine and food (which Qian Xiu'er would definitely not accept, and Chen Deng knew that). It was not good to treat him like this now...

"Don't speak!" Jiang Zhe said angrily. He was still furious when he thought about the scene. When he learned that the Yellow Turbans had attacked the city, he and Xiu'er followed the general. Not long after they left, a group of Xuzhou soldiers came and forcibly dragged him back. That wasn't all. The Xuzhou soldiers even went to Jiang Zhe's house and didn't leave. Some were on guard duty, and some were on sentry duty. They trapped Jiang Zhe in his house. What kind of nonsense was that?

Jiang Zhe didn't appreciate Chen Deng's kindness, but Xiu'er did! She was always terrified whenever Jiang Zhe went to the battlefield, fearing that something might happen to him. After all, anything could happen, and Xiu'er couldn't protect him all the time. It would be best if he didn't have to go... Xiu'er thought with some shame.

Xiuer also heard that the scene was chaotic at the time. The Yellow Turbans, who were fighting like cornered beasts at the East Gate, killed more than a hundred elite soldiers from Xuzhou before being wiped out. This made Xiuer secretly rejoice. If her husband had gone... with his mediocre martial arts skills...

After thinking it over, Xiu'er felt that Chen Deng meant well and she really shouldn't have treated him like that, but her husband was so angry that begging for forgiveness would probably not end well...

With a sudden thought, Xiu'er gracefully rose and said with a smile, "My lord, please speak with Mr. Chen in detail. I'll go to the market to buy some side dishes. Mr. Chen, please have a meal at my humble abode before you leave..."

"How can that be!" Just as Xiu'er had expected, the one who said this was Jiang Zhe. Jiang Zhe glanced at Chen Deng, considered the "benefits" of having dinner alone with Xiu'er versus teaching Chen Deng a lesson, and chose the former without hesitation.

"Be careful next time!" Jiang Zhe's words quickly turned into a half-hearted reprimand, which became just a light, dismissive remark. He then picked up his teacup and took a sip.

What does "drinking tea" mean? It means seeing the guest off! It means Chen Deng can leave and go do whatever he wants! Don't disturb Jiang Zhe's time together.

However, the usually clever Chen Deng hadn't considered this. Seeing that his teacher's anger seemed to have subsided somewhat, he chuckled to himself. Hmm... Although the teacher is very talented, his memory has always been terrible. I absolutely cannot leave now. If I do, the teacher might remember later and cause trouble. Hmm, that's right! The teacher likes it best when I ask a few "in-depth" (learned from Jiang Zhe) questions... I've got it!

He immediately feigned remorse and said cheerfully, "Teacher is right, I will never be so foolish again... But there's one thing I just don't understand..."

"What is it?" Jiang Zhe gestured for Xiu'er to sit down and answered casually.

"How did you, teacher, see through the Yellow Turbans' feint attack?"

"Huh? That's what I figured out by putting myself in his shoes!" Jiang Zhe replied to Chen Deng while secretly giving Xiu'er a meaningful look. Why buy groceries? This kid's leaving soon... he won't stay for dinner... Of course, it's mainly because of me...

"Put yourself in someone else's shoes?" Chen Deng was puzzled for a moment, then his eyes lit up. Had he stumbled upon something truly remarkable about his teacher? He was immediately excited. Teacher, tell me quickly! Tell me all your skills...

However, Jiang Zhe was the type who wouldn't tell you unless you asked, so Chen Deng had no choice but to ask again, "Teacher, what is the meaning of this 'putting yourself in someone else's shoes'?"

"Why are you making such a fuss, kid?" Jiang Zhe thought to himself, quickly finishing his reply to get rid of him, and then enjoying some alone time with Xiu'er...

"So-called 'putting yourself in someone else's shoes' means..."

Chen Deng's heart began to pound.

"It's about... putting yourself in someone else's shoes..."

What? Chen Deng was stunned.

How else can this be explained? Just put yourself in their shoes and understand it literally! Jiang Zhe was also a little frustrated. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Let me ask you first, if you were in the position of a Yellow Turban general, what method would you have used to capture Xuzhou?"

"How could Yuanlong do such a despicable thing!" Chen Deng frowned and said, "Doing so would bring shame upon the Chen family ancestors, Yuanlong would never..."

"..." Jiang Zhe opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Suppose... suppose you are..."

Having followed Jiang Zhe for so long, Chen Deng naturally understood what the hypothetical scenario meant, and immediately said, "Yuan Long would never commit such a traitorous act..."

"I said hypothetical! Do you understand?!" Jiang Zhe roared in frustration, then said angrily, "I already said hypothetical, why are you still babbling on! If you interrupt me again, see how I deal with you!"

"..." Chen Deng shrank back, inwardly annoyed. He really was being unreasonable. He could have just let the teacher do what he was told; he could have simply ignored it. Why did he have to argue with the teacher? Teacher, please don't expel me from the sect...

Chen Deng looked at Jiang Zhe pitifully and said, "Teacher, please go on..."

Xiuer covered her mouth and chuckled to herself. When she was alone with her husband, she often didn't understand what some of his words meant until later. For example, his mention of sexy lingerie... Xiuer's face immediately turned red...

"Let's assume you're in Zhang Yan's position, leading the Yellow Turbans to conquer Xuzhou. You need to come up with feasible strategies one by one. Then, go back to your position as the commander of the East Gate and think about how to deal with those strategies you just came up with, listing out solutions for each one. This method is called perspective-taking! Put yourself in someone else's shoes... cough! In their position and situation, think about the strategies they might use, and then counter those strategies with your own..."

"Brilliant..." Chen Deng initially felt a pang of resentment, wondering how he could have become a Yellow Turban rebel. But as he listened further, his heart raced, and he continued to berate himself for almost missing out on such profound knowledge... However, at the same time, he was secretly delighted; his teacher was finally beginning to teach him the profound wisdom of a chaotic world... himself... I... himself...

"Brilliant... put yourself in someone else's shoes..." Overwhelmed with excitement, Chen Deng made up his mind to write down this "put yourself in someone else's shoes" trick when he got back. He would write a book called "Jiang's Art of War" in the future, and this would be the first trick. Only a general who can learn this trick is a qualified general!

"Yuanlong and Mengrang, you almost missed a golden opportunity, I'm truly ashamed..." Chen Deng said with a cupped-hand salute, "Didn't I use this very trick of 'putting myself in someone else's shoes' to break Zhang Yan's scheme?"

"Hmph!" Jiang Zhe snorted smugly, thinking to himself, "Only now do I understand?"

Xiuer shook her head and refilled their teacups.

"Thank you, Master's wife!" Chen Deng stood up and bowed to Xiu'er.

Jiang Zhe reached out and pulled Xiu'er to sit down beside him. He finished speaking, preparing to send Chen Deng away, "Remember, there's one crucial point about this 'putting yourself in someone else's shoes' approach: you must be familiar with the general's personality and the tactics he likes to use. That way, you won't make a mistake..."

"Oh..." Chen Deng suddenly realized and nodded, then asked curiously, "How did the teacher know Zhang Yan's personality? The teacher seemed to..."

"I would..." Jiang Zhe stopped after saying only two words. He couldn't very well say that he had read it from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, could he? He knew that Zhang Yan was brave and resourceful, but his schemes were too straightforward.

"..." Jiang Zhe stared at Chen Deng, who looked like a model student, for a long time. "It's getting late..."

Huh? Chen Deng was completely baffled.

Jiang Zhe's eyes widened, inwardly cursing. How could this kid be so clueless! He immediately huffed, "Go back and think this through carefully! Tell me again tomorrow! Go!"

"..." Chen Deng was stunned for a moment, and his hesitant gaze suddenly turned to Xiu'er next to Jiang Zhe. He immediately understood and secretly scolded himself, "I always thought I was smart, but I don't understand such a simple thing?"

He immediately stood up to take his leave, but Chen Deng wasn't discouraged when he left. After all, his teacher had a saying: "One must eat one bite at a time." Learning, like eating, cannot be rushed...

Silently reciting Jiang Zhe's words, Chen Deng jogged home, intending to write them down from memory—this was a profound subject!

.