Chapter 50: You Have Limits, But I Don’t!
Su Dingfang exuded an air of unwavering confidence as he spoke. Im going to run You cant stop me, he declared boldly, although he felt embarrassed at uttering those words.
Turning to Su Li, he continued, echoing their previous conversation, As you mentioned, considering my courage and martial prowess, how would I fare in the mighty Tang Dynasty?
The battle between Su Dingfang and Su Li had reached its conclusion. Su Dingfang, who had claimed that he could defeat the entire Tang Dynasty with just five fingers, was clearly no match for Su Li. The difference in their strengths was immense. It was evident that even with Su Dingfangs skills if Su Li focused his efforts on him, there would be no chance of escape within a hundred steps. The only limiting factor was Su Lis low acuity attribute, which affected his speed and agility.
Is the gap really this significant? Su Li pondered.
He knew that his strength and physical attributes would easily overpower Su Dingfang. Being a super first-class warrior like Xiang Yu, he had surpassed the limitations of the human body.
Su Li remarked, If Luo Shixin were still alive, perhaps he could put up a fight against me. But as things stand now, in terms of martial prowess alone, it would be difficult to find an opponent throughout the entire Tang Dynasty.
Su Dingfang gazed at the composed Su Li, a hint of emotion flickering on his face. Moments ago, Su Dingfang had been contemplating the limitations of human beings. It was the overwhelming pressure of the all-around strategic prowess displayed by the Tang Dynastys generals in Dou Jiandes camp that had prompted Su Dingfang to abandon his focus on martial prowess and wholeheartedly embrace the study of military strategy in his twenties.
It was during his encounter with his younger brother, whom he hadnt seen for over a decade, that Su Dingfang had come to this realization. He discovered that he had limits, while his younger brother had none. Su Dingfang was confident that, in terms of personal martial prowess alone, none of the existing Tang Dynasty generals could surpass Su Li. Reflecting on the past, he concluded that perhaps only Luo Shixin, who had died from exhaustion, could have posed a challenge to Su Li during the Sui and Tang Dynasties.
Su Lis strength and physique exceeded the boundaries of ordinary imagination. Su Dingfang, known for his bravery, didnt dare engage in a direct confrontation with Su Li. Merely blocking Su Lis attacks proved to be arduous enough. Su Lis abilities transcended the capabilities of an ordinary human, evoking a sense of hopelessness in others. Observing Su Lis relaxed demeanor after the fight, devoid of any signs of sweat, indicated that he had merely been warming up, leaving Su Dingfang wondering how long Su Lis physical strength could sustain him in battle.
History had shown that only tactics bordering on foolishness could be employed in the face of such unparalleled bravery. The strategy involved severing Su Lis wings and surrounding him with a massive army to force him into exhaustion and ultimately defeat.
Xiang Yu fought fiercely for half a day, leaving behind a mountain of corpses and blood. Luo Shixin, on the other hand, bravely defended a city alone, battling relentlessly for an entire day and night until exhaustion claimed his life.
According to Su Dingfangs assessment, the only way to overcome Su Lis extraordinary bravery was to employ a large number of powerful bows and crossbows or surround him with heavy troops. Given Su Lis current display of strength, he seemed to have very few apparent weaknesses, except for his speed. He was arguably on par with the legendary ancient Overlords in terms of sheer strength and physique.
With your exceptional skills, the only way to defeat you on the battlefield would be to encircle you with overwhelming forces or employ formidable bows and crossbows to bring you down. If you commanded thousands of elite soldiers with consistent provisions and logistical support, you would be an unstoppable force capable of maneuvering at will! Su Dingfang remarked, his face reflecting a mix of admiration and emotion.
He never anticipated that his younger brother, whom he hadnt seen in over a decade, would possess such extraordinary abilities. The younger brother he could easily lift up, the little child who used to pester him to play games, had now become a fearless warrior. What was even more impressive was that Su Li had developed a unique fighting style perfectly suited to him, one that showcased both openness and precision, particularly effective with long weapons. An opponent would struggle to last even five rounds against Su Li when wielding a mighty halberd and striking with all his might.
True generals should not be judged by their bravery alone. Personal bravery ceased to be the primary criterion for evaluating a general a long time ago. As armor grew stronger, weapons became sharper, the crossbows range and power increased, and personal braverys influence on the battlefield diminished. Su Dingfang, having learned from the disadvantages of relying solely on bravery without understanding strategy, shifted his focus to the art of war.
He recognized that personal braverys role in battle would continue to dwindle, gradually losing its impact on the overall situation. However, some exceptional individuals defied common sense, such as Overlord Xiang Yu and the late Luo Shixin. Despite lacking strategic acumen like Su Dingfang once did, Luo Shixin dominated the world with his unparalleled bravery. Xiang Yu, the Western Chu Overlord, possessed not only military strategy and tactics but also harnessed his martial prowess to the fullest, achieving remarkable military accomplishments that resonated throughout China for decades, establishing his dominance on the early Han Dynasty battlefield.
Even Li Er himself gained fame for his military exploits. Apart from being an emperor, he was also a first-class general.
Not to mention internal affairs, as individuals like Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Zhangsun Wuji managed the Great Tang in an orderly manner.
However, it was too early for Su Li to aspire to become an ancestor of the Tang Dynasty.
But I am not Xiang Yu! Su Li grinned.
Unlike Xiang Yu, Su Li was not as reckless. He didnt want to antagonize the entire world needlessly.
Looking at it optimistically, there was only a slight difference between his strength and physique compared to Xiang Yus, with just over two months having passed.
In another two or three months, maybe I can take on the Tang Dynastys Heavenly Squad all by myself, Su Li said with a smirk.
He would have no rivals in the entire Tang Dynasty if he waited another year and a half.
Hence, Su Li remained calm and composed. They were heroes in the later stages, after all. He was determined to keep progressing.
With your skills, I fear you are already invincible. However, you must learn some war tactics if you dont want to exhaust yourself and meet the same fate as Luo Shixin. Have you learned any? Su Dingfang asked after a moment of contemplation.
Su Li was delighted upon hearing this. Could he really achieve what others couldnt?
He was still in the early stage, and there was a long way to go before reaching the late stage. However, Su Li didnt reveal this harsh reality. In Su Dingfangs eyes, someone like Su Li was already extremely terrifying. He might consider him a monster if he were to find out that this was just the beginning.
Nonetheless, Su Li listened attentively to Su Dingfangs words. There was a limit to personal martial prowess, although he wasnt aware of where his own limit lay. If he could understand and apply the strategies well, it would have an effect greater than the sum of its parts.
Besides, Su Dingfang was a first-class general renowned for his military exploits in later generations, with a world-renowned understanding of the art of war.
Su Li had already acquired some knowledge of the art of war, and his foundation of common sense in this field was solid. However, he lacked the means to adapt and cleverly use these ideas. Wasnt it time to seek guidance now?
I have learned a little bit Its just that most of it is superficial knowledge without truly understanding the underlying principles! Su Li honestly confessed.