Mythical Three Kingdoms

The tragedy of Fa Zheng need not be elaborated upon further; everyone present is well aware of it. Nobody believes that Fa Xiaozhi doesn’t have Jiangg Ying on his mind. Fa Zheng claimed he hastily found a concubine to ensure his father’s peace, but everyone understands what truly happened. However, Liangzhou has always been too far away, and even if Liu Bei wanted to intervene, his willingness outstrips his capabilities.

”Now that you’re married, you’re considered an adult. It seems quite unfair for Kongming to remain on that list. In a while, when Xiaozhi returns, my disciple will show you all, and he will undoubtedly be the prime candidate for the top of the youth prodigy list,” Chen Xi turned the conversation toward his own disciple, believing that it was unfair for Zhuge Liang to be included in a list meant for youths when Lul Xun was the perfect fit.

”You’re forgetting Pang Shiyuan and Sima Zhongda,” said Zhuge Liang helplessly, ”There are also those two.”

”Pfft, you guys have no shame, adults bullying children. Later, I’ll speak to Xuu Zijiang. People like you should definitely not be classified as youths—we should only rank those fourteen and younger!” Chen Xi complained, as he never considered Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong to be youths, ”If you are to include Pang Shiyuan, then Fa Xiaozhi should also be on the youth list. Then Gongjin and I might as well join in.”

”If you were to join, the posting of the Civil Official List would become a laughingstock,” Lub Su retorted with an eye roll. Their group had already dealt with most of their affairs, which is why they had time for idle chat. Of course, they had also reached a consensus on the matter of Lyu Bu—they would still fight despite the talk.

Not to overly praise or criticize, but even if Wen Wu isn’t the best, Chen Xi is the clear choice for the top position should Xuu Zijiang’s Monthly Critique of Civil Officials seek to designate a leader. The direct reason the Civil Official List isn’t published yet is the difficulty in ranking the civil servants under Yuan Shao and Liu Bei, the two most potent forces; ranking their civil and military officials before a comprehensive confrontation would be challenging.

Alternatively, even if Xuu Zijiang is confident in discerning who is stronger and who is weaker, he wouldn’t want to write it down just yet. With both sides having the potential to overturn the situation, it wouldn’t be fun if the pre-announced side performs exceptionally well, overturning the side he favored. After all, the timeless truth is that the winners are princes, and the losers are bandits!

However, Chen Xi is an exception. Through certain special channels, Xuu Zijiang has already learnt some secrets, such as what Fan Liang once said: the Sovereign King may change, but what remains unchanged is Chen Xi’s eminence among subjects, almost indistinguishable from the Mandate of Heaven. Hence, Xuu Zijiang firmly reserved the first spot for Chen Xi.

”Alright, let’s get back to the main topic. Let’s not discuss this matter anymore. We will know once Xuu Zijiang has released it; there’s no point in guessing now,” said Jia Xu, who interrupted their pointless banter, as they were straying quite off course in their current situation.

”Indeed, let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s decide whether to reassign Zhao Zilong to Yanuzhou,” Lub Su sighed, declaring the change of topic. In this era, reputation was highly valued, and even the usually composed Lub Su couldn’t help but be curious about his standing on the imminent Civil Official List.

”Let’s transfer Zhao Zilong,” Jia Xu nodded, ”and I suggest Zichuan takes command with Gong Youu accompanying the army.”

Xun Yue, who had been silently reviewing laws, suddenly brightened at Jia Xu’s proposal. Having witnessed Sunx Qian’s extraordinary level of infrastructure development, Xun Yue held an unutterable admiration and now entertained a new idea sparked by Jia Xu’s suggestion.

”I second the motion of Jia Wenhe,” said Xun Yue decisively, then gave Mann Chong beside him a firm nudge. Following a moment’s contemplation with his gaze fixed on the ceiling, Mann Chong spoke, ”I also second the motion.”

”If the focus is on building an army corps, does Wen He mean to push the front line forward to Linyi in Eastern Commandery?” asked Li Youu, pondering the possibilities before nodding, ”I second the motion for Gong Youu to accompany the army.”

```

Chen Xi furrowed his brows in thought for a while, Linyi was located in the extension of Black Mountain within Yanzhou, but it was also possible to rely on Black Mountain to enter Jizhou and Bingzhou. More importantly, if they built a city there, the western battlefront would be completely severed from Mount Tai, and they would have a bridgehead for attacking Yanzhou and battling Yuan Shao.

”I agree, but I don’t approve of me being the commander in chief,” Chen Xi nodded and then firmly declined the proposal for himself to be the commander in chief.

”First, call Zilong back to Mount Tai before discussing anything else,” Lub Su said after everyone’s opinion had unified, regardless of everything else, it was imperative for Zhao Yun to return to Mount Tai, especially since the end of the year was approaching.

”Gong Youu, get the supplies and craftsmen ready recently; our approach this time will let Chen Gongtai thoroughly understand what it means to have overwhelming wealth and what it means to advance step by step. Just so happens that we’ve rounded up quite a number of Black Mountain troops, and labor isn’t lacking, so let’s settle them there,” Chen Xi instructed Sunx Qian.

”As for the Black Mountain Army, scatter and settle them. They have quite a significant difference from the Yellow Turbans of Qingzhou; many of the Black Mountain leaders are not clean,” Lub Su knocked on the table, his expression gloomy, ”Relocate a portion of the Xuzhou populace and move some of the Black Mountain Army to Xuzhou.”

”That’s good,” Li Youu nodded in agreement, appreciating Lub Su’s style this time; it was a sure way to avoid future trouble.

”As for Zhang Yan, I think we can have him stationed in Xincheng,” Chen Xi hesitated before speaking. He actually didn’t understand the choices made by Guann Hai and Zhang Yan, after all, he wasn’t the sort of hero to sacrifice himself for others, and in history, neither were they. Given the current situation, one could only say that the play they put on at the beginning was too realistic.

”That works, Shuzhi!” Lub Su nodded, then turned his head to Wang Xiu, who was recording the minutes, and said, ”Present the records of our discussion regarding the matter of Yanzhou to Lord Xuande; you may go now.”

”Yes!” Wang Xiu packed up his paper and pen, responding to Lub Su.

As they watched Wang Xiu leave, Jia Xu and the others withdrew their gazes and then thoughtfully looked at Lub Su, ”That would indeed be good.”

”It’s time to let him out after so long, and besides, all of Shuzhi’s governmental affairs can now be taken over by Kongming,” Li Youu glanced at Zhuge Liang and praised him.

”True, some students from the Academy of Mount Tai have also completed their studies,” Chen Xi said wistfully, ”Let’s deploy them too; it’s time to put them to the test. Once we have pushed through Hebei, there will certainly be people jumping for some positions. Let’s do an early rehearsal then.”

”Qu Hanmo mentioned to me a while ago that there has been some progress on his end, and that you needed to go there,” Lub Su nodded and then remembering the matter Qu Qi entrusted him with, he spoke to Chen Xi.

”Why doesn’t that guy visit my home directly? Why have you relay the message?” Chen Xi asked, puzzled, ”I’ll go there later.” (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on . Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)