Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chen Xi was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, ”Since ancient times, when the monarch is righteous, the ministers are wise. Who in the world today could talk lightly of surpassing Elder Xun’s strength from twenty years ago? Wise ministers need a wise monarch, with an enlightened ruler the ministers naturally possess ability.”

These words made Liu Bei shake his head slightly, but he also had to admit that the maladies of the Han Dynasty had been accumulating for a long time. Even if Chen Xi had been born twenty years earlier, it would have been difficult for him to accomplish much. The problems left over by the Two Emperors Huan Ling could not be eradicated overnight, and the great aristocratic clans had already accumulated enough power over these hundred-plus years.

Li Youu felt a deep connection to what Chen Xi said. While strategists and military generals are important, they nonetheless fall short compared to a monarch. Every monarch has his own charm that attracts civil officials and military generals alike, and under his command, they carve out their own territory. Without that leader, even a group of outstanding civil and military officials can only be deemed headless flies!

”A righteous monarch begets wise ministers; a wise monarch begets able ministers, yes, the most important thing is still the core sovereign king,” Liu Bei said helplessly shaking his head, knowing that avoiding the topic of royal power would never be possible.

”Let’s not talk about this issue that we can’t change,” Liu Bei said with a gesture of resignation. He had never harbored any blasphemous thoughts about the royal power, and for this reason, even though Liu Bei was well aware of the problems, he could only skirt around the issue. To continue might risk uttering disgracefully rebellious words.

Li Youu and Chen Xi exchanged glances, both seeing the brilliance in each other’s eyes. What differed was that Li Youu’s expression remained calm, whereas a smile emerged on Chen Xi’s face. Perhaps things are not unchangeable; while we may not affect the past, who says we can’t change the future?

”Comparatively, Lord Xuande probably wants to know what we were discussing earlier,” Chen Xi inquired after restraining his joyful expression.

”Of course,” Liu Bei sighed, ”Myself, Wen Ru, and Wen He have all experienced the Yellow Turban Rebellion and witnessed the displacement of the people. We understand the helplessness of wanting to save them but not being able to. This world lacks food and provisions. If possible, I will ensure every household has surplus grain. And the place you know of is very important!” Liu Bei expressed tiredly. At present, Mount Tai might barely be considered a place where every household has surplus grain, but the surplus is far from what Liu Bei aspired to achieve.

Unlike Li Youu and Jia Xu, who had also witnessed the destitution during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Liu Bei did not possess their anger towards the perceived injustice of heaven; he merely exuded calmness. However, within those calm words flowed the same philosophy as Li Youu and Jia Xu, showcasing a definitive unity in their approach to this matter.

”I can’t say,” Chen Xi shook his head, ”All I can tell you is that such a place does exist, but we have a more important mission right now. We must eat our meals one bite at a time, and cannot rush. Defeating Yuan Shao and contending for the Central Plains has always been our unwavering strategy, and we cannot deviate from that. We must also seize those five million acres of land in the north. Only with that can we accumulate enough strength.”

”If that is the case, I will not ask further. When the day comes to contend for the north, I hope you will not forget,” Liu Bei nodded in response.

At that moment, Liu Bei was firmly convinced of his eventual victory. If previously he harbored a trace of apprehension about Yuan Shao’s wisdom and martial prowess and a shortcoming in moral justification, now Liu Bei could point at Yuan Shao without guilt, determined to bring down Yuan Shao and contend for dominance in the north, only then would he be qualified to save more people!

Liu Bei confidently walked away, leaving behind only his silhouette for Chen Xi and the others. Afterward, Jia Xu and the rest looked to Chen Xi, who had no choice but to assert stoutly that one must have substantial power in order to possess and develop.

Chen Xi didn’t joke either, the Baiyue region indeed yields three harvests a year, but even by the Tang Dynasty, it was still a place of exile that required development and a nation’s efforts for twenty years just to see initial results.

Afterwards, without the investment of at least two generations, the land of fish and rice was still a distant dream, as for now, even if you started, it would be meaningless, and it might even waste too much time due to the strenuous labor and efforts involved.

”That’s what makes it interesting,” Lub Su, with a calm expression brimming with immense confidence, said, ”Expanding territories is our duty, after all. It’s good this way, the Central Plains have too few opponents—sparse and meager. After defeating Yuan Benchu, I wonder who else is worth our meticulous planning.”

”Zijing, do not underestimate the heroes of this world,” Li Youu glanced at Lub Su and said, ”Cao Mengde is not to be taken lightly.” Then Jia Xu added, ”Sunx Bofu is also an extraordinary figure, not to be belittled.”

”Had Cao Mengde not suffered the defeat in Xuzhou, he might indeed have accomplished something; now he is but a trifle, like a clown jumping on the beam, who could be extinguished with a backhand if he were beside us; Sunx Bofu, constrained by Yuan Gonglu, has unparalleled loyalty, yet he is destined to be unable to fight back!” Lub Su said with a cold laugh, the only worthy opponent in this world, to this extent, was Yuan Benchu; others were merely mediocre, though they were indeed extraordinary, they were ill-fated!

Chen Xi nodded as well, Cao Cao and Sunx Ce were indeed highly capable, but their current predicament was entirely due to misfortune. On the other hand, Yuan Shao had grown increasingly stronger, now with a hard power almost threefold of what was in history, and that was still with the limitation of Strategists and military generals on his side; otherwise, he would be even more dominant.

”Let’s not discuss this now. I’ll call over Xiaoo Zhi,” Jia Xu said, waving to Fa Zheng. He knew that originally, Fa Zheng was quite intrigued by what was happening on Chen Xi’s side, and now he finally waited for the summon.

”Kongming, you come here too,” Li Youu and Lub Su simultaneously beckoned Zhuge Liang. They, too, were qualified to know about these matters.

The group quickly went over the situation once more. Compared to Liu Bei, Jia Xu, and Li Youu, who truly understood the world’s cruelty, Lub Su and Chen Xi had only seen a glimpse of the tragedy while Fa Zheng and Zhuge Liang were the real greenhorns, who had only read about such events in books.

Fortunately, both were geniuses born with great talent. Though they had not suffered much hardships or witnessed many tragedies, they could still slightly imagine them; at least, they understood how important a place with three harvests a year was to the common people, albeit without the deep, bone-deep insight of Li Youu and Jia Xu.

”First pacify the north; we’ve done so much preparation there. Defeating Yuan Benchu will bring us great benefits,” said Zhuge Liang.

After all, from the beginning, the strategic direction was set on establishing dominance in the north. Regardless of the importance of the land that yields three harvests a year, in Zhuge Liang’s opinion, taking down the north to expand strength and establishing a strong foothold was the most correct choice. Since they were still self-sufficient in food, there was no need for unnecessary risks.

”Pacify the north, defeat the Wuhuan Xianbei, reclaim five million mu of land, and our grain production will double. With that, what war could we not fight?” Fa Zheng too had a keen vision and naturally knew how to choose. Although he liked ingenious strategies, that did not mean he would bother when they could achieve an absolute advantage through steady efforts!

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian ) with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)