Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1050: Chapter 1006: The Combination of Odd and Even

The knowledge Chen Xi has learned tells him that all matters involving personal affairs can be done as one pleases, and if someone uses their personal affairs to investigate the individuals behind you, either they possess strength that allows them to disregard your influence, or they have a problem with their judgment.

In the first scenario, whatever you say is meaningless; in the second scenario, what you say is equally meaningless. In essence, these two scenarios are about picking a fight, so when it comes to solving personal issues, all investigations into the forces behind you are merely a pretext.

However, when dealing with matters that are not personal, there is much to consider, especially as your level rises. You cannot act recklessly; you even need to think about what will happen decades in the future.

To cut down the aristocratic families is precisely the kind of matter that will ripple across decades, even centuries, and Chen Xi is more than certain of this.

One can say that with the nurturing of one generation, Chen Xi can forcibly replicate an official system out of the current system of aristocratic families in office, a system purely loyal to Chen Xi or Liu Bei.

Such a thing is not impossible to achieve, but in the future, as long as you cannot remain eternally in that position, as long as you cannot persist indefinitely, the people below and above will change eventually!

The passage of time reveals the advantages of the civil service examination system almost clearly. Even if Chen Xi doesn’t say it, the successors will naturally create something similar or identical, under which the era of civil officials coming to power is almost inevitable, eventually turning into pedantic scholars is a foregone conclusion!

This is indeed the most unsolvable situation. Eliminate the aristocratic families, and civil officials will take their place, leading to chaos. Not eliminating the aristocratic families will result in one family monopolizing, hindering historical progression.

Thus it seems history proves that aristocratic families, civil service exams, civil officials group, and the Confucian school are not good things; these should all be destroyed!

Unfortunately, in the eras they emerged, these were the most refined things. If not for their absolute benefits for national stability and governance, they couldn’t have reached such a monopoly.

As the saying goes, reason evolves with time; everything has a period of efficacy. Only by observing everything with a dialectical perspective can the truest side be seen.

Chen Xi’s thoughts have also undergone contemplation, and finally, he selects a policy as suitable as possible; he cannot guarantee whether the policies towards the aristocratic families he is currently implementing are correct.

However, in Chen Xi’s view, sometimes not seeing the future is much better than witnessing destruction. To follow the original path inevitably leads to death; it is better to walk a path nobody has tread before.

No matter how bad it could get, aristocratic families promoted to aristocratic families couldn’t get worse. But compared to some treacherous civil official groups and shameless and brainless pedantic scholars, only more people out there exist!

Since it’s all rotten beyond repair, Chen Xi couldn’t find a way in history to avoid the troublesome development of aristocratic families promoted to aristocratic families and civil official groups promoted from humble families. Chen Xi simply lets it be, since it’s a dead end, why not choose a different path.

As previously mentioned, Chen Xi now holds the belief that an unseen future is much better than visible destruction, who knows, this unseen road might not be one of destruction, and even if it is a road of destruction, it’s merely returning to history.

One could say this is the foundational reason for Chen Xi’s lenient treatment of the aristocratic families; when other methods are unrealistic, think of a realistic one!

Chen Xi’s constant goal has been peaceful development, allowing the people of the Central Plains to lead good lives. Under such a goal, he can tolerate war, tolerate some dark measures, but these are means, not the end.

One could say this swap is Chen Xi engaging in means; thus, this time he has been very generous to the aristocratic families, with land compensation, official position compensation, ancestral land compensation, and more.

Because Chen Xi knows no aristocratic family would abandon such a swapping method; Chen Xi has indicated too many times that he harbors little malice towards the aristocratic families; it’s only that they hinder him, as he seeks stability in the Central Plains, and well-being for the people.

Such goodwill, such obvious approaches, Chen Xi’s actions of always acting openly have led the aristocratic families to overlook this young man who keeps on saying ”the trend is with me,” is not merely someone proficient in the King’s Way but is equally adept at strategy and manipulation, though he generally doesn’t need to employ them.

The fact is, the King’s Way, diplomatic and benevolent, is indeed true, but it’s not applicable every time, sometimes using different methods is better, just like this time, Chen Xi’s stated goals are clear, reasonable, and even when seeking, act with retreat and advance.

In reality, Chen Xi’s core aim from the beginning isn’t those big principles he mentions, but rather to have the aristocratic families develop five million hectares of good land in the Northeastern Plain, and this isn’t even the ultimate goal.

The true target is to separate the aristocratic families’ private slaves, private soldiers, and supporters from the core of the aristocratic families, which is essential.

As for how many private slaves and private soldiers the aristocratic families have, Chen Xi estimates there are probably over three million combined among the hundreds of families present; these people all lack registration and are best relocated to the Northeastern Plain.

Together with the aristocratic families’ supporters, when the aristocratic families develop the Northeastern Plain, they probably don’t need to relocate the common people under their governance, hence avoid the public’s discontent that Chen Xi has constantly hinted at.

Though Chen Xi is well aware public discontent is merely a facade, he wants the aristocratic families to gather their private slaves and soldiers in the Northeast, and once there, it won’t be up to the aristocratic families anymore.

Once they reach the Northeast, gather, and separate from the aristocratic families, Chen Xi will find controlling them much simpler, especially in converting these private slaves, private soldiers into common folk.

As for the possibility of the Central Plains aristocratic families causing trouble during the conversion, it’s likely that by then, any aristocratic family with sense will refrain, for without private slaves and soldiers, what are aristocratic families but tigers without claws?

Frankly speaking, if the aristocratic families are not weakened to such an extent, Chen Xi has little confidence in their re-education. To fundamentally transform them, Chen Xi can only envision luring the aristocratic families step by step into taking the bait, delivering a fatal blow, leaving them without resistance.

In all honesty, Chen Xi estimates that when the aristocratic families lose the ability to resist entirely, provided Chen Xi doesn’t strike against them, highlighting a clear path instead, the aristocratic families would probably be overwhelmingly grateful, and all previous unpleasantness will vanish. This could be considered as Stockholm Syndrome. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)