Mythical Three Kingdoms

Jia Xu and Li Youu both stopped to look at Chen Xi, not understanding why Chen Xi was so certain.

”Don’t worry, I’ve already prepared for this aspect since the early establishment at Mount Tai. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have implemented those welfare assurance systems,” Chen Xi said with a smile. He would not reveal what those things were, as it was not yet the time.

Probably no one knows exactly how much profit is in sugar production, tea, and ceramics. Similarly, few people have thought about how many cattle and horses can be raised in the north. These simplest things rarely get attention.

However, Chen Xi has witnessed the power of these things in history. The profit generated by each is calculated in billions, though not in copper coins, but in silver...

As for converting them into copper coins, Chen Xi is uncertain, but one thing he knows is that this income is enough to surpass the Han Dynasty’s overall tax revenue by several blocks.

Chen Xi does not want to disclose this. He has long discovered that suppressing this era is not as effortless as before. Although people often think of Chen Xi as covering this era like the bright moon, overshadowing the light of the stars.

In fact, Chen Xi increasingly feels that he has more thoughts than energy. Whether it’s Lub Su, Guo Jia, these allied sages, or Cao Cao, Sunx Ce, those opposing leaders, none are easy to deal with. Chen Xi feels he is unable to suppress them.

All right, this inability to suppress is not about being unable to kill or defeat. To kill or defeat them purely depends on how much one is willing to lose.

Chen Xi’s current inability to suppress means he cannot make this group follow his prescribed script obediently. Sunx Ce is still manageable, but Cao Cao constantly wants to stage something major, which annoys Chen Xi a bit. Recently, Lyu Bu ascended, and another pawn exited the game.

At that time, the Central Plains situation was manipulated by Liu Bei and Yuan Shao to that extent. If Lyu Bu doesn’t go to Bingzhou, he will die. Going to Bingzhou means carrying past debts. Chen Gong is not a fool; he will certainly use righteousness appropriately, and Lyu Bu’s action of slaughtering the Hu People was destined to prevent his return to the Central Plains.

Humans are like this. If Lyu Bu doesn’t step into Bingzhou, he can continue with a heart of stone. But once stepping into Bingzhou and seeing the ravaged land, it’s unlikely for Lyu Bu to maintain that heart of stone.

There’s a psychological phenomenon called guilt, and similarly, a psychological phenomenon called responsibility. If Lyu Bu doesn’t return to Bingzhou, everything is irrelevant. But once he returns, without giving an explanation, he himself cannot leave; this is human nature.

Similarly, this is why Chen Xi, knowing Tian Yu is in the north, never summoned Tian Yu. Although Gongsun Zan indeed went offline in history, we must acknowledge he never failed to confront the Outer Barbarians.

Similarly, Li Jue and Guo Si also belong to scoundrels. But given the chance for redemption right at hand, they won’t give up either, as this is a human instinct.

This is also the basis for Chen Xi’s suppression and even driving of the civil and military officials of the entire era. Everyone has something they want to gain, and also cautious aspects, and Chen Xi uses these to push everyone onto one path little by little.

Liu Bei needs to restore the Han Dynasty and exceed ancestral achievements, so he needs the power of the officials. Cao Cao, in a weak position, must play according to the rules Liu Bei set; Sunx Ce wants to prove himself without failing Yuan Shu’s trust, so he cannot disrupt the rules Yuan Shu set.

Li Youu wants to open a path for the Humble Family to rise and make the people of the Central Plains more prosperous. Jia Xu wants a more comforting life, in accordance with comfort; Liu Ye wants to elevate Liu Bei further. Fa Zheng wants to prove himself; Guo Jia hopes to prove the existence of the Humble Family, etc.

These are almost unrelated, but Chen Xi has discerned a clear pattern within them, using this pattern to systematically gather these sages, who, although not diametrically opposed, are also sparring against each other.

It’s not because these people are virtuous nor because they are exceptionally wise, but because the path Chen Xi has taken allows them to better achieve their goals.

Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu both want to fulfill the Yuan Family’s goal of sweeping the Six Heavens from bottom to top. However, Yuan Shao, born as a concubine’s child, is slightly more lenient towards the commoners, while Yuan Shu, as the legitimate son of an aristocratic family, sees sweeping the Six Heavens as an inevitability, thus setting a farther goal.

Regardless of whether the method is correct or not, no sane person would consider themselves the representative of evil unless this person is already mad. Besides mistakenly estimating the real situation, none of these confident people would think what they’re doing is wrong.

Just like Yuan Shu doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to restore the old traditions of an aristocratic family. Yuan Shu would never think he’s doing anything for the commoners; he’s just clearing the trash. In his vision, there is no concept of commoners.

This is essentially different from the time’s perspective. In this era, those truly fighting for the people might only count on one hand: Chen Xi is one, Liu Bei is one, Zhang Zhongjing is one, as for anyone else, Chen Xi really doesn’t know.

Li Youu is for the Humble Family, which doesn’t equal commoners; Chen Xi has long known this. Even though he initially spoke about broadly opening the door to education, Li Youu was merely glad the Humble Family had books to read.

Li Youu knows well that the commoners can’t afford a full-time scholar. They have the will but not the ability, so at first, Chen Xi’s educational approach selected partial free education, providing two meals.

Li Jue reopening Zhengguo Canal and Six Auxiliary Canals was not for the commoners; he did it for himself. Only the beneficiaries were the commoners.

Lyu Bu fighting the Northern Barbarians was mixed with guilt and shame. How much was genuinely for the commoners, no one can say for sure, but it was enough that the beneficiaries were the commoners.

The officials of the entire world fought for themselves as the main force. There is nothing Chen Xi can do about this, but as long as the commoners benefit, that’s enough. The purpose is not important to Chen Xi.

The late Han wasn’t an era for the commoners; Chen Xi has long settled on this, so it’s impossible to rely on their moral character to have the world treat the commoners kindly.

The law doesn’t apply to Dai Fu, nor does etiquette apply to the commoner; whether misinterpreted as not needing to treat commoners with courtesy or so-called not requiring commoners to have complete etiquette, the basic meaning is one: the Saints consider commoners are not of the same species as themselves.

Since they’re taught this way, expecting the commoners to be seen as people is a hope even Chen Xi doesn’t hold, but it’s fine, he has his own methods.

The Aristocratic Rich Family doesn’t want to do so, then Chen Xi uses conspiracy and bribery. The gentle and tender bonds of the late Han are also forced out by Chen Xi with extremely strong power, giving the commoners some benefits is better than getting themselves into trouble, not to mention Chen Xi will also compensate them.

Didn’t Cao Cao admit the mistake of the Xuzhou massacre due to pressure from circumstances? If Cao Cao were the Duke Wei controlling ten states, will you see if he would admit the mistakes?

Internally, Chen Xi relies on ideals to unite comrades and dissolve internal conflicts; externally, he uses the power of comrades to write the rules little by little, forcing everyone to move forward according to his rules. But that’s about it; it’s difficult to do anything more refined than this. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)