Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1285: Chapter 1239: Upheaval in the North

When Chen Xi received Wang Jingg’s words, a hint of a smile clearly appeared. After all, the Confucian school had not yet degenerated into cynicism as in later generations.

”It seems I can be at ease, the Confucian school still knows who they are,” Chen Xi said with a smile.

”After all, it’s a school that has climbed up bit by bit, still remembering its past.” Li Youu said with a smile, thinking that since Wang Jingg could say such words, Zheng Xuan’s branch of Confucianism must have figured it out too.

”Ultimately, even Yani Huang started by digging for food from the earth; there was no nobility to speak of. The birth of respect for scholars initially was no more than respect for knowledge,” Chen Xi said, shaking his head.

From the time Suiren kindled fire, tribes began to form, and hierarchies emerged. The foundation of respect in later generations was still merely knowledge and power.

The essence of sociology is the possession of knowledge and power. Individual strength cannot be easily inherited, but knowledge and societal power can be. As a result, the core of inheritance becomes centered on knowledge.

The emergence of nobility and scholars is also based on the monopoly of knowledge. Similarly, common people’s innate sense of awe was not only for their power but their knowledge, without a doubt.

But this doesn’t mean scholars are inherently nobler than others. The scholar class, or simply that title, is just ordinary people who possess knowledge. With knowledge, anyone can become a scholar.

”Unfortunately, some people always forget what they really are.” Li Youu sneered, considering that whether it be the Confucian school, the Legalist school, or the Yin-Yang school, none are more than tools in hand; why rank them?

”Time to clean out the pests, though let me think—what school do I belong to?” Chen Xi said, rubbing his temples.

”You’re considered the Miscellaneous School.” Li Youu rolled his eyes. ”There are no pure schools anymore. Now the Confucian school is indistinguishable from the Warring States period’s Miscellaneous School.”

Chen Xi laughed heartily, realizing that the current Confucian school indeed absorbed much of the essence from the Hundred Schools of Thought, forming an ideology nearly akin to the Warring States’ Miscellaneous School, albeit centered on Confucian benevolence and ritual.

”Alright, let’s draw a close to the Confucian and Hundred Schools matters. How are things progressing in the north?” Chen Xi squinted at Li Youu and asked.

”There are mainly two issues.” Li Youu unfolded a more detailed map and had someone hang it on the back wall.

Previously, the Han Dynasty used small maps placed on tables. As a result, Chen Xi introduced a scale and hung an accurate large map on the wall, explaining using a bamboo pole, giving an air of surveying the landscape. Consequently, Liu Bei’s side all followed this style of surveying the landscape.

Li Youu pointed to the map to explain the current dire situation on the grasslands. On one hand, the invasion of Eastern Xianbei had already begun; on the other, Yuan Tan’s side was fortifying the defenses but also reported some strange information gathered by the War Eagle, yet elusive.

”We can ignore Yuan Tan for now. From what you say, there are many Eastern Xianbei?” Chen Xi said, somewhat bewildered—just how many people could such a barren place support?

”Not just Eastern Xianbei. Didn’t I mention earlier that the War Eagle collected some strange dynamics? The movements of Eastern Xianbei are problematic, with some tribes even from remote areas like North Sea moving south.” Li Youu pointed to a very distant place on the map.

”Are you sure this isn’t a joke?” Chen Xi frowned, ”What could the nomads there be thinking, moving south?”

”How could I know? This is still what the War Eagle collected. The falconer said the War Eagle saw tribes moving south from a very northerly place.” Li Youu was also helpless, as their scouts couldn’t go there, and the War Eagle couldn’t speak.

”This is absurd; how could it be? From so far, they can’t return with the spoils after a fight. It’s impossible for them to just live off the land there, isn’t it? And not clash with the nearby Xianbei is even more absurd.” Chen Xi scratched his head.

”That’s why I’m also wondering what’s going on.” Li Youu was equally helpless, intrigued but unable to investigate. Currently, even more northern places were still snowing, and by the time the snow melted, they’d be fighting Xianbei and Yuan Tan.

”Do you think there will be any consequences if we ignore it?” Chen Xi pondered seriously before speaking up, not wanting to involve himself in such trivial matters, as military affairs were not his responsibility. Although the Xianbei invasion was significant, and this peculiar situation concerning, he wished to be spared the worry.

”I’m unsure of their reasons, and I can’t even confirm if they are Eastern Xianbei, so how can I guarantee anything?” Li Youu retorted, not pleased, as he wasn’t like Guo Jia who could decide reality by mere speculation; he relied purely on intellect.

”So, you’re saying they might not even be Eastern Xianbei?” Chen Xi frowned at Li Youu and asked.

”There’s indeed that possibility.” Li Youu nodded but gave it no more thought.

”Oh, then what do you think they are if they’re not Eastern Xianbei?” Chen Xi curiously asked.

Li Youu suddenly realized Chen Xi’s thought process was somewhat different from others, ”Whether they are Xianbei or not, coming south, they’re definitely here to cause trouble.”

”Maybe they’re the enemies of the Xianbei?” Chen Xi rolled his eyes and said.

”...” Li Youu glared at Chen Xi, ”Though that’s possible, it’s quite unlikely. Suppose they are the enemies of the Xianbei...”

Li Youu suddenly looked up at Chen Xi, while Chen Xi remained puzzled, but he suddenly realized something the next moment.

”Who has the ability to seize the position of Overlord of the grassland right now? Should we inform the Xianbei of this information?” Chen Xi chuckled maliciously.

”There’s no need. Whether they’re friends or foes of the Xianbei, we intend to level the entire grassland anyway. Plus, whether they’re friends or foes of the Xianbei, it’s not us who will suffer the defeat. Since that’s the case...” A glint of coldness flashed in Li Youu’s eyes.

Chen Xi’s goal over this side was the entire grassland, so to them, whether this group was the Xianbei’s enemies or foes became irrelevant since they were all enemies; hence they considered wiping the slate clean.

Yet, it was this very mindset, combined with the complexity of investigations, that led to Li Youu and Chen Xi neglecting to look deeper into the tribes behind Eastern Xianbei.

As a result, when the Northern Huns, leading their vassals, annexed the entire Xianbei with the cooperation of Liu Bei’s Army and Yuan Shao’s Army and rebuilt the Hun Empire, both Chen Xi and Li Youu were stunned.

Taking the advantage of the Han Dynasty defeating the Northern Barbarians, the Northern Huns, forming a Steppe Allied Forces with themselves as the backbone, achieved remarkable enhancement in strength!