Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1336: Chapter 1289: Dividing Within and Without

”Hasn’t the recent official announcement caused quite a stir?” Li Youu remarked with an air of nonchalance, completely disregarding the fact that he himself had posted the announcement.

”It doesn’t seem like much, maybe just that recently, more people have signed up for the spring exam.” Chen Xi wouldn’t bother with such matters. ”But the aristocratic families are really idle, there are so many of them enrolling. Speaking of which, Zhongyu, does your Xun Family have anyone who understands water management?”

”Didn’t someone from your family also sign up? Besides, one can learn if they don’t know, or they can ask someone who understands to help. The Xun Family has so many people, maybe there’s someone who knows.” Xun Yue said casually, unconcerned. He always had an open mind; since others could participate, naturally his family could too.

As for being an official, and being the one setting the questions, thus barring family members from participating, Xun Yue wouldn’t bother with such things. It’s always been the habit of the Xun Family to recommend their kin and friends.

”You’re right. It’s just a question of who will win this time.” Chen Xi nodded without giving it much thought. ”By the way, Lord Xuande is getting married in a few days. What do you plan to gift him?”

”Just some congratulatory words, I guess. I haven’t seen Lord Xuande favor anything in particular.” Lub Su answered casually, ”Zichuan, what do you plan to give?”

”Still thinking.” Chen Xi replied helplessly, ”But it seems our previous announcement caused quite a stir, and Lord Xuande seems to want to say something to me.”

”Because it concerns a fief, not just a simple marquis or feud, and it wasn’t reported to the Emperor, Lord Xuande, being a person who adheres to etiquette, naturally wants to say something to you.” Xun Yue said with slight displeasure. He had reminded Chen Xi about this before, but Chen Xi completely ignored it.

”I’m not conferring the land of the Great Han Dynasty, alright? I’m only helping him conquer it. Besides, I also stated in the official announcement that a ’grantable’ fief of seventy li.” Chen Xi replied irritably.

”Under heaven, nothing is not the land under heaven; the edge of the land under heaven, nothing is not the minister of the land.” Mann Chong, who had been listening without making comments, suddenly spoke.

”Ha?” Li Youu sneered but said nothing, simply ending the potential debate.

”Which law of the Han disallows conferring fiefs, or which law states we can’t do it?” Chen Xi added immediately. Although he hadn’t studied Han laws in depth, there was a rule that anything not written into Han law is not considered law.

”Only the Liu surname can be kings!” Mann Chong’s face darkened as he addressed Chen Xi.

”I don’t recall Zichuan saying he wants to make kings.” Jia Xu scratched his ear and said, ”If I remember correctly, it’s just a marquis, right? Zichuan, am I right?”

”Yes, yes, it’s not even officially a marquis, just an ancient title of earl. You see, for such great achievements, only a marquis was granted domestically, with a feud of twelve hundred households and supplemented a fief of seventy li. It’s only abroad that one can claim the title of earl; domestically, it’s respected as marquis.” Chen Xi supported matter-of-factly, as if advocating for the future water management expert.

At this point, Mann Chong didn’t know what else to say, only feeling these two were too shameless. But when it came to picking flaws, there was nothing, as Han law really didn’t specify the things Chen Xi and Jia Xu mentioned, nor did the issue of fiefs have any special provisions, except for the prohibition on making kings.

[Does this mean conferring a marquisate can mark a thousand-li kingdom if one loses their shame?] Xun Yue thought deeply. [If this is the case, the domestic title becomes a glory of one generation, while the foreign title turns into a family legacy of a hundred generations. Zichuan indeed has put considerable thought into moving the aristocratic families abroad.]

Lub Su silently thought, although he always believed Chen Xi’s intentions to move the aristocratic families out were not entirely sincere, such efforts to do so were genuinely difficult.

[This guy has already begun probing the thoughts of aristocratic families so early, huh? What aristocratic family could refuse a fief?] Jia Xu mused with an air of nonchalance.

”Even so, if someone can truly construct to such a degree, accomplishing merits remembered for ages, even without military merit, a mere marquis position indeed wouldn’t suffice. Such achievements should split the earth and grant kingdoms, as for the title of king, honestly, it’s just a name.” Li Youu remarked lightly, seeing through these matters now, understanding that a king is merely a nominal title.

”I think so too. Besides, the world is so vast, conferring it to one’s own people is better than having it taken by others.” Chen Xi agreed with an expression, ”Rather than leaving it to outsiders, better let it spoil within the pot.”

Upon hearing these words, Jia Xu paused slightly, then a hint of peculiar color flashed in his eyes. After a while, he turned to Chen Xi, with shock written all over his eyes.

[Only such boldness could birth such talent, the height is always determined by vision. Spoil within the pot, huh? This is Zichuan’s purpose!] Jia Xu quietly withdrew his gaze, [It’s truly wonderful to be part of this era.]

”Sigh~” Mann Chong’s slightly darkened face suddenly softened, ”You all have good thoughts, and indeed all the laws have been circumvented, but you’ve neglected a person. Law is emotionless, but people have emotions, and once there’s sentiment, then there’s love and hate, closeness and distance.”

Chen Xi looked at Mann Chong, puzzled, unable to understand what he was talking about.

”He means we ignored the Emperor’s feelings. Although these matters haven’t really violated the laws of etiquette, to act first and report later already violates the Emperor’s authority. The Marquis of Former Han at Xiliu Camp used a General’s Order to refuse the Emperor entry; though the Emperor praised his military administration, from that moment on, he held a grudge.” Jia Xu replied matter-of-factly.

”Close the door, close the door, anyone eavesdropping will be dealt with directly.” Chen Xi called outside, and soon a city management squad took care of the door and stationed around.

The doors and windows shut tightly, layers of burlap and wool blankets hung outside, plunging the Political Office into darkness. Then Chen Xi inserted his hands to prop up his head.

”Boning, you wouldn’t fail to understand our purpose, would you?” Chen Xi turned with a strange expression to look at Mann Chong.

”I feel it’s not yet time to tear things open.” Mann Chong answered stiffly.

”We haven’t torn anything; I made it clear in my report to the Emperor, it’s ’grantable’.” Chen Xi shamelessly played around with words, ”Besides, we’ve been skating on the edge so many times already; we all understand the personality of the Emperor, though wise, and truly doesn’t understand what he should do.”

”You’re just exposing us this way.” Mann Chong frowned.

”Wen Ru, you tell us, based on the current situation I reported to the Emperor, how the Emperor would handle it?” Chen Xi raised an eyebrow and turned to Li Youu, knowing that understanding Liu Xie meant asking Li Youu, considering Li Youu had a ”helping hand” in his ascent to the throne.