Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Go ahead, tell me.” Liu Ye found what Chen Xi was saying right now very intriguing.

”One type is similar to a substitute for redundant officials, and the other is a system-wide identical model. Neither causes any impact if you eliminate a batch.” Chen Xi explained in detail to Liu Ye.

In the two systems, the first type has the drawback of easily wasting human resources and causing many unnecessary losses, while the latter can be dismantled too easily, and even after splitting, it can still function, which is somewhat dangerous.

”Of your two methods, if it were up to me, I would actually lean towards the first one. The first one can quickly replicate a team and deploy it elsewhere, which is beneficial to the model you mentioned earlier of a secondary capital beyond control range.” Liu Ye pondered for a moment and said.

”The disadvantages of these two approaches are very obvious. In fact, there are some other methods, but comparatively, they are not very suitable. I’ll think of a plan by comparing it with the positions of officials.” Chen Xi sighed and said, ”If I can’t come up with a solution by then, I’ll just use the first one.”

”That’s the only way.” Liu Ye nodded.

”How’s the investigation going?” Chen Xi asked Liu Ye.

”How could there be a result? I just compiled the casualty numbers. This matter can’t be exposed, and I’m considering whether to throw a few scapegoats up there.” Liu Ye said helplessly, he was assigned to investigate the chaos in Chang’an, but it was simply impossible to investigate.

Up until now, Liu Ye has confirmed more than twenty individuals involved, including himself, due to remote command. Even Liu Ye couldn’t confirm, after such a mixed effect from so many people, the extent of the damage caused by his own orders.

So this matter is simply impossible to investigate. It is better to cover it up; if it were truly uncovered, even with Liu Bei’s backing, Liu Ye wouldn’t be able to handle it. Moreover, if it were really uncovered, it’s not impossible that Zhou Yu, Chen Qun, Jia Xu, and others would pin it directly on Liu Ye.

After all, the scope of involvement is just too broad, even though some clues have been found, Liu Ye doesn’t dare to continue investigating. Further investigation would indeed seem provocative, and many people are watching this matter.

”Then let’s leave it at that.” Chen Xi said naturally.

”Alright then, I’ll report to our Lord, and then our Lord will inform Her Royal Highness the Princess.” Liu Ye said naturally, then casually picked up a piece of pastry before leaving.

[It has been traced back to me, huh, Liu Ziyang, you’re truly a troublesome fellow.] Chen Xi shook his head helplessly as he watched Liu Ye’s departing figure and thought to himself.

At this moment, Liu Ye also looked helpless. He never thought that by tracing it further, it would lead back to Chen Xi, and upon discovering this, Liu Ye broke out in a cold sweat.

[This matter definitely can’t be investigated further; if it continues, I might even face threats to my life. They have assassinated the emperor; what’s another clan relative? Just a while ago, perhaps dozens of clan relatives died, and we absolutely can’t investigate further.] Liu Ye thought with fear in his heart.

”Alright, Changwen, come on out.” Chen Xi turned to the back hall and soon, Chen Qun, Cheng Yu, Zhou Yu, and a group of people came out.

”This matter is concluded, Ziyang won’t investigate further, and as for who among you forged my hand and tail, I won’t ask anymore. Let’s leave it at that and all go back to work.” Chen Xi said to the group.

”Although this matter is not related to us, if it continues to be investigated, we might all get recorded, and Liu Ziyang himself isn’t clean either.” Chen Qun sighed and said.

”Alright, apart from those who truly had no hand in it, no one else can escape this matter; let it end here, and no one should pursue further, even in secret, so that everyone can sleep and eat peacefully.” Chen Xi said to the group.

Given it involves regicide, if truly pursued, everyone affected would face trouble, and even with the wisdom of all those present, it would be difficult to extricate themselves.

This leads to the situation where, if one among this group investigates, others will too, because holding evidence themselves, even if implicated, they could pull others down with them, akin to nuclear tethering, seeking not self-rescue but rather to take others down with them.

Chen Qun and the others looked at each other in dismay; this matter really can only end like this, further investigation would cause widespread panic, and truly finding evidence might leave everyone unable to rest easy.

”Then that’s how it shall be, no one investigates. Should anyone check into it, we’ll all act together and bring this matter to a close.” Cheng Yu’s eyes flashed with a gleam of menace. Should the investigation continue, he feared it would cause him harm. Dealing with redundant officials with no responsibilities was his own burden.

”Let’s do it this way; there’s nothing more to say about it. Let’s conclude this matter. Everyone works together to finalize this affair as a fact, so we can avoid unnecessary worries.” Chen Xi said calmly. In actuality, Chen Xi wasn’t worried at all, as this matter couldn’t be pinned on him.

”Alright, the day after tomorrow at the morning court, we’ll resolve this matter together.” Chen Qun glanced at the others and, seeing everyone slightly moved, spoke up.

”Then it’s settled, let’s all go back to work; with so many matters at hand, how do you still have the mind for this?” Chen Xi waved his hand to signal the end of the discussion, urging the group to return to their tasks.

After this decision, Chen Qun and the others gradually exited. In reality, Chen Xi knew this matter wouldn’t pass so easily, as if everyone had somehow taken a loss, but within this matter, there’s bound to be a beneficiary.

Moreover, those slighted were not ordinary people; it would be truly bizarre if they didn’t seek repayment. Once this matter becomes ironclad, with no evidence swaying those involved, they will finally move freely to investigate.

At that point, with collective effort, all sorts of details will be forcibly completed by these people. Under such strength, it’s really hard for anyone to keep their identity hidden.

[The one who acted this time indeed played a move ahead, with so many confusing aspects, as if it was an accident. Unfortunately, it went so smoothly, so smoothly that we cannot help but observe who the true beneficiary is, only to find out the beneficiary was actually us.] Chen Xi tapped his knuckles slightly, unwilling to act as if nothing had happened after being played like this.

After a while, Xun Yu arrived, holding the reward list he’d completed for the northern generals and those who had pacified the Southwest Yi, discussing it with Chen Xi.

This list was also tricky to compose, and Xun Yu couldn’t guarantee that he did it exceptionally well, so the reward list he created also left considerable leeway, seeking more of Chen Xi’s drafted official directory as a reference, since official positions were also part of the rewards.

”Did they leave?” Xun Yu asked.

”Aren’t they off to work?” Chen Xi handed over his draft list to Xun Yu, then took Xun Yu’s list in exchange.

”The official assessment during the Jian’an Period, calculating by year-end isn’t easily accomplished. Our time is tight, and your requirements are somewhat overboard. If it were the same as before, we’d be able to finish it. Are you sure about summoning the provincial and county officials to Chang’an?” Xun Yu asked while examining the list, as if he hadn’t heard Chen Xi’s rhetorical question.

”Now that Jian Yuan has been established, it’s about time we brought them in, and this time, with our administration, it’s vastly different from those governed by others before. You wouldn’t want our well-made plans ruined by them, so better to not do it than to skimp.” Chen Xi said, rolling his eyes.

”What you say does make sense, but we haven’t even finished evaluating the provinces and counties, and you’re already calling them to implement new plans? Are you sure there’s no problem with this?” Xun Yu said with helplessness. The central government hadn’t conducted assessments of local officials, yet required their cooperation, which sounded unreasonable.