Mythical Three Kingdoms

”However, looking at the situation, that young fellow from the Yuan Family probably won’t have any trouble at all,” Chen Ji quietly said.

”The entire branch of the two families that clashed today is gone, but that has nothing to do with us,” Xun Shuang said nonchalantly, just managing one’s own family would suffice.

”As for the subsequent handling by the Minister of Justice, it’s mostly unlikely to result in any sentences. If it were the Inner Chamber Secret Prison, they could be executed directly. Now, the process has to be followed, and it might just end without resolution, but it’s hard to avoid...” Zhao Qi suddenly sent a voice transmission in a somewhat gloomy tone.

”It’s just a remake of selling official positions and titles; pay for bail, with each family forking out three hundred million coins, and the Grand Princess will definitely let go,” Huangfu Song glanced at Liu Tong and transmitted to the group.

”Do you want me to sell this information to Sunx Bofu? I suppose I could get quite a bit of money for it. Getting old, my stipend has decreased, and life has become more difficult,” Sima Jun yawned and sent a voice transmission to Sunx Bofu.

”Who are you?” Sunx Ce had been half scared to death by Huangfu Song’s proposal, but after Zhou Yu’s explanation, he was quite grateful to Huangfu Song. Just then, someone suddenly transmitted a message to him.

”Heh, I’m the one who asked Huangfu Yizhen to help you with this matter. How about it? Next, I’ll teach you how to get Yuan Gonglu out,” Sima Jun chuckled and transmitted to Sunx Ce.

”Thank you, thank you! How exactly do I get him out?” Sunx Ce had by now noticed Sima Jun. The old man, over eighty, had white hair and beard, a kind and gentle appearance, and seemed like a good person. And at this time, when he claimed to have asked Huangfu Song to help, he certainly wouldn’t lie.

”It’s quite simple. Actually, today’s matter mainly tarnished the Grand Princess’s face. Look at what the princess might lack, hurry up and send it to her. Even though she has the support of the Liu Royal Family, the Grand Princess must be short of resources,” Sima Jun said more and more, causing Sunx Ce’s eyes to light up.

”Surely you’re familiar with the concept of buying peace with money? Moreover, the Grand Princess is far more rational than the Late Emperor. Compared to an empty face, she’s more pragmatic because she experienced the chaos in Luoyang, Dong Zhuo’s misgovernment, and the chaos with Li Guo, so she understands better where her power comes from,” Sima Jun explained with a faint smile, breaking it down to a level even Sunx Ce could understand.

”So, if you show her enough respect and offer plenty of treasures, she will loosen her grip,” Sima Jun cheerfully informed Sunx Bofu.

”Thank you, kind sir! May I know your name, so I can visit you to express my gratitude later?” Sunx Ce thanked him energetically.

”No need to be formal. I am Sima Jun from the Sima Family of Hedong. If General has the opportunity, just look out for the Sima Family of Hedong,” Sima Jun stated quite directly. With someone like Sunx Ce, there was no point in beating around the bush—it was better to be straightforward.

”Oh, oh, oh! Is it the family of that youth with a mismatched head and body, who became a sentimental young man?” Sunx Ce hadn’t yet realized who the Sima Family of Hedong were, but he remembered what Zhuge Liang had said about Sima Yi.

”...” Sima Jun remained expressionless as he turned to look at Sima Yi hiding behind him, thinking there was indeed some truth to Sunx Ce’s words.

”Yuanyi, that’s enough. Sunx Bofu is a righteous person, and he will surely remember your words for a long time,” Xun Shuang laughed, the reason he didn’t interrupt earlier was that all the old folks knew Sima Jun wanted to connect with the Sunx Family.

”Actually, I knew it wouldn’t turn into a fight. But seeing the situation, Sunx Bofu won’t fall, helping out might leave a favor, and maybe later we can ride the Sun Family’s big ship,” Sima Jun chuckled and transmitted this to Xun Shuang and others.

”As if you could ride a ship, you’d have to lie on the deck, not daring to move,” Xun Shuang laughed, mentioning how Sima Jun couldn’t handle being on a ship without feeling dizzy, even vomit.

”It sounds like you could get on one,” Sima Jun laughed and retorted to Xun Shuang through voice transmission, noting that many of these northern aristocratic families couldn’t get on a ship.

In fact, Sima Jun wasn’t aware that what he said today would later come true: a descendant of the Sima Family really rode the big ship of Sunx Bofu to sail out to sea.

”Gongjin, Gongjin, do you think this plan could work? That old man named Sima Jun just told me about it,” Sunx Ce eagerly informed Zhou Yu about what had happened earlier.

”It might just work, but the kind of rare treasures needed are not few,” Zhou Yu nodded quietly.

”Ha, rare treasures are nothing, what’s lost can always be regained. If Yuan Gong is gone, then we’ll only have to offer incense for him in the future,” Sunx Ce said indifferently, ”I’ll see how it would be to ship a load of gold and silver jewelry over. Now, the road to Chang’an is open, using an official road carriage, it’s just a matter of a dozen days.”

”Then it’s up to you, don’t send too much at once,” Zhou Yu transmitted to Sunx Ce. It’s good to let Sunx Ce handle this so he wouldn’t cause any trouble during this time.

”Don’t worry, don’t worry, isn’t it just sending things? I know how to do that,” Sunx Ce said nonchalantly, and immediately prepared to dispatch someone to urgently return home to gather rare treasures to be sent to Chang’an.

After a group of old guards forcibly glossed over the matter involving the Yuan Family and the Yang Family, the Grand Assembly finally entered its true agenda.

Subsequently, the Grand Princess first bestowed official rewards and titles, punished some unqualified officials, and then completely glossed over the chaos in Chang’an. After thoroughly clearing away the stale atmosphere of the previous era, the assembly began to enter the new political era of the Yuanfeng year.

Chen Xi had already handed over the materials compiled by him and his colleagues to the Grand Princess. Although they were executing the new policies, the face of it had to be the new emperor’s, hence the essence of diplomacy.

However, the scope of Chen Xi’s new policies was extensive. Even though Liu Tong was indeed intelligent, Chen Xi marked the key points as much as possible, but after such a long period of reading through them, Liu Tong truly grasped little. Therefore, Liu Tong only outlined some things briefly, and then handed it over to Chen Xi to explain the detailed parts.

After all, among this group, perhaps only Chen Xi was capable of explaining each part in detail. The others were more focused on the areas they managed.

Just like back during the time in the Northern Frontier: first discussed the framework, then the specifics, though seemingly chaotic, everyone present could discern a detailed outline from it.

Moreover, unlike the pure problem-solving discussions of the past, disregarding the destructive nature and harm to vested interests, this time Chen Xi’s explanations covered all aspects meticulously.

After all, these issues truly affect these people’s lives; a slight mistake could potentially harm others.

Fortunately, Chen Xi was well-prepared, combining solutions from various historical periods to minimize being caught off guard during the allotted question time.

”How did your house cultivate him so well? I always thought Wen Ruo was unparalleled, but when I used to see your house’s representative, he didn’t show such sharpness as he does today. I never felt the difference was this big.” Xun Shuang said in amazement.

”I don’t know. If I did, the Chen Family could produce half of him each generation, and then my Chen Family could last forever.” Chen Ji shook his head and said, ”But truly, he has exceeded my expectations. Historically, revolutionaries seldom have a good end because any reform affects others’ interests, so conflict is inevitable.”

”Indeed, the common people’s interests are negligible; only when our interests, those of the nobility, are affected—it’s our power converted from these interests—are we moved?” Sima Jun sighed deeply.

”So, each reform looks beneficial from our perspective, good for the country overall, but to sacrifice our lives for the country? Even as an old man, I wish to live a little longer.” Sima Jun said with a mocking smile.

”Although we can see the advantages clearly as we stand above others, knowing a stronger country means we’ll be stronger too, isn’t it quite something to lay down our lives to pave the path for the country’s power without shedding our blood and tears?” Chen Ji said disdainfully.

All these old guards thought similarly; when it comes to sacrificing lives to forge a path forward, they hesitate little. But to pave a path with lives and not letting their men lead, instead throwing others down the path, this is absolutely intolerable.

You should know, these are the views of the enlightened faction. If it were the conservatives, they might never agree to reform, and fundamentally, all failed reforms boil down to lacking genuine benefits to suppress the tensions provoked by the reforms.

”Might as well listen thoroughly; this is more interesting than that monkey show we saw before. Judging by the situation, we might be back to listen again tomorrow,” Ren An, also linked into the voice transmission network of these old guards, said, slightly weary. He was over seventy now, low on energy.

”We will probably be listening for several days; it’s substantial content, but it’s authentic material.” Zhang Jian said with a smile, seeing many old friends this time, some of whom hadn’t been seen for over twenty years.

”Why did he suddenly stop?” Zhao Qi, who was listening while taking notes, suddenly noticed Chen Xi stopped speaking. He looked at the time, feeling there should be ample time left, and frowned, inquiring.

”Cough, cough, cough, Grand Princess, please bring me a cup of water.” Chen Xi was truly parched from speaking extensively this time, unable to utter another word. During previous discussions, he occasionally drank water, but today he had no such luxury; the assembly wouldn’t provide water.

Additionally, previous assemblies would rarely see one person speak continuously, except when others questioned during the allocated questioning time. Then, Chen Xi would quickly respond. Otherwise, everyone listened attentively, even the emperor wouldn’t speak for such a continued length.

Moreover, the emperor had water; today, Chen Xi was truly in dire straits.

”What did you say?” Liu Tong looked at Chen Xi with a strange expression. It wasn’t intentional; Chen Xi moved his lips, but no sound came out.

”Cough, cough, cough.” Chen Xi covered his mouth and coughed for a while before his voice returned, ”Lost my voice from speaking, Grand Princess, a cup of tea.”