Mythical Three Kingdoms

The self-rescue of the ruling class itself signifies the powerful strength of the Reform Faction.

”But it’s still alright, at least I’m not there yet.” Chen Xi said, with a sighing tone.

If I were to travel to the era of Aristocratic Politics, Chen Xi would have to consider whether to suppress the Reform Faction along with the old era to keep Aristocratic Politics going, or to overturn the Aristocratic Politics with the Reform Faction, colluding with the decaying Aristocratic Politics as it crumbles.

That era was not a time where the Reformists could survive; no matter which path was taken, it was a road full of thorns and bones. Ultimately, whichever side won, the other would have no reason to exist — a true zero-sum game.

As for the current era, it’s still better, at least there is room for the Reformists to survive; although it can’t be perfect, Chen Xi can barely hold back the pace of the era, ensuring a situation that barely qualifies as mutually beneficial.

There is no need to regard the people as ants, nor to allow the Hu People to burn, kill, and loot rampantly, nor to overhaul the Central Plains, cutting off the aristocratic family line, leaving the culture incomplete, confusing left with right.

This method can’t be said to be good but, in Chen Xi’s view, it isn’t bad either; it should be somewhere between mediocre and somewhat good, and sometimes having such a choice is enough. Faced with a mediocre plan and the worst plan of overhauling the Central Plains, one can only pinch their nose and accept it.

Ultimately, there are some choices, it’s not the worst plan after all.

”This is my answer, all I can do is reach this step; beyond this, I don’t have a better method. Many ideas, many theories aren’t something this era can complete, any theory has its own background of birth.” Chen Xi said with a sigh.

That’s also why Chen Xi needs to revise all theories that emerged after the Han Dynasty—not because the ideas are too advanced, but simply due to a different perspective.

These ideas are not wrong, whether it’s the School of Mind, the Theory of Contradiction, or the Theory of Practice. There’s actually nothing wrong, the pragmatism in the thinking of Chinese is enough to ensure that these theories could still have room to play even if they transcended a millennium to the Three Kingdoms.

The reason Chen Xi made modifications is merely about perspective; productivity, economic basis, these need not be discussed. But universal morality, thinking patterns, and level of education are entirely different, a book with hundreds of readers, within it lies inexhaustible philosophical wisdom.

”You just left the seed, as for how future contents are written, that depends on the capabilities of different families?” Li Youu opened the document, speaking as he reviewed it.

”Correct, this is all I can do, I can’t do more. After all, the content I interpret is already not the original content anymore, ’Six Classics annotated by me, annotated by Six Classics’, in the end, my annotations are adding my own thoughts.” Chen Xi, though smiling, visibly dimmed a few degrees.

Li Youu quietly processed a document and, after placing it properly, looked at Chen Xi. He could see from Chen Xi’s face that sense of helplessness and loss.

Clearly, as a reformist, Chen Xi had done his best. Although he did very well, better than anyone before, he still hadn’t reached his personal goal.

”Your method ultimately doesn’t reach the state you wish for.” Li Youu laid down his pen, after a moment of silence, spoke.

”But at least I’ve always been moving toward that state, even if I’ll never reach it, at least I won’t be lost.” At that moment, Chen Xi nearly shed all pretense and resolutely spoke.

”Hmm, at least still moving toward that direction, won’t fail like me directly.” Li Youu slowly said, ”I, as the Reform Faction, have already failed, now it rests on you. Although destined to never complete, hearts of people, hey, economic foundation, hey, never thought everything ends up circling back to the starting point of Datong Society, what a morality!”