Mythical Version of Three Kingdom

”Four hundred thousand shi of grain should be no problem until next summer’s harvest. Even if we need to take in refugees from Qing Province, we can barely manage. My suggestion is to continue construction. Wherever we take in refugees, we should build there, and Zilong’s Tuntian Decree should be implemented there as well,” Chen Xi said casually, holding a book and glancing at its contents. He didn’t have the habit of starting with praises or unnecessary words; although sometimes it was unavoidable, now it was completely unnecessary.

”Given the lack of grain, I plan to have the Mi family purchase grain in Ji Province, Jing Province, and Yi Province. Similarly, Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping will also buy cattle and horses from the vast grasslands. As for the issue of northern wild oxen not being suitable for farming, we’ll figure it out once we get them here,” Chen Xi continued, increasing the emphasis on grain and fodder supplies.

”The salt industry in Qing Province is ready with the resources to crush the Han salt merchants. Lord Xuande needs to be mentally prepared for the retaliation from the families behind these salt merchants. There are two ways to handle this: one is to disregard everything and directly conduct dumping-style sales, making it impossible for all salt merchants to enter the market and making the families feel that continuing to act is no longer worthwhile,” Chen Xi mentioned the risks while also offering a solution, showing he was prepared.

”Of course, the downside of this method is that the families will hold a grudge. When they get a chance to strike back at us, they won’t hesitate. The advantage is that no one can meddle, and as we grow stronger, they will gradually restrain themselves. So, this can also serve as a measure of how much we’ve grown stronger, though it will bring more trouble,” Chen Xi said, looking at Liu Bei.

”Lord Xuande, consider whether to use this method,” Lu Su said with a bow, smiling at Liu Bei. ”Rest assured, Lord Xuande, even if we use this method, Zichuan’s caution won’t leave the families any chance to turn the tables.” Liu Bei nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Chen Xi glanced at them. Since when were they so confident in him? But without waiting for Liu Bei to speak, he continued. If they used the aforementioned method, they would undoubtedly make many enemies among the influential families.

”Although I don’t particularly like families controlling essential goods, I think we can subdue them and make them our subordinates. As long as there are profits, there will certainly be families willing to submit,” Chen Xi shrugged. ”Easing the tension between both sides is necessary. However, I believe the influential families in Yingchuan need to be dealt with. The latest intelligence shows that Xun Yu has already joined Cao Cao, who calls him ’my Zifang.’ Combined with the previous attitude of the Yingchuan families, I think their arrogance will create enemies. I don’t mind distributing the profits of the Yingchuan families to others; that way, there will naturally be people willing to help us deal with them.”

”Cao Cao is truly arrogant, daring to call a civil official ’my Zifang.’ How ignorant!” Zhang Fei loudly mocked. ”How could a figure like Zhang Liang, who helped restore the Han dynasty for four hundred years, be compared to an ordinary person?”

It was clear that Zhang Liang held a high position in Zhang Fei’s regard.

”Although I am reluctant to admit it, the fact is, if Xun Yu had lived in the early Han dynasty, he probably wouldn’t be inferior to Zhang Liang,” Chen Xi said, glancing at Zhang Fei before speaking seriously. ”Cao Mengde is not one to flatter others.”Hearing Chen Xi’s words, Lu Su and Liu Bei exchanged helpless looks. Zhang Liang was an unsurpassed pinnacle, and now someone comparable to him had appeared but was not under their command. This was truly troubling. As for the credibility of Chen Xi’s words, Liu Bei and Lu Su had always trusted him.

”Putting Xun Wenruo aside, Zijing and I can handle him. The trouble lies in Xun Yu’s network, or rather, Xun Wenruo’s network. A genius’s friends are also geniuses, so Cao Mengde will soon rise rapidly,” Chen Xi said, placing the manuscript aside. ”We need talents now. If we can’t recruit from the influential families, then we should openly declare our need for talents. We will recruit talented people from all over the world.”

Chen Xi smiled, pressing a hand on his seat cushion as he stood up. ”Please, Lord Xuande, issue a recruitment decree to invite talented individuals from all over the world, regardless of their background, asking only for their ability!”

Lu Su was stunned, then quickly reached out to pull Chen Xi’s sleeve, hoping he would sit down. This was too shocking. If they did this, it would break the system of family recommendations, and those who violated common morals would be abandoned by the world!

Liu Bei smiled bitterly. He finally understood that Chen Xi was blocking him here. He wondered if he could issue this decree. If he did, he would break the recommendation system that had lasted for four hundred years, or even twelve hundred years. But if he didn’t issue it, seeing Chen Xi’s resolute expression, Liu Bei knew he would lose him.

”Alright! I, Liu Xuande, will be the first to openly recruit talented individuals from all over the world,” Liu Bei finally decided, looking at Chen Xi’s face.

”Lord Xuande is not the first to do this. The first was Duke Xiao of Qin, whose reforms under Shang Yang were crucial in ending seven hundred years of chaos. The second was King Zhao of Yan, who built a terrace to recruit talents from all over the world, recognizing only ability,” Chen Xi said, glancing at Lu Su, who was still pulling his sleeve.

”Ahem, Lord Xuande should know that back then, the state of Qi was powerful and Yan was weak. At one point, Qi even destroyed Yan. King Zhao of Yan wanted to change the state’s form, but the talented people in Jixia Academy didn’t want to stay in Yan. So, King Zhao had no choice but to build a terrace and widely invite talents. Guo Wei suggested buying bones with a thousand gold, which proved King Zhao’s sincerity. As a result, Yue Yi, Zou Yan, and Ju Xin all went to Yan. The rest, as you know,” Lu Su smoothly recounted the historical example.

Everyone knew the rest of the story. Qi was directly destroyed by Yue Yi. No matter how impressive Jixia Academy was, it couldn’t withstand the combined attack of the world’s talents. The eastern power of Qi was wiped out. If it weren’t for the slow pace of integration and the jealousy of King Zhao’s son, Yan’s army would have been broken by Tian Dan’s fire oxen. Qi would have been destroyed...

”Lord Xuande, remember, there are many talents in the world. Jixia Academy claimed to gather all the talents under the heavens, but after King Zhao of Yan recruited Yue Yi, defeating the five states was easy. Similarly, the world’s talents seem to be under the control of influential families now, but I dare say, if you issue the decree, there will naturally be enough talented people to defeat the family members,” Chen Xi said, bowing. ”Please, Lord Xuande, issue the decree!”

Lu Su also stood up and bowed deeply to Liu Bei. ”Please, Lord Xuande, issue the decree.” Then, everyone present stood up and spoke in unison, ”Please, my lord, issue the decree.” They all came from humble backgrounds and had no family heritage.

In late September of 191, General Andong Liu Bei issued a decree to recruit talented individuals from all over the world, regardless of their background or past, asking only for their ability and virtue. Five hundred years after King Zhao of Yan, the second recruitment decree in history was issued.