Mythical Version of Three Kingdom

Everyone rejected the proposal. How was this going to work? This was the first time Chen Xi had wanted to attempt something on a large scale, and it was already being met with resistance. Moreover, as the first to propose such a change, he had no examples to persuade others. As for lofty goals, did he really think that people like Jia Xu could be easily swayed?

Bang! Chen Xi slapped the table in frustration. ”I believe I have the authority to override your decisions, don’t I?” he glared at the people before him. Now he understood why those who pushed for reforms in ancient times often had to resort to extreme measures. He was only making a small adjustment, yet this group was already trying to dissuade him due to potential issues.

”Zichuan, there’s no need for that. Fenggao, and all of Taishan and Qingzhou, are developing very well. There’s no need to take such a risky approach!” Lu Su, a stabilizing presence and a good-natured person, was the first to stand up and try to calm Chen Xi. After all, Taishan and Qingzhou’s current situation was indeed very favorable, and there was no need to take unnecessary risks. What if things went wrong?

Chen Xi felt a momentary loss for words, then glared at everyone. ”The development of Taishan and Qingzhou is indeed progressing smoothly, and it’s because of this advantage that we’re able to keep other warlords at bay. But let me ask you this—who’s the strongest power in the land right now? It’s us! The only reason we’re not dominating is that we’re spread too thin! If we were willing to sacrifice our foundation, we could severely damage any warlord!”

”Yes, yes, we are indeed the strongest among the warlords. And we’ve shown our strength when necessary, which is why the other warlords are wary of provoking us. So why can’t we just continue developing steadily?” Liu Ye propped his head on his hand. Liu Bei’s situation was currently very favorable. As long as they steadily absorbed Qingzhou and avoided any major setbacks, they were guaranteed to become the most powerful faction. Why take risks that could weaken them? It wasn’t worth it.

”I am developing steadily. But with our current pace, how much progress do you think we’ll make by next year after consolidating our position in Qingzhou? Sure, we’ll be stronger than we are now, but what about Yuan Benchu? What about Yuan Gonglu? What about Cao Mengde?” Chen Xi retorted angrily, feeling cornered by the overwhelming opposition.

”Zichuan has a point. We know that Cao Mengde is currently consolidating his forces in Chenliu, Yingchuan, and Wancheng. By this time next year, he won’t be much weaker than us. While we consolidate Qingzhou, he’ll likely have solidified his control over those areas. And Yuan Gonglu will also stabilize his newly conquered territories. As for Yuan Benchu, his situation isn’t looking too good,” Jia Xu admitted, acknowledging the validity of Chen Xi’s concerns.

”And we all know that Cao Mengde is training his troops. He’s not going all out against Yuan Gonglu, so the actual losses on both sides are minimal. Moreover, the damage we’ve done to Yuzhou isn’t that significant. And the four counties Yuan Gonglu just acquired are prosperous lands! By this time next year, Yuan Gonglu may not be weak at all. As for Yuan Benchu, his situation is indeed problematic,” Jia Xu listed a series of points to show that all the other factions were also developing, making it crucial to consolidate their own advantages. Liu Ye twitched slightly, frustrated that the conversation wasn’t going as planned.

Seeing Liu Ye’s reaction, Chen Xi smirked, but Jia Xu quickly shifted his stance, ”Precisely because all sides are developing, we can’t afford to lose our current advantage.” Chen Xi suddenly felt uneasy.

As expected, Jia Xu then sided with Liu Ye. ”In this situation, stability is more important than taking risks. We aren’t in a dire enough situation to need risky strategies. By following our current course, we’ll maintain a solid lead over Cao Mengde. There’s no need to try dangerous schemes. If we make a mistake, we’ll not only lose our current advantage but also damage the hard-won credibility of the government.”Jia Xu’s reasoning was flawless, leaving no room for Chen Xi to counter.

”Jia Wenhe!” Chen Xi gritted his teeth, glaring at Jia Xu.

”I’m sorry, but this matter concerns the welfare of the people. Personal ties have to take a backseat,” Jia Xu responded with a righteous tone.

”Should I praise you for your integrity?” Chen Xi asked, exasperated.

”Thank you for the compliment,” Jia Xu replied calmly.

”You!” Chen Xi’s anger deflated.

”Let’s try a different approach. Our current advantage isn’t enough for us to dominate all sides by next year. If we let Cao Cao finish off Yuan Shu and solidify his position, will we be able to maintain our current dominance as easily?” Chen Xi tried a different angle, realizing that the debate over the transaction tax had no precedent, making it impossible to win over the others.

This time, everyone fell silent. It was clear that a fully consolidated Cao Cao would be a formidable opponent. Jia Xu and Guo Jia had both judged Cao Cao to be more dangerous than Yuan Shao. And it was likely that in Cao Cao’s intelligence reports, Liu Bei was also seen as a rising star, more dangerous than Yuan Shao.

”This isn’t a reason to implement your risky plan,” Guo Jia, unusually sober, tapped his fingers on the table. ”We can’t abandon our current advantage. If your plan fails, we won’t be able to withstand a counterattack next year. However, we do need to think of ways to both consolidate and expand our advantage.”

”I actually think Zichuan’s proposal is feasible,” Fa Zheng weakly supported Chen Xi. But Fa Zheng’s words were ignored by everyone, as they had long decided to keep him on the sidelines until he reached their expectations.

”Xiaozhi…” Chen Xi immediately forgot his earlier stance and latched onto Fa Zheng, his newfound supporter. ”Xiaozhi, I’ll recommend you as Chancellor of Qi. A true man should be steadfast and follow me!”

”Xiaozhi?” ”Xiaozhi?” Both Jia Xu and Guo Jia turned to stare at the traitorous Fa Zheng, making him feel immense pressure.

”Taishan’s intelligence organization is far better than the position of Chancellor of Qi, hahaha…” It took Fa Zheng less than three seconds to change sides, betraying Chen Xi once again. His lack of integrity left Chen Xi seething.

”Well, it seems we’re back to everyone against you,” Lu Su patted Fa Zheng on the shoulder, reassuring him that Jia Xu and Guo Jia wouldn’t do anything to him. He then turned to face Chen Xi.

”Zizhong, what do you think of my new commercial law?” Chen Xi asked, his eyes blazing as he stared at Mi Zhu.

Cough, cough, cough! Mi Zhu reluctantly stepped forward. He had been pulled into the government office as soon as he returned, and within minutes, the debate over the new commercial law had escalated to the point where Liu Ye almost came to blows with Chen Xi. Now he was being asked to weigh in.

Sure enough, Liu Ye, Jian Yong, and Lu Su all stepped aside, leaving Mi Zhu in the spotlight. Even Fa Zheng stared at him blankly, still reeling from his earlier betrayal. Fa Zheng was determined to prove himself, even if he had been relegated to a minor role for now.

Mi Zhu knew he couldn’t support the new law. As a businessman, he understood the benefits it offered, but as a member of Liu Bei’s administration, he recognized the harm it could do to their leader’s interests. And anything that hurt Liu Bei’s interests would hurt everyone’s interests. Therefore, this law couldn’t be allowed to pass.

For Mi Zhu, money was no longer the most important thing. Being an official held more promise than being a businessman. In Mi Zhu’s eyes, Liu Xuande was someone who could ascend to the top. If his sister, Mi Zhen, wasn’t of humble origin and unable to become Liu Bei’s legitimate wife, Mi Zhu would have considered marrying her off to Liu Bei. After all, Liu Bei was only thirty years old.

For this reason, Mi Zhu was adamant about not supporting the new law. If sacrificing some of his profits could make Liu Bei stronger, Mi Zhu estimated that he wouldn’t mind throwing away several billion coins. It was like buying a government position, something that had been out of his reach before. Now, investing in Liu Bei’s strength felt like a worthwhile trade.

As for Chen Xi’s new commercial law, which allowed him to make money while weakening Liu Bei, it could go to hell. What was more important, money or power? What was more important, money or a solid backer? Mi Zhu, driven by a merchant’s instincts, understood this very clearly. Therefore, he was more resolute than anyone else in rejecting this harmful law.

”Zichuan, there’s no way I can approve this law. I’ve invested everything in our lord. I don’t have the abilities that you all possess. All I have is money and loyalty. If our lord fails, I’ll follow him to the grave. The only thing I can do is remain absolutely loyal. So, I can’t approve any tax law that might harm our lord’s interests,” Mi Zhu said bitterly, leaving no room for negotiation.

Mi Zhu’s candid words struck a chord with everyone present. Unlike them, Mi Zhu’s fate was tied to Liu Bei’s success. If Liu Bei were to fail, the best outcome for the Mi family would be to preserve a sliver of its legacy.

”Sigh, I understand,” Chen Xi sighed, realizing that the discussion couldn’t continue. The others were right to be cautious. Without a precedent, they had to carefully weigh the risks. Even though Chen Xi knew the transaction tax was beneficial, he couldn’t provide an irrefutable explanation.

”Zichuan, if we ever reach a point where we can completely dominate the other factions, we can revisit this law. For now, please set it aside. Given the current situation, it’s just too risky,” Lu Su said with a sigh, noticing Chen Xi’s low spirits.

Chen Xi forced a bitter smile and waved his hand. ”You all go on with your duties. Let me think this over.”

Everyone understood that Chen Xi was feeling down, so they quietly left the room, leaving him alone in the government office to reflect on everything.

Chen Xi knew that if the transaction tax wasn’t implemented now, it would never be possible in the future. Lu Su’s suggestion that it could be revisited when they had full control was just an excuse. In reality, the situation would be even more precarious by then. A slight misstep when they were at the top could provoke a backlash. At that point, stability would be even more critical. If they couldn’t pass it now, how could they pass it later?

As for trying to implement it during a time of peace, that would be even harder. By then, any proposal would face stiff resistance from all sides. Any attempt to reform would be seen as a political move, and once it became entangled in factional struggles, there would be no hope for it.

Propping his head on his hand, Chen Xi sipped his tea, his eyes gradually hardening with resolve. If he knew for sure that his plan was correct, why should he back down? If he yielded now, there would always be a next time. It’s one thing to admit a mistake, but this was a tried-and-true strategy. If it was right, then it had to be done. If everyone opposed it, then he’d just have to prove that he was stronger and wiser than they were!

With that thought, Chen Xi set down his teacup, a cold smile forming on his lips. In Taishan, everyone’s opinions could be ignored—except for one person. That person was Liu Bei. Although Liu Bei often played the role of a figurehead, in truth, he held real power. There were things Chen Xi couldn’t do, but that didn’t mean Liu Bei couldn’t.

Chen Xi was determined. He refused to believe that Liu Bei had already been corrupted by wealth and comfort, losing his drive. Someone like Liu Bei, who had built everything from scratch, wouldn’t lack the courage!

Click! Chen Xi pushed open the door and entered. Xu Chu was standing not far from the main entrance.

”My lord is in his bedroom,” Xu Chu said, his expression slightly awkward, and his voice unusually loud.

Chen Xi rubbed his ears, puzzled. What was wrong with Xu Chu today? Normally, he would stand there like a stone statue, pretending not to notice anything.

The place Liu Bei was staying in was under construction, so he had temporarily moved to a location just a few steps from Chen Xi’s residence. Actually, his previous residence was also just a few steps from Chen Xi’s place. As long as Liu Bei didn’t say otherwise, no one was allowed to enter, and Chen Xi could come and go as he pleased. Normally, Xu Chu would act like a stone statue when he saw Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, or Chen Xi visiting Liu Bei. Today, however, Xu Chu was acting strangely.

As for the residence under construction, Liu Bei had witnessed firsthand what it meant to burn money. Even Zhang Shi had been overwhelmed by the building materials, and naturally, Liu Bei felt that it was a bit excessive. However, Chen Xi had brushed him off, saying that it was just a matter of a few billion coins. Liu Bei had nearly had a heart attack and immediately questioned why Chen Xi wasn’t using that money to help the people.

Chen Xi had been very pleased with Liu Bei’s reaction. The fact that Liu Bei’s first concern after recovering from his near-heart attack was the well-being of the people showed that his righteousness wasn’t just for show.

Chen Xi’s response at the time had left Liu Bei speechless. ”I made some idle money last year from a little side business, so I decided to use it to fund a library. There were some extra materials, so I thought I’d use them to build something for you as well.”

That explanation had left Zhang Shi starry-eyed. She knew that Chen Xi could make money, but this was on another level. However, the accounts for Liu Bei’s residence only showed two sources of funding: labor and materials, totaling just a few million coins—far from the billions Chen Xi had mentioned.

In other words, Chen Xi’s extravagance was entirely his own. No one could say anything if he wanted to build something grand for himself.

In general, women were attracted to shiny things, and the materials Chen Xi had produced may have had some quality issues, but they certainly sparkled. This naturally piqued Zhang Shi’s interest. Liu Bei may have found it excessive, but Zhang Shi was already daydreaming about having a similar place built for herself, even though it would be costly…

Liu Bei had reprimanded Chen Xi for being too extravagant, but after hearing from Chen Xi that the money involved was negligible and confirming this with Li You, Liu Bei had let the matter drop.

If it were truly billions of coins, that money could have made a huge difference in Qingzhou and Taishan. But a few million? That was just a drop in the bucket.

Pushing open the door, Chen Xi saw that Liu Bei was alone in his bedroom, reading a book.

”Hmm…” Chen Xi tilted his head, puzzled. Why was Liu Bei reading in the bedroom and not in the study? And why did the incense in the room smell different today?

”Zichuan, it’s rare to see you here unless I invite you for a meal,” Liu Bei said with a smile after turning a page in his book. However, Chen Xi couldn’t shake the feeling that Liu Bei’s smile was a bit forced today.

But Chen Xi had more pressing matters on his mind, so he ignored the details. ”Lord, I have a favor to ask!”

”Sure, Zichuan. If there’s anything in the house you like, feel free to take it,” Liu Bei replied generously.

”…” Chen Xi stared at Liu Bei until he felt a bit embarrassed. Only then did he speak, ”I have a plan that could make your territory so wealthy that one county could rival an entire province. But this method has never been used before, so Zijing and the others are too cautious to approve it.”

Liu Bei’s expression twitched. Whenever Chen Xi opened his mouth, it was always something big. But a single county richer than a province?

Suppressing his other thoughts, Liu Bei focused and calmly said, ”Zichuan, tell me about your plan. I trust you wouldn’t deceive me, but Wenhe and the others are also brilliant minds. How could you all fail to reach an agreement?”

Chen Xi took a deep breath, set aside all his strategies for dealing with others, and directly explained the concept of the transaction tax to Liu Bei.

”We had a disagreement over the commercial law. Please sit, and I’ll explain all my thoughts to you. I ask that you judge for yourself,” Chen Xi said calmly, his mind clear and focused as he looked at Liu Bei.

Liu Bei nodded slightly. ”Zichuan, go ahead.”

Chen Xi rarely spoke with such seriousness. Most of the time, Liu Bei saw him as somewhat carefree. But when Chen Xi got serious, Liu Bei knew he was in his element. It reminded Liu Bei of the time Chen Xi had devised the plan that had led them to where they were now. In Liu Bei’s eyes, a focused Chen Xi was the most formidable strategist in the world.

”My new commercial law abolishes taxes at checkpoints, customs duties at city gates, and various miscellaneous taxes on merchants. Instead, it implements a transaction tax, meaning that taxes will only be collected on transactions within your territory. Once merchants receive a tax certificate, they won’t have to pay any additional taxes when trading in other parts of Qingzhou…” Chen Xi calmly and simply explained the transaction tax to Liu Bei, maintaining a level-headed demeanor.

”This commercial law seems to significantly harm our own interests,” Liu Bei frowned.

”On the contrary, my lord. The city of Wancheng has been devastated by the wars between Cao Mengde and Yuan Shu. As the commercial hub of the Central Plains, Wancheng has fallen into ruin. Meanwhile, we hold the Merchant Alliance in our hands. By implementing this commercial law and keeping the alliance’s headquarters in Fenggao, we can turn Fenggao into the new commercial center of the world. Your territory will become the commercial hub of the entire realm,” Chen Xi said, his face showing a hint of manic enthusiasm.

”A city’s commerce will always pale in comparison to commerce that involves everyone. What I’m doing is tying all the merchants of the land to your chariot! I’m transforming Fenggao into a market that surpasses Wancheng as the commercial center of the world!” Chen Xi’s crazed expression startled Liu Bei.

Liu Bei didn’t understand commerce, but what Chen Xi said made sense. Merchants pursued profit, and Chen Xi’s approach provided them with incentives. If enough merchants were drawn in, the plan could work. Without knowledge of Jia Xu and the others’ concerns, Liu Bei’s thought process was simple.

”In that case, Zichuan, it seems your plan has no flaws,” Liu Bei said, somewhat surprised. It all made sense—if Fenggao became the market center of the world, a single county could indeed surpass an entire province in wealth.

Chen Xi then explained the current situation and the concerns raised by Jia Xu and the others. As expected, Liu Bei fell into deep thought.

After a long period of contemplation, Liu Bei looked up at Chen Xi. ”Zichuan, are you confident that you can achieve what you say?”

”Absolutely!” Chen Xi replied firmly, without any extra words. His confidence reassured Liu Bei.

”In that case, why should you care if others oppose you? Do what you believe is right. I’ve said it before: all government affairs are in your hands, and you have the authority to make final decisions. I trust that you’ll handle them better than I could!” Liu Bei said, looking directly at Chen Xi, his words filled with sincerity and trust that touched Chen Xi deeply.

”Thank you, my lord!” Chen Xi stood up and bowed. ”Please give me three months, and I will prove to you that your trust is well-placed.”

”Hahaha! Zichuan, don’t worry. Whatever you want to try, go ahead and do it. I, Liu Xuande, started with nothing. And within two years, with your help, we’ve become a force to be reckoned with. What do I have to fear? The path of restoring the Han dynasty is not an easy one. What’s a little failure along the way?” Liu Bei’s aura exuded confidence as he looked at Chen Xi.

”Even if you fail, it’s just a missed opportunity. You’re not even twenty, and I’m barely in my thirties. If we fail, we can try again. What failure can Liu Xuande, who started from scratch, not endure? You don’t need to promise me anything. I believe in you. When I gave you the authority to make decisions, I knew you wouldn’t misuse it! Zichuan, go and prove that you’re better than everyone else!” At that moment, Liu Bei seemed like a hopeful elder, smiling warmly at Chen Xi.