Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 2125: Chapter 1885: What Is Gained, What Is Lost

Yang Xiu indeed disrupted Chen Xi’s plans, and as Jia Xu said, handing the mediation group over to the Yang Family worked equally well. It might even run more smoothly because the Yang Family knocked out the Yuan Family. Moreover, Yang Biao is relatively mature and steady and won’t act foolishly like Yuan Shu.

It should be said that giving it to the Yang Family would execute it better than the Yuan Family, but displeasure is displeasure. Chen Xi is still a person with likes and dislikes, and it’s clear that the Yang Family has irritated Chen Xi this time.

"Will it? And so what? Sun Bofu indeed lacks intelligence, but Zhou Yu is still alive. How could he not see the situation clearly?" Jia Xu said flatly.

"No matter what, I’m really displeased now. As you said, the Yang Family did nothing wrong, but I’m still human and cannot remain indifferent and unemotional, thinking purely from a just perspective. I’m going to deal with the Yang Family." Chen Xi transmitted to Jia Xu.

"You’re actually willing to abandon the right choice because of your likes and dislikes." Jia Xu said in surprise.

"Choosing the Yang Family for the mediation group might not be the correct choice. The reasons you mentioned are indeed correct, but why should I give it to them?" Chen Xi coldly transmitted to Jia Xu. "Yuan Gonglu indeed went overboard, but why should the Yang Family make me compromise?"

"You’re being irrational." Jia Xu smiled as he transmitted to Chen Xi.

"Just see it as irrationality; I’m angry, and I want to deal with the Yang Family. Winning like this makes me sick, and I’ll save Yuan Gonglu later." Chen Xi pouted. "But the Yang Family is truly too dismissive of me."

"I don’t advise you to do this, but if you do, I won’t stop you. Offending a superior can be a capital crime to some extent, but are you sure you want to do this?" Jia Xu finally asked.

"I won’t go as far as humanitarian destruction, but I can do other things. Since the Yang Family wants to seal doors, let them fall behind the times. For an aristocratic family willing to risk it all to maintain their reputation, this is the most miserable outcome." Chen Xi calmly replied to Jia Xu.

"As you wish, but I need to tell you that Yuan Gonglu isn’t a good blade. He’s already offended quite a few people, and if you protect him, trouble may come upon you." Jia Xu understood Chen Xi’s ideas and reminded him.

"I know." Chen Xi nodded to show his understanding.

[Yuan Gonglu isn’t a good blade; I know he’s not a good blade. But among the current aristocratic families, who dares to execute violent acts apart from Yuan Gonglu? Even Cao Mengde doesn’t dare to kill half the members of an aristocratic family.] Chen Xi sighed inwardly.

Yuan Shu’s actions are problematic, but Chen Xi can’t find anyone else besides Yuan Shu willing to do this. Before dealing with Jing, Xiang, Yu, and Yang, Yuan Shu first cut off those corrupt pests within his family, then proceeded to deal with pests in other families.

Such actions are something more than ninety-nine percent of families can’t achieve. Even a ruthless person like Cao Mengde, who dares to massacre cities and dig graves, wouldn’t dare to destroy a third of his subordinate families for such trivial matters.

No, accurately speaking, even Chen Xi wouldn’t dare. Chen Xi tries to restrain the Chen Family from courting disaster, but the bigger the family, the more impossible it is not to have a few brainless idiots.

One must know these aristocratic families will step beyond national borders. According to Chen Xi’s plan, they will spread across Central Asia, the Indochina Peninsula, and South Asia, forming a barrier for the nation. If the scum aren’t cleared out, who knows what will happen in those distant places?

Inner rivalry isn’t a joke. Yuan Shu raised the slaughtering knife, killing almost only those adept at internal strife, because the original purpose of aristocratic families was external contention.

As the saying goes, ancestors braved thorns to gain land, pioneering ancestors took the country as their last name. We, their descendants, are mere guardians, failing to inherit the abilities of our forebears and only able to rely on name and reputation.

Therefore, Chen Xi doesn’t need to see whom Yuan Shu kills because Chen Xi knows that if Yuan Shu kills according to rules, those killed are usually adept at internal strife, though collateral damage is inevitable. Essentially, Yuan Shu is eliminating pests on the big tree of the Han Dynasty.

Thus, despite Yuan Shu causing unrest, the aristocratic families haven’t made small moves because the late Han aristocratic families haven’t completely rotted yet. Although Yuan Shu’s actions are indeed overzealous, quite a few in the aristocratic families dislike those adept at internal strife.

It’s like the five adult members of the Xun Family from this generation all have different thoughts. Xun Yu wants to support the Han Dynasty, Xun Shen wants to promote a wise ruler, Xun Yue even agrees with a fictive sovereign using morality and law to govern the country. Which aristocratic family can truly unite?

Just based on this point, Chen Xi will certainly protect Yuan Shu. Though Yuan Shu clearly intends to throw away his head, Chen Xi has ways to persuade Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu’s biggest problem is his immature will, but likewise, as long as Yuan Shu thinks it’s right, he’ll use any underhanded method.

As for what Jia Xu said, Yuan Shu isn’t a good blade, Chen Xi admits. But without Yuan Shu, who will take the position of the second blade, and without Yuan Shu’s restraint, who will ensure the execution and cohesion of the aristocratic families?

Without Yuan Shu, if aristocratic families running abroad think they’re strong and collude with foreign countries to invade other families’ territories, should they be left unchecked?

Chen Xi’s personality is soft, unable to wield the slaughtering knife. The aristocratic families have long noticed this situation. It can be said that despite the agreements signed, the aristocratic families dared to watch and wait in the Central Plains because they knew Chen Xi wouldn’t deal with them all for minor matters.

And Chen Xi indeed didn’t take action against the major families as they expected, so the families were happy to spend time watching briefly. This is why Chen Xi was forced to let Yuan Shu handle this matter.

If Yang Biao takes over, while admitting the Yang and Yuan Families have similar prestige, it definitely won’t be as clean and swift. Just the haggling and profit distribution would drive Chen Xi crazy. Yuan Shu’s approach is problematic, Chen Xi knows, but no matter the problem, Chen Xi can handle it.

Don’t mind that Yuan Shu was dragged into the Inner Chamber Secret Prison for attacking ministers and is set for execution after the Grand Assembly. But Chen Xi can still protect Yuan Shu.

Even if Yang Xiu isn’t dead, and even if today on the Jade Steps he slaughtered Yang Xiu and Yang Biao completely, Chen Xi can still protect Yuan Shu. At worst, Yuan Shu won’t appear before Liu Tong in the future. The Imperial Family demands face; as long as Yuan Shu ceases to appear, it’s resolved.

Chen Xi’s personality is indeed soft, but Chen Xi isn’t stupid. Many problems, even if not crystal clear, Chen Xi can easily untangle. Yuan Shu must be protected, and the Yang Family must be given an explanation. Chen Xi can’t perform slaughter, but it’s necessary to let the Yang Family know that everything gained through internal strife can be easily lost.