Mythical Version of Three Kingdom

Chen Xi finally relaxed after confirming that no one would oppose him. Trying to maintain a calm demeanor, he spoke, ”Zhong and Madam, please mobilize your commercial connections. With the fall of Wancheng, many goods will be stuck in limbo. Spread the word about the new commercial law. I trust this won’t be too difficult for either of you.”

”This is easy. Within ten days, merchants from You, Ji, and Bing provinces will be here,” Madam Zhen said, jumping in before Mi Zhu could respond.

Mi Zhu didn’t bother with Madam Zhen’s challenge. He didn’t need to compete. Regardless of Madam Zhen’s status, Mi Zhu’s loyalty was to Liu Bei alone.

”Within twenty days, the news will reach merchants nationwide, but I can’t guarantee they will all come,” Mi Zhu replied modestly. Unlike Madam Zhen, he didn’t make any bold promises, clearly not as optimistic about the situation.

”As long as they’re informed, that’s enough. Don’t make me step in,” Chen Xi said as he sat at the head of the table, his tone dismissive. He acknowledged Mi Zhu’s loyalty but felt that his rigid mindset was a hindrance. If Mi Zhu could set aside his noble roots, his potential might shine even brighter. But for now, he still had a long way to go.

”Understood,” Mi Zhu responded, his tone neutral.

Chen Xi glanced at Mi Zhu, then turned to Liu Ye. ”Do what you need to do—whether it’s oversight or audits, it’s up to you.”

Liu Ye silently sipped his tea without a word.

”Boming, you know what to do,” Chen Xi’s eyes flashed with a cold light.

”Kill!” Man Chong responded without hesitation, his aura so cold that even Madam Zhen was startled. How could a civil official have such a murderous presence? Although the era didn’t strictly separate civil and military roles, this level of killing intent was shocking.”Zijing, you know what to do to stabilize the situation. I’m taking districts two, three, four, and five in the northern section of Fenggao,” Chen Xi ordered Lu Su.

Lu Su exchanged a glance with Liu Ye and then nodded. They realized that Chen Xi had been planning this for some time.

Lu Su thought quietly to himself,

”Madam, regarding the merchant guild, would you care to hear my thoughts?” Chen Xi asked, his tone calm after assigning tasks.

”Why not? The Zhen family would greatly appreciate Marquis Chen’s guidance,” Madam Zhen replied with a smile.

After witnessing Chen Xi’s abilities, Madam Zhen had developed a newfound respect for him, shedding her previous arrogance.

”You needn’t be so formal, Madam. These are just suggestions. If you find them beneficial to your family, feel free to consider them. If you feel I’m being dismissive, please forgive me,” Chen Xi said, his tone steady. ”And Madam, there’s no need to address me as Marquis Chen. My courtesy name will suffice.”

After more than a year of honing his skills, Chen Xi had learned to deliver instructions with a calm and steady tone. Combined with his formidable reputation and the results of his efforts, even the most outlandish suggestions would be taken seriously by those listening.

”In that case, I’ll address you as Chuan,” Madam Zhen responded smoothly, seizing the opportunity to address him more familiarly.

Chen Xi didn’t mind her change in tone. Resting his hands on the table, he continued, ”If the Zhen family has time, I suggest waiting two more months before deciding to join the guild. There are some things you may not be aware of yet. Zhong might have a better understanding.”

Madam Zhen didn’t fully grasp what Chen Xi was implying, but she noticed that Mi Zhu remained expressionless. So, she simply nodded, ”If Chuan says so, there must be a reason. The Zhen family will adhere to the guild’s rules.”

”Zhong, make sure the internal management of the guild is well organized,” Chen Xi turned to Mi Zhu.

”Understood,” Mi Zhu replied, though it was clear he had little desire to engage further with Chen Xi at the moment.

”Madam, will you be the Zhen family’s permanent representative in Taishan? If so, please establish a formal agreement with Zhong regarding the guild’s commercial regulations,” Chen Xi asked another seemingly unrelated question.

”Very well,” Madam Zhen agreed, recognizing that Chen Xi was subtly offering her an advantage.

”Gentlemen, the time has come. Zijing, please draft the announcement. Ruanyu Liang, have the craftsmen work through the night to prepare printing blocks for the new commercial law!” Chen Xi took out his personal seal, along with the seals for the Governor of Qingzhou, the Administrator of Taishan, and his own title as Marquis Chen. He had cultivated his credibility with the public and the government for a long time, and now it was finally time to use it!

Lu Su watched as Chen Xi laid out the seals. Once stamped on any proclamation, they would carry the weight of the entire Qingzhou and Taishan regions. Chen Xi had built up the government’s credibility and his own over time, making it difficult for anyone to challenge the validity of his decrees.

When it came to announcing new laws or policies, the people of Liu Bei’s territories had developed a habit of checking the government bulletin boards daily. No matter how absurd the announcements seemed, if they bore the seals, they were believed to be true. This level of trust left Lu Su in awe of how much authority Chen Xi had amassed, which is why he rarely handed out these powerful seals to others. A single mistake could destroy everything he had built.

”Will the commercial law be publicly announced?” Lu Su asked, frowning.

”Yes, and it must be displayed in every city within our domain. Thirty copies for each county in the Han Empire! Every one of them will bear all four seals!” Chen Xi replied, shaking the seals’ cords.

”But if…” Lu Su began, only to be cut off by Chen Xi.

”No ’ifs’!” Chen Xi’s gaze swept across the room, silencing any objections. ”I’ve built this system to serve us. We’ve spent countless resources building trust with the people, and now it’s time to use that trust. If we don’t seize this moment, where does that leave me?”

Liu Ye opened his mouth, but in the end, he chose not to speak. He realized that Chen Xi had meticulously planned every step. Even without their help, he would have forced the issue by leveraging the trust he had built.

Liu Ye thought, and soon, his eyes glimmered with a different light, a sign that one of his passive abilities was beginning to activate.

Chen Xi noticed Liu Ye’s shifting aura and had a good idea of what was happening. It seemed that this development might actually turn out to be a good thing, at least for avoiding further debates.

”It seems we’re all in agreement. I ask for your support, and for that, I am deeply grateful,” Chen Xi said as he stood and bowed to everyone, an uncommon gesture of formality.

Despite their reservations, Lu Su and the others accepted Chen Xi’s gesture. Having done so, they were now committed, and anyone who didn’t follow through would have to answer to Chen Xi’s wrath.

As Chen Xi had promised, the preparations were completed by that very afternoon. His proclamations were plastered everywhere, and it seemed as if paper had become cheap and abundant. Chen Xi was, in effect, conducting a massive display of sincerity.

As expected, this lavish expenditure paid off. Within three days, every merchant in Taishan and Qingzhou had felt the sincerity of Chen Xi’s administration. With the unanimous backing of the local populace, no one doubted the validity of the new commercial law. When large numbers of people say something is true, even falsehoods can start to seem real. But in this case, it was real.

Merchants, driven by profit, quickly understood the opportunity before them. This was a chance to make money—perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“What do you think Chen Chuan is up to?” Yuan Shao asked, frowning at the new commercial law. Apart from the apparent reduction in tax revenue, he couldn’t see any other benefits.

”I heard that Chen Chuan almost caused a rift with Liu Xuande’s advisors over this new law. Perhaps it’s just youthful arrogance,” Feng Ji speculated uncertainly.

No matter how much Feng Ji envied Chen Xi, he couldn’t deny his previous successes in Qingzhou, proving that Chen Xi wasn’t a fool. Given that, Feng Ji could only assume that Chen Xi’s current actions were driven by rebelliousness. After all, with his abilities, it wasn’t unreasonable to think he might clash with Liu Bei’s other advisors out of a desire to showcase his talents.

”Oh, if that’s the case, then let’s not worry about Liu Xuande for now. Focus on defeating Gongsun Zan. Yuan Hao, how’s the situation in Bingzhou?” Yuan Shao steadied his thoughts. Now wasn’t the time to be distracted. Only after defeating Gongsun Zan could he consider other matters. Despite recognizing Liu Bei as a threat, Yuan Shao had no choice but to put that concern aside for now.

”Yuanhao has personally gone to Bingzhou. If all goes well, he should stabilize the areas we’ve captured. As for You Ruo, he has confined the Southern Xiongnu to the region around Loufan, and they should be eliminated soon,” Feng Ji said after careful consideration. Unlike usual, Feng Ji spoke highly of Tian Feng and Xin Ping.

At this stage, Yuan Shao’s advisors hadn’t yet fallen out with one another over power, policies, or personal interests. Instead, they remained united against their common enemies, Gongsun Zan and the rising powers of Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

”Good, send word to You Ruo—show no mercy. We will cleanse the Southern Xiongnu with blood. I refuse to believe that the proud Gongsun Bogui will accept help from them! I need the hearts of Bingzhou’s people, their warriors, and the elite wolf riders that can mount their horses at a moment’s notice!” Yuan Shao stood, exuding a powerful aura. He had been repressed for too long, but now, like a sword drawn from a scabbard, his edge was beginning to show.

”Lord, please be patient,” Feng Ji cautioned. His advice was perfectly in line with that of a skilled strategist, even if victory seemed within reach. It was important to stay calm and focused.

”I’ve already waited this long, so I won’t mind waiting a bit longer. But Gongsun Bogui will soon understand why I’m the leader of the alliance and he’s just a participant. It’s not just because of the Yuan family’s reputation—I am Yuan Benchu!” Yuan Shao’s eyes gleamed with confidence, his aura growing even more imposing.

Even when at a disadvantage, Yuan Shao had never yielded. He remembered the many things he still had to accomplish. Despite nearly losing his camp to Gongsun Zan’s forces, despite being humiliated by Baima Yicong, Yuan Shao had never given up.

Though he had been forced to prematurely deploy his concealed forces, such as the mighty Dajishi, they hadn’t yet reached their full potential under Ju Yi’s training. In their first clash with Baima Yicong, the Dajishi had suffered one-to-one casualties, a result that had only revealed the tip of Yuan Shao’s hidden power.

Afterward, many of Yuan Shao’s officers had advised him to dismiss Ju Yi for his arrogance, but Yuan Shao took all the blame upon himself. He even returned Ju Yi’s sword, allowing him to continue commanding the Dajishi until Ju Yi himself believed he was ready to defeat Gongsun Zan.

Though Ju Yi was known for his arrogance, he had his own sense of honor. Yuan Shao’s magnanimity reignited Ju Yi’s cold heart, filling him with a burning desire to prove himself. No longer caring about the scorn of others, Ju Yi grasped Yuan Shao’s sword, standing tall in the rear camp. He was ready to give his life in the next battle to prove that Yuan Shao’s trust in him was justified. Even if it cost him his life, Ju Yi would show the world that Yuan Shao had made the right choice.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao was also frowning as he read the latest reports. In his mind, Liu Bei’s forces in Qingzhou were the greatest threat, so he made sure not to overlook any intelligence. However, this particular report puzzled him. What was Liu Bei planning?

”Lord, Lu Bu has challenged us several times, and we’ve been flying the banners of retreat for days. If this continues, morale will suffer,” Le Jin warned as he knelt before Cao Cao.

”Is that so? Lu Fengxian… this man…” Cao Cao sighed. His martial prowess wasn’t exceptional, but even he could tell that Lu Bu had grown even stronger since their last encounter at Hulao Pass.

Both Xiahou Yuan and Xiahou Dun had been severely injured when they faced Lu Bu in single combat. Since then, Cao Cao had given up on open field battles against Lu Bu—it simply wasn’t feasible.

”Hmm?” Dian Wei grumbled, clearly eager for action.

”Erlai, do you think you can handle him?” Cao Cao asked without turning his head.

”I’ll know once I fight him!” Dian Wei replied fearlessly.

”In that case, go ahead and give it a try. We can’t just hide behind the banners of retreat forever,” Cao Cao said, stroking his unkempt beard.

Dian Wei beamed, quickly retrieving two massive halberds from beneath Cao Cao’s desk and strapping a bundle of throwing axes to his waist. He had been itching for a fight with Lu Bu for days.

”Ziyou, is everything ready?” Cao Cao asked as Dian Wei departed. Lu Bu’s unpredictability made Cao Cao wary, and he wanted to deal with him sooner rather than later. If possible, he’d prefer to recruit Lu Bu, but failing that, eliminating him was the next best option.

”Yuan Shu will soon grow suspicious,” Xun Yu replied calmly.

”In that case, let’s go watch Erlai’s fight with Lu Fengxian!” Cao Cao tossed aside the intelligence report. It didn’t seem to contain anything of significance, just the usual antics of a hotheaded youth getting into disputes with Liu Bei’s advisors over commercial policies.

By the time Cao Cao and his men reached the city walls, Dian Wei had already donned his armor and stood ready at the gate. Casually flexing his muscles, he leaped from the wall.

”Boom!” With a resounding crash, Dian Wei hit the ground, sending up a cloud of dust. Unlike Lu Bu’s graceful landings, which minimized damage to the terrain, Dian Wei’s impact shattered the earth for several meters around him.

Shaking off the dust, Dian Wei pulled out his twin halberds, scratching his head as he realized he had forgotten to bring a horse.

Both Xiahou Yuan and Xiahou Dun covered their eyes in embarrassment. They knew Dian Wei was stronger than them, but seeing his clumsy landing made them doubt his chances against Lu Bu, who could leap from great heights without leaving so much as a scratch on the ground.

As Dian Wei scratched his head, Lu Bu studied him closely. Unlike the Xiahou brothers, Lu Bu couldn’t sense any internal energy from Dian Wei, but he could feel the man’s formidable presence.

”Who are you?” Lu Bu demanded, his voice filled with authority.

”Dian Wei of Chenliu! Lu Bu, do you have the courage to face me in single combat? I don’t have a horse that can match your Red Hare!” Dian Wei replied in his deep, booming voice.

Lu Bu dismounted, confident in his ability to fight without a horse. By now, he had mastered the art of stepping on air, and even without Red Hare, he believed no one could defeat him in battle. The honor of a war god demanded that he accept Dian Wei’s challenge.

Seeing Lu Bu dismount, Dian Wei grinned. He knew that in close combat, he wouldn’t lose to anyone.

”Lu Bu, take this!” Dian Wei roared as he charged forward, his body transforming into a blur of black as he sped towards Lu Bu.

”Hmph!” Lu Bu snorted as his golden-red armor glowed brightly. He swung his halberd with all his might towards Dian Wei.

”Clang!” A deafening clash rang out as Lu Bu’s halberd struck Dian Wei’s weapon. Yet, Dian Wei didn’t budge an inch. Instead, the force of the blow reverberated through Lu Bu’s halberd, numbing his right hand.

”Die!” Dian Wei roared, the sound breaking through the air as his right hand brought down his halberd, aiming for Lu Bu’s chest.

”Boom!” Lu Bu barely managed to block Dian Wei’s strike with his halberd, but the sheer power behind it sent Lu Bu flying backward.

”Hah!” Dian Wei didn’t waste a moment. He kicked off the ground, creating a massive crater beneath his feet as he chased after the golden-red blur that was Lu Bu.

Lu Bu had no choice but to acknowledge that Dian Wei was no ordinary opponent. This man didn’t just lack internal energy—he had refined all of it into his body, following a path of cultivation that carried a high risk of death. It was a technique pioneered by none other than Xiang Yu!

”Get away from me!” Lu Bu roared as he halted his flight, hovering in mid-air.

Dian Wei’s attack missed its mark, and as the dust cleared, he looked up in confusion at Lu Bu, who was now floating in the sky. No one had told him that Lu Bu could fly!

”Dian Wei, is it?” Lu Bu’s voice echoed coldly from above. ”Let me teach you the greatest flaw of your cultivation method. Even if you’ve reached the strength of Xiang Yu himself!”

With those words, Lu Bu’s halberd began to extend, fire and light swirling around it until it formed a weapon over a hundred meters long. Then, with a mighty swing, he brought the colossal halberd down on Dian Wei.