Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chen Xi’s praise also piqued Guo Jia’s interest. With Chen Xi assuming responsibility, Guo Jia reached for the book and quickly skimmed through its contents before starting to ponder. Soon, he had a thorough understanding of the entire text.

”You’ve misunderstood,” Guo Jia said after returning the book to Chen Xi.

”How is that possible? My comprehension can’t be that poor,” Chen Xi retorted, glaring at Guo Jia.

”You’ve misunderstood the teachings of this book. Your understanding is fine regarding domestic matters, but you are mistaken about foreign ones. The hegemony described in this book is not the same as what you think,” Guo Jia said with a twist of his mouth. The book was given by someone from Lyu Bu’s side, and that person must be with Lyu Bu. Surely, the so-called hegemony could not be about simply defeating opponents.

”There’s no issue with it,” Chen Xi obviously didn’t grasp what Guo Jia was saying.

”I find your thoughts sometimes a bit flighty. This book was sent over from Lyu Fengxian’s side, meaning the person is definitely with Lyu Fengxian. What do you think his understanding of hegemony means to the Hu People?” Guo Jia rolled his eyes as he spoke, sometimes wondering why Chen Xi seemed so confused about the little things.

In an instant, Chen Xi understood. The book was sent over from Lyu Bu’s side, which meant that the hegemony the author of this book spoke of was meant to be executed by the likes of Lyu Bu and Gongsun Zan, who were iron-blooded members of the Iron Blood Sect.

Upon realizing this, Chen Xi was stunned. Gongsun Zan and Lyu Bu’s actions in Youzhou and Bingzhou were not about fighting the Hu People; they were wiping the map clean, one territory at a time. What did it matter if it was hegemonic or not? When everyone was dead, there’d be no one left to rule with King’s Way or enlighten with Benevolence. What a total sham!

”That’s right,” said Guo Jia with a laugh, ”What is desired is a swath where nothing can live. That is true hegemony. Only such actions can make them kneel.”

”This person truly understands the nature of the Hu People and the so-called teaching according to one’s abilities,” Guo Jia said, with a smile so sinister it made Chen Xi feel a chill.

”So-called education is the standardization of both body and mind. If they cannot be standardized, then let them die. After enough have died, those who live will naturally conform. They believe in survival of the fittest. We set the rules, and they follow. This is the King’s Way,” Guo Jia laughed heartily, sending a shiver of cold down Chen Xi’s spine.

”So-called Benevolence means sparing a sliver of life under the butcher’s knife is great benevolence,” Guo Jia stared at Chen Xi and slowly expressed his theory. Chen Xi felt like his whole worldview was crumbling. It could indeed be interpreted this way, and it seemed entirely correct!

”Are you sure this is what they meant?” Chen Xi asked, tugging at his mouth as he suddenly realized the profoundness of Guo Jia’s insights.

”Of course,” replied Guo Jia with a cold gaze upon Chen Xi. ”Regardless of anything, Marquis Wen’s return to the north cannot change one fact—he is bound to clash with the Hu People. With Chen Gongtai’s wisdom, he must be aware that fighting fire with fire is the best choice. After all, raising that banner means you either die or achieve greatness. It’s simply a matter of following the trend.”

Guo Jia’s words left Chen Xi speechless. Indeed, the so-called enlightenment was about standardizing both body and mind and teaching according to one’s abilities.

However, this method of teaching according to one’s abilities was truly unprecedented. The author of this book really seemed to be someone extraordinary.

”Zichuan, you are too benevolent. Sometimes, do not hesitate over minor matters. I don’t believe you haven’t thought about dealing with the Hu People, but your methods are too conciliatory. For the unreasonable Hu People, do not harbor any illusions. If you do not eliminate them today, they will surely become a scourge in the future.” Guo Jia turned back and asked Chen Xi with utmost earnestness.

Although Guo Jia was in the Central Plains, he was aware of the seriousness of the northern border troubles. It can be said that, during the Late Han, all perceptive scholars saw the covetous intentions of the Hu People towards the Central Plains, yet none took it seriously enough.

In the eyes of these people, the covetous intentions of the Hu People towards the Central Plains were at most like those of Tan Shihuai’s incursions into the borders, what was taken had to be spat back out.

If these people knew there would be the chaos of the Five Barbarians in the future, they might fear the entire Northern Frontier would be cleansed with blood, and the Han Dynasty at this period had the strength to do so.

Chen Xi grimaced, although he had much hatred for the Hu People, truly ordering the annihilation of millions of Hu People was not something he could bring himself to do. Not everyone had the mentality of Gongsun Zan, who could exterminate hundreds of thousands of Hu People without batting an eye.

Chen Xi favored education: defeat them first, then use reformed labor to break them apart, and slowly assimilate them afterwards. Build cities on the Great Prairie, and over the course of three generations, gradually absorb the Hu People, which would at least be less bloody.

”Zichuan, the Hu People are fickle and do not speak of faith and righteousness. When the nation is strong, they bow and scrape; when the nation is weak, they become violently unreasonable. This surely resonates with your experience as well,” Guo Jia stated calmly, ”Even if the Huns have become the Han Huns, in essence, they are still Huns!”

”The education from the Han Court is utterly ineffective for them, so we might as well try another method, educate them with their own ways. The mistakes of the weak must be paid for with their lives, while only the strong have the dignity of acknowledging their errors!” Guo Jia continued unabated, completely disregarding Chen Xi’s thoughts.

”’Repay kindness with kindness, and grievances with justice.’ Killing for brothers, for friends, for sovereign and kin are all recognized by the legal and moral code. Since this is the case, national grudges and family enmities should rightfully be cleansed with blood.” Guo Jia’s tone was neither salty nor bland, but it resonated in Chen Xi’s ears.

”...” Chen Xi had nothing to say. He suddenly realized that, seemingly, this logic wasn’t flawed nor were the laws. The problem appeared to be with himself; he had misunderstood the legal concepts of this era.

”If they’re fickle, then why educate them? Just kill. Among a race, not everyone is undaunted by death. If you keep killing, they will naturally obey your commands. We have the strength, so why bother spending that energy? They are not Central Plains People, do we need to be so scrupulous?” Guo Jia was cold but also very pragmatic.

”I understand now. After all, it’s about national and familial vengeance. It should be so,” Chen Xi sighed. His way of thinking was always at odds with the era, and although he kept learning and delving deeper, he still couldn’t be as dismissive of human life as Guo Jia or Jia Xu, even if the person in question was an enemy.

”Zichuan, you need a concept, a notion of ’better to kill wrongly than to let one go’ towards foreign enemies. Showing mercy to Central Plains People is a matter of principle, but there is no need to do so with the Hu People—they deserve to be killed,” Guo Jia said mercilessly, extremely dissatisfied with Chen Xi’s compassion.

”Your one word of ’they deserve to be killed’ will lead to tens of thousands of heads falling to the ground,” sighed Chen Xi.

”Without these tens of thousands of people, our Great Han could have another ten years of peace,” Guo Jia laughed so freely. Why be merciful towards enemies?

”Hmm, I know now. Indeed, I am not suited for such tasks,” Chen Xi sighed. Without further ado, he knew his strengths and also understood his weaknesses. What he couldn’t do, he simply couldn’t do. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on QiDian ). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile readers, please read at m.qidian.com.)