Mythical Three Kingdoms

Cao Cao looked at Cao Ang, who already showed the fearless ambition like his own when he established the Five-Color Staff, ”You’re still far from it, a little tiger perhaps. Right now, you’re at most a calf!”

Cao Ang looked defiantly at Cao Cao. Long ago, he wanted to face his father directly, but now that he could look at Cao Cao without fear, he yearned to return to that reverent state. He had grown up, and his father had aged.

”Not bad,” Cao Cao praised, noting that even valiant generals like Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan couldn’t help turning their heads from his gaze.

”After writing behind closed doors for a month, go to the Imperial Secretary Mansion to learn household matters from Zhong Yuanchang.” Cao Cao indicated that Cao Ang could leave. His son’s excellence comforted him, yet made him wonder if he was growing old.

Cao Ang nodded and then left. He understood what Cao Cao wanted him to study, not just governance, but decision-making. Cao Cao finally began nurturing him as a successor rather than evaluating him after noticing this exemplary legitimate eldest son.

”Unexpected, isn’t it? The Ding Clan must be quite pleased,” Cao Cao mused at Cao Ang’s retreating silhouette, with a smile of satisfaction beyond the resignation of his own aging, as any father might when watching his son grow up.

Meanwhile, compared to Cao Cao’s satisfaction upon discovering his son’s excellence, Liu Bei’s situation was nearing turmoil, with the lending of troops to Li Jue and others nearly confirmed. However, persuading Liu Bei to lend troops and determining who should supervise posed significant challenges.

”Lend troops, lend troops, lend troops, easy to say—how to get approval!” Liu Ye tapped the table, rebutting Chen Xi. It’s not that they didn’t want to lend; it’s how to get approval from Liu Bei’s side.

”We can’t possibly lend troops without Lord Xuande’s approval!” Chen Xi rolled his eyes, expressing his displeasure, ”Moreover, I don’t think Great Qin will be easy!”

A hint of seriousness flashed in Liu Ye’s eyes. Suddenly, he realized that if two individuals present joined forces, they could lend troops without Liu Bei’s approval: Chen Xi, with inherent authority over troop movements, and Li Youu, who could subtly adjust accounts without anyone noticing.

As Chen Xi spoke, silence enveloped the room; they all recognized a critical issue. If Chen Xi and Li Youu allied, they could bypass everyone present and the military, directly mobilizing troops anywhere without supervision.

Li Youu’s power was diverse, but at its core, it mimicked the Directorate of Ceremonial in the late Ming Dynasty. Because Liu Bei did not intervene directly in governance, Chen Xi always remembered to send a copy to Liu Bei to avoid appearing authoritarian.

Essentially, once Li Youu approved funds and grains, they could be transferred to Chen Xi to be issued. However, Chen Xi independently held troop mobilization power, which meant, he could move troops first without accountability, then funds and grains would follow Li Youu’s approval, completing the mobilization.

”I’ve suddenly realized our functions are somewhat chaotic,” Chen Xi remarked with embarrassment after his slip of the tongue.

”That’s how it is when rising,” Liu Ye commented after a pause, understanding that Chen Xi’s military authority origin was irrelevant since Chen Xi should indeed have significant power in governance.

”Here’s how it should be: we’ll divide the people into three parts. One group will make policies, another will review those policies and can reject them, and the third will only execute them.” After some contemplation, Chen Xi proposed, ”This way, no one can bypass the system.”

”That’s not feasible, too slow,” Li Youu pointed out the flaw in the Three Departments and Six Ministries approach—lack of decisive authority, or rejecting for the sake of rejection was problematic.

”Actually, if military authority weren’t mixed in, our situation would be quite good. Zichuan, although he possesses unilateral power, most approval and issuance powers are balanced and exchanged,” Lub Su spoke a just word.

It wasn’t that Chen Xi and Li Youu’s power was overly significant; it was rather unfortunate that someone in this group possessed military authority.

Initially, when Chen Xi planned governance, he designed a balance, ensuring planners differed from reviewers. Only when the process was too slow did Chen Xi, as the top-level process architect, intervene to expedite execution.

Hence, Chen Xi was like a Prime Minister above the Three Departments and Six Ministries, providing value by resolving slow or contentious processes, either expediting or vetoing them.

No one found issues with this power; it should be so, as high efficiency and effective execution are crucial in chaotic times. The existence of a Prime Minister above the Three Dukes in Han Dynasty implies similar executive authority.

”Even if I wanted to return this military authority, I’m not capable of doing so,” Chen Xi admitted after a while, acknowledging that the troop authority had been thrust into his hands—not reserved by choice but granted by Liu Bei.

Lack of authority retraction indicated trust, while also serving as security for Chen Xi. If Liu Bei ever sought to overthrow Chen Xi, the latter would have some defense. Hence, returning military power was impossible.

Moreover, as the overseer of military authority, Liu Bei didn’t need a Commander’s Seal or Sword Command to mobilize troops, demonstrating confidence. After all, any Feudal Lord capable of recognizing every garrison commander under his rule wouldn’t fear rebellion.

Were he the Emperor, he’d fearlessly manage troops without worrying over stolen Tiger Talisman—though arbitrary, a living symbol amid unforeseen events poses no risk.

Thus, while Chen Xi theoretically could mobilize troops without notifying Liu Bei, the power remained overseen. Liu Bei entrusted Chen Xi with military authority to secure safety, not as a personal asset but as a protection offered by Liu Bei.

Safeguarding that if Liu Bei ever rashly targeted Chen Xi, his troop authority could defend him until Liu Bei calmed down, or secure his family’s departure—though such a day would never come.

Despite acknowledging Chen Zichuan’s foresight of personal security measures, Liu Bei granted him this authority, demonstrating mutual trust despite its necessary upkeep.

”Hiss...” Everyone present drew a cold breath; understanding Chen Xi’s implications after his frank words.

”Let’s move past this,” Liu Ye, despite disliking the tenth man’s role, recognized the necessity of a senior figure acting as the tenth.

”Thus, no need to mention military authority—Lord Xuande won’t reclaim it. It’s his final protective layer for me,” Chen Xi said after a pause, ”No point discussing with you all; I’ll negotiate with Lord Xuande personally—it’s only about lending troops!”

”Are you certain about disclosing this to Lord Xuande?” Li Youu asked after a pause, ”What if Lord Xuande, feeling accomplished, realizes his efforts are merely preliminary and retreats?”

”Then I’ll drag him onto the right path; people are driven by pressure, whether from others or self-imposed. Otherwise, who here wouldn’t achieve today’s accomplishments?” Chen Xi sneered, ”Moreover, perhaps not even Lord Xuande!”

”Suit yourself, though you’ll need to resolve any issues,” Li Youu suddenly laughed, ”And realize ’Commanding the Nation’s grandeur,’ ’Embracing the world’s spirit,’ ’Fairness and firmness, without bias,’ ’Reclining over the realm, ruling upon awakening,’ ’Bravery, wisdom, fulfillment, humility, loving the people—the ancient sages’ aspirations fulfilled by all wishes of today’s citizens’ remains unachieved!”

”Then let’s fulfill it all this time!” Jia Xu slowly offered his hands, ”I choose to trust our lord, and believe in Zichuan too!” (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote at qidian.com with recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)