Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Then, I wonder if Zichuan could clear my doubts?” Zhou Yu suddenly rode over and spoke to Chen Xi, who was startled and then slowly nodded.

”It’s settled then, I’ll definitely rely on you quite a bit.” Zhou Yu laughed and said. He did have many questions he wanted to ask Chen Xi. If his predictions were correct, he and Chen Xi could both be considered insects tied to the same rope.

Chen Xi shook his head helplessly. He truly didn’t know what Zhou Yu’s doubts were, and he honestly couldn’t guarantee he could resolve them. However, if Zhou Yu asked, he would still speak according to his own thinking.

Compared to people like Lyu Meng and Pang Tong, Zhou Yu now had a very comprehensive way of thinking, with almost nothing that could shake him. Even if Chen Xi identified a flaw in Zhou Yu’s thought process and temperament, it would be hard to influence such a person with words.

Thus, Chen Xi was generally unwilling to try and sway people like Zhou Yu and Xun Yu with words. For these people, he could only use facts to corner them, making them understand that what he said was right, what he did was right, him hitting them was all for their own good!

As for other things, forget it. Without facts, trying to make them understand right from wrong isn’t even a matter of right or wrong since reality isn’t simply defined by right or wrong. What Chen Xi needed to do was to make them understand what reality truly was.

Maybe you are correct, maybe your direction is right, maybe the path you tread is better, but so what? The facts are right in front of you; the paths you’ve dismissed, that you haven’t explored, have been successfully walked by others.

So what gives you the right to dismiss others, claiming that your untested, brain-only route is superior?

Civil officials who can stand above ninety-nine percent of others, no matter how thoughtful they are, can’t utter such words. In the face of reality, there’s only compromise, because reality, unlike theory, doesn’t require justification; existence itself signifies reason.

That’s why, clearly Xun Yu and others initially had their own plans, their own governance schemes, their own visions for the country. Yet ultimately, each had no choice but to accept Chen Xi’s governance scheme.

Clearly both served different masters, returning to the Central Plains would inevitably lead to conflict, clearly each had their own plans, but in the end, had to yield to reality.

Chen Xi never mentioned getting Xun Yu and others to emulate the path he walked, but ultimately words couldn’t achieve what was happening because words are too pale in the face of facts.

Trying to persuade Xun Yu and Xun Youi with words was nearly impossible. Just passing through Yingchuan back then, when the Xun Family closed their doors to guests, Chen Xi knew that words were unreliable; no matter how eloquently you speak, if they won’t listen, they won’t listen.

Only reality can forcefully change a person, only reality can make a proud person bow down, likewise only facing reality can make a sage understand their situation.

Fortunately, step by step, Chen Xi, through successive accumulations, finally has the assurance to make Cao Cao and Sun Ce bow down. No matter how proud or ambitious the two may be, in this current reality, they must bow.

If relying on words, Chen Xi thought he might never achieve this throughout his life. Fortunately, reality can teach others manners.

Although Zhou Yu said he wanted Chen Xi to clear his doubts, he never came to ask thereafter, and Chen Xi didn’t mind. Zhou Yu’s questions must not be simple, perhaps even hard to answer, so if Zhou Yu didn’t ask, Chen Xi was contentedly happy.

Thus, during this time, Chen Xi worked hard to clear Pang Tong and others’ doubts, while Lul Xun felt he was missing out, hence came over to query incessantly. As Chen Xi’s practical disciple, he naturally had such privilege, and Chen Xi answered Lul Xun too.

It was during this instance that Chen Xi realized he had indeed neglected Lul Xun a bit; he had stored many questions, some even Chen Xi found hard to answer.

Fortunately, Chen Xi, having foreknowledge from downstream history and a thousand years of accumulation, coupled with several years of honing in this era, though difficult to answer, it wasn’t entirely impossible. Though unable to provide the perfect answer Chen Xi desired, the answers he could provide were enough to satisfy people of this era.

”If I could possess the wisdom you have now, I wouldn’t be so wistful.” Sima Yi said with a sigh.

”How many rounds have you lost? I see you looking for Kongming every day, don’t know how many times you lost?” Chen Xi laughed, naturally changing the subject.

”Didn’t win a single round, regardless of the type, not a single win.” Sima Yi said wryly with a bitter corner of his mouth, ”During this period, I’ve asked about everything I’m unsure of, you’ve given me answers, and pointed out many things, gaining substantial progress on things I couldn’t previously grasp. Yet the more advancement, the more I feel the gap.”

”Actually, the gap between you and him isn’t that large, at most his accumulation is more than yours.” Chen Xi laughed and said. Besides Sima Yi’s slightly gloomy personality, he was indeed excellent in other aspects, dealing with people in a way that left Chen Xi very satisfied.

”Not just a bit, maybe it’s just some to you, for me, it won’t be less than three years of continuous study and practice.” Sima Yi shook his head, sighed.

”Three years, huh? In another three years, Kongming will probably be ready to take over my position.” Chen Xi rubbed his chin and said, Sima Yi, hearing this, felt even more bitter, taking over Chen Xi’s position; previously Sima Yi might have doubted, but now he understood that meant the Prime Minister role!

”But at least you know how long it will take to catch up.” Chen Xi saw Sima Yi’s bitterness and smiled, ”That indicates there’s still a chance. People need to have a dream, right?”

”Without a dream, just a salted fish, right?” Sima Yi quipped back at Chen Xi, having heard this phrase many times lately, ”I’m preparing to bow to Kongming and head to the Western Regions.”

”Finally made up your mind?” Chen Xi smiled and said, ”Then go, as your cousin, what I can tell you is, it’s not as simple as you think there.”

”Not as simple as I think?” Sima Yi murmured to himself.

”Shallow waters can’t nurture True Dragons.” Chen Xi looked at Sima Yi and said, ”The more complex the situation, the more chaotic the circumstances, the more it produces talent, and also the easier it is to wear out the sharp edge; whether dragon or worm, will soon be discerned in such a scenario.”

Sima Yi nodded without expecting any promise from Chen Xi; in fact, he didn’t need anything from Chen Xi. His departure was to be Zhuge Liang’s assistant.