Mythical Three Kingdoms

"From the looks of it, Lord Ci Ming has already been to Wen Ru. How did it feel?" Chen Xi asked with a smile, observing Xun Shuang’s expression.

"He’s still himself, basically unchanged, just manipulating different people now." Xun Shuang, having met Li Youu and exchanged a few words, felt Li Youu was stronger than before.

The person’s still the same, the intelligence remains the same intelligence, but the other’s will is even more exaggerated than before, a monster that wouldn’t regret dying for his beliefs.

The very type that people like Xun Shuang, at his level, dislike most—those with excessively strong intelligence, where calculations would rarely work, especially when they dare to risk everything after taking things seriously, executing their plans with unmatched determination, not caring even for life in pursuit of ideals.

Though not young, with extremely high intelligence, and having vast experience, having weathered storms and moved through both dark and light paths, yet completely lacking the care for life and scholarly demeanor of one at such a level, still charging forward with the vigor of a twenty-year-old.

Xun Shuang expressed that, despite decades of experience, he hadn’t seen anyone more defiant or astonishing than Li Wenru, truly a different breed.

"Yes, that’s normal. He’s the type who won’t change. Xuu Zijiang ranked him among the top three back in the day. Speaking of which, how is the Xuu Family in Runan doing now? I remember Yuan Gonglu’s first target was the Xuu Family," Chen Xi brought up Li Youu and remembered Xuu Zijiang’s evaluation, then recalled when Yuan Shu angrily rebuked Xuu Zijiang in Chang’an.

Naturally changing the subject, Li Youu and Xun Shuang certainly wouldn’t agree. They’re completely on different paths and won’t conspire together.

Though with extraordinary intelligence, mutual understanding doesn’t necessarily mean getting along. The more they understand, the more conflicts arise. The fact they haven’t fought yet is likely because Li Youu considers Xun Shuang’s frail old self wouldn’t withstand a hit.

"The Xuu Family is doing fine. Yuan Gonglu, though a bit obstinate and doesn’t think things through, stands by his word despite apparent loss, making the documents he signs and stamps still trustworthy overall." Xun Shuang thought about what Yuan Shu was doing now, nodding quietly. Though Yuan Shu is a fool, his promises are still reliable.

This is why many aristocratic families criticize Yuan Shu as a fool, yet still follow his lead. Yuan Shu indeed acts foolishly, creates many unwarranted challenges before signing documents, but once he signs and stamps them, even if he realizes a mistake, he’ll execute them despite potential loss.

Such people aren’t excellent leaders but are superb executors, stubborn in their own way, causing chaos until things are resolved, but once a result is reached, Yuan Shu remains unwavering.

Within the aristocratic family members, there might be fools, but in general, the collective isn’t foolish. Spending time with Yuan Shu has made them understand his ways. Yuan Shu’s methods need smooth handling, and as long as his rules aren’t violated, he’s quite reliable—a great shield.

Having understood Yuan Shu’s foolish ways, northern aristocratic families no longer worry about trouble, quietly developing land, farming, building; and truthfully, such life isn’t really difficult.

Isn’t it just following ancient sages’ paths? What aristocratic families praised to young ones back then, they’re now doing in practice. It’s not too challenging, just going along with it. When everyone does the same, it becomes quite easy indeed.

"Hmm, it seems Yuan Gonglu is doing well, no major conflicts arising?" Chen Xi pondered and said.

"None. The place is vast, and Yuan Gonglu follows map planning. Those with good relations mingle together, those with poor relations separate, and those with enmity might end up adjacent, which is their choice, as we plan to build a major city." Xun Shuang is open-minded, and with such a large area and less than two hundred families, any arrangement can fit.

Chen Xi felt relieved upon hearing this. Yuan Shu is quite reliable. Chen Xi wouldn’t intervene unless there’s a large-scale conflict.

"Heading south, you must have seen a lot of new villages and strongholds, right?" Chen Xi changed the subject. Since the northern group is peacefully farming, there’s nothing amiss. Xun Shuang, heading south, must have seen the large village strongholds after village merging—worth asking.

"Your plan?" Xun Shuang inquired.

"Yes, village merging. Relocate small villages from the mountains and combine them, creating conditions for infrastructure development." Chen Xi nodded, explaining.

In fact, besides curbing the clan system of the late Han, village merging is mainly aimed at completing infrastructure.

Back then, Chen Xi, with public interest in mind, aimed to build roads for villages, dig wells, improve water facilities, station vet doctors, establish a trading post for agricultural and various goods, and finally appoint a literacy teacher and fifty militiamen.

This plan was halted by Chen Xi for a simple reason. Occasionally, some queried why certain villages had roads built, wells dug, water facilities improved, doctors appointed, while their village didn’t. It prompted suspicion they were looked down upon.

At that time, villages were essentially clans, one surname per village. Not providing all villages with these amenities and equipment was purely creating friction, official friction, at that.

Chen Xi genuinely intended well then. Unfortunately, some clan dwellings were extremely remote with merely dozens of people, so building roads, digging wells, improving water facilities, equipping doctors, creating shops, assigning teachers, and appointing militiamen for just dozens was absurd!

It’s not like the later wealthy era, where building a road for tens or even just one person wouldn’t be a problem. Currently, during the late Han, even with Chen Xi, such standards weren’t feasible, so the initial plan was forced to be discontinued.

Later, small-scale village merging, while curbing clans, brought Chen Xi’s plan back to the fore. A village with two to three thousand people equipped with these things seemed very suitable to Chen Xi.

Some aspects could even be slightly expanded with significant advantages in resource integration, especially as the Han Dynasty now had only 45 million people. With villages of two or three thousand, excluding city dwellers, only around ten thousand villages were needed.

A mere ten thousand villages, Chen Xi believed that with effort, he could furnish these villages with standard highways, wells, improving surrounding water facilities, station vet doctors and literacy teachers, establish shops, and equip with fifty militiamen!

Indeed, a thousand doctors is a lot, but potentially achievable within several years. Equally, a thousand literacy teachers could be trained within several years too. Building roads and wells is organizational, and though challenging for Chen Xi, it’s feasible.

Thus, despite flaws, Chen Xi must pursue it. After all, such arrangements facilitate management.

"An excellent plan, but execution felt somewhat inhumane," Xun Shuang nodded. With his insight, he saw the benefits, whether from management or resource allocation perspectives, they were undeniably advantageous.

Yet, heading south, Xun Shuang noticed certain execution methods seemed overly rough.

"..." Chen Xi had no response. It was a reality, leaving one’s homeland wasn’t a mere saying during these times, hence merging villages faced considerable challenges.

"It’s unavoidable; there are always some resisting households," said Chen Xi with some helplessness after a pause, "but it’s manageable with certain tactics. Ultimately, these issues need solving. Long-standing ailments can’t be easily eradicated overnight."

"You seem soft in demeanor, but once resolved, none can persuade you." Xun Shuang sighed. Until Chen Xi resolved things, anything goes, but once determined, nothing holds effect.

"Since this is the case, I’ll refrain from mentioning it. Though flawed, it seems progress is made, and your will isn’t shaken. Raising issues wouldn’t make a difference, so I won’t sour your mood." Xun Shuang remarked with a smile, withholding his observations on the rough handling of village merging.

Chen Xi silently nodded, guessing what had transpired. Can it be solved? Actually, yes, but the method is significantly slow. Chen Xi didn’t have that time. Even the long-tolerated aristocratic rich family, Chen Xi let Li Youu handle decisively, others should rest assured.

With Mount Tai of Qing Xu stable, other areas aren’t problematic in Chen Xi’s view.

At this point, these issues simply cannot hinder Chen Xi’s progress. The nation’s grand momentum was determined at the start of the new era.

"If that’s the case, please convey the previous agreement to the Great Aristocratic Family," said Chen Xi, calming himself. As the goal nears completion, staying composed is crucial to avoid any oversight. Though not a matter of success or failure, it’s necessary to achieve the current limits.

May of Early Yuanfeng Year, Liu Bei’s side signed a loan agreement again with Cao Cao and Sunx Ce. Both recognized investing the funds into a five-year plan. Chen Xi provided loans totaling 17 billion coins, and Xun Yu, Zhang Zhao and others gradually invested funds into the agreed construction.

Subsequently, the Han Dynasty’s roads, water resources, and local infrastructures, including postal stations and academies, noticeably improved.

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