Chapter 7096 Reason

Chapter 7096 Reason
Politics isn't like dating. In politics, once someone dies, they're dead. There's absolutely no problem where the dead are harder to defeat than the living. In matters of the heart, there's the possibility that a deceased "white moonlight" (ideal love) is something even the "white moonlight" herself can't overcome. But when a politician dies, if the political situation doesn't end immediately, it's considered that a good successor has been chosen!

Even if the successor is the best chosen, it is impossible to completely inherit the policies of the deceased. This is an inevitable historical trend, as well as a lesson learned from history.

Therefore, in matters of love, the dead are invincible as long as they die at the right time. There was the story of Gu Jian Qing Shen, Empress Zhangsun in the middle, and Empress Chai in the end. They all died when they were supposed to die. No matter what state the emperor was in, it was useless. No one who came after them could beat him!
But it's different for politicians. Once you die, everything you left behind will remain unchanged. No matter if you were Caesar or Augustus in Europe, or Taizu or Taizong in China, even if you leave behind inscriptions on metal and stone, it won't make any difference.

Caesar: The empire must be chosen. Rome went from monarchy to republic, and in my time, Caesar, the empire was the future. I chose the empire and ushered in the era of the empire!
Augustus was Caesar's adopted son and inherited Caesar's political legacy. He was Caesar's most favored successor. But what did Augustus do? He believed that an empire and a parliament could coexist, could be integrated, and could coexist in the world. He believed that a combination of dictatorship and democracy would lead to a better future. And that's how Rome came to be.

But are you saying that what Augustus did was what Caesar wanted? Bullshit!

As for the Central Plains, it goes without saying that once a person dies, they are dead. No matter what golden rules or imperial decrees they may have, once they are dead, everything is nonsense!
In particular, the fact that politicians must accept the death of their leaders and the end of their policies forces all politicians to realize that young people are the future, while the old are just a handful of dust. The only difference is when that handful of dust will finally cover their heads.

“In politics, the future lies with the young. Any idea that goes against the will of the young, even if it wins in the short term, will eventually be dismantled and overthrown.” Chen Xi said to Qu Qi very seriously. “So, if you want to help your apprentice, tell him this answer and have him pass it on to Pompiñus and the others.”

Cookie was slightly taken aback by what he said, and looked at Chen Xi with a strange expression. What did he mean by that?
"Alright, your apprentice doesn't have any bad intentions. He's just worried about the Roman Empire. And the reason why the younger generation in the Roman Empire has the current trend of thought, besides the power of the Claudius family and purely self-interested relationships, is also because of a very important point: the current state of the Han Dynasty." Chen Xi didn't laugh at Qu Qi's reaction. He could guess that this wasn't what Qu Qi wanted to ask, but rather what Qu Qi was asking on behalf of his apprentice.

After all, Anaus was one of Cookie's few apprentices from Rome, and he had performed well in his studies and was extremely respectful to Cookie. So when he wrote to inquire at this special time, Cookie was naturally willing to lend a hand, which is why he came to ask Chen Xi for information.

Of course, Chen Xi guessed that Annaus probably didn't say much in the letter, just mentioned it briefly. Qu Qi became curious and came to ask about it. However, Chen Xi didn't care too much about that. For him, it was good to inform Rome of these analyses. After all, Chen Xi needed a stable and living Rome that could serve as a control group for the Han cultural sphere.

If the Roman Empire were to disintegrate into the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, losing its current allure, it would indeed be difficult for the Han Empire to find a source of inspiration when it falls into difficulties. Therefore, it would be worthwhile to pull Rome along when necessary.

"So, Annaus wrote this letter to me to ask for advice?" Cookie said, frowning.

"Because he thinks highly of you as his teacher, believing that you also possess remarkable wisdom. In addition, Rome is indeed facing a food shortage at the moment, and he also wants to learn from you how to cultivate high-yield crops." Chen Xi didn't think Annaus was wrong. After all, with such a teacher, it's necessary to seek help when needed.

"I'm a little unhappy. I thought he was a good student, but I didn't expect him to lie to his teacher like this," Cookie said, sounding somewhat displeased.

"It's not exactly deception, but you'll have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Rome, and as an outsider, you'll see more." Chen Xi shook his head. "In short, I've told you everything I can about the current state of the Roman Empire. If you feel it's necessary later, you can tell Anaus. Don't underestimate your student; his position in the Senate is quite special."

After all, he was a descendant of the three leaders, and currently the only direct descendant, which was a source of comfort for Caesar. Therefore, Anaus was quite special in the Senate. In addition, Anaus learned a lot about intensive farming and breeding techniques from the cookie makers, and upon returning to the Roman Empire, he did indeed make great efforts in promoting agriculture and increasing output.

Such a young man, with both background and ability, would have been a deputy to the deacon if he weren't so young. The deacon in the Roman Empire was basically equivalent to the prime minister in later times. Annas was such a person with status and background.

So despite his youth, this man was capable of delivering memorials to those who truly held power in the Roman Empire when necessary, without even needing to follow procedures. He could simply grit his teeth and deliver them himself. It was for this reason that Chen Xi felt he should tell Cookie what needed to be said. If Cookie wanted to tell Anaus, then Cookie would tell him. If Anaus wanted to tell Pompiñus and others, then Cookie would tell them.

Of course, if any link in this chain breaks down and the message isn't passed on to Pompiannis and the others, Chen Xi wouldn't care. After all, the collapse of the Roman Empire wouldn't happen overnight. Perhaps after Chen Xi retires, he'll have another chance to visit Rome and discuss things again, right?

Anyway, that's the situation. If it succeeds, great; if it doesn't, it won't have much of an impact. For now, the Roman Empire will be in chaos, which will only benefit the Han Dynasty.

"Speaking of which, you really don't mind if I tell Annaus about these things?" Cookie asked somewhat strangely. "Based on what you told me about Pompiñus and the Romans like Herodian that I've met, they're currently more caught up in the situation and unable to see reality clearly. But if you send these words to them, they'll be awakened, right?"

“Yes.” Chen Xi nodded. Pompeo and Sergio are actually quite smart. The reason they are in this situation is simply because they are caught up in the situation and their opponents are all their own relatives. When they try to solve the problem, they are somewhat hesitant and restrained, which is why they look so awkward.

But to be honest, once Chen Xi's words were sent through Cookie-Annaus's channels, the group quickly knew how to solve the problem.

"It's a bit strange. You rarely have goodwill towards foreign countries, don't you? Shouldn't you always say that if they can die, they should die sooner, and if they can't, they shouldn't interfere with us?" Cookie asked, somewhat puzzled.

"You're overestimating me. I'm a person with high moral standards," Chen Xi said with a smile. "To be honest, in terms of moral standards alone, yours might not be higher than mine."

Cookie nodded upon hearing this. His education was at the level of a direct descendant of a thousand-year-old aristocratic family, so he was somewhat overly concerned with morality. For him, those things were merely tools. However, as the times progressed, he developed a more correct sense of right and wrong and a moral compass, and he became powerful enough to uphold his own morality and goodwill.

On the contrary, Chen Xi's morality is indeed outrageous. Even Qu Qi is sometimes curious about how the Yingchuan Chen family teaches their children. It is said that the direct descendants of such a thousand-year-old family have the right to interpret morality, so morality is more like a tool to them. However, the morality of the Chen family in recent generations is indeed outrageously high. The morality of Chen Shi, Chen Ji, Chen Chen, and Chen Xi is better than the last.

To be honest, the ancestors of the Yingchuan Chen family, that is, the Tian Chen lineage, were sometimes very morally deficient. Many elders of the aristocratic families said in private that it might be a case of hitting rock bottom and rebounding, as several generations of moral saints have emerged in succession. But no matter what, it is indeed quite strange. Of course, because there were three generations of moral gentlemen, other aristocratic families actually had a basic level of trust in Chen Xi from the beginning.

This is also why, in earlier years, the Yingchuan Chen family said that Chen Xi borrowed their family reputation. After all, this reputation was not built by Chen Xi's generation alone; Chen Shi, Chen Ji, and others also contributed. It's just that Chen Xi pushed this reputation and morality to an even more exaggerated level.

“I acknowledge that you have very high moral standards, but your moral brilliance only applies to certain areas. It’s not suitable for ordinary people abroad. Otherwise, there would be no Central Asian incident or Ganges River incident.” Cookie shook her head and said. Of course, it wasn’t that she thought it was wrong. On the contrary, this era is divided into ethnic groups, with a clear distinction between us and them. This is a matter of course in the eyes of all aristocratic families, and it should be so.

A saint who is fair to everyone is the greatest injustice to his own people. The morality and credibility that Chen Xi demonstrates are basically within the scope of the major families and the people of the Central Plains who recognize him as one of their own.

“Alright, enough joking. You can tell Annaus about this if you want, or it's fine if you don't. It's just something I help out when it happens. If the Roman Empire continues like this, Pompiñus and Sergio might solve the problem within two years.” Chen Xi's teasing tone faded, and he spoke with a hint of seriousness. “The younger generation can't outmaneuver these old fogies. These old fogies are indeed elites, after all…”

Chen Xi didn't say what followed, but he knew it best. Without Chen Xi, the Three Kingdoms period would have been at its weakest, with a population of only seven million and a group of generals whose strongest were only at the level of the Seventy-Two Generals. None of them could be considered top-tier commanders. To be honest, without Liu Bei, the Three Kingdoms would have been just an ordinary chaotic era, and even then, it would have been a low-level one.

But what about other countries at the same time?

Even the Kushan Empire, considered the weakest, regained Khorasan and Khwarezm under the rule of Vasudeva I, bringing its power to its peak and even allowing it to rival Ardashir at one point. Its territory remained intact until the death of Vasudeva I.

Of course, after Vasudeva I died, Ardashir, who was stuck in Herat and unable to break through the Kandahar region, absorbed the northern nobles due to the division between the northern and southern nobles, and conquered the Kushan in just one year. Considering that Vasudeva I and Ardashir fought to the death for twenty years, even with the advantage of the natural defenses of the mountains, Vasudeva I and his subordinates were actually only slightly weaker than the group that founded the Sasanian Persian Empire.

As for Rome, at this time it was just the last glimmer of its glory before its demise. The Severan dynasty was known as the most powerful dynasty in terms of military strength, crushing Parthia in one blow. Its military strength reached the level of more than 200,000 standing troops, which was the most exaggerated among feudal dynasties.

It can be said that from the end of the second century to the beginning of the third century, the Han dynasty was simply wrestling in the mud. It barely managed to achieve unification, but before it could even open the door to the fourth century, the Yongjia Rebellion broke out. In terms of the whole period, it can only be said that this period was a state of crawling all over the place.

Cookie looked at Chen Xi with some curiosity, but didn't ask for the rest. However, he also acknowledged the elite level of the Romans, since he had seen and understood them and they were indeed formidable. Of course, in Cookie's opinion, the Han Dynasty was even more powerful because of Chen Xi, himself, the roads that could connect all parts of the world, and the logistics system that could transport goods across the world.

As for the bureaucratic system, as someone who witnessed the previous era, in his honest opinion, it's just so-so. It's true that it's better than that era, but as for any overwhelming advantages, just listen to that. Chen Xi didn't say anything about how good the current bureaucratic system is, so it's probably just that it's actually usable.

From Qu Qi's perspective, looking at the Han Dynasty, there's only one feeling: it was purely because it encountered a few powerful figures. Without these few powerful figures, the Han Dynasty would have been nothing special. As strong as the others were, Qu Qi simply couldn't see any possibility of these powerful figures being able to unite.

However, the good thing is that I am among these powerful people, so at least I am not ashamed. I have lived a worthwhile life and can say after death that I am honored to have been part of the Han Dynasty!

“But such a victory will sow the seeds of disaster for the Roman Empire. Moreover, if the Roman Empire’s high-ranking officials are still clear-headed, they will inevitably intervene in the war between Han Gui and the Han Empire as soon as possible.” Chen Xi said with some weariness, “Because according to my judgment, they will definitely be able to resolve it within two years.”

“That’s true. You’ll probably be able to mobilize your army around the twelfth year of Yuanfeng, and you won’t be able to solve the problem until the thirteenth year of Yuanfeng. According to your estimate, Rome will probably solve the problem around the twelfth year of Yuanfeng.” Qu Qi nodded, indicating that he understood why Chen Xi wanted to provide the Roman Empire with a solution. If Rome were to solve the problem at this time, it would actually be quite fatal.

“Although Sergio and Pompiñus were sufficiently aware and understood the Great Purge, they actually knew where the fault lay. Moreover, many of the participants in this turmoil were actually elites among Roman citizens. When the fault lay with the Claudius family, yet Roman citizens were being punished, these two, after eliminating a small number of the most heinous criminals and suppressing their own internal problems, would not continue to eliminate the participants.” Chen Xi acknowledged this logic and explained, “After all, they were relatively kind people.”

Chen Xi didn't know whether Pompiannis and Sergio were decent people, but he was certain that these Romans who upheld the Roman Empire and considered themselves Roman citizens would not actually carry out a large-scale extermination of Roman citizens who shared the same ideas but acted radically.

Therefore, the final solution was exile. And coincidentally, the decisive battle between the Han Dynasty and the Kushan Empire was taking place. Whether it was to gain benefits for Rome or to help the Kushan Empire survive longer, sending these people to the Kushan Empire was a solution.

“So it’s better to let them resolve this issue later,” Chen Xi said with a smile. “If we tell them my judgment, they can step back and look at the problem from a different perspective. Although we may resolve the root of the problem, the war will be prolonged.”

“I see.” Cookie nodded, indicating that he understood. “I quite like doing things that benefit both sides and are a favor to Rome. I will tell my student Annaus about this later.”

“Yes, just tell him. Annaus is definitely confused right now, but he’s caught up in the situation and it’s hard for him to think so far ahead,” Chen Xi said with a smile. “After receiving your letter, he’ll have some understanding after reading it, and then he’ll pass it on to Pompiñus and the others. Then the situation in Rome will develop in a direction that’s favorable to us.”

In fact, it's not just about the current favorable direction. In Chen Xi's plan, it's better for a vast civilization like the Han cultural sphere to have another civilization that is different from it as a reference. This is like looking in a mirror, which can help us discover some of our own shortcomings. And most importantly, if problems really arise one day, we will have a reference point.

The Roman Empire could die, but at this stage, keeping it alive is more beneficial than harmful. Besides, the Han Dynasty is already overindulged and cannot continue to expand. Expanding by picking up some cheap land is fine, but Rome? Forget about it!

Please vote! Please vote! Please vote a lot! Oh no, there's an event on Qidian soon, but I can't go. I haven't participated in a single event in all these years. It's really terrible!