Chapter 7102 Everything That Was Expected Has Arrived

Chapter 7102 Everything That Was Expected Has Arrived
At this moment, Chen Gong was completely stunned. He didn't even know how to express his thoughts. But regardless of whether he could express them or not, Chen Gong had only one feeling: the way the aristocratic families praised Chen Xi to death back then was a complete joke. This person's potential was simply immeasurable.

What does it mean that Sun Qian has more than ninety production and construction corps? And what does it mean to blend in with the world? Chen Gong really wanted Chen Xi to explain this at this moment, but he couldn't say it. In fact, upon closer inspection, he didn't even have the qualifications. This was simply speechless!

"What, are you surprised?" Chen Xi looked at Chen Gong with a faint smile and said, "You don't actually think that all I've done in the past twenty years is this little bit that you can see? How could that be? What you can see is just the tip of the iceberg. As for how big it is underneath, hehe!"

The moment Chen Xi laughed, Chen Gong felt that the world had gone completely mad, but not in a madly insane way. Rather, it was the despair of seeing all his efforts as nothing more than sandcastles on a beach, and all his plans as nothing more than sandcastles on a beach.

This kind of despair makes it impossible for one to go mad; one can only be insane, a calm madness.

“In fact, my existence largely refutes a certain logic that the aristocratic families have been arguing about, and it has also uprooted the aristocratic families.” Chen Xi said calmly to Chen Gong, “Their wisdom, their foundation, and all the moral and legal principles they talk about are completely covered by me when they face me. I can even clearly tell them a fact.”

"So-called wisdom, so-called effort, so-called everything I've fought for, are nothing more than handouts from the times." Chen Gong bitterly gave the answer on behalf of Chen Xi. Although he didn't understand exactly how much Chen Xi had done, Chen Gong could still speak for Chen Xi after hearing this.

“Yes, I have proven that they were just lucky. Even if Xun Wenruo and Zhou Gongjin stood in front of us, I could prove that their claim of not relying on family background and relying solely on ability was nothing but empty words. Because I can enable others to surpass them completely, also without relying on ‘family background’ and relying solely on ‘ability’.” At this moment, Chen Xi was filled with what was called divinity.

"Yes, what about relying on ability..." Chen Gong felt extremely bitter. With Chen Xi's punch, all the talk of relying on ability became a joke. Do I need your abilities? No, I don't need them. As a force of the times, I don't need you at all. Choosing you is just your good fortune.

"The times outweigh individual efforts, that's a fact. And as long as you have enough backing, everything is justified. Take the Yang family and the Yuan family in the past, for example. Once they developed to a certain level, their individual abilities and seemingly glorious achievements were actually more a product of the tides of the times than their own abilities." Chen Xi looked at Chen Gong and smiled very frankly, because he knew very well that he was that tide, so he could really point fingers at everyone.

"Therefore, Gongyou has more than ninety production and construction corps, so if Chen Zichuan wants to do this, he will naturally succeed. Or to put it more directly, when those who think they are ahead think they have been given a boost by the times, they need to think about whether the times have marked them." Chen Xi looked at Chen Gong and did not even explain why this was the case. He gave the most serious, realistic, but also the most convincing answer to everyone.

This is the prosperous era I, Chen Xi, have created. I'm taking a slice and giving it to my subordinates. You can speak your minds. I believe you'll all think this is a great thing, and might even be willing to sing its praises, right?

Correct!
This is the answer.

"I have no further questions. It is my honor, and the honor of everyone in the Bingzhou faction, to have Marquis Chen provide a special explanation and make a special arrangement." Chen Gong was silent for a moment before giving a very direct answer. All the nonsense was meaningless; Chen Xi was the law.

"No objections?" Chen Xi asked with a light laugh. The indifference and the divine sense of balance that he possessed had largely dissipated, making him appear almost normal.

"At this point, is there still any objection?" Chen Gong asked rhetorically, but he was absolutely certain.

"Then you go and take care of your business. I think the Cao family will definitely send someone over. I don't want to see them. You can meet them when you have time," Chen Xi said casually to Chen Gong.

"You're not going to see Changwen and the others either?" Chen Gong was taken aback.

“If he were to meet me as a cousin, I would naturally do so. After all, I also share the surname Chen, and I would never let him go hungry. In fact, if he were to truly let go of his resentment, I would have plenty of options. But a person can only say what they mean; I think it’s hard to change their true feelings,” Chen Xi said with a slight sigh.

Chen Qun is already very capable. Even if Chen Xi is not as good as Xun Yu, he is probably the most outstanding domestic affairs talent in the world. If he really puts aside his inner resentment, given Chen Xi's character, he will definitely give him a good background. Putting aside other things, arranging him to be one of the Nine Ministers or even the prime minister's deputy would not be a problem. However, it is impossible. There are not many strategists in this world who can put aside their pride.

"Do you need me to try and persuade him?" Chen Gong asked considerately. Since he had already taken Chen Xi as his backer and was going to make a living under Chen Xi's protection, it was only natural for him to help the big boss solve his problems. Moreover, whether this matter could be accomplished or not was not important; showing the right attitude was what mattered.

"No need. Think carefully about the group of people under Cao Mengde. Only one of them is willing to put aside his pride. As for the others, Gongtai, what do you think Xun Wenruo is insisting on?" Chen Xi said with a light laugh.

Ju Shou's method of praising Chen Xi to death, and the aristocratic families' method of praising Chen Xi to death, while infinitely elevating the list of civil officials, also dragged some people into the position of opponents. But where did Chen Xi have any opponents?
"I see." Chen Gong did not answer, but simply evaded the question. Xun Yu, having been placed in a position of opposing Chen Xi by the Han aristocratic families, was unlikely to back down.

There is no first place in literature, but Chen Xi is undoubtedly the first. Even if all the scholars in the world were to sit and discuss the Way, Chen Xi would still stand at the top and look down upon them.

"Alright, I've told you everything I need to. I know you'll be surprised and then go back and think about how to maximize the benefits for the Bingzhou faction during this transition from Outer Marquis to Inner Marquis of the Nine Provinces. But I think it's pointless. I believe you're smart enough to find the loophole, so I'm just telling you directly." Chen Xi didn't want to waste time with Chen Gong on this kind of thing, so he kept it simple and opened the door directly.

"I haven't even started thinking about how to get the biggest benefit from this matter yet." Chen Gong was somewhat exhausted. Although he was indeed preparing to bow and leave, Chen Xi's words made him feel a little awkward. He felt that he wasn't a positive figure in Chen Xi's eyes.

"Yes, yes, I haven't thought about it yet." Chen Xi said somewhat perfunctorily. It was obvious that after finishing his business, Chen Xi's attitude towards people had changed. He seemed more like an ordinary, lazy Chen Xi. Chen Gong admired Chen Xi's seamless transition from god to human and then to lazy. No normal person could switch roles so quickly.

"Lord Chen, your plan may not be as good as the plan to enfeoff the Ganges Essence District, but to be honest, it's still very exciting for us ordinary people," Chen Gong said with a hint of weariness. "So I really haven't thought about it."

“I haven’t thought about it yet, but once you step out of this door and calm down, and realize that things have come to this point and there’s no way to change it, you’ll definitely start thinking about maximizing your benefits. Of course, I’m not saying that this behavior is bad; I’m just stating the facts,” Chen Xi said with a somewhat indifferent tone. “So, to save you some trouble and to save me some energy, I’ll just tell you how to do it.”

Chen Gong was silent for a while. To be honest, that's how it is for a strategist. It's impossible not to maximize profits. It's not just the aristocratic families who are greedy, but all of them. Otherwise, how could they have gotten into this situation? Chen Xi was clearly wrong, but from a moral, ethical, and even moral standpoint, there's nothing to criticize.

"Go directly to Gongyou and tell him that when the road is repaired, it should be repaired for you too. It would be best to repair the village and other public water facilities as well." Chen Xi glanced at Chen Gong, too lazy to say anything more, and directly told Chen Gong the answer.

"Did we ask for this ourselves, or did you grant it by word of mouth?" Chen Gong asked with some doubt.

“Why can’t it be that Gongyou himself didn’t have enough political acumen and just did it on a whim?” Chen Xi said casually. Chen Gong was completely stunned by what he heard. He didn’t know if Chen Xi was joking or if everyone was just putting on a good show and Sun Qian had created this persona.

"Alright, that's all I have to say. Go and deal with the people coming from Cao Mengde's side." Chen Xi said in a somewhat indifferent tone, without explaining to Chen Gong whether his last words were a joke or a fact.

When Chen Gong left Chen Xi's house, he was completely dizzy. Even with his sharp mind, he couldn't figure out whether Chen Xi's words were a warning or an implication.

Regardless of the answer, as long as Sun Qian's production and construction corps of over 900,000 people is real, there's really nothing else to say.

So what if it's fake?

Looking at my well-trained regular army of five or six hundred thousand, you'd better organize your thoughts.

"Forget it, it doesn't matter. The food is almost here, and everyone's at the table. There's no point in thinking about it anymore. I'll just go back and make arrangements for those people from the Bingzhou faction." Chen Gong pondered for a while, then forcibly suppressed his thoughts.

Compared to the delusions of a genius like Chen Xi, Chen Gong felt he should be more down-to-earth and stop overthinking. He should hurry back and tell Lu Bu and Zhang Liao what he needed to tell them, then quickly go to the sanctuary on the other side of the world to get some new isolation artifacts for Cao Cao. After that, he would have to come up and work for Chen Xi. As for Chen Xi's claim that Chen Qun would come, Chen Gong didn't doubt it.

When Chen Gong came out from Chen Xi's side, Chen Qun and Xun You had already been sent to Chang'an by Xiahou Dun, and then Xiahou Dun quickly returned to Kandahar.

Upon arriving in Chang'an, Chen Qun and Xun You did not immediately go to pay their respects to Chen Xi. Both were intelligent men and knew very well that the matter had already occurred and was even over. Their visit would not change the facts. Moreover, compared to what Liu Ai and Xiahou Yuan relayed, it would be better for them to find a more reliable person to understand the situation directly.

"Changwen, I won't go to Marquis Chen's place. Things have come to this point, there's no point in going. I'll just send a letter to explain things and attend the grand court assembly." Xun You was no longer as dull as before, and instead began to look around.

After all, Xun You had been to Chang'an many times, and the timing of his visits was quite interesting: there was the time when he moved to Chang'an during the Dong Zhuo Rebellion, the time when Cao Cao took control of Chang'an, and the time when Chen Xi took control of Chang'an. But no matter when it happened, compared to the present Chang'an, Xun You had a thousand words in his heart, so much so that in the end he could only sigh.

In Xun You's words, after seeing this Chang'an city, anyone with a modicum of self-awareness should understand the gap between everyone else; I certainly can't do that.

"You?" Chen Qun was taken aback.

"I just heard that Yuan Chang has also returned, so I'll go see him," Xun You replied calmly. "It's been many years since I last saw Yuan Chang, and I miss him dearly."

This was not an exaggeration. Xun You and Zhong Yao were good friends, and they were close in age, with Xun You being the lowest in seniority among the group.

Incidentally, Chen Xi, Xun Yu, and Chen Qun were originally of the same generation, while Xun You and Zhong Yao were nephews. However, after Chen Qun married Xun Yu's daughter, the relationship changed, and Chen Qun started hanging out with Xun You, and they got along quite well. It's hard to say whether seniority really does have an impact on people.

"Go see Yuan Chang." Chen Qun thought about it for a moment, and then considered the current situation. He also felt that there would be no use in him going there unless he completely let go of his grudges. But if he had already let go of his grudges, why would he do such a thing? He could just kowtow to Chen Xi directly. Would Chen Xi really pretend not to see it?
Chen Qun himself knew that Chen Xi's personality was such that he could definitely have a decent life if he just let go of his grudges, but he just couldn't let go.

"Why don't we come together?" Xun You said calmly. It was obvious that he had no intention of coming to work, or to put it more bluntly, he knew when he came that this matter would not be accomplished. Going to see Chen Xi or something was meaningless. Going to see Liu Bei was of some significance, but that significance was not enough to get anything done!
“Alright, I haven’t seen Yuan Chang for several years. I wonder if he’s gone mad lately. I also heard that Yuan Chang’s wife passed away, but we didn’t go to pay our respects. This is a good opportunity to go and inquire about her. Don’t you have a niece or something?” Chen Qun understood what Xun You meant. Since Xun You had given up on this matter, he couldn’t possibly accomplish it on his own. So why waste time? He might as well go see Zhong Yao and have a chat.

"Let's go then." Xun You chuckled and walked directly in a certain direction through the wind and snow, only to find that the small courtyard that once belonged to Zhong Yao was no longer inhabited by him.

"Tsk, they've even changed locations. Looks like they're really not playing with us anymore," Chen Qun said with a hint of teasing. Xun You didn't say anything, but simply found a carriage and had someone take them both to the Zhong residence.

"Why think so much? It's just a matter of calling a car and you'll be there. Why overthink it?" Xun You got out of the car and glanced at Chen Qun, as if hinting at something. Chen Qun didn't say anything after hearing this and went to knock on the door. The steward of the Zhong family's courtyard in Chang'an was an old man, so when he saw Chen Qun and Xun You, he quickly opened the door and invited the two of them in, and then hurriedly went to inform Zhong Yao.

Zhong Yao was not reading any books today because of some other matters. Instead, he was educating his son, Zhong Yu. After all, his son was now over ten years old, and Zhong Yao felt that he did need to be educated. In addition, since his wife had been gone for several years, his son was somewhat distant from him. Zhong Yao felt that he needed to pay more attention to his son to prevent him from going astray or from being too immersed in grief over his mother's death and neglecting his studies.

Therefore, upon returning to Chang'an, Zhong Yao paid special attention to his son and planned to marry a wife to help manage him.

After all, he's their only son, so they cherish him. Besides, the Zhong family is quite wealthy, and they might have to rely on this child for support in the future, so there can't be any problems with his education.

This is why Zhong Yao would bring back hairpins, hair ornaments, and hair ornaments when he returned from the Ganges. Although he gave all of these things to the little girl after meeting Zhang Changpu, Zhong Yao felt a little embarrassed in retrospect.

After all, this is something that only top-notch goldsmiths can make. Even Zhong Yao couldn't just get his hands on it. Now that the item has been given to the little girl, Zhong Yao has temporarily stopped his plan to find a wife and has instead begun to focus on his son's education.

"Master, Physician Chen and Physician Xun have come to visit. I have invited them into the main hall and instructed the kitchen to prepare a banquet. I wonder if you have time now?" The old servant of the Zhong family bowed to Zhong Yao outside the study and, after receiving permission to enter, quickly spoke to him.

"Doctor Chen and Doctor Xun? Ah, Changwen and Gongda, these two fellows have actually come to Chang'an too. Oh, about that matter before. Alright, have the kitchen prepare some hot dishes and warm some yellow wine." Zhong Yao thought for a moment and knew who they were and what they wanted to do. After all, they were both smart men, and they understood everything after a little thought.

"Changwen, Gongda, it's been a long time." Zhong Yao changed into formal clothes and came to the main hall. He was quite particular about these details, and this was also a way of showing his respect so that Chen Qun and the other man could speak with peace of mind.

　瘫
　　(End of this chapter)