NOVPUBZhuge Liang, a man of full talent, sometimes didn’t understand everything, let alone Chen Xi, so naturally, he wasn’t clear on what Liu Bei was thinking. However, since Liu Bei said he didn’t need to get involved, Chen Xi wouldn’t interfere either. Generally speaking, as long as Liu Bei’s brain wasn’t fried, he was very much aware of his strengths. In short, under normal circumstances, he knew what he should do and what he was good at doing.
With Liu Bei’s assurance, Chen Xi didn’t stay any longer at Liu Bei’s place. After making small talk for a while, Chen Xi left before Liu Bei could offer to serve tea to show him out. Despite appearing busy flitting about every day, Chen Xi indeed had many matters to attend to.
After Chen Xi left, Li Youu came in one after the other, looking at Liu Bei who was happily sipping tea, "Lord Xuande, is there any good news that you could share with Wen Ru?"
"Wen Ru, please take a seat here." As soon as Liu Bei saw Li Youu come in, he pointed to the seat opposite him and asked, "What do you think of the lady from the Zhang Clan?"
Li Youu immediately understood what Liu Bei was thinking, and of course, at times like this, it was natural to heap praise, "The lady from the Zhang Clan herself is a refined lady of a noble family, capable and dignified in temperament, truly a suitable match."
Of course, Li Youu wasn’t just talking nonsense. Given Liu Bei’s current status, taking a concubine was inconsequential; he could even broadly invite women from all over if he wanted. But when it came to taking a wife, the matter was much more serious. It had to be a lady from an aristocratic clan, learned and well-mannered, and from a family of equal social status. The Zhang Clan’s lady fit all these criteria.
"I heard that Zichuan, a man who usually disregards the beauty of women, was once moved by the youngest daughter of the Zhen Family. Is this true?" Liu Bei then asked about something seemingly irrelevant, but Li Youu was not an inexperienced person like Chen Xi. He instantly understood the implications behind Liu Bei’s question and Liu Bei’s real thoughts.
"Indeed, there is such a matter. I remember Mi Zizhong once told us this story in jest during a drinking session. Zichuan was indeed moved by the youngest daughter of the Zhen Family." Li Youu said with a slight smile on his face.
"That’s good to hear." Liu Bei said with a beaming smile. As long as Chen Xi was moved, he felt reassured. As for the matter of a suitable match, Liu Bei wouldn’t take it to heart. Chen Xi’s potential was huge, and this was something the lady from the Zhang Clan very much acknowledged.
If previously Li Youu was only eighty percent sure, now it was a solid certainty. Liu Bei wanted to take advantage of Chen Xi – or rather, Liu Bei wanted to forge a closer relationship with Chen Xi. Marrying the Zhang lady wasn’t something Liu Bei was unwilling to do. If he could also use this opportunity to close the gap between himself and Chen Xi, then nothing could be better.
"However, now is not the right time for Lord Xuande." Li Youu, looking at the smiling Liu Bei, pointed out that the current situation was not appropriate for welcoming the Zhang lady as a bride.
"I understand that. But some matters should be planned for early, just like Zichuan, who always thinks three steps ahead. Occasionally, I should learn from him. By the way, Wen Ru, have the congratulatory gifts for Zichuan been prepared?" Liu Bei nodded and didn’t want to waste more time on this subject, so he changed the topic.
"They have been prepared." Li Youu didn’t delve further into the matter of Liu Bei’s marriage to the Zhang lady, as this was something that had many benefits for Liu Bei. Considering Chen Xi’s capabilities, Li Youu thought it was indeed worthwhile to marry the Zhang lady for that reason alone.
"Is the Golden Cauldron ready?" Liu Bei asked a rather confusing question.
"It’s already been made," Li Youu replied. What he really wanted to say was that the Heaven-Man Dual Cauldrons of the Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor, which Chen Xi had ordered to be forged, had been successfully counterfeited. As for where the copper came from, that was something he couldn’t divulge. But he knew all too well that these words needed to remain forever rotting in his heart, including feigning complete ignorance even if Chen Xi were to inquire further.
Legend has it that after the Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor defeated Chi You, he cast three cauldrons to worship heaven, earth, and humanity, which were the precursors to the Nine Cauldrons of Emperor Yu. Later on, the middle cauldron was claimed by Emperor Wu of Han. As for the other two, they naturally disappeared. So, Chen Xi hinted to Li Youu to craft fakes and bury them. When unearthed later, wouldn’t that be perfect? He had even thought of the exact location for their burial!
Li Youu was directly frightened by such a lunatic idea and afterwards, his gaze towards Chen Xi became somewhat eerie. He could guarantee that Chen Xi, who could hint at undertaking such an act, was definitely not anyone’s idea of good.
However, whether Chen Xi was good or not wasn’t important. Li Youu was very clear that this tactic was indeed sharp. After aging them and burying them for a few years, once dug up, possession of the Heaven-Man Dual Cauldrons of the Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor would truly seem a gift from the heavens!
After all, if these items were genuine, they would be far more significant than the Jade Seal. Back when all nine cauldrons were present, there was no Jade Seal. It was precisely because the Nine Tripod Cauldrons were lost that the First Emperor created the Jade Seal. That is to say, in terms of authority, the Nine Tripod Cauldrons surpass the Jade Seal, and the Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor’s three cauldrons, in terms of authority, even exceed the Nine Cauldrons of Emperor Yu! Holding such an artifact would even give someone the confidence to rebuke the emperor himself.
As for Chen Xi, he hinted to Li Youu to bury these two cauldrons somewhere in Jizhou. In due time, an accident or something of the sort would ensure that both Yuan Shao and Liu Bei got their hands on one each. After that, a great battle would determine the victor between the two claimants of heaven’s favor, and the winner would possess all the heavenly mandate...
Upon this proposal, Li Youu hardly hesitated before he agreed. He understood why Chen Xi was so secretive and knew that while it was risky, the advantages were not to be scoffed at!
After all, if it truly sparked a massive war between the two feudal lords, and it was a dispute over the cauldrons representing heaven and man, then the question of authenticity could be sidelined. At that point, absolutely no one would question the authenticity of the treasures that provoked the clash of the feudal lords!
The boost in morale, public support, and other such advantages that the victor would attain were indeed terrifying. A reminder that Emperor Wu of Han, upon acquiring the middle cauldron of the Xuanyuan Treasure Cauldron, wasted no time in declaring the new era as Yuann Cauldron, attesting to how important these artifacts were in the eyes of the ancients!
Li Youu was not a gentleman of impeccable character but was tight-lipped, and he relished in planning such schemes where small investments could create enormous leverage. That’s why he took on this task. The two cauldrons had already been forged, but the tricky part was aging them. Nevertheless, there was plenty of time for that. Then, he could simply find a spot to bury them and orchestrate a battle of equals between Liu Bei’s military general and Yuan Shao’s forces right there, culminating in the spectacular reveal of the two cauldrons!
Those matters were considerably simpler for Li Youu. Actually, the most challenging part was figuring out how to plausibly introduce the two cauldrons at a place that would withstand scrutiny. His current undertaking was to act as Liu Bei’s secretary while consulting ancient texts and maps to determine the perfect hiding spot for burying these artifacts without anyone noticing!
In short, from the moment Li Youu took this task, it ceased to have anything to do with Chen Xi. How it would be done, where it would be buried, and how to deceive others—all these were Li Youu’s concerns; Chen Xi was completely uninvolved.
With these thoughts, Li Youu couldn’t help but sport a smile. The strategies of Chen Xi always seemed to exude an aura of recklessness that inspired him to think beyond conventional wisdom. This method of thinking profoundly enlightened Li Youu or could be described as an eye-opening revelation!(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with your recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
