NOVPUBThat day, after Xi Zhicai fell into a coma, it scared Chen Qun so much that he hastily sent someone to inform Cao Cao. However, Xi Zhicai had only exhausted his spiritual power, and although his vital energy was injured, he was still alive. After lying down for one night, he woke up, but by that time, Cao Cao’s Chief Personal Guard General, Dian Wei, had already arrived with Cao Cao’s letter.
"Elai, why are you here instead of protecting our Lord?" Xi Zhicai had barely woken up when Dian Wei appeared before him.
"The Lord asks the military advisor to return to Chenliu," Dian Wei said with his deep voice.
"There’s no need to go back to Chenliu, tell me other news about our Lord," Xi Zhicai shook his head and said, knowing Cao Cao as he did, he was certain that Cao Cao understood he had compelling reasons for his actions.
"The Lord said if the military advisor doesn’t wish to return, then I am to accompany and protect him," said Dian Wei, scratching his head with an honest expression.
Xi Zhicai sighed. He was aware that from Cao Cao’s perspective, his journey was bound to involve some very dangerous tasks, undoubtedly for the sake of the Cao family’s foundation.
Cao Cao didn’t ask Xun Yu and the others what Xi Zhicai’s journey was for. He trusted Xi Zhicai, and it was because of that trust that he didn’t want any mishaps to befall him. Now that they hadn’t even reached Mount Tai, and Xi Zhicai had evidently suffered a severe setback, Cao Cao unconsciously thought that this journey was extremely perilous.
"I am still too weak, otherwise Zhicai wouldn’t have needed to do this," Cao Cao thought to himself in silence after reading Chen Qun’s letter. He then arranged for Dian Wei to protect Xi Zhicai. The strongest he had was Dian Wei, and he believed that without any special instructions, as long as Dian Wei went, he would take good care of his trusted strategist.
From then on, Dian Wei led the team, and after the incident last time, Chen Qun firmly refused to share a carriage with Xi Zhicai. Therefore, the entire team had ended up in its current state. However, Dian Wei thought that Xi Zhicai was still not recovered, so he took special care of him, which slowed their progress. Consequently, Xi Zhicai didn’t encounter Sima Yi, who had given him such a terrible time.
Xi Zhicai had already acquired Sima Lang’s talent. Although the final effect had not been determined, he was clear that Sima Lang was not the civil official who had put him in such dire straits. Once on the coach, Xi Zhicai enthusiastically drank and chatted with Sima Lang. Under the flattery of a high-ranked Xi Zhicai, Sima Lang soon fell for it. Cao Cao was also not bad – after all, he was the hero who had defeated Yuan Shu and occupied a province.
Chen Qun himself wished for Sima Lang to join Cao Cao, so after Xi Zhicai extended the invitation, Chen Qun also energetically persuaded Sima Lang. After all, they were brothers of the same bloodline; it didn’t take much to coax Sima Lang into agreeing to meet Cao Cao.
In fact, Sima Lang himself was most fond of Cao Cao. Compared to Liu Bei’s somewhat rigid personality, Cao Cao’s unscrupulousness was more suitable for him. Sometimes, even if certain actions surpassed moral boundaries, there was no need to worry about the Monarch’s disapproval, as noble families always have a darker side.
Sima Lang also spoke of what he had witnessed and heard in Fenggao recently, and he particularly emphasized the loyalty of the troops and citizens under Liu Bei, the elite status of his soldiers, the prosperity of Fenggao, and the abundant collection of books in the Library Pavilion, which made Xi Zhicai frown inwardly.
Perhaps before coming to Mount Tai, Xi Zhicai still thought that his own side was not much different from Liu Bei’s, but since entering Mount Tai, the difference Xi Zhicai could clearly feel was that Mount Tai was much more prosperous than the lands under Cao Cao, and that the roads were much better. Frequently, groups of people carrying tools could be seen shouting as they went to join the infrastructure teams to do some work.
After entering Mount Tai, Xi Zhicai did not encounter the situation often seen in Yanzhou each winter, where parents sometimes sold their children. In Mount Tai, one could at least easily get a meal during winter, as the infrastructure team was always recruiting. As long as you were willing to work hard, getting enough to eat was not a problem.
As for what Sima Lang mentioned about Liu Bei starting an education initiative, planning to teach and literate children of the right age, it made Xi Zhicai momentarily stunned. Born in a Humble Family, he knew very clearly what this meant for the lower class. However, he quickly suppressed the tremors in his heart and silently watched as Sima Lang spoke, "Human strength sometimes reaches its limit."
"Indeed, it is a dream, a dream that simply cannot be realized," Sima Lang said with his eyes gently closed. "But it’s not just the common people, even we would hold Liu Xuande in higher esteem when we hear of such grand ambitions. Even in the era of sages, no one has truly shouted out this phrase."
Chen Qun did not speak. Liu Bei’s grand ambitions also greatly shocked him. "How can a man be devoid of empathy?" thought Chen Qun, who once harbored a similar dream. That most ordinary dream—to let everyone in the world have enough to eat—was also the hardest to achieve.
"That guy is still too inexperienced after all," Chen Qun sighed, thinking of Chen Xi, whom he had never met. He too was that naive in his youth. The world is not so easily changed, and one matures through experiences.
The three exchanged glances and smiled, each sighing as they remembered their former selves. Only through failure does one mature. Wasn’t Cao Cao full of passion when he started? In the end, he could only take up the butcher’s knife and forcefully carve out the path he believed to be correct with might.
Originally, Liu Xuande persevered relentlessly throughout his life, eventually establishing a significant foundation. But it was clear that with each failure, he gradually toned down his sharp edges and became more sophisticated.
In the beginning, he could flog the Supervising Envoy for not distinguishing between right and wrong and demanding bribes, preferring to give up his Official Position rather than allow the Envoy to exploit the people. Later on, he was able to accept Lyu Bu, whom he detested. After borrowing Jingzhou, Liu Bei had already learned to control his emotions well. Once he entered Sichuan, he completely mastered the art of Conceal Emotions, until the tragic news of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei reverted Liu Bei back into that impulsive youth who had whipped the Supervising Envoy.
However, no matter how he changed, Liu Bei never turned the slaughter against the people, from beginning to end. Whether it was out of benevolence or hypocrisy, even as death approached, he did not indulge in a massacre like Cao Cao and Sun Quan. He always adhered to his beliefs.
It’s just a pity that Liu Bei never had the strength to instill his beliefs into the people. In this life, the setbacks suffered by Liu Bei were merely trivial to someone of his indomitable spirit. To this day, he remained the same Liu Xuande, who would call out and berate you if he didn’t agree, who would hit you if things weren’t right, and who admitted his mistakes.
This time, the world did not teach Liu Bei to be cunning. Instead, under Chen Xi’s guidance, Liu Bei gained grander ambitions and the strength to carry through his beliefs.
He firmly believed in what Chen Xi had said, "If you know what is right but are unable to achieve it, should you pretend to be ignorant and move in the wrong direction, drifting farther and farther from the right path?"
"No, even if it leads to no results, I will still point out the direction! History always needs Pioneers," Chen Xi answered himself, "Besides, who knows if something that’s never been done is difficult or easy!" (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
