NOVPUBThe fundamental reason that great aristocratic clans could rule a region was that they were the local officials. As long as one is human, they cannot escape personal relationships. Additionally, during the Han Dynasty, the doctrines of filial piety and fraternal duty implicitly encouraged covering up for one’s relatives. Therefore, it seemed only natural that serving as an official in one’s hometown and seeking benefits for one’s own family was both a natural inclination and an unspoken rule tacitly accepted by everyone. 𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑝𝘶𝘣.𝑐𝘰𝘮
As a result, local aristocratic families became increasingly entrenched, and their management of local affairs grew more and more effective. In times of peace, this could be described as a harmonious situation. However, if internal strife erupted, it would become extremely difficult to handle.
Having some awareness of the local aristocratic families but not the Han Court might be somewhat of an exaggeration, but respecting the local aristocrats while disregarding the Han Court can easily occur.
"As a test case, Xuzhou cannot allow aristocratic families to continue growing stronger locally—such a situation is against the interests of both the Han Dynasty and the common people. In the past, even marquis had to reside in Chang’an and rule their fiefs from afar to prevent them from becoming too powerful—it’s unacceptable for aristocratic families to so easily usurp the authority of the Han Dynasty," Chen Xi said coolly.
Only by adopting this detached third-party perspective could he remain absolutely right. Fortunately, when Chen Xi discussed aristocratic families, he naturally positioned himself as neither an adversary nor one of their own.
"It should be so. Some matters are better addressed sooner rather than later, just like commerce. If Zichuan had not forcefully implemented it back then, by the time stability was restored or even after conquering the world, there might not have been the capacity to push for such reforms," Li Youu said after a moment’s contemplation, bringing up the topic of commerce, which even he had doubted but which had proven to educate him in reality.
"Yes, Lord Xuande, now is a good time. I’ve always wanted to bring out many of the ideas in my head, but without a proper moment for implementation, it would definitely lead to a major internal conflict first!" Chen Xi said this with a severe headache, knowing that the phrase "unprecedented, cannot be proven" was enough to prevent many of his ideas from being put into practice.
"Heh heh heh heh..." Li Ru laughed dryly, remembering the last time they had fought a big battle, needless to say, Chen Xi won.
"Unprecedented, indeed!" Liu Bei understood the resentment behind Chen Xi’s words, "Let’s do it this way, Zichuan. Don’t worry; as long as others can’t prove you’re wrong, I will support you! What’s there to fear? I trust Chen Zichuan’s judgment and even more so that you can clean up any mess you might make!"
"Thank you, Lord Xuande," Chen Xi said casually with a bow, "Generally speaking, even if I time it perfectly, it won’t be easy to push through policies that have never been tried before. To be honest, Lord Xuande, the fact you could implement widespread education is already a miracle—a true miracle indeed."
Li Youu looked at Chen Xi, feeling an emotional resonance; probably no one else in the Great Han Dynasty dared to proclaim the opening of minds and the promotion of education in front of everyone like Liu Xuande had done.
"Lord Xuande is benevolent and virtuous," Li Youu sighed. Before Liu Bei could speak, he said, "No matter what others think, Liu Bei’s words warrant a lifetime of strive for me. While they differ from my own ideals, they are essentially pursuing the same ends. Or perhaps, Liu Bei’s benevolent philosophy encompasses my ideals."
"Benevolent and virtuous? The more I think about it, the less I understand them. I used to think that the ’Nine Virtues of the Feudal Lords’ taught by Duke Gao Tao to Emperor Yu was the ultimate standard of virtue for the feudal lords. But it wasn’t until I became a ruler myself that I understood why Zichuan told me the ’Nine Virtues of the Feudal Lords’ were insufficient as laws!" Liu Bei shook his head, expressing his growing mystification over the concept of benevolence and virtue.
"Feudal Lords’ nine virtues insufficient as principles?" Li Youu was startled, then turned his head to look at Chen Xi. Where did this topic come from?
"Even if the Feudal Lords’ nine virtues were perfect, they would amount to nothing more than a perfect individual. Do we need such a person?" Chen Xi said casually. When he first said this, he noticed Liu Bei restraining himself with unnecessary trivialities, so he mentioned it offhandedly. Chen Xi’s original intention was to suggest that it would be better to spend that time doing something more substantial, but he hadn’t expected Liu Bei to actually take the view that the nine virtues of the Feudal Lords were inadequate as principles.
"Feudal Lords, as I stand upon the altar at Fenggao and gaze down upon the endless stream of people, observing their smiling faces, seeing the people of Mount Tai, once beset by starvation, now well-fed and clothed, watching children play on the cobblestone streets, observing the bustle of sowing in spring, and the joyous faces during autumn’s harvest, I believe this is the true reflection of my virtue," Liu Bei didn’t wait for Chen Xi to continue explaining and slowly revealed his own understanding of virtue with a hint of radiance on his face.
"I enjoy walking dogs and cockfighting. My abilities are not strong, I can’t achieve true fairness and weightiness, nor can I guarantee that I won’t displace my anger unto others at any time," Liu Bei said with a laugh. "Out of the nine virtues of the Feudal Lords, I can’t achieve most of them. Yet, I feel that improving the lives of the people is more important than any other virtue."
As he uttered these words, Chen Xi, Li Youu, and even Xuu Chu, who sat nearby like a statue, all felt a spiritual exhilaration, while Liu Bei seemed to transcend from the outside in.
"The virtue of Liu Xuande is for all under heaven. If the people speak well of it, that is my benevolence; if they praise me, that is my virtue." In that moment, Liu Bei exuded a grand righteous qi, a qi dedicated to establishing his life for the welfare of the people.
Li Youu and Chen Xi felt a jolt of spiritual invigoration, then glanced at each other, seeing the surprise in each other’s eyes, a power akin to spiritual talent circulating around Liu Bei.
In Yanzhou Shanyang County, guarded by Le Jin, who was setting up camp, Cao Cao suddenly awoke with a start and looked in the direction of Xuzhou.
Cao Cao felt a force opposing his own. If Cao Cao’s awakened force was about firming his own beliefs and those of his followers, maintaining an unwavering perseverance in right and wrong, which would grant him and his subordinates greater strength, then if someone were willing to execute their beliefs with their life, their abilities would significantly increase, and negative effects would be greatly suppressed.
Liu Bei’s newly awakened force, on the other hand, was to find those whose beliefs were similar to his own, to infect others with his convictions, and to strive together towards a goal. The more others recognized Liu Bei’s beliefs, the greater the improvements in their abilities would become, and the stronger the suppression of negative effects.
Cao Cao did not need others’ acknowledgment; he implemented his own will and commanded his subordinates to conquer the world, while Liu Bei needed to seek comrades-in-arms—he could not fulfill his ideals alone, and only like-minded allies could help him achieve them.
"Congratulations, Lord Xuande," Li Youu and Chen Xi both guessed a possibility and simultaneously spoke out the instant Liu Bei opened his eyes.
"Ever since I stood on the altar overlooking Fenggao, I felt an instinctive stirring, yet it was unclear. Witnessing the displaced and lost people of Xuzhou, I felt rage but had no outlet for it. After entering Xiapi and seeing the smiles of the people of Xuzhou, I finally understood what my virtue is," Liu Bei murmured as if in a trance. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to qidian.com to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)
