NOVPUBLul Kang was helped by Liu Bei to sit at the top position to his right. Although Liu Bei hadn’t quite grasped the importance of Lul Kang and the Lul Family, considering that both Chen Xi and Li Youu had made it clear to him that the Lul Family was of great significance to Liu Bei’s future efforts in restoring the Han Dynasty, Liu Bei felt he should show the proper courtesy, hence he personally led Lul Kang to his seat.
Glancing at Liu Bei as he looked back at him, Chen Xi nodded nonchalantly. To be honest, if a welcoming banquet for him were to be held, and everyone were to be invited, it would have been Chen Xi himself who would find it hard to face the crowd, especially because it would be tricky with Lub Su.
Lul Kang also had self-awareness. After all, compared to Liu Bei at the moment, the Lul Family was just a small shrimp. Previously, when the other three big clans from Eastern Wu had caused some trouble in Fenggao, Chen Xi directly took them all down, detaining them until the person in charge of those three families personally came to Fenggao to take them back.
Therefore, Lul Kang was very pleased with Liu Bei’s current actions. He had originally been worried that Liu Bei would express dissatisfaction with the Lul Family’s overly cautious behavior from before, but Liu Bei didn’t even mention it, just sincerely stating that he would really like the Lul Family to join them in Mount Tai, or if they were unwilling, Liu Bei would still provide them protection in view of their past amicable relations.
For Lul Kang, the notion of arriving at Mount Tai and not joining Liu Bei had never crossed his mind. Liu Bei’s attention had already satisfied him greatly, so he certainly wouldn’t push his luck and humbly stated that he would be relying on Liu Bei’s care in the future.
Of course, this made the host and guest well-matched, and the atmosphere of the banquet was very lively. About an hour later, Lul Kang excused himself, citing his old age and poor health as reasons for leaving, and Liu Bei and Chen Xi personally saw him to his carriage.
"I didn’t expect the Head of the Lul Family to be so perceptive," Liu Bei said, watching as Lul Kang, now far away, rode off in his carriage.
"It’s that we have become so powerful that it compels any isolated gentry to be perceptive!" Chen Xi said with a smile. "We have grown strong enough to make the majority of powers bow their heads."
"Indeed, when I passed through Yingchuan, I visited the Xun Family but couldn’t get an audience, and you too were struck off from the Chen Family’s genealogy," Liu Bei reminisced about the past with a sigh, his expression one of reflection.
"Hmm, it was indeed not easy at the beginning. I wonder how Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping are doing?" Chen Xi thought back to the start when he used sea salt to test them, but neither wavered, though they might not have the deep roots of the Zhen Family or the foresight of the Mi Family, they were far from mediocre.
"They are doing well; they are now counted among the top merchants of the world," Liu Bei nodded. He had never forgotten the two who helped him in the beginning, and he continued to support them, though it was a pity that their foundation was too weak.
"Time flies so fast," Chen Xi said, looking up at the stars in the sky. "By now, many people probably regret it. When we first came to Mount Tai, we summoned Zhang Zibu and Zhang Zigang from the Xuzhou Zhang Family, but unfortunately, in the end, only Zijing joined us. Now, I think they must all be full of regret."
Not to mention others, Chen Xi was certain that Zhang Zhao would regret it because the Xuzhou Zhang Family had already been forced to move, and Liu Bei had grown to such heights that the Zhang Family could only look up to him—the overlord. Sadly, Zhang Zhao had been too dismissive at the beginning.
"Hahahaha, they will definitely regret it. I remember that you insisted on sending soldiers to invite them twice, and the third time when leaving, you made sure to tell them ’You will regret this,’" Liu Bei laughed heartily. At the time, he didn’t understand Chen Xi’s approach, but as his power expanded, he began to realize the devastating impact of the three invitations and the subsequent phrase.
"More than regret, their guts must be turning green with envy," Chen Xi said with a laugh. "And the more time passes, the more they will regret it because we will grow stronger and stronger! So strong that we’ll sweep across the world!"
"Yes, we will become stronger and stronger!" Liu Bei said with unwavering conviction, "But even being able to have Zijing join us back then was satisfying enough for me, hahaha."
"That’s just luck," Chen Xi shrugged and replied, "just like when I was preparing to go to Chenliu and join Cao Mengde’s troops to witness the state of the world. As it turned out, because of Ran’er, I was delayed by several days, so I had to set out on my own. Then, due to my butler taking the wrong path, we encountered Lord Xuande. I was spying on the camp but was caught by Yide, who was practicing martial arts at the time, and Lord Xuande didn’t pursue the matter..."
Liu Bei learned for the first time that there had been such unexpected twists. Upon reflection, he realized that if he hadn’t decided to camp early that time, without having sent out scouts yet, and Yide hadn’t been restless and wanting to do some exercise, combined with so many coincidences involving Chen Xi, the greatest opportunity of his life would have passed him by. 𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
"What is Lord Xuande thinking about?" Chen Xi, who had been looking at the sky, suddenly realized there was no sound beside him and couldn’t help turning his head to look at Liu Bei.
"I just feel that I’m actually very fortunate," Liu Bei patted Chen Xi on the shoulder and then headed to the living room, leaving a confused Chen Xi behind, "Why leave so quickly? Sss, it suddenly got a bit chilly."
When Chen Xi returned to the living room, the original banquet had been cleared away. Liu Bei sat in the seat of honor, with one spot to his left open, just waiting for him.
"Have a seat, Zichuan, we’ve been waiting for you," Liu Bei said with a hearty laugh.
Chen Xi was speechless; he had arrived only ten or so seconds after Liu Bei, who somehow found it amusing to tease him, even though he was often late.
After Chen Xi took his seat, the meeting proceeded in an orderly manner. Alright, in reality, it was mostly just Lub Su speaking, with everyone else listening. After all, this year’s affairs were pretty much handled by Lub Su alone, with everyone else just going through the motions. Of course, Chen Xi had planned out the tasks for the year before, but it was in the details that Lub Su felt the urge to kill.
"Within three months, we need to complete the household registration update, population census, establishment of designated markets outside the city, year-end financial review and consolidation, official evaluations, tax audits, and other governmental affairs," Lub Su spoke with a calm expression, making the statement that left everyone else feeling helpless. Lub Su’s attention to detail was exhaustive.
"Zichuan, next year’s work plan, there still needs to be a supplement to the long-term plan," Lub Su turned his head to speak to Chen Xi, who was diagonally in front of him. If Chen Xi were in Mount Tai, Lub Su would always sit in the second spot to the left.
"A supplement to the long-term plan?" Chen Xi arched an eyebrow, "Have you finished the entire Northern plan?"
"I have completed this part of the plan for the entire year. I expect all the basic infrastructure and all basic plans to be done before Yuan Benchu falls. Now we’re just waiting for Gong Youu to complete the strategic reserves, then we can act. Wherever we fight, I will build there; I will not delay the welfare of the people!" Lub Su spoke, his face slightly pale and his frame thin, bursting with strong confidence at that moment.
"Good, the next part is up to me. I will finish the second batch of strategic plans by the end of the year. Now, Gong Youu, how much of the strategic reserves that began the year before last have we completed?" Chen Xi nodded, stood up, and asked. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)
