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Before the meal, Chen Xi looked at Lub Su with curiosity. With his keen eye, he could naturally tell that Mi Zhu was frequently signaling to Lub Su, yet Lub Su neither expressed a refusal nor an intent to join. What was the situation? Could it be that this man was here just for a visit, as a tourist?
Not understanding the situation was one thing, but even Lub Su himself felt somewhat bewildered. Although his experience was not extensive, with many years as a head of a powerful family, he could tell that Liu Bei’s actions were not mere posturing but genuine. Due to this, compared to the reckless Yuan Shu, Liu Bei clearly met his standards for choosing a lord to serve. no𝚟𝚙u𝚋.c𝚘m
Furthermore, with Mi Zhu already pledged to serve, leaving himself in this awkward situation, following Mi Zhu’s hints and joining on the spot seemed like a good choice to Lub Su. In his opinion, a time of great governance and the private virtues of a monarch were not closely related. As long as one’s public virtue was passable, and one dared to employ others, governing the realm would naturally fall to the wise. Personally attending to everything did not align with Lub Su’s philosophy.
After all, even Duke Huan of Qi had sincerely asked Guann Zhong, "National Chancellor, you see, I enjoy beautiful women, horse racing, and hunting. I am captivated by treasures to the point of immobility. This does not affect my becoming an overlord, does it?" Chen Xi figured that when Duke Huan of Qi said this, his voice must have gotten lower and lower, losing confidence as he spoke, feeling somewhat excessive by the end.
But Guann Zhong’s answer was interesting. He glanced at Duke Huan of Qi and said, "It does not affect it." Chen Xi thought to himself when he read this part in the books that Guann Zhong was probably too lazy to answer. These weren’t significant issues.
Duke Huan of Qi was delighted and asked further, "Then what would affect my position as the head?"
Guann Zhong’s response became serious this time, saying solemnly, "Not understanding wise scholars, or understanding them but not employing them; employing them without trust; and when trusted, allowing petty villains to interfere—these are the things that would impact Your Majesty’s dominance."
After hearing this, Duke Huan of Qi entrusted the position of National Chancellor to Guann Zhong, letting him manage the state, and indeed, he subsequently became an overlord.
Likewise, Lub Su also believed in Guann Zhong’s theory. The realm could not be governed by a sovereign king alone; what a monarch needed to do was to select and employ the capable. As for the monarch’s personal vices, Lub Su believed in the principle of not speaking of the lord’s faults; even Guann Zhong did not criticize Duke Huan of Qi’s greed and obsession with pleasure—so what could later generations say?
Since Lub Su had met Chen Xi, who had been tasked by Liu Bei to manage Mount Tai Commandery at an age barely twenty, he was very satisfied with Liu Bei’s practice of employing people based on merit. This was exactly the model of a monarch he held in his mind, wasn’t it? Why should age matter if one was capable? The capable should be selected, and the mediocre should step down. Wasn’t the story of Gan Luo becoming chancellor at a young age also a tale praised for ages?
As for the private virtues of a monarch, Lub Su did not have many demands, be they broad-minded and benevolent or greedy and pleasure-seeking. As long as the wise were employed, the state would still be the same state; at most, those under the monarch would have a bit of a headache, but so long as the monarch kept the realm at heart, those below would only suffer a headache, not some baffling disappearance from the mortal world.
And it was precisely because of these notions that, after seeing both Chen Xi’s and Liu Bei’s actions, Lub Su had actually acknowledged Liu Bei. However, he was still entangled with his previous thoughts; he had said he would observe more in Mount Tai Commandery and decide whether to join after fully understanding Liu Bei’s character. Now, to join directly seemed to Lub Su a bit too hasty.
"Zichuan, I’ll leave Zijing in your care. I’m sure the two of you have plenty to discuss. Zizhong, if you do not mind, you may stay the night here," Liu Bei said with a smile, having finally understood the hints from Chen Xi, hence making this unusual arrangement.
"Thank you, Lord Xuande," Chen Xi replied with a slight smile. He was very eager to know what Lub Su, a renowned minister of the Three Kingdoms, thought of his management in Mount Tai—whether it was good or bad, and if there were any mistakes.
Having left Liu Bei’s grand entrance, Lu Bu finally came to his senses, turned his head, and gave Chen Xi a clasped-hand salute, "Deputy of Chen Commandery is truly favored by Lord Xuande..."
The moment he spoke, Lu Bu finally realized what was amiss. Ever since he met Liu Bei and Chen Xi, he had never heard Chen Xi address Liu Bei as Lord. Moreover, when greeting them, Chen Xi was only half a step to the side and did not follow behind Liu Bei. He then cracked a bitter smile; how had he failed to think of such a simple method? Indeed, the simplest methods are often the most easily overlooked.
"We are of a similar age; why not address each other by our courtesy names?" Saying so, Chen Xi removed the headdress from his head, showing his sincerity to Lu Bu.
Lu Bu was startled. He was familiar with the unceremonious nature of a headdress-removing feast, which represented unrestrained and equal communication, but to do so on the main road was a bit too bold and neglectful of the occasion. After all, weren’t those who wandered the streets bare-headed or masked mostly ruffians? However, he didn’t say anything and just silently took off his headdress, "Forgive my rudeness, but has Zichuan always been so unconventional?"
"Just an itchy head," Chen Xi casually scratched his head a couple of times before carelessly placing the headdress back on.
"Hahaha, Zichuan is truly an amusing man." Now, Lu Bu was not as smooth as he would be later, and seeing that Chen Xi did not care, he laughed out loud.
"Come on, let’s go to my home for some tea and, by the way, share your thoughts on Mount Tai," Chen Xi said with a smile, flicking his long hair.
"Sure, I also have many things I want to ask you, Chen Zichuan!" Lu Bu said arrogantly, without any inhibitions.
"Then let’s have a good spar and see if you, the Lub Zijing from East City, can refute me, Chen Zichuan from Mount Tai!" Chen Xi laughed loudly.
Chen Xi and Lu Bu took their respective master and guest seats. Soon enough, Chen Lan brought in the food, and Fan Jian kept them company for just a moment before leaving, closing the door behind him as he went.
"I figured you’d have questions for me from the moment I saw you, Lub Zijing; let’s hear them. Shame there’s no decent late-night snack; make do with what we have," Chen Xi offered Lu Bu a cup of sweet fermented rice, "There’s no wine or anything, but have some of this; it’s been quite sweet lately."
"Is Zichuan so sure I’d have questions for you?" Lu Bu asked with a smile, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll start with empty flattery?"
"I’ll accept even empty flattery; after all, these are my accomplishments. The granaries are full, and I’m about to receive a ceremonial tribute. Is it such a crime to enjoy a bit of praise?" Chen Xi laughed and teased, "In my doings, Chen Zichuan accepts praise for the good and won’t shy from criticism for the wrongs, which I will then correct."
"As for why I’m so certain you had questions to ask, it’s simple. No sage who has passed through Mount Tai can leave without contemplation. It’s not that I underestimate the world, but rather that I’m confident that what I’ve done before is enough to stimulate the intellect of any sage who passes this way. Those who can spot the problems are undoubtedly sages, those who sense the problems but do not know where exactly they lie are surely pillars of the nation, and as for the ones who merely glance over, they are nothing but mediocre officials!" Chen Xi declared with a proud look.
