Mythic version of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 7224 Doing one's best is enough
“It’s not just about shield guards; the Imperial Scepter has a high margin for error and can further reduce the army’s maintenance costs. Okay, I know you don’t care about maintenance costs, but this is very important for the future, since you’ll be running away sooner or later,” Liu Tong explained simply.

The maintenance cost of the Imperial Scepter is not actually the maintenance of the Imperial Scepter itself, but the cost of maintaining the multiple legions that guard it. For example, maintaining eight Imperial Guard legions would cost at least several hundred million a year, but maintaining eight dual-talented soldiers and one Imperial Scepter can reduce the cost of maintaining the army to one hundred million. Each soldier would only need a few thousand coins, plus meals, which would be enough to maintain an elite force led by Huangfu Song in the previous era, with the strength to suppress the entire empire.

The cost has dropped dramatically.

Although such a cost reduction is meaningless to Chen Xi, most dynasties in the world that are nearing their end will never encounter a genius like Chen Xi. Normally, when most dynasties reach the end of their reign, the country's economic lifeline has already collapsed.

“Maybe I won’t run away, right?” Chen Xi said with a smile. Compared to the situation in previous years, although there were still many unpleasant things at this year’s grand assembly, Chen Xi’s condition was obviously much better than in the previous two years. Jia Xu’s words were still somewhat useful.

"If you don't run away, then thank goodness. If you don't run away, I'll definitely tell my ancestors about my achievements when I go to the temple. Well, my greatest achievement is successfully persuading you to stop running away. Just as Xiao He chased Han Xin under the moon, I persuaded Marquis Chen to change his mind. I think I will also be remembered in history." Liu Tong smiled when she heard this. If Chen Xi didn't run away, many things would be simpler.

If Chen Xi were to run away, Liu Tong felt he would have to seriously consider how to deal with the ensuing upheaval after Chen Xi's disappearance.

“Your Highness will be remembered in history,” Chen Xi said earnestly. “The Yuanfeng Dynasty, in any sense, is a bridge between the past and the future. As the Grand Princess Regent who actually controls the government, you will surely leave a significant mark on history.”

"Lord Chen, how do you think the history books will record this?" Liu Tong asked with a hint of teasing. Chen Xi remained silent for a while upon hearing this. He could vaguely guess that, especially after Chen Ji pointed out some things, Chen Xi knew very well that there must be some unspoken criticism in the historical records.

After all, he was a descendant of Tian Chen, after all, he did enter and leave the palace late at night, and after all, Chen Xi did mobilize troops in Weiyang Palace. These are all things that would be subject to criticism.

"Would you like to take a look at the official historical records?" Liu Tong asked with a smile.

"I'd rather not. I think I'm qualified to watch, but I'm afraid that those who come after me won't have the self-awareness to see that I have," Chen Xi replied softly. At his level, many things are no longer just about the present, especially when there is room for maneuver, one must consider the future.

Therefore, it is necessary to avoid suspicion and to think carefully about certain actions. As for the items mentioned above, once they have been done, they have been done, and there is nothing more to say.

"As expected of you." Liu Tong chuckled.

"Well, Your Highness, if you're not busy, please use your mental talent to contact Xu Yuanzhi and inform him of all our deductions. Although I sent an urgent secret report, you know, good advice is hard to persuade a damned ghost. In the current situation, even if all the strategic plans are in place, the soldiers on the front lines will make their own judgments based on their own condition." Sensing Liu Tong's tone, Chen Xi changed the subject, but compared to before, this time Chen Xi's voice carried a hint of weariness.

The Executive Yuan's strategic planning has actually taken everything into account. If they completely follow the Executive Yuan's command, Chen Xi believes that even if the front lines suffer a defeat, the losses will not be too great. But that's the problem. The front lines cannot completely follow the arrangements of the rear; they also have their own judgments.

To put it bluntly, if we really wanted to follow the Executive Yuan's arrangements, we would have done so long ago. Why have we been dragging this out until now?
It is precisely because the Executive Yuan's arrangements were not followed from the beginning that things have escalated to this point. Chen Xi agrees with the saying, "When a general is in the field, he may disobey some military orders." This is because the situation on the front lines can change in an instant, and it is difficult to control the rear. However, that is a tactical matter, not a strategic one.

A strategy succeeds because it is correct, and tactics succeed because they are correct.

This is a huge loophole, but Chen Xi really doesn't have a good way to deal with the front line right now. If those guys really don't listen and choose the answer they think is right, then the result will definitely be a crushing defeat.

"Suppose Kongming could also use his mental talent for remote communication, right?" Liu Tong asked with some curiosity. Although Zhuge Liang's remote communication actually used Liu Tong's talent, Zhuge Liang still possessed this ability, and even the method of using it was developed by Zhuge Liang, only for Liu Tong to learn it later.

"Kongming's seniority can't keep them in check," Chen Xi sighed.

"Even Kongming's seniority can't keep them in check, how can mine?" Liu Tong said to Chen Xi with a speechless tone. "Zichuan, use your brain. If we're talking about ability, Kongming at least has the ability to convince them. On my side, many of those guys at the front line think I'm a puppet. Even if I send them messages, they won't take them seriously."

“Kongming said he would replace me, and those people just listened to him. But you said Chen Zichuan asked you to deliver this message, so they have to think twice. I’ve already sent them an urgent secret message, and Wenze and the others should have received it by now. You can use your mental talent to notify them as well, and then everything that needs to be done will be done.” Chen Xi said with a hint of helplessness. “As for whether it will be effective, I can’t guarantee it. I can only tell them to be on guard and minimize their losses.”

"Okay, then." Liu Tong roughly understood Chen Xi's logic.

It's not good to prioritize seniority, but it's also not good to parachute a newcomer over an old one. Although Zhuge Liang was of a very high rank and very capable, his words would likely be effective if he were on the front lines. But frankly, relaying information remotely from the rear is meaningless.

Therefore, getting Liu Tong to speak at this time is actually effective. After all, since even a nobody like Liu Tong has been captured, everyone knows who is behind it.

Chen Xi had made the arrangements beforehand, conducted a detailed simulation during the process, and even spent a lot of money to send the message over a long distance. Under these circumstances, he was still worried that the front line would not believe it, so he asked Liu Tong to relay the message again. It can be said that he did everything he could.

If those people on the front lines remain incorrigible under these circumstances, Chen Xi will be helpless.

"There's one more thing. Kongming's judgment might be correct. Don't rely on other people with spiritual talents for too long. If you have to rely on them, only use the thought template and don't use your spiritual talent. This thing will have a certain impact on you." After Liu Tong agreed, Chen Xi added a few more words, "Spiritual talent is the sublimation of one's own experience and wisdom. Your spiritual talent will transmit this sublimation. Over time, it will really turn you into a puppet."

"Ah, you mean this? I've known about it for a long time." Liu Tong said calmly. "This is not speculation. The power of the Puppet Show is based on this hidden danger. I knew about it from the beginning, but I just didn't care much."

Chen Xi remained silent for a while. So, none of the princesses of the Han Dynasty were normal people?

"In short, it's fine if you use other people's thought templates, but don't actually think of yourself as a puppet, treating yourself as the terminal of someone else's mental talent. Using other people's mental talent will cause you considerable hidden dangers." Chen Xi heard Liu Tong say this and really didn't know what to say, so he could only give a few words of advice, but he thought it would still be useful.

"Zichuan, what are you saying?" Liu Tong said with a hint of teasing. "I am very careful about myself and I won't do anything reckless in this regard. Although I occasionally use other people's mental talents, the frequency is so low that it won't have any impact on me."

"Just remember this." Chen Xi sighed, feeling that she had told him everything she needed to know. As an adult, she was responsible for her own personal safety.

“I thought you would force me to avoid using other people’s mental talents as much as possible, but I didn’t expect you to say this in the end.” Liu Tong replied with a hint of sarcasm. Then, before Chen Xi could answer, he straightened up and said seriously, “Zichuan, there are some things that I didn’t quite understand when you told me about them before, but now I can clearly feel what compromise and weakness are. You have lost that firmness and decisiveness in some things.”

"The biggest problem with the reformists is that when you choose reform, there are some things you have to face. Compromise and weakness are unavoidable. After all, it's not about wielding a knife to reform, or forcibly dividing the world according to your own will. It's about patching things up as much as possible on the existing foundation." Chen Xi was also quite helpless, and he had realized this point by now.

The problem is that even if he could do it all over again, Chen Xi would still choose reformism, because revolution is simply not mature enough in the current environment.

“But you’re showing too much compromise and weakness now. You weren’t like this before. Even if you would tolerate some things, you wouldn’t be like this now. The simplest thing is, is the Ganges really as hopeless as others say?” Liu Tong’s voice carried a hint of accusation, and Chen Xi felt a lump in his throat upon hearing this.

“There is an answer. Although it sounds strange, I’ve always felt that if you really want them to retreat, you should give the order directly and firmly, instead of doing it this way. Those people will definitely retreat. Even if the middle and upper-ranking officers have ulterior motives, they can’t possibly go against your will.” Liu Tong’s clear voice came through Chen Xi’s silence, and Chen Xi just sighed.

"You can do it, right?" Liu Tong said with a hint of certainty.

"Well, if I really have to force them to retreat, I can certainly do so. As for Zilong's Prayaga, given the current unclear situation, I can simply withdraw them if I want to. There's nothing more to say," Chen Xi said as calmly as possible.

Liu Tong's speculation is not wrong. Chen Xi can indeed do it if he wants to, but this behavior will bring more and deeper problems. Moreover, in this world, it is not that if you say you are good to others, they will agree with your kindness. Mutual understanding and recognition are a very critical point.

"So you ultimately chose to ignore it all?" Liu Tong asked with some doubt. "You shouldn't be this kind of person. In my impression, you would try your best to solve all problems and guide everyone onto the right path."

"Yes, I made arrangements, but they won't leave." Chen Xi said helplessly.

“You can force them to leave, and they will see the final result. Didn’t you do the same thing before Yuanfeng, in the early days of Yuanfeng?” Liu Tong asked Chen Xi telepathically with deep doubt. “You have always done this, always trying to guide them on the right path. Even if they complained at first, they accepted your correctness after seeing the results. There was even the way Governor Zang Hong did things. This world is not just about right and wrong!”

"Yes, you're right," Chen Xi replied simply, but it was clear he was avoiding the question; he didn't want to answer it.

"Why not just give the order directly?" Liu Tong pressed. "You could clearly do it."

“It’s pointless to offend too many people,” Chen Xi replied softly. “You might think it’s no big deal, but if the jobs of those below are threatened, it’s far more serious than losing one or two positions at the top. And if I were to force them to do it this time, the upheaval would be too great.”

"You still care about this?" Liu Tong said with a hint of sarcasm. "Shouldn't someone like you, who's practically a god, just suppress everything?"

“If I had that awareness and conviction, I would have gone straight to the level of reform.” Chen Xi was not angry in the face of Liu Tong’s sarcasm. “As far as I am concerned, I just need to finish what I am supposed to do and give all the advice I should. As for the rest, that is not my concern. Although I could manage it if I wanted to, the scope of my management is too large. I don’t want to waste my energy on such things. I have already done this much because of Wen Ze.”

Chen Xi's scope of authority is limitless. To put it bluntly, Chen Xi's current power is virtually limitless. Except for matters like ancestral temple sacrifices, which require Liu Tong's intervention and are beyond Chen Xi's control, Chen Xi can basically manage everything else. However, for Chen Xi, there is a very long distance between being able to manage and having to manage. For example, the Ganges River is something Chen Xi can manage, but he will not demonstrate his full power there because it would be meaningless.

"I sense you're somewhat disappointed this time," Liu Tong said with a hint of unease.

“It’s not disappointment, but rather that I faced people’s hearts head-on in the last round,” Chen Xi said calmly. “I knew the answer a long time ago, but knowing the answer and actively avoiding it is enough to show my attitude. However, in the process, I witnessed the formation of this answer with my own eyes. Your Highness, do you know what it means to be unable to test people’s hearts and to be unable to see their hearts?”

“You told me that before,” Liu Tong said simply.

“Yes, I’ve told you before, so I know, but knowing and seeing are completely different. The images that humans fill in in their minds are based on their own morality and cognition. In other words, what I think of as the human heart, before I see it with my own eyes, is constructed based on my knowledge, my morality, and my cognition, not the reality,” Chen Xi said softly.

At this moment, Liu Tong finally understood why Chen Xi was unwilling to use his authority to directly order the frontline officers to retreat. Even though Liu Tong and Chen Xi both knew that with Chen Xi's qualifications and abilities, if he officially gave the order, even if Yu Jin and the frontline officers had many ideas, they would have to come back.

It's not that Chen Xi can't do it, but that he doesn't want to. He can't bear to face people's hearts again.

At Chen Xi's level, if he were to face people's hearts again, he wouldn't be sure if he could maintain his current state, especially when people's hearts are clearly already very dirty and the situation is already very bad.

Aren't the two most distant and unattainable things in this world the starry sky above the heavens and the morality of the human heart? Why are they so distant and unattainable? Simply put, it's because they cannot be touched or truly understood.

"The situation Ganges is facing is really just that, not fatal. Even if Oswin really rises to the top in one step, as long as the strategic location is held, it won't have a big impact on the future. We can still push things forward as before. Besides, all the reports we've received so far indicate that Oswin didn't rise to the top in one step." Chen Xi adjusted his mindset and said, "So let those people be. Some things are better resolved in this era."

"You seem a little tired," Liu Tong said after a moment of silence.

"I just think it's pointless for me to consider this kind of thing. I gave all the answers to the front line and pointed out all the paths, but they insisted on choosing the wrong answer. Even after the battle, some people will question me, 'Zichuan, why didn't you force them to retreat back then?'" Chen Xi said with a hint of sarcasm. "Just you wait and see. As long as we lose, someone will definitely say that."

"What exactly are they doing?" Liu Tong asked, somewhat puzzled.

"They probably feel that Chen Xi is standing too high and not on the same level as them, and they feel that they should have gotten more, instead of what they have now," Chen Xi said with a light laugh, but for some reason Liu Tong completely understood the bitterness in his words.

"Never mind, I've done my best. They made their own choices. Considering they followed us back then, they should get what they deserve. It's just that the path they chose led to their deaths, so there's nothing more to say." Chen Xi gave her answer as softly and calmly as possible.

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