Mythic version of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 7230: All the answers are here.
"Second Brother, why are you looking surprised? What's so surprising about that?" Chen Xi said with a faint smile as he looked at Guan Yu.

“Some things, when said or done, are understood by everyone and their correctness can be fully grasped. But before they are said, the subconscious doesn’t think about them in this way.” Liu Tong said quietly. She also felt that after Chen Xi spoke up, this matter was indeed very reasonable and in line with the personalities of Chen Xi and Liu Bei. But before Chen Xi said it, even though she knew Chen Xi so well, it was actually difficult for her to think of this aspect.

“Actually, there are some things you haven’t thought about carefully. The simplest point is that if you don’t confer titles in this way, where would so many high-ranking titles come from? The fifteenth-rank title is not easy to obtain, especially when a feudal lord confers titles on his ministers to form a stable feudal lord system. The number of titles required at each level is not small. Moreover, why does posthumous conferment not count?” Chen Xi said with a hint of arrogance.

Guan Yu remained silent for a while after hearing this, then slowly nodded. Indeed, as Chen Xi said, if the generals and centurions who had died in battle were not taken into account, it would be difficult to form such a tight structure according to Chen Xi's previous plan of enfeoffing the Ganges.

After all, this method of investiture is the standard method of the Spring and Autumn Period, not the method of the pre-Han Dynasty. In the former Han Dynasty, after the emperor granted Guan Yu a certain territory, Guan Yu nominated certain people and submitted them to Chen Xi. After Chen Xi reviewed and approved them, Guan Yu would then appoint them as the lords of his fiefdom. Afterwards, these lords would nominate certain people under their names, which would be reviewed and approved by Guan Yu. Chen Xi would only keep a record before the investiture would take place.

This structure requires a considerable number of mid- to high-ranking titles, and its control capabilities are relatively strong. The central government nominally has little management power over the fiefdoms, but since the second tier of fiefdoms is reviewed and conferred by the central government, even if the lord makes the nominations, as long as the true nature of the conferment is taken into account, these people will inevitably gravitate towards the central government.

In addition, given the inevitable conflicts between the lords and their vassals, as long as the central government maintains its authority and impartiality, and has a local army with sufficient deterrent power, it should be enough to maintain stability for two or three hundred years. As for what happens after that, Chen Xi will be gone, and he doesn't care.

Moreover, after two or three hundred years of the feudal system, Chen Xi felt that he had truly done right by the officers and soldiers who had followed him in establishing a new era.

"Zichuan, if I heard correctly, the lord nominates the vassals?" Guan Yu, after all, was a scholar of the Spring and Autumn Annals. After going through many things in his mind, he could still realize the problems. This approach sounded like the enfeoffment system of the Spring and Autumn period, but upon closer inspection, it seemed to completely surpass the enfeoffment system in terms of both tightness and controllability.

"Well, while the rumor is problematic, the fact that it's reached this point means it can't really be called a rumor anymore," Chen Xi said with a light laugh, completely ignoring Guan Yu's somewhat unpleasant expression after hearing it, since Yu Jin had told that joke to Guan Yu back then.

“The title of a lord does not need to be conferred; it is determined from the beginning,” Chen Xi said very seriously. “Apart from Zijian, who is not there, there are only so many others who are qualified to be lords. Second Brother also knows about Xingba’s situation. He must control the two oceans and suppress the Wu region, so his fiefdom absolutely cannot be located on the Ganges. Therefore, it is clear who is on the Ganges.”

There was no other meaning behind it; it was just about sitting in a row and eating fruit. Although the people below were spreading rumors, Chen Xi accepted the rumors quite well because, in his view, this way of distributing the fruit was reasonable.

Or to put it more directly, Chen Xi agrees with this arrangement, as it ensures that everyone receives a fair share and reduces internal friction and infighting.

"The only problem is that, simply following the enfeoffment system of the Spring and Autumn Period, it's not that the Kushan Empire doesn't have enough land to grant. Just think about the Zhou Dynasty back then; its territory was even smaller, and it could easily enfeoff eight hundred vassal states. The Kushan Empire is still much larger than those eight hundred vassal states combined. So, if we really followed the enfeoffment system of the Spring and Autumn Period, it was indeed possible to grant fiefdoms. However, history has already proven the hidden dangers of this enfeoffment system." Chen Xi said frankly. Since he was going to answer Guan Yu's questions, he would explain everything.

“Yes. The more I read about the Spring and Autumn Period, the better I understand the problems with that enfeoffment system back then. Of course, in the Zhou Dynasty, that system was undoubtedly correct, and the Duke of Zhou was a sage. But things are different now than before, and the prosperity of the Kushan Empire far surpasses that of the Central Plains in the past.” Guan Yu nodded, realizing that Chen Xi was answering his questions and clearing up all his doubts.

"That's why I optimized this enfeoffment method. As for the title of lord, there's no need to elaborate. Everyone knows who it belongs to and who it belongs to." Chen Xi looked at Guan Yu, completely ignoring the solemnity on Guan Yu's face, and said very directly.

"Second Brother, some things aren't necessarily wrong just because you think they are." Chen Xi could tell from Guan Yu's expression that Guan Yu didn't really accept the plan. Because as long as there was a system of enfeoffment, some things were unavoidable. Chen Xi even suspected that, in Guan Yu's view, the entire Kushan Empire should be directly governed! Having fought there for ten years, Guan Yu knew best what the situation was like there—abstract people, an unpredictable environment, that was reality!

Therefore, the side that is granted a fiefdom will rebel sooner or later. After all, once the strength is increased, talk of loyalty is meaningless.

“It’s impossible for the Ganges to be directly governed; it’s too far. Even if the road were built, Varanasi would be the limit.” Chen Xi once again brought up what he had been advocating.

"So it doesn't matter who we enfeoff, it's still enfeoffment. Let the brothers have some fun. The problem is, this is also a pit of fire," Guan Yu said after a moment of silence.

Guan Yu wasn't actually lacking confidence in his own brothers, but rather too confident in the output of the Ganges-Indus Plain. Those stupid Brahmins didn't develop water conservancy, yet that place could support so many people. Since ancient times, the population of that place has been roughly the same as that of the Central Plains. But what level of water conservancy did the Central Plains have, and what level of water conservancy did the Kushans have!

Later, when the Han dynasty officials went there, they worked on water conservancy projects. How many people would that place have to support?

If the population really exploded to 100 million, would the feudal lords of later generations be able to suppress their ambitions?
What a joke! When it reaches that point, it's not just a matter of the lord's ambition; the vassals will also push the lord forward in order to advance further!

"Yes, at first we were thinking that since we couldn't be directly governed, it didn't matter who we gave the fief to, so we might as well give it to our own brothers. But as for the fire pit, well, it can actually be resolved." Chen Xi sighed and said, "There are some things I shouldn't say too clearly, but now that my second brother is here, if I don't explain things clearly, new problems may arise. So I might as well speak frankly."

“Just as you thought, General Guan, Chen Zichuan does indeed have a solution to this seemingly unsolvable problem,” Liu Tong said with a hint of complexity.

“Yes, I can solve this problem, but to be honest, the answer shouldn’t be given to you by me now. Instead, it should be revealed to you yourselves during the process of you managing your vassals,” Chen Xi said with a sigh. “Because the answer itself is to prevent you from rebelling.”

Guan Yu remained unmoved upon hearing this, and Chen Xi did not say much either. In fact, it should be said that it was precisely because Chen Xi firmly believed in Guan Yu's loyalty that he told Guan Yu the answer at this time. This behavior was not the way to treat a brother, but only in this way could the relationship continue for a long time.

“The process of nominating vassals, reviewing their applications, and having the Grand Commandant personally examine them is itself a limitation on the power of the vassals. This is because the vassals who are appointed in this way are responsible to me and the Grand Commandant. Moreover, because of this mechanism, the vassals at this level are responsible to the central government, since their appointments need to be approved by Chang’an afterwards. Power is inherently responsible for its own source,” Chen Xi explained calmly.

To be honest, if Yu Jin were in Guan Yu's current position, he would probably feel a little uncomfortable hearing Chen Xi say this, but Guan Yu felt that this plan was more reasonable.

“However, such an operation would greatly restrict the power of the lords and could lead to the second-tier vassals attacking the lords, resulting in a situation like the division of Jin into three states during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Therefore, the vassals who should have been appointed by the second-tier vassals in the third tier would only have the right to nominate in this system, while the lords would be the ones to actually appoint them.” Chen Xi said this with a serious tone, while Guan Yu and Liu Tong had completely understood just how incredible this operation was.

Frankly speaking, if this operation can be executed perfectly, it can basically completely crush large factions and break down the barriers between teams and original institutions. It can fundamentally solve the problem of nepotism. Even if the second-tier vassals nominated by Guan Yu are all his confidants, the central government will still have a huge question mark regarding who to choose, who not to choose, or even if they are rejected.

Even among the early second-tier vassals, there was an innate sense of awe towards their elder brother who had nominated them, but this awe would gradually disappear over time.

After all, the eldest brother couldn't abolish his own vassal position, but the central government could. So, who should he follow?
Over time, new networks of interests may form outside this system, but frankly, unless the central government is an idiot, there's no way to expect it to dismantle this system in three generations.

"This operation has increased internal friction to some extent, but this system can ensure that the generals and officers enfeoffed in the Ganges will not be able to launch a counterattack against the Han Dynasty for at least two or three hundred years, and they should be the core pillar of the central government for a long time." Chen Xi said to Guan Yu with a sigh, "Because if you follow the central government, at least you will not suffer any losses, but if you do not follow the central government, it will be a continuous bleeding."

"So, I didn't betray our loyal followers. They've followed us for so many years, and I said I would give them dignity, and I will." Chen Xi looked into Guan Yu's eyes without any fear or hesitation. He was willing to give them this much dignity.

"Thank you." Guan Yu bowed deeply to Chen Xi. He knew perfectly well that this was something Chen Xi shouldn't have told him at this time, but Chen Xi, considering their relationship and the current situation, gave him the answer directly.

Sometimes, you might get an answer but still not understand it, while other times, the answer is so simple that everyone can understand it correctly once it's presented. This is what is meant by the principle that the greatest truths are the simplest. And the answer that Chen Xi gave this time is exactly like that.

It was so simple that Guan Yu knew this answer could solve the problem as soon as Chen Xi gave it. As for the claim that this plan showed a lack of trust in the lord, well, how can you not trust someone who has already been granted a title? To bestow the title of lord upon you in a place as prosperous as the Central Plains abroad is already the greatest trust one can show you.

The so-called precautions are not about guarding against you at all, but about making sure that the trust between the two parties lasts longer!
"It's alright. There are many things I can't say in advance, as it would have repercussions. So, I often keep quiet and don't answer. But it's not that I haven't considered it; it's that I've really thought it through. Three hundred years. I can guarantee that the lord and his vassals won't do anything outrageous and will enjoy three hundred years of wealth and honor." Chen Xi accepted Guan Yu's bow. After all, this was quite troublesome, and he would have to take the blame. He would definitely have to do something like postpone it later.

“Three hundred years of wealth and honor…” Liu Tong sighed softly, “The blessings of a virtuous person will decline after three generations and end after five. These three hundred years have already covered almost twenty generations, which is more than enough.”

"I originally designed it according to the principle that 'the blessings of a virtuous person will decline after three generations and end after five,' but choosing a foreign company is more difficult, so I relaxed my approach a bit," Chen Xi said casually.

"Is this what you call 'slightly'?" Liu Tong asked after a moment of silence.

"Well, a little bit, since conditions are better in China. If I can follow that advice perfectly, then the environment abroad can't possibly be any better than in China," Chen Xi said with a light laugh. "So, is there any problem with extending it a bit?"

For Chen Xi, sending a large portion of the second generation abroad was also intended to maintain political integrity and stabilize the domestic situation. This operation was an effective way to resolve domestic and international disputes. It's just that what Chen Xi did seemed to be closer to a win-win situation.

"Zichuan, now that we've come this far, would you mind if I asked a couple more questions to clear up all my doubts?" Guan Yu was very satisfied with the three hundred years of wealth and honor.

Although Guan Yu, by his very nature, wished that the Han Dynasty would directly govern the Ganges region, thus completely resolving all the problems, the reality was that direct governance was not an option, and the only solution was to grant fiefdoms. This led Guan Yu to consider more complex issues. Now that fiefdoms had been granted, the brothers who followed his elder brother Liu Bei and his younger brother Chen Xi could enjoy three hundred years of wealth and honor. For Guan Yu, this was quite satisfactory.

This truly embodies both loyalty and righteousness. It fully satisfies the loyalty to the Han Dynasty and Liu Bei, because Chen Xi said that in the next three hundred years, the Ganges lords will most likely be the most important pillars of the central government. This is because it is meaningless for these lords to serve the Han Dynasty. Instead, they can work with the Han Dynasty to absorb various resources, which is a win-win situation.

After all, two of the three largest markets in the world are in the hands of the Ganges Lord and the Central Government. These two can cooperate to create an internal circulation system. Given their shared interests and basically aligned positions, it is pointless for the Ganges Lord to oppose the Central Government. It is only natural for him to cooperate with the Central Government to take advantage of other forces. Ultimately, under Chen Xi's system, it is not easy to rebel, so it is better to get some food!

Having discussed loyalty, we should now discuss righteousness. Guan Yu's loyalty to his subordinates is beyond question, and Chen Xi's arrangement, even without saying a single extra word, is enough with just three hundred years of wealth and honor.

Even Guan Yu would have nothing to say in the face of this. This is three hundred years of wealth and honor. If the ancestors could kowtow down there and get something like this, there's really nothing more to say.

As for the unfortunate children mentioned by Chen Xi who inevitably perished in the past three hundred years, to be honest, Guan Yu felt no sense of reality about it. He just felt that there was nothing to say about those people. After all, if you, an unlucky old man, choked to death while drinking cold water, how could you blame Chen Xi? It was just your bad luck.

Therefore, Chen Xi's answer completely satisfied Guan Yu's needs. However, since the question had already been asked to this extent, Guan Yu felt that it would be better to let him ask for all the answers at once.

"Well, to be honest, I roughly know what Second Brother wants to ask, and I do have the answer." Chen Xi sighed softly, but he also felt that since Guan Yu already knew the big head, there was no point in hiding the rest, so he stopped hiding it. "But Second Brother, please don't tell anyone."

"What about me?" Liu Tong asked excitedly. She was used to eating melons; even if they weren't sweet, at least they quenched her thirst!
"Your Highness, please don't interfere," Chen Xi said, glancing at Liu Tong.

"I will bury everything that Tongtong and I thought about after hearing this deep into the depths of my memory. Unless I think about it intentionally or trigger it specifically, I won't recall it." Si Niang, who was puffed up like a hamster, made a muffled sound. Chen Xi was satisfied with this; Si Niang was still very useful.

"Nobility ranks nine and above are self-evident. Most of those at level seven and above will choose to develop and build in places like the Central South or the Northern Frontier. The real problems probably lie with those at levels three to six." Chen Xi asked Guan Yu. There's not much to say about the first and second rank nobility; they're just a benefit that Chen Xi bestowed upon this generation under the sun.

This was actually the solution to the Ganges enfeoffment issue. Chen Xi had the answer long ago, but it was the kind of answer that couldn't be given in advance. However, since Guan Yu had put the matter to this point, Chen Xi had no choice but to give the answer.