Mythical Three Kingdoms

"That’s fine, stay there, I’ll invite everyone from our generation over and fully utilize our resources to nurture the younger generation. We should make more preparations for the future," Xun Shuang, prompted by a single word from Chen Ji, instantly realized.

At this point, many things have already lost their meaning; calculating the current matters no longer holds much value. After all, any aristocratic family with foresight understands that Liu Xuande has already achieved great momentum, and Chen Zichuan is no longer someone they can impede.

More importantly, Chen Xi has already nailed down their path; even if there is room for maneuvering, the overall direction cannot be changed.

This leads to the conclusion that the meaning of further calculations at this time is insignificant. To truly benefit, calculating for the future is the best choice. Both Chen and Xun families are aware of what the upcoming era will be like; thus, to gain the greatest advantage, the right approach is no longer about fighting.

"Invest everything the Chen Family currently has into the next generation, let’s see if our Old Chen Family can succeed," Chen Ji sighed as he spoke. "Hundreds of years of accumulation, we don’t know if using it all this time will be enough to cultivate everyone in the next generation."

"I will personally invite those old friends; they don’t yet understand the upcoming situation. Although they have vague guesses, they absolutely won’t envision the true path. Invite them all, rebuild the Yingchuan Academy, open up the resources, gambling on the next generation is the best strategy," Xun Shuang said solemnly, realizing there’s not much left to fight for in this generation.

Though the Great Aristocratic Families have wealth and people, when it comes to nurturing the younger generation, it’s actually not about nurturing everyone. It’s more like a tiered cultivation process, selecting the most outstanding few for intensive cultivation. This serves to reduce wastage and avoid internal conflicts within the next generation.

After all, not every family can cultivate the next generation to the peculiar level of the Xun Family. Normally speaking, nurturing to a level one or two tiers lower than Xun Yu would be the most reasonable.

Can you imagine a scenario where one family produces five or six individuals who are only one or two tiers below Xun Yu? What would the final situation of that family be like?

The reason the Xun Family hasn’t completely split is because these individuals have the capacity for long-term vision, but even so, there are subtle resistances. Therefore, even in cultivation, certain weights are applied when necessary to avoid internal conflicts among the newly cultivated generation as much as possible.

After all, if the painstakingly nurtured individuals capable of supporting the Main Family’s prosperity end up at odds, it would surely infuriate the elders to the point of spitting blood.

So even in cultivation, each family remains very cautious, striving not to create trouble for themselves. What they desire is a peaceful transition to maintain the family’s prosperity, not a temporary display of strength followed by fragmentation.

As a result, some individuals within the family, who indeed possess commendable talents and could achieve success with proper cultivation, may be abandoned.

It’s not a matter of insufficient resources but a need for stability. If Chen Xi weren’t good-natured, if he were the type to fuss over trivialities, the Chen Family would have blown up long ago. Although branching off is an inevitable outcome, getting to the point of both families severing ties completely where even kinship is lost, that truly would be meaningless.

It’s normal for aristocratic families to branch off, but even in branching, there’s a limit. It’s not to say that once branched, the families will turn completely hostile; if that were the case, aristocratic families wouldn’t be able to continue developing.

Since branching off means weakened power and continued antagonism, the losses would be borne by one’s own power.

Therefore, even families like the Chen-Xun, which pass down moral traditions, dare not fully let loose in nurturing members of the family, as having too many makes management difficult unless intelligence reaches the highest level. Initially, too much family resources might be wasted, and later, internal conflict could ensue, making it simply not worthwhile.

Now Chen Ji’s intention is quite clear: cultivate the entire next generation despite the considerable drawbacks. Yet at that time, even if drawbacks exist, they won’t matter. First, acquire that qualification, even if within three generations there’s chaos due to this generation’s initiative—it is believed that the benefits created by this generation outweigh the losses over subsequent three generations.

After Chen Ji highlighted this point, Xun Shuang realized, isn’t it all just about loss? As long as the benefit outweighs the loss, such minor losses can be simply overlooked.

This explains Xun Shuang’s decision to widely invite classmates and friends of the previous generation to jointly nurture the younger ones. When Yingchuan Academy was dismantled back then, it can now be rebuilt, and as long as the character isn’t significantly flawed, even if somewhat foolish, Xun Shuang can accept it.

To step outside the country’s borders, it’s not just the upper tier of rulers that’s needed but a vast number of middle-level officials too. The Chen and Xun families feel they’re not accountable to others; they will first manage themselves. When three or five hundred capable of serving as county magistrates arrive, occupying places will be advantageous.

After all, if one truly wishes to grant land, the core isn’t about how much can be occupied, but rather how much can be governed. Otherwise, even if occupied, it becomes merely a burden, extracting no desired gains, forcing eventual abandonment.

"I’ll first send letters to the aristocratic families explaining Li Wenru’s case, allowing them to understand the causes and consequences. While they can’t stop it, at least they’ll comprehend it. As for assassination attempts, if they wish to proceed, let them. Li Wenru isn’t easy to kill," Chen Ji said as he walked beside Xun Shuang; speaking of classmates, Chen Ji admittedly has fewer than Xun Shuang.

"Alright, I’ll send letters to my classmates and friends, inviting them to join us in the North. By the way, Yuanfang, estimate the number of people," Xun Shuang nodded and said, indicating Chen Ji to estimate the number involved in Li Ru’s undertaking.

"How many casualties?" Chen Ji paused, and after a while, spoke: "How about thirty thousand?" But as Chen Ji said this, he visibly lacked confidence.

Xun Shuang sized up Chen Ji, and after a while said, "Good!"

In truth, although Chen Ji hadn’t interacted with Li Ru, he was aware of Li Ru’s past deeds. Hence, when suggesting thirty thousand, he was somewhat embarrassed. But he believes Li Ru is incredibly necessary, so he is willing to support.

"Yuanfang, rest assured, each family isn’t certain about how many Li Ru killed, those wise enough to guess certainly won’t say. If you mention thirty thousand, he might insist he only killed twenty thousand," Xun Shuang confidently stated.

Those exterminated by Li Youu have been burnt to ashes, and no one can guarantee how many principal members each family’s main lineage had, let alone private slaves. Only Li Youu knows how many were killed; others have no means to estimate.