Chapter 2087 - 1853: Talking Nonsense into the Future
Under Chen Xi’s detailed explanation, Guo Si finally understood what was going on, though he was a bit baffled.
"You mean, I’m equivalent to the first generation of nobility now, and if I gather a few tens of thousands of people in my territory and distribute land to them, I will be the first generation of nobility?" Guo Si said slightly excitedly, even though he is a Marquis now, everyone must look far ahead.
"Yes, yes, you know why, even in earlier times when there were no written records, stories from those eras could be passed down? It’s because the people who enjoyed the blessings passed them down orally. Perhaps your clan has dispersed, but the people who benefited from your blessings will continue to recount past events from generation to generation," Chen Xi said solemnly, trying to convince Guo Si.
Guo Si felt even more excited upon hearing this, deeply feeling that Chen Xi’s words were very reasonable. He immediately raised the number of Han People he originally planned to migrate to improve local popularity from five thousand to twenty thousand.
"However, speaking of it, sometimes if the population of these people isn’t large enough, they will eventually be assimilated," Chen Xi thought about it and said.
In Guo Si’s mind, the number of twenty thousand decisively added a zero, then realized it seemed impossible to migrate so many people. After roughly estimating, twenty thousand became fifty thousand.
[With five thousand, even the old, weak, women, and children will do. With twenty thousand, you can’t have those that might cause trouble. With fifty thousand, why not just have all single adult men and give each one two wives?] Guo Si’s not-so-large brain capacity started to operate.
"Overall, although early nobles may have had a violent disposition and might not have been as elegant as their successors, most early nobles were more respected than later aristocrats," estimated Chen Xi, assuming Guo Si was probably persuaded.
"I’ve made up my mind, I’m going to migrate fifty thousand young and strong men there, give each two wives, and distribute land!" Guo Si stood up excitedly.
"Oh oh oh, it should be like this," Chen Xi complimented, "Initially, they might curse you, but within two years they will acknowledge your rule, and they will actively defend your rule. Moreover, with the habits of the Liangzhou people, they will equip themselves with weapons and armor, and during leisure time, they will train voluntarily alongside you."
[Although Guo Si indeed lacks moral integrity, he might anger the people in that Central Asian region, but it likely won’t matter.] Chen Xi thought silently.
"I’ve always felt something was missing, and now I finally understand. Now, thinking back on why talking about dividing Parthia with the Romans felt like the thing a man should do? Isn’t living a single lifetime just for enjoyment?" Guo Si laughed heartily.
Chen Xi remained expressionless, realizing he probably misled Guo Si, as his previous development path was pretty good, but suddenly went astray.
"So, what do you think is the most exhilarating thing?" Chen Xi, although feeling he might have led Guo Si astray, still decided to ask, trying to see if something could be salvaged. Historically, the early noble leaders seemed like a bunch of ’I’ll do this, you all have any objections?’ kinds.
"Launching wars and wiping out the enemy; the stronger the enemy, the more exhilarating it is to destroy them," Guo Si said arrogantly, while Hua Xiong silently nodded beside him, as this thinking mode was prevalent among the Xiliang Iron Cavalry.
"Then let me ask you, when the Romans asked about dividing Parthia, what did you think?" Chen Xi was really curious this time.
"Why should our little brothers split with you?" Guo Si seemed completely carefree at this point, speaking without any concerns.
"What if Parthia becomes stronger?" Chen Xi asked quietly.
Although Chen Xi’s ancient world history wasn’t great, Parthia’s counteroffensive against the Mesopotamia during this timeline was well-known in world history, as it marked Parthia’s final curtain call, after which Severus seized even the Winter Capital Ctesiphon!
Thus began the countdown for Parthia, which means that even without Li Jue’s gang extending its life, Parthia would begin its unwonted ascent this year. Hence, Chen Xi’s words were not impossible, and might actually be about to happen.
"We will be stronger than them," Guo Si suddenly calmed down, but his voice sank abruptly, "If they still respect us as their leader and remain respectful, then things can go smoothly. If not, then it’s time for them to end."
Chen Xi nodded, the people of Xiliang were a bit dim in their thinking, but in this regard, straightforward and brutal can be advantageous, sometimes better to kill than let it go.
"Doing well, and you will come to understand someday, when Wen Ru chose this path for you, how beneficial it was, although it coincidentally suited the occasion. For someone inherently capable like you, luck sometimes determines the course of life," Chen Xi said, standing up and patting Guo Si’s shoulder.
Although if we really talk about diplomacy, the rough Xiliang style represented by Guo Si is completely unsuitable for the complex environment of Central Asia. However, given the current strength and the backdrop of the era, a swift, decisive approach isn’t bad either.
After seeing off Chen Xi, Guo Si and Hua Xiong began drinking, eating, boasting, of course not forgetting to inquire Hua Xiong how he forged the Military Spirit Legion. As it turned out, Hua Xiong himself was confused, but he had to say something to Guo Si.
In the end, he could only vaguely tell Guo Si to fight; find a Military Spirit Legion and beat it to death, and you should succeed if you win. This kind of blunt method fits Guo Si, the Xiliang brute, perfectly, so he believed it decisively.
As for other methods, even if Guo Si heard them, he probably couldn’t learn them, but Guo Si knows how to win battles, and he’s particularly proficient in it. As for the Military Spirit Legion, Guo Si isn’t new to battling them, though they’re tough, it’s not impossible to take a bite.
This led to Li Jue taking Guo Si and Fan Chou in Central Asia and West Asia, gnawing at those hard bones like madmen. They even bit the Roman Parliament Guard, born from the Military Spirit Legion, several times, causing the elite of Central and West Asia to often think of eliminating the Xiliang Iron Cavalry.
Unfortunately, at that time, there was a shadow of strategists behind the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, and dreaming of using schemes to take them out was simply wishful thinking. As for direct confrontation, in the plains of Central and West Asia, not even the Military Spirit Legion could swallow such a frolicking Super Elite Cavalry.
[Go and discuss with Lord Xuande, issue a notice, and inform Lord Xuande about this. As for Wen He, notify him in the evening.] As Chen Xi left Hua Xiong’s mansion, he thought while driving towards Liu Bei’s place.
However, this place Chang’an is not very familiar to Chen Xi. Since he was to arrange a residence upon leaving Weiyang Palace, he went to Liu Bei once. It’s said that the place where Chen Xi lives is next to Liu Bei, but unfortunately, these few days Chen Xi has been handling affairs in the Western Palace, eating and living there, and hasn’t returned to his residence, so he really doesn’t remember the way.
Yet just while Chen Xi was pondering how to find the way, someone riding a horse carrying a woman passed by. Behind him, five or six riders led by one were roaring at the front, "Round-eyed thief, put down Juan’er, bastard, I’ll kill you today!"
"Second brother, help me block them." Zhang Fei’s heroic voice came through, separated by the carriage frame, Chen Xi could feel Zhang Fei’s excitement. These bunch of idiots genuinely didn’t care about the Emperor’s death. It’s fair to say this group couldn’t wait for Liu Xie, this hindrance, to die sooner.
In the next instant, Chen Xi saw Guan Yu in a purple robe riding Curly Hair, standing in the middle of the road.
"Guan Yunchang, are you trying to stop us?" Xiahou Yuan shouted at Guan Yu while charging forward. It was evident Xiahou Yuan was heated with anger.
Guan Yu remained expressionless, directly using the back of his blade to block. Though Guan Yu was fierce, he couldn’t go all out. The Xiahou Brothers were not easy to deal with, after parrying two moves, Xiahou Dun held Guan Yu off, and Xiahou Yuan angrily pursued Zhang Fei.
"Hey, hey, hey, be mindful of the impression, many people are watching." Chen Xi popped his head out of the carriage to talk to Guan Yu and Xiahou Dun, who were evidently pretending to fight.
Zhang Fei’s proposal and marriage process were ongoing. Initially, the Cao and Xiahou Families agreed to the marriage, so after coming to Chang’an, Zhang Fei wanted to see Xiahou Juan, full of sincerity. Yet, Xiahou Yuan had no reason to shut Zhang Fei out.
Moreover, it happened several days in a row. At first, Zhang Fei naturally greeted merrily calling Xiao Uncle, after all, he’s marrying someone’s niece raised as their own daughter. Unfortunately, Xiahou Yuan kept blocking Zhang Fei from entering the Xiahou Family.
Finally today, Zhang Fei couldn’t help but enter directly, and swiftly pulled Xiahou Juan out, which led to the following scene.
Though Xiahou Dun was dragged by Xiahou Yuan to deal with Zhang Fei, Xiahou Dun actually had no ill feelings towards Zhang Fei. They were well matched in terms of family status, and she’s marrying officially as a legal wife, plus she’s bound to marry sooner or later.
In Xiahou Dun’s view, although Zhang Fei was a coarse man, his strength was assuredly reliable. Perhaps before, there were worries of indiscriminately killing recognized figures, but now, with Zhang Fei’s strength, he could fly away if pushed.
Therefore, Xiahou Dun saw Zhang Fei as a suitable husband for his niece, and didn’t actually exert himself. As for Guan Yu, honestly, Guan Yu cared about the matter, but Zhang Fei was marrying someone’s niece, so he shouldn’t strike hard, merely preventing others from interfering.
Both of their thoughts were similar, so upon engaging they knew the other was pretending to fight, thus they instantly sensed an understanding, appreciating each other’s comprehension.
"Zichuan, haven’t you been in the Western Palace all this time?" Guan Yu, hearing Chen Xi’s voice, put his blade away and asked. Next to him, Xiahou Dun also put away his spear.
"I’m here to find Lord Xuande, then realized I don’t recognize the road." Chen Xi said awkwardly.