Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 1790 - 1668: A Classic Case of Sophistry and Petty Quarreling (Part 2)

Playing the game of economy well enough for everyone in the world to acknowledge its success requires a great power as a carrier. Although the Han Empire of 200 AD is not that great of a carrier, it does meet all the criteria of a great power.

More importantly, at this time, it’s essentially an initial natural economy. Under such circumstances, small tweaks and fixes can be made gradually. You could even bring in someone who’s studied economics a bit, and there’s no way they’d mess it up. The cornerstone of a natural economy is self-sufficiency!

That’s why Chen Xi is confident to play slowly, to gradually explore and discover the system he needs. He has already steeled himself to spend ten years on primary reforms, and then another thirty fiddling around to observe nature’s evolutionary laws. After all, he’s only in his early twenties, and has plenty of time!

"Although I don’t understand completely, I can tell that Marquis Chen has his own considerations," Liu Ba said, expressing admiration. After his first encounter with Chen Xi, Liu Ba generally appeared this way whenever he saw him.

"Yes, I have my considerations, but I still need to be cautious. No matter how certain it seems before really starting, caution is always necessary," Chen Xi said with a smirk.

Chen Xi was quite okay in other respects, but he was most clear about what he was shouldering, so unless he decided to act, he’d go all out once he did.

"Your caution involves pulling us all in to work together, right?" Jia Xu suddenly chimed in.

"Uh, that’s because I trust with you guys here, I won’t make mistakes. Oh no, I mean, even if mistakes are made, they can be remedied," Chen Xi immediately retorted.

"But why do I remember every adjustment we made, you initiated it, you worked hard initially, but then you vanished," Jia Xu said irritably.

Chen Xi involves everyone in filling a pit, then he climbs out first, leaving others to fill the pit. Just look at Lub Su, who’s still optimizing the household registration.

"But isn’t that because I have other things to do?" Chen Xi said awkwardly, "Besides, once you understand the core, you can’t make a mistake no matter what, so continuing would be a waste of manpower."

"Heh," Jia Xu sneered, not wanting to argue with Chen Xi. It’s true, by the later stage everyone knew what to do, people like them wouldn’t make mistakes anymore. But how do you explain Lub Su sleeping later than pigs and waking earlier than chickens?

"Hey hey hey, Jia Wenhe, don’t think I don’t know, after I ran away, you ran away too," Chen Xi saw Jia Xu sneer, and immediately retorted.

"I have a lot to manage too. Guo Fengxiao and Fa Xiaozhi were snatched away by you, and now I’m doing the job of three people," Jia Xu was provoked by Chen Xi’s rebuttal and retaliated promptly.

"Hey hey hey, don’t drag me into this, I’m always in the military camp fighting others. Since last year, I haven’t stopped," Fa Zheng hurriedly fled from the battlefield, not wanting to be caught up by Chen Xi and Jia Xu.

"It sounds like working the job of three people is terrible. Since Guo Fengxiao left, I’ve seen you at Fragrance Pavilion many times, and every time Zijing was working overtime," Chen Xi said, not impressed.

"Heh," Liu Ye didn’t want to talk, just silently leaving the battlefield. He’s really annoyed by these four guys; all four of them aren’t working properly. The most important thing is these four have the special ability called "You went out for fun, came back, and the work was done."

Honestly, Liu Ye was quite impressed with this point. Once, Lub Su had too much on his plate, and entrusted the whole civil reform to Chen Xi. Chen Xi didn’t touch it for a whole month. The next day, when he remembered, it was going to be used. Chen Xi somehow managed to finish it, and it seemed legit, with no errors.

It was from that point Liu Ye realized how frightening Chen Xi was. However, it raised a question: Chen Xi seems to schedule planning tasks monthly, yet someone can produce something decent in a day; what did he do for the other 29 days?

Xun Yu and Fan Qin were both covering their faces with helpless expressions. Suddenly, they realized the style of Liu Bei’s strategists was problematic.

"You’ve seen me at Fragrance Pavilion?" Jia Xu looked up at the sky, without any shame. It’s quite normal to go there and listen to music when there’s nothing to do.

"Speaking of which, are you sure it was me?" Jia Xu pondered. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Jia Xu only went about ten times a month. It couldn’t be every day, and he certainly wasn’t like Guo Jia, a drifter. He only listens to music; singers are common at his home but professional opera is only at Fragrance Pavilion, so he goes there when free.

"Sure!" Chen Xi said confidently.

"Speaking of which, wouldn’t you be going fourteen or fifteen times a month? What do you do there since Guo Fengxiao is not around? You haven’t even fully utilized your maids at home, and your collection of music is likely more complete than Fragrance Pavilion’s," Jia Xu said, looking peculiar.

Wandering around the Flower Tower daily; setting Fragrance Pavilion as the regular spot; Guo Jia, with no integrity, didn’t need Chen Xi for drinking. After Guo Jia left, Chen Xi didn’t have to go for flower wine.

"Uh, I was just walking by in the morning, can’t I?" Chen Xi said awkwardly.

"I don’t go in the mornings." Jia Xu said expressionlessly; people nearby were speechless. It seemed Liu Bei’s most capable people weren’t exactly diligent workers.

"Cough cough cough!" At this moment, Liu Bei, unable to listen further, coughed a few times. Are these two really working this way?

But speaking of which, Liu Bei was curious why Chen Xi often went to the Flower Pavilion, given he hadn’t even managed his maids at home, what else could he be thinking?

"Cough cough, the ministers under Xuande are certainly impressive." Cao Cao didn’t know what to say now; working this casually, Liu Bei’s enterprise was still growing larger. Their combat power was indeed formidable.

"Heh, it’s Meng De brother’s ministers one should envy; mine are mostly lazy ones," Liu Bei initially responded but ended up feeling heartache as he spoke.

Thinking back, Chen Xi completed several years’ worth in a few days, Li Youu worked hard, Jia Xu was diligent, Lub Su worked tirelessly, Guo Jia and Liu Ye were working hard, Mann Chong worked hard too; it seemed everyone pushed diligently.

But later, Chen Xi began slacking, others also started having more downtime, except Lub Su who still overworked. Everything was harmonious.

So why does the Human Cauldron need to expose this harmony? Seeing those who seemed hard-working were slacking, especially Chen Xi, so blatantly. Well, he really did finish his tasks.

"Their talents are unparalleled. If they slack, it proves they think it’s fine given the current situation." Cao Cao laughed but internally felt a little wary. He wouldn’t believe someone as amazing as Chen Xi or Jia Xu could slack when things seemed unfavorable.

"Hey hey hey, Cao Sikong, I was just taking breaks within my busy schedule," Chen Xi argued.

"No, you’re just too idle, not wanting to work, hiding at home to avoid being found. That’s why you wander, caught by Boning, claiming you’re observing people’s lives," Jia Xu sharply interrupted Chen Xi’s words, oddly amused by undermining Chen Xi.

"Hey hey hey, I haven’t provoked you lately. Besides, I truly am observing people’s lives. Haven’t you noticed me frequently revising laws, improving governance significantly after each revision? Details are vital!" Chen Xi retorted discontentedly.

"But mostly you find a place to sit, buy something, and eat and drink, chatting all day with elder folks you meet on the road who know their destiny," Jia Xu retorted, implying he clearly knew what Chen Xi was doing.