Three Kingdoms, Myth

Liu Bei was momentarily taken aback but quickly nodded in agreement. This incident indeed served as a wake-up call for him. If his personal finances were clearly delineated, then spending ten billion coins could be justified as his own expenditure. But in the current situation, it was hard to make such a claim. Chen Xi's method could indeed solve many issues.

Liu Bei clearly did not possess the kind of long-term vision that transcends time. Chen Xi could guarantee that half of the people present understood why he was making these preparations. The earlier certain things are addressed, the less damage they cause, and the easier they are to manage.

[Chen Zichuan really plans ahead. Once implemented, this will be difficult to change in the future. If the emperor's finances are controlled, the national treasury becomes pure, and the emperor lacks the authority to use it. Public and private finances will be completely separated, so even if a future emperor becomes extravagant, it will be seen as a personal flaw, not a matter of state.]

Jia Xu and Li You exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of surprise in the other's eyes. Since arriving in Taishan, they had noticed that Chen Xi always had a very long-term perspective, like a chess player placing pieces strategically across the board. As the situation unfolded, these pieces would reveal their surprising effects, as if Chen Zichuan had foreseen the end from the very beginning.

"Please prioritize the people, Lord Xuande!" Liu Yan, playing the role of the clumsy ally, spoke up, delivering a heavy blow to Chen Xi.

Chen Xi felt his gaze could bore holes through Liu Yan, who still maintained a righteous, impassioned demeanor, as if he were truly speaking for the people.

Jia Xu quietly lowered his head, counting ants on the ground. Li You sipped his wine slowly, hiding his expression, while Liu Ye furiously chopped at his beef as if it were his mortal enemy. Guo Jia was completely inebriated, his eyes unfocused, and Fa Zheng stuffed his mouth with food, pretending to choke to avoid speaking.

"Haha, Zichuan, there's no need for that look. Whether for the people's sake or for any other reason, I agree with your proposal. So, no need to glare at Weishuo like that, hahaha!" Liu Bei, however, did not feel pressured or cornered. Instead, he laughed heartily at Chen Xi's frustrated expression, Liu Yan's righteous indignation, and everyone else's feigned ignorance.

"Lord Xuande is wise," came the chaotic chorus of replies. Despite the small number of people, the responses were still jumbled, causing Chen Xi to briefly wonder how chaotic a large court assembly would be. Clearly, historical dramas aren't very accurate!

With Liu Bei's agreement, Chen Xi felt much more at ease. He planned to have Liu Bei sign a contract later. Not only would this not diminish the legacy of Liu Bei's ancestors, but with the current situation, restoring the Han dynasty seemed increasingly possible!

As something signed by Liu Bei, a revered ancestor in a Confucian society like the Han dynasty, future emperors would be obliged to honor it. If Liu Bei's descendants truly surpassed their ancestors, this contract would gain even more authority. Future emperors, when considering large expenditures, would have to rely on the national treasury, reducing the likelihood of draining resources and causing widespread chaos.

In the backyard, Lady Gan carefully attended to Lady Zhang. Knowing she had been chosen to receive a distinguished guest, Gan understood that her status had risen significantly above that of the other singers and concubines in the household. She also realized that this visitor's status could have a profound impact on her future.

Lady Zhang, too, sensed this but chose not to address it directly. She admired Liu Bei, having seen firsthand the prosperity from Napi to Taishan. The flourishing cities along the way rivaled even Ye City in Jizhou, making a far greater impression than any intelligence report. Moreover, upon arriving in Taishan, she learned that Liu Bei had defeated the Yuan family's scion, Yuan Shu of Yuzhou.

Initially, Lady Zhang thought this was mere propaganda to boost morale, but after witnessing the endless stream of goods and artisans being transported back, she realized this was not just a local victory. It could very well be true that four counties of Yuzhou had been conquered!

Although Zhang did not understand warfare, she grasped the implications of victory and defeat. Seeing Liu Bei's triumphant demeanor upon his return, she knew he had won. The continuous influx of spoils further confirmed Liu Bei's strength.

This victory was the perfect opportunity for Zhang to visit, but she knew that her past behavior toward the Zhang and Su families, as well as her earlier abandonment of Liu Bei, was a thorn in his side. She decided to wait for one person: Chen Xi.

Without going to Qingzhou or Taishan, Lady Zhang could never have believed that someone could achieve such a feat. The Zhang family's defeat at the hands of such a person was not disgraceful—this was her first impression upon seeing Taishan's prosperity.

Understanding this, Lady Zhang realized it was better to wait for Chen Xi's return before seeking to restore her relationship with Liu Bei. She had already prepared to spend ten billion coins to win Liu Bei's favor, so timing was crucial.

The Zhang family's wealth gave Lady Zhang the courage to make such a move, while Liu Bei's power left her apprehensive. She finally understood why Chen Xi had looked at her with such indifference before—Chen Xi truly had the power to crush her family as easily as she could crush a merchant. The sheer disparity in strength rendered all schemes ineffective.

Flattery and accommodation were the best choices. As a noblewoman from a prominent family, Lady Zhang knew when to make the right decisions. Liu Bei was powerful, powerful enough that Lady Zhang felt he could potentially unify the North and conquer the entire realm. This realization only increased her interest in him.

Aligning with Yuan Shao was no longer a viable option; this was a consensus within the Zhang family. Therefore, they followed Chen Xi's plan to secretly ally with Liu Bei. However, after what happened with Yuan Shao, the Zhang family became much more cautious. What if the supposedly virtuous and heroic Liu Bei turned out to be no better? After all, wasn't Yuan Shao also praised for his benevolence before committing heinous acts?

Thus, the Zhang family sent their upper echelons to Qingzhou to investigate. This time, it wasn't just Lady Zhang—most of the Zhang family's senior members were in Qingzhou, gathering more complete information on Liu Bei. But before they could even collect that information, they were already stunned by Taishan's prosperity. It was hard to believe that this once run-down city now rivaled the wealth of Nanpi.

For a family on the brink of placing a major bet, these observations were crucial. They concerned the lives of everyone involved, so the Zhang family had no choice but to be cautious.

Chen Xi, upon seeing Lady Zhang, had already guessed the Zhang family's intentions. With few options left, the Zhang family was almost cornered. That's why he stepped back, not wanting to play the third wheel, and subtly encouraged Lady Zhang to focus her attention on Liu Bei.

After all, with Chen Xi present, he would always be Liu Bei's greatest asset. Sometimes, a ruler should rely not on his subordinates but on his own charisma and strength to win people over.

The Zhang family had been pushed into a corner by Chen Xi. If Liu Bei couldn't win over this powerful family, then Chen Xi would have to conclude that the great families of this world and Liu Bei were simply not meant to be.