Chapter 1014: Change Your Way of Thinking!

"This kind of opponent, no wonder they're monstrous enough to have stepped beyond the level of Zhongyuan. If any of them were to descend upon Zhongyuan, only we might be able to withstand them," Lu Su said with a bitter smile after hearing the explanation. Indeed, being a first-sequence empire meant that, although the requirements seemed simple, those who could meet them were terrifyingly strong.

"Are there such empires around Zhongyuan?" Liu Ye was quick to react, directly asking the most crucial question.

"There are two relatively weaker first-sequence empires," Chen Xi said with an emotionless face, pointing to present-day Central Asia and the western region of India, as well as the area west of modern-day Xinjiang.

"Here are two of them: one is called the Kushan Empire, and the other is Parthia. However, one is blocked by mountains, and the other by deserts. If it weren't for these natural barriers, they would surely come upon hearing any news," Chen Xi sneered coldly, the meaning behind his words clear.

At this moment, the others present didn’t know whether to feel fortunate or worried. After all, two first-sequence empires were so close by, and looking at the map, it was clear that there were likely quite a few such empires across the world.

"Let’s talk about Parthia first," Chen Xi pointed toward the West Asian region. "You’ve probably all heard of this country. Although The Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian was banned, we've all read it. During Emperor Wu’s reign, Han envoys visited this country, and there were detailed records about it. If anyone remembers, recite them for us."

"The Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of Dayuan: 'When the Han envoy arrived in Parthia, the Parthian king sent twenty thousand cavalry to welcome him at the eastern border, which was several thousand li from the capital. As the envoy traveled, they passed through dozens of cities, where the population was abundant, with people crowded everywhere,'" Li You recited slowly with his eyes closed, pressing his temples.

Everyone present was well-versed in historical texts, but Li You’s knowledge was particularly deep. It could be said that those who became geniuses through effort had a foundation that offered more advantages. After all, hard work was also a determining factor.

"Yes, that’s the line," Chen Xi said with a smile, surprised at how quickly Li You had responded. The others also understood—sending twenty thousand cavalry just to greet a Han envoy. With such power, it was more than fitting to call them an empire.

"This one might be the weakest of all the empires," Chen Xi laughed aloud as he looked at the serious expressions of the others. "So, what do you all think?"

None of them looked relaxed anymore. Comparing themselves to such a behemoth, even though Liu Bei was strong, there was no absolute guarantee of victory. And this was supposed to be the weakest of the first-sequence empires.

The truth of Chen Xi’s words was written on his face; he wasn’t lying. They all had basic judgment, and the fact that such a powerful force was considered at the bottom of the first-sequence was startling.

"Does anyone have any thoughts? Speak up," Chen Xi asked with a faint smile, which seemed out of place in the tense atmosphere. But that didn’t matter, because what he was saying was a hidden truth.

"This is the true grand stage," Fa Zheng said with a trembling voice, filled with excitement and joy.

Fa Zheng was genuinely thrilled. It turned out that the world he had been seeing was so small. To know that there were still formidable opponents in the world reignited the passion in his heart. As a true warrior, he didn’t fear any adversary. Moreover, Fa Zheng was still young and full of energy.

"This is what transcending the ancestors really means, right? Zichuan, I’m guessing you chose our lord because his words about surpassing the past piqued your interest," Lu Su exhaled slowly, as if dispelling the fear in his heart.

Chen Xi neither nodded nor shook his head, only offering a small smile as if reminiscing about the past. In truth, only Chen Xi knew that he had initially intended to go to Chenliu to seek out Cao Cao. It was just that he hadn’t encountered him.

In Chen Xi’s view, both Cao Cao and Liu Bei were excellent rulers. The difference was that Cao Cao was willing to sacrifice everything, including his principles, for victory, while Liu Bei swore to uphold those principles even at the cost of his life. Chen Xi understood that no one willingly crosses that line unless forced to do so.

This was why Chen Xi admired Liu Bei. As for his initial journey to Chenliu, it was a matter of clarity and proximity.

Sometimes, fate plays a role, and since Chen Xi had a good time with Liu Bei, there was no need to switch sides. Moreover, Liu Bei’s statement, coaxed out by Chen Xi over time, about transcending the ancestors pleased him greatly. That’s why Chen Xi had put so much effort into developing Liu Bei’s power.

"This level of transcendence," Jia Xu sighed, feeling a bit weary. "The distance to Parthia isn’t too far for a flourishing empire. It’ll be a difficult challenge to face."

"It is indeed difficult now, but what about the future?" Chen Xi asked with a smile, looking at Jia Xu. "This is the only way to escape the cycle of a thousand-year empire. Do you really want us to keep going through the same loop over and over?"

"I know of an empire with a history of a thousand years," Chen Xi said, glancing at the others. "Every time an empire collapses, it means a significant decline in Zhongyuan’s power. It also means an open door for foreign invaders. What if one day, during an internal conflict, Zhongyuan can’t hold off those invaders?"

"Would you want to watch our descendants become slaves to foreign powers?" Chen Xi asked calmly. Seeing that Guo Jia was about to speak, Chen Xi interrupted him, "Don’t say it’s impossible. Just because we’ve resisted foreign invaders ten, even a hundred times, doesn’t mean it’ll never happen."

"If we fail even once, we’ll lose everything. So, I’d rather resolve everything outside of Zhongyuan, to ensure Zhongyuan is always at peace. Let the fires of war burn on other countries’ lands. It’s always better than seeing our homeland in flames, no matter the right or wrong!" Chen Xi’s calm eyes held a cold and deadly determination.

"That’s why I admire Emperor Wu so much. He brought the flames of war to foreign lands. Unlike now, where, except for Gongsun Bogui, everyone else is merely fighting to recover lost territories," Chen Xi said slowly.

Whether it was Dong Zhuo, Ding Yuan, or Lü Bu, their wars had all taken place on Han soil. Only Gongsun Zan had fought beyond Youzhou, risking his life against the Xianbei and Wuhuan on the steppe.

As mentioned in the rankings of warlords, Lü Bu had the merit of restoring lost lands. This meant that those lands originally belonged to the Han dynasty, and their wars were fought on Han territory, with all the losses borne by the Han.

"By taking the fight to foreign lands, even if we lose one battle and win the next, we will have achieved strategic success. The Xianbei constantly attack to loot and train their troops, so why, despite being stronger, do we suffer significant losses every year?" Chen Xi asked coldly, looking at everyone.

"Because any damage done to our lands is a victory for them. Honestly, I find it ridiculous that we’re always on the defensive. The strong defend while the weak provoke—how laughable! We may be weaker than we were before, but we’re still a first-sequence empire. Where’s our resolve to raze cities and destroy nations?" Chen Xi swept his gaze across the room, his words dripping with scorn.

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