Chapter 794: The Chief

Jia Xu nodded slightly, acknowledging Chen Xi’s words. Indeed, Yuan Shao had his own issues, but did Liu Bei’s counselors have any fewer?

In fact, they all had their weaknesses but had managed to conceal them well enough to avoid causing obvious problems. Liu Bei’s strategists were no pushovers, after all.

The key reason they could perform so consistently was because of three things: a formidable opponent, a shared vision, and—most importantly—a leader like Chen Xi, whose expertise in internal affairs was unmatched and whose battlefield record was equally stellar. Without this foundation, the position of chief strategist would have sparked endless competition.

People are driven by their desires. Some may seem indifferent, even aloof, but that’s only because they’ve seen through the world’s illusions or have already fulfilled their personal ambitions. When one achieves their goals, the overwhelming satisfaction that follows can often lead to a sense of emptiness, potentially causing one to fall into complacency.

One of life’s greatest struggles is yearning for something you can’t have, but this unattainability drives people to work harder. However, if things come too easily, few would value them.

Now, Chen Xi's position was the ultimate goal for all the ambitious officials in Taishan. Some sought it for the prestige, others to prove themselves, and some for their ideals. Regardless of their reasons, the fact remained: they all wanted it.

There had been two occasions where the internal rivalry among Taishan's civil servants had come to light. But both times, whether it was reform or education policies, regardless of how much opposition there was, Chen Xi single-handedly suppressed everyone.

Whether they supported him silently, pushed from behind the scenes, or were simply manipulated into becoming pawns, the outcome was the same. Everyone in Qing, Xu, and Taishan eventually bowed to Chen Xi’s will.

Even when they joined forces, it only served as a stepping stone for him. With a calm smile, he quashed any dissent without any grand gestures, and he never held grudges or showed favoritism afterward.

Jia Xu remembered this well, particularly during the first tax reform incident. Back then, only Fa Zheng had openly supported Chen Xi, while Guo Jia had lent him a hand. The others either stayed silent or disapproved, with Liu Ye even fanning the flames.

But in the end, Chen Xi effortlessly defeated them all. Guo Jia, worried that Chen Xi would seek retribution and cause chaos, had even gone to plead for leniency on their behalf.

Jia Xu knew what happened next. Chen Xi had casually dealt with a few troublemakers, and that was the end of it. His expression never wavered, proving he wasn’t concerned about the opposition or who stood in his way. In his view, facts would always prove their errors.

Since that time, Chen Xi's directives in internal affairs had been met with no further resistance. Even during the troublesome push for education reforms, though many had doubts, no one dared question him.

When everyone else is wrong and the results haven’t been proven yet, how many can persist? Chen Xi, throughout the entire process, rarely appeared, but Jia Xu remembered the few times he saw him during this period.

He remained as calm and serene as ever, his demeanor unchanged, still exuding that lazy air of nonchalance.

Jia Xu remembered that expression clearly, a look that didn’t need words or encouragement. Just by standing there, Chen Xi exuded confidence, making Jia Xu realize what true self-assurance looked like.

That’s when Jia Xu understood: some people exist solely to shatter the confidence of others. No explanation is needed; their desired outcome will not change because of anyone else.

After that incident, Liu Bei’s civil servants shifted their ambitions away from competing with Chen Xi. They quietly accepted his leadership, recognizing that choosing an opponent within their reach was more beneficial for their growth. Going after someone unattainable, however, would only leave them exhausted.

This was the key difference between Liu Bei’s faction and Yuan Shao’s. Matching their civil servants’ abilities was not easy, but Yuan Shao lacked a single figure who could dominate and unify his ranks.

In truth, the success of Wei, Shu, and Wu in establishing themselves lay in their ability to suppress internal factions. Yuan Shao’s defeat at Guandu wasn’t just due to his indecisiveness or Xu You’s betrayal. Fundamentally, he lacked a unifying strategist to hold everything together.

Sometimes, the problem isn’t a lack of good plans, but indecision. Even a bad plan can succeed if backed by enough strength, but without resolve, even the best strategies are meaningless.

In essence, the roles of a grand strategist and a prime minister are not so different. A prime minister balances power, leads the officials, and supports the emperor, while a grand strategist harmonizes the factions, commands the ranks, and advises the lord. Both don’t need to handle everything personally; they just need to ensure the right people are handling things.

This was Chen Xi’s realization over time. It was why his internal governance was exceptional, even if his battlefield skills were lacking—because he always had talented people to carry out the tasks, and he placed them where they could excel. Yuan Shao, on the other hand, lacked such a figure.

Currently, the most suitable person for Yuan Shao to serve as his grand strategist would be Xun Chen. His ability and status made him a perfect fit. However, both Liu Bei and Yuan Shao understood that Xun Chen wasn’t giving his all—he was merely going through the motions.

Xun Chen’s capabilities weren’t in question, but his beliefs didn’t entirely align with Yuan Shao’s. He had initially helped Yuan Shao because there were no better alternatives, but his loyalty wasn’t wholehearted.

Yuan Shao likely knew this, which is why Xun Chen couldn’t serve as his core strategist. Without him, Yuan Shao’s other key advisors—Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Xu You—each had flaws too glaring for even Yuan Shao to ignore.

This left only Shen Pei, Dong Zhao, and Xin Pi. But Dong Zhao was too self-serving, and while Shen Pei and Xin Pi were competent, neither could match the influence Chen Xi wielded over Taishan’s civil servants. In high-level competition, that small edge often determines victory or defeat.

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