Chapter 772: A Troubled Mind

"Anyway, you don't need to worry about us running out of money," Chen Xi shrugged as he spoke. "I won’t boast, but in an emergency, I can gather 40 billion in cash in batches. In a true crisis, I can mobilize up to 300 billion. Any more than that, and I might crush every merchant in the Han Dynasty."

"It feels like all our hard work over a lifetime doesn’t compare to a single word from you," Mi Zhu said somewhat dejectedly, feeling demotivated when facing someone who seemed like a monster in comparison.

"It’s different. You manage the wealth of a family, while I’m operating at the scale of a nation. The difference is vast. Even after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Dong Zhuo’s chaos, and various wars, the Han Dynasty still has a population of over 40 million. Little by little, it all adds up," Chen Xi smiled, trying to comfort him, though he knew that Mi Zhu would have to come to terms with this on his own.

"Let’s just drop it. We’ve long been prepared for this," Mi Zhu waved his hand, signaling that Chen Xi didn’t need to offer further reassurance. They had all mentally prepared themselves, and Chen Xi’s immense capabilities were something they had long been aware of.

"As long as you understand. Anyway, I have no intention of dabbling in commerce, so you don’t need to worry about me competing against you," Chen Xi chuckled, making it clear he had no interest in becoming a merchant like Fan Li.

"Alright, enough of this. Let’s get back to the topic. The commercial law should be tested with trial regulations that can be adjusted at any time, with a six-month cycle. In other words, after you make changes now, they will take effect in six months. So, Bo Ning, make sure to mark each law you revise with the implementation time," Chen Xi redirected the conversation, moving on to other matters.

"That works too," Man Chong nodded in agreement. It was similar to what he had in mind. Since commerce was flourishing, new situations were constantly arising. Thus, he would continue revising the commercial laws until they reached a point of perfection.

"As for the clan law, this is simple. You just need to draft the core rules and let each clan align their basic regulations accordingly. As long as they don’t conflict with your core guidelines, it’s fine. If they want to add some of their own clan rules, tell them they can only apply within their own clan, and they need to leave a copy of the amendments with us," Chen Xi didn’t place much hope on the clan laws, as they were just a starting point for regulating the aristocratic families and couldn’t be too restrictive at this stage.

"What’s the point of such laws then?" Man Chong asked, dissatisfied.

"The point is that, over time, we’ll tighten the grip. Eventually, it will reach the level we want," Chen Xi said calmly. "Right now, it’s not feasible. All we need is this initial restraint. The rest will be taken care of by future generations. Our role is to provide the direction."

Man Chong gave Chen Xi a deep look but said nothing more.

"We can’t solve a thousand years’ worth of problems in a single era. We just need to take the first step. Future generations will naturally continue in the direction we set, as long as it’s the right one," Chen Xi added.

"Is it inevitable then?" Xun Yue murmured. He understood what Chen Xi was implying. Liu Bei’s vow to restore the Han Dynasty was ultimately unachievable, and this oath would force every future leader to face the impossibility of surpassing their predecessors. When Liu Bei fell, he too would become a figure that needed to be surpassed.

After distributing a few more tasks, Chen Xi quietly returned to his work. Without Lu Su, he had to handle much of the administrative duties himself, something that was quite troublesome for him.

Around noon, Mi Zhu was the first to leave, needing to attend to matters related to the merchant guild. As for everything he had seen and heard today, he had already buried it deep in his heart and wouldn’t share it with anyone.

Soon after, Man Chong and Xun Yue also left, both preparing to review the laws and start raising awareness for the new civil and criminal codes.

After some time, Jia Xu also departed, as there were pieces of intelligence that required his attention. The real war between Yuan Shao and Liu Bei was about to begin, no longer just minor skirmishes. Every piece on the board needed to be confirmed, as plans involving vast resources and manpower were finally nearing the time for harvesting.

Later, Wang Yi, following Li You’s instructions, also left the administrative office to go home and handle materials related to the water network construction. The unfinished work left by Lu Su had now completely fallen on Wang Yi's shoulders.

As the sun began to set, Chen Xi sat upright and stretched, glancing across at Li You, who had also straightened up in his chair. For once, Li You’s typically emotionless face showed a hint of concern.

"Wenru, if there’s something on your mind, just say it. It’s just the two of us now," Chen Xi spoke first.

"I’ve had this uneasy feeling lately, as if something significant is about to happen," Li You said, his expression unchanged, though his eyes revealed deep worry.

"Things happen every day. How would I know what you’re referring to?" Chen Xi responded helplessly, unsure of what to make of Li You’s vague concern.

"I’ve only felt this kind of confusion twice in my life. Once when I awakened my spiritual talent, and the other when Dong Zhuo was on the path to ruin," Li You said, looking directly at Chen Xi. His tone hadn’t changed, but Chen Xi sensed the gravity of his words.

"Is something happening with Lord Xuande?" Chen Xi’s first thought was Liu Bei.

"No, I’ve observed closely. There’s nothing different," Li You shook his head.

When Li You first noticed his state of confusion, his immediate focus had been on Liu Bei. Dong Zhuo’s downfall had been a major blow to him, and as a strategist, it was unacceptable to make the same mistake twice.

"If it’s not Xuande, then what could it be?" Chen Xi said nonchalantly. "As long as there’s nothing wrong with Xuande, what could possibly threaten us at this point? We’re strong enough to face the entire world alone. At most, we could leave the world in shambles with a single campaign."

Li You nodded, acknowledging the truth in Chen Xi’s words. But despite this, a sense of unease still lingered in his heart.

"Don’t worry. As long as it’s not Xuande, no one in this world can defeat us. Every one of the key players from our early days has found their path. Even if new challengers arise, they’ll only cause minor problems. They won’t stop us," Chen Xi reassured Li You, noticing his unease. They no longer feared any challenges.

"I still can’t shake this uneasy feeling," Li You said, shaking his head slightly. "I was hoping you could make sense of it, but it seems even you can’t."

"I don’t know everything," Chen Xi replied, slightly irritated.

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