There was no need to elaborate on Fa Zheng's unfortunate situation; everyone present was well aware. To suggest that Fa Xiaozhi had no feelings for Jiang Ying would be hard to believe. Fa Zheng claimed that he hurriedly took a concubine to ensure his father's peace of mind, but everyone knew the real story. However, Liangzhou was too far away, and even if Liu Bei wanted to intervene, he found himself powerless to do so.
"Getting married is also a sign of adulthood. Kongming, staying on that list is quite unfair to others. When Xiaozhi returns, my apprentice will show you who truly deserves the top spot on the young talents list," Chen Xi steered the conversation back to his disciple. In his view, placing Zhuge Liang on the young talents list was like bullying others—only kids like Lu Xun should be on that list!
"You forgot about Pang Shiyuan and Sima Zhongda," Zhuge Liang sighed helplessly. "There are still those two."
"Tch, you guys really have no shame. You're far too old to be bullying kids. I'll have a word with Xu Zijiang later—people like you shouldn't be considered young talents. The list should only include those under fourteen!" Chen Xi grumbled, clearly displeased. He never considered Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and the like to be part of the "youth" category. "If you put Pang Shiyuan on the list, Fa Xiaozhi should be included too. In that case, Zhou Gongjin and I might as well be added."
"If you're added, the civil officials ranking will become a joke," Lu Su retorted, rolling his eyes. The group had already handled most of their pressing matters, leaving them time to chat. Of course, they had reached a consensus regarding the matter of Lu Bu—negotiations were on the table, but they still needed to be prepared for battle.
At this point, whether they liked it or not, even if "Wen Wu has no first place," Xu Zijiang's monthly review of civil officials would have no choice but to place Chen Xi at the top. The reason the civil officials ranking hadn't been released yet was simply because it was difficult to rank the strategists of Yuan Shao and Liu Bei's camps. Both factions were the strongest forces in the land, and it was hard to determine who was superior without a full confrontation.
Or, to put it another way, even if Xu Zijiang was confident in assessing who was stronger, he didn't want to release the rankings just yet. Both sides still had the potential to turn the tables, and if the rankings were published prematurely, it could spoil the outcome. After all, in history, the winners are always hailed as heroes, while the losers are vilified, regardless of who was truly more capable.
Chen Xi, however, was an exception. Through certain channels, Xu Zijiang had already learned some secrets. Just as Fan Liang once said, "Kings may come and go, but Chen Xi will always remain at the top." It was almost like destiny. So, Xu Zijiang had already securely placed Chen Xi at the top.
"Alright, alright, let's get back on topic and stop talking about this. We'll know once Xu Zijiang releases the rankings. There's no point in guessing now," Jia Xu finally put an end to their idle chatter. After all, they had drifted too far off course.
"Agreed, let's not discuss this anymore. We should focus on whether to send Zhao Zilong to Yanzhou," Lu Su sighed. People of this era placed great importance on reputation. If the civil officials ranking were to be released, even the usually composed Lu Su might struggle to remain calm. After all, everyone wanted to see where they stood.
"Let's send Zhao Zilong," Jia Xu nodded in agreement. "I also suggest that Zichuan be the commander, with Gongyou accompanying the army."
Xun Yue, who had been quietly reviewing legal matters, suddenly had a gleam in his eye after Jia Xu's suggestion. After witnessing Sun Qian's remarkable organizational skills, Xun Yue had been deeply impressed, and Jia Xu's proposal sparked a new idea.
"I second Jia Wenhe's suggestion." After speaking, Xun Yue discreetly nudged Man Chong with his foot. Man Chong glanced at the ceiling, contemplated for a moment, and then spoke, "I second it as well."
"Jianwei Corps as the main force—does Wenhe mean to advance our positions to the Linyi area in Dong Commandery?" Li You pondered the possibility for a long time before nodding. "I also support Gongyou accompanying the army."
Chen Xi frowned in thought. The Linyi area, located in Yanzhou, extended into the Heishan (Black Mountain) range, and could serve as a gateway to Jizhou and Bingzhou. More importantly, building a city there would remove the western front's conflicts from Mount Tai, giving them a stronghold for both capturing Yanzhou and fighting against Yuan Shao.
"Agreed, but I don't accept being the commander," Chen Xi nodded but swiftly declined the role of commander.
"Let's first bring Zilong back to Mount Tai and then discuss the rest," Lu Su said, concluding the discussion. Regardless of the other matters, it was crucial to have Zhao Yun return to Mount Tai since the year was drawing to a close.
"Gongyou, start preparing materials and craftsmen. This time, we'll show Chen Gongtai what it means to be truly well-resourced and how to advance step by step. We've also recruited many of the Heishan troops, so there's no shortage of labor. Let's settle them there," Chen Xi instructed Sun Qian.
"As for the Heishan troops, let's scatter them. They're quite different from the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans, and many of the Heishan leaders have questionable backgrounds," Lu Su said, tapping the table with a serious expression. "Relocate some of the people from Xuzhou, and move part of the Heishan troops to Xuzhou."
"Agreed," Li You nodded, pleased with Lu Su's approach—it left no room for future problems.
"Regarding Zhang Yan, I think he should be stationed in the new city," Chen Xi suggested after a moment of hesitation. He still couldn't fully understand the decisions made by Guan Hai and Zhang Yan. After all, he wasn't the type to sacrifice himself for the greater good, and historically, neither were they. The current situation only reinforced the idea that the performance they had put on earlier had been incredibly convincing.
"Agreed, Shuzhi!" Lu Su nodded, then turned to Wang Xiu, who was recording the minutes, and said, "Please submit a report of our discussion on Yanzhou to Xuande Gong immediately."
"Understood!" Wang Xiu put away his writing materials and respectfully replied to Lu Su.
Once Wang Xiu had left, Jia Xu and the others returned their attention to Lu Su, who said thoughtfully, "This approach seems appropriate."
"It's time to let them out. Besides, Kongming can now handle all of Shuzhi's administrative duties," Li You praised Zhuge Liang after glancing at him.
"Indeed, some of the students from Mount Tai Academy have also completed their studies," Chen Xi remarked, reflecting on the progress. "Let's send them out. It's time to put their skills to the test. Once we've conquered Hebei, there will definitely be some position reshuffling due to vacancies. We might as well let them practice now."
"Qu Hanmou mentioned that he's made some progress recently and needs you to visit," Lu Su added, recalling something Qu Qi had asked him to relay to Chen Xi.
"Why doesn't that guy just come to my place? Why go through you?" Chen Xi asked, puzzled. "I'll visit him soon."