Tao Qian also congratulated Liu Bei, then claimed that he was feeling unwell and had someone help him leave the hall. In reality, he was handing over the reins to Liu Bei, allowing him to manage the aftermath of the situation.
"Everyone, since I, Liu Xuande, have accepted the seal of the Governor of Xuzhou and you recognize me as such, I ask that you listen to my words," Liu Bei said, standing up and raising a cup to the crowd before downing it in one gulp.
"Please speak, Lord Xuande!" Chen Deng was the first to step forward. As Tao Qian's old minister and the representative of the foremost family in Xuzhou, he naturally had to take the lead at this moment.
"I am new to Xuzhou and still unfamiliar with many matters. I ask that you all continue to maintain the operations of the Xuzhou government. As for Cao Ju (Cao Cao), and the assassination attempt in Xiapi, I do not wish for further bloodshed. However, should anyone repeat such offenses, I will show no mercy!" Liu Bei spoke gently to Chen Deng, then turned his gaze sharply to the gathered family heads, lingering on a few of them.
"Lord Xuande is benevolent," Chen Deng bowed his head, and the other Xuzhou figures all echoed, "Lord Xuande is benevolent." Clearly, the family heads, who had been trembling with fear over the possibility of further executions, were relieved after hearing Liu Bei's words.
After that, the banquet proceeded joyfully, and Liu Bei spent the night at the Xuzhou government office. From that night onward, Xuzhou belonged to Liu Bei.
In the large residence of the Feng family in Xuzhou, Chen Xi sat in the main seat. This residence had been granted to him by Liu Bei after the Feng family had been wiped out during Tao Qian's earlier purges. With no one left to claim it, the estate had been given to Chen Xi as a secondary residence.
"Public Servant, I must thank you for your efforts this time," Chen Xi said to Sun Qian.
"Zichuan, you jest. If you hadn't asked me to invite my teacher as a witness, I might have forgotten this could be used as proof," Sun Qian smiled. "My teacher has a favorable impression of the Lord, which is why he agreed to become the head of the academy in Taishan."
"But without your invitation, Kang Chenggong wouldn't have come," Chen Xi shook his head. "Have you found the information I asked you to investigate?"
"Jibo's information is somewhat uncertain, but Sun Bofu is indeed a capable general. As for the details you wanted regarding those from Jingzhou joining Sun Bofu, there are only a few," Sun Qian replied, still a bit puzzled.
"Tell me," Chen Xi frowned.
"There is Liao Gongyuan, Wen Zhongye, and another who is uncertain and still young. His name is Pang Shiyuan, a nephew of Pang Degong," Sun Qian listed the now-obscure figures.
"I see," Chen Xi nodded, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "How is Xu Yuanzhi?"
"Still studying at Lumen Academy, but he has yet to show any remarkable achievements," Sun Qian shook his head. Despite Chen Xi's special instructions, Sun Qian had kept an eye on Xu Shu, but so far, Xu Shu had only shown average performance.
"Hahaha, you've underestimated him, Public Servant," Chen Xi laughed heartily. "Xu Yuanzhi may not have earth-shaking talents, but he is far from ordinary. He's merely biding his time. In one to three years, he will undoubtedly soar."
Sun Qian seemed doubtful, but Chen Xi did not press the issue. After some casual conversation about the affairs in Qingzhou and Xuzhou, Chen Xi saw Sun Qian off, then began pondering some matters on his own.
Chen Xi silently contemplated Liu Bei's current strength and the power he would eventually amass. The more he thought about it, the more something seemed off. The comparison between their group and the historical figures of Cao Wei felt eerily similar.
Rubbing his temples, Chen Xi realized he needed to rethink his next moves. If the changes he had made so far were still too small, then he might have to take more drastic actions. His goal was to end the chaos of this era as quickly as possible—at least to bring peace to the Han Dynasty. As for other places, they could continue to fight for as long as they wanted.
Chen Xi sighed. He had noticed this pattern early on, and it was this realization that gave him the confidence to support Liu Bei. If fate was truly unchangeable, no matter how powerful one's abilities, then there would be no point in resisting. If that were the case, he might as well peacefully await the three kingdoms' division.
Chen Xi was clearly frustrated.
It seemed that the world still had some hope for salvation, otherwise, it wouldn't be correcting itself in such strange ways. This also meant that Chen Xi's efforts hadn't bent the course of history enough. If he could twist it far enough, history might veer onto a new path, and the world would have no choice but to abandon its attempts at self-correction, allowing Chen Xi to lead it into a new era.
Chen Xi sighed as he pressed his fingers to his temples. The thought of this possibility made him feel conflicted.
His furrowed brows reflected his internal struggle. After comparing the battles in Xuzhou and recent intelligence with history, he concluded that it wasn't that he wasn't trying hard enough. Rather, it seemed that he needed to push the world beyond its breaking point before it would truly change.
"The road ahead is long and arduous; I will continue to search high and low," Chen Xi recited aloud.
What he feared most was that all his efforts would be in vain. If the tides of history were truly unstoppable, and everything he did would eventually be crushed, then he would have already chosen to retreat. Fortunately, the evidence he had gathered suggested that he simply hadn't exerted enough force yet.