Chapter 974: Human Nature, Human Heart

However, if Chen Xi were to go down that path, it would take at least twenty years of recuperation and growth before stepping out of the Central Plains. Only then could they confront the great empires like the Kushan and Parthian Empires. But twenty years of rest, twenty years of peace—would they even be able to fight by then?

Ordinary people chase after minor gains, while those in high positions must think about the grand plans for a century. Twenty years is enough to wear down many things. After twenty years of peace, would a country still be willing to go to war without a deep grudge?

To conquer the world, or at the very least to eliminate the four great empires of this era, leaving only one dominant empire, required much contemplation from Chen Xi. The challenges were immense—population, economy, culture, religion—too many factors were at play.

Rome was too far away to consider for now. Chen Xi had long thought about dealing with the Kushan and Parthian Empires, but whether it was the Kushan or Parthians, it wasn’t a war that could be waged lightly. To militarily conquer one of the world’s four great empires required an enormous amount of preparation!

Combined, the two empires had a population of over thirty million, with numerous vassal states, meaning vast potential for war. Although the Han Dynasty was stronger, the logistics of marching over mountains and rivers to fight such wars would be daunting, even for them.

"Subduing Sun Ce and Cao Cao... that’s something no one in history, not even in novels, has ever done. Their ambitions were too small. If not for the lack of preparation in the war between Yuan and Liu, I wouldn’t have even wanted Yuan Shao to die. These great heroes were trapped in the Central Plains, oblivious to the vast world beyond. Such a pity!"

If possible, Chen Xi would love to control the pace of every war, to perfectly dictate the life and death of every individual on the battlefield. In this way, the great heroes of the late Han era might have a better fate in the future.

Unfortunately, without enough power to surpass his opponents, even Chen Xi could only watch as Yuan Shao fell, abandoning such unrealistic ideals. Otherwise, it would bring endless trouble.

With Yuan Shao’s death, the only remaining heroes capable of resisting an empire were Cao Cao and Sun Ce. As for Sun Quan, Chen Xi could only think that if Sun Quan were to face off against an empire, he would be terrified to the point of tears.

In such a situation, if both Cao Cao and Sun Ce were to perish as well, Chen Xi would truly be left speechless and in tears.

"But they still aren’t strong enough. The enemies they face are, after all, two of the world’s greatest empires. Even though the Kushan and Parthian Empires have declined, they are still beyond the grasp of Cao Cao and Sun Ce. In times like these, the old distinction between Chinese and barbarian still holds sway across the world. We need to teach them how to truly fight against the strong," Chen Xi thought, a trace of coldness appearing on his face. With plans for the century and calculations for the millennia, sometimes certain things must be sacrificed!

For now, Liu Bei didn’t yet have the strength to push Sun Ce and Cao Cao out of the Central Plains. Starting a war that couldn’t be concluded quickly would essentially be tantamount to murder—murdering the people of the Han Dynasty, and by extension, the very fate of the Han itself.

All strength is relative. Only when the gap in strength becomes vast enough can it be considered absolute power. Just like how, even if Chen Xi handed over a world map to Sun Ce and Cao Cao right now, they would likely scoff at it and, at best, send someone to investigate. To them, the Central Plains would still be the center of everything.

Only when the gap in strength becomes overwhelming would they start to believe in certain truths. Just as with the heliocentric model—though correct and with clear evidence—it was still impossible to convince people during the Middle Ages when theocracy dominated, and the sacred ground beneath their feet was believed to be the center of the universe. As long as the opposing side has the strength to resist, you can never make certain moves without being hindered.

For now, Cao Cao and Sun Ce's strength posed a challenge for Liu Bei, but eliminating them completely would also prove troublesome. Numerous historical strategies, like those advised by Zheng Du to Liu Zhang, aimed at mutual destruction—there were no shortage of such plans.

During times when the warlords were well-fed and in good spirits, they certainly showed some moral restraint and genuinely cared for the people. But once their own survival was threatened, no amount of education or morality could restrain them from crossing the line.

Digging up rivers like the Si River, Yi River, Ying River, Yellow River, Bai River, Yangtze River, and Xiang River—such acts of sabotage were not uncommon during the Three Kingdoms. Do you really think flooding the Yangtze only drowned tens of thousands of soldiers? Those soldiers were in the cities, and mutual destruction was often easier than winning a straightforward battle!

That’s why Chen Xi didn’t want to bring out the worst in human nature. He could appear weak to the enemy, give them opportunities, and let them see a chance for victory. As long as they held onto hope, they wouldn’t resort to desperate, destructive measures.

As long as there’s hope, the warlords won’t act recklessly. But once they lose all hope, both the warlords and their die-hard ministers would stop at nothing. Consider Kuai Yue, who suggested digging up the Yangtze River—he was once a renowned scholar, a virtuous and untainted official. Yet when his faction was on the brink of collapse, he didn’t hesitate to pull down anyone he could, especially when he had the power to do so.

If there was no hope left, they wouldn’t mind leaving a lasting mark in history, even if it meant being remembered for their misdeeds.

Humans have two sides. Any leader with ambitions for the world will strive to maintain a virtuous image, presenting themselves as perfect in every way, and avoiding acts that provoke public outrage.

Especially when their power is rising, all leaders try to disguise themselves as flawless.

But once their ambitions are dashed, many wise men begin to lament their poor judgment, regretting following the wrong master.

At the root, these rulers are just giving up, resigned to their fate. No emperor wants to be the one to lose the empire. If given the chance, every emperor would wish for peace in the world so that they wouldn’t have to do anything. As for accusations of arrogance, impulsiveness, or foolishness, those are merely impressions...

When you favor someone, their arrogance becomes pride, impulsiveness turns into courage, and simplicity is viewed as straightforwardness. A sharp tongue becomes seen as wit. The opposite is also true.

To some, Liu Bei is hypocritical. To others, he is the embodiment of benevolence. To some, Cao Cao is a hero striving to save the world, while Liu Bei and Sun Quan are mere rebels. Yet, there are just as many who curse Cao Cao as a traitor.

And for those who say Sun Ce is brainless and just lucky, Chen Xi believes the first point can be resolved by speaking to Zhou Yu—he might just call it straightforwardness. As for the second, well, history speaks for itself.

Of course, none of this matters. What matters is that Chen Xi tries to make Sun Ce and Cao Cao follow in their footsteps. After all, once Yuan Tan is completely absorbed, even if Cao Cao and Sun Ce try to imitate them 100%, the gap will only widen. Chen Xi estimates that if they manage to imitate even 50%, their ancestors' graves will already be smoking with good fortune!

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