Chapter 50: The Aristocratic Families

Chen Xi smiled and let the matter drop. He was well aware of this, and even more aware of another reality: the Chen family was currently placing all their bets on Chen Qun. Even if they noticed him, they merely regarded him as a casual move, or to put it more bluntly, as an abandoned piece.

Yet, one had to acknowledge Chen Qun’s brilliance. After Xun Yu’s death, it was Chen Qun who managed the internal affairs of the Wei state. He could be considered one of the rare statesmen in the history of the Three Kingdoms, and his Nine-Rank Zhongzheng system completely cemented the aristocratic families' control over the state, serving virtually as a banner for all noble clans.

To say his talent was brilliant was not enough to describe his capability; to call him a genius gifted by heaven could hardly capture his natural endowments. He was truly blessed with the finest graces of heaven. Regrettably, from personal virtue to administrative ability, Xun Yu completely crushed Chen Qun. For Chen Qun, this was nothing short of a disaster—an incomparable disaster. Especially since, although Xun Yu hailed from the same commandery, the two rarely met. Xun Yu’s abilities were known to him only through intelligence gathered by household retainers, meaning Chen Qun had virtually no true understanding of his fellow townsman.

After Xun Yu arrived in Cao Cao’s camp, Chen Qun, supremely confident in his own brilliance, believed he could do anything Xun Yu could do, and indeed fancied he could do it even better. Consequently, he casually brushed aside Liu Bei, with whom he had been having rather pleasant chats, and joined Cao Cao’s faction. He intended to rely on his own prowess to make Xun Yu feel inferior, prompting him to voluntarily step down and yield his position. Afterwards, out of consideration for their shared hometown roots, Chen Qun planned to allow Xun Yu to serve as his deputy—after all, the venerable Chen family of Yingchuan was a renowned, prestigious clan; offering a helping hand to a fellow townsman was only right.

Harboring this mindset, Chen Qun kicked Liu Bei aside and defected to Cao Cao’s camp. Yet, upon finally coming face-to-face with Xun Yu, Chen Qun realized that from top to bottom—from moral cultivation to the handling of worldly affairs—he was simply no match for Xun Yu in any conceivable aspect. Most frustratingly of all, his close friend and comrade, Sima Yi, seemed equally unequal to Xun Yu’s nephew, Xun You. Chen Qun’s world went entirely grey.

In short, Chen Qun had fallen victim to a lack of careful observation. Because of this, his friend and comrade Sima Yi learned a bitter lesson, keeping his eyes wide open to observe meticulously at all times—and subsequently, Zhuge Liang was dragged to his death by exhaustion.

In brief, this man’s entire career was a tragedy. To what extent was it a tragedy? Chen Xi didn't even care to elaborate. Had it not been for Xun Yu’s stubborn refusal to let Cao Cao ascend to the title of Duke of Wei, coupled with Cao Cao’s judgment becoming clouded as he grew increasingly self-righteous and arrogant—leading to Xun Yu’s downfall—Chen Qun might never have found an opportunity to distinguish himself. Otherwise, given Xun Yu’s robust health, Chen Qun would likely have spent his entire life without a single chance to rise.

Following Xun Yu’s fall, Chen Qun finally saw daylight. Soon after, Xun You also passed away, and Sima Yi at last found an opportunity to become active. By that time, Cao Cao was no longer in his right mind—or simply put, he considered himself extraordinarily brilliant while actually being a complete fool.

Now, Chen Xi intended to assemble a dream lineup: the military generals had to be the absolute best, and the civilian strategists must likewise be top-tier. Was Chen Qun the best? Evidently not, as Xun Yu was still alive.

Besides, once Xun Yu eventually passed away, wouldn't Zhuge Liang be out there willfully radiating his own brilliance? A dream lineup naturally required generation after generation of talent, and they had to be the finest available. Since Chen Qun did not fit the bill, Chen Xi couldn't be bothered to put a substitute on the field unless absolutely necessary.

These were merely passing thoughts for Chen Xi. Whether he could even get his hands on someone like Xun Yu was questionable. To be fair, Chen Qun was indeed capable, but unfortunately, he belonged to the direct lineage of the Chen family, whereas Chen Xi was of a collateral branch—there was simply no comparison. To go courting him now would only result in being treated with condescension.

What Chen Xi wanted to find were helpers, not masters to wait upon. The Chen family in his memories was a hazy entity; all he could truly recall was their opportunistic plundering immediately following his father’s death. Merchants—their social status remained far too low. Even if one’s efforts were once dedicated to the clan, the moment you fell, you would receive no recognition from them whatsoever.

Chen Xi had nothing to say about this. The way those relatives added fuel to the fire was not entirely wrong; wealth dazzled the eyes, which was only natural. It was simply that the original Chen Xi lacked the capability to safeguard that legacy.

Therefore, while Chen Xi was grateful to the Chen family for affording him the opportunity to receive an education, he held little affection for them. Whatever debts he owed had been settled. Chen Xi was simply waiting for the day the Chen family would come looking for him. Until then, he had no intention of seeking them out, and he believed that day was not far off.

Three days later, within the main residence of the Chen family, Chen Qun looked over the intelligence report sent by the household guard, frowned slightly, and gave a disdainful chuckle. Casually tossing the white silk cloth onto the table, he said, "There is no need to send such trivial matters in the future. Upon returning to Yingchuan, he didn't even come to pay respects to the head family. Does he truly imagine he has found an enlightened lord? Has he forgotten every lesson the Chen family ever taught? Since he refuses to bow to the main family, he should no longer presume to call himself a scion of the Yingchuan Chen clan. Go cross his name off the registry, and send the document back to that Chen Zichuan of his. Let him understand that the Chen family is no poorer for having one more of him, nor any lesser for having one less."

Chen Xi was seated in his own residence, with the steward seated nearby. Chen Lan was using a wine pitcher to pour wine for Chen Xi, who remained quietly expectant.

Chen Xi was waiting to see how the Chen family would deal with him. The Chen family valued ritual above all; the "Three Lords" had made their name through virtue and filial piety, and the family rules strictly upheld such superficial proprieties. Chen Xi now wanted to know what kind of disciplinary action would be meted out for being three days late: would he be ignored, given a light reprimand reserved for clan members, or made into an example?

Watching the Chen family servant look down upon him with unconcealed contempt as he announced his expulsion from the clan, Chen Xi smiled. He had not expected they would actually make a public example of him. Presumably, the one handling his case was Chen Qun. With this, the very last thread of connection to the Chen family was severed. Chen Xi felt no profound emotions; the Chen family was something that had never truly belonged to him.

As for the servant's disdain, Chen Xi felt little of anything. Expelled from the clan? So be it. The connection between the Chen family and himself had long been practically nonexistent. Upon hearing the news, however, the steward turned pale, and the moment the servant departed, he burst into loud weeping, kowtowing incessantly toward the ancestral tablet of Chen Lan’s father.

"Rise, old uncle. This is of no consequence. A clan is the sort of entity that will naturally lean toward us once we grow strong enough. Watching Chen Qun choose Cao Mengde means the Chen family is bound to decline as well. In the end, we shall become the main house, and all this will look like nothing more than a joke." Looking at the desolate steward and the gloomy-faced Chen Lan, Chen Xi smiled faintly.

They did not understand. Times of turmoil were the precise moments for aristocratic families to hedge their bets. Every transmission of an ancient lineage was steeped in bloody rivalry, and inevitably, some members were forced to take the wrong side. Thus, what a clan had to do was scatter its talented scions outward, planting them among various warlords favored by the clan elders.

Chen Xi had simply been "loaned" under this strategy to Liu Bei’s banner. In the eyes of the Chen family head, Chen Xi would surely understand—after all, only those who survived would constitute the direct lineage and the main house; all others were merely expendable pawns. The blood-renewal of noble clans was accomplished precisely in this manner. Therefore, being expelled from the family during chaotic times mattered little; provided one emerged among the victors in the end, the mantle of clan leadership would ultimately fall upon them.

Chen Xi could not be bothered to explain any of this. When the time came, he would simply rebuild the clan himself. However, he would never accept a single person from the old Chen family. It was always better to forge one's own path with one's own hands!

Chen Xi was thoroughly confident that Chen Qun would ultimately lose to him. The reason was simple: once he steered clear of all avoidable disasters, Liu Bei would unify the realm, and Chen Qun would never join Liu Bei’s camp—it was as straightforward as that. As for settling accounts, that could wait for the future. For now, let Chen Qun do as he pleased; there would surely come a day when the Chen family would come pleading at his door.