The essence is finished, I’ll supplement it for you next month, I’ve gotten used to adding highlights in batches...
After Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping left, Chen Xi started drinking tea again. At this time, that’s just how it was, even if all the government affairs were completed, you still had to wait for the right time before you could leave. As to what you did during this time after finishing the tasks, it wasn’t important, as long as you did not violate the rites.
Chen Xi still maintained the good habit of taking naps, propping up his head and falling asleep in the Political Office until he was finally woken up by Jian Yong, who had just finished his political duties for the day.
"Oh, oh, is it time to leave?" Chen Xi yawned as he prepared to walk out, but Jian Yong grabbed him by the shoulder.
"It’s not time yet!" Jian Yong dragged Chen Xi back and pressed him into the main seat, "The Third Quarter of the Wei Hour has not yet arrived."
"Ha, then why did you wake me up? Is there anything you can’t handle? That shouldn’t be, we’re only left with some minor issues now." Chen Xi said, half-squinting his eyes, looking extremely proud like Lord Guan, although in reality, he was just not fully awake.
After getting Chen Xi’s permission, Jian Yong picked up the white cloth and started examining it, nodding slightly as he read, until he began to frown upon reaching the final three clauses.
Having just woken up after drinking a cup of tea, Chen Xi looked at Jian Yong and yawned, "Just speak up if you have any problems." It was great to sit with a scholar who was not obsessed with small details. If he were sitting with a noble among scholars like Chen Qun, behaving might have prompted the other to pounce on him for belittling him.
"Let’s not talk about the earlier parts, which only concern some processing methods and the distribution of funds, but these last three clauses... I can understand them, but I’m puzzled by what you want to accomplish?" Jian Yong said, lifting his head.
"Oh, the earlier parts can be filled out casually; it’s the last three clauses that are important. Zilong, you should listen too, you might be able to use this in the future." Chen Xi turned his head to speak to Zhao Yun, who was still attending to political affairs.
Zhao Yun looked up, took the white cloth handed by Jian Yong, glanced over it briefly to understand the gist, and lifted his head again to listen to what Chen Xi had to say.
"Nothing much, the third-to-last clause is to prevent them from monopolizing the entire market, while also preparing for the second-to-last clause. The second-to-last clause is about planting people at various levels, so that later when we get involved in more industries, we can arrange for cross-level placements, combined with single-line contact, and we’ll have a safe and usable intelligence network. For now, make do with it; it’s much better than groping in the dark like before." Chen Xi said with a slight smile on his face.
The news of Sun Jian’s death had come too late for Liu Bei’s side; it was only because someone specifically informed him that he knew. Otherwise, who knows when he could have found out? And what a great opportunity it was to plant scouts.
"Indeed, it’s a good idea, as by being instated with a certification from the authorities at the level of provinces and counties, it would be hard for them to attract attention. As for single-line contact..." Jian Yong couldn’t continue and used his eyes to signal Chen Xi.
"The upper level doesn’t show up and contacts the lower level in a particular way each time. As for what special means, you can think of anything. As for reporting information, also use a unique method of contacting. That’s about it; the main thing is to prevent them from knowing who is above and who is below." Chen Xi shrugged.
"How can we ensure that the information is passed from the lower level to the upper level?" Despite possibly having some differences with those famous ministers of the Three Kingdoms, Jian Yong was no fool and immediately saw the downside of this approach.
"There will be someone outside the loop who knows. The existence of these external parties is mainly to ensure that the message is transmitted correctly between the two sides and, in some extremely important cases, to pass information." Chen Xi said with a smile, "But there’s only one chance for this; afterwards, no matter whether you’re exposed or not, you’ll move to another location to work or be called back." As he said this, Chen Xi was very serious and solemn.
"What a brilliant method!" A gleam flashed through Zhao Yun’s eyes. Before he could speak, Jian Yong already spoke for him.
"Oh, since Xianhe thinks it’s brilliant, then let’s leave this matter to Xianhe to handle." Chen Xi casually tossed the responsibility to Jian Yong.
Zhao Yun chuckled, while Jian Yong looked frustrated. He should not have interjected. According to what Chen Xi meant, since you’ve already understood the importance and the subtlety of the method, then it’s handed over to you to handle. Previously, Zhao Yun had been caught in it once, and now it was Jian Yong’s turn.
"Of course, the last clause is the most important." Chen Xi solemnly said after drinking a cup of tea, "The last clause is the foundation for all that’s above. No matter whether it’s about placing people, or if later the two sides are not in agreement, or if we want to replace someone, the last clause puts us on the side of righteousness."
"Hmm?" Zhao Yun and Jian Yong both furrowed their brows and looked at Chen Xi. Finally, Zhao Yun asked, "Is it about that right of interpretation?"
"Yes, the so-called ultimate right of interpretation means I can interpret it any way I want. If I say it’s black, then it’s black. Even if it’s white, it’s still black. Anyway, none of these merchants would dare to mess with us, and I don’t mind making them vomit all their ill-gotten gains, with interest." Chen Xi indifferently uttered these unscrupulous words.
"This could cause a lot of trouble, and it will be difficult for us to find businessmen to deal with in the future," Jian Yong said with a wry smile, not that he felt bad about Chen Xi’s approach, but he thought this method might damage our reputation.
"Don’t worry, a Great Confucian Scholar could understand," Chen Xi retorted dismissively.
"..." Jian Yong looked at Chen Xi speechlessly.
"Just kidding. At least this way we can demonstrate our ethical standards, and if there’s a problem, it’s because the merchants haven’t read enough books. Just like that." Chen Xi casually shifted the blame to the merchants.
"Zichuan, stop joking. Tell me the truth, you know what I’m trying to say," Jian Yong said with a frown.
"Alright, I understand. First of all, I won’t use that ultimate right of interpretation unless the merchants betray us. Once used, I’ll add it to the law." Chen Xi yawned and dug through a pile of bamboo slips in the letter to find what he needed.
Jian Yong sighed after looking for a while, "Zichuan, you’ve blocked the way after taking advantage, fearing others might take advantage as well." Laughing loudly, he handed the white cloth to Zhao Yun, who was sitting aside.
"You should say it’s being precautious. After all, I’m doing this for the sake of the people under my care, preventing anyone from taking advantage later." Chen Xi shrugged, "I feel really bored. I wonder if General Guan and General Zhang have pinpointed the approximate location of the Bandits of Mount Tai."