Mythical Three Kingdoms

Afterward, Chen Xi watched a large-scale brawl that ended close to Shen Hour. Liu Bei didn't come, so Li Youu rewarded the Xiliang Soldiers with a bunch of wine, meat, and steamed buns in Liu Bei's name. Overall, it didn't remotely resemble a military condolence.

"The kind of Liangzhou Soldiers you mentioned who are only good at killing, I took a look, mainly it's the main unit of those guys like Aduo, Zhiran, and Zijian." Li Youu and Chen Xi casually sat on the high platform eating the same food as the Xiliang Soldiers.

This big pot meal thing, how to say, especially the chaotic stew, with enough spices, eating a meal or two is actually not bad. Plus, Chen Xi isn't that picky about food...

"I actually thought you wouldn't eat this kind of thing," Li Youu suddenly said as he followed Chen Xi in adding meat into a bowl, "and I thought you couldn't accept this way of eating."

"It's nothing much, I'm not that picky. Actually, I'm not that opposed to adding dishes in one bowl," Chen Xi shook his head and said, in later generations, shared dining isn't popular.

"As for taste, it's actually quite okay. Although I'm quite picky, I'm not that extreme," Chen Xi shook his head and said, "At least it's better than what I ate when I first came to Mount Tai. I always felt you guys eating such bad food for so many years is not easy."

"Actually, it's mainly because you are too picky," Li Youu revealed a smile, "Back then having meat was already good enough, it was all plain meat. To have someone like you who adds so many spices and seasonings when eating meat is rare. After all, the saying 'food shouldn't be rough, meat shouldn't be coarse' seems to be talking about you."

"That's just normal human pursuit. How about you start eating plain meat from tomorrow?" Chen Xi rolled his eyes and said. Regarding the kitchen affairs, Chen Xi didn't strictly control them, so now stir-frying has started to become popular nationwide.

"Not long ago, Wen He had confirmed some neighboring countries of ours. We have already gathered a group of people proficient in Parthian and Wusun scripts and languages," Li Youu smirked, admitting it was indeed a normal human pursuit.

"Uh, you guys were able to gather such talents so quickly?" Chen Xi said incredulously.

"Since it's recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian, naturally there has been exchanges before, the Former Han Marquis of Bowang, not to mention the previous Marquis of Dingyuan passed away less than a hundred years ago. Why should I struggle to find something?" Li Youu said casually. With the entire Han Dynasty's power at this era, if other countries can achieve it, why can't the Han Dynasty?

"Which countries' related materials did you manage to acquire?" Chen Xi frowned. It would be troublesome if exposed. He hadn't expected Jia Xu and Li Youu to be so swift and decisive.

"Parthia, Great Xia, Tiaozhi, and Great Qin!" Li Youu glanced at Chen Xi and said, "Though not very detailed, as you said, Parthia and Great Qin are indeed first-level empires, among them Great Qin seems to have the ambition to conquer the world as you mentioned."

While saying this, Chen Xi clearly felt Li Youu's apprehension, and couldn't help but wonder what materials Li Youu got to be so apprehensive.

"The chamber of commerce is managed by Zizhong. The Wu Family and the Li Family have some business outside Yumen Pass, so there are some connections. While we were gathering news about the Wusun, the Li Family's caravan that trades beautiful jade in Shanshan happened to return," Li Youu said with a smile.

"Where did Wu Family's caravan go?" Chen Xi remembered Li Youu didn't mention the Yizhou Wu Family, and Li Jue's Li Family could travel so far, so the Wu Family among the Five Great Merchants would surely travel farther.

"Yancai State, the Wu Family went to Yancai State next to Parthia. According to the Wu Family's itinerant merchants, this country has the strength of a Feudal Lord," Li Youu said looking at Chen Xi.

"Huh?" Chen Xi was puzzled, completely not remembering there being such a country.

"In short, just like you said, the situation around us can be described as chaotic, though the Northwest desert blocks part of it, and the Southwest mountains block another part," Li Youu said, somewhat weary, "As for the Kushan and Great Qin you mentioned, there's no way to get there."

"Just far away, empires are like that, vast territories, just like our farthest border is thousands of miles away," Chen Xi chuckled, pleased it wasn't exposed.

"Maybe Great Qin is bigger than us, and stronger," Li Youu said after a moment's silence, "Wu Family's main merchant brought back some Wusun people, among them one had gone to Great Qin when young, traveled from Great Qin's east side to Great Qin's west side by boat, taking roughly half a year..."

"..." Chen Xi looked at Li Youu not knowing what to say.

The Mediterranean becoming Rome's inner sea is indeed a compliment, while taking half a year by boat is indeed frightening. But considering the shipbuilding technology of that era, using oars instead of wheels, spending half a year is quite possible.

"What's the situation in Parthia?" Chen Xi frowned. Compared to Rome, which is unimaginably distant, Parthia is actually Chen Xi's target. And, Central Asia currently has Parthia's region as the fertile land, and it's within Han Dynasty's reach.

"They've been clashing with Great Qin for a hundred years, the war has barely stopped, heard it's pretty miserable. Great Qin seems to be close to winning. I think you somewhat underestimated Parthia," Li Youu sighed, "I don't think we could withstand the peak Han Dynasty for a hundred years."

Chen Xi rolled his eyes but said nothing. After all, he didn't think they couldn't withstand it.

"Our generation has no problem, could even press back. But a hundred years is five or six generations. Overcoming the strong with the weak isn't that easy," Li Youu shook his head, "The war between Parthia and Great Qin, I've already learned all that the Wusun knows."

"Parthia lost because its national strength was weaker than Great Qin. Early on, with a generation of strength, it could counterattack. Later, it couldn't. Although there were indeed internal issues, no country can be completely united internally," Chen Xi nodded.

Regarding this aspect, Chen Xi had deep feelings. Since the initial establishment at Mount Tai, he had been carefully managing Liu Bei's interpersonal relationships, using benefits to bind, using reputation to unite, using ideals to assist, using morals to restrain. Yet, opposition from the upper ranks had occurred twice.

It's truly helpless, even with correct actions being resisted twice. Should it be said politics is about one's footing, or political figures and politicians are completely different beings, with the former having firm beliefs, and the latter only having unwavering interests!

"I thought you didn't know, but it seems you do," Li Youu didn't doubt Chen Xi's sources. He took some time obtaining this information, so Chen Xi knowing it was quite normal.

"The issues of external and internal stability, what country doesn't have some internal problems? Even a family's internal has factions, unity is just talk. Not dragging down each other, being able to exert each other's strengths is already not easy," Chen Xi rolled his eyes and said. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly votes on Qidian.com, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)