Three Kingdoms, Myth

As Qingzhou anxiously awaited changes in the situation in Jizhou, the second urgent report finally arrived from Jizhou.

"..." Fazheng glanced at the report, and the anxiety he had been feeling instantly dissipated. He returned to the calm demeanor expected of a strategist.

"Mr. Jia, look at this report. Gan Xingba has certainly lived up to his title as Chief Commander. He is indeed a first-class general of our time. His courage and grasp of battle opportunities are truly impressive." Fazheng held the report as he walked toward Jia Xu, ready to update him on the recent developments in Jizhou. Guo Fengxiao had already led troops to Licheng, accompanied by Guan Yu, the newly arrived Wei Yan, and the ever-reliable Zhou Cang, along with the equally capable Pei Yuanshao.

Jia Xu sipped his tea, his expression remaining calm as he read through the report. After finishing, he set it down without showing any sign of surprise. In his view, Gan Ning's accomplishments were likely what Chen Zichuan had been expecting all along. Given how much authority Chen Xi had granted him, if Gan Ning didn't deliver a satisfactory result, Chen Xi would surely be displeased.

"Send a copy to Lord Xuande, and distribute the report to the others as well. It seems that the war in Youzhou has come to an end. I believe that Taishi Ziyi and Gan Xingba will handle the remaining troubles in Youzhou." Jia Xu sighed, remarking, "It's fortunate to have someone like Chen Xi leading the way. We can just follow along easily. But I have to admit, someone like Chen Xi, who constantly calculates and plans, won't last long. Even if he does nothing else and only focuses on suppressing the chaos in the world, it would eventually wear him out."

Jia Xu knew that Chen Xi was determined to elevate Liu Bei to the top, even at the cost of his own well-being. As long as Liu Bei had not yet secured his dominance, Chen Xi would continue to scheme tirelessly.

Jia Xu now acknowledged Chen Xi's unparalleled strategic abilities. In the short term, it might be manageable, but in the long run, Jia Xu believed that even he would be worn down by the relentless pressure. After all, a plan that could take years to unfold was fraught with countless uncertainties.

Jia Xu preferred to let others take the lead while he followed in their shadow, occasionally stepping out to make his presence known before retreating once again. This approach allowed him to live a more peaceful life.

"Yes, with Zichuan in control, unless Gongsun Bogui perishes, Yuan Benchu's chances of defeating him in the short term are laughable." Fazheng nodded in agreement. By this point, everyone knew that Chen Xi's real target was Liu Yu.

"What's he up to now? Has Lord Xuande's old residence been rebuilt? And the fabled library—is it finished? I also heard he was teaching dance at Manxiang Pavilion. How's that going?" Jia Xu asked, curious about Chen Xi's recent activities.

"Lord Xuande's old residence is nearly complete. We've been invited to attend the opening ceremony, and the library is also finished. As for the dance lessons, they've concluded. They're supposed to perform during the library's opening. Recently, Zichuan has been discussing land yield issues with Qu Hanmou. I'm not sure if they've reached a conclusion yet. Once the farming season ends, Zichuan will likely start collecting medicinal herbs again." Fazheng counted off Chen Xi's tasks on his fingers, noting how much there still was to do.

"I heard that Qu Hanmou's farming techniques increased the autumn grain yield by two dou per mu. Is that right?" Jia Xu brought up Qu Qi, finding the topic interesting as idle conversation.

"Yes, he's a professional when it comes to agriculture. We can't afford to let someone like him fall into the hands of other warlords. Once the food supply is stabilized, many other issues will start to resurface." Fazheng spoke seriously, recognizing Qu Qi's value. He also knew Qu Qi's official identity as the head of the Qu family in Yizhou.

"People like him are irreplaceable. You could kill him by accident, but you can't deliberately take him out. It would cause more trouble than killing a famous scholar. If Qu Qi truly produces seeds that yield three and a half shi per mu, next year there will be a bountiful harvest. If he achieves the four to five shi per mu yield he promised Zijian, you might as well prepare a spot for him in the Temple of Shennong." Jia Xu chuckled.

"You can't kill someone like that. If they die, it better be an accident, not by the hands of those in power." Jia Xu added. "In a time of peace, someone like him would be revered, even by the emperor. Killing him would be unthinkable, even for an emperor."

"Four to five shi per mu? That's practically a myth." Fazheng's face twitched at the thought. Such a high yield seemed too good to be true.

"Do you think Zichuan would waste his time visiting Qu Qi every day if there wasn't at least a fifty percent chance of success? A yield of four shi per mu could feed the entire population," Jia Xu said with a sigh. "Even holding the highest official position doesn't compare to being enshrined in the Temple of Shennong. That kind of legacy will be remembered in history, and worshipped for generations."

As Jia Xu and the others discussed Chen Xi and Qu Qi, Chen Xi was already teaching Qu Qi about sample control and other simple concepts. In addition, Chen Xi was also advising Qu Qi on the benefits of experimenting with a group of subordinates rather than working alone. With a team, Qu Qi could open multiple test fields simultaneously and conduct many experiments at once. What would have taken twenty years could be completed in one or two, leaving plenty of time for further improvements.

Taking Chen Xi's advice to heart, Qu Qi quickly assembled a large group of apprentices and opened up a vast area of land. This time, instead of focusing on a single crop, he planted a variety of crops in different sections.

"Oh, we need to measure the growth progress every day and record it, then compare it with the control samples..." Qu Qi clapped his hands, suddenly realizing many new ideas. "It seems you know a lot about agriculture, Zichuan. Come study farming with me, and we can squat in the Temple of Shennong together!"

"Hahaha, I've already found my place to squat." Chen Xi laughed. With this year's favorable weather leading into winter, he realized that if he died, people would likely enshrine him as some kind of dragon king or deity associated with good harvests. After all, the weather had been perfect!

"Let's keep going. I feel like I've embarked on a different path. If I keep this up, I might surpass my original level." Qu Qi was practically glowing with excitement as he absorbed Chen Xi's scientific research methods. He felt like he was on the verge of achieving something divine. He was determined to keep working for the next fifty years!