Chapter 269: Auspicious Signs and Troubles...

After parting ways with Qu Qi, Chen Xi began to ponder whether his design had any flaws. Peach blossoms blooming in winter, with petals drifting down like rain, would undoubtedly be seen as an auspicious omen during this period.

Yes, Chen Xi intended to create an auspicious sign. On the day of his wedding, he was sure that people from Li Jue and Guo Si's faction would come, which meant that representatives from the Yang family of Guanzhong would also come, as would those from the young emperor's camp. With all these people attending, not putting on a grand show for them would be a wasted opportunity!

However, Chen Xi was also worried about potential problems that might arise after the show. This was Taishan, under Liu Bei's rule. By then, all the prominent lords of the land would likely send representatives to attend the ceremony. The flower rain from the sky would certainly be witnessed by all the lords and would inevitably spread across the entire Han Dynasty. While there were risks, there were also benefits!

The biggest benefit would be that with such a universally witnessed auspicious sign, combined with the current prosperity of Liu Bei's territory, people across the land would inevitably start thinking. The rise of a new hegemon in the Central Plains, possibly destined to become the ruler of the world, could indeed be seen as something blessed by the heavens.

In short, after pulling off such a spectacle, public morale in Liu Bei's territory would undoubtedly soar. At the same time, some fence-sitters might be forced to reconsider their stance. For certain influential families, opposing Liu Bei would become a more daunting prospect. After all, two hundred years ago, during the time of Emperor Guangwu, there were countless inexplicable events. Who's to say that today's world might not once again be blessed with a divinely appointed ruler to restore order to the universe?

Of course, just having this one event might mean that even if Liu Xie, the young emperor, fled to Chang'an, he might refuse to come to Fenggao, even if Liu Bei offered him refuge. If, in that case, Cao Cao managed to bring the emperor to Chenliu, then the dynamic of Chong'er thriving outside and Shen Sheng perishing within would be set in stone.

Once this dynamic was established, Liu Xie would inevitably clash with Cao Cao over power, even if Cao Cao were a loyal minister. This would force Cao Cao into the role of a traitor. At that point, with a few more strategic moves, Liu Bei could retrieve the Imperial Edict and claim the righteous cause, thereby securing the Han Dynasty's banner and its moral authority.

With the moral high ground and the Han Dynasty's banner in Liu Bei's hands, along with his reputation for benevolence, it's easy to see how this would draw talented individuals to his side. Historically, even without territory or fame, figures like Chen Zhen, Xu Shu, Yi Ji, and Wei Yan all sought out Liu Bei. If he now held these three critical elements, Liu Bei would have no trouble solidifying his foundation in the short term.

However, there were significant downsides to this plan as well. Liu Bei's power was already substantial, and after witnessing the prosperity of Taishan, the attending lords would undoubtedly elevate Liu Bei's status to that of a hegemon. If another celestial event like a flower rain were to occur, Liu Bei might quickly become a target of jealousy and opposition.

Given that Liu Bei was officially recognized by the Ancestral Office as a member of the Han royal family, this advantage would make him even more formidable. If things went badly, Liu Bei could find himself beset by enemies from all sides.

Yet, after analyzing the situation further, Chen Xi realized that a scenario where Liu Bei was besieged by multiple factions was unlikely. His position was strong, with his territory bordering only Yuan Shao and Cao Cao. In the worst-case scenario, he would face them directly. However, Cao Cao was known for being cautious and wouldn't pick a fight unless there was something to gain. As for Yuan Shao, he would never look southward as long as Gongsun Zan remained a threat in the north!

With this in mind, the situation became much more manageable. Even if an auspicious sign were to provoke the other lords, there wouldn't be any immediate danger. Cao Cao wouldn't risk a direct confrontation with Liu Bei over a celestial event, and his advisors, especially Xun Yu, would urge caution.

As for Yuan Shao, he would remain focused on the Qingzhou and Jizhou front, avoiding unnecessary conflict. Though he had defeated Gongsun Zan, he was still far from fully controlling Youzhou!

In other words, while the auspicious sign might create some hidden risks, most of the benefits could be secured right away.

Having considered all this, Chen Xi decided not to dwell on the potential dangers. As long as he could solidify his foundation quickly and develop at a rapid pace, those hidden dangers might never have the chance to manifest.

Jian Yong and Liu Yan, sent as emissaries to the lords of the land, delivered invitations. Their first stop was Cao Cao's territory. Fortunately, Cao Cao had already defeated Yuan Shu and chased him relentlessly, seizing vast amounts of grain and supplies. Given Cao Cao's previous friendly relations with Liu Bei at Hulao Pass, he agreed after a brief conversation to send someone to attend the wedding ceremony.

Cao Cao knew well that attending Chen Xi's wedding was just an excuse—what really mattered was strengthening ties. Liu Bei had clearly severed ties with the Shu alliance, and Cao Cao's relationships with Yuan Shao and Liu Biao were also deteriorating. With the major alliances on shaky ground, this was a good opportunity to talk.

"Gentlemen, who among you would like to go to Taishan as my envoy?" Cao Cao asked, placing the invitation on the table with a smile. The latest intelligence on Yuan Shu had put him in a good mood. Yuan Shu was preparing to move his capital from Runan's Pingyu to Shouchun in Jiujiang, significantly increasing the distance between him and both Liu Bei and Cao Cao.

"Lord, I am willing to go!" Chen Qun and Xi Zhicai stood up simultaneously.

"Hmm, both of you?" Cao Cao was surprised. Why would two of his top strategists want to go to Taishan? Was there something he didn't know about? A flicker of doubt crossed his mind.

"My lord, Chen Zichuan is a member of the Yingchuan Chen family, though I'm reluctant to admit it," Chen Qun sighed.

Cao Cao was stunned. He had always thought Chen Xi was simply another person from Yingchuan who happened to share the same surname as the Chen family. Given his talents, Chen Xi shouldn't have been an obscure figure if he were truly a member of such a prestigious family.

Xun Yu and Xun You exchanged glances, both surprised that such a formidable individual had emerged from their home region.

"In that case, I'll leave it to you, Changwen," Cao Cao nodded. These family ties and formalities couldn't be ignored. For someone as renowned as Chen Xi, the head of his family had to make an appearance at his wedding.

"My lord, I would also like to go. I have a keen interest in Taishan," Xi Zhicai said, glancing at Chen Qun with a hint of resignation. He had thought this would be an easy task, only to have Chen Qun steal it with sound reasoning.

"Zhicai, why do you need to go? Changwen can represent both Yanzhou and the Chen family. If you go, I'll be down two strategists here," Cao Cao said, puzzled by Xi Zhicai's insistence.

"I wish to gain a clearer understanding of Qingzhou's strength and, if possible, enhance our own abilities. The scholars and generals of Qingzhou are no less formidable than ours," Xi Zhicai said, a gleam in his eye. He intended to steal some talents and bolster his own capabilities. With three slots for storing talents and one active talent, he planned to pick the three best ones in Qingzhou!

Cao Cao looked confused and turned to Xun Yu, who sat at the seat of honor to his left. Seeing Xun Yu nod slightly, Cao Cao agreed to let Xi Zhicai go to Taishan. Xi Zhicai would represent Yanzhou, while Chen Qun would represent the Chen family.