On one side, Lu Xun remained oblivious, but Zhuge Liang couldn't help but smirk. This was no longer just a matter of being skilled. Over the entire span of the Spring and Autumn period through the Qin and Han dynasties, only a handful of people had dared to undertake such endeavors. Among them, very few had succeeded without causing public outrage. Yet Chen Zichuan had managed it, and he called it mere competence?
Chen Xi didn't pay much attention to Zhuge Liang's expression and led the two of them on a stroll around the port. However, before long, Xun Yan himself appeared in front of Chen Xi.
"Xun Yan, Governor of Donglai County, greets the Marquis of Ying," Xun Yan said with a formal bow. His stern and rigid demeanor left Chen Xi with no choice but to respond in kind, though dealing with such strict and doctrinaire individuals was not his strong suit.
"At ease, Governor. What brings you here?" Chen Xi asked, not believing for a moment that Xun Yan was just wandering around aimlessly.
"My lord has instructed that upon your arrival in Donglai, you should quickly escort the Lu family back to Taishan. Additionally, Guo Fengxiao has sent a letter for you," Xun Yan replied, his expression as stiff as ever, oblivious to the curious onlookers around them.
Chen Xi took the letter without even looking at it and tucked it into his sleeve. "I've received the letter. It's the first time that fellow has written to me. As for returning to Taishan, I'll be heading back soon. Is there anything else, Governor?"
Xun Yan shook his head. "No, everything is prepared. The materials required by each department are ready, and the shipyards for constructing sea vessels have also been established. The funds are in place, awaiting the Lu family's arrival."
After Chen Xi distanced himself from Xun Yan, Lu Xun finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Who was that? Standing next to him scared me half to death. He's so rigid."
"That was Xun Xiuruo. He's incredibly capable but somewhat arrogant. Clearly, he doesn't want to get too involved with Zichuan," Zhuge Liang said nonchalantly. "He's a very capable man, but that's about it."
"Indeed, he's impressive. If not for him, the reconstruction of the Lu family's shipyards wouldn't have been possible this year. But thanks to him, once the workers arrive, construction can begin immediately. If Xun Xiuruo is this capable, I can't help but wonder how extraordinary Xun Wenruo must be," Chen Xi remarked, nodding in approval.
Donglai had been developed well, and Xun Yan's foresight in preparing everything had earned Chen Xi's admiration.
"Xun Wenruo is a key figure under Cao Mengde, always holding down the center," Zhuge Liang mused, gazing up at the sky. Even he had to acknowledge Xun Wenruo's prowess. Though his approach differed from Chen Xi's steady and long-term planning, Xun Wenruo managed to keep things stable despite constantly borrowing from one area to patch up another.
"Yes, he's among the most formidable people of our time," Chen Xi agreed. "But it's a shame that his vision limits his abilities. Kongming, you must strive harder. You're not yet a match for him, but aside from Zijing, you're the most suitable to hold down the center under Lord Xuande."
"Aren't you and Mr. Wenruo qualified for that role?" Zhuge Liang asked, initially pleased but then realizing that Chen Xi himself should be the obvious choice to oversee the central administration.
"I can only provide the framework, and Wenruo is good at filling in the gaps. The only one who can truly manage everything is Zijing," Chen Xi replied with a wry smile.
Li You was capable of overseeing the central administration as well, but his methods didn't align with Liu Bei's principles. Left unchecked, Li You would likely resort to ruthless measures, making him more suited for plugging gaps rather than holding down the fort.
Chen Xi was well aware of his limitations. He might not be able to govern even a county effectively, but when it came to devising far-reaching plans, he could produce strategies that would astonish everyone. The problem was executing those plans…
Zhuge Liang thought back on past events and couldn't help but chuckle. It seemed that the person working the hardest in all of Taishan was truly Lu Su—he had to handle everything.
Lu Xun, meanwhile, kept glancing up at the sky, feeling increasingly dissatisfied with Chen Xi's praise of Zhuge Liang and even more disgruntled that Chen Xi hadn't bothered to evaluate him at all.
"In that case, with Zijing working so diligently, he'll be exhausted in no time," Zhuge Liang chuckled, already envisioning Lu Su's grim fate as Chen Xi completed the plans and then washed his hands of the details.
"Don't worry, we'll all lend a hand. Besides, we're also training you to eventually take over central administration," Chen Xi said with a laugh. "And anyway, the burden is heavy now, but it will lighten over time. By the way, Lord Xuande's education initiative has begun, and Kong Chenggong is already in place. All that's left is to gather virtuous talents."
As they continued to chat and observe their surroundings, Chen Xi, Zhuge Liang, and Lu Xun arrived outside the port. Seeing the wide road, paved with a rough version of cement and wide enough for four horse-drawn carts to travel side by side, Chen Xi patted Zhuge Liang on the shoulder. "Gongyou did a great job, didn't he?"
"More than just great. If I'm not mistaken, this is the lowest grade of road. Above it are the county roads and state roads, wide enough for twelve carts to travel side by side. Gongyou is truly skilled at road construction," Zhuge Liang remarked in amazement. "With improved transportation, prosperity will follow more quickly. The abundant aquatic resources here can be transported more efficiently as well."
"Exactly. But we still need to maintain the roads," Chen Xi added with a smile. "Gongyou has really excelled in this task."
Meanwhile, Lu Xun was stunned. This was the first time he had seen such a smooth road. And to think that Zhuge Liang mentioned roads wide enough for twelve carts! The sheer manpower and resources required boggled his mind.
"Can everyone use these roads?" Lu Xun finally asked after a long pause.
"Of course, they're for everyone. Although there will be some exceptions where the roads are occupied, those will be rare cases," Chen Xi replied with a laugh. His approach involved both warfare and construction, ensuring that every territory conquered received equal treatment. Otherwise, he would have already begun pushing into Jizhou.
Initially, Chen Xi had considered weight limits for the roads, but he soon realized that this was a joke. The carriages and carts of this era couldn't carry more than two tons. Even though his cement roads were of a lower quality compared to modern standards, they were still more than sufficient for the load.
When Chen Xi figured this out, he was frustrated for a long time. In ancient times, overthinking could sometimes be counterproductive. Both high-strength and low-quality cement were considered wonders in this era…
"How will the costs be recovered?" Lu Xun muttered. "If the treasury runs dry, what then?"
"The costs will be recovered quickly. These projects are done at cost, and they also provide relief work. Improved transportation will stimulate the economy, and the investment will pay off within a year at most. Seasonal goods can be delivered quickly, and, most importantly, transport losses will be reduced," Zhuge Liang explained with admiration. "Generally, Zichuan's endeavors are never unprofitable."