"I'm not that stupid either!" Qu Qi pointed to his head. "The northern Hu tribes... the wool dispute we orchestrated has already caused rifts among the Xiongnu and Xianbei tribes. Adding this into the mix..." Qu Qi picked up a ball of cotton, his eyes glinting coldly. He clearly harbored no goodwill towards the Hu people.
"Stop!" Chen Xi interrupted, suddenly realizing that Qu Qi seemed to have a deep-seated grudge against the Hu people. Weren't most noble families inclined to manipulate and educate the Hu? Why was Qu Qi's attitude more akin to Gongsun Zan's?
"Huff..." Qu Qi exhaled deeply. "I'm losing control a bit." A grim smile crept onto his face.
"Hey, hey, don't scare me," Chen Xi said, observing Qu Qi's unusual expression. The current Qu Qi seemed vastly different from the arrogant and self-assured man he usually was. What was going on?
"I'm losing control... haha." Qu Qi's smile twisted with a hint of menace. "The Hu people left too deep an impression on me during my childhood... Haha, if you ever plan to eradicate them and need help, I can assist. The Qu family has some hidden treasures from the Mohist school, and I'd gladly contribute them all if it means wiping out the Hu."
Chen Xi was taken aback. If Qu Qi mentioned Mohist texts, it wasn't just a few books—it was likely the core of the Mohist teachings.
"The Qu family has been collecting Mohist texts since I was nine years old. Do you know why I was in Chang'an?" Qu Qi continued, almost to himself. "The Dongguan collection is said to hold all the books of the world, but there isn't a single Mohist text there. Do you know why? Because my family took them all. Whether it's mechanisms or ingenious devices, the Qu family has it all."
"I acknowledge the achievements of Confucianism, but if you look back at the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the only school of thought with the strength to rival a nation was the Mohist school," Qu Qi said nonchalantly, expressing a sentiment that could easily be construed as treasonous. Chen Xi merely sat and listened, intrigued and not interrupting. This was something he found fascinating.
"My family has restored much of the Mohist technology. I don't have your strategic acumen to benefit the world, nor can I rally the lords to sweep across the frontier. I can only take the most straightforward path: enrich the people and strengthen the nation, then push them to expand beyond our borders. It's only a matter of time," Qu Qi sighed. The Qu family had a long history, but producing a genius wasn't something that could be guaranteed. Qu Qi knew he couldn't reach that level.
Chen Xi smiled wryly. This was truly fate at play.
"So, what has your family managed to create?" Chen Xi asked curiously.
"Apart from farming tools, the main military equipment we've developed is the Qin crossbow," Qu Qi replied, his eyes flashing with a chilling light. The Qin crossbow had once decimated the Donghu and Xiongnu cavalry, making them look like helpless dogs.
"I..." Chen Xi was at a loss for words. Considering history, there wasn't much more he could say. He now suspected that the Qu family might have unearthed their ancestral treasures when they founded their state in Shu.
"Fine, I'll do my best. But let me be clear—I don't believe that the only good Hu is a dead Hu. My goal is assimilation. Of course, we'll need some devastating weapons. There will be battles, no doubt. The Qin crossbow, with its ability to pierce armor at 300 paces, is a game-changer against regular cavalry, even heavy cavalry," Chen Xi said with a wry smile. These ancient noble families were not to be underestimated.
"My family will fully support Lord Xuande and open all our resources to you," Qu Qi said solemnly, revealing that part of his reason for contacting Chen Xi was to express this commitment.
"We only need the Mohist texts and your craftsmen. Your family just needs to handle your own affairs as usual," Chen Xi replied, offering Qu Qi a very generous deal.
"You underestimate my family. We also have maps from the ancient Xiangli family detailing the mineral deposits across Jingchu—iron, copper, and stone mines," Qu Qi boasted.
The Qu family never lacked money because they controlled a copper mine. In this era, private minting was encouraged as long as the copper content and weight of the coins were correct. The state actually preferred it since copper smelting technology at the time meant a loss of 30% in value during minting.
"Your family has that kind of information?" Chen Xi asked, intrigued.
"Every millennia-old family has a secret to surviving and rising again, beyond their scholarly knowledge. It's their treasure troves that allow them to quickly amass wealth," Qu Qi explained solemnly. By handing over these secrets, the Qu family was fully committing to Liu Bei. If they lost even with such backing, the Qu family would be doomed.
In truth, the elder generation of the Qu family had been reluctant to part with this information. However, Qu Qi was determined, and the family already controlled a small copper mine that could sustain them for centuries. Many of the other mines were beyond their reach without state backing, and extracting them would draw too much attention.
"A millennia-old family's foundation... Alright, I believe you," Chen Xi said helplessly. Just look at the Yang family now. Despite being persecuted by Cao Cao, losing Yang Xiu, and being reduced to trembling in fear, they still regained their position as a top family by the time of the Northern Zhou Dynasty.
"I have one request. When we campaign against the Hu people, take me along. Also, if General Gongsun can be saved, please do so. He and I are of the same mind—only dead Hu are good Hu!" The coldness in Qu Qi's eyes made Chen Xi feel a chill.
"Alright, it's a deal. I want all your family's technology and craftsmen!" Chen Xi agreed, finding Qu Qi's request reasonable.
As Chen Xi left Qu Qi's residence, he shook his head. It seemed Qu Qi harbored a deep-seated hostility toward the Hu people, and his goal of enriching the nation had always included plans to eradicate them—something Chen Xi found hard to accept.
Still, Chen Xi mused, if the old Shan Yu had known that burning Ganquan Palace and leaving such a lasting impression on Emperor Wu would lead to a relentless campaign that would push the Xiongnu into the abyss of history, he might have choked on his own blood. This was, in a way, a version of "Don't underestimate the poor young man..."