Chapter 39

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"Should we return these books to Cai Zhonglang?" Zhao Yun carefully hid the selected books in a pocket under his horse's belly, then held the handwritten Book of Han in his hand, feeling somewhat depressed as he asked.

Zhang Fei stuffed the scrolls and paintings into the pockets under his and Guan Yu's horses, with a bandit-like expression.

"Ha, if you don't say, and I don't say, who would know about these books? A fire in Luoyang, and no one would know the books were gone." Chen Xi rolled his eyes and said, "Alright, put the books away. Take what you like; these will be the tools to lure scholars in the future!"

"This isn't right." Zhao Yun, perhaps feeling that being a bandit, especially one who steals books, was too much, tried to argue, but his hands didn't slow down as he gathered all the books he needed, leaving not a trace on the ground.

"What's the matter, being so hesitant? If you think it's not right, give me the books in your arms. I saw you tuck away a scroll of Wei Liaozi." Zhang Fei, while picking and choosing, gathered the books he needed and put the rest in a cart that was already prepared.

"Alright, alright, Yide, and Zilong, let's talk less. We've taken the books, and we should know that only we can take them now, which is the most proper thing to do." Chen Xi casually rolled up a Book of Han and threw it into the cart.

"Uh, Zichuan, what do you mean? Why aren't you calling me Second Master?" Guan Yu interjected, confused.

"Calling you Second Master is a private matter. Now it's a public matter, or a national matter. Don't you think about whose residence this is?" Chen Xi rolled his eyes and said.

"Cai Zhonglang's residence. So what? Everyone is gone, and if we don't save anything, it will be gone. If we take it, it's better than being burned, right?" Zhang Fei said nonchalantly.

"Sigh, that's not what I mean. Don't you think there are too many books?" Chen Xi rolled his eyes and said.

"Speaking of which..." Zhao Yun's eyes lit up, "They are all ill-gotten gains! Fine, I'll take them as a way to rob the rich and help the poor."

"They aren't exactly ill-gotten gains. These books are from the Dongguan of the Han dynasty. After Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang, the aristocratic families feared that the Xiliang warriors would do the same as Xiang Yu, so they divided the 300,000 scrolls from Dongguan. Cai Zhonglang, who originally compiled the national history at Dongguan, took a bit more and gave 10,000 scrolls to Wang Can, Wang Zhongxuan. That's all that's left." Chen Xi shrugged and said, "So, taking them back now is the most proper thing to do."

"Ten... ten thousand scrolls?" Guan Yu was clearly stuttering.

"Yes, ten thousand scrolls." Chen Xi said helplessly, "Lord Xuande, as a member of the Han royal family, should reclaim these treasures. I'm even thinking of going to Wang Can to get those 10,000 scrolls back."

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun were now thinking of cursing. They found it hard to get even one scroll for their family collection, and Cai Yong had given away 10,000 scrolls.

"Zichuan, where is Wang Can? I'll go get those 10,000 scrolls back. How can the treasures of the Han royal family fall into the hands of outsiders!" Guan Yu, holding his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, stood up with a righteous expression.

"If I could find him, would I let you come here?" Chen Xi rolled his eyes. His family was a branch of the Chen clan, and his father had once been wealthy, but they only had a bookshelf with a few dozen scrolls. A collection of 10,000 scrolls would make them a respected scholarly family.

In this era, the aristocratic families monopolized knowledge. Only the aristocratic families owned books, and common families would pass down even one or two scrolls as family treasures.

Similarly, this is why great scholars were highly revered. They were willing to share their knowledge with more people, not hoarding it. Although they only took in a few disciples and had many auditors, they did indeed pass on knowledge, which, though limited, was enough to change destinies.

Seeing the three men with bloodshot eyes and angry faces, Chen Xi could only slowly calm them down. 300,000 scrolls, almost all the treasures of the Han dynasty except for those destroyed by Wang Mang, ended up in the hands of the aristocratic families. What kind of situation is this?

"Alright, I'll think of a way to get those scrolls back in the future." Chen Xi reassured them, seeing their clenched teeth.

"Zichuan, there's no need. For the aristocratic families, life is not important; only the family legacy is. And for the family legacy, only land and family knowledge are central. The scrolls they took cannot be reclaimed." Zhao Yun shook his head, indicating that Chen Xi didn't need to comfort them.

"Isn't this what we have now?" Chen Xi waved the scrolls in his hand, "This is relatively simple. You'll see in the future; they will return them, as long as they're not foolish! Pack up, we need to meet Lord Xuande. The coalition against Dong Zhuo is ending, and we need to claim our assets."

When Chen Xi returned with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, Hua Xiong was sitting cross-legged in the tent. Seeing Chen Xi enter, he stiffly stood up, "Zichuan, has the Chancellor left?"

"He's gone. We plan to pursue and kill him." Chen Xi looked at the gloomy Hua Xiong and said, "Do you want to go? You'll encounter Lü Bu."

"I don't want to go. As previously agreed, I, Hua Xiong, will join Lord Xuande. There's no doubt about that. As for Chancellor Dong, I don't want to face him." Hua Xiong sighed, not feeling utterly disappointed by Dong Zhuo's actions. If it were before, he might have felt that way, but now he had a new choice and hoped he wouldn't make a mistake this time.

"You won't encounter Dong Zhuo. I just need your help to claim our spoils. You don't want the Xiliang elite cavalry to be annihilated, do you?" Chen Xi smiled, explaining. Hua Xiong was a very important figure, the first great general of Xiliang before Lü Bu, and had a reputation in the army.

"Alright!" Hua Xiong hesitated for a moment before speaking.

With the four great generals, Chen Xi found Liu Bei, "Lord Xuande, did Cao Gong invite you to pursue Dong Zhuo?"

"Yes, but I declined. I trust that Zichuan has his own plans. Zijian, since you have joined me, I will not treat you poorly. Now, you will follow Zichuan's orders." Liu Bei, who seemed to be on good terms with Hua Xiong, didn't try to win his loyalty but simply ordered him to follow Chen Xi.

"Yes!" Hua Xiong saluted and stood behind Chen Xi, looking like a bodyguard.

"This..." Chen Xi wanted to refuse but, thinking about his previous actions, guessed that Liu Bei thought he wanted to leave. He sighed and accepted Liu Bei's arrangement, [Even if he thought I wanted to leave, he didn't want to kill me. He's using our relationship to recruit me. Don't worry, I won't leave unless it's absolutely necessary.]

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