knife

Chapter 735 We can't do this again.

"Protector, it's so good to see you again!"

Mao Daxian tugged at Li Dachui's sleeve, staring at him expectantly. That look sent chills down Li Dachui's spine.

“Chief Clerk, Master Mao, we’ve only been together for a little over a year, no, no, not a year, just eleven months and a few days!” Li Dachui said, “Actually, I miss the Chief Clerk quite a bit.”

"It's eleven months and twenty-seven days!" Mao Daxian said solemnly, "Does the Protector know how worried and anxious I've been about you these past few days? Every time I hear news of you, I'm filled with dread and can't sleep at night!"

The others in the room lowered their heads and pretended to organize the documents in front of them, but they were all struggling to suppress their laughter. Even Xiao Changche had a crescent-shaped eyebrow and looked like he was about to burst into laughter at any moment.

"Chief Secretary, I know I've been away for quite a while this time, and I haven't taken to heart what you told me in your letter. I promise I won't do it again, okay?"

"really?"

“I swear! It’s true!” Li Dachui said, “Master Mao, could you please stop pulling at my clothes? Your seat is over here!”

Mao Daxian finally released his grip. "Your life depends on the well-being of millions of people outside the pass, and the lives of countless followers. As the saying goes, a wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. You have repeatedly risked your life, Your Excellency. Although it is true that you cannot catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's den, we could have achieved our goal by playing it safe. Why do you always have to take such risks? Killing Kou Zhun and Yang Jian in Luoyang, fighting against the Tang family patriarch in Shu, and now you've gone even further in Jiangnan. Your victory in this battle of wits with Jiang Qian and Xiang Ying was purely by luck. Under normal circumstances, you would not have been able to win!"

Li Dachui sent detailed reports back to the Beiting Protectorate on his trips to Chang'an and Sichuan, detailing the ins and outs of each experience. However, his report on his trip to Jiangnan was somewhat vague at the end, especially regarding his experiences after traveling with Jiang Qian to Yunwu Mountain. A large part of the report was missing, making it seem like he was reading a novel where he had only read the beginning when it abruptly ended, leaving the middle unfinished.

If it were anyone else who submitted such a report, Mao Daxian would have cursed them to death. Unfortunately, this report was submitted by Li Dachui. Out of respect for the elders, Li Dachui did not want to say how he conquered Jiang Qian and took in this Southern Chu monster, so Mao Daxian naturally did not press him for details.

However, in Mao Daxian's view, such a thing was too much of a coincidence. What if Jiang Qian hadn't been captivated by Li Dachui? Then Li Dachui would very likely have perished in Jiangnan. If that happened, what would happen to the Beiting Protectorate?
Even though he had a son, he was still too young. Could Xiao Changche possibly suppress Chang Jian, An Xuan, Chen Liang, Cai Qi, and others? Even if he could, he would inevitably lose the right to compete for the world outside the Great Wall. From then on, he could only occupy the area outside the Great Wall and become a local tyrant.

This is not what Mao Daxian wanted.

So, upon seeing Li Dachui, the anger that had been building up over this period of time finally erupted in an extremely unusual way.

Having received Li Dachui's assurance, the old man was finally satisfied and sat down in the first seat on the left.

Li Dachui glanced somewhat awkwardly at the crowd inside who seemed to enjoy the show from the high platform, especially Xiao Changche, who was looking at him sideways.

She had already appeased him, but the old man's outburst naturally reminded Xiao Changche of Jiang Qian, the Empress Dowager of Southern Chu, who had been causing her so much trouble. Her beautiful phoenix eyes narrowed, and her gaze towards Li Dachui turned somewhat unfriendly again.

Li Dachui looked away from her somewhat guiltily, tapped the table with his fingers, and said, "Alright, alright, let's get back to the point and talk about serious matters. Chief Secretary Mao is very busy. He only came here this time specifically to deal with the Cui and Lu families. He has to rush back soon. With the New Year approaching, ensuring that the hundreds of people outside the pass can have a good New Year is of paramount importance!"

“Protector, we don’t celebrate the New Year!” An Xuan said.

"We absolutely have to celebrate the New Year!" Li Dachui glared and said, "An Xuan, this is the most important step for your clan to integrate into our big family. You and your clansmen don't want to be looked at with strange eyes by other people in the area, do you? An Xuan, let me tell you, appearance is not important. What's important is that you and your clansmen behave the same as us, understand?"

"Yes, Protector-General. I'll have someone send a message back right away!" An Xuan nodded.

"Speaking of this issue of education, I am not worried about General An and his people. After all, they are among us, and through what they hear and see, they will naturally become part of us over time!" Li Dachui said, "What is worrying is the border region. There are still Yi tribes moving south. Although they have accepted our settlement and jurisdiction, there are many problems and constant conflicts. If we do not start to solve them soon, they will inevitably cause even bigger problems in the future."

"Protector, why don't I go and guard the area?" An Xuan said. "If those people dare to disobey orders, I'll chop them down!"

Li Dachui waved his hand: "Killing won't solve the problem, it will only exacerbate the conflict. What we need is security and stability on the border. So this time, Chief Secretary Mao proposed to settle some members of large families like the Cui and Lu families on the border. These families are rich, have people, are literate, and have a certain degree of cohesion and centripetal force. Let's settle them in those places and use their strength to guard the border for us!"

Xiao Changche frowned and said, "But won't this create a new problem?"

"what is the problem?"

“When those powerful families in the Central Plains see that we have divided and disintegrated the Cui and Lu families, and even exiled them to the harsh frontier regions, won’t they be even more opposed to us? The more united they are, the more effort we will have to put in next!” Xiao Changchedao said.

Li Dachui smiled and said, "My view is exactly the opposite! Why do I say that? This has to do with our overall plan for settling the Cui and Lu families this time! Who are the people who are going to the frontier? They will definitely be the marginal people of these two families. They are at the very edge of the family, practically no different from servants, and their status is even lower than some of the higher-ranking subordinates. But this time, they will receive a share of the property, and one share of property within the Great Wall will become ten shares in the frontier region. For them, this is an opportunity. You know, before, they only had the duty to risk their lives for the family, but they had no share of the rewards. Now, as long as they are willing to work hard, what they gain will be theirs. So these people will definitely be very happy! For these people, breaking away from the control of the main branch and taking their share of the property to go far away is the best way out. They are afraid that if they get too close to the main branch, they will be controlled by the main branch again in the future!"

"That's exactly right!" Mao Daxian continued, "Moreover, General Xiao, the way you dealt with the Lu and Cui families this time will definitely make all the powerful families in the pass uneasy. However, only the main branches that control everything will be uneasy. The remaining branches might have some other ideas! This will actually make it easier for us to do more!"

Qian Jia said, "Zhang Qingyun's next work plan is to start with the neglected or even bullied branches of these powerful families. These people are just putting on a show, contributing to the family but not enjoying much benefit. When we dealt with the Cui and Lu families this time, we provided a model, which also showed these people a way out."

“Our strategy has always been to mobilize the majority to deal with that small group of vested interests, and then divide their profits among everyone!” Li Dachui chuckled. “Of course, in the end, we get the biggest share of the profits.”

(End of this chapter)