A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

When Dong Zhuo shared his thoughts with Li Ru and Wei Ya, they both supported him.

The family's resources are all occupied by the legitimate sons. If they were willing to give these illegitimate sons a chance, and given the moral high ground of the imperial court, there would definitely be unexpected results.

However, we cannot say that directly, as it would definitely provoke strong opposition from powerful families.

"As the saying goes, if you want to open a window, there's a good chance someone will object."

"But if you want to say you've taken down the roof, then everyone will support you in opening a window."

"We can spread the word that we want to issue a decree seeking talented people, just like Cao Mengde did. These powerful families will definitely try their best to stop us. At that time, we can collect some benefits and resources from these powerful families and then promote the illegitimate sons of these families."

"These people should be grateful to us!"

Wei Yuan smiled and said that he could now understand why the elders of the clan would sit idly by and watch the world descend into chaos.

Because some things can only be better implemented when the world is in chaos.

Why did so many wise men emerge during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods? Among the Hundred Schools of Thought, each produced wise men whose names have been passed down through the ages.

This was inseparable from the chaotic state of the country at that time, where many states were at war. When the world was in chaos, so were people's thoughts, which naturally led to some brilliant ideas.

In order to dominate the world, those powerful and ruthless rulers were willing to support policies and doctrines that would be considered rebellious in peacetime.

After the country is pacified, it becomes too difficult to implement certain policies.

"I want the imperial edict seeking talented individuals, and I also want a son of a concubine!"

"How dare these powerful families treat me like this! If I don't teach them a lesson, it would make me, Dong Zhongying, seem weak!"

Dong Zhuo said indignantly.

"After all, it was Cao Cao who first issued the edict to seek talent. Even if we were equally eager to seek talent and issued our own edict, those who were truly talented would definitely think of Cao Cao first."

"I have met Cao Cao before. He was extremely talented. Xu Shao of Nanyang made a very accurate assessment of him: a capable minister in times of peace and a ruthless hero in times of chaos."

"If even he doesn't want it, then what's the point of us having it?"

"If we focus on winning over the illegitimate sons of powerful families, we can tap into this untapped market, which will be the most profitable for us."

"This is called differentiated competition."

"The Prime Minister's base of influence is in the Kansai region, where there are fewer scholars than in the Kanto region. Although we are very unwilling, we really cannot do without the help of these powerful families."

Wei Yuan gave a bitter laugh. Dong Zhuo's basic cards were too weak. Compared with Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Cao Cao, he was far inferior.

Although the powerful families are opportunistic, Dong Zhuo does not have a clear advantage at the moment. Even if he wins the Battle of Hangu Pass, he is still not favored by the people.

"Damn it, damn it, those old bastards all deserve to die!"

Dong Zhuo angrily chopped at the table in front of him, venting his inner rage.

"Go and draft the edict, do as you say."

Dong Zhuo waved his hand, ordering Wei Ya to go to the Imperial Secretariat to draft an edict, leaving Li Ru behind.

"Wenyou, make arrangements to place some people in each of the prominent families."

"We must have enough manpower."

"If we are ever defeated, send these noble families with us."

"If we succeed one day, we will send these aristocratic families and those feudal lords with us."

Spurred on by these powerful families, Dong Zhuo transformed from a raging bear into a cunning wolf king.

He had only two thoughts in his mind: one was to pacify the world, and the other was to wipe out the powerful clans.

"Father-in-law, rest assured, I have arranged for people in all the major families. We just need to add a few more, and I guarantee that not a single one will escape!"

Li Ru's eyes were deep and thoughtful. If aristocratic families accounted for 90% of all scholars in the Han Dynasty, the remaining 10% came from humble backgrounds.

Then he is special, that 0.0001.

They truly came from the lowest rungs of society, and their whole family had nothing.

I have personally witnessed tragedies such as exchanging children to eat each other!

He's eaten tree bark and dirt; sometimes he doesn't even know how he survived.

Destroying powerful families and opposing injustice in the world was Li Ru's obsession with learning.

Not for fame and fortune, but only to bring peace to the world and its powerful families.

Dong Zhuo nodded. He was confident in Li Ru's abilities, and even more confident in Li Ru's ruthlessness towards the aristocratic families.

"And that Diao Chan, send her to Fengxian."

"No, I can't swallow this."

"We must kill that old bastard Wang Yun as soon as possible; how dare he scheme against me like this."

"Wenyou, give me an idea."

Taking a step back, the more Dong Zhuo thought about it, the angrier he became, and he prepared to take severe revenge on Wang Yun.

Li Ru smiled bitterly to himself. He had opposed Dong Zhuo's promotion of Wang Yun so blatantly. The promotion was one thing, but now Dong Zhuo still held the reins of power in the court.

However, it would be troublesome for Dong Zhuo to want to kill Situ for no reason, even with his current identity, unless he openly declared himself a traitor.

However, he had a clever idea: "Prime Minister, when the late emperor was alive, he dismissed General Duan from his post as Grand Commandant because of a solar eclipse."

"Through the research conducted by the Confucian scholars over this period, it was discovered that the solar eclipse was not due to any fault of the Grand Commandant, but rather symbolized that someone in the future would be unworthy of his position and hold a high-ranking post."

"That's exactly what they're talking about, Wang Yun!"

"Wang Yun should be removed from his post as Minister of Works, and Duan should be reinstated as Grand Commandant."

As long as Wang Yun isn't one of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, he can be manipulated however he wants.

Moreover, they could take the opportunity to bring out Duan Jiong, who came from Xiliang. He was a leading figure of the previous generation in Xiliang, holding one of the Three Dukes, which would greatly enhance Xiliang's status in the court.

"We'll do as you say."

"I'll teach that brat Wang Yun what cruelty really is!"

Dong Zhuo crushed a cup, as if the cup were Wang Yun.

"Don't worry, Prime Minister. Wang Yun is extremely ambitious. He can only watch helplessly as his power slips away from him, with no chance of regaining it. He can only let it slip by time and time again."

"This is the greatest punishment for someone with such a strong desire for power."

Li Ru was adept at understanding people's hearts, so he naturally knew how to torture Wang Yun. How could simply killing him and subjecting him to torture compare to the dual torment of body and mind?!

"The Prime Minister might as well devise a plan."

Upon arriving, Jia Xu offered a suggestion: he discovered that staying under Dong Zhuo's command wasn't so bad after all; his safety was quite guaranteed, given the abundance of martial spirit among Dong Zhuo's troops.

Even if Dong Zhuo is defeated in the future, it will not prevent him from switching sides. The one who can defeat Dong Zhuo can basically be locked in as the candidate to pacify the world.

As a surrendered general, he would not become a thorn in the side of those meritorious officials, making him the perfect person to take advantage of the chaos.