Liu Xuande would never be a succubus of the Eastern Han Dynasty!

The Wuwei Jia family is also one of these many aristocratic families, and their ancestral motto is to be low-key and serious. They may not achieve achievements that will be passed down through the ages, but they must never become eternal sinners.

Jia Xu grew up with the idea of absolute loyalty to his family, and she agreed with this at first, so she followed the clan's instructions and went to Luoyang to serve as an official.

As a result, in just a few years, she witnessed many dark sides hidden beneath the prosperity, and much of the knowledge she learned from books was often useless.

At the time, Jia Xu wrote to his father, asking: "King Jie of Xia and King Zhou of Shang perished because they neglected their people. Compared to those times, how is the situation now? Has the Mandate of Heaven changed? Are the teachings of the sages still relevant? Is it still necessary to follow the ancestral teachings of doing good while remaining humble?"

As a result, her father naturally scolded her severely and ordered her to go home to practice in seclusion, and she could go out into the world again when things changed in the future.

However, Jia Xu still had this doubt in his mind, and he consulted many elders in the clan many times afterwards, but they just kept saying that things would get better in the future... bullshit.

Therefore, she found an opportunity, followed the caravan south, and entered Luoyang again to observe whether there were any changes. The result was naturally self-evident.

The dark side has not become less than before, but has increased a lot.

The current emperor is obviously wise and resourceful, but she is suspicious and mean-spirited. She regards many aristocratic families as thorns in her eyes and has tried several times to use eunuchs to clip the wings of the aristocratic families.

If that were all, it could be justified in the name of establishing the emperor's authority.

However, the current emperor's methods are too cruel. He completely ignores the sacrifices that will be made in the process of cutting off the wings of the aristocratic families, and even secretly appreciates this style.

Yes.

This almighty emperor did not care about the lives of the common people at all. If killing ten thousand innocent people could benefit her, she would do it without hesitation.

The emperor could have easily restrained the eunuchs, but she chose to turn a blind eye in order to obtain evidence to convict the eunuchs.

Therefore, whether it is the innocent and incompetent common people, the wealthy aristocratic families, or the arrogant and domineering eunuchs... these actually do not matter to the emperor.

As long as it doesn't hinder her enjoyment.

As the saying goes, what goes up must come down, and many of the officials promoted by him were like this. In addition, there were indeed many aristocratic families who had ulterior motives, and the entire Han Dynasty was on the verge of collapse.

After two trips to Luoyang, Jia Xu realized this very early and made the following inference: Within a hundred years, natural disasters, earth disasters and human disasters will surely follow one after another, and by then the people of the Han Dynasty will be like the people of Xia Jie, shouting loudly - Sun, please go out.

As a result, her temperament changed drastically. She no longer restrained herself with the etiquette that scholars followed, nor did she keep the famous sayings of great scholars on her lips. And... she began to trust only herself.

Jia Xu no longer had any feelings for his country and family. He just wanted to witness interesting things, such as watching those arrogant tyrants being humiliated and those corrupt officials who took human lives being killed.

Whenever she saw something like this, she would silently get involved behind the scenes, and then leave without leaving a trace.

However, Jia Xu soon lost interest in this retaliatory behavior.

She began to ponder world affairs, began to analyze the strengths of various places, began to pay attention to books such as ancient strategies, and began to... want to understand people's hearts.

Jia Xu thought this kind of observation was very interesting, but before he could start, he met Liu Xuande.

This man is too handsome. If that were all, it would be fine, but his peach blossom eyes are bright and his whole temperament is full of vigor and vitality.

Jia Xu had been in officialdom for many years and had made great progress in his research on human nature, so he naturally saw at a glance that Liu Bei was a man with great ambitions.

Therefore, she chose to go up and talk to him.

Because of this, the life trajectory of a person named Jia Xu has undergone major changes.

She no longer appeared in public as a sinister and cunning fox, nor did she act under the name of Wuwei Jia. All the past was over, and her only identity now was—

The cousin who depends on Xuande for everything.

Mohist Chapter: Chapter 4: My name is Liu Bei, and I invite the Zheng family leader to die.

Outside Shouchun County, at the foot of the mountain.

Many of the Zheng family's descendants and retainers were covered in wounds, with armor and weapons scattered all over the ground. In front of them was a row of kneeling barbarian captives.

The young master of the Zheng family walked out of the military tent. He looked really ugly at this moment. First of all, there were several scars on his face, and his entire right arm had disappeared.

Looks disgraced.

"…After a bloody battle, my Zheng family ultimately won. But was it worth it?"

Countless retainers brought by the Zheng family were killed or injured. These were the Zheng family's blood and sweat, who had been trained from childhood to adulthood. They were all extremely loyal to the family, but they did not expect that they would be killed in the battle with the barbarians.

However, this also has huge benefits.

After this battle, the Zheng family's reputation will be completely resounded throughout Shouchun County. At that time, other families that have disobeyed them will also bow to them, and their Zheng family can also further expand their territory with this reputation.

Even though the loss this time is huge, it is far from being a serious injury. As long as the Zheng family's base is still there, it will be very easy for them to return to their peak.

All we have to do is make the common people suffer a little more.

As for whether there is someone hiding in the dark and ambushing him?

Ah.

The young master of the Zheng family was not worried about this matter at all.

First of all, the Zheng family has been able to dominate Shouchun County for many years, so naturally they have good connections. Even if there is a family like the Yao family that is their enemy, they will not secretly stab them in the back.

After all, those who benefit from the current system will never allow the Zheng family to fall. Even if it really falls, they want to inherit the inheritance themselves.

This idea of being wary of each other naturally prevented both sides from acting rashly, let alone seeking death by actually running and stabbing the Zheng family in the back.

Otherwise, after the stabbing, your family will be the first to die.

The subsequent chaos, stability, and profit sharing will have nothing to do with you.

As for the new prefect... they have only been in Shouchun County for a few days?

Those officers and soldiers are called officers and soldiers in name, but to put it bluntly, aren't they all the wealth of their families?

Even if these common people had ten thousand guts, they would not dare to challenge the Zheng family, let alone follow the new prefect to attack the Zheng family.

That's totally a fantasy.

But there must be some hidden hand behind this war with the barbarians. I must find out the truth when I get home.

"Kill them all," the Zheng family's young master ordered, "and send a few teams up the mountain to bring back all the wealth these barbarians have plundered."

"only."

The servants immediately bowed and retreated, but not long after, an anxious messenger rushed in.

"Master, something terrible has happened!"

"It's unbecoming to be in such a hurry. Please sit down and have a cup of tea first."

"event!"

The messenger was naturally in no mood for tea, and kept saying, "The prefect's disciple went to the Yao family today..."

"Oh? They're not that stupid."

The Zheng family's young master showed a hint of surprise. "They actually knew to unite with our enemies to deal with us. But, haha, isn't the Yao family's survival due to relying on our Zheng family?"

"Even if Yao Wen hates me deeply, he won't be so foolish as to actually surrender to the governor. After all, to some extent, it's just like exchanging one dog for someone else's."

"The end result will inevitably be mutual suspicion and inability to act."

"The master of the house is wise!"

"Alright, look at how anxious you are. My Zheng family has stood for a hundred years without falling. How could we easily fall into someone else's trap? Hurry up and sit down and have some tea."

"only."

The messenger heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and finally had the leisure to sit down and drink tea.

But before he could even sit down, an insider came running in from outside the door.

"Master, something terrible has happened!"

The young master of the Zheng family frowned and said, "If you are talking about the governor sending people to the Yao family, then there is no need to say more."

"Ah, that's not it," Nei Nian said hurriedly, "it's the clan. The clan's land deeds and silver have all been stolen!"

"boom--"

The young master of the Zheng family slammed the table and stood up, his eyes burning with anger: "Who dares to do this? How dare they touch my family's wealth? Killing this person a hundred times is not too much!"

He cursed for a long time before sighing, "Forget it. My Zheng family isn't the Zheng family because of the land deeds and silver. Humph, it's because we are the Zheng family that we have the land deeds and silver. Although these things are precious, they can be lost and regained. It's not a big deal. Sit down and have some tea first."

"only."

The insider looked left and right, and then he and the messenger were about to reach out to take the teacup when they heard hurried footsteps behind them.

"Master, something terrible has happened!"

"?"

No, you agreed to come in batches?

The young master of the Zheng family suppressed his anger and asked, "What's the matter with you? Tell me quickly."

"Master, the Master of the Yao Family was possessed by some demon or monster, and he went around hurting others. He was finally killed by the prefect's disciple with a single sword strike. Then the common people all called him a true immortal from heaven."

The Zheng family's young master snorted coldly upon hearing this: "What a clever excuse! This is something my ancestors didn't want to play with."

"Then the governor used this false reputation to release all the Yao family's hidden households and serfs, restored their status as common people, and even gave away the excess land..."

The young master of the Zheng family still did not show any excessive anger, but simply said in a cold voice: "He actually knows how to use other people's things to win over the common people. This new governor is truly not simple."

"Also, the new governor has obtained a large amount of land, property deeds, and hidden households from somewhere, and is now distributing them to everyone..."

The Zheng family's young master's brows were almost furrowed as he asked, "Did the other families just sit there and watch them fight without saying anything?"

"Yes, yes," the servant below replied tremblingly, "but... they, they... are all dead..."

"?"

"That new governor and her disciples are simply not human!"

"Anyone who becomes an enemy will either be beheaded with a single sword strike or thrown into the Heavenly Prison. Those who stubbornly refuse to submit will be thrown into the outer circle for forced labor... They won't be allowed out until they've cultivated the land for ten years."

"???"

The Zheng family head felt his brain was a bit off, and said in a trembling voice: "But aren't they here to take over Jiujiang County? If they offend all the noble families here, where will they find the people to manage it?"

It is certainly easier to kill all the aristocratic families, but if one wants to develop management here, then one must reach a cooperative relationship with the aristocratic families who hold the monopoly of knowledge. Otherwise, if they unite and do not contribute manpower and effort, the entire government will not be able to function.

What are they thinking?

The Zheng family patriarch felt genuinely tired. He said, "It's that prefect's disciple again. Who is he?"

"Master, something terrible has happened!"

At this moment, a servant rushed in from outside.

The Zheng family patriarch sighed and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."

"only."

The servant nodded, then stepped forward, took off the mask on his face, and said with a smile:

"Master, I am the disciple of the new governor. My name is Liu Bei."

"Please, Master, go and die."

Mohist Chapters: Chapter 5: Protecting the Dao as a Teacher

Most of the Zheng family's elite troops followed the head of the family to suppress the barbarians, and the remaining ones were just straw bags, and their family assets were easily stolen.

Then, the document engraved with the prefect's seal was circulated to all the noble families in Shouchun County. Putting aside the high-sounding words in it, it meant only one thing - obey or die.

As the ruling family of Shouchun County, the Zheng family would naturally not bow down to the other party just because they were shocked. Therefore, they immediately notified the head of the family and sent someone to send a letter to the governor of Yangzhou overnight.

At present, Liu Yan has not proposed to "abolish the governor and establish the prefect". The chief of a state is the governor, and the governor of Yangzhou has been a member of their family since a long time ago.

Although the governor generally would not interfere in such matters, Liu Bei, relying on his position as prefect, executed noble families and killed county magistrates, which had far exceeded the bottom line of what the top leaders could tolerate.

There can be struggle and killing, but these things that are put on the surface must go through formal procedures no matter what, otherwise it would be a violation of the rules of the game.

Even if a child of a noble family kills someone, he should go to jail and go through the trial process. Even if the final result is 100% not guilty, this procedure should still be included.

Otherwise, how can we transfer money? Otherwise, how can we ensure that everyone in this profit chain has something to eat?

Liu Bei killed someone without trial, and even if the prefect was behind him, he would still be severely punished!

Unfortunately, the Zheng family did not receive a reply from the governor immediately, but instead saw the head of the head of the family first.

"Obey or die."

The man in black clothes obviously had an extremely handsome appearance, but there was a murderous aura between his brows, and he looked like a murderous demon that had walked out of a pool of blood.

The remaining members of the Zheng family dared not resist. They all knelt on the ground and watched as the officials came forward to confiscate their remaining wealth.