You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 249 The Song Family Receives the Imperial Decree
Lingnan.

Song family.

Inside the council chamber.

The Song family patriarch looked somewhat melancholy as he listened to the words of the two oldest members of the family.

If things were really as simple as these two people in charge say, that would be great.

Regardless of whether His Majesty in the palace knew the secrets between the royal family and the four powerful clans.

However, judging from His Majesty's behavior lately, it won't be so easy to get him to retract his decree.

The actions of His Majesty in the palace during this period have all demonstrated his domineering nature.

Once an imperial decree is issued, the whole world must obey it.

Anyone who dares to disobey will be eliminated.

The Song family patriarch glanced at the two oldest members of the organization and shook his head. "If things were really as simple as you say, that would be great."

"It will probably be very difficult to get that person in the palace to retract the decree."

"A so-called agreement requires considerable strength to maintain."

"Now, the imperial court is not what it used to be. There are no fewer than four half-step celestial beings. Even if our four great clans join forces, we cannot contend with these four half-step celestial beings of the imperial court."

"Moreover, the imperial army has already deployed troops on all four borders inside the pass. I don't need to say more; you should all know the imperial court's intentions."

"The Song family patriarch said in a deep voice."

The battle records of Lü Bu and Cao Zhengchun had already spread far and wide: killing fellow half-step Celestial Realm experts was a piece of cake for them.

The four great clans all have ancestors who are half-step into the Celestial Realm. The Song family patriarch does not believe that their ancestor could be a match for a terrifying figure like Lü Bu or Cao Zhengchun, who could kill someone of the same level without breaking a sweat.

Furthermore, the armies stationed along the four borders have already been deployed within the pass, demonstrating the court's strong resolve to implement this decree.

Is it possible to get that person in the palace to retract the decree?
Upon hearing the words of the Song family patriarch, the heads of each branch of the Song family present fell silent.

They all knew that the Song family patriarch was right.

An agreement, in essence, requires sufficient strength to uphold.

An agreement can only be effective if the strength of the parties is roughly equal.

If the difference in strength is too great, then the so-called agreement is just a piece of waste paper and has no effect whatsoever.

After all, since ancient times, might makes right.

Undoubtedly, the strength of the four major clans and the imperial court is now far apart.

"The imperial edict has arrived."

"The Song family accepts the imperial decree."

Just then, a voice rang out in the sky above the Song residence.

The sharp sound echoed throughout the entire Song residence, and even those living around the residence could hear it.

Imperial decree?

Upon hearing this sharp voice, the Song family patriarch and the heads of various branches of the Song family present all changed their expressions.

None of them expected that an imperial edict would suddenly arrive at the Song family.

"Walk."

"Follow the clan leader to receive the imperial decree."

The Song family patriarch stood up and walked out of the council hall.

The leaders of the other branches followed suit.

It is clear.

They had already thought of that.

At this time, the imperial court sent an imperial decree to the Song family, which was clearly not a good thing.

After the Song family patriarch led the heads of the various branches of the Song family out of the council hall, they saw a eunuch in special attire standing proudly above the Song family.

A powerful aura emanated from the eunuch, pressing down on the entire Song residence.

The Song family patriarch saw this and his face immediately darkened.

The Song family was one of the four great clans, yet the eunuch delivering the imperial decree appeared directly above their residence, radiating a powerful aura.

They didn't take the Song family seriously at all.

The Song family patriarch looked up at the eunuch standing above the Song family compound and said in a deep voice, "May I ask who you are, sir?"

"Since you, sir, have come to my Song family to deliver a decree, why did you not use the main gate, but instead stand horizontally above my Song family and release your aura to intimidate my Song family?"

"This doesn't seem like someone coming to deliver an imperial decree to my Song family."

The Song family patriarch stared calmly at the eunuch in the sky.

But his tone was somewhat aggressive.

"Cao Zhengchun, the miscellaneous expert and head of the Eastern Depot."

Cao Zhengchun looked at the Song family patriarch; "Then this humble servant would like to ask Patriarch Song, what would be the proper manner for someone to deliver an imperial edict to the Song family?"

That's right.

The figure standing above the Song family was none other than Cao Zhengchun, who was ordered to cooperate with Zhou Zhan, the Prince of Kao Shan, to collect the private soldiers of the four major clans.

Zhou Chen instructed Zhou Zhan, the Prince of Kao Shan, and his men to start with the four major clans.

Therefore, the first target chosen by King Zhou Zhan and his men was the Song family in Lingnan.

Cao Zhengchun, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot?
Upon hearing that the eunuch standing above the Song family was Cao Zhengchun, the expressions of the Song family patriarch and the heads of each branch of the family changed slightly.

Who was Cao Zhengchun?

This was the head of the Eastern Depot, wielding immense power.

Whether it was the downfall of the Wu family, the former Grand General, or the purge of official families, the figure of this eunuch from the Eastern Depot was present.

It can be said that Cao Zhengchun's deterrent power was much greater than that of Cao Shaoqin before him.

In particular, Cao Zhengchun possessed the strength of a half-step Celestial Being, with a record of killing other half-step Celestial Beings of the same level. Even the Song family, one of the four great clans, was quite wary of Cao Zhengchun.

"So it's Eunuch Cao. I, the clan chief, was blind and didn't recognize him at first."

"However, my Song family is not the Eastern Depot. It's not good for Eunuch Cao to barge in like this."

"Next time, Eunuch Cao should use the main entrance to avoid any misunderstandings."

The Song family patriarch looked at Cao Zhengchun and said.

The Song family was wary of Cao Zhengchun, but that did not mean they would allow Cao Zhengchun to so blatantly intimidate them.

The Song family is one of the four major clans, and not just anyone can intimidate them.

Even Cao Zhengchun, the head of the Eastern Depot, couldn't do it.

"Hehe, what misunderstanding has this caused?"

Cao Zhengchun gave a sinister smile.

"What misunderstanding could this cause?"

"Has the Song family already broken away from my Great Zhou, and is no longer part of my Great Zhou?"

Cao Zhengchun glanced indifferently at the head of the Song family.

Others might be wary of a powerful family like the Song family, but Cao Zhengchun didn't care.

Cao Zhengchun's act of standing horizontally above the Song family to deliver the imperial edict was intentional.

purpose.

Naturally, this was to give the Song family a warning.

Upon hearing Cao Zhengchun's words, the Song family patriarch's eyelids twitched. "Eunuch Cao is joking. My Song family has always belonged to the Great Zhou Dynasty."

"I wonder what decree His Majesty has sent to my Song family. Please have Eunuch Cao read it aloud."

The head of the Song family no longer wanted to get entangled with Cao Zhengchun.

The Song family patriarch knew that continuing to entangle with Cao Zhengchun would only put the Song family in a disadvantageous position.

Therefore, the Song family patriarch changed the subject and directly asked what kind of imperial decree Cao Zhengchun had brought.

"His Majesty has decreed that the tax exemption privileges of aristocratic families be abolished, the private armies of aristocratic families be taken back, and aristocratic families shall no longer be allowed to keep private armies or manufacture weapons and armor privately."

"Otherwise, they will be treated as treason and their entire family will be exterminated."

Cao Zhengchun's sharp voice rang in the ears of every member of the Song family.

Upon hearing the contents of the imperial decree, the expressions of the Song family members changed repeatedly.

After reading the imperial edict, Cao Zhengchun looked at the kneeling Song family patriarch and said, "Patriarch Song, you have heard His Majesty's decree, haven't you?"

"His Majesty instructed me to cooperate with Prince Kao Shan to begin collecting private soldiers from the four major clans." "Clan Chief Song should already know what to do next! I don't need to elaborate further!"

Cao Zhengchun looked at the Song family patriarch with a sinister expression.

The patriarch of the Song family stood up; “Your Majesty’s decree is something I would never dare to disobey.”

"However, the tax exemption privileges and the right to private armies of aristocratic families are rules established when the founding emperor established the country, and they have continued to this day."

"I would like to ask Eunuch Cao a question: are the rules set by the founding emperor no longer valid?"

The Song family patriarch looked at Cao Zhengchun with a question in his eyes.

The emperor instructed Cao Zhengchun and Prince Kaoshan to start with the four major clans, but among the four major clans, Cao Zhengchun and his group deliberately set their sights on the Song family first.

This greatly angered the head of the Song family.

Do they really think the Song family is easy to bully?
Not only the patriarch of the Song family, but also the heads of the other branches of the Song family looked extremely grim.

They were all surprised by how quickly the imperial court acted.

And their first target was the Song family.

This is truly intolerable!

What do you take the Song family of Lingnan for?

Did you think you were an easy target?

Cao Zhengchun narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Song family patriarch; "So, is the Song family planning to defy the imperial decree?"

A chilling aura began to emanate from Cao Zhengchun.

Whether it was the patriarch of the Song family or the other members of the Song family, they all sensed it.

However, the Song family patriarch shook his head without changing his expression; "My Song family would never dare to disobey an imperial decree."

"But my Song family is puzzled: should we follow the decree of the founding emperor or the decree of His Majesty?"

"What does Eunuch Cao think?"

The Song family patriarch looked at Cao Zhengchun with a gaze that held a sharp, confrontational tone.

"Humph."

Cao Zhengchun snorted coldly.

His powerful aura pressed down on the Song family patriarch.

"Dengdengdeng."

The Song family patriarch grunted and took three steps back.

A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of the Song family patriarch's mouth.

"Clan leader."

Upon seeing this, the heads of the various branches of the Song family quickly stepped forward to protect the Song family patriarch, staring at Cao Zhengchun with hostile expressions.

"It seems that Chief Song has forgotten who the emperor sitting on the dragon throne is now?"

"The rules set by the founding emperor must be followed, but the rules set by the founding emperor did not allow powerful families to seize land from the common people and erode the foundation of the Great Zhou."

"Clan Chief Song, can you tell me how much of the Song family's land was acquired through legitimate transactions, and how much was obtained through trickery and force?"

"How many lives have the Song family members taken lightly, and how many evil deeds have they committed, relying on the power of the Song family?"

"Is the Song family patriarch going to tell me that the Song family is a scholarly family, completely devoid of any moral integrity?"

"Should I have someone from the Eastern Depot inform Chief Song?"

Cao Zhengchun looked at the Song family patriarch with a sinister gaze, his expression gradually turning slightly cold.

Cao Zhengchun knew that these powerful families probably wouldn't give in easily; otherwise, Zhou Chen wouldn't have sent Cao Zhengchun to cooperate with the Prince of Kao Shan.

Therefore, Cao Zhengchun had no choice but to threaten the Song family.

If the Song family is sensible, they should obediently hand over their private troops as ordered.

In this way, the Song family prospers, they can also report their failures, and everyone will be happy.

If the Song family doesn't know what's good for them, Cao Zhengchun doesn't recommend taking action against them to establish his authority.

Upon hearing Cao Zhengchun's words, the Song family patriarch's pale face changed unpredictably.

The Song family patriarch naturally understood what Cao Zhengchun meant.

That is, if the Song family does not obey the imperial decree.

Then the fate of the Song family will be the same as that of the other powerful families in Luoyang; the Eastern Depot will use the same methods to deal with the Song family.

As one of the four major clans, the Song family naturally had no shortage of scoundrels who did evil.

If the Eastern Depot really used such methods to deal with the Song family, then the Song family would not be able to withstand the Eastern Depot's investigation at all.

This is a common problem in almost all aristocratic and wealthy families.

Of course, even if the Song family had no dirty deeds and was completely innocent, the Eastern Depot still had plenty of ways to deal with them if they dared to defy the imperial decree.

“What Eunuch Cao says is true. My Song family will certainly obey the order.”

at this time.

Sudden.

A figure emerged from deep within the Song family compound.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived in front of the Song family.

"Ancestor."

Upon seeing the figure emerge, the Song family patriarch and the heads of various branches of the Song family immediately greeted him respectfully.

The figure that emerged from the depths of the Song family was none other than the Song family's patriarch, a powerful expert who had reached the half-step Celestial Realm.

Cao Zhengchun glanced at the Song family's patriarch and said in a sinister tone, "That's good. Then I'll give the Song family a day to prepare."

"Tomorrow, I will come to the Song residence with the Prince of Kao Shan. I hope that Patriarch Song and Clan Chief Song will not disappoint me."

After Cao Zhengchun finished speaking, he glanced at the Song family patriarch and the Song family head, then turned and left the Song family.

Watching Cao Zhengchun's departing figure, the Song family patriarch and the heads of various branches of the Song family all had extremely ugly expressions.

To think that the Song family, one of the four great clans, could allow Cao Zhengchun, a mere eunuch, to come and go so arrogantly and freely.

This was an utter disgrace to the Song family.

“Ancestor…”

The Song family patriarch looked at the Song family patriarch as if he wanted to say something, but the patriarch shook his head and interrupted him.

"No need to say more, I know what you want to say."

"But now, the situation is beyond our control. If my Song family does not obey the imperial decree, then my Song family will become the target of the court to make an example of us and establish its authority."

"This Cao Zhengchun, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot, is indeed living up to his reputation; his strength should not be underestimated."

The Song family patriarch watched Cao Zhengchun's departing figure with a shifty gaze.

As the patriarch of the Song family, Cao Zhengchun had just released his imposing aura to the Song family, so how could the Song family patriarch remain unmoved!

Although the Song family patriarch did not directly confront Cao Zhengchun, their auras had already clashed behind the scenes.

As a result, the Song family patriarch conceded defeat.

This is why the Song family patriarch stepped forward and directly accepted Cao Zhengchun's decree.

It wasn't that the Song family patriarch didn't want to disobey the imperial decree, but rather that he knew he couldn't.

Otherwise, the Song family would be destroyed.

After Cao Zhengchun's figure completely disappeared, the Song family patriarch withdrew his gaze and looked at the Song family members; "You heard what Cao Zhengchun just said, didn't you!"

"Immediately clean up all the shady dealings or underhanded activities of my Song family, before the imperial court investigates."

"That would not benefit my Song family."

"Especially regarding land matters, what should be returned to the people should be returned to the people, and those involved should be handed over to the government for handling."

"Understand?"

"That's what the Song family patriarch said."

Upon hearing this, the head of the Song family and the heads of each branch of the Song family all had a strange flicker in their eyes.

They were all high-ranking members of the Song family. Those who held high positions in the Song family were naturally not ordinary people, and they immediately understood what the Song family patriarch meant.

"Don't worry, Ancestor, we know what to do."

The head of the Song family and the heads of each branch of the Song family all nodded and said.

The Song family patriarch said no more and turned back to the depths of the Song family compound.

(End of this chapter)