You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 285: Ginger is still spicier when old

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen slowly paced back and forth inside the hall.

Although the Emperor's Conferring of Gods Technique was running continuously, Zhou Chen's blood and qi were flowing smoothly, so he could sit for a month without any problem.

But getting up and moving around was also a way for Zhou Chen to relax.

It is also a way of thinking for Zhou Chen.

at this time.

The eunuchs and guards entered, bowed, and reported: "Your Majesty, Eunuch Cao is requesting an audience outside the palace."

"Oh!"

"Has Cao Zhengchun returned?!"

Zhou Chen stopped pacing.

Zhou Chen knew that Cao Zhengchun personally led a group to wipe out the powerful and wealthy families that hired assassins to kill court officials.

Now that Cao Zhengchun is back, there must be a result.

"Announce him to come in."

Zhou Chen stepped back onto the dragon throne.

"According to the order."

The eunuchs and guards bowed and withdrew.

moment.

Cao Zhengchun then entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"I have met His Majesty."

After entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Cao Zhengchun bowed respectfully to Zhou Chen on the dragon throne.

"No gift."

Zhou Chen looked up at Cao Zhengchun; "How is it? Have you taken down those mastermind families behind it?"

Cao Zhengchun bowed and said, "Your Majesty, all thirteen prominent families, including the Chen family of Yingchuan, have been captured by this old servant. Not a single one has escaped."

"Among them, the head of the Yingchuan Chen family and five other aristocratic families resisted fiercely and have been killed by the old servant. The others have been imprisoned."

"This is the list of all those arrested from the thirteen aristocratic families, along with the confiscated assets. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Cao Zhengchun took out a memorial from his sleeve and presented it to Zhou Chen.

Although the Chen family of Yingchuan and more than ten other powerful families had committed a capital offense by hiring assassins to kill government officials.

However, Cao Zhengchun did not kill all of them directly; he only killed those who resisted and arrested the others.

These people had to be convicted by the imperial court before they could be dealt with.

This is the imperial court's regulations.

Unless these people all resisted desperately, Cao Zhengchun could not kill them directly.

Otherwise, we would have to follow the imperial court's regulations, arrest these people first, then have the court convict them, and finally deal with them.

Even Cao Zhengchun, the head of the Eastern Depot, could not, under normal circumstances, violate this rule of the imperial court.

Zhou Chen opened the memorial.

The memorial recorded the names of all the members of the thirteen prominent families and their assets, including some officials.

These officials all came from these thirteen powerful and influential families, and they were all arrested by Cao Zhengchun.

Zhou Chen glanced at them, then looked up at Cao Zhengchun; "Hand these people over to the Ministry of Justice for sentencing! Those who deserve to be killed should be killed, those who deserve to be exiled should be exiled, and all the confiscated silver should be put into my private treasury."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Zhengchun bowed and said.

Zhou Chen closed the memorial, looked at Cao Zhengchun, and said, "In the past few days, because of those worldly people, some powerful families are no longer as obedient as before, and the resistance from the Ministry of Revenue officials has increased. Your Eastern Depot should pay attention to this."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this old servant understands."

"This old servant has already taken down five disobedient aristocratic families this time, all of them third-rate families."

This time, Cao Zhengchun not only destroyed the thirteen powerful families of Yingchuan, including the Chen family, who hired assassins to kill court officials, but also five other powerful families that no longer cooperated with the Ministry of Revenue as before.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen nodded. "Send an order to Xun Yu and Cao Shaoqin, telling them that if they encounter any resistance, they may take appropriate action."

……

Langya.

Wang family.

Inside the council chamber.

The head of the Wang family sat in the main seat.

Below sat a group of high-ranking members of the Wang family.

The Wang family patriarch glanced at everyone present and said, "Some of you have probably already heard about the imperial court's annihilation of the Chen family and thirteen other aristocratic families in Yingchuan."

"The imperial court has discovered that the group that hired assassins to kill Xun Yu, the Minister of Revenue, is the Chen family of Yingchuan, one of thirteen powerful and influential families."

what?
It was actually the Chen family from Yingchuan who did it?
Upon hearing this, some of the Wang family's high-ranking members present looked somewhat annoyed.

"The Chen family of Yingchuan deserves to die. Don't they know that once Xun Yu dies in Langya, my Wang family will also be implicated?"

"Yes! The Chen family of Yingchuan didn't take my Wang family seriously at all. They were trying to frame my Wang family. Fortunately, they were wiped out by the imperial court. Otherwise, my Wang family would not have let them off the hook."

Some of the Wang family's high-ranking members spoke angrily.

The Wang family was still wondering who did this, and wasn't this a blatant attempt to frame them?

But the Wang family never expected that the one who did this was actually the Chen family of Yingchuan, a second- or third-rate family.

What a courageous person.

Even a first-rate family like the Langya Wang family wouldn't dare to do that.

"As for why the Chen family of Yingchuan and the other thirteen aristocratic families dared to do this, I think you can all guess without me having to say more."

The words of the Wang family patriarch caused all the high-ranking members of the Wang family present to freeze in surprise.

"A person who engages with the world?"

An idea popped into the minds of these high-ranking members of the Wang family.

The reason why the Chen family of Yingchuan and the other thirteen powerful families dared to defy public opinion by hiring assassins to kill court officials must be because they had connections with those worldly people.

Otherwise, even if the Chen family of Yingchuan were incredibly bold, they wouldn't dare take such a huge risk.

"Patriarch, do you mean that the reason the Chen family of Yingchuan dared to do this is because of those worldly people?"

"But why would those who are engaged in worldly affairs do this?"

The Wang family's high-ranking members all looked at the Wang family patriarch in the main seat with puzzled expressions.

They found it strange, since worldly people are not usually involved in worldly affairs.

Why are you getting involved in the affairs of the imperial court this time?

The Wang family patriarch sighed; “Because those who are involved in worldly affairs want to divide up the secular world, and the secular world is the arena for those who are involved in worldly affairs to compete for power. This is also the reason why I have summoned you all this time.”

"Our Wang family is also facing a difficult choice. That young master who visited our family wants everyone in our family to serve him."

“Although I am the patriarch of the Wang family, this matter concerns the rise and fall of the entire Wang family. As the patriarch, I dare not make a decision on my own. I can only gather you all together to discuss it.”

The Wang family patriarch said solemnly.

Originally, the Wang family patriarch was pleased that those worldly people were visiting his family, thinking about how to get close to these worldly people and elevate the Wang family to a higher level.

But unexpectedly, those worldly people presented the Wang family with a difficult problem.

If this isn't handled properly, the Wang family could end up like the thirteen prominent families of Yingchuan, such as the Chen family.

what?
To divide up the secular world?
The expressions of the Wang family's high-ranking officials present all changed drastically. They never expected that those worldly people would want to divide up the secular world.

That's exactly what we want...

The Wang family's high-ranking members dared not think any further, and everyone's expression turned solemn.

This matter is indeed of utmost importance, concerning the rise and fall, and even the survival of the Wang family.

The Wang family patriarch, seated at the head of the table, spoke again: "The worldly figures behind the Chen family of Yingchuan and the other thirteen aristocratic families have been taken down by the imperial court. Because of the influence of those worldly figures, some aristocratic families are no longer as obedient to the imperial court's wishes as before."

"As a result, when Cao Zhengchun was wiping out the thirteen aristocratic families, including the Chen family of Yingchuan, he also conveniently wiped out five of them, demonstrating the power of the imperial court."

The Wang family patriarch's voice was somewhat low.

The imperial court showed no regard for those who were involved in worldly affairs, and its methods remained as ruthless and domineering as ever.

This is the real reason for the Wang family patriarch's worry and dilemma.

The Wang family patriarch worried that if he really agreed to that young master's offer, his Wang family would follow in the footsteps of the Chen family of Yingchuan and the other thirteen other prominent families.

Although the young master claimed he would protect the Wang family, such a guarantee seemed rather unconvincing from this perspective.

"Clan leader, doesn't the royal family also have members from the main family who are involved in worldly affairs?"

"Would the royal family, as the head of the household, allow the secular world to be divided up?"

All the senior members of the Wang family present looked at the Wang family patriarch sitting in the main seat.

They knew that the royal family and the four great clans all had a master family.

How could the royal family possibly agree to those worldly people dividing up the secular world, since it is their right and interests?

The Wang family patriarch shook his head and said, "That young master said that members of the royal family would also participate in the competition, but he didn't go into details."

Upon hearing this, the Wang family's high-ranking members present all frowned slightly and fell silent.

One of the high-ranking officials spoke up, saying, "This is no small matter. The royal family and the four great clans all have their own families in those places, which is something our Wang family cannot compare to."

"If the four major clans do this, and something goes wrong, the four major clans will have their owners to cover for them, so they will definitely be fine."

“But if something goes wrong because of what our Wang family does, no one will cover for us.”

"Yes! Our Wang family has no relation to that young master. To him, our Wang family is just a pawn. If something goes wrong, the consequences will be..."

Another high-ranking member of the Wang family spoke up.

However, the senior member of the Wang family did not continue speaking, but everyone else present understood the meaning behind his words.

The Wang family patriarch said in a deep voice, "No matter what, the Wang family cannot stand aside."

"It's not just my Wang family; no other prominent family or powerful clan can remain uninvolved."

"We are all pawns in someone else's game, and we can't escape the chessboard."

"We either follow the imperial court, or we follow those who are involved in worldly affairs."

"There is no other choice."

The Wang family patriarch looked at everyone present and asked, "What do you think the Wang family should do?"

The Wang family executives present exchanged glances, but none of them immediately spoke up.

This is a serious matter, and they all need to treat it with utmost care.

A moment of effort.

A senior member of the Wang family, sitting at the head of the table on the right, spoke up: "High risk, high reward. No matter what choice the Wang family makes, the first thing to consider is the interests of the Wang family."

"Only by maximizing profits is it worthwhile for my Wang family to take such a big risk."

The senior member of the Wang family, who was seated at the head of the left, also spoke up: "Have you forgotten the rules of survival for our aristocratic and powerful families?"

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket; this is an essential survival strategy for our aristocratic and wealthy families."

"Isn't Yangming in the imperial court? Judging from the goals of those who are involved in worldly affairs, the worldly order will probably change in the future, and things won't be peaceful."

“We can send some of our people out now.”

The words of this high-ranking member of the Wang family made everyone present's eyes light up.

Yes!

Their survival strategy as a powerful and wealthy family has always been to bet on multiple fronts.

This also means that, under normal circumstances, it is rare for aristocratic and wealthy families to lose their lineage.

That's why we say "thousand-year-old families, fleeting dynasties".

That's exactly the reason.

Now, with the winds of change rising and the situation becoming increasingly turbulent, the only way out in this dilemma is to bet on multiple fronts.

In this way, even if one side fails, the other side still exists.

It can ensure that the family lineage continues unbroken and continues to thrive.

I have to say, ginger is still spicy.

The words of this senior member of the Wang family were a wake-up call for everyone.

“I think it’s a good idea. Send some of the tribesmen out; that way, we’ll have another way out.”

“That’s right, we need to send more people out, preferably in several groups, that would be safer.”

The other senior executives all agreed.

Regardless of what choice the Wang family ultimately makes, this way the lineage of the Langya Wang family can be preserved.

Upon hearing this, the Wang family patriarch, seated at the head of the table, nodded. "Let's prepare for this secretly for now. We haven't reached the final stage yet, so we can delay it for a few more days."

"Let's first look at the choices of other powerful families and see what the court will do next."

The Wang family patriarch already understood the meaning of the high-ranking officials present.

However, it's not time to make a final decision on this matter yet.

He wanted to see what other powerful and wealthy families would do, and also what the imperial court and royal family would do next.

After all, the Langya Wang family isn't the only pawn on the chessboard; other powerful families, even the royal family, are also pawns.

"Clan leader, regarding Xun Yu, should we continue to let the lower-ranking clans stall for time, or..."

The high-ranking official at the head of the right looked at the patriarch of the Wang family.

After those worldly people visited the Wang family, the Wang family, like some other aristocratic families, gained confidence and no longer cooperated with Xun Yu as completely as before.

He had been dragging Xun Yu down with the help of some powerful families.

The Wang family patriarch shook his head; "That's enough!"

"Cao Zhengchun has already taken down five emerging powerful families, which is obviously due to the decree issued by the emperor in the palace."

"If we show ourselves now, we're just walking into the line of fire."

"Our Wang family can't be the first to stick its neck out."

The Wang family patriarch is a sensible man.

Those five aristocratic families, who ceased cooperating with the imperial court and outwardly complied with the officials of the Ministry of Revenue but inwardly defied them, served as the best litmus test.

Now that the imperial court has made its stance clear, if they continue doing this, they will be courting death.

Those who are involved in worldly affairs may not necessarily be able to protect themselves from the clutches of the imperial court.

The Chen family of Yingchuan and the other thirteen prominent families are the best example.

It's best not to be the first to stick your neck out.

"Understood, Patriarch."

The executive nodded and said nothing more.

(End of this chapter)