Mythic version of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 7306 is here; this is a very, very big deal.
At this point, to be clear, if we say nothing, everyone can get away with it, because what happened in Xuzhou wasn't foolproof, but from a rule-abiding perspective, there really isn't a big problem.

Especially since the truly fatal evidence has naturally disappeared, and it will be handled according to the law, the Zhao and Chen families are not going to skin and dismember Xuzhou this year. As long as there are no problems with maintaining stability afterward, in the minds of the major families, Chen Xi's past performance is enough to get by.

After all, Chen Xi managed to handle the Jizhou case and the Situ case, which involved issues of support and political line, with dignity and without mass killings. This greatly impressed the Zhao and Chen families. If Marquis Chen only executed the ringleaders in such cases, then we should be able to make some minor adjustments and maintain our influence gradually.

If Chen Xi truly acted according to the old rules, the events that happened in Xuzhou this time would be insignificant compared to the cases in Jizhou and Situ. At most, it would mean that the common people had lost twenty years of hard-earned savings, would have a heavier burden on their shoulders, and would cause pests and diseases to appear in Xuzhou every year, leading to problems with the grain production of ordinary people and the indefinite postponement of loan repayments.

After all, the rice, which served as evidence, was eaten by insects. Insects that ate this stuff would be significantly enhanced, and their destructive power could increase exponentially. Every year from this year onward, pests and diseases in the Xuzhou area would be enhanced because they had eaten the rice that year. This enhancement could last for more than ten years, or even one or two generations.

During this period, the two major local families in Xuzhou will definitely organize people to suppress the pests and diseases, and this will become their political achievement.

Of course, this is not the most important thing. What is important is that the pests and diseases that have plagued the area for more than ten years, or even one or two generations, are enough to allow them to bring Xuzhou back into their hands in a reasonable and justifiable way.

What are we after? Of course, we're after everything!
Even if you're a bureaucrat sent by the central government, you have to pay three respects to the Zhao and Chen families before you can take office here. The power in Xuzhou belongs to the Zhao and Chen families!

Even though Liu Tong had experienced the chaos of the times, he still lacked a proper understanding of certain things. Huangfu Song, on the other hand, had truly witnessed the wickedness of human nature. So when Chen Xi and Qu Qi presented some evidence, Huangfu Song immediately realized what the Zhao and Chen families were up to.

What's the point? Why even ask what the point is? It's all about getting everything!

What's the point of establishing a state in Central Asia? Wouldn't it be better to establish a state within a state belonging to the Zhao and Chen families on their own soil? This step does seem quite dangerous, but given Chen Xi's past performance and the situation of the Zhao and Chen families, the probability of them getting away with it is very high. Even if they don't get away with it, with the seniority of their two families, if Marquis Chen can let go of those people from Ji Province and let go of Situ Lusu, then he will definitely let go of their two families as well.

This is what is meant by "gambling big with small investments" and "taking a gamble and turning a bicycle into a motorcycle."

After all, even if they fail, they can still escape unscathed if the evidence is insufficient. The only ones who suffer are the common people. So why not do it?
"Is it that simple?" Liu Tong turned his head to look at Chen Xi, whose face was expressionless, but from Liu Tong's understanding, he knew that Chen Xi was actually on the verge of exploding with rage and really wanted to kill. He naturally withdrew his gaze and looked at Huangfu Song to ask.

"Yes, it's that simple. Some things don't need to be overcomplicated. Just consider the reality. It's not that the Zhao and Chen families are too bold, but rather that the Prime Minister's past behavior has given them too much to think about. After all, which of the previous cases wasn't bigger than this one?" Huangfu Song sighed and said.

To be honest, before meeting Chen Xi, Huangfu Song didn't realize how serious this matter was. After all, in Huangfu Song's view, both the Jizhou case and the Situ case were ten times more serious than this one. They were major cases that, in the past dynasties, would have required the deaths of tens of thousands of people, or even the bloodshed of an entire province, in order to restore the dignity of the country.

But how did Chen Xi resolve the situation? He basically only executed the ringleaders, leaving most of the people unpunished. In fact, many of those involved are still alive. For example, Jiang Guang is not only still alive, but living very well, and his title has even been elevated.

This was an unbelievable thing to bureaucrats in the feudal era; it was a case of treason, yet it was let off the hook.

Similarly, there's the case of Situ, a dispute over policy. Lu Su is still alive today, and it's not even considered a punishment. He remains a local lord, and it's clear he'll likely continue to be the steward of the Ganges region in the future. Is this considered a punishment? It's merely a matter of giving him face.

If even such a major case can be handled in this way, what is our operation, which is merely touching the common people, worth? In fact, even though we were very careful, we didn't cause many deaths; we just took advantage of the chaos to gain some benefits!

Lord Chen, we are also veteran officials. We can be said to be the earliest family to follow you. We have been following you since before Yuan Feng. We are a family that has been loyal to you. Is it a problem for us to eat a little better?

Even soldiers can have fiefdoms, and even commoners can eat meat. Can't we at least have a little taste of our basic resources? Lord Chen, do you really have to make us, your followers, so disheartened?

Perhaps they hadn't thought that far ahead, because the Jizhou case and the Situ case gave them immense confidence that Chen Zichuan would never do such a thing. Not to mention whether he would be discovered, even if he was, given Chen Hou's previous performance, he would only reprimand them a couple of times, and at worst, add two old guys to the ranks. What was there to be afraid of? Their thousand-year-old foundation was right in front of them, what was there to be afraid of if two people died!

At this moment, Chen Xi's face was expressionless, and only one sentence was in his mind: In feudal times, if you treat some people too well, they will think that they have something special or something indispensable, and then they will take advantage of you.

"Zichuan, are you alright?" Liu Tong asked Chen Xi with a hint of seriousness. Ever since Chen Xi completely lost her expression, Liu Tong had felt that something was wrong.

“Send someone to Yizhou and invite Chen Yuanlong here as well,” Chen Xi said coldly. “The matter of mobilizing troops in Yizhou can be handled by the Prefect and the Chief Administrator, but Chen Yuanlong himself must arrive in Jiangling within three days. I have some things to confirm.”

Chen Xi no longer wanted to know. Things had come to this point, and the process and thoughts were no longer important. The only important thing was that the Zhao family and the Chen family needed to be wiped out.

Chen Deng might be someone I could help out, but whether or not I should depends on his future performance. If he doesn't pass the test, then we'll be on the same path.

From a certain perspective, this incident truly forced Chen Xi's evil side to the surface. He doesn't like killing and usually believes in saving lives if possible, thinking that human heads aren't like leeks—once cut, they can't grow back. He wouldn't kill casually. But in this situation, he had no choice but to kill. Chen Xi decided to use his own methods to curb this unhealthy trend.

"Then gather all the existing aristocratic families in Xuzhou." Chen Xi said coldly. The Langya Wang family and the Donghai Wang family had been given a reprieve, but Chen Xi had to teach them what they could and could not do. The Zhao family and the Chen family were the chickens to be used to prove right and wrong with blood!

"I don't care about fighting for power and profit, nor do I care if the big families make some money. Whether they take advantage of loopholes or use underhanded methods, it doesn't matter. It's just a small matter, and I have the ability to do it. But if they use the same methods they used against me to deal with ordinary people, then don't blame me for using all my strength to deal with them." Chen Xi said to Huangfu Song with a hint of coldness.

Chen Xi knew that once he said this, everyone would soon know that Huangfu Song knew exactly when to do what, and that he was indeed a man without much temper.

"I see." Liu Tong paused for a moment, then nodded, while Huangfu Song remained silent.

From his previous conversations with Chen Xi, Huangfu Song realized that what happened in Xuzhou might have touched a nerve with Chen Xi. But now that Chen Xi had clearly stated it, Huangfu Song truly realized that the Xuzhou case wasn't just about touching a nerve; it was about Chen Xi revealing his true bottom line.

"Playing tricks with me is tantamount to challenging a powerful family, and I, as a powerful person, possess the demeanor of one. Therefore, I don't care about your tricks. But if you try to play tricks on ordinary people, don't blame me for dealing with you harshly." Chen Xi said with a cold expression. This time, he no longer wanted to investigate. He only wanted one answer: the perpetrators should die!
"Han Qiong!" Chen Xi said to the person beside him.

"Here!" Han Qiong appeared and said.

"Notify Chang'an to dispatch a team of professionals. No matter what means they use, I only want one answer," Chen Xi said coldly. In the past, Chen Xi didn't like this approach and acted slowly and deliberately, but that was only because there was no need to rush. This time, however, it was completely different. This time, Chen Xi wanted an answer, an answer that didn't need to convince anyone else, but only one that satisfied him.

"Yes." Han Qiong said in a deep voice, then quickly left the government office and went to Chang'an with Chen Xi's seal. According to Chen Xi's standards, this matter would definitely be investigated according to the nine generations of a family, which would really mean the death of an entire clan!
"There are always some people who don't know what's good for them." After Han Qiong left, Chen Xi leaned back in his chair, making no attempt to hide the coldness on his face. The target of this investigation was completely different now. It wasn't about investigating the process or the results, but about investigating the motives of the two families. Once the motives were determined, even if no huge losses were caused this time, Chen Xi would still wipe out the Chen and Zhao families.

Don't you want to experience the iron fist of feudalism? Fine, I'll show you! For over twenty years, I, Chen Xi, have always adhered to my principles, and even if others provoke me, I will follow the rules.

Back in the first year of Yuanfeng, when the Yang family stirred up trouble, no matter how much Chen Xi disliked them, it didn't escalate to the level of treason. Instead, he tried his best to restrain his emotions and handle the situation. But this time, Chen Xi had to let others feel his emotions, to feel that he, Chen Xi, was not handling this matter according to the rules or the law, but simply because of anger!
Even if the outcome is that not many people die in Xuzhou, the Zhao and Chen families who did this will be expelled from the royal family. Even if you produce a pardon, the whole family will still be expelled. The most respect I, Chen Xi, can offer is your family's title of Marquis, with the possibility of being demoted and having your family members within five degrees of kinship inherit it. Your family's ancestral hall will not be demoted.

As for other things, don't count on them. You won't be alone on your journey to the underworld.

This isn't a rule, nor is it a law; it's the emotion that all the major families have been wanting to see in Chen Xi.

However, this emotion was not the form that the major families desired, because Chen Xi's anger was not due to his own actions; such an emotion was something that could not be utilized.

"General, send someone with a sword to mobilize the Chang'an Secret Guard. There's no need to conceal your movements; I wouldn't even mind going openly. If they're found out, kill them." Chen Xi said to Huangfu Song. This time, he needed to make the major families understand his will, to understand what it meant to provoke Chen Xi. Chen Xi might laugh it off, but if they used the lives of ordinary people as a means of coercion, Chen Xi would show them what terror truly meant!
"Huh?" Huangfu Song was taken aback and wanted to refuse, but when faced with Chen Xi's gaze, he finally nodded, but still tentatively suggested, "Could you mobilize the Southern Army?"

"No need," Chen Xi refused. He knew that Huangfu Song didn't want Chen Xi to escalate things to this extent. The fact that the secret guards of Chang'an were mobilized represented Chen Xi's bottom line. When he captured Lu Su, Chen Xi didn't even take out Liu Bei's sword to mobilize the imperial guards that had always belonged to him. But this time, Chen Xi even sent out the secret guards, which meant he had no intention of letting anyone live.

They were found and executed on the same spot; if they dared to run, they would be skinned alive! And in a physical sense!
"Bring up the Yuanfeng Sword as well." Chen Xi glanced at Liu Tong and added again. There was no room for maneuver in this matter. Chen Xi wanted the other side to die, and die quickly!

"Yes." Huangfu Song replied in a deep voice. Since Chen Xi had already said so much, Huangfu Song didn't need to say anything more. This wasn't a matter of rules or laws; it was Chen Xi fully displaying his anger.

"Go ahead." Chen Xi waved his hand, while Liu Tong looked at Chen Xi with a deep expression, somewhat worried that Chen Xi would lose his composure.

"It's nothing, just that those guys need to know a fact." Chen Xi shook his head as he felt Liu Tong's gaze. "They're targeting me, Chen Xi, but I don't care. I have plenty of time and energy to play with them. In fact, I was mentally prepared for this from day one. But if they think that ordinary people are not the same kind of beings as them, then don't blame me for not thinking that they are human beings either."

Death teaches nothing, but it inspires awe in the living, which in turn leads them to stay away from it.

Chen Xi didn't want to teach anyone this time; he just wanted to keep others who had this idea but hadn't yet begun to seriously test it away from death.

"Zichuan, what exactly is a prestigious family in your eyes?" After the others left one by one, Liu Tong looked at Chen Xi and asked.

“It’s a crucial part of managing the world, but it can be abandoned at any time,” Chen Xi said calmly. “I hope everyone is doing well, and I’m willing to give those who do the work some benefits, but that doesn’t mean they’re superior.”

"And what about you?" Liu Tong asked Chen Xi.

“The major families have elevated me to a very high position because they can’t find a way to deal with me. They’ve tried everything to restrain me, but in the end, they found that trying to catch the moon is impossible, especially as they rise higher and higher and learn more, they become more and more aware of this fact.” Chen Xi said with a sigh, “So they chose to lie low.”

“But you will eventually leave.” Liu Tong said with a hint of helplessness. If Chen Xi did not leave, many problems would have simpler solutions, but since Chen Xi will eventually leave, many problems will become more serious.

"I am but a flower in a mirror, a moon in the water. All I can do is leave this era with a glorious age that future generations can look up to. There is nothing more I can do." Chen Xi shook his head and said, "If it existed, then those who come after will naturally seek it out."

"Alright." Liu Tong was certain of Chen Xi's true intentions and didn't say much more. He simply took Si Niang and left. Some things were enough to say. Chen Xi's true intentions had never changed from day one. No matter what happened, no matter what kind of impact he suffered, or whether he was disappointed with this era, Chen Xi would continue to move forward along the original path and would also withdraw according to the original plan.

Chen Xi sees himself as a passerby, a passerby who leaves behind a grand and prosperous mark on the era, a guide for those who come after. But he never thought about eternal continuation. No dynasty is immortal, and no system is immune to decay.

The so-called "what has happened will happen again" and "history is a circle" are exactly like this. Chen Xi is very clear that everything he has done will eventually return to dust. But even so, Chen Xi is willing to leave behind a remnant of history so that future generations can look to that signpost and move forward.

Surely no one really believes that with super weapons, the essence of heaven and earth, machinery, and industrialization, dynasties will no longer rise and fall? If that were the case, what would be the point of having humans!
"The Zhao and Chen families of Xuzhou." After everyone left, Chen Xi sat down in a chair and stared at the roof beam. His expression was unusually cold. He knew there were some loopholes in the case. He even knew that the plot had been set up long ago after Liu Yi sent over the grain soaked in the secret medicine. But it didn't matter. This time, Chen Xi wouldn't investigate. He would just kill them.

Perhaps, in essence, it is indeed a very small matter, as Huangfusong said, but to Chen Xi, it is a very big, very big matter!
The holiday is over just like that. Those who have votes, please cast them! We're doomed!