The strongest devouring system in the Three Kingdoms

Of course, another problem arose: official corruption. This issue was once again on Chen Er's desk. It cannot be entirely blamed on the officials, since Chen Er wanted those aristocratic families to develop in the commercial sector. Collusion between officials and merchants has been a major problem since ancient times. Some officials were themselves members of aristocratic families, so corruption immediately became a problem that the autonomous region needed to solve.

In response, the Anti-Corruption Department, which is independent of the Executive Yuan, immediately redeployed and reorganized its personnel. A new department called the Inspection Department was also established within the Executive Yuan to specifically oversee officials within the Executive Yuan.

At the same time, Chen Er announced a 50% increase in the salaries of all officials, with two-thirds to be paid in cash and one-third in grain. The methods of high salaries to encourage integrity and the multi-layered oversight system from his previous life were applied to this world.

By the time the integration within the autonomous region was finally completed, it was already mid-January 2188. In this winter, there were no major wars throughout the land. Chen Er was integrating internally, while Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu were also actively integrating Yanzhou and Yuzhou. On the surface, they were still allies of Ding Yuan, and naturally they would not refuse the appointments made by the Luoyang court controlled by Ding Yuan. In particular, Yuan Shao was now almost doing things under the guise of redeeming himself. If Yuan Feng had not been still alive, Yuan Shao, a son born out of wedlock, would have long been out of the running. Most importantly, the Yuan family also understood that Yuan Feng and Yuan Kui had to bear some responsibility for Yuan Shao's defeat, even if they had to give up their troops and resources. Although they didn't say it, they still had to show it in their actions, otherwise even if the family members were still loyal to the family, they would become disloyal.

However, Yuan Feng's health was deteriorating, and his support for Yuan Shao was becoming increasingly limited. Yuan Shao knew in his heart that he had to consolidate Yanzhou as soon as possible and usher in an era of self-reliance.

However, to the north lay the recently lost Ji Province, now Chen Er's territory. After months of consolidation, Yuan Shao's hopes of returning to Ji Province were dwindling. He was now only focused on escaping the predicament of Yan Province, a region surrounded by enemies. Knowing his own limitations, Yuan Shao was acutely aware that Ding Yuan was unreliable. Although they were currently allies, who knew what would happen next? Ding Yuan had no good record with his allies. As for Yuan Shu of Yu Province, technically his younger brother, Yuan Shu had never held his elder brother in high regard. Who knew when he might stab him in the back? Early planning was crucial; having experienced one defeat, Yuan Shao didn't want to repeat it a second or third time.

Although he didn't understand why Chen Er had let him go in Jizhou City, Yuan Shao knew in his heart that such a thing wouldn't happen a second time. He wanted to become powerful! Powerful enough that no one in the world could defeat him. But could this wish really be fulfilled? Yuan Shao himself wasn't confident.

In the spring of 2188 AD, Yuan Feng died of illness. Yuan Feng was finally dead. In the Luoyang Imperial Palace, Ding Yuan laughed. With Yuan Feng gone, only Yuan Wei remained in the Yuan family. He wanted to see who in Luoyang would dare to oppose him, the Prime Minister of the Empire. The Yuan family, a prominent clan, had lost its leader. How could Ding Yuan not laugh?

Feeling as if the world was now in his hands, Ding Yuan chuckled at Yuan Feng's memorial service, which provoked Yuan Shao to curse him and draw his sword, pointing it at Ding Yuan.

"Dong Zhongying! My father has passed away! How dare you, as the Prime Minister of the Empire, publicly ridicule him? Do you really want to break with my Yuan family?" Yuan Shao roared.

Ding Yuan showed no anger upon hearing Yuan Shao's words. He nodded to Dian Wei behind him, who understood and stepped forward to Yuan Shao, saying, "Do you think my sword is not sharp enough?"

“Even those who betray their masters for personal gain can be forgiven, but you, who recognize a thief as your father, dare to be so presumptuous?” Yuan Shao said to Dian Wei with his chest puffed out without fear, “You are indeed impressive. You can’t defeat the enemy, but you can run away quickly. Not only did you not avenge your adoptive father after he was killed, but you also joined forces with your enemy. What right do you have to stand here!”

"You!" As the saying goes, one shouldn't insult someone by revealing their weaknesses. Yuan Shao's words were a bit too harsh, and Dian Wei flew into a rage! He drew his sword and said to Yuan Shao, "Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you!"

"you!"

Seeing his brother being bullied, Yuan Shu felt a surge of joy. "Hmph, you illegitimate son dared to steal my thunder! Now that you're being bullied, even I, your direct descendant, have to help you!" Yuan Shu led his men to Yuan Shao's side and said to Dian Wei and Ding Yuan, "What? You want to bully members of the Yuan family? Do you really think you can just manipulate the Yuan family as you please?"

Although Yuan Shu looked down on Yuan Shao, this was, after all, the funeral of the previous generation of the Yuan family. As a member of the Yuan family, Yuan Shu would never stand by and watch the Yuan family be humiliated. Of course, if it were Yuan Shao himself who was humiliated, that would be a different story.

"You think you can outnumber us?" Dian Wei's mocking gaze swept over the dozen or so people around him. With your skills, how do you think you can outnumber us? Do you really think everyone is carrying a musket?

"Dian Wei! Step back." Ding Yuan, seeing that more and more people were gathering around him, didn't want to escalate the situation now, since he still needed to rely on other powerful families. However, Ding Yuan was no ordinary man; even if he was wrong, he wouldn't explain himself. In Ding Yuan's view, not having Dian Wei teach them a lesson was the best apology he could offer.

"Let's go! We're going back to the manor." Ding Yuan said to Dian Wei and the others. Yuan Feng was dead, and he had come to offer his condolences. As the Prime Minister of the Empire, Ding Yuan felt that he had done his job very well. Now that the master of the house did not welcome him, it was time for him to leave.

After Ding Yuan left, the people in the Yuan family compound became increasingly fierce in their condemnation of him. Of course, it was all just talk. Ding Yuan controlled 90 percent of the army in Luoyang, and no matter how capable the Yuan family was, they couldn't do anything about it.

The next morning at court, Ding Yuan's confidants once again petitioned to appoint him as Grand Tutor! The court was in uproar. Ding Yuan was becoming increasingly arrogant. However, no one dared to challenge Ding Yuan, who held the power of life and death over the people of Luoyang. They could only watch as the young Liu Xie on the dragon throne stamped the imperial edict presented by Li Ru with his seal. Ding Yuan then became the Grand Tutor of the Empire, enjoying the "honor" of not wielding a sword during court sessions.

In truth, what does this honor mean to Ding Yuan? He's done it long ago. With Ding Yuan's current power, no one dares to oppose him. Of course, Yuan Shao dares. Yuan Shao, who was originally there to receive the imperial decree on behalf of the deceased Yuan Feng, directly stood up to oppose it. But Ding Yuan is a man of principle; he had Yuan Shao thrown out.