Mythical Three Kingdoms

After receiving a somewhat reliable answer from Zhou Yu, Chen Xi felt relieved. Although he knew Yuan Shu was not a fool, he feared that someone might take advantage of the situation in Chang’an to push Yuan Shu to the edge.

If such a situation truly arose, Yuan Shu’s personality made it highly probable he would strike ruthlessly; however, it was normal to assume no one would be stupid enough to attempt such a suicidal act.

”Oh, as long as it’s all right. Meetings with the court truly are troublesome, yet they cannot be avoided. Alas, I really wish to save where possible,” Chen Xi said with some helplessness. But having spoken, there’s absolutely no way to cut corners.

”Some ceremonies indeed cannot be skipped; endure it and it’ll pass,” Zhou Yu echoed with equal helplessness. Truth be told, the younger generation absolutely detests these tedious ceremonies, while the elder generation probably thinks, ’Young ones, come feel the pain we endured,’ thus it becomes tradition.

Chen Xi was genuinely unaware of what shocking deed Yuan Shu had done, yet upon hearing of the swift progress exceeding his estimations, Chen Xi planned to check on Yuan Shu’s current situation to encourage and reward him.

Regarding that day in Chang’an City when Chen Xi and Yuan Shu handled this matter, it was actually a reminder to the families planning to delay: management has changed hands. From now on, I won’t be handling this matter, handing it over entirely to the Yuan Family, and the habits of the Yuan Family will depend on your actions.

Those cunning fools were sharp enough. When Chen Xi and Yuan Shu directly handled it on Chang’an’s main street, how could other families not understand, especially when the families stationed in Chang’an mostly had County Prestige from various counties? As soon as Chen Xi and Yuan Shu finished, every family was informed.

The character of Chen Xi was discerned by the major families, knowing that as long as they did not cross Chen Xi’s bottom line, they were safe. Even if they delayed a stage, as long as there was a reason, Chen Xi wouldn’t pursue it excessively. But if it were Yuan Shu, would people act reasonably?

That day, the aristocratic families of Yuzhou, Yangzhou, and Jing-Xiang immediately sent people home. As long as they had signed contracts with Chen Xi, they prepared the documents in advance, just waiting for Yuan Shu to finalize the date when he came; they were already prepared.

Arguing with a paranoid person—didn’t see that many of the Yuzhou aristocratic families still bleeding? Yuan Shu’s chaotic actions sometimes err threefold, but now are correct; his habit is a typical example of never turning back. Who dares to reason with such a madman?

Moreover, the terms proposed by Chen Xi initially were not low. When Lu Yu assessed the fields, his hand was notably lenient. Almost every household could acquire one and a half times or even more of their original field noble fields. Truth be told, the conditions were actually quite favorable.

However, the habit of aristocratic families is to observe, let me observe once or twice then discuss it. Chen Xi’s character tends towards being lax; restriction in this area was not strict, so collectively, the families entered an observation period. Then Yuan Shu arrived.

After completing the handover, Yuan Shu began exercising his authority, firstly asking Lu Yu for a verification table, then visiting each family personally. Gathering everyone together to resolve problems was not something Yuan Shu could handle. If he gathered these aristocratic families together, eight or nine times out of ten, these people would force a coup instantly.

Not everyone could be like Chen Xi, who could gather over half of the aristocratic families under heaven, then announce the intention like a decree to inform all families of his plans. Normally, the action would be outright refuted; hence Yuan Shu directly visited families.

Yuan Shu submitted invitations as the Family Head of the Yuan Family, expressing his intention to visit. Which aristocratic family dared to not show face? By doing this, how could a coup be forced when it’s completely led by one-on-one interviews, seeing Yuan Shu individually made everyone quite apprehensive.

Additionally, all knew exactly that Yuan Shu, this fool, operated completely differently from Chen Xi. Although Yuan Shu still reasoned, his reasoning merely leaves you without any rationale.

The major families were not foolish, realizing that playing with stratagems used in dealings with Chen Xi and applying them to Yuan Shu would only hand over disadvantages, decisively withdrawing. The actions Yuan Shu pursued in Jing-Xiang Yuuyang were infamous under heaven; who would dare speak recklessly before such a madman?

Thus, Lu Yu, accompanying Yuan Shu, showed a face of utmost respect, amazed that it was settled so quickly, and Yuan Shu specifically sought the unyielding ones, aiming for one family’s submission that could forecast an entire county’s submission.

Until the aristocratic families of Guandong and even Nanyang entirely complied with Yuan Shu’s request to relocate within three months to the Northeastern Plain, Yuan Shu finally encountered resistance with these families.

The reason was simple: other families could offer Yuan Family some face, but the aristocratic families of Guandong mostly fell within Liu Bei’s domain. The aristocratic clans of Nanyang, Yuyu, and Jing-Xiang in Yuan Shu’s purview were troubled almost to demise, knowing full well the authority Yuan Shu wielded.

But the previously effective approaches were not necessarily effective in Sili Yongliang. To put it simply, Sili Yongliang also had major aristocratic families, but only one truly boasted formidable influence—the Yang Family of Hongnong, the family of Yang Xiu.

The Yang Family of Five Generations Three Dukes; disregarding other matters, their family simply hadn’t signed anything like this. Even if they had signed, would it prohibit their family from observing?

Observe what? Yuan Shu didn’t care for this at all, stating: I represent the Aristocratic Families Under Heaven finalizing this matter; everyone agrees but your family. Do you agree or not?

This statement made Yang Biao uninterested in talking to Yuan Shu. Since when could your Yuan Family represent our Yang Family?

Yang Biao, considering Yuan Shu was his son-in-law, did not wish to pursue Yuan Shu’s slip of the tongue too harshly; however, Yang Xiu, too clever, seized upon this crux and pursued relentlessly. Contesting eloquence, five Yuan Shu’s couldn’t compete with Yang Xiu, especially this time Yuan Shu lacked morality.

Consequently, Yang Xiu verbally lashed Yuan Shu brutally, while Yang Biao stroked his beard laughing heartily. Despite Yuan Shu being his son-in-law, since Yuan Shu came as Family Head of the Yuan Family, losing Yuan Family face was something Yang truly enjoyed doing.

Yuan Shu was so fiercely verbally lambasted that he couldn’t bear it anymore, brandishing a sword and knocking Yang Xiu down, then hacking several times, almost choosing to kill Yang Biao too, disregarding whether he’s the father-in-law. In representing the Aristocratic Families Under Heaven, he will purge the Yang Family of this pest.

What’s that? Can’t represent the Aristocratic Families Under Heaven? Fine, then I represent the Yuan Family in declaring war on your Yang Family. Today both the heads of Yuan Family and Yang Family are present nearby, let’s choose today to battle!

Five Generations Three Dukes, are you? Come, come, draw the line. Our Yuan Family accepts the challenge; deploy Disciples and Former Officials entirely. Today we’ll see life or death.