xymnovel Chapter 7308 Implicated by Association
Chapter 7308 Implicated by Association
Chapter 7308 Implicated by Association
When the secret guards arrived in Central Asia, Zhao Jian was completely stunned. His cheeks, which were red from the wind and sand and ultraviolet rays, couldn't hold back his emotions at this moment.
What do you mean, that Marquis Chen's secret guards personally came to arrest the Zhao family of Xuzhou? Holy crap, did the old bastards of the Zhao family of Xuzhou break the law?
"Patriarch Zhao, this is an imperial edict with the official seal, and this is the list of people who need to be interrogated." The leader of the secret guards who came to Central Asia expressionlessly took out a copy of the edict. Because this side was allied with the Zhao family, it was not appropriate to read the edict directly. Therefore, he only took it out to show the righteousness. He was not here to investigate the case, but to take people away. Everyone on the list was to be taken away.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Zhao Jian's expression was extremely grim. When he learned that these were secret guards from Chang'an, he knew that things were very bad. After all, anyone with a little knowledge would know what kind of troops they were.
"I'm just here to arrest someone. Patriarch Zhao can find out what happened himself." The leader of the secret guards, clad in black armor and completely encased in the fortress, with only his eyes showing, replied in a deep voice.
Zhao Jian remained silent for a while, wanting to resist, but in the end he gave up. The more you know about certain things, the less you dare to resist. And these were the secret guards, Chen Xi's private soldiers, so Zhao Jian dared not resist even more.
Even though he knew that as the head of the family, watching helplessly as everyone in the Xuzhou branch of the Zhao family within the Zhao family's fiefdom was arrested would severely damage his own morale, Zhao Jian still dared not take any action and even had to send people to assist the secret guards in the arrest.
"What are you trying to do!" Zhao Chen realized something was wrong as Zhao Jian led the secret guards in, and immediately shouted loudly in an attempt to intimidate the newcomers.
However, the secret guard didn't say a word, and appeared beside Zhao Chen as if by teleportation. With one strike, Zhao Chen was captured, tied up, and dragged away.
Soon, one by one, members of the Zhao family in Xuzhou were captured. There were also those who resisted, and some even coerced the people under their rule to rebel. After all, having experienced the chaos of the locust plague, the Zhao family still had some royal aura in their own territory.
But this was meaningless. Faced with the Chang'an Secret Guard, all resistance was easily suppressed. Soon, only one member of the Zhao family in Xuzhou remained in the entire Zhao family territory: Zhao Yan, the current deputy of the Zhao family's fiefdom and the future head of the Zhao family who would unite with them.
This man and Zhao Jian supported the entire Zhao clan's fiefdom. Zhao Jian made the decisions, while Zhao Yan made the plans and handled internal affairs. Their excellent cooperation enabled the Zhao clan to acquire such a large fiefdom in Central Asia, and even showed a certain momentum of prosperity.
It was precisely because Zhao Yan took a step back and worked hard to maintain stability within the family that the Zhao clan of Xuzhou and the Zhao clan of Changling were able to unite stably. It can be said that without Zhao Yan's sacrifice and Zhao Jian's efforts, the fiefdom of the Zhao clan in Central Asia would not have existed.
“Patriarch…” Zhao Yan looked at Zhao Jian appearing in front of him. He had actually received the message from the other members of the Zhao family in Xuzhou, but he did not leave. As he always said, even if he died, he wanted to die knowing the truth.
Moreover, Zhao Yan did not think Zhao Jian would be so foolish as to scheme against him at this time. Only by joining forces with Zhao Jian could the entire Zhao clan's fiefdom be maintained stably. In this process, the Zhao clan of Xuzhou had made considerable sacrifices, but only through mutual understanding, mutual assistance, and cooperation could the Zhao clan of Central Asia grow bigger and stronger.
Therefore, when Zhao Jian appeared before him with his secret guards, Zhao Yan's eyes remained perfectly clear, without any hysteria or suspicion of Zhao Jian.
"I, as your elder brother, have failed you," Zhao Jian sighed. "The Marquis of Chen's secret guards have come with a list to summon all the members of the Zhao clan of Xuzhou."
Zhao Yan was stunned for a moment, then his pupils suddenly contracted, and countless things flashed through his mind in that instant.
“Since it’s Chen Hou’s secret guards, then it has nothing to do with you, brother.” Zhao Yan sighed as if he had come to terms with reality. “Could you tell me what exactly happened?”
Looking at his deputy, who showed no alarm and seemed to understand the situation of the Zhao family in Central Asia, the head of the secret guards, who had already captured all the members of the Zhao family in Xuzhou, decided not to hide anything any longer—letting the other party know what he had done was a final act of courtesy.
Zhao Yan listened quietly to every word the leader of the secret guards said, the color draining from his face, leaving only a pale, desperate expression.
All those who have established a family and made their mark in Central Asia have come to agree on one thing: that people are people, whether they are Han, Qiang, or Parthian. They are all people, just like themselves, with only one life and their own ideals.
Having been tempered here for so many years, even the most dissolute young master has lost his sense of superiority and being different from the common people. Just like what Old Wang said back then, even a piece of trash can be used as a pillar after undergoing a transformative tempering.
Because if you can't withstand it, a useless person really will die!
So now, every member of the Zhao family in Central Asia, whether they were once playboys or pampered sons, is no different now. They are truly ruthless people who have experienced hardship. Their former arrogance has been tempered by painful reality, yet they still persevere here. They have all understood what Chen Xi wanted them to understand!
"Is that so? They truly live up to the reputation of the Zhao family of Xuzhou." Zhao Yan remained silent for a while before finally giving a bitter smile. He knew that if it were in the past, he would have been puzzled to hear that the Zhao family of Xuzhou had been blocked at the door by Chen Xi's secret guards for such a matter. However, after being truly tempered in the crucible of Central Asia and experiencing the ups and downs, Zhao Yan clearly understood what the roots of this country truly were.
Especially after the Zhao family also took the initiative to promote education, looking at the officials who were selected from the common people and could be appointed, Zhao Yan's former contempt for the common people had long since disappeared—they were just like him, only they lacked opportunities, and now they had this opportunity.
"Please." The leader of the secret guards looked at Zhao Yan, knowing that the other party was not one of the same kind as the Zhao family of Xuzhou, but things had come to this point, blood ties were blood ties, and when it came to the extermination of nine generations of relatives, they would not spare you just because you were not involved in this matter, nor would they let you go just because you did not agree with it.
"Patriarch, alas!" Zhao Yan bowed deeply to Zhao Jian. He knew very well that he would not be able to return this time. What the Zhao family of Xuzhou had done was intolerable among them. So, could Chen Hou, who had created this environment and made them, these Central Asian aristocratic families, realize what it meant to be human, tolerate it? Of course, he could not tolerate it either.
"I will do my best to persuade Marquis Chen." Zhao Jian was also somewhat desperate at this moment. The Zhao family of Xuzhou did have many bad habits when they first arrived, but didn't the Zhao family of Changling in Jingzhao have the same problems? They were all the same, all from great families, and none of them were arrogant. How many of them could look down on the common people? But after so many years of tempering, they had forged ordinary iron into divine weapons, and now they had all been taken away. What would happen to the Zhao family of Central Asia!
Surely no one really thinks that the Zhao clan of Changling in Jingzhao can support the entire Zhao clan's fiefdom in Central Asia? What a joke! The elites of the Zhao clan of Xuzhou, who have never returned since leaving Xuzhou, are the important pillars supporting the operation of the entire Zhao clan's fiefdom. Unfortunately, now this pillar is about to collapse.
"Just protect Zhao Man." Zhao Yan transmitted his voice to Zhao Jian before leaving. As for the lives of the others, Zhao Yan no longer cared. The majority of the Zhao clan in Xuzhou who remained in the country had done such a great thing that they would definitely be executed along with their entire clan. Perhaps those members of the Zhao clan in Xuzhou in the country did not understand, but those who had gone abroad and truly established their own fiefdom with the common people all understood this.
What makes us human!
Zhao Jian watched Zhao Yan's retreating figure and sighed. The once thriving Central Asian Zhao clan was probably doomed this time.
"Take the token to the Pei family immediately and arrange for Zhao Man to marry Pei Qian." After Zhao Yan left, Zhao Jian realized that things had taken an irreversible turn. He took a deep breath and quickly notified his guards to go to the Pei family's fiefdom. Zhao Man could not return; she had to be married off immediately.
Otherwise, if Zhao Man returns, as a member of the Zhao clan of Xuzhou, even if she is not executed on the spot, the best outcome would probably be that she becomes a government slave. Such an end would be a great loss to the Zhao clan. In that case, it would be better to marry her off directly, at least that would be a respectable outcome.
As for the execution of nine generations of a family, a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; generally, she wouldn't be implicated, and besides, Chen Xi wouldn't bother with such details.
On the contrary, Zhao Da doesn't need to study math anymore because he can't figure it out.
With the secret guards already here, Zhao Jian no longer expected to be able to rescue them. In this situation, it was obvious that Chen Xi wanted people to die. Sometimes, certain outrageous behaviors of feudalism are more understandable, such as the practice of punishing relatives. At this moment, Zhao Jian felt no anger, only a sigh for the future of his own fiefdom.
With the secret guards all here, there's no point in expecting anything easy. Even Zhao Yan, who prides himself on having studied Chen Xi's behavioral logic, has given up hope.
While Zhao Man can still be married off, she should be married off as soon as possible. Given Chen Xi's personality, he won't hold a grudge against his married daughter. Besides, Zhao Man herself knows whether she was involved or not. However, in feudal times, the treatment didn't care whether you were involved or not, only whether you belonged to this family line. If you were, you had to die!
"Those pigs left behind by the Zhao family of Xuzhou are all pigs, pigs!" After the secret guards finished arresting people and left, Zhao Jian finally couldn't help but roar. Now that things had come to this, there were many things he wanted to do, but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed that he couldn't do anything except vent his anger!
Chen Xi read it countless times, discussed this issue at the Grand Court Assembly, and even debated it with a group of aristocratic families at the Grand Court Assembly in the fifth year of Yuanfeng. He also used the Yang family to say the most important words.
Unfortunately, the families that were willing to listen never needed to listen in the first place, and the families that weren't willing to listen still wouldn't listen even now, with the heads of the Zhao and Chen families about to roll.
So sometimes, Chen Xi also felt it was really ridiculous. He had said everything he needed to say, talked openly and frankly, and repeatedly shown his intentions, but there were always people who said he hadn't said it, and there were always people who realized it but still held onto wishful thinking.
In Xiapi, the Chen family's reputation was ultimately better than the Zhao family's, and their popularity was also relatively good. So when things really came to this point, some local villagers who had benefited from the Chen family's good fortune came to inform them.
After all, the blessings that the Chen family could not remember were enough for some ordinary people to turn their fate around.
So when the special armored cavalry appeared at Liangcheng Post Station, the postmaster immediately tried to notify the Chen family, since the Chen family had indeed done him a favor.
Unfortunately……
In front of the vermilion gate, the old servant leaned against the white marble Bixie statue, his eyelids drooping, and glanced with disdain at the old man in front of him, who was dressed in hemp clothes and looked obviously disheveled from rushing over.
Seeing the other person approaching, he quickly straightened up, his face arrogant, his chin raised as he raised his hand to stop them, his voice impatient, "Where did this idler come from? Don't you even look at this plaque? Get out of here at once! Don't get in the way of our distinguished guest!"
Han Yuan, who was originally there to deliver a message to the Chen family, looked at the old gatekeeper of the Chen family and carefully examined him. He was sure that the other party was not joking, but really thought that his presence was an eyesore. He looked around and found that the people in the vicinity were consciously going around the Chen family's residence. He was stunned. If he remembered correctly, it was not like this four or five years ago.
"Get out of here right now!" The harsh voice echoed in Han Yuan's ears. Han Yuan was silent for a while, then turned and left. He couldn't see anyone, so he had no choice but to leave.
Yuan Shu and Liu Zhang arrived at Xiapi ahead of their secret guards. After all, fewer people meant faster travel, and with the help of the rolling beasts, their efficiency was quite high.
"Ji Yu, do you think the secret guards are really here for the Chen and Zhao families?" After arriving in Xiapi, Yuan Shu finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked the question that had been on his mind. After all, in his opinion, it was just a small matter, and there hadn't even been a large-scale death yet, and Chen Xi's secret guards had already arrived!
Could this be targeting the Chen and Zhao families? Are those two families worthy of being dealt with by Chen Xi like this? Are you kidding me? What kind of family are they?!
Although Liu Zhang wasn't particularly bright, he had been entangled with Yuan Shu for so many years that while he might not have a deep understanding of other things, he had a very good understanding of his own son.
Especially now, with Chen Xi's secret guards moving, Liu Zhang's sense of crisis has been heightened. Therefore, when Yuan Shu spoke up, Liu Zhang's first reaction was whether his son knew something.
"You bastard, what do you know? Tell your father right now!" Liu Zhang roared. At this point, to still dare to act suspiciously and conceal the core of the problem was tantamount to courting death!
Yuan Shu was stunned for a moment, then his father-son bond kicked in, and he immediately started calling each other "your dad" and "my dad." Then, by doing this, the two of them actually exposed their own family's dirty secrets!
"How the hell could you sell rice imbued with the essence of heaven and earth to the Chen family of Xiapi? Where did you get this stuff from?!" Liu Zhang's face turned green. Why did Yuan Shu have such a serious scandal?
"I just climbed over the wall to Canghou's place to carry out two bags, and I happened to run into Chen Gui. You know, Chen Gui and I have been friends since we were kids, and this place is close to my hometown. Our relationship is similar to that of Cao Cao and my half-brother. When we met, he said that everyone who sees it gets a share, so how could I not give him a little?" Yuan Shu said with a livid face.
This isn't nonsense; it's true. Chen Gui really did have a very good relationship with Yuan Shu. If they didn't meet, he would have been enjoying the spoils all to himself. But if they did meet, Chen Gui would just pull out a ladle from his carriage and scoop out three ladles of food, and all that could be said for Yuan Shu was bad luck.
"You're finished. This whole mess started with the rice grains imbued with the essence of heaven and earth." Liu Zhang said with a accusatory expression, but he was just saying that; those three ladles of rice grains imbued with the essence of heaven and earth had long since been boiled into porridge.
"If I'm finished, you won't fare much better. Don't think I don't know, the Zhao family is also involved with you." Yuan Shu immediately started cursing. Upon hearing this, Liu Zhang's face turned green. Then the two of them began to reveal each other's dirty secrets. After a while, they both fell into a kind of silence. Could the secret guards be targeting the two of them?
Compared to a small place like Xuzhou, their size is more suitable for the Secret Guard!
"Alright, stop scaring yourselves." Seeing the two heavy-duty huskies scaring themselves so much that their faces turned pale, Liu Yi, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, finally spoke up, "Don't worry, if Marquis Chen wants to arrest you, he won't need the secret guards. In essence, this matter is just that the red line that Marquis Chen has always made clear has really been crossed."
“The powerful families are part of the common people, and so are the common folk. Marquis Chen has always believed this, but most powerful families think it’s just empty talk and haven’t thought about it carefully,” Liu Yi sighed. “In addition, the pace of development in recent years has been too fast. Although the major powerful families think this is just empty talk, they are busy developing and have no time to cause trouble.”
That's right, the key point is that they didn't have time to cause trouble, not that they actually believed that statement.
Chen Xi had been reciting this phrase since before Yuan Feng's time, for no less than twenty years, but very few families truly believed in it.
At the grand court assembly in the sixth year of Yuanfeng, Chen Xi's probing had basically proven that there was only one family that truly believed that the common people were no different from them, and that family was the Yang family of Hongnong.
Other families, whether Chen Xun or Yuan Wang, have a flawed understanding of this matter. Some of them even genuinely believe that even if ordinary people are educated by them, they are nothing more than their tools.
Admittedly, they acknowledge that some outstanding individuals among these people may have the opportunity to become one of them, but in their view, the vast majority, even more than 99%, will not undergo any fundamental change.
I don't like the practice of punishing others, but sometimes it's unavoidable. Speaking of which, today is the last day of double rewards, so I feel like voting...