Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 346: Prelude to a Spectacular Story

Chen Chengji didn't know whether Dong Zhuo was really humble and respectful.

But Chen Chengji knew that Dong Zhuo must have something important to tell him at this time.

"According to the time calculation, Dong Zhuo should have just entered the city. Why did he come to me first instead of looking for Master Yuan after entering the city?"

Chen Chengji placed the chess piece on the chessboard and smiled: "It seems that the Han Dynasty is not in such a bad state after all."

Chen Zhulou had other thoughts on this: "I'm afraid he came to tell his father about his difficulties."

With a look of disdain and sarcasm on his face, he said, "I will tell you about my communication with Yuan, including what happened in Chang'an City today. It has nothing to do with me. Only in this way can I escape from this huge vortex."

"Dong Zhuo was born in Xiliang, a poor country, so he wanted to climb up the social ladder and move up."

Chen Zhulou paused for a moment and then continued, "If he is asking for it for Xiliang, then father can understand his difficulties, but if he is asking for it for himself, then let this Captain Dong die."

Chen Chengji just shook his head, with a hint of sigh in his voice.

"I also know Dong Zhuo."

"He's not what you say he is."

As Chen Chengji and Chen Zhulou walked towards the front hall, he was figuring out the purpose of Dong Zhuo's visit.

The two of them soon arrived at the front hall, where Dong Zhuo and his two companions had been waiting for a long time.

After a few pleasantries, Dong Zhuo spoke directly: "Prime Minister Chen, I am a rough man, so I won't pretend to be anything."

He looked at Chen Chengji with a burning gaze and asked, "I just want to ask, since the reigns of Emperors Kang and Cheng, have the people of Xiliang become upright Han subjects that no one can refute?"

Chen Chengji nodded.

Dong Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Chen Chengji and he didn't think he was pretending.

He asked in a deep voice: "So, if Xiliang is treated unfairly, will King An intervene or not?"

"Does Prime Minister Chen care or not?"

Dong Zhuo asked about two identities, one was the King An of the Han Dynasty, and the other was the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty.

Chen Chengji just looked at Dong Zhuo and said, "Whether it is King An or the Prime Minister, you have to take care of it."

"I will take care of it, of course."

He looked at Dong Zhuo and asked, "General Dong, are you here today to file a complaint?"

Dong Zhuo shook his head and said, "I am not here to complain today. I am only here to tell Prime Minister Chen about my entry into Chang'an."

Chen Chengji raised his hand and pointed at Dong Zhuo: "General Dong has been summoned to the capital. This is the emperor's edict. It is legitimate. Why do you need to explain it to me?"

He raised his eyebrows and said, "Anything that is legal and compliant does not need to be explained."

Chen Chengji's voice was faint.

Then, Dong Zhuo grinned and said, "I knew Prime Minister Chen would say that, but I still want to explain that I have no interest in getting involved in any political struggles, nor do I want to do these things."

"The civil strife in the Han Dynasty may be a good thing for other generals in the world, but it is not a good thing for me."

At this time, Dong Zhuo no longer pretended.

He just said: "I just want to make this piece of land in Xiliang better and better. As for the rest, it's not something I can control."

Dong Zhuo's meaning was very clear, and it was exactly the same as what Chen Zhulou had said before.

He wanted to remove himself from this chaotic circle and tell everyone that this matter had nothing to do with him, so as to avoid casualties.

This isn't a bad thing.

Chen Chengji also said very sincerely: "General Dong, don't worry. I came to Chang'an this time not for any so-called political struggle, but just to fight for the people of the Han Dynasty and give them a break."

He stood up with his hands behind his back and whispered quietly, "General Dong came from Xiliang. Did you meet some Taipingdao people along the way?"

Dong Zhuo nodded: "I have seen them. They are all poor people who are forced to live."

He sneered: "Some local courts say these people are traitors and monsters, but if they can survive, who would be willing to do something unnecessary?"

"King An, do you know?"

Dong Zhuo asked pessimistically, "In fact, when the people drank Zhang Jiao's talisman water, they knew that the so-called talismans had no effect and might even have harmful effects, but the talisman water was hot."

"A bowl of hot water may save a life."

He patted his fat belly and said, "Sometimes, I also feel that I am a powerful person, so why should I care about those people?"

"I, Dong Zhuo, my sister, and my family will not make any mistakes."

Having said this, the yard fell silent again.

Dong Zhuo let out a long sigh, and then said softly: "Prime Minister Chen, I have said too much today."

"Please don't blame me, Prime Minister Chen."

After Dong Zhuo left, Chen Chengji stood in the yard and closed his eyes. Chen Zhulou beside him asked, "Father."

Chen Chengji waved his hand.

"No need to say more."

"When a tree grows big and has deep roots, it will begin to rot. Wasn't that the case with Bang Zhou back then?"

"The Han Dynasty has been passed down for more than 400 years now, so it is normal for such a situation to occur."

He narrowed his eyes and said, "Lou'er, do you know about Taiping Dao?"

Chen Zhulou shook his head slightly.

After a short silence, Chen Chengji finally said, "So, do you want to learn about Taiping Dao?"

He looked at his son and asked softly, "Perhaps, the Taiping Dao can help you see your own heart clearly."

Chen Zhulou stood there.

He is different from his father.

Chen Chengji already had his own ideas. After being named King of An, he traveled around the world. He had met Zhang Jue and people from the Taiping Dao.

Zhang Jue once said that he got the book "Taiping Yaoshu" passed down by the immortal Nanhua to govern the country and ensure the people's safety. This is not too false, but it is not too true either. After all, this "Taiping Yaoshu" did come from Zhuangzi, and they were two volumes of books written by Zhuangzi himself after reading a lot of books.

One volume is the product of his own thoughts, and the other is a military book recorded after he read the books in Zhuoshenlou and Xianyang Academy and communicated with Chen Zhanduo of the Chen family at that time.

After Zhuangzi passed away, he did not pass on these two volumes of books to his disciples, but hid them in the Zhushen Tower.

So, how did the books in Zhuoshen Tower come to Zhang Jue?
Then we have to ask Chen Chengji who was traveling back then.

Deep down, Chen Chengji stood on the side of the people, because he had seen countless sufferings and had truly followed Zhang Jiao across the world.

But Chen Zhulou is different.

Chen Zhulou is not a "descendant of the Chen family" at heart, but a "descendant of aristocratic family".

This is also the problem of many of the Chen family's descendants today. Although they still think that the people are the most important thing, they will put another thing above the people, that is, "family."

Yes.

Five hundred long years have passed, and the Chen family has been the number one family in the world for too long.

There will be some subtle changes among the Chen family's descendants.

This is also the reason why when the ancestors of the Chen family built Guandu City, they had to expand Guandu City again. They wanted more people to live in it, so as to continuously influence the children of the Chen family and prevent their temperament from changing too much. At least.

At least you should keep the people in your heart.

Chen Chengji certainly knew about Chen Zhulou's problem.

The head of the Chen family has always been like this in recent times. He couldn't help but think of when he was still young, he and Zhu Lou were the same.

How did he change at that time?

Because he traveled around the world.

Thinking of this, Chen Chengji looked at Chen Zhulou and said, "One year later, you go find Zhang Jiao."

Zhang Jiao?

Chen Zhulou raised his eyebrows: "Father is actually related to the Yellow Turban rebels?"

Although the Taiping Dao had not yet completely risen up, the aristocratic families and the imperial court had already had some ideas about the Taiping Dao.

It’s not surprising that Chen Zhulou knew this.

Chen Chengji just smiled and said, "When I traveled around the world, I met Zhang Jiao, who was just an ordinary alchemist. At that time, he was doing some things to save the people."

"There was one thing Dong Zhuo said just now that was wrong."

"Zhang Jue's talisman water is effective, not just because it is a bowl of hot water."

Chen Chengji blinked and said, "The reason why he puts different 'talismans' into different diseases is very simple - because the talismans are specially made, and they contain a relatively small amount of 'herbs'."

"This is the real reason why the talisman water is useful."

Chen Zhulou was stunned for a moment, but was not very surprised.

Instead, he drew inferences from one instance and said, "So, could it be that the legendary Nanhua Immortal is you, father?"

"I remember that there were indeed two volumes of books left by Zhuangzi in Zhushen Building. It seems that one volume is a military book, and the other volume is a record of Zhuangzi's thoughts?"

Chen Chengji did not deny it.

"good."

Chen Chengji sneered: "When I traveled around the world, I was extremely disappointed with the Han Dynasty, so I taught Zhang Jue two volumes of books, thinking that if Zhang Jue could succeed, he would overthrow the Han Dynasty and then establish a new country."

"After all, at that time, the emperor had already ascended the throne, the government was corrupt, and the imperial relatives and several eunuchs took turns to interfere in government affairs. The emperor actually felt that he had an easy time."

"Since Liu no longer wants the world, then let someone else take power."

Chen Zhulou stood in front of Chen Chengji, and he suddenly felt that his father was even more radical than himself.
"Then why is father now..."

Chen Chengji raised his head and looked at the sky in the distance, feeling very complicated: "After all, the blood of my Chen family is in the body of the current emperor. I still can't bear to see this big man collapse like this."

"Or"

"It's not a pity that Liu lost the world, but how hard will it be for the people of this world if they suffer from war?"

"If there is even a slight chance of saving the Han people, I will definitely try it."

Chen Zhulou said, "So, you asked me to find Zhang Jiao to defend myself?"

Chen Chengji shook his head: "Not really."

"I just want you to see, follow Zhang Jue and see for yourself, see the people of this world."

"Before the next generation of the Chen family becomes the head of the family, they must take this trip to actually walk around and take a look at everything outside Guandu City and see the sufferings of the people in the world."

"What we see in Guandu City is just a small piece of this world, and it is the happiest piece at that."

"Look at the people of the world."

“Don’t put on a show, don’t just look at it superficially, become them, and experience the pain for yourself.”

“Then you’ll understand.”

"What exactly are the Chen family masters of all generations doing?"

Chen Zhulou stood there and said, "Then why did my son stay in Chang'an for a year?"

Chen Chengji turned around and looked at Chen Zhulou: "It can be regarded as a father's longing and compensation for his son."

He smiled and said, "I am the head of the Chen family. I am responsible for selecting a suitable head of the Chen family and taking control of this ship that has been sailing for more than 500 years. But I am also your father."

"Although Chang'an City is not as prosperous as Guandu City, it is also the second most prosperous city in the Han Dynasty. It has its own unique style."

"also."

Chen Chengji walked up to Chen Zhulou.

"I want you to take a look at this corrupt man."

"Lest you still have feelings for him."

Chen Zhulou was completely silent. He had never thought that his father would have such thoughts. He thought it was simply outrageous.

So he always thought of his father as someone who would devote his life to the Han Dynasty, but it was just “what he thought”?
Is it true that the father has already been holding a big knife and is ready to invite the big man to die at any time?

"Father."

Chen Zhulou's voice was a little hoarse: "Then why are you telling me now?"

"If I'm not mistaken, you want to wait a year before telling me?"

Chen Chengji nodded casually: "Yes."

"According to the original plan, I should have told you about this matter a year later, and then sent you to Taiping Dao to find Zhang Jiao."

He grinned: "But now, time waits for no one."

"Planning is something that is made just for people to see. Who in this world can perfectly predict everything?"

"I'm telling you this now so that you can change your mindset and perspective on this corrupt man."

"Red building."

Chen Chengji and Chen Zhulou looked at each other and said, "My generation can no longer complete the task of inviting the great man to die. When I couldn't bear to see the people continue to suffer, I fell into this situation."

"And you, now you haven't."

"So you can draw the sword at your waist and do this."

"You are the next generation of the Chen family's head, and you are also the hope of the Chen family. In turbulent times, we need smart people to steer the ship so that it can continue to sail far."

"You are such a person."

袁府
As a large family with three dukes in four generations, the Yuan family is naturally not small.

After Dong Zhuo left the Anguo Palace, he hurried all the way to the Yuan Mansion, but he did not see his teacher in the Yuan Mansion. Instead, he met the eldest son of the Yuan Mansion, "Yuan Ji".

Yuan Ji's faint smile made Dong Zhuo feel uncomfortable all over. The arrogance in that smile was too obvious.

He felt as if he had shed the skin of a general and turned back into the ruffian soldier who was trying to make a living in the Xiliang army.

"My Lord, is the teacher okay?"

(End of this chapter)