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

Chapter 380 Entrustment
Chen Zexi just glanced at it and then directly asserted: "This is fake."

"Cao Mengde is capable of seizing power, but he would not do it so obviously that he could be caught by others."

Chen Zhulou nodded in agreement. He and Chen Zexi had the same judgment.

If Cao Cao wanted to usurp power, he would have done it more "covertly" than he did now, so covertly that no one could tell that it was Cao Mengde who did it.

Or
He can make everyone know that he did it, but there is no evidence and no excuse.

Is this difficult?

This was not difficult at all for Cao Cao.

He could do things openly and honestly without anyone being able to refute him, such as if Liu Xie did something "immoral".

Everyone thinks that Cao Cao is a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty, at least that is what Cao Cao is like today in their eyes.

If some news of "killing the traitor Cao Cao" came out in Langya at this time, Cao Cao would have been forced to resist. Those who wanted to kill the traitor with the emperor would have killed the emperor in desperation. The emperor was grateful for Cao Mengde's contribution to the Han Dynasty. In order to prevent the inheritance of the Han Dynasty from being cut off, he resolutely left a will before his death to abdicate the throne to Cao Cao.

Can such abdication help people find the problem?
Can't find the problem.

Even though everyone knew there was a problem, they couldn't find any.

It is too easy to let a person under one's control die quietly, and there are too many ways to let such a person die honorably in such an environment.

In short, Cao Cao had many ways to obtain this "position".

Instead of being like now, where the news spread out before the matter was over, this would only let the heroes of the world know that there was a problem at the first moment, thus giving the people of the world and the person who was planning a certain amount of time to make arrangements and put pressure on Cao Cao.

Chen Zexi only needed to think for a moment to understand who would benefit the most from this matter.

He blinked and said, "I didn't expect that he was so cunning. When I went to the palace to meet him, I always thought he was a gentle person. I never thought he would have so many calculations."

Chen Zhulou shook his head slightly: "It was just a reaction in a hurry."

"I think it was that group of people who instigated it."

"The emperor has been deceived for too long, and he will always do something irrational."

Chen Zhulou guessed the man's thoughts and said, "I have seen him in Hongnong. Apart from wanting to take that position, he doesn't have much ability or skill."

"If he did it, it would be much simpler, like the "Yidai Edict" of the previous emperor."

Clothes edict?
Hearing these three words, Chen Zexi sneered.

"I'm afraid Meng De was prepared for this. After all, he almost suffered a great loss in this matter."

"If it weren't for all the coincidences back then, whether Cao Mengde would be where he is today is another matter."

This is quite true. After all, given the situation back then, even if Chen stepped in, Cao Mengde's fate probably would not have been good.

Although the late emperor and many of the noble families at that time were a little stupid, their speculation about the Chen family was extremely correct.

If things really develop as that happens, then the final result will not be much different except that the future of the Han Dynasty and the aristocratic families will be different from what they expected, and everything else will not be much different.

Chen Zexi was quite upset when he thought about what happened back then. He looked at Chen Zhulou and asked, "Donglin, how do you think Meng De will respond?"

Chen Zhulou stood up and walked towards the study behind him, saying without hesitation: "Meng De doesn't need to respond. The rumor has already spread, and it won't be long before it is explained."

"He won't cause any serious consequences, but he will leave an impression in the minds of the people and scholars of the world that Cao Mengde has done this kind of thing before."

“This impression is like a seed.”

"He can grow a shield to protect Liu Xie's throne from Cao Cao, but he is also like a sharp sword."

Chen Zhulou sighed: "The person who gave advice to the emperor must be a great talent."

“But he overlooked one problem.”

"As long as Cao Cao did not claim the throne while he was alive, this "little trick" could be easily broken."

"And Cao Cao's descendants could even use this as an excuse to accept Liu Xie's abdication, or force Liu Xie to abdicate."

"Rumors can bind Cao Mengde, but they cannot bind Cao Mengde's descendants. They even pave the way for Cao Mengde's descendants."

"Even if Cao Mengde's descendants force Liu Xie to abdicate in the future, people will only say, 'So the rumors back then were true? ', but there won't be any big reaction."

“People’s memory is a blurry game.”

"When he has an impression of the rumor, but the event has not happened, the person's memory will automatically become dull. When the event happens again, it will just be like replacing a long-sealed memory."

Chen Zhulou had already walked into the study, where a huge feng shui map was hanging.

He said softly: "Originally, people could not accept abdication, and even could not accept a king of a different surname."

"Just like the King of Wei who was given a new title back then, people have never acknowledged his legitimacy."

"But now that the rumor of abdication has spread, people will only think that since the emperor is about to abdicate to Cao Cao, it's okay to make him a king. If he doesn't want your country anymore, is it okay to make him a king?"

"King Hongnong made a wrong move."

Chen Zexi stood behind Chen Zhulou. Although he did not think about it carefully, he was a very smart man after all. He figured out the relationship in an instant.

He just shook his head and chuckled: "It's just your own fault."

"If the emperor didn't have so many thoughts and calculations, how could he have reached this point?"

Chen Zexi stepped forward and said, "The world has been in turmoil. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion in various places gradually subsided, the situation of the world being divided into three parts has become more obvious."

"Liangzhou may be able to continue its structure because it wants to control the Western Regions, but what about Youzhou?"

Chen Zexi touched his chin and said, "Gongsun Zan won't be happy for long."

Chen Zhulou curled his lips, as if he looked down on Gongsun Zan.

"Bogui is just too petty, otherwise he wouldn't have fallen to the point where he can only defend Youzhou now."

At the beginning, Gongsun Zan wanted to kill Liu Yu out of anger because of the conflict between them, but because he was concerned about Liu Yu's identity, he did not dare to kill him, so Liu Yu escaped back to Chang'an City.

Liu Yu who returned to Chang'an City was completely different from Liu Yu in Youzhou.

Because he is a member of the Liu clan.

Therefore, no matter how tense the relationship between Chang'an and Langya is, Chang'an will continue to put pressure on Gongsun Zan, and this is a good thing for Langya.

If Chang'an wants to attack Youzhou, it will definitely neglect its defense against them, and they can take the opportunity to attack Chang'an; if Gongsun Zan can't stand the pressure from Chang'an and surrenders to Cao Cao, then Cao Cao can take over this part of Youzhou.

How could Cao Cao possibly stop something like this which has only advantages and no disadvantages?
Chen Zexi looked at the huge geomancy map and fell into silent thought: "What is Donglin going to do now by looking at this geomancy map?"

Chen Zhulou just thought about it for a while and said, "I always feel that something big might happen in this world, and this big thing will shock the world."

He said softly, "But I can't see any problem for now." "So I want to take a look at the general trend of the world and make some inferences."

Something that shocked the world?
Chen Zexi rolled his eyes. He never had any thoughts on these things. He just wanted to be alone and be a hermit.

"Is there any major event that can shock the world? Either something happened in Youzhou, or the world's power is going to be redistributed. Apart from that, what other major event can there be?"

Chen Zhulou sighed: "There is nothing wrong with what you said."

He walked forward, stroked the feng shui map hanging on the wall, and said softly, "The country is so beautiful."

"I may be dying soon."

Hearing the word "died of illness", Chen Zexi suddenly became alert. He walked up to Chen Zhulou and said, "Donglin, are you really not going to think about it anymore?"

Chen Zhulou nodded slightly: "What I am going to do is not suitable to be related to the Chen family, at least not now."

"Chen has been standing in the middle for too long. If he leaves rashly at this time, he will only be dragged into it."

Chen Zexi just frowned: "But who in the world can fight against the Chen family?"

He always felt that Chen Zhulou thought too much.

"I don't know which faction you want to help, Donglin, but no matter which faction you help, it will not affect the status of the Chen family. The Chen family will stand at the highest point and continue to watch the land of China return to peace."

"No one in the Chen family has the courage to sacrifice."

Chen Zhulou just continued to shake his head, still saying those two words: "No need."

He turned his head and it was already autumn.

The leaves fell little by little and landed on the ground outside.

The courtyard was covered with autumn leaves, making it look very lonely.

"After I passed away, you went to my room and found a box with a letter I wrote to you. It told you some things to do after my death. Remember to follow them."

"Guangde."

His voice was indifferent: "I am not a good patriarch, but I hope you can be a good patriarch and serve the Chen family wholeheartedly."

"This should have been my responsibility, but because of my selfishness I can only give it to you and let you bear it all."

Chen Zhulou knew Chen Zexi's character. It was indeed too difficult for Chen Zexi to take the position of the head of the family.

But after Chen Zhulou passed away, there were not many people in the Chen family who could serve as the head of the family, and Chen Zexi was the best one among them.

In this way, the burden can only fall on him.

Chen Zexi just shrugged his shoulders: "Although the Chen family is not like other noble families, always emphasizing how much the family has sacrificed for us, always emphasizing what would happen to us without the family, and using this as a threat to make us obey the family's arrangements."

"But if it weren't for the Chen family, we wouldn't be able to survive safely in this chaotic world."

"Every member of the Chen family is always ready to sacrifice for the Chen family and the people of the world."

“After these ‘preparations’ are over, it is our own ambitions and our own ‘sacrifices’ that come.”

"Don't worry, Donglin."

"After you left, Chen's remained the same."

Chen Zhulou finally felt relieved. He looked at the autumn wind in the distance, and a quiet arc appeared at the corner of his mouth. The arc seemed very small, but it was discovered by Chen Zexi.

Chen Zexi did not ask, but just stood there quietly.

The wind and rain are swaggering.

When the rumor spread throughout the world, it had been nearly half a year since Liu Xie expressed his intention to abdicate to Cao Cao.

And these six months are enough for many people to figure out the key points involved.

No one is a fool, and no one is stupid.

In Chang'an City
Liu Bei looked angry. In the second month of the rumor spreading, he keenly noticed the problem and quickly figured out who was spreading the rumor and what his purpose was.

The object of his anger now is the "Son of Heaven" of Langya, who is also one of his "nephews".

"How could he do that?"

"How will those who are loyal to the Han Dynasty view this?"

Liu Bei thought that Liu Xie was too stupid for doing all this.

However, Zhuge Liang turned a blind eye to Liu Bei's anger and had a different opinion.

"Prime Minister, perhaps this incident was indeed done by King Hongnong, but the subsequent developments seem to be a little wrong."

Zhuge Liang said directly: "I feel that the King of Hongnong and the small number of noble families who colluded with him would not be able to let the whole world know this "rumor" in just half a year."

"There are no more than four forces in this world that are capable of doing this."

"The first one is us, the second one is Cao Mengde from Langya, the third one is Zhang Jue, and the fourth one is the one in Guandu City."

Zhuge Liang looked at Liu Bei and said, "Who do you think it could be?"

Langya
In the palace
At first, Liu Xie thought that his plan had come true, and he was even secretly delighted.

But things developed later.
He found out that he was extremely wrong.

Because Liu Xie accidentally discovered a problem one time. The "Cai family" who had surrendered to him seemed to be in collusion with Cao Cao.

After observing for a long time, he suddenly discovered something.

Cai was Cao Cao's man, and the "grudge" between them seemed to be false, or it could be said that Cao Cao forgave this "grudge".

He was fooled.

I was fooled by Cao Mengde.

This discovery made the emperor very angry, but after his anger he felt powerless.

Everyone could see that he was the one behind all this, and many officials in the court who were loyal to the Han Dynasty had begun to feel disheartened.

Because Cao Cao has not yet revealed his ambitions.

Everything is moving forward in another direction.

(End of this chapter)