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

Chapter 392 A glass of wine to reach the sky

In the eighth year of Yuan'an, the situation in the world gradually became more stable.

Chang'an and Langya began to divide up the scattered forces in the north, and used almost "brutal" means to target the county governors and county magistrates who wanted to secede from the local area.

Under such high-intensity oppression, county governors and county magistrates from all over the country began to submit to these two forces.

The biggest difference between Chang'an and Langya is that Langya began to "indulge" the existence of those big families and powerful people, and allowed them to enjoy sufficient treatment and privileges.

Correspondingly, these big families also gave Langya a lot of help.

The Chen family of Yingchuan, the Xun family and many other forces began to move their "power" towards Langya. Of course, only a part of it was moved.

The aristocratic families never put all their eggs in one basket. After they completely turned to Langya, they all made a "just cut" with a part of "themselves".

For example, the Chen family of Yingchuan.

The Yingchuan Chen family, like the Guandu Chen family, are all members of the Chen family, but their situations are different.

The origin of the Chen surname in Yingchuan is "Gui", and they are descendants of Emperor Shun.

The Guandu Chen family is from the "Ji surname". This lineage has "Chen Ye" as its ancestor. According to the records of the Guandu Chen family, they are descendants of the ancestor of their ancestor "Fan surname". One of their branches flowed in Chen, so they changed their surname to "Chen".

Although the two have different origins, some members of the Yingchuan Chen family regard the Guandu Chen family as their "belief". They believe that this is what they should do - to put the people of the world first.

Therefore, in the eighth year of Yuan'an, Guandu City welcomed an uninvited guest.

In other words, they cannot be called uninvited guests.
Guandu Chen family, mansion.

Chen Zexi looked blankly at the respectful old man sitting in front of him, a rare look of helplessness on his face.

"Old man, what do you mean?"

The "Chen Kangmin" sitting in front of him did not change his expression, but smiled kindly: "We are descendants of the Yingchuan Chen family, but there are some disagreements with the main branch, so our branch left Yingchuan and prepared to go to Dayu."

Chen Kangmin sighed slightly.

"Although the Chen family and ours are not from the same branch, and our ancestors have different origins, we are ultimately of the same clan."

“Therefore, when I passed by Guandu, I wanted to pay homage to the ancestors of the Guandu Chen family.”

There was a hint of guilt on his face, and he obviously knew that this was a disturbance to the Chen family in Guandu.

Chen Zexi held his forehead helplessly. He nodded and did not reject Chen Kangmin's words. After all, it was just a small matter.

Outside Guandu City
The carriage continued to sway as it moved towards Dayu. In these troubled times, not many people could make such a long journey, and each of them was not someone that ordinary bandits could afford to offend.

Especially since this team had just emerged from Guandu City.

In the carriage

There was a look of helplessness on Chen Kangmin's face.

In fact, it seems that no one can be sure which of the three forces will win the world, and the benefits offered by Langya are the greatest.

This chaotic time lasted for as short as forty to fifty years, or as long as nearly a hundred years. No family could give up such huge benefits, but they could not guarantee that Langya would be the final winner, so they "split" their branch.

They would go to Dayu, and then use the things that the master had distributed to them to establish another "Chen Family".

After one or two generations, they were no longer the "Yingchuan Chen family".

"Grandfather, why do we have to go to Guandu to worship?"

In front of him, the child who looked only eight or nine years old had a curious look on his face. He was a little puzzled about the purpose of their trip to Guandu. After all, they really just went to Guandu and then entered the Chen Ancestral Hall to worship.

Chen Kangmin said calmly: "I'm just borrowing the name of the Chen family."

"If we separate from the main family, it means we are separated from them. Even if we encounter any danger on the road, the main family will not care."

"Only such a cut can truly ensure the independence and security of both parties."

Chen Kangmin looked into the distance: "This is a rule known to everyone."

"But it's a long way to Dayu. What if we encounter any danger along the way?"

"After visiting the Chen Clan Temple, there will no longer be such 'potential dangers'."

Chen Kangmin explained the "deep meaning" of this in detail to his nephew in his arms.

"We came out of the Guandu Chen family's territory and passed through Minglu, which is equivalent to greeting the Chen family. Even if we are not from the same clan or even have no relationship, those bandits along the way dare not touch us."

"Because this is Chen's reputation."

They were received by Chen, which meant they were considered Chen's guests.

Robbing Chen's guests is equivalent to robbing Chen himself.

Are there such bold bandits in the world?

No.

So their trip will definitely be very safe.

The child in Chen Kangmin's arms nodded, as if he understood, but also as if he didn't understand.

But Chen Kangmin didn't care.

You will understand these things slowly in the future.

There are not many people in the world who can do this and who can agree to do so in the Chen family. Looking around the world, there is only one Chen family in Yingchuan.

Because this is called "establishing a connection".

Even a powerful family like the Chen family would not want the entire world to be their enemy.

The ninth year of Yuan'an.

In Chang'an, because of Liu Bei's policies, most of the bandits were killed, and some of the "aristocratic families" in the territory began to restrain their power and discipline their own children.

Because Uncle Liu was ruthless.

Never show mercy.

After the Battle of Red Cliffs, Uncle Liu seemed like a different person.

He was still so benevolent and kind, but this was only true for those law-abiding people and the common people in Chang'an. For those aristocratic families, local tyrants, and those who did evil, Uncle Liu seemed to have turned into a demon.

Liu Bei killed so many aristocratic families in Chang'an that their heads fell to the ground. For a while, the aristocratic family children were most afraid of not the Master Zu Tianshi who had become the prime minister of "Dayu", but the uncle Liu who was still in power.

And with Liu Bei's thundering measures, the lives of the people in Chang'an tended to stabilize.

Unlike Chang'an, Langya's attitude towards the aristocratic families made ordinary people in the area want to escape even more.

Suddenly, the differences between the three forces in the world became even greater.

Chang'an is obviously suppressing the aristocratic families, while Langya is obviously indulging the aristocratic families. It's like two extremes. "Dayu" in the middle is more balanced.

He did not provide any special treatment to the aristocratic families, nor did he suppress them in any special way.

This attitude makes ordinary people and noble families feel at ease.

Gradually, as time went by, the boundaries between the three forces became clearer.

In the ninth year of Yuan'an, the world was at peace.

This was a relatively peaceful and stable period in the history of the Three Kingdoms. There was not even any war, either local or widespread.

The three forces seemed to be working hard to develop their own forces.

The directions in which they develop are also different.

As for Chang'an, because it was located in the Central Plains and controlled a large area of ​​fertile land, it developed an agricultural economy.

As for Langya, because it is close to the ocean, they vigorously develop fishery and animal husbandry as opposed to agriculture.

They used the seaports to bypass Dayu and trade with some countries in the Western Regions.

Therefore, their economy is also more developed.

Because Dayu was close to the Protectorate of the Western Regions, it controlled almost all economic commodities on the "Silk Road". However, unlike Chang'an, which was sandwiched in the middle, while being close to the Western Regions, it also controlled part of the "Jiaozhou" territory, so it also owned a port.

At the same time, he even owned vast fields in the south where he could develop agriculture.

Among the three forces, only Dayu's development was the most comprehensive, and it could even be said to be the most like a "country" rather than a force. Time passed quietly like this.

The eleventh year of Yuan'an, late autumn.

That is, 218 AD.

In the original history, two years before Cao Cao's death.

Langya
Prime Minister's Mansion

Cao Cao's face was rather pale, obviously he had just recovered from a serious illness.

His body gradually became old and weak as the years passed. In this version of history, because the Han Dynasty had already fallen apart, and because of "Liu Xie", the Langya Han suffered a huge blow, so some ministers who still had hope for the "Han Dynasty" also became disappointed with the Han Dynasty.

In other words, he was disappointed with the emperor.

For example, Xun Yu.

That is why Xun Yu is still alive today.

But he was also very old.

Xun Yu was about seven or eight years younger than Cao Cao. Now Cao Cao was sixty-six years old, and he had also reached the age of knowing the destiny.

The two of them were still good friends until this time.

"Cough-cough-"

Cao Cao sighed softly, he looked at Xun Yu and said: "Wen Ruo, for so many years, you are the only one who has never had any selfish thoughts and never stood by anyone."

His eyes were old and sharp.

"I believe you, too."

Xun Yu obviously understood what question the old man in front of him wanted to ask. He shook his head and then sighed.

"Prime Minister, I don't know."

He answered very frankly: "The best successor died in the battle of Jingzhou, and now the remaining princes each have their own advantages and disadvantages. I can't tell who is the best one."

Xun Yu’s answer made Cao Cao feel even more sad. He obviously knew who his best successor was, but wasn’t that person dead now?

Ever since the Battle of Jingzhou, his interest in other people's women has faded a lot.

He held Xun Yu's hand and said, "Hua Tuo has already diagnosed me."

Faced with impending death, the old man was obviously more tolerant.

In the past, if someone mentioned this matter in front of him, even Xun Yu would be given the cold shoulder by him. And Cao Cao obviously understood that Xun Yu brought up this topic at this time just to let him reprimand him and then avoid answering this question.

"Hua Tuo said that it would probably happen in the next few months."

Cao Cao's expression was calm, but what he said was not so "ordinary".

Xun Yu raised his head suddenly.

Over the years, several of Cao Cao's descendants have vied to win him over, but he does not really want to get involved in the fight for the throne.

That's why he punctured Cao Cao's lung just now.

But now Cao Cao says he is about to die?
"Prime Minister, this???"

He and Cao Cao had a strong friendship and brotherhood.

Cao Cao could be said to be the person Xun Yu was closest to, apart from several "blood brothers" from his own family. Now that he suddenly heard that Cao Cao was about to die, his mood became turbulent.

"How could this be?"

Cao Cao did not answer this question. He just looked at Xun Yu and asked the question again.

"Wen Ruo, who do you think is the most suitable to be my successor?"

Xun Yu sat there silently, this time he was lost in thought for a long time.

He knew that the names he spoke would determine the future development of Langya in the next few decades.

So he must be cautious, and again cautious.

In the winter of the eleventh year of Yuan'an.

The heavy snow falls, heralding a good harvest.

This year can indeed be considered a "good year", no matter which force it is.

Within Guandu.

Chen Zexi looked at the snowflakes falling from the sky and couldn't help but sigh.

"It's winter again."

Behind him stood a young man with a respectful look on his face, as if he had something important to report.

After hearing what the man said, Chen Zexi's expression slightly raised, obviously he had heard something surprising.

But this look of surprise disappeared in an instant.

It seemed like this was just a small matter to him.

In fact, for Chen Zexi, it is indeed a small matter.

But for the whole world.

This should be considered a big deal.

because.

There was news from Langya.

The Regent, King of Wei, Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, Cao Cao and Cao Mengde, announced that "Cao Pi" would be the Crown Prince of Wei, and officially began to hand over power to Cao Pi.

Those who are more informed know something else.

Cao Cao.

I can't survive this winter.

And that's exactly what happened.

The eleventh year of Yuan'an, the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month.

On the last day of this year, which was also the "28th year of Jian'an" calculated by the Langya side, Cao Cao died of illness in the prime minister's office.

Sixty-six years old.

Langya was in great sorrow.

In the twenty-ninth year of Chengtai, the first day of the first month of spring.

Chang'an City

Liu Bei was wearing a plain robe, holding a document that had just been urgently received this morning. As he read the words on it, a tear slowly fell from the corner of his eye.

The original companions, the later companions.

His good friend, old acquaintance, and confidant.

Cao Cao, Cao Mengde, left.

The twelfth year of Yuan'an.

spring.

Zu Tianshi stood in the mansion with a pot of green plum wine in front of him.

He slowly picked up the cup and then spilled the liquid on the ground.

A glass of light wine to pay tribute to God.

(End of this chapter)