The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 286 Chen's Father and Son
"Meet the Prime Minister."

Outside Xia Pi City, the aristocratic families in the city, led by Chen Gui and Chen Deng, knelt down obediently to welcome Qin Shou's arrival.

"Excuse me."

Qin Shou looked at Xia Pi City in front of him. Even though it had been flooded by Cao Cao, under Xun Yu's command, Xia Pi City had regained its former prosperity. The city walls were still tall and majestic.

Apart from Liu Bei, probably Qin Shou was the only one who reached the city of Xia Pi so easily.

"Thank you, Prime Minister."

Everyone stood up, with a strange look on their faces.

Everyone in the world knows that the Cavalry Corps does not have a good attitude towards the aristocratic families like themselves. Wherever they go, they will kill people, behead those aristocratic families who have committed heinous crimes, and confiscate their property.

"Mr. Han Yu, I have long heard of your name in Chang'an. I am very pleased to see that you are in good health."

Qin Shou looked at Chen Deng and his son in front of him, and was amazed.

When Tao Qian was in power, Chen Gui was in power; when Liu Bei was in charge of Xuzhou, the Chen family did not change; when Lu Bu came, Chen and his son were alive and well; when Cao Cao came, he still trusted Chen Deng very much.

I don't know what ability the Chen father and son had to preserve their foundation.

However, he soon realized the cleverness of Chen Gui and his son.

In the governor's mansion, all the people from Xuzhou and the cavalry soldiers gathered together.

"Prime Minister, the Chen family is willing to offer 3,000 of the Chen family's private soldiers, 100,000 hectares of fertile land, and 50,000 shi of grain and grass for your military use."

Chen Gui had a ruddy complexion and a loud voice.

Qin Shou nodded after hearing this, and a look of joy appeared on his face.

This Chen Gui was indeed no simple man. He made a powerful move right from the start by offering private soldiers, food supplies and even fertile farmland.

According to the information provided by Qin Feng, Chen had 3,000 private soldiers, 200,000 hectares of fertile land, and about 80,000 dan of grain and fodder. Unexpectedly, Chen Gui actually donated all his private soldiers, and also contributed most of the fertile land and grain and fodder.

As for why no money was offered, Qin Shou knew that Chen had acquired a large number of shops and land from Mi, and there was not much money left in the family.

It can be said that Chen suffered a heavy loss this time.

But we can also see Chen Gui's cleverness from it.

It is much better to offer it on your own initiative than to have Qin Shou take it away.

Look, I'm so honest, you can't cause trouble for me!
This is a smart person, so smart that Liu Bei, Lu Bu, Cao Cao, and even Qin Shou until now will not only not cause trouble for Chen, but will take good care of her.

This is the real smart person.

But the other party was so generous that Qin Shou couldn't help but express his gratitude. Otherwise, wouldn't it be ugly to eat like that?

"I'll take the private soldiers and the food and fodder, since the army is short of them. But I'll buy the good farmland at the market price."

Qin Shou thought for a while and said.

In troubled times, the most valuable thing is food, and the least valuable thing is fertile land.

Chen might suffer a loss by purchasing the good farmland at the market price, but it is better than getting nothing.

"Thank you, Prime Minister."

Chen Gui hurriedly thanked him and sighed inwardly.

No wonder Qin Shou was able to unify the Central Plains. He was so magnanimous. If it were other princes, they probably wouldn't be so magnanimous.

"Yuanlong, it's time for you to come out."

Qin Shou looked at Chen Deng, but his eyes fell on his big belly and he frowned slightly.

"Before you leave the mountain, go to Luoyang and look for Mr. Hua Tuo." "My Lord."

Chen Deng was slightly stunned.

"I heard that Yuanlong likes to eat raw river fish? But you didn't know that most of the river fish are polluted and have parasites that can only be killed by high temperatures. Yuanlong eats raw river fish, and most of the parasite eggs have already parasitized your five internal organs. If you don't get rid of them, you will die before you are forty."

Qin Shou pointed at Chen Deng and said.

Chen Deng was a rare capable minister in Xuzhou, but it was a pity that he died early.

Chen Deng looked happy at first, but when he heard Qin Shou's words, his face turned pale.

He liked to eat river fish, especially raw, as he thought it tasted especially good after being dipped in seasonings. But after hearing what Qin Shou said, he realized how dangerous this matter was.

He did not doubt Qin Shou's words, and the other party had no reason to deceive him.

"When you come back from Luoyang, go to Guangling and serve as the governor of Guangling. I believe Guangling will be in my hands by then."

Qin Shou ordered.

"Thank you, Lord."

Chen Deng hurriedly thanked him, but he did not expect that Qin Shou would make him the prefect of Guangling as soon as he came.

"Mr. Han Yu, Xuzhou is not a place where I will stay for long. We need someone to take charge of this. Mr. Han Yu is a capable minister in governing the country. Are you willing to serve as the governor of Xuzhou?"

Qin Shou's gaze fell on Chen Gui.

Chen Gui didn't expect that Qin Shou would actually ask him to be the governor of Xuzhou, and he didn't know what to do for a moment.

"My lord, it seems a little inappropriate that the minister is in Guangling and the minister is in Xiapi."

Chen Gui smiled bitterly.

The father and son were in the same state, one was the governor and the other was the prefect, and Xuzhou was also the base of the Chen family. Isn't the other party afraid that the father and son of the Chen family would take Xuzhou for themselves?
"There's nothing wrong with that. I still trust the reputation of Huaipu Chen family, and I also believe that you will not let me down."

Qin Shou chuckled.

In this era that places particular emphasis on reputation, entrusting Xuzhou to the Chen father and son would not only not engage in corruption and accept bribes, but would also be diligent in royal affairs and loyal to him.

"Thank you for your trust, my lord."

Chen Gui was moved.

He had a hundred and eighty minds, but at the moment, he only felt touched.

Entrusting a state to one's care is a sign of trust in Chen and his son.

Just as Qin Shou guessed, Chen Gui had decided that while serving as the governor of Xuzhou, he would never seek any profit for the Chen family, so as not to undermine the relationship between the monarch and his subjects.

In the hall, other aristocratic families also showed a trace of envy and jealousy on their faces. Chen father and son were about to become successful. Some people secretly regretted that they should also offer money and food, and perhaps they could also become provincial governors or prefects.

Unfortunately, Xuzhou has been in chaos in recent years. From Tao Qian to Liu Bei, to Lu Bu, and then to Cao Cao, these aristocratic families have been severely plundered, and a lot of their money and grain have been taken away.

Although the family had a small number of private soldiers, the other thing was fertile land.

How could they easily give away these remaining properties?

Especially when they knew that Qin Shou was going to purchase the land at the market price, they didn't want to sell the land at a low price.

Seeing that Xuzhou was about to return to peace and the land price was about to rise, wouldn't it be a loss-making business to sell the land at this time? It would be better to keep it and wait for the price to rise before selling it, and you can still make a lot of money.

Qin Shou looked at everyone indifferently with a smile on his face. He didn't say anything, but talked to everyone about the affairs of Xuzhou with a smile. He seemed amiable and the atmosphere in the hall became very peaceful.

However, Chen Gui and his son shook their heads secretly when they saw this.

(End of this chapter)