Mythical Version of Three Kingdom

Chapter 713: Recognizing the Times

"Follow the dragon, follow the dragon... Why should we Qingzhou and Xuzhou noble families follow behind you Jizhou families? We’ve had enough of that two hundred years ago. Why should we follow you again this time? This is the anger of the Qingzhou and Xuzhou noble families. They didn’t gamble before, but this time, they are willing to take a chance!"

As Chen Xi rode his carriage along the official road back to Taishan, he overheard numerous rumors along the way. He could understand the noble families' pursuit of power, but their petty, underhanded tactics only made Chen Xi sigh. Had he not left them a path to rise? No, quite the opposite—he had left them multiple paths.

"Zhongkang, tell me, what exactly do the noble families want?" Chen Xi made a gesture to Han Qiong, signaling him to block the sound from escaping. By now, Chen Xi had become more comfortable instructing Han Qiong.

"They probably want you to step back," Xu Chu hesitated before speaking. Unlike Dian Wei, Xu Chu, though not scholarly, had received some family education and had his own understanding of power struggles.

"They want me to step back?" Chen Xi chuckled, then sighed. "Do they have the qualifications to make me step back?"

In that moment, a trace of helplessness flashed in Chen Xi's eyes. Why, when he had already shown mercy, did these fools still not know their place? It wasn’t that he couldn’t crush these upstart noble families; he had set limits before. But those who had followed his lead years ago had already recouped their losses many times over.

"There are always those who can’t see the bigger picture. Let’s take a detour to Pingyang and see what those raucous noble families are up to," Chen Xi yawned, but his eyes revealed an icy coldness. There was a Bao family in Pingyang that had been so active that even Chen Xi had caught wind of it.

"Pingyang?" Xu Chu frowned, hesitated, then spoke up, "Military Advisor, perhaps we should head straight back to Fenggao. Recently, things in Pingyang have been a bit unstable."

"Unstable?" Chen Xi sneered. "Let’s go. I have some ties with the Bao family. Let’s see what they’re up to."

"I still think we should return to Fenggao first. I’m sure the Lord has been waiting for you there for a while now," Xu Chu was still uneasy. The Bao family in Pingyang had been so active lately that even a marching soldier like Xu Chu had heard the news. He didn’t want Chen Xi to go to such a dangerous place."To Pingyang," Chen Xi said calmly, glancing at Xu Chu. That look made Xu Chu immediately abandon any thoughts of further explanation.

Chen Xi changed course from the official road leading from Feicheng to Fenggao, heading toward Pingyang. Fortunately, the roads in Taishan were well-connected, sparing Chen Xi from a bumpy journey. By the time Chen Xi was nearing Pingyang, the Bao family had just received word of his approach.

"Uncle, at most half an hour from now, Lord Chen will arrive in Pingyang. What do you think he’s coming for?" Bao Xun asked, his expression clearly showing concern after receiving news of Chen Xi’s imminent arrival.

"Should we open the main gate of the Bao residence to welcome him, or shut our doors and refuse him?" Bao Shao said hesitantly. Although the Bao family had over a thousand private soldiers, he dared not suggest anything too rebellious.

"What we need to consider is why he’s coming. Recently, our Bao family hasn’t exactly been quiet about our views on education," Bao Tao frowned.

After Bao Xin’s death and upon hearing that Liu Bei had defeated the Yellow Turbans, the Bao family had moved back to Taishan. Now, with Bao Dan, the old master, rarely speaking, it was Bao Tao who was effectively steering the family.

It was partly due to Chen Xi thwarting Dong Zhuo’s plans in Luoyang that Bao Tao hadn’t died in Xingyang. But after Bao Xin’s death, Bao Tao resigned from his post and moved his family back to Taishan. He did this partly because he saw promise in Liu Bei and partly because the Bao family had been a prestigious family in Taishan for generations. In the past, they could muster twenty thousand private soldiers!

Moreover, although the Bao family had left Cao Cao’s domain, they had supported him during the campaign against Dong Zhuo and later, after Bao Xin’s death, when Yanzhou fell into Cao Cao’s hands. There was still a connection there, so even if Cao Cao rose to power in the future, he wouldn’t make things difficult for the Bao family. Thus, Bao Tao moved the family back to their ancestral land.

Unfortunately, by the time the Bao family returned, Chen Xi had already distributed Taishan’s land to the common people. Although the Bao family held land deeds, they couldn’t reclaim the land from the people. Fortunately, Chen Xi didn’t press too hard, and the Bao family wisely followed his lead, shifting their focus to commerce.

As a result, after several years, the Bao family’s wealth had reached its peak. Moreover, the land exchange vouchers Chen Xi had allowed them to keep were still valid. According to Chen Xi, these vouchers would be honored once the land was unified under one rule. Of course, this benefit was only for families who had followed Chen Xi’s lead in those early years.

In short, the Bao family had suffered little loss. Unfortunately, when people are well-fed and clothed, they often seek power. The Bao family, like many others, found themselves in a position where they lacked nothing materially, and so their ambitions turned once again to the pursuit of power.

"How about we just shut our doors and refuse him? That person is quite formidable. It’s better not to meet him if we can avoid it," Bao Xun suggested, frowning. This was how most noble scions felt about Chen Xi—when someone is so powerful that you can’t even see their full capabilities, fear and awe naturally arise.

"We will greet him outside the city with our entire clan, invite him in with great ceremony, and answer any questions he has. We should have no other thoughts," Bao Tao was still deliberating when the old master, Bao Dan, who rarely left his quarters, appeared in the main hall. Leaning on his cane, he glanced at his sons and grandsons.

"Father, what brings you here?" "Grandfather, please, have a seat." The family members in the main hall quickly offered Bao Dan a seat.

"At a time like this, how could I not come?" Bao Dan struck the floor with his cane a few times, causing his sons and grandsons to lower their heads in silence.

When Chen Xi arrived in Pingyang, the entire Bao family was waiting for him outside the city. The old master, Bao Dan, personally greeted Chen Xi.

"Old Master Bao, it’s been a long time," Chen Xi said, looking at the calm expressions of the Bao family members. He sighed, then jumped off his carriage and bowed to Bao Dan.

"Lord Chen, you still have that commanding presence. Please, come in," the old master straightened his back and made a gesture inviting Chen Xi inside.

"Sigh, I initially came to see what was going on, but seeing how straightforward you are, Old Master Bao, I won’t ask anymore," Chen Xi shook his head, indicating that he wouldn’t enter.

While other families might consider it disrespectful, the old master remained polite and showed no sign of displeasure.

"Lord Chen, please ask your questions. Once you do, my Bao family will provide an answer. That way, you’ll be at ease, and so will I," Bao Dan said, leaning on his cane as he looked at Chen Xi.

"I’m just curious—has my reputation grown so much that it’s enough to make your Bao family change course?" Chen Xi asked helplessly.

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