Chapter 644

Yecheng

In the Grand General's residence

Looking at the intelligence from Wuji County presented before him, Yuan Shao's face became increasingly ugly.

A mere Zhen family now dared to act in defiance and ride on his head; it was truly too infuriating for Yuan Shao.

Since when did even such a family dare to trample his majesty underfoot like this?

Ju Shou, who was to the side, appeared even more furious than Yuan Shao.

In the eyes of the high-ranking aristocratic families of Jizhou, the Zhen family was not considered a mainstream aristocratic family at all.

Yes, the Zhen family had indeed produced Nine Ministers in the past and had once been prominent.

But so what?

Whose ancestors didn't have a few great figures?

Dynasties flow like water, but aristocratic families are like iron.

This saying refers to the fact that the aristocratic class will always exist.

But it does not mean that any single aristocratic family can remain glorious forever.

In reality, the infighting between aristocratic families appears even darker than other conflicts.

One radish, one hole.

Within the aristocratic class, there is also constant elimination and transformation.

No family can remain prosperous for long.

Just like the Yuan family and the Ju family.

These two great families could only be considered small fry during the pre-Qin period.

But by the late Han?

One was called the number one aristocratic family under heaven.

The other was the undisputed leader among the numerous aristocratic families of Hebei.

Developing to this day, the number of aristocratic peers who died at their hands is also not small.

The most classic example is Yuan Kui dealing with Xun You's father, Xun Yi.

Going to such great lengths.

Wasn't it just to eradicate hidden dangers within the aristocratic class that might pose a threat to themselves and potentially replace them?

In the end, it was still the temptation of power and status that became the root of everything.

However.

Now, a tiny Zhen family dared to trample the face of Yuan Shao and Ju Shou into the dirt.

Such a thing, Yuan Shao and Ju Shou naturally could not endure.

Looking toward Ju Shou, Yuan Shao spoke:

"Gongyu, things similar to this Zhen family incident must not happen a second time within Jizhou."

Ju Shou nodded repeatedly.

Although the relationship between him and Yuan Shao was as incompatible as fire and water.

But with a great enemy like Gu Yi before them, the two of them really couldn't muster the heart for infighting.

And.

A thing that made Ju Shou very uncomfortable was.

The families of Xu You, Guo Tu, Xin Ping, and others had already been secretly rescued by Gu Yi's intelligence guards before Yuan Shao returned to Yecheng.

This is damn awkward!

Ju Shou had originally intended to take the families of these three traitors and use them as a warning.

The result was that he opened up a void.

However.

Ju Shou was Ju Shou after all.

He lacked none of the decisiveness a ruthless man should have.

In order to prevent traitors from appearing internally again.

Ju Shou directly controlled the families of all the civil and military officials except for the Jizhou aristocratic families.

He gave it the nice name of "taking care of them."

In reality, it was just to gather them together for easier surveillance.

Even Yan Liang's family was controlled.

Regarding this, the group of civil and military officials under Yuan Shao who were born in other places were full of dissatisfaction in their hearts.

But they had no way to provoke the Jizhou aristocratic families.

It is still the same saying.

The one with the hardest fist is always the boss.

At least before Gu Yi formally invades Jizhou.

On this land of Jizhou, what the Jizhou aristocratic families say is the undisputed imperial decree.

But... if he only achieved this level, Ju Shou still felt very uneasy in his heart.

Their opponent is Gu Yi!

Flooding the Yellow River, he could even think of such a ruthless strategy.

Relying solely on these troops in Jizhou, how could they block Gu Yi?

Consequently.

Ju Shou began to set his sights on the Wuhuan.

Although it is highly probable that Tadun has already cooled down.

But there are still quite a few usable troops over in the Wuhuan.

The old rule: use external forces to intervene and support a new Wuhuan King.

In this way, the Wuhuan could once again return to the control of the Jizhou aristocratic families.

Because Tadun and Louban, the two heirs with the closest blood ties to the previous Wuhuan King Qiu Liju, were both dead or missing.

Ju Shou and the others had no choice but to support Qiu Liju's cousin, "Supuyan," to inherit the Wuhuan throne.

This Supuyan was originally one of Tadun's supporters.

But he was older and had long since lost the ambition of his youth, making it easier for the Jizhou aristocratic families to control him.

Soon.

Supuyan, who had just inherited the throne, responded to Ju Shou's call.

He dispatched 50,000 Wuhuan cavalry to cross Youzhou from Liaoxi at the fastest speed and rush to Jizhou to assist.

Besides this.

Ju Shou also set his sights on the groups of mountain bandits within the borders of Jizhou and Youzhou.

Although the specific combat effectiveness of the mountain bandits was uneven.

But they were numerous!

If they could really be gathered together, they could probably increase their manpower significantly.

Moreover.

Now is a time when people are needed.

The arrogance of the Jizhou aristocratic families in the past had actually been set aside quite a bit because of this.

……

However.

Ju Shou's calculations were destined to fall through.

After Zhang Yan led the Heishan Bandits to surrender to Gu Yi.

In order to prove his loyalty, Gu Yi arranged a special mission for Zhang Yan.

Only after completing this mission would Gu Yi accept this group of Heishan Bandits.

And this special mission.

Was precisely to let Zhang Yan, in his capacity as the leader of the Heishan Bandits, proclaim to the mountain bandits throughout Jizhou and Youzhou.

If they did not arrive in Shangdang to surrender on schedule, they would have to bear the consequences of life and death after Jizhou and Youzhou were broken!

This Zhang Yan, although he cannot be counted as a top-tier talent among the monarchs of the late Han era. ===== CHAPTER 645 =====