Chapter 1223: Have There Ever Been Any Betrayals

Chen Xi, seeing through Jia Xu's thoughts, chuckled. "Don’t get too hopeful about such a good deal. Who knows, I might choose a location with convenient water and land transportation to establish the new city."

"There are only a few places with favorable water transportation across the land, and based on what you've mentioned earlier, I can already guess which ones." Jia Xu responded with a sly merchant-like smile.

"You’re getting greedier." Chen Xi said disapprovingly, "Don’t tell anyone. If, in my lifetime, we can expand outward, those two locations can also be established. As for the two domestic places, they will mainly serve as rewards."

Jia Xu was speechless, thinking about how their family's biggest source of income now was the land they owned in Fenggao. Initially, he thought that after moving, the rental value of their land would decrease, but since no new trading zones had been established in their absence, land prices had actually increased.

"Although you don’t have the Midas touch, you're not far from it." Jia Xu, rare for him, gave Chen Xi a compliment. "I'll make sure to have them stop talking about it."

"As for spreading the trade tax, tell them to forget it." Chen Xi nodded. Recently, he had been swamped with work, to the point of mental exhaustion. The money in Ye City's treasury had already reached hundreds of billions, and it was time to allocate funds for the year.

"I’ll ensure they don’t bring up the trade tax issue again." Jia Xu’s words were always reassuring.

"Good. If anyone from the Cao or Sun families comes to the banks to negotiate, have them come to me directly," Chen Xi instructed Jia Xu. He had already heard about the situation in Chang'an from Guan Yu.

Liu Ba joining Cao Cao didn’t stir much emotion in Chen Xi. That man had always been loyal to Cao, so this was simply fulfilling his lifelong wish. As for Guan Yu’s dissatisfaction, Chen Xi had offered a few words of advice. After all, Liu Ba might come to negotiate one day, and Guan Yu couldn’t just lop his head off with a single strike.

That wouldn’t be acceptable. Whether people admitted it or not, Liu Ba was an exceptionally talented economist in this era, even if he’d be outclassed by a modern-day student. You still had to acknowledge that in this time, he was outstanding.

On the other hand, Ma Yunlu had been safely escorted back. Cao Ang had handled things well, not sending troops to block the way. Guan Yu’s group returned to Ye City without any issues.

Zhang Fei, however, didn’t get to meet Xiahou Juan. With a dark expression, he led his Yan Yun Eighteen Riders and departed Ye City, only stopping briefly to have a few drinks with Guan Yu. At least the marriage agreement had been settled, so there was that.

Of course, with Liu Bei’s promise that Zhang Fei would see Xiahou Juan once he returned victorious, Zhang Fei’s frustration towards Zhao Yun would lessen somewhat.

After Zhang Fei left, the group gathered to welcome Guan Yu back, which delayed Guo Jia and Guan Yu's departure for Yuzhou. Meanwhile, Fazheng, not long after, led troops with Huang Zhong to press the borders of Bohai, diverting the attention of Youzhou, while Zhuge Liang accompanied Zhang Fei by sea towards Liaodong.

Naturally, Zhao Yun returned triumphant, with Ma Yunlu by his side. Shortly after arriving in Ye City, the Ma family sent official documents, with Ma Chao handling everything well.

Even Ma Teng, despite his lack of intelligence, realized by now that this was his son's doing. But since things had already come to pass, Ma Teng decided to let it slide. After all, Cao Ang didn’t mind either, so it was best for everyone to move on.

Since then, contact between the Cao and Ma families increased, and many started paying attention to this development. Not long after, Yang Biao, due to his incompetence, was permanently barred from military affairs and promoted to Grand Tutor. Despite the vacancy in the position of Grand Commandant, no one dared to fill it.

The brief resurgence of the Yang family faded again. The two most prominent aristocratic families in the empire were showing signs of decline, with the Chen family officially taking over as the leading household of the empire. Yet the power of the Xun family still loomed, enough to challenge this supremacy.

The power these two families displayed was unlike any other. Their strength lay not just in their deep roots, but also in the brilliance and sheer number of their geniuses. Other families had no grounds to complain in the face of such a situation.

After Jia Xu left, Chen Xi reviewed all the financial documents. Then, he patiently waited for the elders of the Chen family to arrive. Whether it was Chen Shang, with whom he had more frequent contact, or Chen Guang, both of them would surely need to discuss matters with him, though the outcome would likely not change.

"Master, the elders are here to see you," Chen Yun announced respectfully to Chen Xi.

"Very well, accompany me to welcome them." Chen Xi slowly opened his eyes, adjusting his mood as he prepared to meet the elders of the Chen family.

When the gates of the Chen residence opened, Chen Shang and Chen Guang, still in Ye City, were ushered in. Despite being technically part of a branch family, to those of Chen Shang’s generation, the Chen family had only moved to a new place, and the head of the family was still singular. Chen Qun, in this matter, had no choice but to accept it.

"Greetings to the family head." Both Chen Shang and Chen Guang entered with expressions of displeasure. After all, which family wouldn’t be upset at the prospect of being relocated to some remote, desolate land? It felt no different from exile. Why should they be subjected to this?

"Please, uncles." Chen Xi smiled, gesturing for them to sit, and led them into the main hall. As was customary, the front gates were closed by the house guards.

"Let’s be frank. I know exactly what you both want to say, and likewise, nothing will stop me from doing what I intend to do. If you can convince me otherwise, then by all means, go ahead." After taking his seat, Chen Xi looked at the two men and spoke bluntly.

Neither Chen Shang nor Chen Guang responded. Silence, in this case, was as good as an admission that there was nothing they could do to stop Chen Xi.

Indeed, while aristocratic families could sacrifice their patriarch for their interests or even the majority of their clan to preserve their lineage, this wasn’t possible in Chen Xi’s case. Far from Chen Xi being a liability to the family, it was the Chen family that relied on him. In fact, even if Chen Xi wanted to sacrifice the Chen family, they would have no means to resist.

After all, Chen Xi’s rise was not because of the Chen family. He had ascended to the peak through his own efforts. In the past, one might have argued that Chen Xi owed a debt to the Chen family, but as his influence grew, the family increasingly relied on him. As long as he didn’t reject them outright, he would remain the Chen family’s pillar of support.

Chen Xi was no longer the young scholar who needed the backing of the Yingchuan Chen clan. Now, his mere name was enough to command the attention of the entire world.

Seeing that Chen Xi had no more to say, Chen Shang and Chen Guang exchanged glances. Finally, Chen Shang, who had a closer relationship with Chen Xi, spoke first.

"May I ask, family head, what your true intentions are?" Chen Shang stared at Chen Xi. "You once said you never intended to destroy the aristocracy and that you were simply reforming it. Yet now, why does it seem like you're specifically targeting our own family? Is it because the Chen family once wronged you?"

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