Chapter 30 The Only Choice

  "I agree, but I don't support it," said Fei Zhao succinctly.

  "Why?" Liu Zhang didn't get angry and continued eating rice with an unchanged expression.

  "The four branches of the imperial examination system are beneficial to the state, but they also affect family interests. No matter which family, including mine, will resist it. I, Fei Zhao, am an old man with one foot in the grave, what benefits can I still talk about? If it's good for the Han Dynasty, I'll support it, but my younger relatives won't necessarily agree, and even if they do, others won't, so I cannot support you, sir."

  "If this official can help you suppress those dissenting voices?" Liu Zhang said casually.

  Fei Zhao was shocked and asked, "How to suppress?" Fei Zhao had heard about the beheading of several people in Fu City, and also heard that Liu Zhang ignored the advice and executed Li Yi and Pang Le, two generals. Now that Liu Zhang said so, Fei Zhao easily thought that Liu Zhang wanted to use military force to quell the unrest, how could he not be shocked?

  "I guarantee that not a single hair on their heads will be harmed." Liu Zhang said calmly.

  Fei Zhao really couldn't think of a way for Liu Zhang to make those family juniors obey, and could only say: "If the Governor can really make those disobedient family juniors submit, Fei Zhao will fully support the Governor's four selections for official positions."

  "Alright, you can go down now and bring Deng Heng in on your way."

  Before long, Deng Heng walked in from the outside, Liu Zhang asked him to sit down casually, and Deng Heng could only find a position to sit down nervously. Since the Zhang family decided to oppose the four sciences and take office, the Deng family was one of the vanguards. But why did Liu Zhang call himself over, and also with Fei Zhao who had never gotten along with the Jiangzhou aristocracy?

  "Deng's family has done a good thing." After Deng Heng sat down, Liu Zhang also finished his meal and pushed the bowls and plates in front of him inward. He turned around and said to Deng Heng: "Your Deng family has done many great things. Not only did you instruct your family members to resist the four official examinations, but when Zhao Wei was in charge of Shu Nan, your Deng family was a strong supporter, controlling the Jiangzhou rice market and taking advantage of Zhao Wei's power to arbitrarily raise rice prices."

  "Your family members have committed many crimes, one of your nephews has repeatedly robbed and raped civilians, and another nephew who is a county official has embezzled taxes and made a fortune under the guise of collecting taxes. He even helped to forge accounts and misappropriate funds. Isn't that right, Head of the Deng clan?"

  Deng Heng listened to Liu Zhang's words, with a thousand thoughts flashing through his mind. He didn't know whether Liu Zhang was going to exterminate the chaotic party connected with Zhao Wei or use himself as a warning to others who resisted the four branches of officialdom. In either case, his own life would not be spared.

  However, for the sake of the entire clan, Deng Heng made a rational choice and stammered: "G-great lord, these commoners really don't know..."

  "Haha." Liu Zhang laughed loudly several times, and praised: "Deng Da Zu Long answered well, the responsibility was clear, but this official is very dissatisfied. This official dislikes ambiguous people even more, and dislikes those who follow behind Zhang Jia Lao's old rascal, waving flags and shouting slogans."

  The last two sentences, Liu Zhang almost said to Deng Heng's ear, Deng Heng felt Liu Zhang's breath, as if all turned into murderous intent, his head "hums" and he couldn't think anymore.

  Liu Zhang looked at Deng Heng, who was covered in dust and dirt, and waited until he had barely recovered before speaking: "Deng Da Zu Long, to be honest, I didn't want to see you tonight, but I still called for you. You must be very curious about the reason, right? You might think that I'm going to investigate Zhao Wei's rebellion or take action against your Deng family as a warning to the Zhang family. But I can only tell you that you're thinking too much."

  Your Deng family has a general, Deng Xian. You probably haven't forgotten this nephew, have you? He was the general who swore to die on the city wall of Fucheng and followed his superior officer to the end, never abandoning him even in the most difficult times, and had the merit of deceiving the enemy into surrendering. His superior officer spared his face and didn't want the Deng family to be destroyed like this. Deng, the head of your clan, you'd better think carefully about this."

  "Deng Xian?" Deng Heng hadn't fully digested the information Liu Zhang had given him.

  Liu Zhang said in a cold voice: "Deng, the head of the Deng family, this official has no patience, and Deng Xian's face is not that big. This official will only point out one way for you to go. According to the information I have, the Zhang family plans to besiege the county government tomorrow. Your Deng family must openly oppose it and publicly support my four subjects taking office. Hand over your nephew and grandson, and from now on, restrain your clansmen and keep a low profile. Otherwise, except for Deng Xian, no one in your Deng family will see the sun after tomorrow."

  Sweat dripped down Deng Heng's face.

  Liu Zhang bowed his head and said in a low voice to Deng Heng, "Head of the clan, you can think that I am sowing discord among the Jiangzhou aristocracy, but remember, you only have one chance to choose, no retreat."

  Deng Heng's whole body trembled, and sweat drenched his entire back. His heart was fiercely struggling - to obey or disobey? To obey would mean becoming an enemy of the entire Jiangzhou clan. If Liu Zhang was just making empty threats, then the Deng family might be forced into a desperate situation by the various clans. But if they disobeyed... the entire family would be destroyed. Deng Heng couldn't bear such a cost.

  Reason told Deng Heng that no matter how cruel Liu Zhang was, he couldn't possibly destroy a whole family, let alone slaughter the entire Jiangzhou aristocracy. Yet deep down inside, he always made Deng Heng believe that what Liu Zhang said was true.

  What should I choose? Deng Heng felt that he had never been so miserable in his life, and he resented why Liu Zhang had called him to make such a choice.

  After a while, Deng Heng gritted his teeth and said to Liu Zhang: "Yes, yes, I am willing to follow your orders, but my family's young masters are arrogant and unruly, I'm afraid it will be difficult..."

  "That's your business." Liu Zhang said coldly: "This official will only look at the attitude of the Deng family's children tomorrow, and as for the rest, this official can't control it."

  "Yes, yes." Deng Heng trembled and responded several times before retreating from the room. The night wind blew, and only then did he realize that his entire body was drenched in sweat, even his shoes were filled with sweat.

  In the house, Deng Xian came out of the side room and bowed to Liu Zhang, saying nervously: "My lord, what did the clan leader say?"

  "If he doesn't listen to my orders, will you blame me?" Liu Zhang said quietly.

  Deng Xian took a step back, thinking that Deng Heng had already made a foolish choice. Thinking of his clansmen being trapped in a sea of blood, he couldn't help but shudder all over. After half a moment, he asked Liu Zhang: "Your Excellency, can you spare my family?"

  "Alright." Liu Zhang replied succinctly.

  Deng Xian let out a slight sigh of relief, but his brow remained furrowed.

  At this time, Wang Can walked in from outside. Liu Zhang waved his hand and let Deng Xian go out, asking Wang Can: "Are those officials willing to take over the position of the superior officer?"

  The Jiangzhou aristocratic officials were almost exterminated, and their positions had to be replaced. Liu Zhang sent Wang Lei to persuade the subordinate officials to take over the positions of their superiors. Although Wang Lei strongly opposed Liu Zhang's treatment of the aristocrats, at this point, Liu Zhang's mind was made up, and he could no longer be dissuaded. He could only follow Liu Zhang's will, hoping that after the extermination of the aristocrats, there would be a stable Jiangzhou.

  But Wang Can still shook his head helplessly and said to Liu Zhang, "Although these officials are mostly from humble origins, they fear the aristocratic families even more and are afraid of provoking revenge from them. They don't dare promise to take over the main official position and use some grandiose excuses to gloss it over."

  Liu Zhang let out a sigh and said, "This is within my expectations."

  "My lord, since it's like this..." Wang Lü was about to speak when Liu Zhang cut him off, saying: "At a time like this, don't try to persuade anymore. These officials are unwilling to take over the main official position, and I'm not without a plan."

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