Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 298 I'll do it myself, the new "Hongnong Yang Clan"!
The soldiers of the Wuwei Battalion still exercised restraint, ultimately not wanting to kill anyone. Thus, after the fifteen strokes were completed, although cries of agony rose and fell, the court officials who were being punished remained conscious, groaning and wailing as they lay on the long table.

Dong Huang frowned and scanned the room, wondering if he should just knock everyone unconscious by hitting them on the back of the neck.

So he went to Xiao Yuan, who had just been tortured, and without saying a word, he used his palm as a knife to strike Xiao Yuan on the back of the neck.

Xiao Yuan, who had just been tortured, was lying on the long table, panting heavily, trying to relieve the excruciating pain in his buttocks. Caught off guard by the heavy blow, he almost couldn't catch his breath. He suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide open, staring at Dong Huang with shock and anger, and said, "Traitor...traitor! Do you intend to kill a minister without authorization!"

Huangmen Rong, standing to the side, also looked at Dong Huang from Zhao You's perspective, his eyes filled with inquiry.

But Dong Huang was looking down at his palm, muttering in confusion, "Isn't it said that a heavy blow to the neck can knock someone unconscious? Why isn't it working? Is it because I didn't hit hard enough?"

After speaking, Dong Huang flexed his wrist, seemingly preparing for the force of his next strike.

Upon hearing this muttering, Xiao Yuan instantly understood Dong Huang's intention. Her eyes widened even more, and she raised her hand with trembling fingers, pointing at Dong Huang. Her lips quivered, and she was so angry that she couldn't speak for a moment.

"what!"

Suddenly, Xiao Yuan let out a short, strange cry, her head lolled to the side, and she "fainted," collapsing motionless onto the long table.

This sudden turn of events immediately drew everyone's attention, and even the courtiers who were still groaning looked over.

Although Xiao Yuan had his eyes tightly closed while lying on the long table, he sensed that the surroundings had suddenly become deathly silent. He could even clearly feel the gazes falling on him, and he cursed inwardly.

He's not stupid. The Emperor clearly wants them to shut up. If he doesn't pretend to be unconscious now, is he supposed to wait for that brute Dong Huang to beat him to death with one blow after another?!
In the small hall, which of those who have been navigating the officialdom for many years is not a shrewd and astute person?
They all realized what was happening in an instant.

"Ugh!"

"It hurts so much!"

In an instant, screams of agony rose and fell, followed by heads lolling to the side as if they had "fainted."

Dong Huang looked at the officials lying on the ground in a "coma" and exchanged a glance with Zhao You.

Both of them knew the truth, but ultimately said nothing more.

Zhao You returned to the main hall of Jiade Palace to report to the emperor. His expression was somewhat strange. He bowed and reported, "Reporting to the country, the fifteen strokes of the cane have been completed. However, all those who were punished have fainted... The imperial physician examined them and said that they fainted because they were hit in the head by anger and then punished with the cane. Their qi and blood were turbulent."

Liu Bian was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. However, he believed that Zhao You was prudent in his actions and would not allow Dong Huang to actually harm these court officials, so he sent people to send these officials home to recuperate.

"I have always presented myself as benevolent and virtuous." Liu Bian sat on the steps of the throne, sighed softly, and looked towards the small hall where the execution had just taken place. His eyes were slightly reluctant, and his tone was low.

"How can my benevolence be seen as weakness and vulnerability? Even my ministers are unwilling to guard my mausoleum. I have failed as an emperor." The emperor's eyes were filled with sorrow, as if he had truly been heartbroken by his ministers. His gaze fell on Guo Tu, who was standing to the side, and he said, "Gongze, tell me why this is."

"Reporting to the nation!"

Guo Tu, like a hunting dog called upon by its master to participate in a hunt, almost instantly jumped up from his seat. With near-perfect tacit understanding between ruler and subject, he held his tablet and angrily said, "In my opinion, those who are unwilling to move to Moling to guard the imperial tombs are all disloyal and rebellious ministers!"

Guo Tu's sharp gaze swept over the other officials in the hall, and he said, almost word by word, "I believe that they are all remnants of the Yuan family of Runan!"

Upon hearing this, the court officials widened their eyes. If the emperor hadn't just punished the officials who insulted Lu Zhi, they would never have been so stingy with their praise for Guo Tu's mother.

Even if they migrated again, at least they would still have a chance to live, and these current officials and Confucian scholars naturally didn't need to worry about their family's future. But if they were labeled as "remnants of the Yuan family of Runan"... then they could expect to be sent down to meet their ancestors along with their entire clan!
Lu Zhi at most forced us to lose money, but you, Guo Tu, are trying to take the lives of our three clans!

Grand Master of the Palace Yang Yi immediately stepped forward, his face solemn, and earnestly expressed his loyalty to the emperor, saying, "My country, although I am a fellow scholar from the Central Plains with those disloyal people, I have absolutely no such intention!"

Although Yang Yi was a member of the Hongnong Yang clan, he belonged to a collateral branch.

The Hongnong Yang clan has two main branches, the most legitimate of which is Yang Qi, the current governor of Runan.

Yang Zhen's eldest son with his first wife, Lady Wang, was named Yang Mu. He inherited Yang Zhen's title of Marquis of Fubo and served as the Prime Minister of Fubo, continuing the family tradition of "honest and upright officials." Yang Qi was even praised and mocked by the retired Emperor Liu Hong for daring to remonstrate, saying, "Yang Qi is said to be a descendant of Yang Zhen with a strong and unyielding spirit. I think he will be sent to the capital after his death."

Yang Ci's father, Yang Bing, was born to Yang Zhen's second wife. Both of them were considered to have the status of "legitimate sons". In addition, the descendants of both branches developed well, so they were both considered to be the legitimate branches of the Hongnong Yang clan. However, in terms of legal principles, the line of Yang Qi, the governor of Runan, was the most legitimate.

When there is a conflict of interest, harmony is naturally difficult to maintain. Although there is no open conflict, there is bound to be some behind-the-scenes competition.

Now that Yang Ci has passed away, Yang Biao and many of Yang Ci's former students and officials have temporarily left the court to observe mourning. Yang Biao is worried that the political power of Yang Qi's lineage will take advantage of the window of opportunity when Yang Biao's lineage has completely withdrawn from the court to seize their interests. Therefore, he has entrusted Yang Yi, a trusted member of the collateral branch of the family, with a lot of power.

"On behalf of my own branch of the clan, I request permission to relocate to Yangzhou. However… I am unaware of the wishes of the other branches of the clan, and I fear they may misunderstand the nation's good intentions and voice their grievances, which would be undesirable. I earnestly hope that the nation will grant me the grace to wait a while. When I return home for the New Year's Day festival, I will certainly explain the situation to my clan in detail, expounding on the greater good and urging them to be grateful for the Emperor's grace!"

Yang Yi's words were very well said.

First, he severed ties with the “disloyal” “remnants of the Yuan clan of Runan” who had been punished, and then expressed his absolute loyalty to the emperor and the Han Dynasty by saying that his own branch of the collateral lineage was willing to migrate.

Finally, he cleverly explained that he had no right to represent Yang Biao and other direct descendants, and that he needed time to negotiate. This way, he neither offended his own clan, and his words were acceptable to the emperor.

“I know of your loyalty, so you need not trouble yourself with the affairs of Grand Commandant Yang’s family.” Liu Bian was not entirely unreasonable, and he could accept Yang Yi’s explanation. His expression softened, and he rose and descended the steps. He personally stepped forward to help Yang Yi up, saying, “However, I am very pleased that you have taken the initiative to lead your clan to relocate to Yangzhou as a role model for all officials. In the past, Yang Boqi (Yang Zhen) was known as the ‘Confucius of Guanzhong,’ and perhaps in the future, Yangzhou may produce a ‘Confucius of Jiangdong.’”

Liu Bian leaned slightly closer to Yang Yi, his voice extremely low, and with a meaningful smile, said, enunciating each word clearly, "Is that so, Doctor Yang?"

Yang Yi's body trembled slightly, and almost instinctively he raised his head, his eyes filled with undisguised terror, looking at the emperor who was so close to him.

The emperor still wore that gentle, warm smile, as if those astonishing words had not come from him. But the gaze in his deep eyes was like a cold knife, instantly piercing through Yang Yi's thoughts and seeing through his inner schemes clearly.

Yang Yi's last words, seemingly pleading for time to negotiate with the direct line, were actually a subtle trap set for Yang Biao.

Whether Yang Biao was willing to cooperate with the emperor or not, he could not have been as decisive and efficient as Yang Biao.

The worst thing is comparison. With him as the "model for all officials" in front of him, no matter what Yang Biao did, he would inevitably fall behind in the emperor's heart and could never regain the emperor's favor.

If Yang Biao is unwilling to cooperate, then Yang Yi will benefit even more. Therefore, the favor that Grand Commandant Yang Ci has accumulated for his clan in the emperor's heart will probably be completely exhausted.

But the emperor clearly saw through his little tricks. However, instead of reprimanding him, the emperor offered him a huge temptation that made him both tremble with fear and his blood boil – Confucius of Jiangdong!
These four words were like a magic spell, instantly dispelling the last trace of resistance in Yang Yi's heart caused by the relocation to Jiangnan.

Originally, he was unwilling to cooperate. Who would be willing to leave Hongnong County, which is so close to the capital, and choose the Wuyue region, thousands of miles away?

Although Hongnong is close to the capital, the direct line of the Hongnong Yang family is like two mountains pressing down on him, and his collateral branch will never have a chance to rise!

But the emperor's hint suddenly gave him an unprecedented opportunity!
An opportunity to break free from the constraints of the Yang family of Hongnong and to establish a separate lineage in Jiangdong!

Once this thought arises, it can no longer be suppressed!
I'll do it myself, "New Yang's"!
(End of this chapter)