Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 299 A Powerful Family's Version of the "Decree of Grace"

The four words "Confucius of Jiangdong" struck Yang Yi's heart like an invisible hammer.

Not only him, but many scions of noble families from collateral branches in the hall also had their eyes flickering, as if deep in thought.

People from collateral branches like Yang Yi are not uncommon even among aristocratic families.

Let alone a top-tier family like the Yang family of Hongnong, which produced three generations of high-ranking officials, even ordinary powerful families are divided into direct and collateral branches.

Even in ordinary farming families, there are children who are favored by their parents.

There are many parents who favor their eldest or youngest sons too much, making other sons impersonate the favored child to perform corvée labor and military service. When the family property is divided, the eldest son's and the second son's property also differ in amount.

Of course, Liu Bian himself was the biggest beneficiary of the primogeniture system, and he could not possibly shake his own foundation.

Therefore, he did not intend to incite the illegitimate son to challenge the status of the legitimate son, but rather to exploit and intensify the existing conflicts between the legitimate and collateral branches within aristocratic families.

Learning from history, we can know the rise and fall.

The wisdom of our ancestors, even after three hundred years, can still guide future generations.

However, the "Decree of Grace" issued by Emperor Xiaowu three hundred years ago was to divide the feudal lords who "occupied dozens of cities and covered thousands of miles of territory," while Liu Bian today is using the discord between the direct and collateral branches to divide the powerful families who "own vast fields and live in luxury."

He gave the collateral descendants a way to spread their branches and branches out. Even though they are not being deliberately suppressed by the main branch at present, who doesn't yearn to become a main branch of a family one day?
Today, the Yang family of Hongnong enjoys boundless glory, having produced the "Confucius of Guanzhong," with three generations of high-ranking officials, and disciples and former officials spread throughout the land, firmly occupying the prestigious position of the direct line.

Why can't the Yang family of Danyang produce a "Confucius of Jiangdong" in the future, and become a new direct descendant with the same or even more illustrious family business?
Even if they could not be replaced in terms of patriarchal status, they could simply establish their own clan and no longer venerate the Hongnong Yang clan as their master, but instead remotely honor Yang Xi, the Marquis of Chiquan and a founding hero of the Han Dynasty, as their ancestor.

However, choosing to start one's own business is not an easy path.

Having broken free from the protection of the main branch, the political resources held by the offspring of the collateral branches will be far inferior to those of the main branch, and they may even face malicious suppression from the main branch.

At that time, the only person they could rely on was Emperor Liu Bian.

However, it is always better to be associated with a benevolent emperor than to continue being ridden over by one's own direct lineage.

Besides, does not attaching oneself to the emperor mean one will not be relocated or migrated?

Not to mention that the label of "remnant of the Yuan family of Runan" was absolutely unacceptable, in the court, the three dukes remained silent, none of the nine ministers spoke up, and even the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat Liu Tao and the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat Yang Xu did not stand up to object. Therefore, no one could have any objection to the important matter of "constructing the mausoleum for the emperor's longevity".

The direct descendants of the family would never abandon their base and migrate to Yangzhou; those pushed out to fill this gap would inevitably be the collateral descendants.

Since they are destined to be migrated, they should at least sell themselves for a good price, right?

They can't just be sold off for nothing, and all the money from that sale ends up in the pockets of the direct descendants, can they?

It seemed that all the scions of prominent families from collateral branches had been persuaded, and only one final push was needed.

Grand Commandant Yuan Pang, who was seated in the seat of the Three Dukes, slowly rose, holding an ivory tablet, walked to the center of the hall, bowed and said, "Your subject also wishes to ask the state for a reward."

Liu Bian smiled slightly, raised his hand to help him up, and said, "Grand Commandant, please speak."

Yuan Pang turned his gaze to an official in the Ministry of Personnel who was not yet thirty years old, and then said to the emperor, "I have a younger cousin who passed away six years ago, leaving behind three sons, all of whom are talented. If the country does not abandon them, I request permission to move to Yangzhou."

The Yuan clan of Chen Commandery was not as prosperous as the Yuan clan of Runan in the past, but it still had several collateral branches.

The most active branch is that of Yuan Teng, the second son of Yuan Liang, Yuan Pang's grandfather. Although only three male descendants remain in this branch, they are all virtuous and talented.

The eldest son, Yuan Ba, was a capable official. Before he turned thirty, he was appointed as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel after the mourning period ended.

The second son, Yuan Hui, studied the *Fei Shi Yi* and the *Zuo Zhuan*, but was so engrossed in classical studies that he was unwilling to enter officialdom. Therefore, he was summoned to serve by the Grand Minister Liu Yan three times, but he refused each time.

The third son, Yuan Min, is skilled in martial arts and also adept at water management. He is currently serving as a river embankment attendant in Yuzhou, where he is responsible for water management.

His three cousins ​​were all extraordinary men, which caused Yuan Pang much worry. Although he believed that his son Yuan Huan was also a talented man, he was still worried that he would be outnumbered and unable to support the family business, and that the collateral branches would eventually usurp the position of the direct line. However, he could not bear to deliberately suppress his cousins. The relocation of the imperial mausoleum to Yangzhou was an opportunity.

This not only preserved family harmony but also secured a future for several of his cousins.

Yuan Ba, seated in the Secretariat, glanced intently at Yuan Pang, who was chatting and laughing with the emperor. He understood, shook his head slightly, and did not foolishly stand up to object.

By stepping forward at this moment, he not only disgraced Grand Commandant Yuan Pang, but also openly stood against the emperor.

Furthermore, over the years, Yuan Pang has never used his official rank to bully them, his relatives, but has instead taken good care of them.

When his father passed away, his mother also fell ill after a month of excessive grief and followed his father. The family was too poor to give his parents a proper burial, so Yuan Pang took care of all the funeral arrangements.

In this environment where collateral branches are generally looked down upon, Yuan Pang's actions were already more than the best he could do for them.

Moreover... moving one's household registration to Yangzhou might be an opportunity.

Liu Bian readily agreed to Yuan Pang's request.

Immediately afterwards, Xun Shuang, Cai Yong, and other officials of the rank of two thousand shi also left their seats, requesting that their clansmen be relocated to Yangzhou. For a time, it seemed as if being able to move to Yangzhou had become a special honor that required the emperor's favor.

Seeing this, the courtiers in the hall who came from collateral branches of aristocratic families finally stopped hesitating.

Representatives from collateral branches of prominent families in the Central Plains, including the Li family of Runan, the Zhou family of Runan, the Ma family of Fufeng, the Du family of Jingzhao, the Wei family of Hedong, the Wang family of Shanyang, and the Yang family of Taishan, rose from their seats to express their loyalty to the emperor and offered to cooperate with the court's arrangements, indicating that they would move their families to Yangzhou as soon as possible.

In any case, the grand court assembly finally came to an end, and the courtiers left the Jiade Hall of the imperial palace in small groups.

However, despite leaving in small groups, the crowd clearly split into two groups outside the grand gates of the Jiade Hall.

Apart from a few close relatives from the main branch and collateral branches who were discussing helping the collateral branches relocate, the vast majority of officials from collateral branches of powerful families spontaneously gathered together.

On the other side, there were mostly representatives of the direct branches of each family, their eyes cold and filled with undisguised disdain as they looked at the collateral branches opposite them.

"Traitor!" a member of the direct lineage spat.

Someone on the other side immediately retorted: "Insect!"

The two factions were locked in a fierce confrontation, their relationship as irreconcilable as fire and water. The short journey home from court became their battleground for exchanging "friendly" greetings.

As for the content of the "warm and friendly" greetings, they invariably revolved around the other person's mother.

Since we are all of the same origin, it would be hurtful to insult the female ancestors of past generations, so we can only insult the mother of the person we are closest to.

But the way they greeted each other was, without exception, filthy.

What do you mean your family is poor? I have seen your mother sneak into other people's homes at night to raise you. Now that you are an official, you should be filial to your mother and not let her hard work for you every night go to waste.

I've heard that your mother keeps seven or eight young and handsome male servants. I don't know how your mother can be so strong and brave at her age. Please ask your mother for me if she has any secret methods for maintaining her health.

Moreover, to avoid giving others any reason to criticize, the officials of a thousand rank would greet each other, those of six hundred rank would greet each other, and those of a marquis would insult each other. The officials would strictly choose their opponents based on their official rank and title, and would never give the other party any reason to "insubordinate" to report them.

Liu Bian stood on a high place inside the hall, coldly watching the farcical scene of spittle flying outside the hall through the cracks in the doors and windows.

He would find it strange if these people didn't tear each other apart like this.

However, he did not intend to stop them; the more these people made a fuss, the smoother the process of immigrating to Yangzhou would go.

Liu Bian was in a good mood. He hummed a tuneless little tune and turned to return to Yuntai Pavilion to handle government affairs.

Suddenly, the eunuch Zhao Zhong staggered into the Jiade Hall, collapsing to his knees, breathless and his voice trembling, and cried out urgently, "The...the nation! Two hours ago, Consort Liu...Consort Liu's amniotic fluid broke!"

(2607 words)
(End of this chapter)