A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 244 Grant of authority
How can I demonstrate my loyalty?

Chen Mo provided the answer, or rather, Chen Ping, the ancestor of the Chen family decades ago, provided the answer.

"What is known to the outside world is not concealed in the slightest."

Under the glow of the bronze lamp under the hibiscus tree, the handsome Chen Mo, with the still-youthful hair on his face, spoke eloquently: "You must let those above understand you, understand you in every detail, know your strengths, know your weaknesses, and even know your mistakes. If you have committed a minor or major offense, that would be even better. Only in this way will those above be willing to believe you."

Everything that belongs to the superiors comes from power. For power, clarity means security, while absolute clarity means insecurity.

"Giving power to superiors" is the fastest and most direct way for subordinates to gain the trust of their superiors, bar none.

However, the security of power for those in power means the insecurity of the lives of those in power. Those in power who have leverage over those in power can abandon them at any time if they wish.

Zhou Gong, Xiao Qing, and Zhang Cheng's expressions changed slightly. To entrust one's life and fortune entirely to another, especially the Liu family monarch, what kind of spirit is this?

If Emperor Hui did not speak, then which of the following emperors—Emperor Gao, Emperor Wen, Emperor Jing, and Your Majesty—was not an emperor who was used and then discarded?
The ruler may be considered benevolent and forgiving now, but who can guarantee what will happen in the future?
“My two uncles and Zichuan, you are always worried about the future and focus on long-term considerations, often forgetting the immediate worries and thus missing opportunities.”

Chen Monong could guess what his uncle and brothers were thinking. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said, "You don't think that there aren't any people in your circle or family who are directly impeaching the Censor, do you?"

Xiao Qing and Zhang Cheng's expressions remained unchanged. Zhang Tang's Embroidered Robe Directly Points to the Censorate is frantically infiltrating every aspect of the Han Dynasty, like mercury seeping into the ground, penetrating every nook and cranny. There are more unfamiliar faces in the family than before. Without even investigating, one knows that it is related to the Emperor and the Embroidered Robe Directly Points to the Censorate.

Only Zhou Gong's expression changed drastically. "Xiao Mo, do you mean that my Zhou family has spies from the Supreme Lord?"

"Uncle, be careful what you say."

Chen Mo was aware of the difference in sensitivity between families of strategists and families of generals, so he was not surprised by Zhou Gong's reaction. He reminded him, "That is the Emperor's concern. Perhaps in the future we will be colleagues and serve in the same court. We should be friendly."

After this incident, they would likely be rewarded and promoted to the imperial court. They would be colleagues with the secret envoys who were directly appointed to the position of censor. They were all working for the emperor and the court.

What's with all this talk of spies and spies? Everyone's just doing their job, why make things difficult for each other?
Helping others is helping yourself; it's all about this.

Zhou Gong's face was still grim. He couldn't get over the hurdle in his heart. Someone was spreading rumors about the Zhou family. The feeling of living under the watchful eyes of others was indescribable.

Chen Mo shook his head at Zhou Gong, then looked at Xiao Qing and Zhang Cheng and smiled, "We've long been in the sights of those above us, so we have no secrets left. There's no harm in taking the initiative."

This is the highest power.

It allows one to know everything one wants to know, reaching a state of near-omniscience.

“If you really don’t want your superiors to know everything, at least make it appear that you have revealed everything to them,” Chen Mo added.

It's fine if you don't want to take the initiative to explain, but you can't be evasive or talk about other things. That's a matter of attitude.

As Prime Minister Gongsun said in the imperial court: "If you understand, you must execute; if you don't understand, you must also execute; you must understand in the process of execution." You can oppose, but you cannot resist.

Zhang Cheng met Chen Mo's gaze and said cryptically, "You'an, you know, our families have all made mistakes in the past, some of them unforgivable sins..."

The larger the clan, the more diverse its members, and the more arrogant and reckless they become. At the peak of the founding heroes' group, everyone had committed numerous crimes, which have lingered to this day.

The Lord is not the kind of person who can't tolerate a wrong, but he can be described as hating evil as if it were his enemy. Once the crimes are exposed, the elders of several clans will probably all perish. "My ancestor said that people should have the courage to make mistakes, but even more so the courage to bear the consequences. The truth will eventually come out. If they expose themselves now, they will only die. But when it is found out, Zichuan, you must be prepared for the death of your entire clan."

Chen Mo knew very well the character of the elders of the powerful clans in the past. They would not leave the house unless they engaged in some bullying, market manipulation, or forcing women into prostitution. Before His Majesty ascended the throne, the group of founding heroes was powerful, and Emperors Gao, Wen, and Jing did not easily take action against them. But under His Majesty's current indulgence in luxury, he did not care about so much. As long as he maintained good relations with the cruel officials of the time, there would be no problems.

Now, the ruler is recruiting people.

It truly proves the old saying: retribution may be delayed, but it will come eventually.

Based on Chen Mo's understanding of the Zhou, Xiao, and Zhang families, if one day all the old grievances were brought up and the entire clan were to die, it wouldn't be a curse, but rather a statement of fact.

Now, Xiao Qing and Zhang Cheng's expressions also turned ugly. If so many people in their families would die under the rule of the Supreme Ruler, why couldn't they try to support His Majesty?

“That would be exterminated by the Yi tribe, Uncle.”

Chen Mo looked at Xiao Qing, his smile unwavering, and said, "Those wealthy families who were swayed by His Majesty's blood pact thought the same thing: since they were going to lose money and people, why not take a gamble?"

"Do they have the strength to fight the Supreme Lord? To fight General Wei? To fight the Marquis of Champion?"

"Uncle, we have no choice!"

It seems they have a choice: support His Majesty or support the Emperor. In reality, they have no choice at all. If they follow His Majesty, Cao Cao and his clan will be wiped out. If they follow the Emperor, Cao Cao can save his life and his clan can survive. This is the current state of the Han Dynasty.

Those who fail to see the times and desperately try to survive, or even dream of wealth and glory, are not risking their lives, but rather committing suicide, and even risking the death of their entire clan.

Zhou Gong, Xiao Qing, and Zhang Cheng suddenly felt extremely unwell. They were all going to die sooner or later. The Liu family rulers were all the same!

Chen Mo looked at the three men and recalled the family records about Emperor Xiaowen's forced death of his maternal uncle, Bo Zhao, by making him cry at a funeral. Of the four emperors of the Han Dynasty, excluding Your Majesty, Emperor Xiaowen, Emperor Xiaojing, and the Supreme Emperor all killed without shedding blood. The Supreme Emperor's methods were even more advanced than those of Emperor Xiaowen and Emperor Xiaojing.

It forces people to walk down a dead end even when they know it is, because there is no other way.

No, there is another path: overthrow the Han Dynasty and establish oneself as the ruler of China. However, if one had that strength, one would not have come to this point.

"How many secret agents in the Chen family are directly under the control of the Censor?" Xiao Qing asked.

"I don't know, maybe a few dozen people."

"What is his/her status within the Chen family?"

“My family’s elder is none other than the Imperial Censor,” Chen Mo replied with a smile.

The old man was the chief steward of the prefecture. The Chen family entrusted all family affairs to the embroidered-robed censor.

Zhou Gong, Xiao Qing, and Zhang Cheng were deeply shocked and remained in shock for a long time.

(End of this chapter)