The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

At this moment, among the crowd of powerful clans watching, someone slowly spoke up, their tone laced with sarcasm: "I wonder what this governor intends to do next?"

"You should know that most of the goods in the treasury have been destroyed. This governor will probably have to take full responsibility."

"Heh, what governor?"

"When a new official takes office, we should see if he can win over the local gentry. If he can't win them over, or arrange marriages, then the position of governor of Zhuojun is just a piece of cake."

"He may be able to sit up, but he might not be able to sit steadily."

Another person echoed this sentiment.

Throughout the entire Youzhou region.

These aristocratic families may not be as powerful as the Han imperial relatives, but even in Guangyang County alone, they still have the confidence and strength to challenge the governor.

Soon, a long path automatically parted in the crowd.

Liu Hong, dressed in the official robes of a governor, arrived quickly with all the elite soldiers and retainers from the governor's mansion.

In the blink of an eye, nearly a thousand soldiers surrounded the treasury and sealed off the streets and alleys around it.

When the patriarch of the Liu family saw this scene, he couldn't help but frown slightly, thinking to himself: Is he trying to establish his authority so soon?

What Liu Hong wanted to deal with was definitely not just this minor official who guarded the treasury.

The governor and he really didn't have much of a connection; that minor official was just unlucky to have run into the limelight.

As for who was behind this, the Liu family patriarch already knew.

After all, back then...

How this branch of the Han imperial family came to power in Guangyang Commandery and how they secured their position as governor—their underhanded methods are still vivid in our minds today.

"hehe."

The elder of the Liu family chuckled inwardly, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding aristocratic members who were feigning composure, his sneer growing even stronger.

"After so many years, these people's methods are still the same."

"Very well, let's see how this Lord Liu will make an example of someone now."

Although the elders of the Liu family had some guesses at this moment, they still knew nothing about the specific way to deal with Liu Hong.

Ultimately, the rise of the Liu family of Zhuojun was too rapid, so these aristocratic people, including allies of the Han imperial family, knew too little about the Liu family's style of doing things.

Now is the perfect time for them to reveal their hand.

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Liu Hong's icy voice suddenly rang out: "Guards. Arrest all the patriarchs of the major clans in Guangyang County."

"Not a single one can be let go. If anyone escapes, I, the governor, will hold you all accountable."

The moment these words were spoken, all the aristocratic people who had come to watch this spectacle were stunned.

After a brief moment of astonishment, a man from a prominent family, dressed in a scholar's robe and blue gown, couldn't help but let out a cold laugh and immediately questioned, "What is the governor's intention?"

"Don't tell me you believe that the fire in the treasury is related to us?"

"If it is related, I urge Your Excellency to provide evidence. Otherwise, this matter cannot be resolved so easily. What do you think, Your Excellency?"

As soon as he finished speaking...

Other members of the aristocratic families echoed their sentiments, and for a time the clamor was deafening, subtly giving the impression of a coup.

Liu Hong, however, had already grown somewhat bored with this scene.

He looked up at the member of the powerful clan who had spoken, his gaze icy, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "Evidence? Do you want witness testimony or physical evidence?"

Liu Hong cast a cold glance at the man from a prominent family dressed in a scholar's robe and blue gown.

He spurred his horse forward, and with a gentle flick of his whip, the fine steed felt the force and slowly moved forward, arriving before the nobleman.

A hint of coldness flashed in Liu Hong's eyes as he asked the question in a deep voice, word by word.

The aristocratic man's expression immediately changed slightly, and he subconsciously took a step back, his heart pounding uncontrollably: Could it be that Liu Hong really has witnesses and evidence?

How could this be?

At this moment, it wasn't just this one member of the aristocratic family who was alarmed; the hearts of the other members of the aristocratic family also began to pound.

These aristocratic families appeared to be closely united on the surface, but in Liu Hong's eyes, they were nothing more than a disorganized mess.

Nowadays, when faced with an attack from a force as overwhelming as Liu Hong's, everyone is too busy protecting themselves to care about the lives of others.

The only way to deal with these people is with overwhelming force.

And most importantly, we must not delay. If we do, we will get stuck in this quagmire and eventually fall into their territory. Only then will we be truly helpless.

This has been a consistent tactic of these aristocratic families throughout the centuries of the Han Dynasty.

However, some people value the Han imperial family more, while others only value their own family.

The latter, in fact, constitutes the vast majority.

A member of the gentry sneered, then pressed on, "Now, let's see what other tricks the Prefect has up his sleeve?"

"it is good."

Liu Hong also laughed loudly.

The next moment, with a gentle clapping, a crisp sound rang out.

Followed by.

A strange sense of panic involuntarily surfaced in the eyes of the surrounding aristocratic people.

Simply because in their eyes, it was someone they had already bribed and then silenced.

Zhang Ada is now standing alive and well before everyone's eyes.

At this moment, Zhang Ada, dressed in a coarse cloth short coat, walked straight up to Liu Hong, bowed and kowtowed: "This humble subject, Zhang Ada, greets Your Excellency, the Prefect, and all the esteemed officials."

A cold smile played on his lips. Despite being of humble origin, his aura at this moment subtly overwhelmed the noblemen before him.

"Recount what happened in the past, and bring out all the physical evidence as well, so that we, the lords of Guangyang County, can explain it."

Liu Hong spoke calmly, his gaze sweeping over the pale-faced members of the aristocratic families.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Zhang Ada nodded heavily and stood up in response.

At that moment, a member of the gentry couldn't help but step forward and loudly proclaimed, "Your Excellency, why should we believe the words of a mere commoner in today's affairs?"

"Regarding the burning of grain and goods in the treasury, all the ethnic groups in Guangyang County are willing to donate all of them to replenish the grain and armory of Guangyang County."

"I implore Your Excellency to make a wise judgment."

The other gentry members echoed this sentiment, each one sweating profusely with anxiety.

After all, no one can guarantee who else will be implicated by Zhang Ada next.

Is it more important to seek immediate gains or to uphold the reputation of their aristocratic family?

The answer is self-evident.

If they cannot resolve this matter for their family on their own, they will likely have no chance of returning to the family and may even be expelled from the family register.

That day arrived.

Their fate was predictable.

Without their aristocratic status, how were they any different from ordinary people?

The final outcome will likely be disastrous.

Just thinking about it is terrifying.