Chapter 749: The Beginning of Reform

As Fa Zheng pressed on toward Shouchun, Chen Xi had already begun to settle matters with the aristocratic families of Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Taishan. Of course, as for those families in Xuzhou who had entirely chosen a different path, Chen Xi could only ignore them for now.

"Patriarch," Chen Shang appeared before Chen Xi after taking a day to rest, adhering strictly to the etiquette expected of an elder towards the family head, without any additional undertones.

"Take a seat, Uncle Grandfather," Chen Xi gestured to the chair opposite him. Afterward, Chen Yun brought in tea and snacks before quietly withdrawing, leaving only Chen Shang and Chen Xi in the room.

"Zichuan…" Chen Shang hesitated, sighed deeply as he saw Chen Xi take a sip of tea, unsure of how to begin.

"There's no need for such worry, Uncle Grandfather. Everyone makes their own choices, and theirs weren’t necessarily wrong. You can rest assured; I have no intention of digging into past matters. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be in such a rush to settle things with the families. When needed, I will make use of them." Chen Xi set down his cup, his expression calm.

Chen Shang opened his mouth as if to say something but then gave only a bitter smile, silently acknowledging his understanding.

"For this afternoon's meeting at Manxiang Tower, the Chen family need not attend. You will take over some of the businesses under my control. I'll have Chen Ge deliver the documents this afternoon." Seeing Chen Shang's silence, Chen Xi knew that the events of the previous day had affected him. Though it was a fact that aristocratic families prioritized self-interest, violating agreements was an immense disgrace for them.

"This…" Chen Shang was startled, lifting his head to look at Chen Xi’s unchanged expression.

"I have no intention of severing ties with the Chen family," Chen Xi explained with a smile, noticing the drastic change in Chen Shang's expression and realizing his actions had been misinterpreted.

"Then why this course of action?" Chen Shang asked, confused.

"The Chen family needs to remain low-key. Just as before, there’s no need to seek conflict. With me at the forefront, the greatest benefits will come. There's no need to chase after everything. Being generous benefits everyone." For the first time, Chen Xi used the term "we" when addressing the Chen family.

"Good!" Chen Shang was overjoyed. This was the first time Chen Xi had clearly expressed his intentions. Chen Shang wasn’t foolish; he understood that as long as Chen Xi was around, their family would continue to prosper. They didn’t need to pursue trivial gains, and their approach could be steady and dignified.

"Ordinarily, I won’t interfere with the Chen family. The elders can manage things however they wish, but when the need arises, if I say go east, the Chen family must go east. But rest assured, I won’t harm my own family. However, our class needs some adjustments to align with both law and morality," Chen Xi said calmly.

"The family head is naturally the leader of the clan. This is as it should be," Chen Shang nodded in agreement.

"If there are outstanding members among the younger generation of the Chen family, let me know. I will personally oversee their education," Chen Xi said with a sigh. "The same goes for members of the Yingchuan Chen family. After all, we are all one Chen family."

A glimmer of joy appeared in Chen Shang’s eyes. For years, Chen Xi had largely ignored the Chen clan that had relocated to Taishan. Now, he was finally beginning to take charge of the family's affairs, and it seemed like he intended to consolidate the family.

"Patriarch, what is the reason for this change?" Chen Shang asked, still puzzled by the sudden shift.

"The aristocracy needs a leader, just like the Yuan and Yang families once had. Now, the Yang family is trapped in Chang'an, barely able to protect themselves, and though the Yuan family remains powerful, they are not aligned with us," Chen Xi explained.

As he had predicted earlier, once the north was stabilized, the next step in governance wouldn’t be as simple as suppressing the aristocracy and supporting the common people. The aristocracy still held considerable knowledge and power. Rather than repressing them, it would be more effective to channel their abilities constructively. When the time came, someone would need to lead them, ensuring they didn’t stray from the right path.

Chen Shang swallowed hard. With the Yang and Yuan families out of the picture, the top-tier aristocratic families left were the likes of the Xun and Chen families. Although the Xun family was influential, the Chen family was no pushover either.

The thought of the Chen family becoming the leading aristocratic clan filled Chen Shang with an intense excitement. The prospect of being at the pinnacle of the aristocracy was irresistible. Prestige brought wealth, and the two went hand in hand.

"That’s why the Chen family needs to stay low-key, so low-key that no one even notices us. All we need to do is quietly do good deeds," Chen Xi patiently instructed his elder.

"Indeed, that makes sense. In such a climate, even the smallest mistake will be magnified many times over," Chen Shang mused, nodding in agreement. "But the Yuan family won’t be so easily toppled. If we act too quietly, and ultimately fail, we may still face their backlash."

"The Yuan family may be strong, but they’re not my match. I dislike the ways of the aristocracy. I want top-down reform along with bottom-up reform, pushing the aristocracy to change swiftly," Chen Xi said plainly.

"I hold the aristocracy's moral standing in high regard, but I can’t stand their conduct. I need the aristocracy’s actions to match their claimed morality. That’s why I will take on the role of Chen family head," Chen Xi continued.

"The Yuan family…" Although Yuan Shao’s plans had failed this time, the unrest in Taishan was proof that Yuan Shao was not weak.

"Yuan Shao is not the problem, nor is the Yuan family. I only want the Chen family to quietly undergo reform. Before Lord Xuande finishes securing the north, we need to present the aristocracy with a successful model of reform, so they can see that there is another path forward." Seeing Chen Shang's hesitation, Chen Xi didn’t want to elaborate further. He had already made up his mind and was not offering a choice.

"If the family head has already decided, why bother discussing it with me instead of simply issuing orders?" Chen Shang, exasperated by Chen Xi's unyielding tone, asked with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"So that people understand," Chen Xi replied casually, popping a piece of pastry into his mouth before continuing. "It’s better if people understand. But if they don’t, I’ll have them realize the necessity through the reforms themselves. This is something I’ve already decided on, and it will not be stopped."

Chen Xi’s words left Chen Shang grimacing, but they also made it clear that Chen Xi's determination would not be swayed. After a long pause, Chen Shang sighed deeply, "Since the family head has made the decision, I’m sure the elders of the Chen family will understand."

At this point, what more could Chen Shang say? Both in principle and in practicality, he could only agree to Chen Xi's demands and prepare for the Chen family to become the first to implement these reforms. Whether this transformation succeeded or failed would determine the course of many future events.

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