Chapter 24 Thunderous Measures

"This isn't a difficult matter." Lin Yu pondered for a moment and then said with a smile, "Didn't the prefect just recruit a batch of talented people from humble families? They can just fill the vacancies."

"Right! How could I have forgotten about this!" Cao Cao slapped his forehead, and his eyes lit up immediately. Although these young people from humble families lack experience and might make some mistakes at the beginning, as time goes by, they will surely be able to gradually replace those from the gentry families.

"As for the matter of those who are obstructing the common people from reclaiming wasteland, it's also easy to solve. The prefect can adopt the strategy of killing one to warn a hundred!" Lin Yu said with a cold smile.

"I've already found out that among the gentry families in Dongjun, the Huang family is the leading one. The prefect can start with the Huang family."

"This... won't it be too drastic?" Cao Cao hesitated.

"If it were when we first arrived in Dongjun, it would indeed seem drastic." Lin Yu explained slowly, "But now the prefect has already issued a series of policies that have won the hearts of the people. Under the trend of having the support of the people's will, taking actions against the gentry isn't considered drastic."

After thinking it over, Cao Cao felt that Lin Yu had a point. Now that he had the support of the people, why should he be afraid of those gentry families? Whether it was the gentry descendants resigning from their official positions or obstructing the common people from reclaiming wasteland, it was all the doing of the gentry behind the scenes. They really needed to be taught a lesson.

Thinking of this, Cao Cao nodded and said, "Let's do as you say, sir. But... what excuse should we use to take actions against the Huang family?"

"It's not difficult. Don't the Black Mountain Bandits often appear in Dongjun? We'll use the excuse that the Huang family is colluding with the Black Mountain Bandits and wipe them all out!" Lin Yu said calmly.

"But we don't have any evidence." Dian Wei couldn't help but interrupt.

Lin Yu glanced at him and said with a smile, "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext! As long as we take actions against the Huang family, I can find whatever evidence you need!"

"Right, sir is correct!" A glint of coldness flashed in Cao Cao's eyes, and he sneered, "Do as you say! Mancheng, Wenqian!" (The courtesy names of Li Dian and Yue Jin)

"Your subordinates are here!" Li Dian and Yue Jin responded in unison.

"You two immediately lead a thousand elite soldiers to the Huang family's mansion and wipe out the whole Huang family. Don't let anyone escape!" Cao Cao gave the cold order.

"Your subordinates will obey the order!" After receiving the order, the two quickly left the courtyard.

Lin Yu noticed that Zhao Yun's face showed some reluctance, so he asked in a low voice, "Zilong, do you think this is too cruel?"

Zhao Yun hesitated for a moment and then nodded, "Yes, big brother. Although the Huang family's actions were excessive, they don't deserve to be wiped out completely, do they?"

"That's because you're too naive." Lin Yu shook his head and said slowly, "When we were gathering information in the city, you should also know that the Huang family has developed to this point and has bullied countless common people! Now the world is in chaos and the common people are living in hardship, which has a lot to do with these powerful gentry families like the Huang family! Taking actions against the Huang family today is to suppress the gentry and let the common people live a better life! You must remember that those who aim to achieve great things cannot be overly sentimental!"

Zhao Yun's body shook, and his eyes gradually became firm, "Big brother is right. I understand now!"

Lin Yu nodded with satisfaction. He was really worried that Zhao Yun might be a stubborn person.

Inside the Huang Family's Mansion

In the Huang family's mansion, the gentry members were still gathered there.

"Haha, Master Huang's plan really worked. I heard that the county yamen has been in chaos these two days!"

"That Cao Cao is so reckless. He dares to oppose us, the gentry. This is his comeuppance!" The people laughed loudly.

Even Huang Silang was looking complacent, saying with a smile, "Everyone, don't worry. If this continues, in a few days, Cao Cao will have to bow to us!"

However, just as his words fell, the door was suddenly pushed open.

A servant rushed in hurriedly, shouting, "Master, something bad has happened! Our Huang family's mansion is surrounded by the army!"

"What?!" Huang Silang jumped to his feet immediately, and his face changed drastically. "Where are those troops from?"

"Master, I heard that they are the prefect's troops! They say that our Huang family is colluding with the Black Mountain Bandits and they are going to wipe out our whole family!" The servant said with tears streaming down his face.

"That Cao Cao is really audacious!" Huang Silang immediately felt his scalp tingling.

He never expected that Cao Cao would act so out of line and directly want to wipe out his whole Huang family!

At this moment, the shouts of killing could already be heard from the front yard.

The gentry members who were just looking complacent were now all scared pale.

"Master Huang, please think of a way quickly!"

"Yes, or it will be too late!" The people seemed to be grabbing the last straw and all looked at Huang Silang with pleading eyes.

Huang Silang thought for a moment and then forced himself to calm down, saying, "Everyone, don't panic. We are all prominent gentry families in Dongjun. Cao Cao wouldn't dare to do anything to us! You all wait here for a while. I'll go out and negotiate with them!"

Hearing this, the people felt a little relieved, "Thank you, Master Huang!"

"With Master Huang going out to handle this, there will surely be no problem!"

Huang Silang didn't say anything more and got up to walk out of the main hall.

But to everyone's surprise, instead of going to the front yard, he rushed hurriedly towards the backyard.

The servant following him couldn't help but ask, "Master, aren't you going to negotiate with the prefect's troops?"

"Negotiate my foot! At this critical moment, of course, escaping is the most important thing!" Huang Silang cursed loudly.

He had just said that to calm down these gentry members.

Joking aside, when Cao Cao was the Northern Captain in Luoyang City, he dared to beat to death the uncle of the powerful eunuch Jian Shuo with the five-colored club. Now as the prefect, he holds the power of life and death in the whole prefecture. Wiping out a whole family is something he can definitely do! Huang Silang didn't think that his face could make Cao Cao let them go!

The most urgent thing now was to escape quickly!

Fortunately, Huang Silang had a sense of crisis and had set up a secret passage in the mansion long ago for emergencies.

But the other gentry members weren't so lucky!

It was only when Cao Cao's soldiers broke into the door and tied them up that they realized that Huang Silang had already escaped!

"Prefect, we are innocent!"

"Please give us a chance!"

"We are gentry. You can't treat us like this!"

Outside the Huang Family's Mansion

Cao Cao's face was gloomy as he watched the gentry members being tied up and escorted out one by one.

He seemed to turn a deaf ear to their shouts and pleas for mercy.

Not long after, Li Dian, dressed in military uniform and looking murderous, walked out and shook his head slightly at Cao Cao, "Reporting to the prefect, the whole Huang family has been captured, but Huang Silang, the head of the Huang family, escaped through the secret passage."

Cao Cao's brows furrowed slightly, but then he relaxed again and said coldly, "Never mind. A mere Huang Silang is not a cause for concern. Let him escape if he has escaped."