Tell them to go back and prepare.
Of course, not to prepare gifts, but to prepare weapons.
That's right, weapons.
In ancient times, vying for water sources was never something that could be settled through amicable negotiations.
It required the use of force.
The law of the jungle.
Only the strong can possess resources, possess water sources.
But how to prove oneself to be strong?
It's simple.
Use force to beat the other party down.
Actually.
The methods used to vie for water sources during the late Eastern Han dynasty were actually quite gentle.
In the 1980s and 1990s, in the flower-planting nation (China).
There was an absurd situation where two villages in Guangdong fought over water resources, taking out Maxim guns and mortars to bombard each other.
They even used the three-three tactics.
In the end, the army had to intervene.
Only then were the two sides resolved.
It can be seen that the martial virtues of the flower-planting nation have been engraved in their bones from ancient times to the present.
They like to farm.
But if anyone prevents them from farming, they don't mind planting those who disagree in the fields.
Of course, it can also be seen from another perspective how cruel vying for water sources is.
Even in the industrial society of later generations, it was like this.
Let alone the agricultural society of ancient times.
Therefore, what they vied for was never water, but the chance to survive.
Not long after.
At the entrance of Apricot Blossom Village.
The sons of the Chu and Xiahou families came out, each carrying weapons.
They stood on opposite sides, clearly divided.
However, most of them were not standard weapons, but ordinary farming tools.
Although the Han Dynasty did not prohibit swords and spears, only crossbows and armor.
This doesn't mean one can wield swords and guns around flaunting their might.
Actually.
Purchasing and forging standard weapons require registration.
Of course, the process is not difficult.
As long as it's not a large purchase, the officials generally don't care.
And standard weapons are not something everyone can afford.
The vast majority of people here are farmers.
They haven't learned martial arts.
Even if they bought a standard weapon, they wouldn't know how to use it.
They have farmed the land for their entire lives.
If they really have to fight, switching to unfamiliar weapons may be less effective than using farming tools.
Finally.
All those who went to Zhao Manor from the Chu and Xiahou families had arrived.
At a glance, they were all young and strong.
In times of disaster, the old, young, women, and children would scrape together their meager grain and prioritize supplying them.
Just for this moment.
The scales of the Chu and Xiahou families weren't actually that large.
Each family was about the same size as the Zhao family.
But together.
They managed to gather over six hundred young and strong men.
Almost as many as all the people in Zhao Manor.
However, the weapons of the young men on the Xiahou family side were clearly better.
After all, they were a branch of the Xiahou family, a prominent clan from Qiao County, Pei County, Xu Province.
Perhaps the relationship was distant.
But they still received gifts from the main branch, including, but not limited to, various books and martial arts.
The Chu family on the other side was clearly inferior.
The young men were almost all holding farming tools.
Only a very small number held standard weapons.
But in terms of order.
The two families were completely the opposite.
The Chu family, who had no reliance, had better order than the Xiahou family, who was a branch of a prominent family.
Especially when the two leaders walked forward.
The young men of the Chu family, upon seeing Chu Ji, all stood up straight and remained silent.
They already had a hint of obedience and order.
While Xiahou Xing walked out.
The young men of the Xiahou family also gave him a salute.
But after a while.
They returned to their own devices.
If you carefully observed the eyes of the two groups.
You'd find that the Xiahou family's young men only held respect for Xiahou Xing.
While the Chu family's young men, besides respect for Chu Ji, also had a deep fear.
This was also due to the personalities of the two men.
Chu Ji became the clan leader because he was the strongest in the Chu family.
While Xiahou Xing became the head of the family.
Simply because he was the eldest son of the Xiahou family.
Of course, he wasn't stupid either.
A fool couldn't be the head of a family with hundreds of members for so long.
The sons of the clan wouldn't respect him so much either.
He just wasn't as forceful as Chu Ji.
Chu Ji was the first to arrive in front of the two groups, ahead of Xiahou Xing, then said in a loud voice.
“Everyone, be quiet. Let me say a few words.”
As soon as he finished speaking.
Not only did the Chu family's young men quiet down, even the Xiahou family's young men fell silent and looked at Chu Ji.
Chu Ji nodded slightly, then said.
“I believe everyone already knows about the matter of Zhao Manor cutting off the water from the Hu Tuo River.”
“Cutting off someone's water source is like cutting off their lifeline.”
“Therefore, we must take back what belongs to us.”
“Everyone, follow me!”
As soon as he finished speaking.
Chu Ji walked in front, leading the Chu family to set off first.
Xiahou Xing also quickly stepped forward, leading the young men of his clan, following close behind.
Xiahou Lan on the side stepped forward, tilting his mouth.
“Father, the Chu clan leader is a little overstepping his boundaries.”
Xiahou Xing looked at Chu Ji's back, not knowing what he was thinking.
“Si Zheng, don't underestimate the Chu clan leader. He's building his image.”
Si Zheng was Xiahou Lan's courtesy name. He furrowed his brows and muttered.
“Building his image? Building it at our Xiahou family's expense?”
Xiahou Xing shook his head.
“I'm asking you, how is the situation in the world right now?”
Xiahou Lan's expression froze, knowing his father was testing him.
“The Han Emperor is deceived by treacherous officials. The Ten Attendants are corrupting the government, selling official positions, forming cliques, and engaging in corruption. Coupled with the ongoing famines across the land, the people are displaced. The Han Dynasty... is bound to fall sooner or later.”
“But what does that have to do with the Chu clan leader building his image?”
“Could it be he wants to rebel?”
Xiahou Xing shook his head.
“You, you have a clear understanding of the world's trends, but you lack understanding of human nature.”
“He probably wouldn't dare to rebel.”
“He's building his image right now simply to establish a tough image in our two families.”
“If the world truly descends into chaos, and our two families live in the same village, then he will have the opportunity to use our two families as a foundation to seize a portion of power during the upheaval.”
Xiahou Lan widened his eyes.
He didn't expect the Chu clan leader to have such grand ambitions.
“So, father, you're just going to let him do that?”
Xiahou Xing shook his head.
“If he truly has the ability, following him wouldn't be a bad thing.”
“Our two families have been together for a hundred years. Although they are still two families, they have actually become intertwined, each containing a part of the other.”
Xiahou Lan was taken aback.
Because he realized his father was right.
Over a hundred years.
The Chu and Xiahou families, living in the same village, were still nominally two families.
But in reality, they were inseparable.
Many of his friends were Chu family members.
His grandmother and several aunts were Chu family members.
Several of his brothers married Chu family members.
Even his younger sister, some of her daughters were married to Chu family members.
The same goes for the Xiahou family.
Although the two families are of different surnames, they are basically all related.
With such a relationship.
Chu Ji only needs to keep building his image.
When the world descends into chaos, if he raises his banner, there will surely be many who answer his call.
Xiahou Lan understood.
But it was useless.
Because this was an open and obvious scheme, straightforward and relying on personal charisma.
I believe that more than just his father in the Xiahou family saw this.
Everyone is watching.
To see if this man is truly a worthy leader to follow.
Moreover, when the world truly descends into chaos.
Who are you going to follow?
Following someone familiar is always better than blindly following someone unknown, right?
.........
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