"That damned brat from the Cao family dares to humiliate my Yuan family like this!"

Seeing Yuan Shu's miserable state, even the most composed Yuan Feng was enraged and roared with fury.

"Master, you must do justice for Shu'er! Look how badly he's been beaten! My poor son..."

Cui, who was standing to the side, was also crying and looking at Yuan Shu lying on the bed with a pained expression.

On the bed lay Yuan Shu, his nose sunken, one of his front teeth missing, and his cheeks bruised and purple.

Especially below, as the doctor also said, if things had been even slightly off, the Yuan family would have had another eunuch.

Yuan Feng could tolerate his son being injured, after all, it was just a fight between children, and he couldn't blame anyone for not winning. But they actually stripped his son of his clothes and threw him in front of his mansion.

If this gets out, not only will the Yuan family's reputation be ruined, but his son will also become a laughing stock and never be able to hold his head up again.

"If we don't make the Cao family pay the price, does he think my Yuan family is so easy to bully?"

Yuan Feng left Yuan Shu's room with a livid face, and then ordered someone to go to the Sili government office to report the case.

Cao Cao, who had just run home, suddenly found his father sitting in the living room, looking worried. Cao Cao went up to greet his father.

"Father, you're back?"

"Hmm," Cao Song glanced at his son, "Aman, instead of studying at home, where have you gone again?"

"Oh, son went out to visit a good friend. Did you encounter any difficulties, father? Why do you look so worried?"

"Sigh~ You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Go and study. The Emperor is only twelve years old this year. While handling state affairs all day, he doesn't forget to study."

"And look at you, spending your days flying falcons and riding horses, utterly ignorant and incompetent. How can you possibly assist the emperor in the future?"

Seeing his son, Cao Song felt a little annoyed. His son was a year older than the emperor, so how could there be such a big difference?

"The emperor is no ordinary man, how dare I compare myself to him? Besides, when I grow up, I want to learn from the Marquis of Dingbian, to repel foreign aggression and pacify the internal strife, and to guard the region."

Cao Cao had heard of Duan Jiong's deeds and greatly admired him.

Cao Song glared at Cao Cao and scolded, "What's so great about that butcher Duan? Besides, look at the famous generals of the past, weren't they all well-read scholars?"

Cao Cao stubbornly said, "Even if I were to study, I would only study those subjects on governing the country and stabilizing the nation. I have no interest in reading those pedantic and pedantic books."

"you...."

Seeing his son like this, Cao Song was so angry that he was speechless.

"Father, you haven't said anything yet. Aren't you supposed to be in charge of the water conservancy project on the Emperor's orders? Why are you looking so worried?"

Seeing that his father was a little angry, Cao Cao quickly changed the subject.

"Sigh~ I've been traveling all over the Sanfu region these past few days and found that the water conservancy facilities in various places are in disrepair. If we want to repair them all, it will cost a fortune."

"The Western Liang region has just finished a major battle, and the national treasury is completely depleted. Where would we find the extra funds to repair water conservancy facilities?"

Thinking of the emperor's worried and concerned appearance, Cao Song, as the Grand Minister of Agriculture, felt extremely ashamed. He was in charge of managing the Han Dynasty's money and grain, but he had only left the emperor with an empty treasury. This was his dereliction of duty.

Cao Cao said dismissively, "What's so difficult about that? The court may be short of money, but our family is!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Even if we put the entire Cao family into it, we still wouldn't be able to raise even one-tenth of that amount."

Although Cao Song appeared to be concerned about the country and its people, it was unlikely that he would give away all his wealth.

“This great Han dynasty is not just about the Cao family. Besides, you and your grandfather amassed quite a fortune before the emperor ascended the throne. Why not take this opportunity to donate it? It will not only relieve the emperor’s worries but also bring a good reputation to our Cao family.”

"Um?"

Cao Cao's words seemed to awaken Cao Song. Looking at his son who was speaking eloquently, Cao Song nodded. His son's vision was much broader than his own.

“What my son said makes some sense, but it will be difficult to get those aristocratic families to contribute money.”

Cao Song shook his head as he recalled the faces of those aristocratic families.

Don't be fooled by those aristocratic families who always seem concerned about the country and its people, and who shout slogans louder than anyone else. When it comes to actually doing something, they'll probably run the furthest away from it all.

Cao Cao's eyes darted around, and then he said, "I have an idea, but I don't know if Father would be willing to do it."

"What idea do you have? Tell me."

"Father only needs to submit a memorial to the Emperor, stating that the national treasury is empty and the water conservancy project is imminent, and requesting the Emperor to temporarily revoke the tax exemption privilege of aristocratic families."

"What?"

Cao Song was so frightened by Cao Cao's words that he could barely speak, and a bead of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Nonsense! Are you trying to make enemies of all the powerful families in the world? Do you know the consequences of doing so?"

"Of course I know that, and His Majesty would not agree anyway. Father can then propose to donate money. I think those noble families will be able to weigh the pros and cons after considering it."

Cao Cao's method can be described as a cunning and insidious scheme, forcing those powerful families to choose: do they choose to have their foundations destroyed, or do they choose to have a brick thrown at them?

"That's a good idea, but if we do that, I'm afraid our Cao family will be hated by them from now on." Cao Song still had some concerns.

Cao Cao curled his lip: "Those aristocratic families have never liked us anyway. As long as we stick close to His Majesty, what can they do to us?"

Cao Cao's words were spot on. Cao Song had always been integrated into the aristocratic families, but because he was the adopted son of a eunuch, he was always ostracized and never accepted.

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