After leaving the prefectural governor's mansion and returning home, Zhang Yan once again invited those powerful figures to his home.

Everyone sat silently in their seats with solemn expressions, creating a rather oppressive atmosphere in the hall.

After a long pause, Zhang Yan spoke up: "Gentlemen, I have a feeling that today's events are unusual. Just a few days ago, I received a message saying that everything was normal in Danyang. How could it have suddenly fallen today?"

"Yes, I also find it strange. The people in Danyang clearly said that they wouldn't let Sun Sheng come here!"

The people in the hall couldn't help but discuss among themselves, seemingly still not quite believing that Danyang had fallen.

One of the young men couldn't help but speak up: "Could it be that those people suffered losses and are resentful, wanting to drag us down with them?"

"impossible!"

Zhang Yan shook his head: "Those people didn't lose anything at all; on the contrary, they profited quite a bit. If Sun Sheng is allowed to come over and the situation gets out of control, then it will be a real loss. They're not that stupid!"

"Could it be that Danyang was not lost at all, and that Tian Feng and Zhang Zhao were deceiving us?" one of them said doubtfully.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan's expression shifted: "It's very possible that they came here not to quell the rebellion, but to deal with us!"

The young man frowned: "No way? Could it be that they've found out about us?"

"Hmph, even without this rebellion, do you all think they would have let us go?"

Zhang Yan snorted and continued, "Back then, the Yuan, Yang, Cao, Xun and other major families personally took action and wiped out all the powerful clans in Liaoxi County over the coal mine issue."

Now that they control the North, they've set their sights on the silk of Jiangnan, and we have naturally become a thorn in their side!

"So that's how it is. These greedy bastards are truly hateful!"

"That's right. We have lived in Jiangnan for generations and have never had any disputes with them. How dare they disregard morality and try to seize our family property?"

Once they came to their senses, the crowd couldn't help but hurl insults at the powerful families of the north, and the living room erupted in chaos.

"Everyone, please be quiet!!"

Hearing the cursing from the crowd, Zhang Yan patted the documents beside him with annoyance.

Seeing this, everyone shut their mouths and looked at Zhang Yan.

After everyone quieted down, Zhang Yan said in a deep voice, "At this point, cursing is useless. The only thing we can do is try to protect ourselves!"

"But now Lujiang has been blockaded by them, and we are all trapped in the city, becoming fish and meat. How can we protect ourselves?"

"Yes, most of my family members are in the village outside the city. It won't be so easy for them to get into the city!"

The crowd began to chatter amongst themselves, their words falling into disarray.

Zhang Yan also frowned and pondered deeply, but after thinking for a long time, he still couldn't come up with a good solution.

Then Zhang Yan said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, it is impossible for us to resist now. We can only wait for an opportunity!"

"Timing? What timing?"

Zhang Yan: "Since Tian Feng and Zhang Zhao let us return, they must have some concerns, which is why they want to conduct a search to screen us."

Therefore, after you all return, you must make preparations as soon as possible, and make sure you do not give them any leverage. Only in this way can we be safe for the time being.

During their search, we also need to send people outside the city to contact our respective subordinates and those in Danyang, so that they can rescue us as soon as possible.

"At this point, this is the only way!"

Upon hearing this, everyone had no other choice but to nod in agreement.

"Furthermore, after you return, please make sure everything is clean and tidy, and that there are absolutely no mistakes, so as not to implicate others!"

In the end, Zhang Yan still couldn't help but give one more piece of advice.

"Don't worry, Patriarch Zhang, we understand!"

Everyone nodded, and then took their leave.

After everyone had left, Zhang Yan hurriedly returned to his study, found several secret letters, and then ordered someone to bring a brazier and burn them all.

On the other side, the aristocratic families and small landowners who had agreed to leave were also packing up their valuables under the supervision of the Imperial Guard cadets.

Before long, these people shouldered their bags, dragged their families out of their homes, and headed towards the north gate. Many people in the city saw this and inquired about the reason behind it.

Soon, news of the rebel army's imminent arrival in Lujiang spread far and wide, and countless people hurriedly packed up their belongings and followed the gentry and small landowners to the north of the city.

Meanwhile, powerful figures like Zhang Yan took the opportunity to send men to infiltrate the fleeing civilians in an attempt to make contact with the powerful families in Danyang.

Tian Feng, Zhang Zhao, Lü Bu, Dong Zhuo, Dian Wei, and several others also gathered inside the prefect's mansion.

Dong Zhuo frowned and asked, "Two strategists, with so many people fleeing now, will those powerful clans flee with them?"

Zhang Zhao smiled and said, "It's better that they escaped; that way, we'll have less to worry about!"

"Oh?" Dong Zhuo frowned. "Could it be that the strategist is deliberately giving them a chance?"

Seeing that the two strategists had not yet given the order to search the powerful clans, Dong Zhuo began to use his brain, which was unusual for him, to guess the intentions of Tian Feng and Zhang Zhao.

Zhang Zhao nodded: "That's right. These powerful figures should definitely be killed, but not all of them. Their existence is a cancer to the Han Dynasty, but they are not without value!"

"Value?" Dong Zhuo was slightly taken aback: "What value could these guys possibly have?"

Lu Bu chimed in, "Zhongying has been by His Majesty's side for quite some time now, how come he still doesn't understand His Majesty's thoughts?"

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