Chapter 196

Chapter 196

As the saying goes, those who follow the right path have many supporters, while those who stray from it have few.

To become a leader everyone rallies behind, you must first win people's hearts—and winning hearts means not just offering hope, but also giving people a sense of safety and security.

To put it bluntly, no matter how much scheming goes on behind the scenes, you can't slack on the outward show—in short, you've got to hold the moral high ground to win people over completely.

Just like Emperor Taixuan and his son, who secretly wished nothing more than to get rid of him, yet to keep up appearances at court and with the public, they still had to keep up a show of benevolence—publicly they could only demote him to Yanzhou, while privately they plotted their revenge.

So if Han Zhang was going to rebel, he absolutely needed to project the image of a wise ruler.

And what's the simplest way to build that image?

Why, "righteousness over family," of course!

Is there anything in this world that shows a person's selfless, noble character better than putting family aside for the greater good?

Of course, Han Zhang wasn't actually planning to throw his family under the bus.

After all, the Han clan members were decent enough folks, and there weren't that many of them—he couldn't just casually burn through them.

This was all just for show, and a way to kill two birds with one stone—shifting some clan members from the public eye into the shadows, using an excuse to send them off to get things ready for his rebellion...

So when Han Zhang heard something had gone down in the clan, he immediately said to Jiang Wencheng, all urgent-like:

"Brother Jiang, something's happened in the clan, and I need to go back and see what's going on. If I can't make it back to the office by tomorrow, I'll have to ask you to hold down the fort here."

"Brother Han, go on ahead. I'll keep an eye on the office—don't worry about a thing."

Jiang Wencheng naturally nodded in agreement.

After that, Han Zhang quickly gave a few more instructions on official business, then left the city with Shen Qinglan, heading straight for Yunxiang Village, where the Han clan had settled.

Since this was all an act for Jiang Wencheng's benefit, Clan Chief Han wasn't exactly keeping a lid on things—the whole matter was blowing up.

Once he "got the full story," the cause turned out to be pretty simple:

It was just that some of the Han clan men, puffed up after the family's rise, had gotten ideas about taking concubines.

And people from nearby villages, knowing this was the Lord Prefect's ancestral family, were looking to curry favor—either sending matchmakers to propose matches or quietly sending their prettiest daughters and lads to "accidentally" run into the men and get them tangled up.

The Han clan had strict rules, but not everyone was on the same page—some men just couldn't resist temptation and went home demanding to take a concubine.

But the Han clan's wives, though they came from country stock, had been handpicked by the clan elders—they were sharp-tongued and tough, and not one of them was about to take that lying down.

Their husbands had barely had a few good days before they started calling them "old hags"? And now they wanted to bring pretty little concubines through the door?

Fat chance!

So husband-and-wife fights broke out, spread to several families, and the whole thing snowballed until the entire village was in an uproar.

When Han Zhang was called back to settle things, the wives, led by Third Cousin Han's wife, didn't flinch—they stepped right up, all fired up:

"Big Brother, perfect timing! You're a man of books and reason—today you need to settle this fair and square for your sisters-in-law!"

"Which one of us wives didn't suffer through the hard years with your Han family? Back when we were so poor we couldn't even put food on the table, we never once looked down on our men—we ran the household, worked the fields, bore kids and raised 'em, all with our own two hands!"

"Now that life's gotten a little easier, they turn around and call us old and washed-up, wanting to drag those flashy little fox-spirits into the house!"

"When your Han family came asking for our hands, they swore up and down they'd treat us well for life. And you, Big Brother—right after you passed the imperial exam, you said with your own mouth you'd never forget where you came from or toss aside your wives."

"So what's this now? You've got your prefect seat, we've all moved to Yunyang Prefecture, our families are far away, and we've got no one to back us—and now your brothers want to kick us to the curb?"

Third Cousin Han, hearing this, naturally wasn't having it. Covering his bruised and swollen face from his wife's beating, he went red in the face and shot back:

"You shrew! When did I ever kick you to the curb? A man having three wives and four concubines is only natural. I just want to take one concubine—I never said I'd divorce you and marry someone else. If you don't agree, fine—but you actually laid a hand on your own husband! You've got no wifely virtue at all!"

Several other men, all banged up too, chimed in, looking plenty indignant:

"Exactly! It's just a concubine—what's the big deal?"

"What's so improper about it? What's wrong with it? Pah!"

Hearing that, the wives got even angrier. Hands on hips, eyebrows shooting up, they yelled even louder:

"You lying, black-hearted bastards! You think we country folk don't know the law? Three wives and four concubines is for officials—what are you commoners getting all high and mighty for?"

"The law of the land says it plain as day: commoners can only take a concubine if they're over forty and the wife hasn't had any kids—and even then, just one!"

"Which of us hasn't popped out two or three kids for you? Which one of you even qualifies for a concubine? And besides, can you even afford one?"

"Everything in this house—food, drink, day-to-day expenses—still depends on us wives working the fields to earn it! You expect us to bust our backs and then support your little concubines on top of that?"

"You're just counting on our families being far away, thinking you can push us around! Let me tell you—I don't need my family. I'll beat you to death myself!"

With that, Third Cousin Han's wife rolled up her sleeves and charged forward, raining blows on her husband again.

Seeing this, the other wives also gritted their teeth and lunged at their own men.

Not a single one of them backed down.

In an instant, the courtyard erupted into a cacophony of shouts, curses, and the sounds of dodging and colliding—chickens flying and dogs jumping, quite the lively scene.

The original villagers of Yunxiang Village gathered at a distance, watching dumbfounded, truly having their eyes opened: these Han clan wives were absolutely ferocious!

Finally, after both sides had fought their fill, they sat back down to talk under Han Zhang's stern command.

Han Zhang rubbed his temples with some headache and said, "Alright, tell me—what are you all thinking?"

Third Cousin Han's wife once again represented the wives and lads, wiping her tears and speaking stubbornly:

"In short, we will never agree to concubines. Unless they can do like you, Big Brother—pass the imperial exams and become officials. A commoner taking a concubine is just forcing us to be beasts of burden, forcing us to die."

"If we can't live, then these faithless men won't live either! We'd rather be widows—we will never agree to divorce, and we will never share a roof with a concubine!"

The other wives and lads nodded in agreement.

And Third Cousin Han, representing the men, retorted angrily:

"We can support our own concubines! And we're taking them for the sake of expanding the clan's progeny—they're just being jealous. In any case, we're determined to take concubines."

"If they don't agree, fine—we'll divorce them! Women and lads who dare strike their own husbands don't deserve a proper divorce settlement!"

His words immediately drew furious glares from the wives and lads.

But Third Cousin Han and the other men didn't back down either.

Both sides glared at each other, utterly resolute, looking ready to come to blows again at any moment.

"Enough! What kind of nonsense is this—husbands and wives scrapping in public?"

Han Zhang cut them off, clearly annoyed.

Shen Qinglan, of course, sided with the wives and husbands. Burning with anger, he couldn't help but snap at Third Cousin Han and the others:

"You talk like you can afford concubines? These days, taking a concubine costs at least ten or twenty taels of silver. Do you even have that kind of money?"

"Or do you think that just because my husband is now the prefect and runs Yunyang Prefecture, he can haul gold and silver back to the clan to line your pockets?"

"Or maybe you're planning to use his name to take bribes and rake in money from lawsuits?"

"Look at how you make your money—whether it's the crops from the fields or the dividends from the matchstick workshop—every last bit of it was earned with your wives and husbands working right beside you!"

"So go on, tell me—without bleeding your wives and husbands dry, what are you gonna use to buy a concubine?"

That blunt, no-holds-barred speech left everyone red in the face.

Han Zhang didn't stop his husband. He turned to Clan Chief Han and the others and said, "Grandpa Chief, Grandpa Elder, what do you make of all this?"

Clan Chief Han and the others immediately answered, their voices full of bitter disappointment: "The clan naturally won't allow this. The Han family has stood firm all these years on the principles of clean conduct and standing together."

"These wives have stuck with our Han family through thick and thin, borne our children, and weathered storms with us for years without a single complaint. Our Han family can't turn our backs on them."

"Clan Chief..."

Third Cousin's wife and the others were deeply touched by those words.

But Third Cousin Han and the others dug in their heels: "That's not fair! Back when Big Brother was studying, we all pitched in big time. Now that Big Brother's made something of himself, we can't even take a concubine—where's the logic in that?"

"Are we men supposed to let our wives walk all over us? Grandpa Chief, Big Brother, if you won't let us take concubines, then don't blame us for going out and blabbing about the clan's dirty laundry."

They even resorted to threats, which showed just how dead set they were.

Third Cousin's wife and the others were crushed. Tears streamed down their faces as they clutched their kids and wailed: "You heartless bastards..."

"Mommy, Daddy, I want my mommy and daddy. Papa's bad, Papa's bad..."

The kids huddled in their parents' arms, crying.

Seeing all this,

Han Zhang took a deep breath, put on a pained look, and finally slammed the table, his voice stern:

"Both sides are at fault today! The husbands, forgetting old ties and chasing after pretty faces, are heartless. The wives, hitting their husbands in public and forgetting their place, are out of line!"

"But the first rule of the Han family is 'Righteousness over lust.' You're sons of the clan, yet instead of bettering yourselves, you act like spoiled brats, disrespect your elders, and drag our clan's name through the mud. By the rules, you deserve to be punished!"

Han Zhang swept his gaze across the room and laid out the solution he'd already cooked up:

"Since you're so dead set on taking concubines and proving how capable you are, then I, as your elder cousin, won't stop you."

At that, everyone was stunned.

Third Cousin Han's eyes lit up, thinking Han Zhang had caved.

But Han Zhang went on:

"But! You can take concubines, but only if you're kicked out of the clan! From today on, you'll pack up and start your own households—you'll no longer be part of the Han clan!"

"What?" Third Cousin Han and the others went pale. "Kicked out of the clan?"

"Exactly!" Han Zhang said without missing a beat. "Since you think the clan's rules are tying your hands, then get the hell out!"

"From now on, whether you live or die, whether you take concubines or beg on the streets, it's none of the Han family's business. And your names will never show up on the clan register again!"

"As for the land, silver, and matchstick workshop dividends in your names—by clan rules, you can't take any of it. It all stays and goes to your underage kids. They've got Han blood in their veins, and as long as they carry the Han name, the clan will never abandon them."

With that, Han Zhang's tone softened. He turned and walked up to the wives and husbands led by Third Cousin's wife, his face solemn and full of guilt. He clasped his hands and bowed low:

"Sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law... in this matter... in the end, the Han family has done you wrong. If you're willing to live like widows, then stay and raise the kids. I, Han Zhang, swear that no one will ever bully you widows and orphans, not even a little."

"If you don't want to stay, the Han family will put together generous dowries, bring in an official matchmaker to arrange new marriages, and send you off in style. From now on, the Han family will be your second home."

"Here, on behalf of those good-for-nothing brothers of mine, I apologize to you all..."

As his words trailed off, Han Zhang actually bent at the waist in a deep bow, his posture low and his sincerity plain to see.

Clan Chief Han and the white-bearded elders also rose unsteadily, bowing the backs that had stayed straight their whole lives. Tears streaming down their old faces, their voices choked up:

"Granddaughters-in-law and grandsons-in-law... it's our fault, us old fools, for failing to teach our sons and grandsons properly, letting them lose their heads. You've been wronged, and we've failed the trust of your families..."

Third Cousin's wife and the others were reasonable at heart. Their anger was directed only at their own husbands' fickleness and greed, not at the fair and strict clan.

Seeing Han Zhang and the elders humble themselves so deeply on their behalf, they wept even harder—but these were tears of gratitude.

The wives and husbands hurried forward, scrambling to help them up:

"Clan Chief, Elders, Brother Big Cousin, please get up! This is too much!"

"What does this have to do with you? It's those heartless ones who strayed from the path!"

"Say no more. The children are all here. This is our home, and we're not going anywhere!"

"Yes, Big Brother, we trust you, we trust the clan!"

Third Cousin's wife wiped her tears, her voice resolute: "As long as the clan doesn't let us mothers and children suffer injustice, we are Han family in life and Han family ghosts in death!"

"That's right! We're not leaving! Why should we? This is our home!"

"If anyone leaves, it's those faithless men..."

The Han family was such a good clan—only a fool would leave.

As long as the clan could guarantee a stable life for them and their children, with land and silver in hand and children at their knees, whether the faithless husband was around truly didn't matter much.

Without a husband, there was one less person to serve, leaving them free and at peace to focus on raising their children—wasn't that even better?

The women and husbands married into the Han family were never the type to just weep and wail. Most were capable and fierce.

This commotion was merely to secure their own and their children's rightful interests and security. As for romance and love, few were truly troubled by it.

Of course... among these "troubled" families, aside from a few with genuine problems, the rest had been carefully selected by the clan—wives and husbands who could hold things together and were loyal to the clan.

Otherwise, if all these capable wives and husbands ran off, the clan's losses would be immense.

And so.

Under the forceful stance of Han Zhang, Clan Chief Han, and the elders.

Third Cousin Han and the others could only shout in anguish, struggling as they were driven out of the clan.

"Fine, fine, fine! Elder Clan Head, Big Brother! Since you think so little of us, then we'll leave!"

"But what goes around comes around—don't underestimate the young and poor! When we make a name for ourselves out there, don't you come regretting it!"

Under everyone's gaze, Third Cousin Han fumed, then led his people away resolutely, like he was heading out to seek his fortune.

However, the group had barely left the village when those few clan members who hadn't truly wanted to leave—only stirred up to make a fuss for more benefits—started panicking and crying:

"Th-Third Brother! Didn't we agree to act tough just to lean on Big Brother and the clan for more silver and perks? How... how did we actually get expelled?!"

"Exactly! Apart from doing some manual labor in the clan's workshop, we're useless at both letters and martial arts. What could we possibly achieve out there? Live on air?"

"Third Brother, how about... how about we go back and bow down to Big Brother and Elder Clan Head to admit our mistake? I'll drop the concubine idea, I'll never mention it again. I'll just stay with my wife and live peacefully. I don't want to leave!"

Thinking of the stable, prosperous life in the clan—work to do, food to eat, dividends to share, carefree as long as they obeyed—and contrasting it with the unknown hardships outside, their knees started knocking.

Too bad.

They had only meant to put on an act to squeeze out more benefits, but Third Cousin Han and the others were on a family mission and truly intended to run off.

"A real man never breaks his word! How can one live without any backbone?"

Third Cousin Han scolded them sternly: "If they don't want me here, I'll find a place that does! Since Elder Clan Head and Big Brother look down on me, I'm determined to go out and build a career that will make them eat their words and regret their decision!"

He looked around at the group, his tone resolute: "Enough talk! Those willing to follow me out to truly fight for a place—come with me now! If you'd rather hide in the clan and enjoy an easy life, too cowardly to take a risk, then stay behind and go beg for forgiveness!"

With that, Third Cousin Han said no more, leading a few brothers who were truly "like-minded" as they quickened their pace and disappeared down the path without looking back.

Leaving behind the few who had been set up, standing there with bewildered and fearful expressions, totally confused and completely rattled.

Brother, that's not what you said before!