"The people listed on this paper are those who are unwilling to accept their fate. They want to make an attempt, a final desperate struggle, and in doing so, they serve as both a means for the nobility to purge its own internal threats and as pieces on the chessboard for you, Zichuan," Chen Shang said with utmost calm.

"Do they know they’re just pawns? Or do they even understand their situation?" Chen Xi asked thoughtfully. "Or do they even know what their own families think?"

"Now, everyone on this list knows they're being sacrificed. They’re fully aware that they’re playing the role of Chen Hou's pawns to bring greater benefits to Xuande Gong. At the very least, by being branded as rebels, the situation remains under your control, giving you maximum flexibility, and allowing those of us who survive to gain the greatest recognition." A flash of pain was evident in Chen Shang's eyes.

As he spoke, Chen Shang closed his eyes slowly, and when he reopened them, there was a renewed sense of determination. "We want to truly integrate under Xuande Gong, not remain as outsiders. We live within this state, yet we don’t feel like we belong. If sacrificing ourselves can lead to the rise of our families, we, as the nobility, have never feared such sacrifices, including myself."

Chen Xi rubbed his forehead, acknowledging that while there might be some exaggeration in what was said, the so-called rebels were not mere words. They had a real chance of success, especially with internal and external collusion.

But now that Chen Shang had laid everything out, it was clear that these individuals were indeed accepting infamy and enduring humiliation to create an excellent opportunity for the rest of their families.

Sigh, Uncle, if only you could inspire the nobility to sacrifice themselves for the country and nation as they do for their families, I could assure you that the nobility would enjoy unending prosperity, Chen Xi thought bitterly.

Ah, the nobility… this is what they are—willing to risk their lives for the survival of their families, but with little concern for the country. They possess all the virtues, but unfortunately, they use them solely for personal gain.

"Very well, I will report this to Xuande Gong, and let him decide. There shouldn’t be any issues." Chen Xi sighed, acknowledging that the nobility was betting their lives that he would grant them a way out in exchange for their sacrifice.

"Thank you," Chen Shang said this time, fully adopting the role of an elder of the noble families, bowing deeply to Chen Xi.

"Is it worth it?" Chen Xi asked with a bitter smile. "They know it's a dead end—why do they still go through with it?"

"Because it achieves the family's goals, satisfies their own desires, and even holds a glimmer of hope for success. What's there to regret about sacrificing one's life? How do you think the nobility has survived countless crises if not through such sacrifices?" Chen Shang's voice was calm, but it carried a sense of deep satisfaction.

Chen Xi had nothing to say. He could understand the noble families' beliefs, and they indeed left him in awe. But unfortunately, these principles wouldn’t make him compromise on his values. A nation, a state—without it, there’s no family. It’s unacceptable to weaken the state to fatten the nobility.

If the nobility could channel such sacrifice towards the country, even with all their flaws, Chen Xi wouldn’t let them fade into history. But their sacrifices were only for their families, remembering only the virtues of their kin while forgetting the grace of the state. This short-sightedness inevitably led to their downfall.

Of course, it must be acknowledged that the Confucian scholars of later dynasties were even worse than the nobility. At least the true nobility had no deficiencies in virtue, and in times of national crisis, their interests often aligned with those of the state. This is one reason Chen Xi was not overly harsh on the nobility.

If the noble heirs could protect the state as they protected their families, Chen Xi believed it would be perfectly justifiable for them to enjoy their current power and privileges. In the current situation, the nobility is willing to die for their families—if they could do so for the country, there would be nothing more to say about their privileges.

Oh well, the nobility has its reasons for existing. Since they prioritize their families, given their moral integrity, I'll show them a way forward. How much they understand is up to them, Chen Xi thought, slightly moved by Chen Shang's resolute expression. After all, he wasn’t entirely heartless.

"Uncle, the existence of the nobility has its rationality. However, many of your actions have turned that rationality into irrationality. If you wish for long-term stability, family education and land are indispensable, but they are not the most important factors," Chen Xi sighed, planning to give Chen Shang some guidance. Whether the nobility would heed it was beyond his control.

Chen Xi's greatest confidence in dealing with the nobility was that he hadn’t treated them like swine to be slaughtered, as Emperor Wu of Han had done with merchants and powerful families. His policies towards the nobility had always been fair.

Except for restrictions on privilege and power, Chen Xi had never targeted the nobility in other areas. As long as they engaged in legitimate business, ran schools, and developed industries properly, Chen Xi never looked at them with a jaundiced eye. In Liu Bei's domain, the nobility enjoyed the same benefits as everyone else, and they also had to follow the same laws.

Indeed, Chen Xi had taken their land, but he had clearly stated from the beginning that they would be compensated later, and he had provided significant support in commerce. Otherwise, those who followed his lead wouldn’t be making such a fortune now. Of course, if you compare yourself to the Mi family, there’s no way you can compete.

Similarly, the plan to develop the Northeast Plain was a big pit, but it was filled with gold. Chen Xi's goal was simply to develop that land as quickly as possible.

For this reason, he planned to use this opportunity to integrate the power of the nobility from behind the scenes, driven by morality, honor, and benefits. In this regard, Chen Xi could confidently say he was genuinely providing benefits to the nobility. After this, the thousands of acres of land owned by noble families would multiply into vast, fertile fields.

These were tangible benefits, so even if the nobility eventually realized the full picture, there wouldn’t be much to complain about. They might grumble that Chen Xi was less than straightforward, pushing them into action without full disclosure.

The vast, uninhabited plains of the Northeast weren’t difficult to cultivate, but relocating people there was a challenge, especially with the initial wave of settlers. In the Central Plains, Chen Xi had laid all the groundwork; the people weren’t displaced or suffering. In such a situation, if the government tried to force migration, it would surely cause widespread unrest.

Even if this move was beneficial for both the people and the state, under the prevailing mindset of the common folk—deeply attached to their ancestral lands and content with their current well-being—the plan would likely result in significant loss of public support, and Liu Bei and Chen Xi might never see the successful development of the Northeast.

However, if the nobility were involved, they would have no choice but to relocate their servants, private soldiers, and laborers. Faced with the prospect of owning too much land to fully cultivate and failing to meet the requirements of their agreements, they would be forced to relocate even more people.

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