Ma Chao said: "This matter is a long story. To put it simply, the ministers had to fight against the power of the family, so that they could no longer have too much influence in the court and under the state and county as they do now; For the sake of the Han family, but also for the sake of the people of the world, the ministers asked them to hand over their cattle and horses, dock walls, hidden households, slaves and maids, money and grain, household soldiers, mountain pools, and fields, and suppress them to the greatest extent. They will not obediently let their subordinates slaughter, and doing so will inevitably provoke fierce resistance from them. Perhaps, the repression of the ministers will also encourage them to rebel together. The minister needs the support of the Son of Heaven and the support of His Majesty. I don't know if Your Majesty will agree? ”

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Dong was immediately stunned. Dong Chong, Fan Ling, Feng Yu, and Xia Yun who were standing under were all dumbfounded; Xiao Liu Xie's face was as usual, and there was no trace of fluctuation on his little face.

The princess Wannian on the side said in shock: "Wow! Are you so persistent, are you addicted to killing the family? ”

When Ma Chao heard this, he couldn't help but laugh, secretly thinking that he was indeed a little addicted. Ma Chao still remembers the battle of Chencang not long ago. Before the war, Liangzhou was so poor that it wanted money but no money, and no food; Ma Teng and the entire Liangzhou Thorn Mansion were frightened all day long by the large-scale famine that could break out at any time. But after winning the Battle of Chencang and taking the opportunity to Suo Sanfu family, Liangzhou suddenly became rich, and the government's grain inventory soared to eight million; Among all kinds of wealth, there are seventy-six tons of gold alone, and two billions of dollars; Other wealth and means of production are innumerable. Such a good thing, Ma Chao is not addicted.

Ma Chao was immersed in thinking, and the Empress Dowager Dong slapped the table hard, and the "snap" suddenly startled Ma Chao.

Ma Chao looked up at the Empress Dowager Dong above, she was so angry that her loose face was trembling slightly, and a pair of phoenix eyes cast a sharp look at Ma Chao like a reflection on the tip of a knife, which made people dare not look directly. Empress Dowager Dong said angrily: "Bold! What do you think the old woman came from? The power of the family is so strong that if they are annoyed, the Han family is in danger of overturning, and the 400-year-old foundation of the ancestors is in danger of being intermittent. Can a single person afford such consequences? ”

Ma Chao was not intimidated by Empress Dowager Dong, because her reaction had already been expected by him. Ma Chao stretched out his hands and made a downward pressure movement, and said patiently: "Your Majesty is angry, it is better to listen to the minister's explanation again." ”

Empress Dowager Dong took a deep breath, calmed down, and said coldly: "Okay! If you can't tell why, don't blame the old woman for being polite. ”

Ma Chao said: "Although Your Majesty is also from a family, Your Majesty is now the mother of the Liu family, and the mother of the whole world. The honor and disgrace of the Han family is the honor and disgrace of His Majesty. With the sage of His Majesty, how can he give up the Han family and go to the family, and the heavenly family and his own family? ”

Empress Dowager Dong was slightly stunned for a moment, of course she knew this truth.

Ma Chao said again: "Since Your Majesty knows that if they annoy the family, they are likely to overthrow the Han family with their strength. Then Your Majesty thinks about it, doesn't this just mean that the family has posed a great threat to the Han family? ”

Empress Dowager Dong was slightly stunned again, and then Xiao Liu Xie on the side suddenly said to her: "Grandmother, what he said makes sense." ”

Ma Chao secretly thought that Xiao Liu Xie was really as smart as in history, no wonder Dong Zhuo was just the first time he saw him when he rescued him in Bishan, and he immediately appreciated it, and came up with the plan to abolish the young emperor Liu Wei and re-establish him as the emperor. Later, Liu Xie grew into a ruthless man who could compete with masters such as Cao Cao, and an edict made Cao Cao almost lose control of Xuchang. At this time, Ma Chao remembered that according to Liu Hong's thoughts, he undoubtedly intended to canonize Liu Xie as the crown prince to inherit the throne. Ma Chao wanted to see Liu Xie for the first time today, and he made himself feel good; And judging by his words, he at least does not oppose Ma Chao's proposition. Ma Chao also began to think that perhaps it would be extremely advantageous to support Liu Xie to become the crown prince.

Ma Chao said again: "Your Majesty, please think about it, as long as the family is dissatisfied, the Han family will immediately fall into danger; Only when the family is happy, can the Han family sit firmly in the country. Doesn't this mean that the Liu family rules the world, and they still have to rely on people's breath? ”

When Empress Dowager Dong heard this, she was confused. Because what Ma Chao said is the truth and irrefutable.

Ma Chao said: "If the Han family wants to be permanent, they have to curry favor with the family and let them do what they want to do and get the benefits they want." If the policies of the imperial court were contrary to their interests, they would certainly oppose them fiercely, forcing the imperial court to compromise. These things are also things that they have already done. Doesn't this mean that the Han family is becoming a puppet of the family? ”

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Dong fell into deeper contemplation. She knew deep down in her heart that no matter what, for her, as the head of the Han family today, "the family is left and right in the Han family" sounds extremely harsh. Empress Dowager Dong agreed with Ma Chao's words very much, but when she thought of the powerful power of the family and the current situation in the world, she became worried again.

Empress Dowager Dong said worriedly: "What Qing said can be described as a word. The old woman could not sit idly by and watch the inheritance of her ancestors be threatened, and wanted to emulate the filial piety of the Emperor Xiaowu of the Han Dynasty. But the reason why Emperor Xiaowu was able to move the rich family with a fortune of more than 3 million in the world to Guanzhong, and to tell Suo Haoyou to be right, was in the peaceful years, and the power of the Han family was blazing.

At present, the world is in turmoil, the court is weak, and the moth thieves are still entrenched in some states and counties. At this time, to provoke the family's heroes, isn't it an enemy that has not fallen and a new enemy? ”

Ma Chao said confidently: "Back to Your Majesty, in fact, if the method is done properly, the moth thief can also be used by me and become a big help for us to fight the family." It is precisely because this is an extraordinary time that we have to do extraordinary things in order to achieve extraordinary achievements. Otherwise, if I don't do anything, and watch the authority of the Han family decline day by day, and the power of the family family takes advantage of the opportunity to increase day by day, the Han family society will be in danger of overturning. ”

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Dong fell into silence and leaned weakly on the back of her seat.

Princess Liu Man knows the thoughts of the Empress Dowager Dong best, and she knows that the Empress Dowager Dong must not be sure whether Ma Chao can win. She raised her chin slightly at Ma Chao and asked, "Hey, are you honest, are you sure you can succeed?" ”

Hearing Princess Wannian say the question in her heart, Empress Dowager Dong raised her eyes and looked directly at Ma Chao. Ma Chao bowed his hand slightly to the worried Empress Dowager Dong and said, "If you don't hide it from Your Majesty, the minister is not sure at all." ”

As soon as these words came out, Empress Dowager Dong couldn't help frowning. Princess Wannian hurriedly said: "Hey, you don't know what the consequences will be, so you want to pull your grandmother into the water." What if our Liu clan loses the imperial throne because of your failure? ”