Chapter 157: Xun Chen: Ji Province's Aristocratic Clans Come to Pledge Allegiance-Is Your Majesty Pleased with This
Gift?
In the Council Hall of the prefect's residence, Gongsun Zan was dumbfounded. He stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at Jia Xu.
This notorious treacherous minister of the Han Dynasty was actually reading an imperial edict before him?
Even if the Son of Heaven had issued an edict, surely Jia Xu should not have been the one to Announce it.
"Gongsun Zan, Governor of You Province, receive the edict!"
Seeing that Gongsun Zan had not moved, Jia Xu repeated himself more loudly, his expression solemn.
"Wenhe, is what you hold truly an imperial edict?" Gongsun Zan asked, his face full of doubt.
Leaving aside whether Jia Xu was a suitable person to deliver an edict, the supposed imperial edict in his hands was clearly a strip of cloth torn from clothing.
"To forge an imperial edict is a crime against Heaven. How would I dare bear such a charge?" Jia Xu rebuked him firmly. Unfurling the Girdle Edict in his hands, he declared emphatically once again, "Gongsun Zan, Governor of You Province, receive the edict!"
Seeing this, Gongsun Zan realized that it might truly be an imperial edict.
Otherwise, even with a hundred men's courage, Jia Xu would never dare forge an edict to deceive him on his own territory.
Setting aside his many doubts for the moment, Gongsun Zan bowed respectfully.
"Your subject Gongsun Zan respectfully receives Your Majesty's words!"
Gongsun Xu, Gongsun Fan, and Zhao Yun followed Gongsun Zan in paying their formal respects to the imperial edict.
Jia Xu straightened and read aloud, "An imperial edict to the imperial censor: I have heard that among the great bonds of human relations, that between father and son comes first;