Jiangdong.
The heads of the six great families of Qiao, Chu, Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang gathered together. Their expressions were grim after seeing the imperial edict.
Qiao Wei said indignantly, "The feudal lords in every other province and commandery under heaven occupied their lands before receiving their titles. Only Yangzhou has been treated differently. Is this not naked contempt for us people of Jiangdong?"
"Young Master Chu's name has yet to resound throughout the realm. That is why they look down on us."
"We absolutely will not obey the Court's edict. Sun Jian has no right to enter Wu Commandery. We must even take back Jiujiang and Lujiang, or Wu Commandery will never know peace."
Jiujiang and Lujiang lay upstream from Wu Commandery, and all of Jiangdong's easily defended, hard-to-attack terrain lay in their hands. Wu Commandery was completely exposed to the two commanderies, forced to take blows with little ability to strike back.
It was precisely this fear of a sharp blade falling from the sky at any moment that made the Jiangdong gentry react so strongly now.
Luo Chu sat at the head of the gathering, listening as everyone angrily condemned the Court's decree, often with disrespectful words. He pondered carefully. Although Ji Zhao had yet to receive the feedback Xiao Qiao would bring, since the marriage had not formally taken place,
Luo Chu had already drawn countless measures of Xiao Qiao energy from her through their loving intimacy over these past days. He was no longer the man he had once been, but Luo Chu in his ultimate evolved form!
Although none of his specific abilities in governance had improved, his perception of the overarching situation had become remarkably clear.
After venting their indignation at length, everyone turned to Luo Chu and asked, "Young Master, we