Too big to fail? Uproot it!

Xiao Fan, you're not joking, are you?" Zhao Linger asked in surprise.

Not just Zhao Linger, even Zhao Caiyi was stunned by his words.

"Xiao Gongzi, are you serious?" Zhao Caiyi asked.

"Hurry up, I'm in a rush." Xiao Fan nodded.

Zhao Caiyi quickly said, "No!"

"Weakening Zhao Yan and then cultivating another person who can contend with Zhao Yan—the art of checks and balances is the true Dao."

Zhao Caiyi explained, "Governing a Family cannot rely on killing. If we kill Zhao Yan today, we will definitely have to choose another person to take his place.

Even if I divide his power among several people, someone among them will surely grow powerful, overshadowing the others.

Or they might secretly form a chain of interests, colluding with each other to form an interest group."

"No matter the situation, it's merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause. Killing Zhao Yan will only lead to other people similar to him emerging."

"Are we supposed to kill them all?"

Xiao Fan was nodding, and Zhao Caiyi thought he agreed with her point of view.

"What you said makes sense. Killing one or two won't solve the problem. Don't kill them all."

When he said this, Zhao Caiyi couldn't understand.

No, simply relying on killing really can't solve the problem.

She reasoned with Xiao Fan, hoping to make him understand the stakes involved.

Zhao Caiyi had managed the Zhao Family for many years, contending with the other two Families, so she naturally had her methods.

The Zhao Family was vast, with a large population and intricate relationships.

In addition, the Zhao Family under her governance was also openly and covertly struggling with two other Zhao lineage groups.

The difficulty of governing such a large Family was no different from governing an Imperial Dynasty. Taking drastic measures would absolutely lead to self-inflicted chaos.

She meticulously explained the matter of governance, making it clear and thorough, which made Xiao Fan full of praise, his eyes sparkling with light.

A career woman, excellent!

"You have great methods, not bad."

"However, I think your method is too complicated. It's simpler to just kill them all."

Zhao Caiyi: "..."

Zhao Caiyi was completely dumbfounded. Why were his words having no effect on him?

Zhao Linger stood by, watching her aunt and Xiao Fan argue.

With her relatively simple way of thinking, she leaned towards Xiao Fan's view.

However, she felt that her aunt's method was the proper one.

"Xiao Fan, why don't you listen to my aunt?"

"After all, my aunt has managed the Zhao Family for many years; she must have observed things we can't see," Zhao Linger said weakly.

Xiao Fan smiled faintly, "Only when one's strength is insufficient does one resort to roundabout methods. If one's strength is sufficient, direct physical elimination is the way."

"I'll help you solve this problem, and you can come back with me sooner."

"As the saying goes, if you do a good deed, see it through. Aren't you caught in the open and covert struggles with the other two Zhao Families? I'll just wipe them out as well."

"From now on, your Family will govern the entire southern Reincarnation Immortal Domain."

Zhao Caiyi was already speechless; she had never considered such a crazy action.

Having said that, Xiao Fan directly got up and left, casually dragging Zhao Linger along to lead the way.

Zhao Caiyi quickly followed. The opponent's Realm was stronger than hers, so stopping him was impossible. She could only hope Xiao Fan would show mercy.

.........

In Zhao Yan's mansion.

His loyal clansmen gathered, awaiting Zhao Yan's dispatch.

"Zhao Elder, your methods are too numerous. This Zhao Family would be half-paralyzed without you."

"Exactly, without Zhao Yan Elder's support, the Family Head wouldn't be able to prop up the Zhao Family."

"Heh heh, after this matter, we might even gain more benefits."

"That's right, let's continue the suspension and let the people in the Family see that without Zhao Yan Elder, this Family can't continue. After a long time, the clansmen below will become resentful. By then, to appease the public anger, the Family Head will have to invite us back."

"Yes, and we'll have to make demands of her. If she doesn't agree to our terms, we won't do it!"

They were not worried about this suspension and dismissal.

Not only were they not worried, but they were even somewhat expectant. It was easy to drive them away, but inviting them back would require a higher price.

An Elder said, "Elder, if we secretly trip them up like this, will the Family Head resort to force and forcefully suppress us to make us submit?"

"Yes, after all, the Family Head's strength is something we've all witnessed. With that supreme treasure, the Family Head is capable of contending with the Hunyuan Old Ancestors of the other two Families."

Many people expressed concern.

Indeed, if their military strength wasn't strong enough, going too far might lead to safety issues.

The Elders all looked towards Zhao Yan.

Zhao Yan spoke calmly and unhurriedly:

"No need to worry. Since I chose to contend with the Family Head from a distance, I've already calculated that she wouldn't dare to act."

When Zhao Yan said this, he felt a slight sense of triumph, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.

His son's position as heir was something he had orchestrated himself; how could he dare to act recklessly without some means?

The Elders looked at Zhao Yan curiously, and someone couldn't help but ask, "Zhao Elder, please don't keep us in suspense. Tell us."

Zhao Yan swept his gaze across the people in the hall and said confidently:

"It's simple. Daring to lay hands on me is equivalent to digging one's own Foundation."

"To be honest, even if all of us combined, we wouldn't be able to defeat the Family Head. This is normal."

"To support a Family, strength is very important, but it is definitely not the most important point. If the Family Head wants to govern the Zhao Family well, she must command us and use our hands to convey her orders to everyone."

"Honestly, more than half of the Zhao Family stands with us. This is the confidence we have to contend with the Family."

"She is not just facing us old bones; she is facing half of the Zhao Family."

"We have tied half of the Zhao Family to our ship. What can the Family Head do? Is she really going to kill all of us?"

Zhao Yan was also capable; otherwise, he wouldn't have climbed to a position second only to one person, above tens of thousands.

He truly achieved the state of being too big to fail.

This was also why Zhao Caiyi merely dismissed them from their posts and didn't take their lives.

After listening, the Elders felt at ease. Following Zhao Yan Elder's steps, their future was bright.

Zhao Qingxiong said, "Father, what about my position as heir? Can I get it back?"

Zhao Yan laughed, "It's not about getting it back; it's about the Family Head personally delivering it to you. Whether you accept it or not depends on whether her terms are sincere enough."

Zhao Qingxiong felt confident upon hearing this.

However, he then thought about what his faction had done.

"Father, what if the Family Head finds evidence of our crimes and insists on punishing us?"

Zhao Qingxiong knew very well that they had not taken little advantage from the Family treasury in the past, earning a full fortune.

In recent days, to make the Family Head understand their strength, they even resorted to assassinations, eliminating the people she had promoted.

If counted carefully, about seven or eight hundred people died in these assassinations.

However, these people were of a lower rank, just to give Zhao Caiyi a little trouble, not yet to the point of a complete fallout.

But this was also a handle. If evidence were found, and Zhao Caiyi no longer considered the overall situation and just wanted to punish them, wouldn't it be very simple?

Zhao Yan said indifferently, "This kind of thing has been going on for seven or eight thousand years, and no evidence has ever been left behind."

"Rest assured, she will absolutely not find any evidence. Without evidence, she won't act. It's very safe!"

"Not only that, but we also need to intensify the pressure on her recently. Let's change targets this time; we'll go after a few key targets, and this will be handled by Zhao Xi and Zhao Hao."

"Remember to do it cleanly."

Immediately, two people stepped forward and said, "As you command. We will not fail."

Zhao Yan was confident, looking like he had everything under control, which made everyone present feel secure and stable!