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Chapter 955 Wei's Plan (Part )

Suddenly, everyone remembered the Enfeoffment Order of the Western Han Dynasty, and their faces changed drastically. The emperor was going to "eliminate the feudal lords!"

The only difference is that now we are eliminating the aristocratic families, which are more difficult to deal with than the princes in the Han Dynasty.

Since ancient times, the abolition of feudal lords would cause unrest. When the ministers who originally thought that this was just a simple policy thought of this, they all shut their mouths tightly and dared not say a word. The struggle between the imperial power and the aristocratic families involved behind this was simply terrifying!
The expressions of some officials from aristocratic families became extremely ugly.

The meaning behind this matter was too important and was by no means as simple as it seemed on the surface. Everyone knew that it could not be explained in a few words, so no one agreed or opposed it, and a suffocating silence appeared in the court.

Li Shimin was also somewhat displeased when he saw this.

But today was originally a chance to let the news out, so he decisively ended the topic: "Sikong's suggestion makes some sense, but this is a serious matter, I need to think about it carefully before making a decision, so let's leave it at that for today!"

"The court is dismissed."

The court meeting ended as usual, but the ministers in the court had been disturbed by Fang Xuanling's proposal. They did not gather in groups of three or five to chat and gossip as usual, or make appointments to go to brothels to drink, chat and have fun.

Each of them had a solemn look on their faces and left in a hurry.
Wei Ting left the palace, got on the carriage waiting outside the palace, and returned to his house in Anxingfang. Not long after, an inconspicuous carriage left Chang'an City and headed for Mei County, 200 miles west of the city.

At the same time, many carriages from the various markets where the nobles of Chang'an lived left the city and rushed in all directions. Many of the actual leaders of the famous families were retired and very old.

These people advocate health preservation and cherish life very much. Many of them do not live in Chang'an City, but live near the market town where their family's ancestral home is located and like to be close to nature.

Now that such an important event has occurred in the court, their descendants who are officials in the city will naturally inform their families of this change.

The ancestor of the Wei family was Wei Zhou, the Chancellor of Cao Wei and Marquis of Ancheng during the Three Kingdoms period. His eldest son and youngest son had disagreements due to their different political orientations. They supported Cao Pi and Cao Zhi respectively and were divided into two families, the East and the West.

Because the youngest son Wei Mu made the right choice, the Dongfang branch developed greatly. In the following three or four hundred years, it developed into more than ten branches and spread all over the world.

After that, after hundreds of years of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Central Plains was torn apart, and countless forces emerged. For the long-term survival of the family, the aristocratic families had to split into many branches, join various forces, and place their bets separately.

Rise and fall suddenly, appear and disappear suddenly.

Some have achieved unprecedented development as they made the right bets, while others have been implicated because their forces were eliminated and have disappeared quietly in the long river of history.

By the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Jingzhao Wei family had two branches, the eastern and western branches, with about thirteen rooms.

The ancestor of Wei Ting's branch was Wei Yuanli, the general of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, who was granted the title of Duke of Meicheng by Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Yuwen Yong. His descendants multiplied and developed in Meicheng, so they were called the Meicheng Gongfang.

Wei Ting's father, Wei Chong, firmly followed Yang Jian during the Sui Dynasty and was named the Minister of Civil Affairs of the Sui Dynasty. When the country was in chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty and many rebel kings were fighting for power, Wei Ting joined the Li camp because of his good relationship with Li Jiancheng, the son of Tang Gong.

Later, when Li Yuan unified the country, Wei Ting was appointed as the fifth-rank Zhongyun of the Zuochunfang of the Eastern Palace and was relied upon by Li Jiancheng.

Although Li Shimin later launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Wei Ting, as an old minister of Prince Yin, stood on the wrong side. However, at this time, the Wei family had become very powerful in the court because of the development of Wei Chong's generation. In order to win over the Jingzhao Wei family, Li Shimin even married a sister of Wei Ting and made her a concubine.

Concubine Wei was the great-granddaughter of Wei Xiaokuan, the Grand Tutor of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the granddaughter of Wei Zong, the General of the Cavalry of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and the daughter of Wei Yuancheng, the Duke of Yun and the Grand Master of the Sui Dynasty. She gave birth to the tenth prince, Prince Ji, Li Shen, for Li Shimin.

Li Shimin did not implicate Wei Ting because of Li Jiancheng. Not only did he not demote him, but he promoted him and let his son, Prince of Qi Li You, marry Wei Ting's daughter. He also promoted Wei Ting to the position of Yellow Gate Minister after Wei Zheng's death two years ago.

He was promoted to be an Imperial Clerk, which shows that Wei's favor with the emperor continued.

On the morning of the second day, Wei Ting rushed to his ancestral home in the eastern suburbs of Mei County and met his uncle Wei Dezheng, the owner of the Meicheng public housing estate.

Wei Dezheng was Wei Chong's younger brother. When the world was in chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, he was an official in Luoyang and joined Wang Shiyun. Later, when Wang Shiyun was defeated, Wei Chong also left the officialdom sadly, disappeared from everyone's sight, returned to the ancestral home, took over Wei Chong's position as the head of the family, and managed the family.

The current Jingzhao Wei family is based on Concubine Wei's maiden family, the Yungong branch, which is the most powerful, followed by the Meichenggong branch where Wei Ting is from.

Concubine Wei's father, Wei Yuancheng, is recognized as the patriarch of the Jingzhao Wei family, while Wei Dezheng can only be said to be the head of the public house in Meicheng.

These large clans that have been passed down for hundreds of years, unless the bloodline of the main branch is cut off due to war, the position of clan leader has always been passed down from generation to generation in the main line, and will not be changed at will just because a great figure appears in one branch.

Of course, what if a big shot emerges from one of the branches?
Correspondingly, the status of the head of the branch in the clan elders' council will be significantly improved, and he will enjoy more resources. As the saying goes, the army always changes, and over the past few hundred years, almost every branch has produced a great figure.

Every member of the elders' council once held an important position in the clan.

In order to maintain the prosperity of the family, during the hundreds of years of wars in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, whenever a power rose, a branch of the family would be entrusted by the elders to go and seek refuge with it to spread the risk. Of course, this kind of seeking refuge was also sincere, not to be a traitor. Because no one knows which cloud will eventually rain, and which branch will rise depends largely on luck.

Therefore, no matter which branch is wiped out, it will not be affected too much, and the remaining family members can still develop peacefully under the protection of the family. In the future, with the support of the family, they can enter the court or stand alone for the family.

No matter which family produces a great figure, no one would use this as an excuse to try to seize the position of the main branch. Everyone knows that pride is only temporary, and family inheritance is permanent.

It must be said that in such a harsh environment, these aristocratic families have acquired a wealth of experience in dealing with troubled times, and have a wealth of risk avoidance mechanisms and flexible ways of survival. They cast their nets in many directions and make key investments, which is why there are centuries-old dynasties and millennia-old aristocratic families.

Surrounded by mountains and rivers, at the foot of the mountain with a beautiful environment, a series of undulating houses are scattered among the mountains and rivers.

By a natural lake, in an antique courtyard, an elderly man with white hair and beard is leisurely making tea. In front of him, a group of middle-aged people are respectfully reporting to him about the family's situation.

If Li Yan were here, he would give way immediately. One of the middle-aged men with a refined appearance was Wei Mingshan, whom he had met once.

When he received the message from his servant, Wei Dezheng subconsciously looked up at the sun, then frowned.

It was three quarters past four in the morning. Usually, the court was in session at this time. As the Imperial Censor, Wei Ting could not be absent unless there was something very important. Calculating his pace, Wei Ting had rushed here after the court session yesterday.

What happened that made Wei Ting skip the court meeting and rush here?

Although the Wei family is thriving in all fields, its roots are still in the power field. Although Wei Ting is not responsible for the specific affairs of the family, he is the real backbone of the family, second only to Wei Dezheng, and he must not be lost.

Wei Dezheng had a bad feeling, waved his hand, and said, "Everyone else, leave, Mingshan stay."

"Yes, Master."

Others who were in charge of local businesses, clan schools, account offices, and land all withdrew. Only Wei Mingshan, who was in charge of clan rules and discipline and mastered the dark power, stayed.

"Wei Ting greets uncle." Led by the housekeeper, Wei Ting came to the central hall and bowed to Wei Dezheng.

Wei Dezheng smiled gently, "Bojie, there are no outsiders here, sit down and talk. Mingshan, make a cup of tea for your elder brother."

"Brother, please have some tea. I will be waiting outside. If you have any instructions, just let uncle and brother know."

After serving the tea respectfully, Wei Mingshan tactfully retreated to the door of the main hall, and all the servants and maids were sent back.

The location of Weimingshan Station is very clever, right under the porch, which allows you to take in the entire courtyard scene and be in the sight of the two people talking in the hall. If the two people speak a little softly, it will not be heard at the door, and if they speak louder, they can call out at will.

Just from these few details, one can see the low-key nature of this great family that has existed for hundreds of years.

Wei Dezheng saw Wei Ting relax after sitting down. Although he was not in a hurry to talk about things, his frown was filled with worry. He did not delay any longer and asked directly: "Bo Jie, usually at this time, you should have just left the court. Did something happen?"

"Uncle, it's worse than that."

Wei Ting was also in his fifties. He was a prudent man who was experienced in planning state affairs. However, he seemed very anxious at this moment. He repeated the suggestion made by Fang Xuanling in the court meeting yesterday on the distribution of each family's property, and said worriedly, "Uncle, although this matter was proposed by Prime Minister Fang."

"But many people think that this is the emperor's intention to weaken the major families. It is a modern version of the 'Enfeoffment Order'. If this is the case, I am afraid that next, there will be a big round of turmoil in the court. It will not be peaceful anymore."

“Here it comes again”

Wei Dezheng's old face showed a very serious expression: "The struggle between the imperial power and the power of the aristocracy has lasted for hundreds of years. The old events of the pre-Sui Dynasty have just passed, and the Xuanwu Gate Incident seems like yesterday. It took a lot of effort to achieve peace and stability for more than ten years."

"Is this going to start again?"

Wei Ting was shocked: "Uncle, do you also think this matter is not a small matter?"

Wei Dezheng also called Wei Mingshan, who was guarding the door, over. Relatively speaking, Wei Mingshan was a little younger and was the focus of Wei Dezheng's training. If a family wants to prosper, it must have a steady stream of talents.

The decline of a family often begins with the depletion of family talent.

(End of this chapter)