Sui and Tang Dynasties: Awakening the Supreme Skills at the Beginning

Li Zhen was shocked. Are they going to get to the point now?

"What's the matter?"

Li Zhen tried his best to keep his tone calm and pretend that he knew nothing about the matter.

Changsun Wuji glanced at Li Zhen with a look of approval in his eyes. This boy has a lot of anger in his heart but a calm face. He is very shrewd and has the potential to be an official.

At that moment, Changsun Wuji informed Cui about the tens of thousands of notices in Chang'an City and told her everything that had happened outside Shuntian Gate and in Cui's mansion.

"Damn it! This Cui family is obsessed with money and is bringing disaster to the country and the people. They really deserve to be killed! Your Majesty is letting them pay off their crimes. It's really too easy for them!"

Li Zhen slammed the table and spoke loudly.

At this moment, there was no need for him to conceal his indignation any longer.

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling looked at each other and took Li Zhen's reaction to heart.

"My dear nephew, what do you think we should do with Cui?"

Changsun Wuji continued to ask.

"He should be stripped of his official position, his property confiscated, and never employed again."

Li Zhen answered without hesitation.

"My dear nephew, he seems to hate Cui to the core. Is there some hidden reason behind this?"

Changsun Wuji was stunned. He also wanted to know why Li Zhen did this.

Li Zhen immediately told them all the grudges between himself and the Zhang and Cui families.

Changsun Wuji pondered for a long time and then said something. Li Zhen was shocked when he heard it.

"My dear nephew, the Zhang family and Cui family colluded to frame you. I'm afraid it's not as simple as it seems on the surface. If nothing unexpected happens, there must be a hidden story. From what you said, it is probably related to the sudden death of your parents..."

Li Zhen: "..."

He really hadn't thought about this. Although the Zhang family was rich and well-known in the countryside, they were far superior to Cui Hu, the chief secretary of Yongzhou. How could they collude with each other and frequently harm a boy like him?

There must be some unspeakable secret here!

Thinking of this, Li Zhen bowed to Changsun Wuji and said, "Thank you Mr. Changsun for clearing up my doubts. One day, I will investigate thoroughly to comfort my parents' spirits in heaven."

"It's just a small effort, not worth mentioning."

Changshi Wuji waved his hand and said.

"Nowadays, there are five surnames and seven aristocrats in the Tang Dynasty. My dear nephew, what do you think of the aristocratic families?"

Changsun Wuji continued to ask.

The aristocratic families have always been a huge obstacle to Emperor Li Shimin's administration. Zhangsun Wuji and others also wanted to remove the resistance of the aristocratic families, but they had no good way. So they brought it up at this time, on the one hand, to hear Li Zhen's opinion, and on the other hand, to assess whether Li Zhen was worthy of their attention.

Li Zhen thought for a moment and then began to speak.

"Aristocratic families are the cancer of the Tang Dynasty. They have always endangered the continuation of the Tang Dynasty. It can be said that the Sui Dynasty was destroyed by the aristocratic families!"

When Li Zhen made this statement, Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji were shocked. They had never thought that aristocratic families could cause such great harm.

"Nephew, please continue."

Changsun Wuji made a gesture to continue speaking, and then he and Fang Xuanling stared at Li Zhen intently.

"Do you know why the Sui Dynasty fell after only 38 years?"

Li Zhen raised a question.

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling looked at each other, and both saw a hint of solemnity in each other's eyes.

"Of course it was Emperor Yang of Sui who was cruel and aroused the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people..."

Changsun Wuji said slowly.

"This statement is neither right nor wrong. It is only a superficial reason."

Li Zhen brought up another topic, which frightened Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling.

Changsun Wuji bowed to Li Zhen.

He said respectfully, "Please help me, my dear nephew."

It was as if the person in front of him at this moment was a respectable elder.

"The fall of the Sui Dynasty was ostensibly due to Emperor Yang of Sui's brutality, but in reality it was caused by land annexation and the failure of aristocratic families to pay taxes."

Li Zhen paused and looked at the two of them. The two nodded slightly with a look of surprise on their faces.

Li Zhen continued.

"It is said that after thousands of years of development, aristocratic families have a large amount of land, while the common people have very little land."

"In order to own more land and gain more profits, the noble families would resort to despicable means to seize the common people's land and turn the land-owning people into their tenants, thus exacerbating the people's poverty."

"In this way, the aristocratic families will have more and more land, while the common people will have less and less land. When the conflict is aroused to a certain extent, the people without land will not be able to survive, and they are likely to rise up and overthrow the dynasty."

"Aristocratic families can be said to be the gravediggers of dynasties and the archenemies of all dynasties!"

Li Zhen paused and looked at the two of them.

This was probably the first time that Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling heard people talking about this. They couldn't help but listen with great interest and nodded continuously.

"There are also taxes. Although the imperial court's tax rate is only 1% to 30%, the rent from tenant farmers is usually 50% to 70%. In normal years, the common people can only get by after a year of hard work. But if they encounter a disaster year or the imperial court raises taxes, they will not be able to survive, and if they cannot survive, they will rise up in rebellion."

"The noble families own a lot of land, but they don't pay taxes. The court's taxes are mainly borne by the common people. Every time the court adds 10% in taxes, it often becomes 70% for the common people. The common people can't bear the burden and will naturally rise up in rebellion."

"Third, the previous dynasty's court selected officials through the recommendation system and the Nine-Rank System, which resulted in the selection of officials being limited to a small circle of aristocratic families. In addition, the aristocratic families have controlled the government for too long, restricting the upward mobility of the people. Over time, this will lead to class solidification, intensified class contradictions, and social unrest."

"So, starting with Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, the Sui Dynasty implemented the imperial examination system. The imperial examination system created certain conditions for poor students to succeed and eased the class contradictions between the powerful and the common people, but most of the power was still in the hands of the aristocratic families."

"Of course, the aristocratic families would not give up their power for nothing. They would pretend to obey the court's policies but secretly disobey them, obstruct them at every turn, or even rebel, such as the Yang Xuangan Rebellion."

"Therefore, if our Tang Dynasty wants to prosper, the aristocratic families must be destroyed!"

"I, Li Zhen, will take it as my duty to destroy this family in this lifetime."

"Clap clap clap!"

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling couldn't help but clap and laugh.

"Insightful! So insightful!"

"After hearing your wonderful remarks today, I was enlightened. I would like to thank you for clearing up my doubts."

As they spoke, the two men stood up and bowed to Li Zhen.

Li Zhen stood up and waved his hand quickly.

"You can't do that. It will only embarrass me!"

"Yes, my dear nephew, please do not refuse. You are worthy of our respect. We will report this to the emperor when we return... and contact someone to report this little brother's feelings to the emperor. Don't worry, you will keep your title this time!"

"Thank you both very much!"

Li Zhen hurried forward and bowed to Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling.

At this time, Changsun Wuji gave Fang Xuanling a look, saying that they should go back and report after being out for such a long time.

"For now, we two will not disturb nephew Li Zhen anymore. Goodbye!"

"You two, walk slowly!"

Li Zhen bowed and sent the two men out.

At that moment, the two of them pulled Li Zhen's curved plow and the Eight Immortals Table and Armchair and headed towards Chang'an City.