We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

"It's all about the land!" Li Lin said angrily. "I implemented the equal-field system in Yan, and it affected their interests."

Li Che was surprised when he heard this.

This cheap fourth brother's methods are more decisive than I thought!

The equal-field system distributes land according to population. After cultivating the land for a number of years, one can obtain permanent land, and part of the land will be returned to the government after death.

In this way, the unowned land could be distributed to the people for cultivation. However, the wealthy and powerful families who owned countless fertile fields naturally regarded it as a thorn in their eyes.

Therefore, the Daqing laws also made a break and did not include the land of the aristocratic families in the equal distribution of land.

Li Che asked tentatively, "Fourth brother, did you also divide the family's land?"

"What if we don't divide it? The government won't be able to collect the money." Li Lin's face was filled with grief and indignation. "The wealthy families own vast expanses of fertile land, but they evade taxes, and the trend of mergers and acquisitions is getting worse and worse."

"The people have no land to farm, so the government can't collect taxes. Instead, they make a fortune!"

"Yan is located on the border. If I have no money and no food, how can I support my troops and resist the invasion of the Hu people?"

Li Che looked at Li Lin helplessly. No wonder he could afford to support armored cavalry. It turned out that the military funds were "raised" from the aristocratic families.

"Sixth brother, do you think what I did was wrong?" Li Lin asked.

Li Che shook his head: "The style of aristocratic families is like a thorn in the flesh, and land annexation is even more detrimental to the country and the people. Naturally, I stand on my brother's side."

Li Lin's expression eased slightly, but he heard Li Che say again:

"But Fourth Brother is being too hasty. Land is the foundation of aristocratic families. If you suddenly deprive them of their foundation, they will definitely fight you to the death."

Li Lin nodded slightly and asked, "Sixth brother, what do you think I should do?"

Li Che smiled slightly: "Of course, we have to use gentle means. First, we have to take their lives, and then we can touch their land. If they have lost their lives, we naturally cannot fight to the death."

Li Lin was stunned at first, then burst into laughter.

This Lao Liu is really becoming more and more to my liking.

"What a gentle method! It's a pity that the power of the aristocratic families is so deeply rooted. Otherwise, I really want to do as Sixth Brother said and kill them all."

Li Che smiled and said nothing more.

Li Lin might have thought he was joking, but he had no idea what he was thinking, and every word he said was true.

At least in the future Ninggu County, aristocratic families will never be allowed to exist!

He would never allow such blood-sucking worms to appear in his fiefdom.

"Okay, let's not talk about these unhappy things anymore." Li Lin stood up. "Sixth brother, you haven't met your sister-in-law and nephew yet, right? I'll take you to meet them."

After saying this, he ordered his servants to invite Princess Yan and the Crown Prince.

Soon, a young woman with luxurious clothes and dignified manners came into the front hall, leading a delicate and exquisite doll.

Li Che quickly stood up and saluted: "Hello, sister-in-law."

"Uncle, there's no need to be so polite." Princess Yan's voice was gentle and her manners were graceful. One could tell at a glance that she came from a prominent family.

She pulled the boy beside her and said softly, "Xian'er, come and meet your sixth uncle."

Xiao Li has a big head and thick eyebrows and big eyes, and looks like a military general.

He stumbled to Li Che and bowed solemnly: "Li Xian greets Sixth Uncle."

The child was innocent and lovable. Li Che couldn't help but smile when he saw this. He reached into his arms, trying to find something.

In the past, when I was in my hometown in Northeast China, I would always give some gifts to my relatives’ children when I met them for the first time.

He took out a jade pendant from his bosom. The jade pendant was crystal clear and finely carved. It was a treasure he found from the treasure trove of the mountain stronghold. Li Che loved it very much and always kept it with him.

"Here, this is a gift from your Sixth Uncle." Li Che squatted down and tied the jade pendant around little Li Xian's waist.

Li Lin was watching this scene with a smile on his face, but his eyes accidentally fell on the jade pendant. His pupils suddenly shrank, but soon returned to normal.

He smiled and said to Li Xian: "Xian'er, why don't you thank your sixth uncle?"

"Thank you, Sixth Uncle." Li Xian said in a baby voice.

Li Che touched his bun and stood up: "Although Xian'er is still young, he has already shown his heroic spirit. Fourth brother really has someone to carry on his legacy."

"Hahaha, my son will surely become a wise king in the future." Li Lin was not polite either.

The four of them sat down again. Although Li Xian was young, he was very sensible and sat obediently in a seat.

Li Lin told the Princess of Yan what had just happened.

Hearing that her husband was almost killed and that Li Che came to his rescue, the alienation in Princess Yan's eyes gradually faded as she looked at Li Che.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Ninggu saved your life, and you should repay him."

Li Lin slammed the table and said, "Your sister-in-law is right! Sixth brother, tell me what you need from your vassal state!"

Li Che pretended to be reserved and said, "The Saker Falcon you gave me earlier was already a generous gift. How dare I ask for more?"

"How can they be the same?" Li Lin pretended to be unhappy. "That Saker Falcon was a meeting gift from the elder brother to the younger brother. Now we are talking about the thank-you gift from the Prince of Yan to the Prince of Ninggu!"

Seeing that Li Lin didn't seem to be lying, Li Che didn't hide it anymore: "In that case... I will speak out boldly."

"Speak quickly."

"I'm heading outside the Great Wall, ready to fight a decisive battle with the barbarians," Li Che said calmly. "Although my soldiers are all brave, we simply don't have enough horses. I'm afraid we'll suffer a loss if we fight those barbarians."

Li Lin scolded with a smile, "Good boy, have you been eyeing my warhorse for a long time?"

"Who wouldn't love a BMW made in Yanzhou? I'm also longing for one."

Li Lin pondered for a moment, then said with emotion, "Since Sixth Brother has spoken, there is no reason for me not to respond."

"How about I give you a thousand war horses, all with good saddles and bridles?"

Li Che blinked and said, "Will it be too difficult for Fourth Brother? Or let it go."

"Why do you say that, Sixth Brother?"

"The Yan army also needs horses. Even if you give me these 1,000 horses, I won't be able to form a complete cavalry. Why don't you keep them for me, Fourth Brother?"

Li Lin was slightly stunned, then burst into laughter: "Good for you, Old Six, you think it's not enough?"

Li Che smiled and bowed his hands to apologize: "Don't blame me, Fourth Brother, it is indeed a little less."

"Well, then I will give you 3,000 war horses. No more. I need to keep some horses as a reserve."

Li Che was overjoyed: "That's enough, that's enough, thank you, Fourth Brother!"

Three thousand war horses are enough to form a large cavalry unit.

One should not be too greedy. There are plains and grasslands outside the Great Wall anyway. As long as you can gain a foothold, there will be plenty of horses, right?

"Don't thank me yet, I also have a favor to ask of you." Li Lin changed the subject.

"What's the matter?"

Li Lin looked at Hu Qiang outside the courtyard with a burning gaze:

"I love warriors the most in my life. Could you please give up the warrior outside the door and let him be my brother?"

"Don't worry, this guy is under my command, I will never treat him unfairly!"