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

Ma Zhong dismounted swiftly, stepped forward to the stage, and saluted Li Che with a fist:

"Your Majesty! I have fulfilled your mission!"

He stepped aside and pointed behind him proudly.

I saw that those people who were tightly wrapped in the fishing nets were wearing luxurious silk clothes, but they were in a miserable state at this moment.

Li Che didn't know these people, so he looked at Du Fuji standing beside him.

Du Fuji looked at the old man in the lead, unable to hide his surprise: "Your Majesty, it's Wei Hong, the head of the Wei family!"

His face was pale and his eyes were closed. He seemed unable to accept the reality before him and was too ashamed to face the gazes of those around him.

Li Che's eyes swept over Wei Hong lightly, with no emotion on his face.

What else could he say? He had long been accustomed to it. It was just an ordinary daily life for Ma Zhong.

Sometimes he wondered what title to give Ma Zhong in the future.

Koi Marquis? Auspicious Marquis? Good Luck Marquis?

If it really doesn't work, castrate this guy and make him stay with me day and night...

Others keep lucky cats at home, so it’s also nice to keep one that brings good luck to people.

"Good job, no trouble?"

"Your Majesty, it's all thanks to your great fortune!" Ma Zhong puffed out his chest. "I captured the man named Wei, along with a dozen other officials who took advantage of the chaos to escape. Thinking your Majesty might want to question them, I spared their lives and snared them with the net!"

The Prince of Huai'an and Du Fuji, who were standing by, looked at Wei Hong who was tied up in the net like an animal, with mixed feelings in their hearts, and even more awe for Li Che.

It is really sad that the Wei family had worked hard in Chang'an for a hundred years, but was uprooted in such a humiliating way overnight.

Li Che hummed, acknowledging Ma Zhong's contribution: "Okay, I'll remember your contribution."

Ma Zhong chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask for a favor from you."

Li Che was surprised and said, "That's strange. This is the first time you've asked me for something."

"Tell me, as long as it's not too much, I can agree to it."

"Not too much, not too much." Ma Zhong pulled Duan Rui over from the side. "This man's name is Duan Rui, the commander of Yanxing Gate. This time, I am relying on him to capture Wei alive."

After that, Ma Zhong told Li Che everything about Duan Rui.

"I like him. Your Majesty, please allow him to serve as my deputy general."

After hearing this, Li Che immediately became interested.

The person who can make this wall-hanging person beg for money must be extraordinary.

"I, your Excellency, will see you soon."

Now that Duan Rui saw Master Li Che, he could only bow tremblingly and could not even utter a complete sentence.

Li Che didn't care and asked, "Have you seen me?"

Duan Rui dared not lie, and told the whole story: "When the incident happened at the beginning of the year, I was also in the imperial capital, but I happened to be sick at home that day, so I never became an enemy of Your Majesty!"

Li Che asked again: "How do you know that the Wei family will take the small road?"

Duan Rui replied, "I don't know, I just feel I should take the small road... If I don't, I always feel like I'm missing something."

Du Fuji, who was standing by, heard this ridiculous remark and immediately scolded him, "Don't talk nonsense in front of His Majesty!"

Duan Rui trembled with fear, knowing that what he said was too outrageous. He quickly knelt down and said, "I, I am telling the truth. I dare not deceive Your Majesty."

Li Che smiled and waved his hand: "It's okay, I believe you."

Why wouldn't he believe it? They say birds of a feather flock together, so it's normal for people with koi-like physiques to be attracted to each other.

Duan Rui doesn't look that great, but from his description he is exactly the youthful version of Ma Zhong!

The more lucky generals like this, the better. Even if they are placed in the army as mascots, it would be fine.

Li Che patted Duan Rui's shoulder and said, "Just stay with Ma Zhong."

Duan Rui was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

At this moment, Wei Hong on the side finally couldn't hold back anymore and started cursing:

"Li Che, you traitor!"

"You've committed atrocities, slaughtered loyal officials, and raised your sword against the noble families! Do you think you can secure your throne this way?!"

"There are so many noble families in the world! If you destroy my Wei family today, you will be retaliated against in the future. You will cause unrest in the entire world! You are digging your own grave!"

Li Che just watched him roar quietly, as if he was watching a farce that had nothing to do with him.

Seeing that Li Che was indifferent, Wei Hong became even more furious.

He looked around, as if trying to find something to rely on, and shouted, "Where are my sons?! Where is my second son, Wei Jun?"

"He commands a large army and will not sit idly by and watch you act so recklessly! Once his army arrives, he will surely... "

At this moment, a rough and bold voice interrupted him:

"Hey! Old man, your son is here!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Yelu He and Yang Xuan walking towards them one after another.

Yelu He casually held a bloody head in one hand. The head had wide-open eyes, disheveled hair, and a look of astonishment on its face.

It was Wei Jun, the illegitimate son of the Wei family!

Yelu He threw the head in front of Wei Hong. The head rolled in front of Wei Hong, and the eyes that were still open in death were facing him.

Seeing this, the Fengtian Army generals couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Someone jokingly asked, "General Yelu, when did you change your surname to Wei? Why do you claim to be someone else's son?"

Yelu He's face flushed a little red, and he glared at the man unhappily before correcting him, "Don't take advantage of me because I don't speak Xia language. I mean, his son is in my hands!"

He pointed at the head on the ground and looked at Wei Hong: "Don't bother looking for it. Your son is here, but he seems a little dead. I can only bring you a part of it. Please bear with me."

Wei Hong's roar came to an abrupt end.

He stared at the familiar and terrifying face on the ground, his eyes almost popping out.

The next second, Wei Hong's whole body twitched, his eyes rolled back, he spat out a mouthful of blood, and fell straight back.

Li Che glanced at the unconscious Wei Hong indifferently, as if he just saw a troublesome bug.

He raised his head, glanced at all the generals present, and said in a calm voice:

"All captured members of the noble families will be detained and placed under strict guard."

Yue Yun stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, what should we do next?"

A cold light flashed in Li Che's eyes, and without the slightest hesitation, he said:

"Anyone with the same surname will be beheaded!"

Hearing Li Che's words, some officials from aristocratic families present shuddered subconsciously.

Killing all those with the same surname is no different from exterminating the entire clan.

Except for the women who married into aristocratic families, the entire family was not spared.

And most likely those women were not immune either. Those who could marry into aristocratic families were women of equal status, and 80% of them came from other aristocratic families...

Li Che continued, "All the servants and followers in his mansion who resisted him will be executed!"

"Those who have been screened and found to have not resisted will be sent to prisoner-of-war camps to await their fate."

"All property, fields, and shops must be registered and deposited into the national treasury!"

Li Che's strategy towards the aristocratic families, which are the cancer of the dynasty, has always been simple.

That means uprooting the body completely and eradicating the roots!

Li Che will treat those who are willing to stand on his side gently, and it is acceptable to reduce their power in the future and let them become a wealthy merchant family.

As for those like the Wei family who are rooted in officialdom and intend to oppose the will of the court, they will be destroyed physically.

"General, I obey your order!"

Yue Yun accepted the order immediately without any question.

The night watchman behind him began to carry out orders like a cold machine.

At this time, Yelu He wiped his face with the blood-stained sleeve of his robe and asked excitedly, "Your Majesty, we have captured Chang'an City overnight. This is a huge victory. Can we reward the troops tonight and celebrate?"

The generals also showed expectant expressions.

After a bloody battle, a hearty celebration banquet is undoubtedly the greatest comfort.

Li Che glanced at the Chang'an City engulfed in smoke, but slowly shook his head:

“Not every victory is worth celebrating.”

. . . . . .

After Li Che finished dealing with the important military and political affairs outside, he turned around and walked into the hall of the Du Mansion again.

At this moment, the Li clan members gathered in the hall had already learned the outcome of that night's bloody battle.

Li Che won, the once inconspicuous Sixth Prince won again.

As he himself said, he seemed to have never lost since he left the imperial capital and went outside the Great Wall.

Thinking of this, fear, dread, relief, confusion, all kinds of emotions intertwined on the faces of every member of the royal family.

When Li Che appeared at the door, without anyone's command, all the royal family members bent down in unison, lowered their heads and dared not look directly at the emperor.

"See Your Majesty!"

There was a tremor in the voice, but it was more uniform. The crushing strength was the best sobering agent.

Li Che walked steadily to the main seat and glanced at the clan members.

After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke:

"Everyone, get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The royal family members stood up nervously, but still bowed their heads with their hands hanging down, not daring to breathe.

"I hope you all will remember what happened last night." Li Che said slowly, "Remember what the general trend is, and remember what it means to be prosperous and to perish against it!"

"I will remember all your crimes!"

He paused, his tone softening slightly, "But considering that you were able to finally stop and correct your mistakes, and that loyal men like the Prince of Huai'an assisted you, I will forgive you for all that happened before."

The thundering methods used against the aristocratic families are not suitable for use against the royal family, after all, they are people of the same surname.

Considering the family ties of the ancients, if I kill them, I will probably immediately become a tyrant far worse than Jie and Zhou.

The royal family members felt relieved and almost cried for joy.

He quickly bowed again: "Your Majesty, we thank you for your grace! Your Majesty is so magnanimous!"

"However," Li Che changed the subject, "from now on, the defense of Chang'an City and even the entire Qin area will be fully taken over by the Fengtian Army."

"The existing garrison troops will be reorganized, the old and weak will be eliminated, and those with dissent will be investigated."

"As members of the royal family, you have received great favor from the country. In this time of national crisis, you should step forward."

"I demand that you do your utmost to appease the local people, maintain market stability, and immediately begin recruiting the sons of good families in Guanzhong to reorganize the New Qin Army!"

"Guanzhong has always produced elite warriors. The Qin army should be my vanguard. Soon we will march east through Tongguan to attack the rebels in the imperial capital!"

"Can you... do it?"