Pick up a princess to be your wife

Sima Gang's words immediately stunned Sima Xiangyue.

Looking back, when the three major branches of the family were discussing important matters, her eldest brother, Sima Ying, was still alive.

Sima Ying, the most prestigious and capable member of the Sima clan, decided to help Wu Fengxian raise an army and seek lasting achievements. Who would rebel?

At that time, Yan Ting was already corrupt and decadent.

Shouldn't the Sima clan have rebelled at that time?

However, Sima Gang was right. Among the entire Sima clan, even though many in the northern branch agreed to the rebellion, he was the only one who opposed it.

"You who eat the emperor's food should serve the emperor. Back then, the Sima family was paid by the Great Yan dynasty. You bunch of traitors and rebels, what face do you have to criticize me?"

Sima Xiangyue's expression was rather unpleasant.

But they didn't know what to say in response.

Sima Gang's indignation was definitely not feigned.

But he actually said such a thing. Does that mean he didn't collude with the Gao family to rebel?

"Who exactly told you that I, Sima Gang, am plotting a rebellion?"

"Wait, why are you at the ancestral home?"

Sima Xiangyue, who had been intelligent all his life, suddenly realized that he had made a huge mistake.

She overestimated her importance to the Sima family. Therefore, without much thought, she went straight home after entering the Bohai Sea.

But if Sima Gang is currently in control of the Sima clan, then why does Sima Hong live in the main mansion while Sima Gang can only live in the ancestral home?

Five years have passed, and the world has changed dramatically. The Sima family is no longer the same Sima family.

At that moment, Sima Hong's voice rang out from outside the door.

"Of course, it was me who told my older sister that you were plotting a rebellion."

As soon as he finished speaking, hundreds of armored soldiers filed in and surrounded Sima Xiangyue and Sima Gang.

A row of arrows was aimed at the two of them.

Sure enough, they fell for the trap.

Sima Xiangyue felt that he had been too clever for his own good.

It turns out that the one who betrayed them was Sima Hong, not Sima Gang.

"Big sister, I've been looking for Sima Gang for days! I never expected, I never would have guessed, that Sima Gang was hiding in the ancestral home! Hahaha!" Sima Hong laughed heartily.

It turns out that Sima Hong had been looking for Sima Gang for a long time, but had not been able to find him.

In fact, the vast majority of the people in the northern branch had also sided with Sima Hong. Some who were unwilling to submit, but were too weak-willed, could only remain silent.

"Sima Hong, so it was you who colluded with the Gao family to launch a rebellion? Do you know that with your current strength, you are no match for the imperial court? Doing this will only lead you to your death?" Sima Xiangyue said coldly.

"My dear sister, you really know how to side with outsiders."

Sima Hong walked up to Sima Xiangyue.

"Do you know what the imperial court is planning? To reclaim land and collect commercial taxes. Do you know how much fertile land the Sima family owns?"

Two-thirds of the fertile land in the entire Tokaido region belongs to my Sima clan. More than half of the businesses in the entire Tokaido region belong to my Sima clan.

Now the imperial court can just take back the land with a single word and give it to those commoners? Do you know how much silver that is? Do you know that it's the ancestral estate that the Sima family accumulated over hundreds of years?

Now that the Sima family can no longer collect rent, do you know how much they will lose in a year? Now the imperial court wants to collect 40% of commercial taxes, do you know how much silver that is?

Elder sister, you're the head of the finance department, responsible for collecting commercial taxes. And now you're helping the court against your own family?

You grew up eating the Sima family's grain, and the Sima family raised a thankless wretch?

Sima Xiangyue had considered these things.

The new policies of the imperial court will certainly provoke resistance from the old-school gentry.

It's understandable that the Sima family would react so strongly.

However, with a new world comes new opportunities.

The Sima family handed over the land, but that didn't mean there were no other opportunities.

The Da Ning Dynasty encouraged commerce, which created great opportunities for commercial development.

Think about Lingnan Road, many peasants have now become millionaires.

The Sima family possessed profound knowledge and many techniques that were not passed down to outsiders.

They were able to maintain their status as the most prestigious aristocratic family in the land by doing business.

Even if the Sima family has to pay commercial taxes, their business can still expand outwards.

I'll definitely earn more money in the future.

However, Sima Xiangyue, being in a high position, was able to see the bigger picture.

Sima Hong was trapped in the well, so he could only see a small patch of the world.

Sima Xiangyue suddenly realized that she might not be able to persuade Sima Hong.

Everyone has their own stance.

Sima Xiangyue now represents the imperial court, which means he is the one who wants to take money out of the Sima family's pockets.

Sima Hong represents the Sima clan, and he is determined to protect the family business that the Sima clan has accumulated over hundreds of years.

Sima Xiangyue still thought of what Li Much had said.

Without destruction, there can be no construction; only by destroying the old rules can a new order be established. The old rules were all broken; only by breaking the old rules can a new order be built.

When faced with self-interest, reason can never convince people. The greater the interests involved, the further one strays from reason.

Sima Xiangyue could not help but feel grief.

How many members of the Sima clan can still be saved?

"Elder sister, why are you silent? If you are willing to repent and change your ways, we can still address each other as brother and sister from now on. You are the eldest sister of the ancestral family, and from now on, you will have the final say on matters concerning the Sima family. But if you continue to help outsiders suppress the Sima family, then I'm sorry."

Sima Hong pointed at Sima Gang.

“Sima Gang is stubborn and unyielding. I have tried to persuade him many times to no avail, and I have lost all patience with him.”

As Sima Hong spoke, he slowly took a few steps back.

"So, elder sister, give me an answer on how to decide. This matter has nothing to do with personal grudges; for the future of the Sima family, I must take a gamble."

After Sima Hong finished speaking, the archers immediately drew their bows to the limit and aimed at Sima Xiangyue and Sima Gang.

Sima Hong had no intention of letting Sima Gang go. This man was too rigid and stubborn, and was of no use whatsoever.

But Sima Xiangyue was an extremely intelligent person, a rare talent.

In some ways, Sima Xiangyue was far more capable than his elder brother, Sima Ying.

If Sima Xiangyue can change his mind, he will be a great help to the Sima family.

Those who were secretly plotting against Sima Hong will finally settle down.

With two different stances, Sima Hong would certainly not turn back.

Sima Xiangyue looked up at Sima Hong.

"The Sima family has always been united as one, and has never laid a hand on its own brothers. Sima Hong, are you going to break the ancestral precepts?"