Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

After Wu Shiyue left, Li Chengqian immediately summoned his two imperial uncles to the Ganlu Hall.

Prince Lu, Li Yuanchang, now commands companies such as Lu Wang Real Estate, and his assets are substantial. If this were during the Wude era, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was as rich as a country.

On the other hand, although Prince Jing, Li Yuanjing, almost lost his head for embezzling government grain in private, he later honestly served the court as a tool, working with the newly appointed Minister of Revenue, Feng Deyi, to eliminate many corrupt officials in the local areas.

They were finally spared their lives, and the Prince of Jing's Mansion was also fortunate enough to obtain some production quotas for meat and dairy products from Zhenbei Road.

However, when these two powerful princes of the Tang Dynasty received the summons from their nephew, Li Chengqian, their hearts pounded wildly.

When they arrived at Ganlu Hall, they sensed the strange atmosphere inside.

They exchanged a glance, their fear growing even stronger.

"Your humble servants pay their respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness be well!"

The two men bowed respectfully to Li Chengqian. Although the only other person present was the eunuch Wang De, they dared not put on any airs of royalty.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, gesturing for the two to sit down.

"I wonder if Your Highness has something you need me to do?" Li Yuanchang asked nervously.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, but instead of getting straight to the point, he smiled and suddenly spoke.

"Seventh Imperial Uncle".

The mention of "Seventh Imperial Uncle" startled Li Yuanchang, causing his face to turn pale instantly. He jumped up immediately, his backside still warm from his seat.

“Your Highness, this Ganlu Palace is only for the emperor and his subjects. If Your Highness gives any orders, I will risk my life without hesitation. I would never dare to accept such a formal address from Your Highness.”

As he spoke, Prince Jing, Li Yuanjing, who was a few months older than him and was the elder brother, dared not sit any longer and quickly got up as well.

Li Chengqian: "......"

He swore that although he did intend to warn and reprimand the other party, his address of "Seventh Imperial Uncle" was entirely sincere.

Prince Lu, Li Yuanchang, a prince whose ending in history was tragic, has been diligent and conscientious in his work over the years since following him, and has never left any evidence against him.

Even during the development of Luwang Real Estate, there were several instances of substandard construction projects. Just as Li Chengqian received the censor's impeachment, Li Yuanchang had already led people to clean up the mess.

Those who deserve compensation should receive it, and those who should report to the authorities should report it to the authorities.

Although Prince Lu, as a member of the royal family, engaged in business and was despised by some in the court, his real estate business did indeed become one of the hallmarks of royal credibility in the hearts of the people of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Chengqian was genuinely very satisfied with him.

He took a deep breath, wanting to comfort the other person, but seeing the other person's trembling appearance, he knew in his heart that if he said a few more intimate words, this royal uncle would probably be scared to death in the middle of the night when he got back.

He immediately cleared his throat.

"Ahem, the reason I've summoned you two is to ask you one thing..."

His smile slowly faded: "How many of the royal relatives and powerful nobles nowadays have private armies?"

The already pale faces of Li Yuanchang and Li Yuanjing lost even more color.

Two plops.

The two knelt before Li Chengqian almost without the slightest hesitation.

"Your Highness, I am innocent! I am innocent! The guards and laborers of those construction teams are all registered with the Ministry of Works. I only have an employer-employee relationship with them and would never dare to have the slightest disloyal intention!"

Li Yuanchang wept bitterly, while Li Yuanjing was even more terrified.

He knew his nephew's methods well; he had personally witnessed the execution of those officials who had committed crimes, being skinned alive and stuffed with straw, and had been forced to watch by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He had developed a physiological fear of the prince before him.

At this moment, with his mouth agape, he stammered along with Li Yuanchang, "If Your Highness does not believe me, you may send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to my residence and my properties for investigation at will. I would never dare to have such a rebellious thought!"

They would kowtow to this guy as if they were about to do so.

Li Chengqian frowned instantly and waved his hands repeatedly.

"Get up! All of you, stand up! When did I say I was going to punish you?! Stand up, listen carefully! Kneel, kneel, kneel! In the eyes of my two royal uncles, am I some kind of bloodthirsty tyrant?!"

If you're not, then are we?

Li Yuanchang and his companion muttered to themselves, but seeing that their imperial nephew didn't seem to be planning to punish them, they breathed a sigh of relief and carefully got up from the ground.

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes in annoyance.

He gestured for Wang De to hand over some documents and materials that Li Chengqian had arranged to the two men.

"Both of my imperial uncles hold high positions in the court and are frequently summoned by me. Naturally, I do not believe that either of them would do anything wrong. However... there are quite a few of my imperial relatives who are taking advantage of me and making a living off me!"

When Li Chengqian used the term "imperial relatives," his tone clearly carried a hint of cold-blooded murderous intent.

Li Yuanchang and his companion were trembling with fear.

On their respective lists, the names of royal relatives and nobles were clearly displayed.

Following these individuals' names are numerous businesses and subordinates under their control.

Prince Li Yuanheng and his mother, Consort Yin, and their relatives opened mines and factories in Longxi County, privately minting gold and iron. They also had eighteen escort agencies with a total of three thousand followers.

Prince Zhou, Li Yuanfang, ran an agricultural and pastoral business. However, his mother, Zhang Jieyu's, elder brother secretly colluded with the Xueyantuo to trade in the north, and had more than two thousand guards under his command.

Then there was Xu Kangwang, Li Yuanli...

The more Li Yuanchang and his companion looked, the more terrified they became.

After turning a page of the document in my hand, what I saw was even more shocking.

If it were the situation of their younger brothers before, it wouldn't have been too serious. They could have been punished, made to suffer, and had some of their property confiscated. But after that, with all the relatives of relatives, friends of friends, the wet nurse's son, and so on, there was a complicated network of relationships.

The list of charges that appeared one by one had already terrified the two of them, leaving them in a cold sweat.

Li Chengqian slowly stood up, walked to the two men, and looked at them with a solemn expression.

"Both of my royal uncles have followed me for many years, and you are about the same age as me. The teachers have taught me what you have also learned. Han Feizi's 'Eight Traitors' says, 'If the mistress of the house is corrupt and the inside and outside are mixed together, then the children and the family will multiply and no one will stop it.'"

He gently patted their shoulders, but his voice gradually turned cold.

"When those above are greedy, those below become even more unrestrained, and relatives follow suit, with those who follow in their footsteps multiplying without ever becoming insatiable."

"Sixth Imperial Uncle, Seventh Imperial Uncle, you should understand better than them that wealth and honor cannot last. If one cultivates virtue and abides by the law, wealth and honor can be prolonged. But if one acts recklessly and arbitrarily... even if one is in the royal family, what one loses will not only be wealth and honor."

The gentle pat on the shoulder sent chills down the spines of Li Yuanchang and Li Yuanjing, making their backs even colder.

"My two imperial uncles, the world is now at peace, and the mighty Tang army is invincible. Even if they simply stay in their place and manage their businesses, their descendants will surely enjoy lasting wealth and prosperity. You must convey my message to them... This is the only way I'm giving them a way out!"