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

This night.

The three Li brothers, Li Chengqian ...

On one hand, they were both extremely excited and had already begun discussing the arrangements after the destruction of the aristocratic clans.

"Brother, you sir... Tell me, if all five noble families and seven powerful clans were to perish, wouldn't the imperial family then be the ones ruling the world? Hiss..."

"Hoo hoo hoo... Fourth brother, you can't say that. Although the aristocratic families are finished, the privileged class that my brother mentioned still exists. Like our royal family, and the families of those old ministers in the Prince of Qin's mansion, these people are also nobles."

"It's alright, I can handle these people. They all came from the ranks of those who fought alongside my father to establish the empire. As long as they are smart enough and know when to advance and retreat, I can ensure their families settle down smoothly... Hiss!"

"As the imperial examination system and national education become more and more perfect in the future, the so-called concept of aristocratic families will gradually disappear, and what will be replaced by individual families, one after another, singing their own tune in the imperial court."

"With the imperial court making adjustments, as long as no fundamentally flawed mistakes are made, the Tang Dynasty can easily continue for several hundred years..."

"Hehehe, Your Majesty, just imagine how vast and beautiful our Tang Dynasty would be back then."

Li Chengqian smiled faintly as he stretched his strong muscles in the medicinal liquid.

Meanwhile, he gazed at the rising mist around him and murmured to himself.

"When the time comes, let Li Er and you all be the governors of each continent, and I'll reluctantly be the governor of a planet..."

"Huh? What did you say about the length of the ball, Your Majesty?"

"fine."

That night, Changsun Wuji unsurprisingly suffered from insomnia.

In the lodgings arranged for him by Li Chengqian, he lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to close his eyes in the darkness.

The voice in his mind was like a leech, clinging to him, from which he could not break free.

Even more terrifying.

Even someone like him, who truly understood the strength of the aristocratic families, was now beginning to waver violently.

Perhaps, it really can happen....

"hiss!"

The next day.

Li Chengqian, as usual, started his daily training with his two younger brothers at the crack of dawn.

The two men, wielding long swords, launched a combined attack on Li Chengqian.

Amidst the clanging of swords, sparks occasionally flew out.

however.

Although both Li Tai and Li Ke already possess the martial prowess expected of a boy their age.

At this moment, in front of their elder brother Li Chengqian, they were like two defenseless children. Their attacks were relentless, but they could not make an inch in the face of Li Chengqian's defense.

however.

Right there on Li Tai and Li Ke's side, they were grimacing, just like always, having just experienced the "painful love of their elder brother".

The three of them were startled by the sudden appearance of Changsun Wuji.

"Holy crap! Uncle, what did you do last night?"

Li Chengqian exclaimed in surprise.

However, Changsun Wuji, with his disheveled hair and dark circles under his eyes, grabbed his arm.

"Your Highness, please take this old minister to your steel factory. This old minister needs to see if the situation there is truly as Your Highness has described!"

Li Chengqian was taken aback, then a smile appeared on his lips.

It seems this imperial brother-in-law was tormented all night.

"Perfect timing! I was just about to inspect the construction of official roads and workshops in various counties of Bingzhou. In that case, I will personally accompany you, Uncle, to Jingle County..."

Changsun Wuji was somewhat impatient.

However, upon learning that his own father, Emperor Li Er, actually harbored the idea of ​​slaughtering the aristocratic families.

Li Chengqian also hoped that this matter would begin as soon as possible.

The day.

Li Chengqian, under the protection of Xue Wanche's 1,000-strong Eastern Palace Six Guards, rode in a carriage towards Jingle County.

......

Taiyuan Prefecture, the Wang family residence.

Wang Ming solemnly and humbly bowed and offered incense before the ancestral tablets of the Wang family.

Beside him stood several elders of the Wang family's eldest branch, their faces etched with grief.

At this moment, they could only follow Wang Ming's lead and bow respectfully as well.

Outside the ancestral hall.

Wang Qingyun took a deep breath and looked at the Wang family's collection of books, which had been neatly stacked together and packed in wooden boxes or brocade boxes.

Beside him stood a beautiful woman standing quietly.

Even with her stunningly beautiful face, looking at the royal collection of books that was about to be presented to the imperial family and the world, she could not hide her complex emotions.

"Waaaah, you bandits! These are the very things my Wang family relied on to establish itself in the Central Plains! These are the riches our ancestors painstakingly accumulated!"

There was an elder of the royal family who was lying on a carriage full of scrolls.

Out of breath crying.

However, the Wang clan's eldest branch has now made a decision, and even though he, as the clan elder, has some power, he is now powerless to support the clan alone.

"You beasts, you beasts! The legacy of our ancestors is about to be destroyed in our hands! Waaaaah..."

When Wang Ming led several clan elders out of the ancestral hall.

Upon hearing the elder's wailing, his face instantly darkened.

"Enough! Seventh Uncle, if you don't want my entire Wang family to go to that execution platform in the west of the city, then shut your mouth!"

"This is already the best outcome for my Wang family. It's just a collection of books. His Highness has already promised my Wang family 50 places at the Imperial University. Even if we don't hand over these books, how long can they remain in our hands?"

Wang Ming snorted coldly, and the elders behind him hurriedly stepped forward to pull away the weeping and wailing elder.

"Qingyun!"

Wang Qingyun walked over and bowed respectfully: "Father."

"You will personally lead my Wang family guards, making sure to deliver these books to His Highness Prince Yue with great fanfare, and preferably make a grand display of gongs and drums. Make sure the entire city knows about them."

"The eldest branch of the Wang family of Taiyuan will spare no effort to fully support His Highness's new educational policies!"

"I will have the elders of the clan write a congratulatory memorial to be published in the 'New Tang Dynasty Gazette' to sing the praises of His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Wang Qingyun nodded.

Wang Ming looked at the stacks of books in front of him, his eyes filled with reluctance and regret.

After a long silence, he suddenly let out a long sigh.

"The era of our five clans and seven noble families is coming to an end. I ask for nothing more than that when Your Highness achieves great things, it will not be the day when our Wang family is discarded after its birds are used up."

Wang Yuyan, the eldest daughter of the Wang family, shook her head thoughtfully upon hearing this.

"Your Highness is not a ruler who would discard his tools once the birds are gone. Otherwise, why would you bestow the method of making pencils upon my royal family and allow my royal family to claim that it was made by us?"

"This is His Highness's way of giving Wang Shi a good reputation and a way out, just like... His Highness's gift to Father the poem 'Leaving the Frontier'."

"If the entire Wang family honestly and dutifully follow the path His Highness has given us, I believe that when His Highness ascends the throne, our Wang family will not only not decline, but our descendants will also have a place in history."

Wang Ming shook his head and glanced at his precious daughter.

He opened his mouth, about to say something.

Suddenly a servant came running over.

"Master, Zheng Wuyang, the young master of the Zheng family of Xingyang, and Lu Wenhu, the young master of the Lu family of Fanyang, say they have important matters to discuss and wish to meet with you and the eldest young master!"

Wang Ming frowned immediately.

He looked at his son.

"If I remember correctly, Zheng Wuyang and Lu Wenhu should both be from the second branch of the family. It seems you two have always had a good relationship?"

Wang Qingyun nodded.

"Yes, Father. We never stopped corresponding. When you were serving in Chang'an, the two of us also came to Taiyuan to travel around with you."

Wang Ming gave a vague "hmm".

"Let's go see those two. The Zheng family of Xingyang and the Lu family of Fanyang have actually sent them to find my Wang family of Taiyuan. It seems something serious has happened in the court..."

The reception room of the Wang family residence.

Screens carved with wood, full of the ancient charm of Shanxi, can be seen everywhere, as can precious jade, silver and porcelain.

however.

The moment Wang Ming led Wang Qingyun into the living room.

With just one glance, he noticed the fleeting anxiety in the eyes of Zheng Wuyang and Lu Wenhu.

"This junior nephew greets Patriarch Wang!"

"Um....."

Wang Ming nodded and sat in the main seat, with his son Wang Qingyun standing behind him.

"You two were sent by your elders, weren't you? Tell me, what brings you here?"

Upon hearing this, the two, who hadn't expected Wang Ming to be so direct right from the start, exchanged a nervous glance.

Then, at Wang Qingyun's signal from behind Wang Ming.

Of the two, Zheng Wuyang, who was clearly more astute, took a deep breath and bowed respectfully.

"The elders of our clan wish to request that the Wang family head put in a good word for us before His Highness the Crown Prince. We, the Zheng family of Xingyang, are willing to serve His Highness with utmost loyalty and hope to be given a task..."

"Ah!"

A cold laugh escaped Wang Ming's lips instantly.

He looked at the other person with an incredulous expression, as if he were looking at a fool, laughing and shaking his head dismissively.

"Hahaha, when I left the capital in such a sorry state that day, your Zheng family of Xingyang and Lu family of Fanyang did not hesitate to slander and ridicule me. Moreover, when my Wang family of Taiyuan was assisting Your Highness in implementing the new policies, you did not hesitate to mock my Wang family of Taiyuan as Your Highness's lackeys among the literati."

"Heh, you were all so proud back then, talking about your ancestral lineage and profound family learning... Why do you come to my Bingzhou now to serve as His Highness's lackeys?"

Zheng Wuyang looked somewhat embarrassed.

Lu Wenhu, who clearly looked more like a military general, had his face flushed red.

He certainly didn't want to come.

However, the clan knew that he and Wang Qingyun, the eldest son of the Wang family, were very close friends.

He was forced to come.

"This... Patriarch Wang, regarding what happened that day, the Zheng family of Xingyang is willing to apologize to you. We were short-sighted. This is a letter personally written by the head of the Zheng family of Xingyang. Please take a look!"

As he spoke, Zheng Wuyang hurriedly took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to the other party with both hands.

Lu Wenhu, who was standing nearby, quickly followed suit.

"This is a letter from the head of the Lu family of Fanyang! I hope the head of the Wang family will be magnanimous!"

Wang Ming calmly opened the letter, looked at its contents, and his eyes flickered occasionally.

After a while, he suddenly placed the letter directly on the table.

"Qingyun, see the guest out!"

The two were instantly startled.

"Patriarch Wang, I, my family of the Zheng clan of Xingyang, am truly sincere and willing to serve Your Highness and contribute my strength to Your Highness!"

"see a visitor out!"

Wang Ming snorted angrily, while Wang Qingyun behind him was helpless at this moment.

But now that his father, the head of the family, is alive, even though he holds the official position of Sima of Bingzhou, he cannot say a word about this matter.

"Brother Zheng, Brother Lu, please..."

Watching the departing figures of the group, Wang Ming glanced once more at the letter on the table and let out a disdainful snort.

"Back then, my Wang family stormed into the Turkic territory to board Your Highness's ship. Now, we've slaughtered countless people in Bingzhou, helping Your Highness eliminate most of the powerful clans in Bingzhou who were obstructing the new policies. My Wang family has also donated a considerable amount of our land."

"You all have quite the wishful thinking. You think you can get us, the old man, onto the ship with just a few words!"

"Do you think I'm a young child?!"

"Guards! At top speed, deliver these two letters to His Highness!"

As he spoke, Wang Ming paused slightly.

"Quickly find out what exactly happened in Chang'an during this period!"

Amidst the sound of footsteps, the butler hurriedly went to do his work.

Just then, Wang Yuyan, the eldest daughter of the Wang family, who had been listening to the commotion, gracefully stepped out from the side.

"Father, it seems that something big must have happened in Chang'an that has made the Lu family of Fanyang and the Zheng family of Xingyang very uneasy. Otherwise, the two families would not have sent people to ask you to act as a mediator."

Wang Ming snorted angrily.

"They're dreaming! The letter says they're willing to send truly talented members of their clan to Bingzhou to help implement the new policies. Humph! Does my Wang family have no one else?!"

"How could I tolerate them!"

As Wang Ming spoke, he suddenly remembered a question he had wanted to ask before.

"Yu Yan, what do you think of our current Crown Prince? If I were to swallow my pride and ask His Majesty to grant us a marriage, would you be willing?"

"They're not happy? I'm not happy either!"

In Gujiao County, under the shade of trees along the official road, Li Tai suddenly cursed angrily.

Hearing his third brother say that a noblewoman might be marrying his elder brother, the emperor, he was immediately displeased.

"Those members of the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families, what do they take my Li Tang imperial family for? Do they think they can just marry my brother if they want to?"

"The women born to those despicable scoundrels are disgusting, not only would my brother, the Emperor, certainly not look at them!"

Li Ke hurriedly grabbed his half-brother.

He glanced nervously at his elder brother, Crown Prince Li Chengqian, who was inspecting the planting of a type of wheat seed called "Tianbao Jinzhong" not far away.

Lower your voice.

"It's impossible for her to marry the Crown Princess. Even Father Emperor probably can't decide who the Crown Princess will be. At most, Mother Empress might have a chance to offer some suggestions, but the final decision will have to be made by the Emperor himself."

"But what about the concubine?"

Li Ke glanced again in the direction of his elder brother, seemingly afraid that the other would find out that he was talking about him behind his back.

"The dowry of the five prominent families and seven noble clans must have been quite substantial."

However, upon hearing his third brother's words, Li Tai looked on with disdain.

"Ha, Third Brother, it's a shame that the Emperor even put you in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Your behavior is nothing like that of someone from the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

"Kill them all, and everything belonging to those five clans and seven noble families will be ours! Why should my imperial brother marry a woman he finds utterly repulsive? Doesn't she look disgusting?"

He shook his head, then suddenly raised his head with inexplicable pride.

"No wonder my elder brother said, 'Third brother, your abilities are ultimately limited, so I should work harder.'"

Li Ke was shocked: "What?!"

the other side.

The farmers were happily using the newly issued iron farm tools and curved plows from the government to tidy up the field ridges.

Winter wheat sowing begins.

Changsun Wuji's expression was complicated and somewhat incredulous.

"Your Highness, can these wheat seeds really be planted in winter? Won't they freeze to death?"

Li Chengqian smiled faintly.

"Uncle, don't worry. This is a new wheat variety that I had researched and developed. It's called the Heavenly Treasure Golden Seed, and it happens to grow in winter, so it can also be called winter wheat."

"80 bushels per mu!"

"How much?!" Changsun Wuji's shout was like that of a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Eighty bushels per mu?!

Changsun Wuji seriously suspected that there was something wrong with his ears or his brain.

Nowadays, the average yield per mu of land in the Central Plains of the Tang Dynasty is only two or three dou for dry land, while better fertile land may reach five dou.

But that's basically the maximum you can go.

Eighty bushels per mu...

Li Chengqian's voice, like the whisper of a demon, murmured in Changsun Wuji's ear.

"Uncle, with such wheat seeds, even if the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families are in turmoil, we can quickly stabilize the overall situation of the nation... The Five Clans and Seven Noble Families are doomed to perish; this is the will of Heaven!"

Changsun Wuji: "..."