The video takes us to ancient times; Li Er transforms into the Tongtian Emperor of Shu Han.

The strength of the aristocratic families in their final struggle far exceeded everyone's expectations.

With the power they had cultivated in this land for ten years within the Great Yan Dynasty, they managed to trap Yuchi Gong and his men in a quagmire.

In the areas they operated in, whether they were commoners or wealthy gentry.

These people seemed not to recognize Emperor Taizong's name, or even An Lushan's Great Yan Dynasty.

Whenever the imperial army arrives, countless people will spontaneously block the army's path.

But faced with these figures wielding various farm tools, who could bring themselves to kill them?

The number of people was so large that even Geshu Han, let alone Yuchi Gong, felt his scalp tingle.

After the news reached the capital, Li Er, who was leading the reconstruction of Chang'an, looked increasingly grim.

The people in these places were once subjects of his Great Tang Dynasty!

It was precisely because of this consideration that Yuchi Gong was at a loss when faced with the poor people who came to resist with hoes and sickles.

He could only relay the message; how to proceed was up to Li Er's decision.

Along with the message, hundreds of civilians who had been arrested were also sent back.

This is the source of the aristocratic families' confidence to act so recklessly and burn down Chang'an even after they knew that Tongguan had been breached.

Even without Chang'an and the Great Yan Dynasty, the areas they control will remain an impenetrable fortress!

Taking them down will be no less difficult than defeating An Lushan!

"Don't you know that treason is a capital offense?"

Li Er clutched the letter sent back by Yuchi Gong tightly.

His eyes were filled with grief.

Water can carry a boat, and it can also overturn it.

This was something he used to say all the time.

But now it seems that this water may also be used by others.

"Could it be that those aristocratic families treat you better than I do?"

Faced with his questioning, the people, with their hands tied behind their backs and kneeling in a row, remained silent.

The more they acted this way, the angrier Li Er became.

Hasn't he done enough?

In the imperial court, he humbly accepted advice.

On the battlefield, he led the charge.

Wherever there was a disaster, he would arrange relief immediately. Even though life was hard in the capital, he never thought of mistreating the people.

He asked himself honestly and did not think he had wronged the people in any way!

But now, these people are actually protecting the aristocratic families.

Protect those aristocratic families who committed heinous crimes in Chang'an!

Are they really just troublemakers who can't tell right from wrong?

Looking at the rows of kneeling people in front of him, Li Er waved his hand angrily, ordering his men to take them all away and lock them up.

Just then, one of them spoke up, his face full of remorse.

"His Majesty Emperor Taizong was a good man; my father told me that."

He said that the reign of Emperor Taizong was the best time for us.

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything, because his words only made Li Er angrier.

"Since I treat you well, providing you with food and land to cultivate, why do you still rebel against me? Why do you still help those powerful families?!"

Am I a good person?

so what!

Does that mean good people should be held at knifepoint?

Is there no law in this world?

“Your Majesty, you are a good person. We helped the aristocratic families rebel, we defied Your Majesty, we are not human.”

The hundreds of people kneeling looked up one after another, their faces covered in tears and snot.

“But my whole family is in the hands of the Wang family. If I don’t come, they will kill my family. What choice do I have?”

"Your Majesty, they really will kill people. None of us can resist them. We can only do as they say."

“I saw with my own eyes that my father was stabbed to death. If I hadn’t come, my mother would not have escaped death either.”

“My wife and two children have been taken away by them. I don’t want to rebel, but I don’t want them to die because of me.”

"Your Majesty, just kill me."

"Kill us."

One by one, they all kowtowed.

Li Er was completely disoriented from the constant knocking.

No wonder, no wonder Yuchi Gong and his men didn't encounter any large armies raised by aristocratic families along the way; instead, they were blocked by these common people.

It turned out to be the case.

The powerful families' armies are all watching over their families!

Li Er looked at the hundreds of people who had been captured and brought back.

This is an abbreviation of the situation Yuchi Gong faced.

Blocking the army's path were civilians who were not wearing any armor.

The weapons in their hands were nothing more than the farming tools they used to use for cultivation.

If we don't kill these people, they won't be able to get through the defenses of this powerful family.

If I were to kill him, how could I bear to do it?

"..."

"Take them all away and keep them under strict guard."

After a long silence, Li Er said in a low voice.

These people are right; he considers himself a good person and a good emperor.

No matter how wise an emperor is, he probably wouldn't have a better solution in the face of such a situation.

He couldn't penetrate deep behind enemy lines, and he couldn't rescue all the people's families from the powerful clans.

The moment they were dragged into the clutches of powerful families, their fate was sealed.

He couldn't save these people; perhaps all he could do was avenge them!

In his reply to Yuchi Gong, he only wrote four words.

……

Just as they were setting up camp and pondering how to cross this line of defense held by the people.

Yuchi Gong and Geshu Han could only sigh and lament in the camp all day long.

The two sat there for several days, but in the end they still came up empty-handed.

Guo Ziyi received Emperor Taizong's decree, and before he even entered the main tent, he heard sighs coming from inside.

He hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside.

A letter was placed on the table in front of the two men.

"His Majesty's decree has arrived, but I am alone and dare not read it."

Guo Ziyi roughly guessed what the letter would say.

But precisely because of this, he dared not look, nor could he look.

Goshuhan stared at the letter on the table; the thin envelope seemed to weigh a ton in his eyes.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. If we're going to do this, it will definitely be the three of us working together. No one can escape responsibility."

Yuchi Gong reached out and took the letter.

Although he spoke frankly, his trembling hands clearly showed that he was not at peace inside.

Although the letter had not yet been opened, all three of them already knew its contents.

There is only one way to take down a powerful family!

"stop looking."

Just as Yuchi Gong was about to tear open the envelope, Geshu Han pressed his hand down.

"This matter has nothing to do with His Majesty the Emperor; it was our own decision!"

"If you're too scared to take the blame, then let me!"

His gaze suddenly turned fierce.

"You return to Chang'an and help His Majesty rebuild it. I will kill you!"

Upon hearing this, both Yuchi Gong and Guo Ziyi gave him a deep look.

After the three stared at each other for a long time, Yuchi Gong broke free from his hand and casually placed the letter on the candle.

Seeing that the envelope was mostly burned, he belatedly tossed it aside.

"His Majesty's letter was accidentally burned by the Duke, but the opportunity for war is fleeting, and the powerful families are still brewing some conspiracy."

"The tragedy of Chang'an must not be repeated anywhere else."

"A general is not bound by his sovereign's orders when he is away from home!"