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

Cao Pi was so reprimanded that he didn't dare to say a word.

He knew, of course, that what Cao Cao was saying was true.

Damage can't be undone.

Once the Nine-Rank System was established, the power of aristocratic families would rapidly expand.

Cao Cao's claim that the Five Dynasties period overshadowed imperial power is a conservative estimate.

If Cao Rui had been even slightly weak-willed, he probably wouldn't have been able to withstand the second generation.

The gentry could pay off their crimes simply by paying money, and even if they killed a commoner, they would not be punished.

It practically placed the label of "aristocratic family" over everyone's heads.

If the entire court, including the counties below, is filled with these aristocratic people, what power will the emperor have left?

Cao Cao himself did not deny that talented people and wise ministers who could govern the country could emerge from the aristocratic families.

But you can't expect all of them to have that kind of awareness, can you?

If even one or two of them had developed ambitions, then even without the Sima clan, there would have been the Chen, Xun, Wang, and so on.

Once you relinquish power, you will be unable to stop their own power from expanding rapidly.

"You knew all this perfectly well, yet you still did it. You're truly a short-sighted person!"

"Or do you believe that your descendants will be capable enough to surpass these scholar-official families?"

Cao Cao pointed his finger at Cao Pi's nose, practically cursing him out.

"Even you yourself can't do it. You had to compromise with the powerful families to get Liu Xie to abdicate and become emperor. Do you really expect your descendants to be able to do it?"

“I once said that if the mandate of heaven was on my side, I would be King Wen of Zhou, but now it seems that the mandate of heaven is not on my side!”

"Zihuan, you are far inferior to Zixiu."

Upon hearing the last sentence, Cao Pi turned deathly pale.

But Cao Cao seemed not to notice his expression and continued to speak as if nothing had happened.

"Perhaps when Zixiu died in battle, the Mandate of Heaven was no longer with me, Cao Cao."

"Father, I know I was wrong. Please give me a chance to repent!"

Cao Pi knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly.

If he can't get through this hurdle today, then the position of heir will probably fall to his younger brother.

This is worse than killing him!

"Repent? How will you repent?"

"I've seen your abilities. You can't control these people. If you want to become emperor, you have no choice but to compromise. What else can you do?"

Mr. Cao was equally disappointed.

He never expected that Cao Pi would make such a choice.

"..."

Cao Pi turned around and glanced at the group of gentry in the distance, who dared not utter a sound after hearing Cao Cao's words.

Looking at their timid and hesitant appearance, he suddenly understood.

"Kill the chicken to scare the monkey!"

"At worst, I will not declare myself emperor, but will inherit the title of King of Wei like you, Father, and be granted the Nine Bestowments!"

However, Cao Cao still shook his head slightly.

"Go back and think about it slowly. Once you've figured it out, then tell me."

"I don't necessarily have to choose you as my successor."

Having said that, he stopped looking at Cao Pi and instead turned his gaze to the sky.

in the picture.

After Zhang Liang confirmed his guess about the Nine-Rank System, Liu Bang couldn't help but feel annoyed.

That emperor who compromised left no way out for his descendants!

So he's just focused on becoming emperor and doesn't care about anything else?

"They've already compromised to this extent, yet those powerful families still want to support the Sima family's rebellion and usurpation of the throne?"

"Either these aristocratic families are ungrateful wretches, or the Sima family has offered them even greater benefits."

After a brief moment of anger, Liu Bang regained his composure.

"It's also possible that the Cao family took a bite out of their cake, and the Sima family simply returned the cake that originally belonged to them."

Zhang Liang added.

"After all, it is somewhat unbelievable that Sima Yi was able to control the entire defense of Luoyang with only three thousand elite soldiers. It would not have been possible to do so smoothly without the intervention of the aristocratic families."

"indeed."

"Cao Fang is too cowardly to do such a thing, so it must be Cao Shuang."

In their analysis, the two quickly pieced everything together.

After Cao Shuang seized power, he suppressed Sima Yi and, in doing so, also eroded the interests of those powerful families.

When he took Cao Fang to Gaoping Mausoleum to pay homage to their ancestors, the Luoyang mutiny was actually the entire aristocratic clan joining forces to oppose the Cao dynasty.

This reasoning is the most reasonable.

Otherwise, there would be no reason why the gentry who once supported the Cao family would unanimously side with the Sima family.

After all, the successive changes of the throne are also detrimental to the stability of the court.

If the government is unstable, they will be unable to secure benefits for their families.

If they hadn't had no other choice, those aristocratic families wouldn't have so easily abandoned Cao Cao and chosen Sima Yi.

"Then the answer is obvious."

"No matter what the Sima family promised them, I will give them double!"

"what?"

Zhang Liang instantly understood what Liu Bang wanted to do.

Give them double?

What else can we give?

hereditary!

Granting fiefdoms!

If you want to offer more than the Sima family and change the stance of those aristocratic families, then only these two systems from the Zhou Dynasty remain.

But once these two powerful weapons are brought out, it will be a hundred times more difficult to take them back!

"Your Majesty, isn't this move too risky?"

Even I, a radical, think you're too radical!

"What if we create another chaotic world?"

"Zifang, the worst outcome would be the southward migration of the elite and the chaos caused by the Five Barbarian Tribes. It can't get any worse."

"If you were able to quell three periods of chaos in seven years, what difficulty would it be to quell another one?"

He destroyed Qin, destroyed Chu, and pacified the feudal lords.

He started his rebellion at the age of forty, ravaged the country three times, and finally became emperor after seven years, ruling the land.

For Liu Bang, as long as he could regain the power of the emperor, the worst-case scenario would be to divide the empire among the various kingdoms.

At worst, he'll just have to conquer the world again!

Zhang Liang was speechless for a moment.

He suddenly remembered.

The person standing before him was no longer Liu Ji, who had started his rebellion in Pei County and was forced to become an outlaw.

Now he is Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty who destroyed Qin and Chu!

He is not afraid of a peaceful world; on the contrary, if this challenge does not throw the Great Wei into chaos, he will truly have no chance!

"Getting back to the main point, since Chen Qun proposed the Nine-Rank System, it means that the Chen family of Yingchuan is also one of the people who want a share of the pie. So what did you say to Chen Tai today?"

"Personally, he prefers the Great Wei."

Zhang Liang's answer was straightforward.

"Chen Tai always harbored resentment over the fact that after persuading Cao Shuang to surrender, he turned around and exterminated Cao Shuang's entire family."

"Although Liang is not as accurate in judging people as His Majesty, he should be right."

"...I naturally believe you, but I have a small doubt."

"Your current status is merely that of a minor official; how could you possibly have the right to meet the leader of the Yingchuan Chen clan?"

Liu Bang was somewhat confused.

Zhang Liang stepped back, showing off his broad arms.

"Besides being resourceful, Liang also knows some martial arts, and his home is very poorly guarded..."

"speak English."

"Climb over the wall."