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

"Brother, the sun has risen in the west! It really was that old bastard Wang Xiang who had someone do it!"

Sima Zhao rushed back.

As soon as rumors began to circulate, they immediately sent people to investigate the situation.

However, the results of each survey were different.

It was as if all the major clans had suddenly gone mad, taking turns sending people, money, and effort to boost the reputation of the Sima family.

The results of the investigation left the two of them completely baffled.

Only now, after Wang Xiang voluntarily exposed himself, has Sima Zhao dared to confirm that it was him.

"He's the kind of person who won't do anything without a reason. Whenever he does something, there's always a huge benefit for him behind it."

"Why would he go through all that trouble?"

Upon receiving the answer, Sima Shi found it even more unbelievable.

Compared to Wang Xiang, he was more inclined to believe that it was other powerful clans taking turns acting erratically.

This answer made him absolutely certain that there must be a scheme behind this that he had not yet thought of.

"Whatever his motives, it's a good thing for us!"

“Brother, you don’t know, these days, the good name of my Sima family is being spread all over the streets and alleys.”

"Look, can we start preparing now?"

Sima Zhao was vaguely impatient.

After all, no matter who receives the abdication and becomes emperor, the throne will eventually fall into his hands.

His elder brother had no descendants!

"Do you really think Wang Xiang and the aristocratic families behind him would give you such a huge windfall?"

"Zishang, when you encounter a matter, you should think it through carefully and understand the meaning behind it."

"None of them are the type to sacrifice themselves for others. Now that the Sima family has come to this point, all they're thinking about is how to take a piece of our flesh."

"Now that they've given such a huge gift, their ambitions are only greater, do you understand?"

Sima Shi was still puzzled, but Sima Zhao's urging made him vaguely guess what Wang Xiang wanted to do.

But Wang Xiang wasn't afraid that he would see through him.

This is an open conspiracy.

Even if you see through it all, what can you do?

The throne is before you, and the opportunity to receive the abdication has been created for you.

Do you want it?

If you don't want it, then others might have some inappropriate thoughts.

Sitting in the position of Grand General is like rowing against the current; if you don't take this step, someone else might steal your glory.

The fact that Cao Cao, the founding emperor of Wei, never dared to take that step in his entire life resulted in Cao Pi having to make numerous compromises with powerful families in order to ascend the throne.

They are facing the same situation now.

Wang Xiang and the major aristocratic families had already paved the way for the Sima family to go further.

If you leave, swallowing this sweetness will inevitably lead you to face the dagger behind you.

If you don't leave, your descendants will have to pay an even greater price if they want to leave!

The powerful clans and aristocratic families have never been benevolent people.

Just as Sima Shi said, these people will try every means to take as much flesh as possible from the Sima family.

"Even so, at this point, it's either advance or retreat, brother. Are you really going to sit idly by and watch this opportunity slip away?"

Sima Zhao was so anxious he was practically jumping up and down.

He certainly knew what the hidden dangers Sima Shi was referring to were.

Not long ago, it caused quite a stir, and although it ended with Gao Rou's clan being exterminated, it temporarily deterred other aristocratic families.

But everyone knows that whether the current emperor is a puppet or not, once he has made this statement, the seed has already been planted.

Unless they can completely suppress those aristocratic families and make them unable to raise their heads, they will keep staring at this matter.

Until their desires are satisfied, or until they are thoroughly cleansed from head to toe.

Neither Sima Shi nor Sima Zhao were willing to accept the former.

But the latter...

"If, upon abdication, the officials petition to restore the system of granting fiefdoms and titles of kings as it was during the Zhou dynasty, how would you handle the situation?"

Sima Shi laid out the problem directly.

"Brother, didn't we say before that this is the bottom line? Anyone who crosses it will die!"

"I refuse to believe that even after so many heads have been slain, they will still dare to persist!"

Faced with Sima Zhao's naive idea, Sima Shi's eyes were filled with disappointment.

“Without the involvement of leaders like Wang Xiang, killing Gao Rou would be no problem. Those powerful clans would only be thinking about how to devour the entire Gao family.”

"But this scheme involves most of the gentry of the entire Wei Dynasty. Do you really think that killing can solve the problem?"

Once you step into this trap, you'll be led by the nose by Wang Xiang.

If they dared to start a massacre at that time, within three days, a large number of forces would emerge from Eastern Wu and Shu Han, acquiring a large amount of resources, and the entire world's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or landscape) would be completely changed!

The bottom line of "whoever crosses it dies" is only effective when there aren't many people crossing it.

The powerful clans that are currently taking action could easily shake the very foundation of the Great Wei state if they united.

kill?

It's like a joke!

Seeing that Sima Zhao was still somewhat unconvinced, Sima Shi knew that he was unwilling to miss such a golden opportunity.

But who would want to miss out?

“I also know that this opportunity is once in a lifetime. Once we miss it, at least our generation will have no hope, and the next generation may have to pay an even higher price.”

"Can……"

Sima Shi felt excruciating pain in his eyeballs once again.

He could see through Wang Xiang's scheme, but he couldn't break the deadlock.

"Brother, what do you think, should we go all the way and kill Wang Xiang?"

After Gao Rou's death, most of the gentry in the capital now implicitly regard Wang Xiang as their leader.

The current situation was also driven by Wang Xiang.

"...If fighting and killing could solve the problem, why would you need to say it?"

If they wanted to kill Wang Xiang, they had to act the moment rumors started circulating.

Currently, all the powerful clans and aristocratic families have already made great efforts. Even without Wang Xiang as their leader, they would still elect someone else on their own.

It's fair to say that at this point, no one has a way to turn back!

"We only have two choices before us: either follow the path they have paved, accept the abdication of the emperor, and enfeoff princes."

"Either give up this opportunity and leave the chance for future generations."

“I prefer the latter, but if the abdication is accepted, you will be the one to become emperor, so the choice is yours.”

Sima Shi knew that he was in poor health and had no direct descendants.

The only person to have ever received the abdication and become emperor was Sima Zhao, the younger brother.

"Brother, do you think Wang Xiang really intends to do this? Is it possible that there's still room for maneuver?"

"I'd like to talk to him, is that alright?"

Sima Zhao also found himself in a difficult position.

To be fair, he didn't want to miss the opportunity to take this step.

The Sima clan has been plotting for two generations, isn't this the very moment they've been waiting for?

"Although it seems futile to me, if you want to, then go ahead and do it."

"The future of the Sima family belongs to you."