Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 431 History is a circle
Looking at Zhang Annian in front of him, Chen Zhi couldn't help but sigh.

He pulled Zhang Annian to sit next to him.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid my body can't take it anymore."

Chen Zhi's voice was very calm. He had already anticipated his physical condition and had nothing to fear about death.

But Zhang Annian was panicked.

He quickly stood up and wanted to call the imperial physician or even the alchemist he worshipped, hoping that they would think of a way to prolong the life of his "father".

But Chen Zhi just waved his hand.

He sat there, looking kind and gentle.

"Your Majesty, no need."

Chen Zhi looked at Zhang Annian, took his hand and sat there again, and said softly: "What ability do those Taoists have? Even the Chen family can't do it, how can they do it?"

"Your Majesty should have heard the rumors about Emperor Taizu and the ancestors of the Chen family."

"An ancestor of the Chen family passed down three volumes of the "Taiping Essential Techniques" to Emperor Taizu, as well as three rain-praying talismans."

"After Emperor Taizu established the Great Yu Dynasty, he once again conferred the title of "Ye", the ancestor of the Chen family, as the supreme leader of Taoism, even above Tiangong General Shengzu and the Three Pure Ones."

Chen Zhi's voice was slow, but surprisingly soothing.

Zhang Annian sat there, listening attentively to Chen Zhi telling the stories of the Chen and Zhang families, and those old events that were buried in the dust of history.

By the end of his story, Chen Zhi's voice sounded a little tired.

He looked at Zhang Annian and said, "Your Majesty, I am old, and my son has no ambition to support the court. Over the years, the only thing the Chen family has been able to insist on doing is to control the court situation and appease the people of the world."

"Now, Dayu has reached a point of life and death."

Chen Zhi calmly narrated what he knew. He waved his hand, and several "Taoist soldiers" quickly appeared outside the hall. These were the instructions given to him by the late emperor before his death.

The late emperor did not like Zhang Annian, but he knew that after Zhang Annian inherited the throne, he would be the emperor of the Zhang family.

He was worried about Zhang Annian's temper, so he handed over this force belonging to the emperor to Chen Zhi.

After the Taoist soldier came in, he drew his sword and killed several attendants who served Zhang Annian, then dragged them out.

Zhang Annian looked a little surprised, but not afraid.

He knew in his heart that his "father prime minister" would not do anything to harm him, and there must be a reason why those eunuchs were killed.

"Cough-cough-"

Chen Zhi coughed a few times and continued, "These people are all people of Yang Jian, Su Wei and others. There are also a few people from many noble families in the court. They are all watching over Your Majesty in secret."

He lowered his eyes, with a hint of helplessness in them.

"In the past, Su Wei and Wang Ye were both my old friends. They worked hard with me to safeguard the stability of the world and the well-being of the people. But when they reached this position step by step, they had already lost their original beliefs."

"They no longer work hard for the benefit of the people of the world, but instead they are acting recklessly for their own selfish interests."

"These people appear to have no connection with each other, but in fact they have colluded internally to form a huge network."

Chen Zhi raised his head, with sighs and helplessness in his eyes.

This is where the pain lies.

They are the cancer within the "Chen family".

At the beginning, Su Wei, Wang Ye, and Yang Jian's father were all old friends of Chen Zhi. They have come to the present step by step. These people split from Chen's power and then became what they are today.

Chen Zhi actually wanted to take all these people with him when he left, but things in the world are not that simple and ordinary.

If he were younger, or if Chen Zhan was willing to intervene in these matters, then everything would be easy.

But Chen Zhan was unwilling to interfere in these matters.

Apart from Chen Zhan, there is no other talented person in the Chen family's generation who can control the situation.

Then, after he leaves, the world will even need these people to maintain stability - even if these people want to change the dynasty.

Chen Zhi can't stop it, and shouldn't stop it.

Because in Chen's heart, the people of the world are the most important, not the dynasty of a family or surname.

Chen Zhi can only do things that he should do as "Chen Zhi", but he is not only Chen Zhi, but also "Chen" Chen Zhi.

Zhang Annian heard something from Chen Zhi's words, but in the end he just sighed and became very nonchalant.

"Don't worry, father."

There was a peace in his eyes like autumn water.

"Things in the world are unpredictable. I have practiced Taoism for so many years, and it is not that I have not gained any insights."

Zhang Annian lowered his eyes.

"My father has done everything he can for me, so the rest can only be done by me."

"Whether I succeed or not, this is my destiny, isn't it?"

Zhang Annian had a smile on his face. He helped Chen Zhi up, and then accompanied him to slowly walk out of the Qinzheng Hall, and then out of the palace.

This was the first time Zhang Annian arrived at the gate of the imperial palace.

He looked at the scenery outside and sighed softly: "Such a beautiful scenery, such a beautiful country."

After a sneer, he whispered, "I'll go back with my father."

"I will send the Prime Minister back to the mansion."

The soldier standing at the gate of the palace changed his expression: "Your Majesty, it is very dangerous outside the palace. How can you risk your life?"

"I can't explain this to the generals!"

Zhang Annian raised his eyes and glanced at the soldier with disdain on his lips.

However, before he could speak, Chen Zhi slowly raised his eyes and looked at him: "Explain to the general?"

"This is the emperor of the dynasty. What does he want to do that he needs to report to the general and to you?"

"Someone is coming."

"killed."

"Send the person to Su Wei's residence."

"Just tell him that I want to see him before I return to the mansion."

"If you can't see it."

At this moment, Chen Zhi was like a tiger that had awakened.

He was determined to use the identity of "Chen Zhi" to do something for Zhang Annian in the end, even if this thing would damage his reputation and appear too overbearing.

"If he can't see it, he won't be able to see the sun tomorrow."

There was fear in the soldier's eyes, but before he could beg for mercy, a flash of knife flashed and slashed across his neck.

Blood spilled everywhere.

Zhang Annian smiled broadly, then supported Chen Zhi and walked slowly towards the Zhenguo Palace.

In front of the King's Palace

Su Wei was kneeling there with his upper body naked and thorns on his shoulders. Yang Jian, Wang Ye and others were kneeling beside him.

At this time, it was almost dusk.

When the pedestrians around saw this scene, they didn't dare to stay and could only leave in a hurry.

In front of the Zhenguo Palace, the three men remained silent.

Sweat was dripping down his body.

When the three of them learned that the emperor was stopped in front of the palace and said, "I can't explain to the general," they knew something was wrong. They didn't dare to stop for a moment and rode their horses as fast as they could to the Zhenguo Palace.

At this time, the Taoist soldiers had just delivered the head to the Taiwei Mansion.

They know the current situation all too well.

Chen Zhi was about to die, and before he died he would definitely clear some obstacles for the emperor - what were obstacles? Those who held great power and had some ideas in their hearts were obstacles.

At the same time, these people are also very clear.

Even if Chen Zhi really wants to do some "crazy" things, he will not really do it regardless of the consequences. After all, Chen Zhi is not only Zhang Annian's "father", but also the head of the Guandu Chen family who takes the world as his responsibility.

When Chen Zhi appeared on the street, Su Wei and the other two immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Zhi ignored the three of them, but walked slowly forward towards the mansion with the support of Zhang Annian. Only when he passed by Su Wei did he ask in an old voice: "Do you want to do what Ye Shi did?"

Just one sentence was enough to scare Su Wei to death.

What did Xingye clan do?
He subconsciously glanced at Yang Jian beside him and hurriedly wanted to explain, but Chen Zhi did not listen to his explanation.

"Here I shall write a memorial to resign from the post of Grand Commandant."

"Stay in Kyoto and don't go anywhere!"

Su Wei lowered his head, and a hint of resentment flashed across his eyes, but it was fleeting. He did not dare to reveal it, and only whispered: "I know."

When Chen Zhi's back disappeared in front of the gate of the mansion, the servant in the mansion brought out pen, ink, paper and inkstone and placed them in front of Su Wei, but it was not just one set - but three sets.

Yang Jian and Wang Ye instantly understood what the prime minister meant. They wanted to act dumb, but in the end they could only sigh deeply.

There is no need to make an enemy of the Prime Minister at this time; after all, he is dying.

If they really do something unexpected and crazy before they die, such as directly having someone kill them, they will have no place to seek justice.

He immediately began to write a memorial to resign.

After writing, they handed the memorial to the servant who was waiting on the side.

According to the normal process, the resignation letters of these three people could not be approved by just anyone. They had to be submitted to the Secretariat first, then handed over to the clerk in the Prime Minister's Office, who would review them and then hand them over to the Prime Minister, and finally submitted to the Emperor.

The emperor asked and refused three times before approving the decision.

But today is clearly a special case.

The clerks in the Prime Minister's Office, the Prime Minister, and His Majesty the Emperor were all in the palace.

After the memorial was delivered to the palace, three seals were quickly stamped on it.

A few soldiers followed behind the servant: "The Prime Minister has ordered that although the three of you have retired, because of your great contributions to Dayu, your Majesty and the Prime Minister cannot bear to let you return to your hometown to retire, so you can retire in Kyoto."

"The three of you please——"

This is a disguised form of house arrest.

The three of them were not in a hurry.

After thanking the servant, he turned around and followed the soldiers back to the mansion.

Chen's Mansion
Chen Zhi was lying on the sickbed with a hint of helplessness in his eyes. He wanted to take this opportunity to force the three men to reveal some "flaws". As long as the three men did something slightly wrong, he would kill them immediately.

But these three people——

Just like Sima Yi back then, he was too cunning and in the end he was not given a chance.

He looked at Chen Zhan and Zhang Annian standing beside him.

Finally sighed.

The voice was extremely complicated and said, "This is all I can do."

"Your Majesty."

Chen Zhi didn't look at Zhang Annian, but instead looked at the dark ceiling above his head, muttering in a low voice: "After I leave, what will happen to Dayu? What will His Majesty do?"

He slowly closed his eyes.

"I'm afraid only God knows."

Long live ten years, autumn and winter.

Chen Zhi, Prime Minister of Dayu, passed away.

Long live ten years, winter.

The cold day is coming.

Yang Jian stayed honestly in his mansion, planting flowers and fishing every day, and even reclaimed a small piece of wasteland with Dugu Jialuo to grow some vegetables.

Days like this are quite leisurely and fun.

This was one month after he "voluntarily" retired and one month after Chen Zhi passed away.

The court of Dayu has undergone earth-shaking changes.

First of all, after several old officials in the court retired or left one after another, the court became empty.

According to convention, Chen Zhan served as the "Prime Minister" and concurrently as the Minister of the Central Secretariat, while the positions of the Minister of the Chancellery and the Minister of the Palace were temporarily vacant - yes, Dugu Xin was also dismissed.

And many things in the court are still going on.

There is a young man from the Chen family who has emerged from the clan. Although he is not considered a great talent, he is able to stabilize the world.

Yang Mansion
Yang Jian looked at the information in his hand and said with a smile: "Look, your majesty really has no other choice but to let Chen Feng serve as the Grand Commandant and let his former Grand Tutor Shu Zirui serve as the Gate Commander."

He snorted and said with a smile: "Chen Feng is easy to deal with. Even if he is a descendant of the Chen family, what can he do?"

"First, he did not rise from the bottom. Second, he has never experienced war. Third, he is too young."

Yang Jian shook his head: "Many of the guards in Kyoto are disciples of Brother Su, who have fought all the way from the Western Regions. How can Chen Feng control them?"

"Even though Brother Su is no longer a general, his reputation in the army is not comparable to that of this unknown disciple of the Chen family."

"Besides."

Yang Jian smiled and said, "Will Chen really continue to help the emperor as always?"

"Will the emperor continue to trust Chen?"

Dugu Jialuo raised her eyebrows slightly, with curiosity on her face.

"What does my husband want to do?"

Yang Jian raised the fishing rod in his hand high up, and then said, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing to do."

"I just want to treat Chen to a good show."

He narrowed his eyes and a smile appeared on his cheeks.

"The Chen family has never worked hard for the survival of their own family, nor will they protect a foolish emperor - this has not changed since the pre-Qin period until today."

"And the current Majesty?"

"Definitely not a good emperor."

Yang Jian stood up.

"Mr. Chen has been helping the present because he feels guilty about some past events."

"I never hated Mr. Chen."

"If I were Mr. Chen, I would do the same."

He turned his head and looked at the sunset in the distance.

"I will tell King Zheng the truth. Perhaps it would be a better choice for me to be the emperor."

(End of this chapter)