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

Chapter 454 Fighting for fame and wealth
The Eighteenth Year of Kaihuang
Liaodong County
Li Shimin sat in the county magistrate's mansion and read the book in his hand again. Countless thoughts unfolded before his eyes, but in the end he could not find a place to think.

This was the second book written by the Emperor Wansui that he had collected over the years, and he could recognize the handwriting very clearly.

But after reading this book, Li Shimin became even more tired and confused.

He didn't understand what the meaning of this was.

"Spring Talk".

This is the name of this book.

Every word recorded in the book should not be said by the Wansui Emperor, and every thought in it should not be what the Wansui Emperor should have. Li Shimin had never met the Wansui Emperor, but from this book, he could get a glimpse of what kind of person the Wansui Emperor was.

Of course, this book also explains the biggest confusion in his mind - did Yang Jian really kill the emperor?

The content of this book proves that Yang Jian did not kill the emperor, but the emperor committed suicide.

Li Shimin looked at the misty clouds outside in silence. He said softly, "Your Majesty, what do you want to do?"

"Is it for the era you mentioned, when everyone has dignity and everyone will be blessed?"

What Li Shimin talked about was the world he envisioned for the future that Zhang Annian described in his book. In that world, everyone is equal, there is no distinction between high and low, court officials and emperors, all are equal, and they work together for the land of China.

In the world conceived by Zhang Annian, classes still exist, and the powerful still exist, but their existence is only to maintain social order. The moment the powerful want to ride on everyone's head, the once gentle people will raise their long swords and kill the monster that has turned into a dragon.

This is the world Zhang Annian wants to see.

But Li Shimin read over and over again, including all the books of sages in the world, but still had no idea how to realize that world.

He just felt sad.

It seems like everything is unattainable.

This was also one of the reasons why he left the court. In the court, he watched the Prince of Jin, the Crown Prince, and even the Emperor fighting for power. For the sake of their own power, they could control all living beings in the world in their palms and were completely blind to the suffering of the people in the world.

Their way of being a hero is not to save the people with their own bodies, but to make the people more miserable, and then save them - not completely, but to keep them in a situation where they can barely survive but not live any better, so as to provide them with the happiness of being "superior".

Is such a hero really a hero?

The sunlight outside the study shone in and fell on Li Shimin, but he did not feel happy or warm because of it.

"County Governor, Zhong Changsun Zhong County Governor wants to see you."

Zhong Changsun?
Li Shimin came back to his senses and a look of curiosity flashed across his face. What did Zhong Changsun want to see him about?
He remembered that although he and Zhong Changsun were old acquaintances, they had rarely spoken to each other when they joined the army in Liaodong together.

And today, after becoming the prefect of Liaodong County, he has even less contact with Zhong Changsun.

He stood up and said, "Please ask the Magistrate Zhong to go to the front hall. I will go there right after I change my clothes."

Front hall courtyard
Zhong Changsun sat there leisurely. After taking a sip of tea from the teacup, he slowly sorted out the "statement" he had prepared when he came here. He wanted to persuade Li Shimin to stand with him, so that the five counties of Liaodong would be completely united.

After the five counties of Liaodong became united, even if the imperial court wanted to attack, it would have to consider the importance of the matter.

Yes.

After Zhong Zhangsun had been in Liaodong branch counties for many years, he had already begun to plot to take over the world.

He wanted to use Liaodong as his base, and then develop step by step, go south to invade the entire Sui Dynasty, and then kill the emperor of Sui Dynasty to complete his feat of changing the dynasty.

On that night more than ten years ago, when the ground was covered with blood, Zhong Changsun set such a lofty ambition.

And today, it is finally beginning to be realized.

Just as he was thinking, a long laugh echoed in the mansion.

Then Li Shimin walked in with a gentle smile on his face: "How come County Magistrate Zhong has time to come to me today? However, the distance between the two counties is far, and it would be inappropriate for County Magistrate Zhong to leave without your Majesty's order, right?"

Zhong Changsun didn't expect that the first thing Li Shimin mentioned was "absent from duty", but he didn't take it to heart. He looked at Li Shimin and said, "Brother Youyun and the others are in Zhijun. The people in Zhijun can't make any waves."

He smiled and said, "Brother Shimin is also a straightforward person, so I won't waste time on those things with you, but just speak directly to you."

Zhong Changsun looked into Li Shimin's eyes and said with a hint of temptation in his voice: "Brother Shimin, I have a big plan and would like to ask for your help. When I succeed, I will reward you with the title of king of the Liaodong counties!"

"Or, if Brother Shimin likes the Jiangnan area, how about I give Brother Shimin the two areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang?"

The reason why Zhong Changsun was so generous was that he wanted to borrow not only Li Shimin's power, but also the power of Longxi Li family and Guandu Chen family.

Everyone in the world knows that Li Shimin had a close relationship with the second son of the Chen family in Guandu, and they had experienced life and death together on the battlefield.

Zhong Changsun didn't believe it. If Li Shimin wanted to rebel, it would be fine if the Chen family didn't help, but how could the second son of the Chen family not help? Once the second son of the Chen family took action, what would it have to do with the Chen family taking action?

This specious title is exactly what we want!
not to mention.
Who dares to bet?
Who dares to bet that the Second Young Master's intention is not Chen's? Who dares to bet that Chen will not help when the Second Young Master is in danger?
Even if the Second Young Master of the Chen Family did not explicitly join their camp, it would not matter. With such a close friend in their camp, who would dare to bet that the Second Young Master of the Chen Family would not help them because of his friend's plea?
It’s still the same sentence.

Who dares to bet?
No one in this world dares to gamble on this matter, especially with their own life and property.

So, when Li Shimin joined them, they were only one step away from success.

Li Shimin's expression remained unchanged. He picked up the teacup, looked at Zhong Changsun and said, "Zhong County Magistrate, there is no need to say anything more after this. No matter what big thing you are planning, this sentence has exposed your identity as a traitor."

"Shimin doesn't want to be your enemy, but he doesn't want to join you either."

He smiled slightly: "So, it is futile to listen further. It is better for Zhong Jun Shou to leave now. Shi Min can pretend that he has never heard such words and that Zhong Jun Shou has never appeared here."

Zhong Zhangsun frowned slightly. He didn't expect Li Shimin to refuse so decisively.

So I thought of another way.

"Brother Shimin, don't you want to know why I have such an idea?"

He looked at Li Shimin, expecting his answer, and then he would take advantage of the situation. However, Li Shimin's answer was very simple: "No."

These two simple words made Zhong Changsun choke up. He held his forehead and sighed, then laughed helplessly: "My real name is not Zhong Changsun, but Zhongsun Xie. When I was young, I served as a personal guard beside your majesty."

"During the Bloody Night Incident, I was one of the guards." Zhong Changsun didn't dare to play the "giving way out" game anymore, but instead told him everything directly.

"That year, I saw with my own eyes that His Majesty killed the Wansui Emperor."

His expression gradually turned crazy. "How interesting! The high and noble Emperor Wansui was killed by a fragile sword that night. His body fell to the ground, and countless blood flowed from his body. He was as weak as a dog."

"There was a pleading look in his eyes, just like he was just an ordinary person."

"I've seen that look many times."

"That night, I was thinking, why was it that Yang Jian could kill the Wansui Emperor and become the emperor, but I couldn't kill Yang Jian and become the next emperor?"

Zhong Changsun licked the corner of his dry mouth and said, "Later, in order to cover up the truth, Yang Jian wanted to kill us evil ghosts so that people would not dare to commit crimes again. Unfortunately, many of us evil ghosts escaped."

"From the moment we escaped, Yang Jian will never be able to sit firmly on the throne!"

He took two steps forward, leaned forward, stared at Li Shimin and said, "Do you think the emperor will still believe you if you know the truth of this matter? Even if he believes you, will he still let you out there?"

"Brother Shimin, you have no choice."

"From the moment I walked into the County Governor's Mansion, you had no room for maneuver."

After hearing this, Li Shimin just chuckled and stood up: "I don't know if I have any room, but I know that if you don't leave today, I will arrest you for treason."

He drew out the long sword from his waist, which was shining with cold light.

"Would you like to test the sharpness of my sword?"

Zhong Zhangsun subconsciously took a step back, then looked at Li Shimin with a sneer: "Well, what a good Li Erfeng, I want to see how long you can be so arrogant!"

"go!"

Having said that, he left.

Li Shimin sighed, then took out the "book" he had collected over the years from his arms, and solemnly handed it to the most trusted servant beside him: "You hurry up and send this book to Kyoto immediately!"

"My life and property are completely in your hands!"

The servant had a respectful look on his face and whispered, "Yes!"

After circling around for a few times, Li Shimin ordered his attendants to call over Cheng Yaojin, the captain of Xijun. After the Sui-Gao War, Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong and others had joined him as officials. He also brought these people with him when he was transferred this time.

After Cheng Yaojin and others arrived, Li Shimin gave them serious instructions.

"Yizhen, Shubao, I have something important to entrust to you that concerns my life. This is my loyal servant. I have an important item to deliver to Kyoto. Someone may intercept you along the way."

"You two will lead dozens of guards and set off overnight."

"Remember, there must be no mistakes! Otherwise, I will die!"

Cheng Yaojin and the other man looked at each other with a firm look on their faces: "Don't worry, County Governor, we guarantee with our lives that the person and the property are still there! We will definitely send it to Kyoto intact!"

After Cheng Yaojin and his companions left, Li Shimin immediately returned to his study and began writing a letter to Chen Linan.

This was the most frightened moment for Li Shimin in all these years. After all, if he was associated with treason, there would be no good ending - as for what Zhongsun Xie said, that was simply bullshit.

King?

Once their rebellion succeeds, their fate will probably not be good, just like the soldiers who followed Yang Jian in the rebellion and were killed by Yang Jian. Can those who followed Zhongsun Xie in the rebellion live well to the end?
joke.

After writing the letter to Chen Lin'an, Li Shimin hesitated slightly. After thinking for a while, he wrote another letter to Guanshan, the governor of Nanjun County.

Although Guan Shan had made great contributions in the previous Sui-Gao War, he was not promoted due to some other reasons. Instead, he still served as the governor of Liaodongnan County. If the Liaodong branch county wanted to be independent, it would certainly have to unite with the other counties.

Li Shimin wanted to test Guanshan's attitude.

京都
The Palace of the King and the People

Yang Jian sat there with a sad look on his face. Dugu Jialuo came over. At this moment, she was the same as usual, with a gentle expression like spring water. This was one of the reasons why, despite the countless beauties in the harem over the years, she was able to hold on to the position of queen and remain as loving as before with Yang Jian.

"What troubles you, sir?"

Yang Jian whispered: "Most of the Liaodong counties are about to rebel."

He closed his eyes: "In the court, Yong'er and Guang'er are fighting endlessly. My health is getting worse day by day. I don't know when I will close my eyes."

"The Sui Dynasty is facing internal and external troubles."

Yang Jian let out a long sigh. In fact, he had another worry that he didn't express.

That is - Dugu.

Over the years, he finally understood why the "Wansui Emperor" sought immortality and why he changed the reign title to "Wansui", because death is really a very scary thing.

And
Yang Jian also gradually realized how unwilling and fearful Cao Rui was when his health was getting worse day by day. His good father-in-law is still alive and well as the Grand Marshal, just like Sima Yi back then!
Sima Yi
Yang Jian's grip on Dugu Jialuo's hand slowly tightened, and his inner worry grew even more.

Will Dugu Xin be the same as Sima Yi back then?

Dugu Jialuo obviously knew this, and she whispered, "Your Majesty, father wants to see you."

"He has not been in good health recently."

"I wonder if you have time."

Yang Jian raised his eyebrows, and the depression in his brows dissipated a lot.

"Is my father-in-law in good health?"

"There's nothing to do these days. Come with me to visit my father-in-law. We don't want him to run back and forth at such an old age."

(End of this chapter)