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

Chapter 473: The Great River Flows East
Li Yuan did not realize that the relationship between him and Li Shimin had undergone subtle changes - for example, he had become an incompetent old man who needed to rely on his expelled child to defeat Dugu Jian and make Dugu Jian surrender.

He thought this was his era.

That turbulent era belongs to him.

But... unfortunately.

Time never forgives anyone.

His era passed quietly in the flow of time. No one cared, and there was not even any relevant record. Those once glorious years were not worth mentioning in the long river of time. They were just a few simple numbers and words.

In xx, xx happened.

Li Jiancheng stood beside him without saying a word.

Obviously Li Jiancheng was smarter than his "father". He knew one thing very clearly: he and his father relied on the brother whom they looked down upon. That was why they must never pierce the veil in front of the people of the world.

That is

It is an ironclad fact that "Li Er doesn't care about his father and brother."

As long as this fact is not exposed, they can continue to cheat under the banner of Li Er, and may even go a step further - until everyone is tied to their big ship.

When everyone is tied to the same rope, it is too late even if they understand the truth of the matter.

They have no choice but to go all the way.

"Father."

Li Jiancheng stepped forward, looked at Li Yuan who was in a rage, and quietly reminded him: "Erlang still has the hatred for you in his heart. If you have a conflict with him now, I'm afraid he won't care too much when he's angry."

He acted as a considerate son as he always did.

"Even if we defeat Yu Wenzhi by then, but in the end father and son fight each other, wouldn't that make people all over the world laugh at us?"

"Erlang's face doesn't matter, as long as it's your face, father."

"People all over the world will laugh at our Li family."

Li Yuan stood up suddenly, with an angry look in his eyes: "He dares!"

"I'm his father!"

"He dares not to listen to me?"

Li Jiancheng lowered his head. In fact, he wanted to say "he dares", but Li Yuan was obviously too embarrassed to do so, so he could only explain for Li Shimin: "Father, when we really face you, Erlang certainly wouldn't dare to do this, and he wouldn't do this, but..."

He hesitated and stammered, "You should know that when a person establishes his own territory and becomes a powerful force that fights for world domination, many things are beyond his control."

"Like you."

“Once people are in power and gain status, many things are no longer entirely decided by themselves.”

"The same is true for Jiro."

"Could it be that Erlang really wants to fight you, so he decided to go south to the Central Plains regardless of the consequences?"

Li Jiancheng gave another answer, one that Li Yuan could accept.

"Of course he is unwilling, but his subordinates can no longer bear it. Those arrogant soldiers and generals - don't they want to be the emperor's subordinates? Don't they want to be the emperor's subordinates?"

"Of course they do."

"so."

"If it really comes to that point, Erlang is afraid..."

He sighed, but said with a hint of joy: "Father, this is not a bad thing, right?"

Li Jiancheng massaged his father's shoulders, with a calculating smile in his eyes.

"When Erlang understands the feeling of being coerced, he will understand that you really did it for his own good."

He took the initiative to bring up what happened back then, and attributed the "sin" of that year to himself: "I was also panicked back then. I saw Erlang was made a marquis, but he had no children for many years. People in the court were talking about it, saying that Erlang and our Li family had become puppets of the Changsun family, and that the Changsun family intended to adopt the eldest son of Changsun Wuji to Erlang."

"In a panic, I told my father about it."

"It also caused a conflict between my father and Ji Lang."

"Ji Lang was still young at that time and didn't understand these things."

"Now that I've experienced it, I understand everything."

Li Yuan listened to his eldest son's words, and the anger in his heart slowly dissipated. He couldn't help but sigh and patted Li Jiancheng's hand: "If only Erlang had half of your filial piety and intelligence."

"So that I don't have to worry about him!"

He whispered: "So what should we do now?"

After all, Li Yuan was old, and his personality was just that - he had never studied well in Guandu in his past, and most of his homework was not completed.

Li Jiancheng thought about it for a while and gave his answer.

"Father, why don't we go south?"

He analyzed the future for Li Yuan.

"The separatist forces in the south are just Shen Faxing and Wang Shichong. The two are fighting each other. We can wait a little longer and head south. When the fight between the two reaches its final stage, we can take down the southern forces."

"After all, you are a disciple of the Chen family. The one from the Chen family didn't directly announce to the world that he didn't recognize you, right?"

"In this case, these two forces cannot defeat us, and they know that we have the "Chen" and "Erlang" behind us. Just like Dugu Jian, why did he withdraw from the battle before the battle with us reached the last moment and when he was injured?"

"Isn't it because he is afraid to really do anything to us?"

Li Jiancheng's eyes were filled with calculations: "After we occupy the south, we can establish a country. By then, we can set up our capital in the "Linjing" of the former Dayu Dynasty. After that, Erlang should also conquer the Central Plains."

"Then you will write to Jilang and the two countries will become one."

His analysis was very logical, as if it was true: "After all, we are all family. When you become the emperor, can you still treat him badly? Then you can convince him with filial piety, and then the north and the south will be unified again."

"After all, this world still belongs to our Li family."

Li Yuan fell into silence, then touched his chin. He felt that this method was indeed a good one.

Of course, both the father and the son understood that the so-called "persuading Erlang with filial piety" was just superficial talk. In fact, they wanted to oppress Li Shimin with filial piety and the condemnation of people all over the world.

Is it filial piety to disobey your father in this way?

The label of being unfilial is enough to make Li Shimin breathless. Wouldn't he have to come back obediently then?

Li Yuan patted Li Jiancheng's hand and said, "Oh, it's hard for you."

"There's so much to think about, and his bad temper."

Li Jiancheng lowered his head, with a hint of sadness in his brows: "As the eldest brother, this is what I should do."

Changde 4th year
Li Shimin aimed his sword at the Central Plains - and at this critical moment, the powerful force that occupied a part of the Central Plains, that is, Li Shimin's father "Li Yuan" said that the Central Plains already had his own son to fight for, so he went to attack the south.

So he led his troops to the south.

At this time, both Shen Faxing and Wang Shichong were stunned.

What the hell?

We were having a good fight, why are you here? How can we have fun in the south if you come?
Again.
Both of us have beaten our brains out, and our subordinates have suffered heavy casualties. And you come straight to the south to pick the fruits?

It's simply seeking death.

Neither Shen Faxing nor Wang Shichong dared to say this. Although they knew a little about the relationship between Li Shimin and Li Yuan, they were not sure.

He was determined to wipe out Li Yuan, but was afraid that Li Shimin and the Chen family would revolt.

After all, Chen Zhan did not announce to the world that Li Yuan was expelled from the Chen clan; even though Li Shimin said many times that he had nothing to do with Li Yuan, no one dared to really believe it.
Then again, this is his father after all!

But forget about Li Yuan.
This is also a big problem.

After Li Yuan led his troops to the south, he quickly captured cities and territories. He took down many of Wang Shichong and Shen Faxing's territories - after all, the two sides were gathering together for a decisive battle.
This is like a double-edged sword, it's painful no matter what you do.

Yangzhou Prefecture

It was rare for Shen Faxing and Wang Shichong to sit together in peace and harmony.

I'm afraid neither of them could have guessed this before.
After all, they had fought to the death before.

"What do you think we should do?"

Shen Faxing touched his bald forehead and said, "Li Yuan is easy to fight, and the forces under his command are not very strong - but can we really fight him?"

He couldn't help but complain: "Others beat the younger ones first and then the older ones come, why is it that Li Yuan beats the older ones first and is afraid of the younger ones coming?"

Wang Shichong sighed: "But you really have to admit it, Li Shimin is really hard to beat."

"Can we defeat them?"

"Not to mention that he has the support of that person around him."

"Right now, the world's attention is focused on the dispute between Li Yuan and Li Shimin, but they have forgotten another thing - the one who went south to pacify the Central Plains this time is not only Li Shimin, but also Chen Linan!"

"This isn't some half-baked Chen family member like Li Yuan - this is Mr. Chen's legitimate second son!"

"Not even a bastard!"

Shen Faxing's already sad face became even sadder. He picked up the wine glass and drank it all, drinking all the sadness in his heart into his stomach, and then said inexplicably: "Who said it wasn't?"

"It seems that this world is destined to belong to the Li family."

Wang Shichong looked at Shen Faxing and raised his eyebrows slightly: "Now that you put it that way, it seems so."

"I think I have an idea."

Shen Faxing looked at Wang Shichong, whose brows flashed with a gleam, and suddenly he understood something.

The two of them looked at each other and said at the same time.

"Submit to Li Yuan!"

"Submit to Li Shimin!"

After saying this, the two looked at each other with confusion on their faces.

The one who said he wanted to join Li Yuan was Shen Faxing, while the one who said he wanted to join Li Shimin was Wang Shichong.

"what?"

Shen Faxing said with a confused look on his face: "No, why don't you seek refuge with your father, but seek refuge with Li Shimin, your son?"

"Although they are from the same family, it was definitely Li Yuan who founded the country and became emperor in the end!"

"It's just a word of filial piety. Could Li Shimin dare to defy the world and declare himself emperor, ignoring his father and elder brother?"

Wang Shichong looked at Shen Faxing with an even more puzzled look: "I'm telling you, why would you want to surrender to Li Yuan?"

"Does this guy Li Yuan look like a founding monarch?"

"Doesn't he rely entirely on his son?"

"And how do you think Li Shimin would submit to you? He would give up his position as the founding emperor and become a prince? And he might not even be a prince with real power."

"Do you think that with Li Jiancheng around, Li Shimin could become the crown prince?"

Shen Faxing and Wang Shichong looked at each other again and fell into silence.

The two of them did have a disagreement on this matter.

Finally, Wang Shichong sighed.

"No matter what, we won't be the ones competing for world domination."

Shen Faxing was touched by the "sigh" in Wang Shichong's voice, and said helplessly: "Yes, it won't be us."

"What does that poem say?"

"The great river flows eastward, and the horizon is visible."

"The countless heroes are nothing but a handful of dirt in the end."

Shen Faxing stood up.

He looked at Wang Shichong and said, "We have different choices for the future, and no one can change that."

"Brother Wang, I am determined to join Li Yuan."

Wang Shichong didn't say anything. After all, his relationship with Shen Faxing was not very good. The only reason they could sit together and talk was because they had a common enemy.

In that case
He shook his head: "That's it."

"Wang is also very curious about who will win this chess game with the whole world as chess pieces."

Shen Faxing suddenly became interested: "Brother Wang, no matter who wins, after you and I surrender to our respective "lords", our status will definitely not be too low. No matter who unifies the country at that time, we can meet again."

"I heard in the past that the Chen family had an agreement with the royal families of all dynasties - to save a little blood of this family when the dynasty collapsed."

"Why don't you and I learn from the actions of the ancient sages?"

He became interested, looked at Wang Shichong, picked up a knife, cut his palm, and drops of blood fell into the wine glass. He held up the wine glass with a hint of excitement in his brows.

"Today I swear by blood and wine."

"If Li Yuan wins in the future and I, Shen, have the strength to spare, I will definitely save your lineage! At least I won't let your sacrifice die out!"

Wang Shichong looked at Shen Faxing, and suddenly smiled. As he moved, he said sarcastically, "This is one of the few correct things you have done in these years."

The two drank the blood wine and then went their separate ways.

At the end of the fourth year of Changde.

Shen Faxing opened the city and surrendered to Li Yuan, while Wang Shichong gave up all his territories and went north to join "Li Shimin" who had already arrived in the Central Plains.

Late winter of the fourth year of Changde.

Li Yuan offered sacrifices to the world in the former capital of Dayu, Linjing, and proclaimed himself emperor.

The country's name was "Tang".

He called himself "Emperor Taizu of Tang".

The reign title was changed to "Wu De".

The eldest son Li Jiancheng was made the crown prince; the second son Li Shimin was appointed as the "General of Heavenly Strategy" and given the title of "King of Qin".

Everyone in the world was looking towards the Central Plains where the outcome had yet to be decided.

I want to know how Li Shimin would react.

Will he accept this imperial edict?
(End of this chapter)