Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

For thousands of years?

This slightly high tone did not make the stubborn family representatives present think too much, but they all sat down, eager to get a piece of the pie.

Even though the Yangzhou families are destined to lose a huge amount of money and grain this time, they would like to get a piece of the pie.

Then, within five to ten years, not only will the lost money and grain be compensated, but the family's foundation will also be further strengthened.

For a time, many representatives of stubborn aristocratic families really thought that Guo Shihou was a benevolent gentleman, and the reason why there was no notice to recall the meeting three days in advance was because Zhu Zheng, who had learned the news early, interfered.

The reason couldn't be more reasonable.

The more stubborn families are cleared out, the more benefits Zhu Zheng can get. Naturally, he hopes that the other families will suffer greater losses.

It is no wonder that they make such a judgment, because if they were in his place, they would definitely do the same.

As the various noble families sat down again with their own thoughts, Li Ji ordered someone to deliver a document that he had personally drafted in advance.

"Because this matter is of great importance and words alone are not enough, I have drafted a confidentiality agreement and would like you to sign it."

Confidentiality agreement?

Obviously, this concept does not exist in this era.

However, this is not something difficult to understand. The content of the document is just as Li Ji said. The main requirement is that what is said today should not be disclosed to others, otherwise the government will hold you accountable based on the losses and impacts.

Almost all the representatives of the noble families signed on it after a brief thought.

In response, Li Ji showed a hidden smile on his face.

In this era when the spirit of the rule of law is not strong, the "Confidentiality Agreement" will certainly not really make them realize the importance of confidentiality. It is merely a handle for the Yangzhou families to voluntarily leave behind.

If it did leak, Lee Key would not rush to pursue it;
However, if some of the noble families continue to be stubborn and refuse to change their ways, then this agreement will become the most appropriate death warrant.

After all the family representatives signed the "Confidentiality Agreement", Li Ji personally confirmed that it was correct before speaking in a deep voice.

"Everyone, it has been nearly four hundred years since Emperor Gaozu founded the Han Dynasty. During this period, there were people like Wang Mang who brought chaos to the world. Later, Emperor Guangwu, with the full support of the aristocratic families, pacified the world and revived the Han Dynasty."

“It can be seen that without the help of the noble families, there would be no Han Dynasty today.”

"For the country and the people, the noble families are like the backbone, supporting the Han Dynasty."

This series of compliments, coupled with Li Ji's identity, made the noble families present feel as if they had drunk fake wine.

Are we so noble?
But it is such an honor to receive such evaluation from the national scholar.

Even though they tried hard to maintain their posture, the upturned corners of their mouths, the downturned eyebrow corners, and the slightly raised chins were enough to reveal their changes in mood.

After a slight pause, Li Ji bowed slightly upwards and gestured.

"Now the world is in chaos, the Han Dynasty is declining, and the heroes of the counties are rising up. My lord is the descendant of King Jing of Zhongshan and a relative of the Han Dynasty. He should rise up and follow the example of Emperor Guangwu to support the Han Dynasty and rebuild the Han Dynasty." "Li Ji is incompetent, but my lord did not think that I am humble and mean, and visited me in my thatched cottage, consulted me on current affairs, and entrusted me with military and political affairs. I am grateful and worried day and night, fearing that there is something I cannot express..."

When these words were spoken, all the noble families present listened attentively, and they felt that Li Ji was a loyal and virtuous minister.

Liu Bei, who had taken the time to squat in the corner outside the courtyard out of curiosity, couldn't help but burst into tears at this moment and spoke with a sob.

"I am a person of little kindness and virtue. It must be the blessing of my ancestors. Otherwise, how could I get such help from Zikun?"

However, Li Ji was apparently unaware that he had casually borrowed two sentences from "The Memorial to the Emperor on Leaving the Capital", and instead he was almost moving Liu Bei to the point of being confused.

Liu Bei heard... "The Memorial to the Emperor on Leaving the Capital"?
Li Ji must have felt strange, and the solemn and dignified look he had maintained with great difficulty would be broken on the spot.

Immediately, Li Ji swept his eyes across the representatives of the noble families and spoke earnestly.

"And the current chaos in the Han Dynasty is also a chaos caused by the aristocratic families. Now that the aristocratic families have developed to this point, they have undoubtedly reached a bottleneck period."

This remark made many representatives of the noble families frown on the spot.

It’s not that I’m angry about what Li Ji said, but it’s because Li Ji pointed out the pain point.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the original "aristocratic family" referred to the family of "hereditary nobility" or "hereditary nobility". This term also comes from "Mencius - Teng Wengong Part 2".

Later, Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty. Because kings and princes founded the country, their descendants inherited it from generation to generation as aristocratic families. Therefore, when Sima Qian wrote "Records of the Grand Historian", he wrote thirty chapters of "Aristocratic Family".

This went on for four hundred years of development, during which time the aristocratic families assisted Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu in restoring the Han Dynasty, which allowed the privileges enjoyed by the aristocratic families to further expand.

It was not just the tax privileges that allowed the noble families to continuously annex land, making it difficult for the common people to survive, resulting in a significant drop in the taxes the government could receive from the people.

In order to achieve political achievements, the government had no choice but to impose heavy taxes on the people, forcing bankrupt people to sell their land to wealthy families, thus forming a vicious cycle.

In addition to the privileges in land taxes, the system of recommendation also allowed the aristocratic families to control the promotion and appointment of most local officials.

Hundreds of years ago, the aristocratic families could be said to have been thriving, but this development was also limited, and the aristocratic families had almost reached the end of their current development path.

In addition to Li Ji using a series of means to free Liu Bei from the restrictions of the aristocratic family, after mastering enough righteousness, he was even able to force the Yangzhou aristocratic family to submit humbly.

This... is just a special case!
Even if some ambitious princes tried to suppress the aristocratic families, the aristocratic families' status in the local area was often transcendent.

However, the aristocratic families also know that the current road has almost come to an end, so some of them are already trying to seek change.

In Li Ji's opinion, the Yuan family, with three generations of officials, was eyeing the throne, and some other insightful families also began various attempts and plans.

Li Ji was also clear that the next step in the original trajectory of the aristocratic families would be to evolve into a clan group headed by the "Five Surnames and Seven Aristocrats", reaching a transcendent status.

Although the aristocratic families may be big or small, some have already reached the end of their lives.

There is no comparison between the Yangzhou family and the giant Yuan family, but they also know that the Yuan family is the highest limit that the family can reach. (End of this chapter)