Chapter 40 The Last Struggle (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!)
"I've met Taifu!"
"Mr. Cai is in high spirits, which makes me feel at ease!"
The heads of the family gathered around Cai Yong, asking for his welfare.
At that time, he was the imperial tutor, the prince's closest minister, and his daughter was even the prince's concubine. Even the three princes could not compare with such favor. How could he not fawn over her?
Cai Yong saw the gifts one by one, with some reminiscence and sigh in his eyes.
I still remember that four years ago, although he was a great scholar in the world and had a good reputation, he offended the Zhongchang Shi and stayed away from the country for twelve years. The Chenliu Cai family gradually declined and had to look at the faces of major aristocratic families to act. How could he have the prestige he has now?
?
He knew very well who gave Cai his honor and favor, and who appreciated him when he was at his lowest.
So, when everyone was seated, Cai Yong got straight to the point: "Nowadays, the barbarians have invaded the country, and the border wars are raging. However, many officials in the court have been in peace for a long time. They are relaxing in civility and martial arts. They do not want to serve the country. They only follow the rules and violate the rules. I would like to give some advice to Your Highness.
, what do you think about purging the atmosphere in the court?"
Cai Mao, who had just succeeded as the head of the Cai clan in Jingxiang, did not shy away from it and immediately agreed: "Of course! Your Highness is the Holy Lord, how can you use this kind of person who can't help the Lord but dies to benefit the people?"
"This is so true!"
"Great kindness!"
Several family heads nodded and expressed their support, while most others remained calm.
The fight between the prince and the aristocratic families has now become fierce. From the three leading families, it can be seen that this gathering must be on one side. The second-class aristocratic families here also have their own preferences, but it is okay to let them wave the flag and charge into the battle.
Forget it.
"Do you know that the Yingchuan Chen family has moved everything in Dongtian into the old house?"
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Zhen Yi, the head of the Zhen family in Zhongshan, chuckled.
"That's right! I've heard about it too, why is that?"
Although the second-class aristocratic families are not as good as the top aristocratic families, they are still a force that stands at the upper level. Naturally, they have channels for news, and with the female stream deliberately spreading the news, all the family heads nodded one after another, showing curiosity.
Zhen Yi said calmly: "Because of His Majesty's benevolence, you have given the six aristocratic families the opportunity. As long as they are handed over to Dongtian, they will be dealt with leniently!"
"Your Highness's goal is the Family Cave Heaven? That's right!"
The heads of each family suddenly showed a look of astonishment.
Once the six aristocratic families are gone, they will be like tigers with their teeth pulled out. Although they have a deterrent effect, they will no longer be able to challenge the imperial power.
They are also happy to see this.
After all, the six major aristocratic families have caves that continuously produce natural materials and earthly treasures, and their servants are trained. The strong ones get stronger, and the second-class aristocratic families are unable to catch up.
If the prince takes away Dongtian, it will close the distance and give them a chance to overtake them. Why not?
What's more, since the Yingchuan Chen family has transferred the things from the cave, it proves that they have the intention to surrender to the prince. The six aristocratic families are no longer monolithic.
Once the six aristocratic families were defeated, it was time to reward them based on their merits. Thinking of the division of the official positions of the Yuan family in Runan in the past, the hearts of all the family heads suddenly became hot, and they all stood up: "We are willing to jointly submit a letter to help His Highness clean up the court!"
"
After everyone dispersed, only those closest to him stayed behind, Cai Yong said sternly: "Heaven moves vigorously, and a gentleman strives to constantly strive for self-improvement. Since His Highness values us, we must also show our merits!"
"Don't worry, Master!"
Cai Yong smiled and called out a person: "This is Huang Chengyan, a famous scholar in Jingzhou. He is far away from home and has a romantic attitude."
"Long time admired!"
Cai Yong's face was solemn, Huang Chengyan was indeed a learned man, but he couldn't help but wonder in his heart, why did he recruit him here?
Even if Huang Chengyan's wife is Cai Mao's sister, the marriage between aristocratic families will not involve some useless nepotism.
"The common people have a daughter who likes the art of mechanism. She travels everywhere and is valued by the Lord of Tianji City. Now she is one of the four young City Lords!"
Huang Chengyan said: "Tianji City assisted the seven barbarian tribes. All the equipment used to attack the Four Heavenly Gates came from this sect. They also built five war mechanisms for Qinglong, Suzaku, White Tiger, Xuanwu, Qilin, and the little girl to control Suzaku. May I
Help Your Highness, cooperate inside and outside to eliminate the troubles caused by heaven's secrets!"
…
…
at the same time.
Hongnong, the main residence of the Yang family.
"A secret meeting in Chang'an. Thirteen heads of second-class aristocratic families have arrived. Their conversations have been recorded. Please ask your grandfather to read them!"
A young man with a body as tall as a bamboo and an extraordinary grace walked into the ancestral hall and presented a secret book to Yang Ci.
"No need to look any further!"
Yang Ci slowly opened his eyes, his energy and energy were much worse than two months ago: "There is nothing better than those flies and dogs!"
When the Yuan family in Runan fell, how many official positions were left vacant and how many of them were divided among the disciples of the seven aristocratic families?
Now if the six major aristocratic families are also finished, it will naturally be the turn of the second-class aristocratic families to profit!
Very familiar route.
The cycle of cause and effect leads to unhappy retribution.
"Those who go to death without saying goodbye are not doing it to seek benefit, but to avoid harm!"
The young man was Yang Xiu, the legitimate son of Yang Biao. He said coldly: "Back then, the Yuan family in Runan was unable to resist because we and other seven families were strong. Now this group of rabble wants to follow suit? It's a way to die!"
"That's true, but don't forget, the prince today is far from what he was then!"
Yang Ci sighed softly: "It's only been three years..."
Yang Xiu fell silent after hearing this.
Even as proud as he is, he has to admit that the prince has become the real enemy of the family.
When the prince issued an edict to the world to destroy Sima Hanoi, he thought it was arrogance and arrogance. However, now the grass has begun to grow on Sima Hanoi's grave, and undercurrents are raging within the six aristocratic families.
Those second-class families may not know that not only the Chen family of Yingchuan began to move to Dongtian, but the other three families that suffered heavy losses also did so.
The so-called six aristocratic families have long been unable to communicate unanimously to the outside world. Although the children rescued by the Yang family of Hongnong and the Xun family of Yingchuan did not die, they did not return and disappeared.
Under the circumstances, Yang Ci knew very well that this time the family might really suffer a huge defeat and be completely suppressed by the imperial power.
But he would never admit defeat like this and asked: "Has the talented man from a poor family around the prince still not been found?"
"No!"
Yang Xiu shook his head: "Although we bribed the servants of the East Palace and learned that there is a talented person from a humble family beside the prince, he has been advising him, but this person is very powerful, proficient in changes, and extremely cautious, so we can never catch the exact trace..."
After a pause, he asked doubtfully: "Grandpa, will the prince really re-employ a poor family?"
Yang Xiu did not hesitate and said firmly: "After the prince ascends the throne, he will definitely use the poor family!"
The poor family has no foundation, and the power in their hands depends entirely on rewards from the emperor. Likewise, their loyalty to the emperor is also the highest.
Unlike the aristocratic family, the dynasty fell, but the aristocratic family still prospered, and even when the dynasty changed, it was the opportunity for them to grow and develop rapidly!
Yang Xiu was puzzled: "But no matter whether it is the ninth-grade Zhongzheng system or the change of officials, the princes are all from aristocratic families. Only among the twenty-eight generals of Lingyun are there upstarts from poor families. Military generals have always been like this, so it is not surprising..."
"Haha! This is the most brilliant thing about the prince!"
Yang Ci smiled bitterly: "What the prince did was to use the aristocratic family to control the aristocratic family. If he stated from the beginning that he wanted to replace the aristocratic family's official position with a child from a poor family, then no matter whether it is a top aristocratic family such as ours or a second-rate or third-rate aristocratic family, they will unanimously oppose it. It can be said that the whole world
We are all enemies, and he has failed long ago. If you don’t see Wang Mang reforming his system, what will be his final end?”
"Although there are talents in poor families, they are very few. The only time to suppress the noble families like us is to give them strong support!"
Yang Xiu finally understood and felt a chill in his heart: "Only if you can endure what ordinary people cannot endure can you achieve what ordinary people cannot!"
"The only plan now is to show weakness to the enemy and expose the prince's humble counselors!"
Yang Ci made a plan and then acted: "As soon as this person appears, all the families in the world will be alert. The prince's situation will be destroyed without attacking. We only have to wait until he ascends the throne. I will have my own counterattack strategy!"