School had started. The academy had already returned to its usual rhythm. Apart from three additional lazy pandas, there seemed to be no changes. The girls erupted with outrageous enthusiasm for the pandas, and thus panda dolls quickly formed a trend at the women’s academy. Hypatia was no exception—the largest panda doll belonged to her.
However, in this new year, Great Tang erupted with a very important matter. Seeing the national treasury overflowing, his generals fierce, and all nations coming to pay homage, Li Er believed his achievements were sufficient to report to Heaven. Therefore, he planned to go to Mount Tai to perform the Feng and Shan ceremonies. Moreover, he would bring Jinyang along to absorb some of the nation’s good fortune—perhaps in such a joyous atmosphere, Jinyang’s illness might cure itself without medicine.
Wei Zheng absolutely refused to agree, submitting a memorial saying that from east of Luoyang all the way to the shores of the Eastern Sea, the land was desolate for a thousand li, sparsely populated, with no sounds of chickens or dogs, and all industries in decline. Going to Mount Tai to perform the Feng and Shan ceremonies at this time would certainly deepen the suffering of the people of Shandong.
With just this one statement, Yun Ye could see Li Er’s disappointment in Wei Zheng had reached its extreme. To prevent the Emperor from going to Shandong to divide and strike at the powerful clans, Wei Zheng had already begun talking nonsense.
If this were five years ago, Wei Zheng’s words would have been completely correct. But now, these words were wrong. After the Emperor ordered refugees to return to their fields, countless refugees hiding in the deep mountains and old forests had gradually returned to their former homes and begun rebuilding their hometowns. The court’s decree of three years without taxes had been proclaimed throughout the realm. Potatoes in particular were being planted everywhere. Dengzhou and Laizhou—these places had gradually formed the embryonic shape of large cities. The memorial from the Dengzhou Governor requesting to expand the city walls had been sitting on the Emperor’s desk for over a month. How could you now say Shandong was in decline?
As everyone knew, three main forces supported the establishment of the Li Tang realm. The most important was the Guanlong Group—they originated from the Northern Wei Xianbei noble military organization, which included both sinicized Hu people and Hu-ified Han people.
The Northern Zhou and Northern Qi that had previously divided the Central Plains were both controlled by the Guanlong Group. As for the Eight Pillar Generals personally cultivated by Northern Zhou’s founding emperor Yuwen Tai—Yuwen Tai (Li Shimin’s maternal great-grandfather), Yuan Xin, Li Hu (Li Yuan’s grandfather), Li Bi (Li Mi’s great-grandfather), Zhao Gui, Yu Jin, Dugu Xin (Yang Jian’s father-in-law), Hou Mei, Chen Chong and others—their prestige knew no bounds.
Among these Eight Pillar Generals, Yuwen Tai was Li Shimin’s maternal great-grandfather, Li Hu was the Li family’s direct line great-grandfather, Li Bi was Li Mi’s great-grandfather, and both Empress Dugu of the Sui Dynasty and Li Shimin’s grandmother were daughters of Dugu Xin.
The Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, and Tang dynasties were all inseparable from these Eight Pillar Generals. If you paid careful attention, you would discover that during the chaotic transition between Sui and Tang, the various heroes fighting each other and the famous generals at court were often related by blood—suffering together in loss, prospering together in glory.
The second force was the Shandong Group, which could be divided into two factions: the Shandong aristocratic families with long histories and powerful clans, and the ambitious heroes from humble origins in Shandong. The former stood independently in the world through prestige accumulated over hundreds of years, while the latter stood distinctively through the armed forces they controlled since the end of Sui. These two forces had mutual contradictions yet could cooperate for their common interests. For a long time, they had given Li Shimin the feeling that the tail was too big to wag.
Fortunately, borrowing Yun Ye’s power, Li Er had successfully suppressed the Shandong powerful clans. The Lu Family’s bloody case made them recognize the terror of the knife handle. Now they honestly stayed in Shandong, submissive and obedient, plotting for later advantage.
Pressing down the gourd made the ladle float up. The formerly arrogant Cui Family, Zheng Family, and Lu Family made no sound, honestly accepting the arrangements of the “Clan Records” and becoming second-tier and third-tier families. One should know the Yun Family was now a third-tier family. As long as the Yun Family had a daughter marry into the imperial family, or the imperial family had a daughter marry into the Yun Family, sooner or later they would become a second-tier family.
The Shandong Group bureaucrats, represented by Wei Zheng, precisely utilized the clans’ enormous power to make Li Shimin compromise on many policies and measures. However, during Li Shimin’s process of conquering and governing the realm, the Shandong Group also contributed many talented civil and military worthies. Therefore, Li Er both loved and hated this force—he had to be cautiously wary while also deliberately courting them.
The final force was the Jiangnan literati group that had long occupied the south, forming a body unto themselves. They similarly inherited the remnants of the aristocratic clan power since the Wei and Jin dynasties. After Sui unified the south, their political status had greatly declined, but they still had irreplaceable influence in the Jiangnan region.
These people’s characteristic was having neither fists nor courage. Having them command troops in battle was truly not their strength. However, they had always regarded themselves as orthodox heirs of civilized culture. When it came to researching and expounding previous dynasties’ institutions, none could surpass them. Thus, in early Tang, the design of political systems and establishment of rituals and ceremonies mostly came from their hands.
These three forces formed the basic structure of the early Tang political arena. Their relationships were intricately interwoven and extremely complex. Therefore, Li Er had always adopted the principle of divide and rule, mixing sand among them.
That Yushan Academy could grow powerful in the shortest time was not without Li Er’s indulgent approval. Such trust and indulgence would only appear with Yun Ye—if it were someone else, Li Er would absolutely not be so permissive.
Yun Ye could see that Wei Zheng’s words had hurt Li Er’s heart. This was not a good sign. The enthusiastic Li Er wanted to perform sacrifices to Heaven—then just go perform them. Everyone would have the opportunity to tour Mount Tai, which would be quite nice. Why obstruct it? Moreover, the Emperor’s travels would certainly greatly promote the local economy. The food, clothing, housing, and transportation of fifty or sixty thousand people—wouldn’t that cost money? Li Er’s household was now so poor they only had money left—his two daughters had earned quite a lot of money.
The entire court was so quiet that a dropped needle would be clearly audible. Li Er turned his gaze toward Fang Xuanling. He had forgotten that Old Fang’s wife was also from a major Shandong clan. Du Ruhui never participated in these matters, closing his eyes and pretending to sleep. Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin lowered their heads even more—he too was a bandit from Shandong.
Since ancient times, imperial tours had almost been synonymous with plaguing localities. Clan disputes had nothing to do with Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, and these people. They were beneficiaries of the “Clan Records”—they simply didn’t want the Emperor to go plague their fellow townsmen in Shandong.
Li Er’s gaze appeared even more angry. Zhangsun Wuji still didn’t come forward. This fellow was still very dissatisfied that the Emperor had given him the title of Zhaozhou Governor. This was clearly driving him out of Chang’an to fend for himself in the provinces. With resentment in his heart, he naturally wasn’t willing to exert effort.
The Emperor finally fixed his gaze on Yun Ye and didn’t move it. Yun Ye could even feel which part of himself Li Er’s scorching gaze was pinned on.
“Your Majesty, this humble minister believes Wei Zheng speaks reasonably. Currently, the lands of Shandong and Hebei remain desolate and impoverished. If Your Majesty goes to perform the Feng and Shan ceremonies, the accompanying entourage will absolutely be no less than sixty thousand people. As these people and horses eat along the way, they will completely consume the wealth Your Majesty has nurtured among the common people of Shandong and Hebei these past years. Naturally, the losses would exceed the gains—it’s not worthwhile.”
Wei Zheng angrily looked toward Yun Ye because he heard it—Yun Ye had already switched concepts, changing the reason for not being able to go to Mount Tai for the Feng and Shan ceremonies to simply a matter of money and grain.
Sure enough, this statement greatly pleased Li Er. Pretending to suddenly understand, he said, “So that’s how it is! Wei Qing speaks truly reasonably. The people’s welfare is greater than heaven—this principle even I must follow. However, Wei Qing is overthinking it. For this Feng and Shan ceremony, I will bring my own provisions and equipment. Local government offices are not permitted to construct traveling palaces, nor open mountains and build roads, nor spread yellow earth on the roads. All corvée labor is completely canceled. Being thus, can I go?”
Wei Zheng had no choice but to bow and say, “If it’s like this, naturally there are no taboos.”
Zhangsun Wuji immediately stepped forward to memorialize, “Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have destroyed the Turks, conquered the grasslands, expanded the territory, and nurtured the myriad people. Now the four seas within the realm are peaceful, and heroes outside the domain bow their heads. Moreover, these past years have seen favorable weather—naturally you must proclaim this to Heaven, carving stone to record it, to illuminate Your Majesty’s achievements.” Zhangsun Wuji never lacked sycophantic words.
Li Chengqian now also understood what his father wanted to do and naturally came forward to lavishly praise his father. The Li clan relatives always unprincipled stood on the Emperor’s side. Even though Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, and others were extremely unwilling, they could only agree to let the Emperor go to Shandong. Last time when Shandong rebelled, it was Wei Zheng who pacified it without expending a single soldier. Now the Emperor still wasn’t assured and prepared to go see for himself.
After leaving Wanmin Palace, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin quietly asked Yun Ye, “Boy, you reduced the burden for the Shandong common people, yet I see Wei Zheng doesn’t seem appreciative at all.”
“Uncle, what Wei Zheng worries about isn’t the common people at all. He knows clearly the Emperor would absolutely never plague the people. What he worries about is Shandong suffering another great purge. His Majesty will absolutely not forget the humiliation of that first ‘Clan Records’ listing the Cui Family as number one. Uncle Cheng, go back and tell Auntie to have her family not casually meddle in Shandong affairs. Her family is in Shanxi and doesn’t manage Shandong matters. Learn from Minister Fang’s wife—last time when His Majesty ruthlessly dealt with the Lu clan, didn’t Madam Lu act as if she knew nothing? Sometimes you must first preserve yourself before anything else.”
Cheng Yaojin sighed darkly and hurriedly departed. The Emperor was stirring after a long calm. The clan disputes that had been quiet for several years were now surfacing again. Who knew what the Emperor intended to do? The days of the meritorious nobles were becoming increasingly difficult.
Yun Ye knew what the Emperor intended to do. The matter of the divine persons had thoroughly enraged the Emperor. Although Yun Ye hadn’t seen the Bai Qi Si investigation report, he could guess some of it. Wei Tianjue’s case must have made progress. After all, it was impossible for over five hundred people to completely vanish without a trace. As long as Bai Qi Si earnestly searched, they would always find clues.
The Empress encountering danger at Yushan, though said to be an accident—the Emperor hadn’t punished anyone, which was terrifyingly calm. From when the incident occurred, Yun Ye had been on tenterhooks. Only now did he relax—this rod was still being heavily struck on the clans’ buttocks.
As the divine persons’ fig leaf was gradually lifted, the Emperor would absolutely not tolerate their existence. And these ancient clans were precisely the soil in which those divine persons survived and developed. They must be eradicated root and branch.