Chapter 472: The Edge of Danger

The atmosphere in Chang'an has been very calm these days. The emperor temporarily left the capital. All civil and military officials, led by the prince of the governor and the prime minister, went outside the city to collect wheat. The yamen were deserted outside the government, and it was rare to see a guarded carriage on the way to the Daming Palace and the imperial city. The government affairs of the entire court seemed to have stopped suddenly.

In contrast to the deserted state of the court, several carriages were parked in front of Pei You's mansion. These carriages have common characteristics, simple decoration and heavy shape, and no difference from the most ordinary carriages. However, the guards guarding these carriages were all shrewd and powerful, just like elite cavalry. The simple carriages formed a sharp contrast with the ingenious guards. If we want to explain this situation, there is only one possibility: the owner of the carriage does not want someone to know their true identities.

There were six noble people sitting in a secret room of Pei You, Pei You, Chu Xingshui, Cui Xian, Zhang Potian, Fang Zongyan, and Changsun Nanfang. These six people had enough influence to influence the direction of the major decisions of the Tang Dynasty. Chu Xingshui, one of the few remaining elders of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor's legitimate uncle, and the official Taiwei. After Guo Ziyi passed away the previous year, he was the highest official in the Tang Dynasty and was in a semi-retired state. At that time, Zhang Huan led his army south to Yangzhou and reached an agreement with the Chu family to retain 10,000 hectares of land.

, and now the land of the Chu family cannot be preserved. Twenty days ago, the Land and Field Supervision Headquarters in Changzhou personally sent someone to investigate the land situation of the Chu family. According to the standards, the Chu family could only retain 700 hectares of land, and the remaining 9,300 hectares of land must be returned to the public. Although the Chu family has gradually developed to overseas trade in recent years, the traditional land plot is still deeply rooted. Due to the infringement of core interests, Zhang Huan's only blood relative became the strongest opponent of the real-name land system in shock and anger.

Cui Xian is the youngest among these people, but he represents the interests of the Cui family, the once most powerful aristocratic family in the Tang Dynasty. He is the head of the Cui family and the only son of Cui Yuan. Because of his father, he has extensive connections in the court. His sister is the Yuan Concubine of the Tang Dynasty. He is the perfect brother-in-law of the emperor. However, his relationship with the emperor's brother-in-law has always been bad. It can be traced back to when Zhang Huan first arrived in Chang'an, and the latest was Cui Yao's marriage. It was under Zhang Huan's inspiration that Cui Yao married a Hu woman, which made his family confused.

It is a personal grudge between Cui Xian and Zhang Huan. Almost on the same day as the Pei family, Chu family, the land and lands of Beizhou, Qizhou and Jeju were seized by the Cui family 13,000 hectares of land. According to the standards, the Cui family could only own 1,100 hectares of land, and the rest were to be taken back. This is undoubtedly the starting point for the complete decline of the Cui family. Under the strong resistance of the family, Cui Xian took the initiative to find Pei You and proposed to convene this emergency consultation meeting for the big family. However, Cui Yu unexpectedly supported the real-name system of land, but under the pressure of the family, he was silent.

On the contrary, Zhang Potian was completely desperate because of the real-name system of land. The Zhang family could not get the land of the past. With the family's wealth exhausted, the Zhang family had no chance of restoring the previous family. From hope to disappointment to despair, Zhang Potian actually developed an extremely deep hatred towards Zhang Huan. He remembered his son who was killed by Zhang Huan, so that after he retired from the officialdom, he actually refused the title of Duke of Fen by Zhang Huan. Zhang Potian's influence on the court was not only the connections he had accumulated in the past few years as a prime minister, but also some influences left by the Zhang family, such as the current Minister of Personnel Yuan Zai, the son-in-law of the Zhang family, Song Lianyu, the Minister of Justice, and Han Yannian, etc., are all disciples of the Zhang family. When Pei You's convening order was passed to the Zhang family, Zhang Potian was the first to respond to the call.

As for Fang Zongyan and Changsun Nanfang, they were both famous families in the Tang Dynasty. Once the land real-name system was released, it also violated their core interests. Without land, Changsun Nanfang could not afford to support the polo team, and his son-in-law would have to separate. This was something that Changsun Nanfang could not tolerate. In order to deal with this land real-name system, Changsun Nanfang stopped the training of the polo team for the first time in 30 years and concentrated all his energy to participate in the plan against the land real-name system. Fang Zongyan may be the most low-key among these people. After all, he had just been promoted to prime minister, but if he could come to participate in this consultation, he could see how dissatisfied with the land real-name system.

In this way, the six people were united. They discussed various plans that could prevent the real-name system of land without any hesitation. However, they had been in a closed-door meeting for nearly two hours and still could not find any way to stop this law. Zhang Huan could not change it and could only rely on the Zhengshi Hall. However, the Zhengshi Hall had passed this law four to three two months ago. It can be said that it was cooked with raw rice. If they were small and medium-sized landlords, they might have escaped this disaster by bribery or cheating, but their goal was too big.

At this moment, several people have realized that the so-called real-name land system is just a glamorous excuse. If it is really to solve the land problem, why did the three-year period be stipulated on the one hand, and on the other hand, it is impatient to attack the aristocratic families? Needless to say, after solving several major aristocratic families first, there will inevitably be compromise plans to ease the shocks in various places. To put it bluntly, this is still a means. In fact, Zhang Huan wants to take action against the aristocratic families. If this continues, the aristocratic families of the Tang Dynasty will really disappear. Even if they participate in industry and commerce to preserve wealth, the spirit and concept of the aristocratic families based on farming civilization will no longer exist.

After two hours of discussion, there was no way, no! There was another way, but everyone knew it in their hearts, but no one wanted to propose it first.

The room was silent, and everyone was waiting, waiting for someone to take the initiative to break the deadlock. After a quarter of an hour passed, everyone remained silent.

"Let me say it!"

Everyone's eyes were shining on Zhang Potian. The Zhang family was the first to propose this shocking suggestion.

"Respecting Zhang Huan as the Supreme Emperor and supporting the prince ascends the throne." Zhang Potian said everyone's voice in an extremely calm manner. Yes, everyone understands that if you want to protect the aristocratic family, there is only one way. With the prince's kind heart, he will definitely give up the real-name system of land.

"Everyone should think about it. The impact of the real-name system of land is not just that our aristocratic family, royal family, military veterans, important officials, prominent families, and more than tens of millions of people. I believe that everyone will support our actions. Moreover, after two votes from the Political Affairs Hall, the final passage of this bill was 4 to 3, we can see that the high-level differences were serious. Moreover, we are not trying to overthrow him, but we just hope that the prince will ascend the throne. This time he went to Shuye to meet the monarch of the Great Food, thousands of miles away from Chang'an. This is our best opportunity. If we do not take this move, the aristocratic family will no longer exist. This is the critical moment of life and death. Everyone should know what I mean."

After Zhang Potian finished speaking, he glanced at everyone and hoped that everyone would continue to express his opinion, "I support Zhang Ge Lao's plan, this is also my plan." The next one was Cui Xian. He hoped that Zhang Huan would step down from office, both public and private. Pei You did not speak, but he raised his hand, Changsun Nanfang also raised his hand, and then Fang Zongyan also raised his hand. At this time, all his eyes were on Chu Xingshui who was pondering and silent. He was the number one veteran in the court, and his attitude was crucial.

Chu Xingshui has never had such a contradiction in his heart as today. This contradiction is a contradiction between national interests and family interests. If Zhang Huan could leave three points, such as leaving 5,000 hectares of land for the Chu family, he would definitely support Zhang Huan's real-name land system. He also knew that this was a powerful medicine to curb land annexation. In fact, this is not a new method. This is a minimum measure. The problem is that no ruler dared to do this since ancient times and was willing to do this, because this is a bill that will shake the foundation of rule. But Zhang Huan dared to do it and deprive the land occupied by the powerful landlords. This courage is unprecedented and has never come after. Just this courage, Chu Xingshui would do it.

His nephew admired him very much, but Chu Xingshui could not represent himself. He represented the interests of the entire Chu family. There are two core interests of the Chu family, one is bloodline and the other is land. Now Zhang Huan has violated this bottom line and has deprived the core interests of the Chu family without reservation. He asked him how Chu Xingshui would make a decision. He also believed that whether it was Pei You, Fang Zongyan, Cui Xian, or Zhang Potian, they would never take this step until they had no choice. However, they all chose to break the dead. Chu Xingshui couldn't help but sighed secretly, "Huaner, my uncle has to take this step for the sake of the Chu family's interests. If you want to blame, you blame you for doing too much and not leaving any room for anything."

He pondered for a long time, and finally made up his mind and said slowly: "They are fathers and sons, and it is natural for fathers and sons to inherit their careers and sons, and it is also a matter of time. We just took it forward."

When Chu Xingshui said this, everyone was relieved of their hearts hanging in the air. He supported this plan, but Chu Xingshui did not stop. He continued: "I think the key to this plan is not Han Huan, Yuan Zai and other ministers. The key is to get the support of the military. Without the support of the army, we cannot do this."

Chu Xingshui pointed out the key to the problem, and everyone was silent all of a sudden. Indeed, the reason why Zhang Huan dared to impose the real-name land system was that he controlled the army. Without the support of the military, once Zhang Huan came back, they would all be ruined.

At this time, Zhang Potian spoke again, "I have thought about this question long ago. I am from the army. I know the herd nature of the military. As long as he is cooked and his son ascended the throne, the army will acknowledge this fact. The key is that the prince ascended the throne, not a new emperor. So as long as we have an army to support the prince and successfully ascend the throne, the subsequent things will come naturally. Even if he comes back, it will be useless. This is just like Emperor Suzong ascended the throne in Lingwu back then."

After saying that, he looked at Chu Xingshui. Chu Xingshui also brought troops and should understand his point of view. Chu Xingshui nodded reluctantly, as if he agreed to Zhang Potian's statement. Although it was still a bit risky, what Zhang Potian said did make sense. The key was to support the prince ascend the throne, rather than establishing a new emperor. These were two completely different things. When everyone saw Chu Xingshui nodding, they all began to get excited. At this time, Pei You took the lead and said, "If it was really just one army, I would be sure."

Cui Xian immediately smiled and said, "Uncle Pei Er, please tell me, don't guess the riddle for us."

Pei You smiled, "Did you forget Zong Zhengqing and Li Qiao?"

A sentence woke up the dreamer, and everyone suddenly realized that Li Qiao owned 20,000 hectares of land in Longyou, and was the largest landlord of the Tang Dynasty. He should be the biggest impactor of the real-name system of land. But what everyone thought of was Li Qiao himself, but Li Su, the son of Li Qiao, Li Su, the left Yulin General, who controlled 15,000 Yulin Army and controlled the imperial city and the Daming Palace. The right Yulin General Li Dingfang guarded Zhang Huan to the Western Regions. If he could get the support of Li Su, this matter would be more than half successful.

Pei You continued, "I have a good personal relationship with Li Qiao, so I will convince him on Li Qiao."

Pei You's carriage was driving rapidly on Zhuque Street. He left Chang'an and returned to Xiangzhou twenty days ago. He had never rested for a day. He was like an excited machine, running tirelessly. But he was an old man in his seventies after all. The nearly month of hard work made him exhausted. He longed to think about nothing, do nothing, and sleep well for a few days, but.

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Pei You sighed and looked out the car window. It was getting late at night. The wide and cool Zhuque Street was crowded with people coming out to enjoy the coolness. Every household took their wives and children, took leisurely walks or sat on the ground, and groups of happy children chased and played. Everyone's face was filled with a happy smile. This smile was a kind of comfort that only happened when the country was peaceful and the people were peaceful. It has been eight years since the "Great Administration". The Tang Dynasty has been reviving in all directions, and the rice price has been only about twenty cents for two consecutive years. However, there were tragic memories of a thousand dollars of rice more than twenty years ago. Many people have not forgotten that history, and Pei You has not forgotten it. At this moment, he has an indescribable loss in his heart. Is what he is doing now destroying this prosperity? Pei You pulled the curtain of the car in pain, and he has embarked on a road where he cannot turn back.

Li Qiao has been serving as Zong Zhengqing for nearly eight years. He is 65 years old this year. He is as energetic and physically as before. It seems that Zong Zhengqing is his way back, but Li Qiao has not been happy in the past few years. He feels that his efforts and gains are not matched. During the years when Zhang Huan was in charge of Longyou, he donated more than four million stones of grain and one million stagnant of money to the Xiliang Army, which is almost half of his property. However, after Zhang Huan ascended the throne, his eldest son Li Yue served as the governor of Longzhou, and his second son Li Su first served as the military envoy of Dingyuan Army in Shuofang and the military envoy of Jiuyuan Army. Later, he was transferred back to Beijing to be promoted to the general of Zuo Yulin Army. However, Li Qiao believed that this was not because of donating money and grain. The eldest son Li Yue had long been Sima of Longxi County, and the second son Li Su was also promoted because of his merits. Perhaps Zhang Huan's only reward was that he, the Minister of Zong Zheng Temple.

This is far from Xin Yunjing's two sons. Xin Gao became the Minister of Dali Temple and Xin Lang was the governor of Hexi. When Xin Yunjing died a few years ago, he was posthumously named the Prince of Longxi. But what efforts did Xin Yunjing do to compare with him?

Due to his boredom, Li Qiao was addicted to alcohol and sex in recent years and became more and more careless about affairs in the court. Since last year, he simply became a hand-off manager. Almost everything in Zongzheng Temple was pressed on Shaoqing Li Lan. Zhang Huan seemed to ignore him. He was impeached by the Censorship several times and was not punished. But just like this, Li Qiao became even more debauchery. He even took more than a hundred concubines, becoming one of the focus of discussions among the people of Chang'an.

But in the past two months, Li Qiao suddenly restrained himself. With the introduction of the real-name system of land, his family will become one of the most heavy losses in the Tang Dynasty. Li Qiao owns more than 20,000 hectares of land and more than a dozen large manors in Yanzhou, Qingzhou, Fangzhou, Yuanzhou and Jingzhou. However, he is not as numerous as aristocratic families. He has only four sons in total. The total number of Yongye fields of the father and son is only more than 300 hectares. In other words, almost all of his land must be taken away as a homeless land. At the beginning of the promulgation of the real-name system of land, he did not release it.

In his heart, he thought Zhang Huan would not do so terrible, but when he filed three applications for land protection, he finally panicked. He asked for the emperor several times and was rejected. Until a month ago, the news that Cui and Pei's major families were investigated were reported, Li Qiao was as if the sky had collapsed, and he was in panic all day long. The day before yesterday, he finally received the news from the Longyou housekeeper. The land and a censor and the inspector began to work together to investigate his mountains, forests and fields. He was so angry that Li Qiao fell ill.

When Li Qiao heard that Pei You was visiting, he quickly ordered several concubines to help him sit up. When Pei You entered the house, he panted and said, "Pei Taibao came to visit in person, but I can't leave the house to greet him in person. Please forgive me."

"What are you saying about the prince? We have been in love for decades, are we just seeing each other like this?" Pei You sat next to his bed, holding Li Qiao's hand and said sadly: "It's only been a month since we saw each other, why is the prince so old?"

A bitter smile appeared on the corner of Li Qiao's mouth, "Isn't Pei Taibao the same? Are you living a very carefree life?"

"Oh!" Pei You sighed, and he shook his head and said, "The pain of the prince is only in loss, but I live in the danger of the family. The reason why I am not ill is because I am still fighting for the last glimmer of hope."

‘The last glimmer of hope.’ Li Qiao’s eyes suddenly lit up. He grabbed Pei You’s hand and said anxiously: “Mr. Pei, what do you mean by this?”

Pei You smiled but didn't say anything. Li Qiao woke up and immediately ordered his concubines to leave. Seeing that there was no one else on the left, Pei You whispered: "Hold the prince as the emperor and re-establish the new law of land."

'Hold the prince as the emperor! Hold the prince as the emperor!' Li Qiao murmured twice, a trace of fear flashed in his eyes, and he said nervously: "But the emperor's methods are so cruel, don't you not know."

"Of course I know." Pei You gritted his teeth, "If this is not the case, how can we save our land and clan? Will the prosperity of my Pei family be destroyed in my hands for hundreds of years?"

Li Qiao was still a little hesitant in his heart. He lowered his head and pondered for a long time. Pei You understood that he was a little scared, so he took out a joint copy from his arms and handed it to him, "Look at it! There are twenty-two people in total, not you and I fight alone."

Li Qiao took over the thin list. After turning a few pages, he was extremely shocked. There were dozens of important officials who had signed their signatures, including Chu Xingshui, Pei You, Cui Xian, Zhang Potian, Fang Zongyan, Li Han, Changsun Nanfang, Han Yannian, and Guo Ai.

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There are several other royal families, such as Li Huai, Li Wei brothers, etc.
Chapter completed!