Chapter 263: The End of the Aristocratic Family

“Gather troops to defend Chang’an, select talented people to fill vacancies in the court, and ensure that government orders are carried out without hindrance. All names of personnel must be submitted.”

Li Zhi truly took charge of the government from then on, but only half of the Tang Dynasty was left.

“In addition, we will suppress clans, divide up the land equally, and implement the national policy of contracting production to households and allocating land tax to each acre. All officials will cooperate with Xu Pushe in issuing orders on this matter.”

If you can’t beat them, join them.

Under Li Chengqian’s planning, equal distribution of land has become a trend.

Under this trend, Li Chengqian won the hearts of people all over the world.

Li Zhi certainly did not want to give up. Whether for himself or for his country, implementing both strategies would be beneficial and harmless.

“promise!”

The remaining ministers all obeyed the order.

Although the number of people is small, they are all Li Zhi’s team.

Led by Xu Jingzong, Li Yifu, Ma Zhou and others.

Urgent and strict government orders continuously came out from the towering Taiji Palace.

These decrees were like torrents that quickly swept across the entire Chang’an City, causing bloody storms wherever they went.

For a time, those clans and families in the city that were once prominent and powerful all encountered misfortunes.

Teams of soldiers rushed into the major clans, holding charges listing various crimes, and were ready to interrogate them.

Faced with this sudden change, some clans and families attempted to resist stubbornly, but as soon as they showed the slightest sign of resistance, the cold and ruthless sword would be mercilessly imposed on them.

In an instant, screams rang out one after another, blood splattered everywhere, dyeing the originally spotless courtyard and streets red.

The once prosperous and bustling Chang’an City seemed to have experienced a terrible nightmare in just a few days.

Shocking bloodstains could be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood.

The streets and alleys that were once bustling with people and full of laughter have now become deserted. People are walking in a hurry with looks of fear on their faces, fearing that they will get into trouble if they are not careful.

This world-famous international metropolis suddenly fell into panic, everyone was in danger, and the prosperity and tranquility of the past were gone.

The new emperor ascends the throne and the world changes.

Li Zhi’s sudden attack caught the major families off guard.

But Li Zhi also paid a huge price. As an emperor, the only areas he could control were Guannei Road and Hedong Road.

Clans and families in other regions either rebelled or refused to obey government orders and set up their own factions.

Puppet forces supported by local clans have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain and spread throughout the land of China.

It is even more chaotic than the end of the Sui Dynasty.

Because they all have to protect themselves and resist oppression of the people in their country.

In some places, people were even massacred on a large scale in order to eradicate the scourge.

They are squandering their last glory.

What followed was a large-scale peasant uprising to resist the suppression of the clan families.

After Li Zhi’s incident, the class struggle on the land of China was completely launched.

……

“Your Highness, good news, great news!”

Li Zhen came walking on the snow, holding a few letters in his hands and a big smile on his face.

“General Li, I have brought you good news again!”

Pei Xingjian turned around. During this period of time, they had received frequent good news.

Li Chengqian’s gaze also left the river.

Winter has come and the Yellow River has frozen.

“It was General Xue who brought the battle report. The Mohe have surrendered!”

Li Zhen said hurriedly.

It’s hard to believe that eight hundred warriors could destroy a country.

“Is this true? The Mohe surrendered!”

Pei Xingjian was also greatly surprised. In his opinion, the two armies of Xue Rengui and Gao Kan were meant to tie down the Tang Dynasty’s foreign kingdom in the north.

This way they will have no worries when fighting against Tang.

Now, the task has been exceeded.

“Your Highness, are you not surprised at all?”

Looking at Li Chengqian’s indifferent expression, it seemed as if all this had been destined.

“General Xue, you are so brave and powerful that you can conquer an entire country by yourself. The Mohe are just a tiny country, so how difficult is it to defeat them?”

Li Chengqian spoke.

This legend was not too much for Xue Rengui.

“Does the war report contain detailed information about the course of the war?”

As for how they won, Li Chengqian was also curious.

“The battle report said that General Xue Rengui charged into the enemy camp alone and captured the leader of the Mohe Kingdom alive, and the Mohe Kingdom surrendered. The specific details of the battle were not reported.”

Li Zhen replied.

“General Xue is truly a brave man. He captured the ruler of his country alive amidst a huge army. This has never happened before. He is truly a remarkable man, a god.”

All the generals gasped.

Seizing the flag and killing the general has not happened in decades.

But for Xue Rengui, he completed them one after another.

“The war in the north has been decided, and now the Yellow River has reached its ice age. Do you have any suggestions?”

Li Chengqian turned and asked.

“There are already many territories in the Tang Dynasty, and some rebels have the intention of belonging.”

“I think we should divide our forces and attack together, gather the rebels along the way, and quickly put an end to the chaos.”

“In addition, the Zhangsun Wuji Group has gathered many clan powerhouses, so we need to send heavy troops to encircle and suppress them. If we wipe them out, the clan powerhouses will no longer be a concern.”

Pei Xingjian spoke eloquently, the overall situation was clear, and the strategy he formulated was also very targeted.

“The king is the boat, and the people are the water. The water can carry the boat, but it can also overturn it. Gather the rebel army, attack the powerful families, divide the land, and acquire the land.”

“After crossing the river, disperse your forces and fight to defeat the powerful families. Break the whole into small groups, end the turmoil very quickly, and save the people from danger.”

“We should also show enough tolerance to the clans and families who have reformed themselves. God is merciful.”

Li Chengqian’s tone was heavy, without the excitement he had before the victory.

After this turmoil, the population will certainly drop sharply.

The population may hit a record low, falling below the 10 million mark.

After every major war, the population would be cut in half.

Victory is inevitable.

However, the issue of post-war governance always revolved around Li Chengqian.

It’s time to plan the overall situation from now on.

“According to your Highness’s wishes, I will pass on the orders to each army.”

Pei Xingjian understood and nodded.

“The potatoes and sweet potatoes shipped from Liaodong should not be eaten. Instead, they should be distributed to the people in various places so that they can plant them first.”

Li Chengqian gave another order.

As the leader now, he not only has to consider military affairs, but also has to keep up with government affairs at all times.

After great chaos, there will be great order.

A few days later, the Liaodong Army, which had been waiting for several months, also crossed the Yellow River from the north bank and headed south.

“How long can the army’s food and fodder last?”

In Xiangzhou Prefecture, Changsun Wuji gazed worriedly at the snow-covered fields in front of him, his brows furrowed and his face full of sorrow.

The biting cold wind whistled past, and the white hair on his shoulders danced in the wind, contrasting with the pure white snowflakes.

Since learning about the incident in Chang’an, this once powerful official had a head full of white hair in just one night.

He really couldn’t understand why Li Zhi, whom he had always trusted, would suddenly stab him in the back. He led the army to fight bloody battles against foreign invasions, and served the country and the monarch with all his heart, but now he ended up like this. Why?

Now, food and grass are about to run out, and they are already in a desperate situation, as if they have reached the end of the road.

At this time, Zhangsun Wuji’s son Zhangsun Ze stepped forward and said softly: “Father, according to my estimation, the food and grass in the army can only last for another half a month at most. Rather than sit and wait for death, why not… we surrender the city.”

The second son, Zhang Sunjinhe, also quickly agreed, “Yes, father. I heard that Li Chengqian is quite lenient towards the surrendered soldiers. If we surrender to him, I believe he will not make things too difficult for us.”

You know, Zhangsun Wuji had twelve sons, three of whom had been killed by Zhang Liang, and many of the rest were currently on the expedition with him.

Facing the proposals of his two sons, Changsun Wuji remained silent for a long time, and finally just uttered a sentence slowly: “Let your father think about it carefully before making a decision!”

At this moment, he was like a candle swaying in the wind, and the weak flame of life seemed to be extinguished by the biting cold wind at any time.

This sudden change was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Changsun Wuji.

“Father! The situation is extremely critical. The spies just sent an urgent report that the army led by Li Chengqian has successfully crossed the Yellow River. According to their marching speed, they will surely be at the gates of the city in a few days! We don’t have much time left.”

Chang Sun Ze’s face was full of anxiety as he reported this shocking news to Chang Sun Wuji again.

However, how could they know the hidden entanglements and past between Changsun Wuji and Li Chengqian?
In their naive understanding, after all, they have the same blood flowing in their veins, so if they choose to surrender, they will not suffer overly harsh reckoning.

Changsun Wuji frowned, and after a moment of silence, he finally spoke: “In that case, then quickly send someone to secretly contact and negotiate with Li Chengqian, but remember to be very careful and never let any news of this leak out!”

At this moment, although he felt helpless, he could only bite the bullet and face the cruel reality before him.

At this moment, they were in a desperate situation, isolated and helpless.

In the rear, Li Zhi was chasing them down, in the south, Heichi Changzhi was leading an army that was growing like a snowball and was pressing forward step by step, and in the north, Li Chengqian was leading a large army that was coming in with great momentum, forming a three-pronged pincer attack.

Internally, those dissatisfied people began to stir, and the situation became precarious.

Even facing such a difficult situation, Changsun Wuji still had a glimmer of hope in his heart.

After all, he has a large number of troops. If he wants to establish his own regime, it is entirely possible for him to use these troops to establish his own regime and gain power.

He used Xiangzhou and several other prefectures and counties as his base, competing against Li Zhi and Li Chengqian, forming a three-way confrontation.

“Okay, kid, I’ll do it right away.”

Chang Sunze immediately accepted the order and quickly turned around and left. Not long after, several fast horses were seen galloping out on the snow like arrows from a bow, raising gusts of flying snow.

Standing on the high city wall, Changsun Wuji looked down at the devastated land and couldn’t help but shed tears.

He was autocratic, but he always believed that everything he did was for the purpose of making this country more prosperous.

He tried to win over the aristocratic families and powerful clans simply to use their power to implement his government policies smoothly.

The appointment of noble sons as officials was also based on their talents and abilities.

It’s a pity that this beautiful land has become riddled with holes and the people are living in misery.

This is how the world is. Most of the talented people come from aristocratic families.

He is a poor man who can’t even read a single word. How can he be promoted?
There are sadness and suffering.

But he had nowhere to vent.

Perhaps the only one who could understand him was Emperor Taizong Li Shimin.

“See His Highness the Crown Prince!”

In Mingzhou, Chang Sun Ze successfully met with Li Chengqian.

“Who are you, and why are you here to see me?”

Li Chengqian really had no impression of this cousin.

“Your Highness, my father is Zhangsun Wuji. You and I have the same blood.”

Chang Sunze said excitedly.

“Stand up and talk. What do you want from me?”

Li Chengqian could roughly guess his purpose.

“My father decided to surrender to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in order to avoid the loss of lives.”

Chang Sunze said.

“Hmph, don’t talk about your father in such a sanctimonious way. You didn’t surrender earlier, and you didn’t surrender later. Why are you surrendering now? Do you think we don’t know what’s going on? You won’t cry until you see the coffin.”

“You have reached the end of your rope. Do you still want to get any benefits from our Crown Prince?”

Cheng Chumo cursed.

Changsun Wuji was very capable and managed to hold them off for half a year.

If the Yellow River had not frozen, they might not have been able to attack even if they had endured for a few more years.

“General, these words are very serious. My father really cares about the people.”

“We are blocking His Royal Highness the Crown Prince here because we each serve our own master. My father is being loyal, and that is not wrong. If it were not for His Majesty’s abandonment, we would have resolutely resisted to the end.”

“Now, I am here to present a letter of surrender for the sake of the people of the Tang Dynasty, hoping to end the war as soon as possible.”

Chang Sunze retorted.

There was no logistical food supply, but that didn’t really mean they would starve to death.

Once they disregard the consequences and start causing chaos, it will definitely not be possible to pacify them in a short period of time.

If you care about the people, this statement is still justifiable.

The fact that Changsun Wuji did not think of establishing himself at the first moment under such circumstances already shows a big problem.

“If this is your father’s intention, I will naturally accept it. After surrendering, I will also take good care of you and others.”

Li Chengqian answered without thinking.

Although Changsun Wuji was controversial in history, he still knew how to make choices when faced with major issues.

The only thing he did wrong was to serve as Li Zhi’s regent.

Because of Li Zhi, he didn’t need any ministers to advise him at all.

The regent minister is actually a hindrance to him.

It was Li Zhi’s intention that Changsun Wuji was forced to death in the end.

Even though Changsun Wuji was a commoner, he was still the emperor’s uncle.

Who dares to push someone to death?

(End of this chapter)