Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 38 Who was it in later generations who destroyed the powerful clans?

Li Shimin did not give Wen He an answer immediately; he remained silent for a long time.

He wasn't unable to understand Wen He's words; he was just well aware of the implications and stakes involved.

The foundation upon which the Tang Dynasty was built was the Guanzhong aristocratic clans.

This is what he fears most.

While Yang Guang was certainly responsible for the fall of the Sui Dynasty, the Guanlong forces also played a role in its downfall.

Without them, the Tang Dynasty would not have been established so smoothly.

"Do you know what happened today?" Li Shimin asked with a somber expression.

Wen He shook her head, waiting for his answer.

"They want me to take a queen after I ascend the throne." His tone was calm, but Wen He could hear the anger in his words.

"Little Consort Yang, but history says it was you who fell in love with her, so..."

"absurd!"

Before Wen He could finish speaking, Li Shimin turned around and interrupted him with a cold shout.

"How could I be so lustful!" His eyes widened, like an angry Vajra in a temple.

Wen He shuddered and said with a dry laugh, "This is not what I said, but what is recorded in later generations. It says that you doted on her extremely. After Empress Zhangsun passed away, you even wanted to make her empress. Fortunately, Wei Zheng persuaded you, and you gave up the idea."

He looked at Li Shimin awkwardly and noticed that the flesh on his face was trembling.

It's unclear whether it was due to later generations' interpretations or because his true intentions were exposed.

"These people in later generations are simply absurd. Unless I had the intention of changing the crown prince, how could I possibly make Lady Yang empress? Not to mention that Fu Ji and the others would not allow it."

Li Shimin scoffed.

What he said does make sense.

Both Consort Yang and the young Consort Yang were of the previous dynasty's bloodline.

Unless Li Shimin is insane, he would not make them empresses.

His words reminded Wen He of something.

Later, Li Tai's faction led by the Prince of Wei submitted a memorial, claiming that officials of the third rank or above in the court were disrespectful to the Prince of Wei.

Li Shimin deliberately echoed Wei Zheng's words in court, using Yang Jian and Yang Guang as examples to warn Li Tai and those behind him.

Therefore, the decision to make Consort Yang empress was very likely just a performance between the emperor and his ministers.

"Your Highness, is the Yang family of Hongnong very powerful?" Wen He asked tentatively.

Otherwise, given Li Shimin's personality, why would he have been so patient?

"Powerful? Hmph, they are nothing but remnants of the previous dynasty, only with some old stubborns behind them. If they were alone, I would not be afraid, but if they were to unite, the Tang Dynasty would be in turmoil, and even I would have to be cautious."

Li Shimin, indignant, raised his hand and slammed his fist heavily into the pillar.

He was about to become the highest-ranking person in the Tang Dynasty, but at this moment, he had no choice but to compromise with those people.

"Being an emperor is really not an easy job," Wen He said, pursing her lips.

Li Shimin glanced at him, but this time he didn't scold him for his nonsense; instead, he agreed with him.

"If I were to destroy those powerful clans, how should I do it?"

"Well, more than two hundred years later, there was a man named Huang Chao who took the 'Clan Records' that you compiled later and named them one by one, which can be considered as eliminating the powerful clans and aristocratic families."

"Oh, my Great Tang Dynasty actually has such a capable minister! What method did he use?"

Li Shimin's eyes lit up immediately, and he excitedly grabbed Wen He's arm.

Looking at him, Wen He opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

He really didn't know what to say.

"Your Highness, you asked me to say that, so please don't blame me later."

“I am not the kind of person who holds grudges. Even if Huang Chao used underhanded methods, I will not blame him.”

What Li Shimin wanted most now was to eliminate those powerful clans that dared to oppose the imperial power.

Those old fogies really think it's the Northern Zhou or the Former Sui Dynasty.

He, Li Shimin, was as weak as his father, the emperor!
I wonder which of Huang Chao's descendants was so fortunate to have encountered such a capable minister. "To be honest, it's not really necessary to say anything."

"Speak, whatever you say, and I will pardon you."

"You said it yourself, a gentleman's word is his bond."

"A swift horse, a whip."

Li Shimin glared at him with annoyance.

This brat spoke recklessly about Fuji and Keming earlier.

Now they're trying to hide it.

"Huang Chao, right? He failed the imperial examination, then stormed Chang'an, destroyed the Tang Dynasty, and then went on to attack those powerful clans... Hey, Your Highness, please don't use your knife!"

Wen He jumped up like a rabbit, ran behind the opposite pillar, and hurriedly shouted, "You said you wouldn't blame me, that's what you asked me to say!"

"This is how to wipe out powerful clans!" Li Shimin glared at him, but ultimately did not draw his sword.

Wen He said awkwardly, "Starting over from scratch is a foolproof method."

"Or we could reform education and give ordinary people the opportunity to study." Wen He noticed his expression was off and quickly changed the subject.

"Another issue is resolving land consolidation and the problem of unregistered households. Of course, the most important thing is books, which I can help with."

Wen He raised an eyebrow at him.

Li Shimin's biggest concern now is not the throne, but how to quickly consolidate his imperial power after ascending the throne.

If he could make paper cheap and books dirt cheap, then most of the writers in the world would support him.

"Your Highness, you now have a sword in your hand, but you still lack a pen. If scholars are on your side, those powerful families should think about their future."

"If there are millions more people who can replace them at any time, they probably won't be able to sleep peacefully."

Li Shimin frowned, as he suddenly thought of something.

"Last night, Fu Ji told me that you know how to make paper?"

“We can give it a try.” Wen He nodded, knowing in his heart that his words had tempted Li Shimin.

"And what about the common people you mentioned? What should I do with them?"

Li Shimin was also confused because there was no precedent.

To be precise, there is no precedent for success.

"Does Your Highness know Zhang Jiao?" Wen He asked with a sly smile.

"Are you suggesting I learn from traitors?" Li Shimin scoffed disdainfully.

Wen He shook her head with a wry smile.

"That's not quite right. Peasant uprisings were caused by the inaction of the imperial court. If people had enough to eat and wear, who would be willing to risk their lives to rebel?"

He sighed deeply and looked up at the starry sky.

"Ensuring food and clothing is a difficult problem. If we want to curb land annexation, it is not enough for the court to simply issue orders to restrict it. We also need to increase grain production and lower land prices."

"If the family's harvest is enough to feed the three of them and even allow them to save some money, then they can survive a disaster without having to sell their land to make a living."

Listening to Wen He speak eloquently, Li Shimin felt as if he were listening to a story.

The family of three could barely make ends meet with the harvest.

He wanted to interrupt Wen He and tell him that it was a fantasy, but when he thought that Wen He came from the future, his eyes lit up.

"Are you talking about grain seeds? Where are you going to find them? Tell me!"

Li Shimin suddenly grabbed Wen He's shoulder and asked urgently.

Good news: We've moved on to the third round of recommendations.

Thank you all for your support.

If it gets published on Sanjiang, I'll definitely add more chapters.



(End of this chapter)