Sky Curtain: The Overlord Charges into Battle, Shocking Emperors of All Dynasties

"Good kill!!"

Liu Che exclaimed in praise, expressing his complete approval of Huang Chao's actions.

These powerful families must be killed, their heads rolled in endlessly!

They actually dared to vie for power with the emperor; could they be ordinary ministers?

And most importantly, Huang Chao rebelled against the Tang Dynasty!

Every time I see it, I feel happy and have a great appetite, and I can eat almost half a fresh and tender fawn.

The expressions of Tang emperors from the mid-Tang period onwards were complex.

They weren't oblivious to the fact that Huang Chao's peasant uprising was just like Zhang Jiao's Yellow Turban Rebellion during the Later Han Dynasty, dealing a heavy blow to the Tang Dynasty.

Given Huang Chao's bloodthirstiness and actions, he could forget about securing his rule over the country.

At least in the eyes of scholars, Huang Chao was a murderous monster.

How could they possibly be devoted to Huang Chao?

But what's with this feeling of joy deep inside?

Seeing the tragic state of these powerful families, they actually felt a sense of satisfaction, even thinking it was a good thing they had killed them.

During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang,

Li Chen looked at the panicked noble ministers below and sneered repeatedly.

These powerful ministers had long been dissatisfied with his promotion of scholars from humble backgrounds and his extensive promotion of the imperial examination system.

Although Li Deyu, the head of the aristocratic families, was dismissed from his post as prime minister not long after he ascended the throne.

However, remnants of his forces still existed, and he was ready to launch a massive purge.

To completely change the atmosphere of the court and restore the glory of the Taizong era,

Upon careful calculation, the Tang Dynasty had been established for nearly two hundred and thirty years.

Previously, Tianmu said that the Tang Dynasty lasted for 289 years.

Doesn't this mean that not long after him, the Huang Chao Rebellion would break out?

He didn't believe these learned men couldn't figure it out; the Huang Chao Rebellion wasn't that long ago.

If they continue to obstruct the imperial examinations for those from humble backgrounds and control the court, then don't blame him for following Huang Chao's example.

Li Chen cleared his throat, a hint of contempt and madness in his voice.

"As you all have seen, if you want the Huang Chao incident to happen sooner, you can simply continue to control the court and suppress those from humble backgrounds."

"But what if this matter truly leads to the downfall of the Tang Dynasty?"

Li Chen's face hardened further, and the murderous aura he had accumulated over thirty years suddenly erupted, surging forth with killing intent as he charged towards the powerful ministers and noble families.

"Then don't blame me for following Empress Wu Zetian and Huang Chao's example and purging the court!"

Let's delve into the life of General Huang Chao and see what he faced in the late Tang Dynasty, and how he launched his retaliatory campaign.

Contrary to popular belief, Huang Chao was not actually from a poor family. He never worried about money or living conditions from a young age because he came from a family of salt merchants and started out selling smuggled salt.

In the early Tang Dynasty, private salt trade was not prohibited. However, in the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty, in order to expand the national treasury, the sale of private salt was banned. Nevertheless, private salt trade remained rampant, and salt traders banded together and armed themselves for self-protection. This provided the financial and military foundation for Huang Chao's subsequent uprising.

"So he was a salt smuggler. No wonder he became a rebel."

"How can a merchant take the imperial examination?"

"Hilarious! A stinking salt merchant wants to take the imperial examination?"

After learning about Huang Chao's background, many scions of prominent families looked down on him even more, their words revealing their deep-seated contempt and disdain.

Among the four classes of people—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—merchants were inherently at the bottom.

Not to mention that Huang Chao was also an illegal businessman.

I originally thought Huang Chao was from a poor family, but it turns out he was a salt smuggler! He was rebellious at heart!

"Salt smugglers are just like that bastard Zhang Shicheng!!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Huang Chao, but the image of Zhang Shicheng appeared in his mind. He gritted his teeth and said...

I wish I could kill Zhang Shicheng hundreds of times over.

Compared to Chen Youliang, Zhu Yuanzhang disliked, or rather hated, Zhang Shicheng even more.

He was extremely vengeful, and even beat Zhang Shicheng to death.

This led to an even greater aversion to the Jiangnan region under Zhang Shicheng's rule, especially to the Suzhou-Songjiang area where there was stubborn resistance.

"Raise taxes!!!"

"Taxes in Suzhou, Songjiang, Jiaxing, and Huzhou will be doubled!!"

"We reiterate the strict prohibition of smuggled salt; anyone who dares to sell it will be executed!!"

But Huang Chao didn't want that. He didn't want to spend his life smuggling salt, and he didn't want his elderly father to live in constant fear, doing such a deadly business. He wanted a different way of life.

So Huang Chao put down his sword and picked up his books, studying diligently day and night, through scorching summers and freezing winters, hoping one day to pass the imperial examinations, enter officialdom, change his family's circumstances, and realize his ambitions.

Originally, the Tang Dynasty prohibited merchants from participating in the imperial examinations, let alone salt smugglers. However, in the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty, this rule was practically ignored, especially during the reign of Emperor Yizong of Tang, Li Cui. As long as one was willing to spend money, although one could not directly buy official titles, participating in the imperial examinations was not a problem.

The scene began to flash by like an old-fashioned movie, showing a boy engrossed in reading a book behind a study.

The oil lamp in the study flickered with a dim, yellow light, which seemed particularly bright in the pitch-black night.

Only the bright moon hanging high in the sky outside the window cast its pale light, accompanying the boy through night after night, through autumn after autumn.

In the final shot, the boy's joy masked the weariness beneath his eyes.

He passed the provincial examination and was able to go to Chang'an to participate in the imperial examination.

Excited, he hurriedly packed his luggage, repeatedly telling his father that he was certain he would pass the exam, and that all his years of studying hadn't been in vain.

After he passed the exam, he brought his whole family to Chang'an.

From now on, they will no longer have to do this kind of deadly business, and they will be able to live a good life.

His father, his temples already graying and a faint scar on his face, remained silent, only looking at his son with concern.

His own son, full of youthful vigor and wild fantasies.

Over the years, while smuggling salt, I've seen all sorts of officials and people.

He had not only met hopeful young scholars like his son, but had even financially supported them.

But without exception, in the end, all of them disappeared without a trace.

Some, having no other choice and with nowhere else to turn, even followed him into this deadly business.

The father opened his mouth, but swallowed his words of dissuasion.

If your son wants to try something new, then let him try.

They'll never turn back until they've been bruised and battered, until their illusions are shattered.

Watching Huang Chao's departing figure, the father finally only said one sentence.

"Be careful on the road, and come back soon."

The many impoverished scholars beneath the sky gazed at the young Huang Chao on the celestial canvas.

The figure under the moon looked so familiar, as if I'd seen it somewhere before.

It seems like it was when I was a child, I woke up in the middle of the night to get up, and vaguely saw my father's figure.

It's also like seeing myself under the moon after I've grown up.

But why is it that in the scenes I remember, besides myself, there are no other people in my memories?

Is there a tiny figure behind the wall of the house?

Many people laughed self-deprecatingly, but as they laughed, their faces became moist.

Three generations of diligent study, three generations of failure in the imperial examinations.

After more than a decade of hard study, it's still not as good as being born into a good family.

After the initial sorrow, it was as if Huang Chao had planted a seed in their hearts.

They were just waiting for this seed to take root and sprout, so that it could wipe out all those powerful families!