Qinzheng Hall
The man in black was describing what happened outside the Fuyun Restaurant today. Li Shimin listened very carefully, not missing any detail, and the smile on his face became more and more intense.
To be honest, in the early years of Zhenguan, Li Shimin was also controlled by the Five Surnames and Seven Aristocrats, and he wanted to teach them a lesson, but because the major families had infiltrated too deeply, if Li Shimin did not want to break off relations, he should try not to provoke them.
Now that the Tang Dynasty's national strength has increased, Li Shimin's voice has become stronger and stronger, so Li Shimin also wants to test the Five Surnames and Seven Aristocrats again, but he doesn't know where to start. Unexpectedly, this guy actually came ahead.
"What are the Cui family's actions?"
What Li Xiang did was indeed pleasing to the people and also made Li Shimin breathe a sigh of relief. However, the Cui family was not an ordinary family. It ranked first among the Five Surnames and Seven Families. If they did not find such a big person after losing him, it would probably no longer be theirs.
"I haven't found out yet, but I've already deployed people to the Cui family's several mansions in the capital. If there's any movement, I'll know immediately."
The man in black was very careful in his work. This matter concerned the struggle between the royal family and the Cui family, so he did not dare to take it lightly and sent out his most elite men.
"Where's the brat?"
After asking this question, Li Shimin felt that he had asked this question unnecessarily. This kid had returned to the East Palace half an hour ago. Even if the people of the Cui family were bold, they probably wouldn't dare to attack the people in the palace.
"I dare to say that His Highness Changsun does not need anyone to watch over him. His subordinates are all experts."
The man in black had a strange look on his face when he said this. All the masters had their inheritance in an orderly manner and it was impossible for them to appear out of thin air. However, Ren Ping and the others tried their best and ultimately could not find out where those people around His Highness Chang Sun came from.
"Go and deliver this imperial edict to the Ministry of War."
Li Shimin picked up an imperial edict that had already been written.
The content of the imperial edict was very simple, which was to commend Lord Pan, the seal holder of the Liaodong Division of the Ministry of War.
What Li Xiang did was also excessive. Li Shimin could not be too protective of his son, but he could not fail to support him either. If Li Xiang backed down, he would probably be ridiculed by the world. If you, the eldest grandson of the emperor, cannot beat the others in the Cui family, let alone him.
Now Li Shimin did not mention Li Xiang's matter. Instead, he commended the Liaodong Division Seal and mentioned the matter of catching Goguryeo spies. This was indirectly supporting Li Xiang and saying that he did the right thing.
"Your Majesty, this puts you and the Cui family at odds, doesn't it? Should you consider this further?"
The man in black has been with Li Shimin for many years. He is not just a tool to do things. He has mastered all the power of Li Shimin in secret. He is also a think tank in normal times, so he can say a word.
"The Tang Dynasty has been peaceful for a long time. It's not the early Zhenguan period anymore. How can the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Clans continue to live their lives the same way as before?"
Li Shimin stood up and stretched. In fact, he had wanted to do this for a long time, but he never had the chance. To be more precise, he never had a suitable entry point. After all, the two sides did not interfere with each other. Today he had found an opportunity, and the matter had been done. There was no time for you to continue to consider it. In the past, Li Shimin could not make up his mind and was afraid of affecting the good situation in front of him, but Li Xiang had already made up his mind for him. He could only move on. In the battlefield of power struggle, there was no retreat.
"Then tomorrow morning..."
The man in black didn't say anything else, but Li Shimin also understood that many people would definitely submit memorials to the court tomorrow morning. On the one hand, they would impeach Li Xiang for fighting in the street, and on the other hand, they would persuade Li Shimin not to reward the Liaodong Secretary, as this would make the situation more extreme.
"The morning court is a mirror that reveals all sorts of demons. Every memorial and every word from every person can reveal their stance and thoughts. Now that the surface of the lake has been calm for so long, it's time for someone to stir it up."
If the days of peace last too long, people will lose their fighting spirit. Li Shimin will not allow the Five Surnames and Seven Families to continue like this. What is coming will come sooner or later.
"Go down and send someone to keep a close eye on them. Look into the information carefully and report back immediately if anything happens. But be sure to keep him safe."
After Li Shimin finished speaking, the man in black disappeared in a flash.
East Palace
"You little brat, what can I say about you? How did you make such a big deal out of it? I did ask you to bring trouble upon the Cui family, but I didn't tell you to do it this way. Cui Yuncheng is no ordinary person. He's one of the eight clerks of the Cui family and could very well become the next patriarch of the Cui family. Even if I meet the next patriarch of the Cui family, I have to show respect to him as a nephew."
Li Chengqian was almost going crazy. He had known for a long time that his son was not an easy person to deal with, but he did not expect him to be so reckless in doing things. If he had known this would be the case, he would never have given him that idea.
If his son's behavior caused turmoil in the Tang Empire, then his son's future would be ruined. At that time, in order to appease the anger of the five surnames and seven families, the emperor would most likely choose to sacrifice a grandson. After all, he had many grandsons, but there was only one empire.
"Then, Father, do you wish not to salute him in the future?"
Li Xiang said speechlessly that although Li Chengqian was Li Shimin's biological son, Li Chengqian's courage was far inferior to Li Shimin's. Even if he had not been so mischievous, Li Shimin would not have let him become the emperor.
"You make it sound so simple. They're the largest family in the world, and they've been around for hundreds of years since the last dynasty. Can you suppress them just because you want to? Your grandfather has put so much effort into it for so many years, but he's only been able to maintain the current situation. He never thought of doing anything extreme. And yet you, not only severely injured Cui Yuncheng, but also sealed off his restaurant. Oh my God!"
Li Chengqian was so anxious that he almost went up to the room, but Li Xiang still sat there obediently, not feeling that he had caused any trouble, because it was already the second half of the afternoon. If the emperor was angry, the imperial edict would have come long ago, but there was no news now, which meant that the emperor had the same idea as us.
It’s a pity that this old father cannot understand the emperor’s heart!
"Why are you acting like nothing happened? Do you know how many people are going to protest against you tomorrow morning?"
Seeing his son's nonchalant look, Li Chengqian was furious.
"Even if there are hundreds or thousands of people, isn't it still my grandfather who makes the final decision?"
Li Xiang's words left Li Chengqian speechless...