Li Shimin had made great military achievements and was Li Yuan's preferred successor.
However, the Five Surnames and Seven Families knew that Li Shimin was a man of great talent and strategy, and would never give them much room for development, so these people united and pushed Li Jiancheng to the position of crown prince, and began to strengthen Li Jiancheng's power so that Li Jiancheng would not be a figurehead crown prince.
In addition, they also facilitated the cooperation between Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince of Qi Li Yuanji to jointly deal with Prince of Qin Li Shimin.
Judging from the situation at the time, their steps could be said to be cautious, forcing Li Shimin to have no ability to fight back. If this continued, Li Shimin's advantage would be slowly eliminated.
When they thought they were going to succeed, these people began to mobilize the generals under Li Shimin, keep them away from Li Shimin, and then attack Li Shimin. There was no problem with the plan, but they forgot that Li Shimin was a bold and reckless person.
Just when all the plans were about to succeed, Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, directly killing his eldest brother and third brother, which was tantamount to cutting off an arm of the Five Surnames and Seven Families. They had invested countless manpower and material resources in these two people, so that they did not make any effective resistance during Li Shimin's ascension to the throne.
From that time on, the rift between the two sides could not be mended at all. However, Li Shimin was too weak at the time, and the Five Surnames and Seven Families also suffered heavy losses in that political struggle, so everyone shook hands and made peace on the surface.
Now both sides have almost recovered their strength, and a fight has begun again, but Li Xiang's sudden appearance has made both sides a little confused.
However, it was a good thing for Li Shimin. Originally, he had to go down to fight against the Five Surnames and Seven Families, but now his grandson could come forward.
For the Five Surnames and Seven Families, they could have faced Li Shimin directly, but now they need to get past Li Xiang first. Even if they win, they will suffer heavy losses and have no chance of winning against Li Shimin.
Therefore, they adjusted their strategy in time, hoping to reach an agreement with Li Xiang. Even if there was a conflict between the two sides, they would not let them suffer serious damage, and in the end let Li Shimin or other princes take advantage.
Cui Sanye believed that he could succeed. If Li Xiang used all his strength to fight the Cui family to the death, what if Li Shimin did not support Li Xiang? Then Li Xiang would be a commander without any troops and still have no hope of the throne.
If Li Xiang was wholeheartedly devoted to the Tang Dynasty, then Cui Sanye's plan would not succeed, but if Li Xiang had just a little selfish thought, then Cui Sanye could adjust his strategy and push Li Xiang forward.
In the process of pushing Li Xiang to the throne, they could also get hold of some leverage over Li Xiang, use it as a threat, and allow the Five Surnames and Seven Families to continue for decades.
Of course, the plan is very good, but whether it can be implemented is another matter. When Li Xiang woke up in the morning and saw the invitation in Qian Ping's hand, his face was full of sarcasm.
You are just an ordinary man, although you are one of the four elders of the Cui family. But you want me to visit you just based on this post. Isn't that too ridiculous?
"Your Highness, let alone Mr. Cui San, even if Cui Yuncheng sent a letter, the princes in the imperial city would go..."
Qian Ping said with a bitter face that Cui Yuncheng used to be the head of the Cui family in the capital. If he held a banquet to entertain people, even some princes and sons would go to accompany him. This is the ability of the number one wealthy family.
"You were talking about the past. From now on, I will set the rules. However, since they are willing to post the notice, the assassination should have nothing to do with them. Let the people investigating the Cui family return and continue investigating the other families."
Li Xiang said disdainfully. Although it made the people around him very confident, they were still a little scared. This was the Cui family, the richest family in the world. It was said that when Emperor Yang of Sui was at the peak of his power, he personally went to see the head of the Cui family on his birthday. Of course, no one confirmed this, and perhaps it was made up by the Cui family themselves.
"Xiang'er, you must go."
As soon as Li Xiang finished speaking, Li Chengqian's voice came from outside. Li Xiang was having breakfast. He quickly packed up his clothes and then welcomed his father in. Even though they were father and son, the royal family had various rules.
"Why does the father say that? Is the son afraid of him?"
Li Xiang welcomed Li Chengqian to the main seat.
"Let me tell you something. Back then, your second uncle was in the same situation as you, but he offended the Cui family of Boling, which is even worse than yours. But do you know how they treated your second uncle?"
Li Chengqian sighed. Although he hated Li Tai very much, when it came to this incident, it was also a time when the princes of their generation bowed to the Five Surnames and Seven Families.
Seeing Li Xiang shook his head, Li Chengqian continued.
"They used two methods. One was to cause a death on your second uncle's farm, and all the tenants committed suicide. The second method was to gather a group of great scholars and accuse your second uncle of defying fate and committing treacherous acts, thus offending the heavens..."
Li Xiang was a little confused by these words, but after Li Chengqian's explanation, Li Xiang had a general understanding. The tenants in Li Tai's imperial farm committed suicide as a result of bribery by the five surnames and seven families, but Li Tai could not explain it clearly because the mouthpiece was not in his hands. Although he had bribed a group of literati, they were all young people and not very credible.
The Five Surnames and Seven Clans controlled the great Confucian scholars of the imperial court. They constantly fabricated ghost stories, saying that Li Tai's imperial estate was haunted at night, frightening the tenants into committing suicide. The death of one or two people would certainly not affect Li Tai, but thirty-two lives...
In order to calm the turmoil, Li Tai could only privately find the person in charge of the Cui family in the capital. No one knew about the transaction at that time, but the turmoil was soon settled. However, people who knew about this matter also realized that even if you are a prince, you can't do anything about the Cui family, and they are still in control of the power.
"I know you're very powerful. If we come openly, you're not afraid of them. But if we come secretly, you're really no match for them. That's why I let you go."
Li Chengqian even had a commanding tone when he spoke.
You have to know that since Li Xiang was reborn until now, although he respected Li Chengqian, this person did some ridiculous things, which made Li Chengqian and Li Xiang talk with a hint of negotiation, but the last sentence did not mean any negotiation at all.
"You don't know how powerful they are yet, go ahead!"
Li Chengqian said this earnestly, then hammered his disabled leg. He didn't want anything to happen to his son...