Chapter 703 Choosing a Camp
Chang'an
The emperor was willing to risk his life to protect Xie Zhan, so the aristocratic family could not send this token of allegiance.
This made the Pei family and the others feel uncomfortable, because they had received a letter that their family members were making good progress in Pingzhou. If Xie Zhan didn't die, wouldn't Governor Lu think that their work was unreliable?
For the aristocratic families like Wang Yun who were not making good progress, it didn't matter. Their progress in Pingzhou was very slow.
Pingzhou's attitude was too cold, and their requirements were too harsh! After all, after joining Pingzhou, they weren't refusing to contribute! Was it really necessary to set such a high threshold?
Lu Songli hasn't even become the ruler of the world yet, but he completely ignores the major families. He is so arrogant.
On this day, Sang Baiqing once again hosted a banquet for the noble families in his mansion.
Among the people present, some looked relaxed, while others looked serious.
"Is your Pei family's progress in Pingzhou going smoothly?" Wang Yun asked Pei Zheng unhappily.
Pei Zheng asked him back, "Why are you so angry? Is Wang's life in Pingzhou not going well?"
Wang Yun snorted.
Pei Zheng smiled and didn't care about Wang Yun's attitude. He knew that Wang had hit a wall in Pingzhou.
But he felt that the Wang family and the others deserved their fate. If they truly believed in Pingzhou, they shouldn't worry about such minor gains and losses. After all, if Pingzhou ultimately triumphed, the entire Dali region would be completely reshuffled. It would be difficult for the aristocratic families to completely preserve their power, but as long as they didn't damage their foundation, they could slowly develop under the new dynasty.
He had studied Pingzhou and was very optimistic about it. He also had a rough idea of why Pingzhou was currently restricting the aristocratic families that had joined it. After Pingzhou conquered the country, with the power of its think tank or Lu Songli, it would be able to develop the entire country to its full potential. It was natural that they didn't want others to take more of the benefits.
After everyone arrived, Sang Baiqing invited in another guest, who was none other than Fan Yang.
Wang Yun and the others were in a bad mood. When they saw him, they asked him rudely, "Fan Yang, why are you here? Where is your General Xie?"
Everyone present came from various aristocratic families, and they were either the head of a family or the young master. Xie Zhan did not come in person, but instead asked his subordinate Fan Yang to come. Did he look down on them?
Fan Yang begged for mercy, "Young Patriarch Wang, please forgive me. Our Grand Commander is ill and unable to go out, so he asked me to come and say hello to everyone."
Yes, Xie Zhan is still claiming to be sick.
At this time, Sang Baiqing asked, "I heard that you came here this time because Xie Zhan has something for you to bring to us?"
Fan Yang bowed and said, "Lord Sang, clan leaders and junior clan leaders, this is the truth. Previously, our Grand Commander, mindful of our shared family background, has refrained from taking action against you. Now that our Grand Commander is in trouble, I beg you to show some mercy."
"What you said, Xie Zhan hasn't even taken action yet. Who is it that is 'surveying the land and searching for hidden households'?" Wang Yun taunted.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present looked unhappy. Because Xie Zhan's actions had caused huge losses to the aristocratic families. Without the hidden population, they would have to pay a lot more taxes every year.
The aristocratic families are all wealthy and powerful, and they dominate the local area.
Xie Zhan's actions reduced their assets by 20% to 30%.
Later, silver depreciated, and the large amount of silver stored in their home also depreciated, and their assets shrank by another 20%.
Xie Zhan and Lu Songli each did something wrong, so their family had a hard time.
"Our Grand Commander acknowledges this, but he also did it for Dali. Your families all depend on Dali for survival, and you should know the principle of 'without the skin, where will the hair stay?'"
"In fact, our Grand Commander has even more powerful means, but he didn't take action because we are from the same aristocratic family. If you don't believe me, just look at this--" Fan Yang handed out a piece of paper from his arms for everyone present to circulate.
The person closest to Fan Yang was Li Jing. He took it and looked at it. After that, his face changed and then he passed it to the next person.
The others passed it around and their faces turned ugly.
Wang Yun was confused, so he took the note and looked at it. He saw that it said: To solve the problem of aristocratic families, the only way is to recruit officials through imperial examinations and employ children from poor families.
He felt a chill run down his spine. What a vicious plot!
Fan Yang was very satisfied with the reactions of the people present. After everyone had circulated it, he asked, "Does anyone know where this sentence came from?"
Everyone: Isn't this the method Xie Zhan came up with to deal with them? It's just that he hasn't used it yet.
Fan Yang didn't keep the secret and said directly, "This statement comes from the mouth of Pingzhou Governor Lu Songli."
Everyone present gasped. From these words, they felt the speaker's deep malice.
Hearing this, Wang Yun sneered, "No wonder."
"Everyone, our Grand Commander has said that the disputes between him and you are just internal conflicts due to political differences. At least he has not considered using such a strategy to undermine the aristocratic families. Pingzhou has already been quietly cultivating children from humble backgrounds."
"Pingzhou has the foundation. Not to mention the affordable paper invented in Pingzhou, just look at the Pingzhou Academy and Pingzhou's Wanshulou. They are not inferior to the libraries in your homes, right?" Fan Yang said quietly.
Fan Yang's meaning was very straightforward, that is, Pingzhou had already silently stabbed everyone present in the back.
Fan Yang's words made everyone present look unhappy.
The reason why their family can produce so many talented people and prosper for a long time is that the family has a monopoly on knowledge.
If Pingzhou does this, it will gradually undermine the advantages of the aristocratic families. Think about it, in ten, twenty, or even a hundred years, Dali will be full of scholars. What advantages will their aristocratic families still have?
Fan Yang just came to deliver a message. After that, he planned to leave and leave the venue to the people present.
Before leaving, he finally said, "Everyone, Pingzhou has no room for aristocratic families."
Now, while Dali still has a chance and the situation has not yet become irreversible, everyone should stop fighting among themselves and work together to help Dali defeat Pingzhou. Then all the aristocratic families can continue to play music and dance, and may even be able to move to a higher level.
He did not say the latter sentence explicitly, but everyone present was no fool and certainly understood the benefits of helping Dali to destroy Pingzhou.
Not long after Fan Yang left, they all dispersed. There was nothing they could do. The news Xie Zhan had thrown out was too explosive. They had to go back and discuss the matter with the elites of the clan.
Wang Yun still stopped Pei Zheng and said, "Lü Songli has the intention to destroy the aristocratic family. He deserves death. Does your Pei family still have high hopes for Pingzhou and are you willing to serve Pingzhou?"
Pei Zheng sighed, "How can that be possible? Today's matter is too big, and we need the elders to work together and make a decision after brainstorming."
Wang Yun looked at him deeply, and Pei Zheng smiled faintly in response.
After the two sides separated, Pei Zheng turned around and got into the carriage. After sitting down, he sighed.
Today's Pingzhou occupies the territory of five states. In fact, Qingzhou has not been completely conquered yet, but in Pei Zheng's opinion, isn't this a matter of time?
In short, Pingzhou has risen with an unstoppable momentum and is evenly matched with Dali, which occupies seven states. At present, the probability of who will be the final winner is 50-50.
In Pei Zheng's opinion, Pingzhou's request was excessive, but not excessive.
If Pingzhou wins the final victory, Pingzhou's plan to "select officials through the imperial examination and appoint children from humble backgrounds" will make it impossible for the aristocratic families to maintain their advantages, and it will become more difficult for the family's children to enter the government and achieve success.
But the emperor changed his officials, and they could only adapt. Besides, in the old dynasty, the emperor used the method of balance to check the aristocratic families. Isn't it normal for Pingzhou to target the aristocratic families?
Unfortunately, the situation at this time is different from that during the Three Kingdoms period at the end of the Han Dynasty. At that time, aristocratic families could invest in multiple ways, such as the Zhuge family. Zhuge Dan joined Wei, Zhuge Jin joined Wu, and Zhuge Liang joined Han.
But currently in the entire Central Plains, there are three major forces, Dali, Pingzhou and Xianbei.
It was impossible for the Xianbei to surrender, so they could only choose between Dali and Pingzhou.
Furthermore, now that they were in a two-or-one situation, they weren't allowed to bet on both sides. Another point was that now was the point of placing their bets, they had to buy and leave, and they weren't allowed to waver.
It's time to make a decision.
Pei Zheng thought so, and so did others.
From then on, several major families in Dali began to choose their own camps.
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