Datang: The prince of salted fish was overheard by Li Er

"Your Majesty, see me?"

A smile suddenly appeared on Kong Yingda's face.

"Your Majesty really has a solution, but it's not convenient to say it in the hall just now."

"Hmm, it must be like this!"

Kong Yingda immediately beamed with joy, and immediately came to the Palace of Qinzheng.

Kong Yingda originally thought that Li Shimin and the two of them would discuss this matter, but unexpectedly, there were already many people here.

The servant Gao Shilian, the official censor Wei Ting, the secretary Lang Cenwen, and the secretary Linghu Defen were respectfully standing opposite Li Shimin, who was reading a book.

Li Shimin's face became more and more gloomy, and he threw the book heavily on the desk after reading a few pages.

"This is the ranking of the Zhenguan clan agreed upon by the four of you!"

Ever since Li Shimin ordered the compilation of the Zhenguan clan annals that day, these four people did not dare to relax at all, and finally completed the index of the rankings of the major families yesterday.

Originally, several of them planned to submit the first draft to Li Shimin in a few days, but Gao Shilian thought of the joy in the court just now, so he came forward to present the book in advance.

They also know that the biggest difficulty of this book is the ranking of these families.

Only when their rankings are approved by Li Shimin can the detailed introduction of the next step continue.

It's not too late to do this.

They were also full of confidence in this ranking.

Because the four of them are not only able to convince the public with their virtues, but also come from the four major family groups of Shandong, Jiangzuo, Guanzhong and Daibei.

It's just that they didn't expect Li Shimin to be so angry.

Relying on his high morals and prestige, Gao Shilian asked, "Your Majesty, is there any problem with this ranking?"

Li Shimin was already angry, but when he was about to swear, he saw Kong Yingda coming, and immediately said: "Kong Jijiu, it's just in time, come and see this ranking!"

In fact, Kong Yingda was also a little curious about this ranking. He also wanted to know where Wen Shenggong's Confucius family in Qufu, Shandong could be ranked.

But Li Shimin's angry appearance just now made him put away his curiosity and picked up the book carefully.

Turning to the first page, Kong Yingda understood why His Majesty was so angry.

It was not the Li Tang royal family that appeared on the first page, but the Bo Ling Cui family instead.

Afterwards, the names of Fanyang Lu, Qinghe Cui, Xingyang Zheng, and Qiwang, the five surnames, appeared in front of Kong Yingda one by one.

Kong Yingda didn't see the words of the royal Li family until after the Pei family in Hedong.

Looking at the ranking, although the royal family is also ranked among the first-class clans, the ranking is only barely in the top ten.

Not only is the five surnames and Qiwang ranked in front of it, but the Langya Wang family and the Hedong Pei family are both ranked ahead of the royal family.

With such a result, how could Li Shimin not be angry!

Originally, Kong Yingda also thought it was a bit unbelievable, but after carefully reading the annotations of Gao Shilian and others, he felt that it was quite reasonable.

These aristocratic families that rank ahead of the royal family are all crowned families.

Since the establishment of the family county prestige, all dynasties have been of high position and weight, and have a long history, but the origin can be traced back continuously.

Since the first Patriarch Li Hu, the royal family has indeed been accumulated for hundreds of years in terms of historical precipitation.

Now Kong Yingda couldn't help admiring Gao Shilian.

Even he can see that Li Shimin is definitely not happy with the result, but he still reported it like this. It is a helpless move, but from another perspective, he may not be a person who speaks out.

Seeing that Kong Yingda was almost finished, Li Shimin asked, "How do you feel about Kong Jijiu?"

Kong Yingda put the book away carefully and said, "Your Majesty, this tradition of genealogy was inherited from the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. Although it may not seem reasonable at first glance, it is also a manifestation of objective facts."

Before Kong Yingda finished speaking, Li Shimin interrupted him impatiently.

"Kong Jijiu, I would like to ask you, is there anyone in the Boling Cui family who is ranked first by them as an official? How many official residences?"

Hearing this question, Kong Yingda thought for a while and said: "Cui Mingan, the servant of Huangmen, is from the Cui family of Boling, and his official position is the fourth rank."

After saying one, Kong Yingda thought hard, but couldn't think of another official from the Boling Cui family. After thinking for a long time, he managed to think of a few more.

"Cui Renshu, governor of Dingzhou, is also from the Boling Cui family, and is also at the fourth rank."

"and also……"

Kong Yingda was about to speak again, but was interrupted by Li Shimin again.

"Needless to say Kong Jijiu, even if there is any more, it will definitely not exceed the fourth grade."

"Not to mention the special situation of this generation caused by the war, I trace back to the period of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, and the Boling Cui family did not produce any big names."

"It's not just the Boling Cui family. These Shandong aristocratic families have declined for generations and have no crowns. They rely on marriages from generation to generation to continuously amass wealth and improve their status."

"Look at me, a minister of the Manchu Dynasty. Although I don't have any direct relations with them, there are quite a few who keep their marriages! This is their method!"

This is where Li Shimin was angry. These members of the noble family did not come out to serve the country, but they used various methods to win over the court officials to serve them.

Even if it is ineffective, the noble status of the aristocratic family is guaranteed because of the in-law relationship.

Not to mention, Fang Xuanling's wife was from the Lu family of Fanyang, Wei Zheng's wife was from the Pei family of Hedong, and even Cheng Yaojin's youngest wife was a daughter of the Cui family of Qinghe. There are countless such examples in the court.

The more Li Shimin talked, the more angry he became: "I don't understand why these aristocratic families who enjoy countless wealth but do nothing above the court are valued by you!"

What Li Shimin said made Kong Yingda speechless.

Although he felt that what Li Shimin said was reasonable, the traditional concept was deeply rooted in his heart.

At this moment, Gao Shilian spoke up.

His words just now were interrupted by Li Shimin, and he was still a little angry at first, but now Li Shimin asked, he just opened his mouth.

"Your Majesty, this is what you don't know. This tradition of genealogy is inherited from the Ninth Rank Official Law. It is not only an affirmation of the contribution of the family and family, but also a way for us to select talents!"

"Although at first glance, not many people from these aristocratic families entered the court as officials, but there are other reasons behind it. In fact, it was caused by the cancerous imperial examinations implemented in the former Sui Dynasty!"

Speaking of the imperial examination, Gao Shilian had a lot of bitterness.

Today's system of selecting officials is unprecedentedly diverse.

It can be recommended by a wealthy family according to the ancient law, or it can enter the officialdom through the imperial examination.

The imperial examinations in the early Tang Dynasty followed the method of the Sui Dynasty, and the purpose was to absorb talents from poor families.

But looking at Li Yuanwude's reign, the department has been held for nine years, but very few talents have been selected, and it has caused displeasure to the big families.

A trend of incompetence has formed among the aristocratic families.

Moreover, not only did they not become officials themselves, but they also did not let the scholars attached to them become officials.

As a result, on the one hand, a large number of talents are buried and can only be famous in the countryside, but on the other hand, there is no one available in the imperial court.

The current imperial court is basically all the survivors of the former Sui Dynasty and the heroes who followed Li Tang to fight the country. The imperial court has not received fresh blood for a long time.

"The demise of the former Sui Dynasty was largely due to the fact that the imperial examination method angered the aristocratic family!"

"I implore Your Majesty to abolish the imperial examination law, so as to reassure the family!"