I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

In addition to Changsun Wuji, most of the dukes followed Li Shimin to build the country.

When dealing with Li Shimin, they naturally did not dare to be self-righteous, let alone arrogant. The most arrogant Yuchi Jingde at that time was a lesson for them.

But after Li Shimin was gone, they naturally felt that they were of the same generation as Li Shimin when dealing with Li Chengqian.

It would probably not be easy for Li Chengqian to suppress them by then.

The third wave of people are the aristocratic families. Are they weak now because of the suppression by Li Shen?

of course not.

They were weak because Li Shimin was still alive, and because of Li Shimin's doting on Li Shen, the aristocratic families did not dare to make any big moves.

Because they knew that Li Shimin would always find an excuse to eliminate one or two of their families.

When Li Shimin wanted to assassinate Prince Ji, he did not do it because the situation was unstable at that time.

But even so, many of them were killed and half of their official positions were lost.

Today, the Tang Dynasty is peaceful and prosperous, the people live and work in peace and contentment, the west is stable, the north has surrendered, and Goguryeo has been beaten to the point of barely surviving.

If they make any move at this time, Li Shimin will act without hesitation.

But what if Li Shimin is no longer around in the future?

Whether the aristocratic family will make a comeback or not, a thousand-year-old aristocratic family has a solid foundation.

What Li Shimin was worried about was that Li Chengqian could not control the situation.

"Aye, I understand what you said, but...if I do it again, I will be in danger."

Li Shen answered while eating a grape.

In the past ten years, I have helped my father fight against the aristocratic families and court officials.

"Are you afraid that they will all turn against you?"

Li Shimin leaned closer and asked.

Li Shen shook his head.

“Isn’t it? I’m afraid that my reputation will be too high and my influence will be too great.

Father, over the past ten years, most of the strength of my Ji Palace has been accumulated by dealing with them.

Whether it is my reputation in the court or my status among the common people and merchants, they were all obtained by me dealing with the aristocratic families and those nobles.

Aye is naturally clear about what our Ji Wang Mansion is like now. To be disrespectful, its reputation is higher than that of the Eastern Palace.

If I were to do it, yeah, I'd be dead."

Li Shen spread his hands and smiled bitterly.

"Ha ha ha ha."

Hearing Li Shen's words, Li Shimin laughed out loud.

"You really know everything, but when it comes to doing things, you don't understand anything. I always think you are pretending to be confused even though you know the truth.

However, what you said does make some sense.

It is true that your reputation cannot be too high.

Your elder brother won't do anything to you, but the Ji Palace is too prestigious and too powerful to be of any benefit to you.

My health is still good, I should have no problem living another ten years, and protecting you will naturally be no problem."

"Aye, what you mean is that I should defeat them all within ten years?"

Li Shen asked with his eyes wide open.

No way, I still need to work for another ten years, I don’t want it, Li Shen thought.

"What? Are you scared?"

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows.

Provoke the opponent. This was the first thought in Li Shen’s mind, but it didn’t work on me.

Li Shen nodded fiercely;

"I'm scared, scared, very scared. I haven't even started to enjoy life yet. I still need to have more children.

In ten years, my Ji Wangfu must have at least ten children. "

"Boom."

Li Shimin kicked Li Shen and cursed:

"A worthless person, with no ambition, only seeks pleasure."

Li Shen didn't care. Let him scold you. It didn't hurt anyway and he was telling the truth.

Seeing that Li Shen did not react, Li Shimin became even angrier and glared at Li Shen.

"Hey, Aye, don't look at me like that, I'm tired too, Aye.

And you have to find an excuse or reason. If you deal with someone for no reason, will the royal family still have dignity?"

Li Shen replied helplessly.

"You once cared about the reputation of the royal family. Over the past ten years, you have completely disgraced the royal family."

Li Shimin became even angrier when he heard this.

"Aye, don't worry. Even if my elder brother takes over the throne in the future, I won't let what you said happen."

"Oh? What can you do?"

Li Shen sorted out his thoughts and replied:

"Father, now is the time for the Crown Prince to train his own confidants, since he knows what Zhangsun Wuji is like.

That will definitely be noticed.

As for those dukes, let them retire in the future.

Anyway, I'm old and can't cause any trouble.

Use the young ones if you can use them, and put them away if you can’t.

It would be better to focus on selecting officials through the imperial examination system.”

Li Shen actually didn't understand politics and was just talking nonsense. Sure enough, after he finished speaking, Li Shimin shook his head.

“You make it sound too simple.

In the court, everyone is fighting for supremacy. Without help, even the emperor cannot act on his own.

Especially when competing with the three dukes for the right to speak.”

"Then why not abolish the phase?" Li Shen asked.

"Abolish the position of prime minister?" Li Shimin was stunned. He had never thought about it before.

But soon he said:

"You don't understand. Phase has its pros and cons. If you encounter a tyrant, the phase can be restrained, but I am afraid of encountering a powerful minister."

"Aye, I've actually thought of one thing."

Li Shen suddenly looked up and said.

"what's up."

"If the prince succeeds to the throne in the future and encounters powerful officials or loses control of power, I will go on a killing spree.

Kill all those traitors."

Li Shenyan revealed a fierce look.

"What about the aristocratic families?" Li Shimin asked solemnly.

"Kill them all together."

"It's not that simple."

Li Shimin shook his head.

"No, Aye, it's actually very simple. All we need to do is to raise the banner of rebellion and start a massacre between Chang'an and Luoyang.

Send elite troops to burn, kill and loot the ancestral lands and workshops of the major families.

Their thousand-year foundation will be destroyed in an instant."

Li Shen said fiercely.

Li Shimin was stunned. It turned out that his son had such a cruel plan and such a cruel heart.

"But you won't be able to go back then. Treason is a capital crime. If you do this, even if Gao Ming is the emperor, he won't be able to protect your Ji Wang Mansion."

Li Shimin reminded.

"hehe."

Li Shen smiled and looked at the scenery outside, the autumn wind, the falling leaves, the blue sky and the white clouds.

"Father, by then I will leave this land and take the Ji Palace to a distant place."

"Where are you going?"

Li Shimin frowned.

"Aye, have you forgotten what I told you? This world is huge, it's more than what we see.

The world outside the Tang Dynasty is vast, and there are many continents overseas. You can find a place to rest and recuperate."

Li Shen smiled sincerely.

"But I heard that it is very cold overseas and there are great risks."

"Let's develop it slowly. I still have sons and grandsons. Thousands of years later, at least that place will be the home of my Li family's descendants, and also the home of my Tang people."

Li Shimin was silent.

The carriage fell silent, and Li Shimin fell into deep thought. Li Shen was surprisingly so extreme.

He was somewhat moved by what Li Shen had just said. For the sake of the Tang Dynasty, his son actually chose to embark on a path of no return.

It sounds simple, but it is extremely dangerous. If something goes wrong, Prince Ji’s Mansion will be doomed.