Your Majesty, please beg for mercy. The prince's rebellion was successful.

Zhong Zhishen's remarks made many court officials admire him.

However, beneath this admiration, more people feel regret.

Because everyone knows that once it is said out, Zhong Zhishen’s life will be over.

"So, what's the answer?!"

Zhou Zheng took a deep breath, stared at Zhong Zhishen, and asked word by word.

"Your Majesty, the real problem affecting our Great Zhou is not the struggles within the court, not the struggles within factions, and not the inaction of officials."

"In the final analysis, it all comes down to two words!"

"The family aristocracy!"

Zhong Zhishen raised his head and spoke out loudly.

Aristocratic family!

When they heard these two words, all the officials present bowed their heads.

However, their expressions were complicated and fluctuating.

Zhou Zheng's heart also trembled slightly, and then he closed his eyes slightly and couldn't help taking a deep breath.

I never expected that I would hear the word "family" in this world.

You must know that in the world where Zhou Zheng once lived, the aristocratic families were truly powerful and could even influence the imperial power.

In that world, the aristocratic families had existed for hundreds of years. If they had not encountered a ruthless man named Huang Chao, who almost wiped out all the aristocratic families, their existence would have been even longer.

Aristocratic families are different from aristocratic families.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, the only prominent families in the open were the five great families.

But to be precise, the five major families are almost all engaged in business.

They had astonishing wealth, but they were not from powerful families. In fact, in the eyes of the imperial court, they were just families that could make money for the court.

Compared with the aristocratic families, the difference is not even a little bit.

"Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has taken action against many nobles, many landowners, and those aristocratic families."

"It seems that obstacles have been eliminated and the world has been put in order."

"But it doesn't really touch the root of the problem."

Zhong Zhishen did not notice the change in Zhou Zheng's expression, but continued to explain.

At this moment, he was not afraid of death, so naturally he would not have any worries.

Anyway, after saying these words today, he will commit suicide in the court, so he might as well tell everything he knows.

"The Great Zhou Dynasty has been established for more than a hundred years, but in the eyes of the aristocratic families, it is nothing more than a passing cloud."

"It has long been rumored among the people that the imperial court may change, but the aristocratic families remain unchanged."

"Throughout the dynasties, no matter the change of imperial power or the change of the imperial court, the aristocratic families have always remained firmly on top."

Zhong Zhishen's research on the aristocratic families was obviously more clear than that of other ministers.

All court officials and even former emperors were aware of the existence of the aristocratic families and how powerful they were, but it was rare to find someone as clear about it as Zhong Zhishen.

"These clans are hidden from the world and scattered across the world, but at critical moments, they will connect with each other and stick together."

"This kind of influence is no longer comparable to the imperial power, and it is even more impossible to separate it from simple power."

Zhong Zhishen sighed softly.

In his opinion, Zhou Zheng is still too young.

He may have absolute courage and absolute patience, but he must have underestimated the power of the family.

"The aristocratic families are scattered all over the world. They have accumulated a lot of land, and a large number of farmers depend on their land."

"Even if the noble families are willing, they can arm these peasants and turn them into elite troops."

"So, the court knew about the existence of the aristocratic families, but ultimately chose a balanced approach."

“And this is how we achieve a balance of coexistence.”

"but......"

Zhong Zhishen raised his head, with a complicated smile in his eyes.

"This balance that lasted for thousands of years was broken by Your Majesty."

This is the key point that many court officials dare not speak of.

This is because, when this balance is broken, one careless move could lead to falling into the abyss or being shattered to pieces.

At that time, not only would many ministers die, but countless people would also lose their lives, and it would also likely lead to a change of dynasty.

The danger involved cannot be reversed by human power alone.

......