100: Sharpening the knife to the aristocratic family

What happened in Li Tian Ce’s world was very complicated.

Well, it also seemed very simple…

After the Great Wu Empress Wu Yue died, a large-scale coup occurred within the Wu Family in the Imperial City. However, Li Tian Ce didn't even have to act himself; he merely dispatched Shangguan Waner and the Imperial City Imperial Guards to eliminate all dissenting voices within the Imperial City.

As for the former female officials and female generals, those who needed investigating were investigated. If they were capable, they were kept; if they were incompetent and abused their positions, misused their power, and oppressed the common people.

Then there was only one word.

Kill!

As for the other group of old officials…

They had all gone to the border to pledge allegiance to Li Tian Ce long before the Female Emperor launched her attack.

However, don't assume they were safe.

Being a fence-sitter wasn't a big deal; as long as they were capable, Li Tian Ce could grudgingly keep them and have them serve him.

But these people had little ability yet were quite adept at causing trouble. Most of them came from influential families and had virtually monopolized the channels for advancement.

The Imperial Examination System.

Haha, those who passed the imperial examinations were all from influential families.

They hadn't even taken the exam yet! The list of successful candidates was already circulating among the influential families.

Those who came to take the imperial examination were eliminated on the way, no, even while still in the amniotic fluid.

Influential families colluded with each other, forming a special chain of officialdom.

Regardless of your ability, as long as you were from an influential Family, even if you were intellectually disabled, you could still get an official position.

The arrogance of the influential families was truly extreme.

“The state banquet held tonight will gather most of the children from these influential families in the Imperial City to divide the spoils. They think I will let them manipulate me like previous emperors. No, I will wield a butcher’s knife and cut them down until they are broken.”

In Qianqing Palace, bright candlelight illuminated Li Tian Ce’s face. In his eyes, a flame named Imperial Power flickered faintly.

Imperial Power was supreme; how could it allow these influential families to control the court, even through unspoken rules?

That was also unacceptable!

Shangguan Waner stood to the side, the brush in her hand, with which she was writing a roster, trembling slightly.

Her throat felt a bit dry, and she couldn't help but say,

“Your Majesty, the children of influential families are distributed throughout the entire Great Tang. If you wield such a butcher’s knife, I fear it will provoke their strong resistance. Looking back at the history of previous dynasties’ downfalls, although there were examples of peasant uprisings, the forces capable of overthrowing the court always included figures from influential families.”

That's right, after the Great Wu Empress died, Great Wu reverted to Great Tang, which is why Shangguan Waner referred to the world as the world of Great Tang.

Furthermore, she was genuinely afraid that the world, which had been so difficult to stabilize, would once again fall into war.

Thus, she bravely offered her advice.

“Your Majesty, the world has just been stabilized and is not suitable for major military actions. We should proceed gradually. Even if the influential families pose a great danger, we should not be so rash.

We should reopen the imperial examinations and implement the anonymous examination system. This way, examiners won't see names, and when the results are announced and the list is revealed, it can reduce cheating in the imperial examinations!

This way, commoners can gradually enter the court and break the monopoly of the influential families.”

Shangguan Waner being able to independently conceive of the anonymous examination system already placed her far ahead of many people in the court. No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that those in the court had never even considered reforming the imperial examination system.

After all, they were the direct beneficiaries.

“The anonymous examination system is still too dependent on execution, and its effectiveness may not be significant. It’s easier and more pleasant to take the Family registers and call out names door-to-door!”

A voice sounded.

Shangguan Waner looked towards the direction of the door. The door didn't move, but a figure appeared out of thin air.

“Immortal… Immortal Master?” Shangguan Waner was stunned.

“Don’t be so surprised. I just went out for some air, and by the way, I collected quite a few souls.” Chu Mo smiled, and suddenly the Human Emperor Flag appeared in his palm.

In an instant, a cold wind swept through Qianqing Palace, and ghostly figures flickered continuously, appearing in various locations.

“Old Li, give me the Family registers!”

“The influential Family members gathered in the Imperial City are ultimately limited; more are distributed throughout the entire world. They control many of the nation’s economic lifelines. Keeping them would pose too great a danger.”

“However, after I kill those influential Family members, you must quickly find people to take over, otherwise the entire world will fall into chaos.”

Chu Mo reminded Li Tian Ce to take over promptly.

Li Tian Ce smiled triumphantly, “The moment I dealt with the unstable elements in the Imperial City and opened the city gates, many talented commoners came to pledge allegiance, including the fallen Zhuge Family, Xun Family, Jia Family, and Guo Family. They used to be influential families, but now they’ve become commoners.”

“Among the Hundred Schools of Thought, the Mohist School, Agricultural School, Legalist School, Daoist School, and Miscellaneous School, which still barely exist, also had a few people join.”

It could be said that the main reason he acted so quickly against those influential families was that he didn't lack talent.

Destroyed the influential families.

The court would not be in chaos, and the world would certainly not be in chaos!

Because more talented people would step up, and the world would only get better, not worse.

After hearing Li Tian Ce’s outrageous statement, Chu Mo was at a loss for words for a moment, and in the end, he could only sigh: “To be favored by the will of Heaven, that’s truly abnormal!”

With the Family registers in hand, Chu Mo had the souls within the Human Emperor Flag take these registers and begin calling out names across Great Tang.

There were naturally rewards.

Three days off!

If they couldn't complete the task, then they would have to stay with the Ghost Face Butterfly and let them fully experience what it means: “Brother, you smell so good.”

Hmm, literally good!

The moonlight was hazy, and ghostly shadows flickered.

Thick Family registers, carrying their meaning of existence, left the Imperial City and dispersed throughout Great Tang.

.......

Tonight, a grand state banquet was held in the Imperial City.

Many officials had happy smiles on their faces, sitting in their respective seats, awaiting the New Emperor’s bestowal of titles.

For the children of influential families, who became emperor was not important; what was important was whether their own Family could gain enormous benefits from it.

“Old Cui, the New Emperor is bestowing territories across the world. Yangzhou, Jing Province, and Yizhou are all excellent strategic locations. I wonder, do you have confidence in securing them?”

“Our Zheng Family of Xingyang will not contend with you for Yangzhou, Jing Province, and Yizhou. Xuzhou and Yuzhou will suffice for us.”

“If Xuzhou and Yuzhou go to the Zheng Family of Xingyang, where will our Lu Family of Fanyang go? These two prefectures have always been important areas for our Fanyang Lu Family’s business operations.”

“Perspective, broaden your perspective! Look, isn’t our Wang Family of Taiyuan happy to move our businesses to Yangzhou?”

“Our Cui Family of Boling is also very happy to go to Jing Province.”

“……”

The host of the banquet had not yet arrived, but everyone was already privately discussing where their clan should establish roots.

Some civil and military officials cast angry glances at these old rascals.

General Cheng spat, “Bah! Nothing’s set in stone yet, and they’re already carving up the world. If you ask me, His Majesty’s bestowal of territories is a foolish move!”

“Old Cheng, watch your words.” Beside him, Duke Xu patted General Cheng’s thigh, signaling him not to speak further.

“Your Majesty is no Mortal; what he does is no ordinary matter… The matter of bestowing territories is probably a trap, a grand trap set for the influential families.”

“Oh?” General Wang became interested, leaning closer to Duke Xu and quietly asking, “You’re a man of culture; I’m just a coarse fellow and don’t understand these intricacies. Tell me, what’s going on?”

Duke Xu said profoundly, “Do you still remember when Your Majesty once asked for the Family registers from these influential families?”