Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 523: Sun and Moon Intertwined
With the Chen family around, many things that would have been impossible to become reality, many things that would have been impossible to do, can now become reality and can be done. This is what an unchanging "aristocratic family" needs to provide and what they can provide.

What does an incorruptible family look like?
The head of the Chen family had never thought about this problem, even though they themselves were an incorruptible family.

How many years have passed since the Spring and Autumn Period?
The head of the Chen family seemed to be unable to explain it clearly.

The Chen family, which began to rise during Shang Yang's reforms, has lived on this land for too long. They have gone through spring, summer, autumn and winter, and the long river of time.

Their figures are everywhere in the long river of time, and their shadows carry this ancient history.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, they traveled around the world, stood at the top of the Qin State, and helped it achieve its grand ambitions. In the midst of this grand ambition, they also watched the gifted First Emperor choose a nearly self-destructive approach for the sake of the entire world. Naturally, they also felt the ashes of the collapse of this ancient and magnificent empire.

When the flames of war burned Chen's wings, Chen did not choose to hide. Instead, he threw himself into the raging flames, letting the flames burn everything. Chen was reborn in the flames - reborn together with this ancient and vicissitudes of life land.

The founder of the Han Dynasty, the famous Emperor Taizu of Han, was once one of Chen's students, and later Chen and he worked together to create one of the greatest empires in the world - the nation that left its name on the Central Plains people.

Han nationality!

In the vicissitudes of history, Chen had seen the kindness and strength of Emperor Wen and Emperor Wu of Han, and had also felt the ups and downs and grandeur of history. In the very end, they buried this equally ancient empire together and welcomed the end of this empire.

The Heavenly Master, holding the Taoist banner high in his hand, stood in the heavy rain and pushed the empire to destruction. He then led the survivors of this huge empire to establish a new empire.

When history headed towards another heavy rain, on that endless night, those sinful people holding guilt and knives rushed into the palace that symbolized imperial power, and performed a magnificent drama with the Long Live Emperor using the knives in their hands. The sacredness of imperial power was completely subverted at that moment.

From that day on, Chen started making his moves.

Day after day, whether it was the magnificent waves on the Grand Canal, the printing technology and imperial examination system that laid the foundation for the whole country, or the vast and chaotic history, nothing could stop the emergence of a hero.

In the smoke of the battlefield, an emperor on horseback appeared.

He was revered by the world as the Heavenly Khan, and he also brought this vast empire and land to another peak. No matter how many years have passed, people in the world will never forget him. No matter how many years have passed, the empire he established will always be one of the pinnacle symbols of this land.

And when the huge old man collapsed overnight, another giant appeared. He led the world to carry out unprecedented reforms, allowing people to finally live the life they deserved.

now
Chen Ke slowly closed his eyes. It was all going to end. It was all going to end.
The next collapse and reorganization of an empire probably won't be as complicated. It may be that a person will appear naturally and smoothly, a person who should have been at a high position but voluntarily gave up that high position. He pushed the people to the position of long live, and also pushed this huge and ancient empire to its peak.

And this time, with Chen here, with Chen who never needs to change, he will no longer have to fight against everyone alone, nor will he end up in pieces.

Chen Ke smiled, shook his head, and walked out of this ordinary courtyard.

In just half a year, the competition for the position had a result. The winner was Zhu Yuanzhang, while Chen Youliang and others did not choose to return to Chang'an City. Instead, like Li Jing before them, they chose to go to other emperors.

They cannot get their hands on the throne of the Central Plains, but Chen did not say that they cannot get their hands on the throne of other places.

They are not fools. What good can they expect if they return to the Central Plains at this time?
Whether Chen was willing or not, Zhu Yuanzhang would definitely take action in secret.

This was out of control, so the escape of Chen Youliang and others was understandable. After Zhu Yuanzhang returned to the Central Plains, this competition for the position ended without any suspense.

The number of candidates for the new emperor dropped from four to just one, Zhu Yuanzhang.

Yes, after becoming emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang changed his name from Zhu Chongba to Zhu Yuanzhang, and this name has no other meaning in this time and space and history, just like Liu Ji changed his name to Liu Bang.

Fengtian Hall
Zhu Yuanzhang was still wearing an ordinary robe with a respectful look on his face - at least before he became emperor and took control of power, he would be so humble and respectful.

But neither Chen nor Chen Ke needed Zhu Yuanzhang to do this.

Chen deeply understood a truth: the more oppressed a person is when he is humble, the more rampant and unbridled he will become after he gains power. Just like a stretched rubber band, when the rubber band is stretched long and tight, when the hand holding the rubber band is released, the rubber band will cause the most intense suffering and pain.

The reason why they say villains become arrogant when they succeed is because of this reason.

They are not arrogant because they are successful, but because they were too humble in the past when they had no control over themselves and could not be a human being, so they want to get everything they have not been able to get before at this time.

People generally call this kind of behavior a villain's success.

Chen Ke was not sure whether Zhu Yuanzhang was such a person, but it didn’t matter - no matter what kind of person he was, Chen would treat him with the same attitude.

"My mission has been completed. What do you think, Your Highness?"

Chen Ke's expression remained calm: "You have completed your mission very well. The other three have also given up their power, so you can become the emperor."

He slightly turned sideways to make way for a path, a path leading to the supreme throne.

At the end of the road, the dragon throne was placed there, looking very noble. Zhu Yuanzhang stared at this scene in a daze, with a hint of astonishment involuntarily on his face. Is this the supreme position?

No, if it was what he thought, then this position was not actually supreme - at least not as supreme as before.

He turned around and looked at Chen Ke, and the way he referred to himself had changed: "Chen Lingxiang, now that I am in this position, I am not an educated person, I am just a rough man, and I am not willing to beat around the bush."

"I just want to ask one question, Chen..."

The rest of the words were not finished, but the meaning of Zhu Yuanzhang's words was already very clear.

He wanted to know, what did Chen want?
What exactly do you want?
And Chen can give this answer to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Chen Ke stood in the Fengtian Hall with a normal look on his face. He took a step forward slowly and then said with a smile, "What does Chen want? Chen wants the person sitting in this position to always remain pure and to control power, but to be subject to certain restrictions - yes, the emperor must also be subject to restrictions."

His expression gradually turned cold: "Too many stories have happened on this land."

"These stories are because the emperor cannot be restrained, but at the same time, another part of the story tells us that if power is too dispersed, then people in this world will not be able to live a stable and happy life." "The Chen family has worked hard for thousands of years, and their goal is to enable the people to live the life they deserve! This is the Chen family's goal!"

Chen Ke held his head high with a firm and solemn look on his face.

"The people who live on this land are strong yet peaceful, brave yet cowardly. They have many contradictions, but this is the land of China, where the Chen family grew up."

"The Chen family has spent thousands of years to create a world where ordinary people will never be oppressed again."

“And now, Chen is about to do it.”

He smiled and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang: "Your Majesty, do you need me to remind you of the power that the Chen family possesses?"

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent.

Chen Ke was talking to himself. He paced in the Fengtian Hall, and bit by bit explained the power of the Chen family: "The Chen family controls the hidden power of many dynasties that have existed in this land from two thousand years ago to the present, as well as the hearts of the people of the world."

"From the Black Ice Platform to the Embroidered Envoys, Dao Soldiers, Secret Guards, Secret Envoys, the most elite Iron Eagle Guards of the Qin Dynasty, the most elite Yulin Army of the Han Dynasty, the most elite Modao Guards of the Tang Dynasty, the most elite Palace Front Army of the Song Dynasty, and the most advanced technology in the world today."

He looked directly at Zhu Yuanzhang and for the first time spoke of the Chen family's well-known strength, which did not even include Chen's terrifying disciples and former officials!

Chen Ke was not threatening Zhu Yuanzhang, he was simply telling him the fact.

He whispered, "Your Majesty, what I said today is not to threaten you, nor do I want to say anything treasonous. I just want to tell you one thing. From today on, the Chen family will completely withdraw from the court politics."

"Chen will no longer serve in the court from now on. He will only leave his students and positions in key areas. The purpose of these people's existence is only to monitor Your Majesty."

Chen Ke did not hide his words, but said what he should and had to say. He looked directly at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "The Chen family is a giant sword hanging over your head and the heads of future emperors. If you and the rulers after you want to act recklessly, then the Chen family's sword will directly crush you and others."

"Chen will no longer exist as a minister or an assistant as before."

"This piece of history will eventually go the way it should go!"

"But the Chen family also lives in this history, and this will never change."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Chen Ke standing there, his expression a little obscure: "So, what kind of behavior does Chen think is my willful behavior?"

Chen Ke smiled, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "For example, what you are thinking now!"

"I will use the power of the world to support your Zhu family!"

At this time, Chen Ke was full of murderous intent: "I can tell your majesty directly that the moment this so-called imperial decree is issued, Chen will kill all the people in the Zhu family! In front of you!"

"I can tell you directly, Your Majesty, when you and your successors want to make the Zhu family superior, when you want the ruler to be superior, the Chen family will appear!"

This time, Chen Ke felt the murderous aura from Zhu Yuanzhang.

But he did not retreat, not even the slightest fear, he just smiled faintly: "Of course, you can choose to erode Chen's power in secret to weaken Chen, so as to achieve your own goal."

"But I also want to tell you that Chen is not a weak person."

"When Chen realizes this, Chen will immediately fight back!"

"The ending is the same."

"even."

Chen Ke looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with a slight smile on his face: "In fact, Chen has more specific and more powerful means to achieve his goals. Those means are extremely cruel, and you can feel it tonight."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression became even more gloomy, but Chen Ke ignored it. He just glanced at him calmly, then bowed and said, "After the coronation ceremony tomorrow, I will retire and return home, and most of the children of the Chen family will also retire and return home."

"My minister retire."

Having said that, Chen Ke left the hall, leaving Zhu Yuanzhang alone sitting there. He watched Chen Ke's back as he left, watched Chen Ke's back disappear from his sight, and also watched Chen's figure disappear in this piece of history.

"Ms. Chen"

Zhu Yuanzhang closed his eyes.

At the very beginning, he did have the idea of ​​letting the people of the world support the old Zhu family - after all, in his opinion, this was what he deserved after fighting for his life and death. The people of the old Zhu family could not be crowned kings, had no real power, and could not interfere in the court, so they must get the best treatment!

Can't we support the Zhu family with the whole world's strength?
And in the original history, he did indeed do so.

This also became one of the reasons for the fall of the Ming Dynasty - the Zhu family really became pigs! Pigs who were satisfied with their own food and didn't care about the lives of people in the world! The initiator of all this was Zhu Yuanzhang.

The first year of Hongwu, spring.

Zhu Yuanzhang, Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, ascended the throne.

The next month, Chen Ke, the head of the Chen family, retired.

Jing's followers said that Chen's descendants rarely served in the court.

(End of this chapter)