A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

They started accumulating money and grain during the reign of Emperor Taizong. How big is that amount now?

Li Heng gasped in shock; he was now incredibly wealthy.

However, this is the Li family's foundation, and it's best not to use it if possible.

"Is there anything else?"

Li Heng then asked another question.

Wei Mai thought about it carefully, "There seem to be two small countries abroad that were supported by Emperor Taizong, and they seem to be of Emperor Taizong's bloodline."

"That's all I know. Emperor Taizong may have had other plans that he kept from me, who knows?"

Emperor Taizong Wen, Li Shimin, was indeed a genius of his generation. Even the Prince of Yan at that time could not confirm whether Li Shimin had any hidden agents.

However, the Prince of Yan at that time vaguely sensed that Li Shimin might have secretly set up an organization, which seemed to be called the Bad People.

More specifically, even he didn't notice much.

Later, after investigation by Wei's drug dealers, the existence of this organization was confirmed.

However, he didn't intend to tell Li Heng about such clandestine organizations. Li Heng would definitely come into contact with them in the future, but he couldn't let Li Heng know that the Wei family already knew about this.

Besides these, did Li Shimin have any other hidden trump cards? Those were things even he himself truly didn't know.

"I understand. I thank the Prince of Yan for his guidance."

"I shall take my leave now."

Li Heng took a breath, feeling much more at ease knowing that his ancestors had left him so many trump cards.

"Respectfully seeing His Majesty off, Boss, please see His Majesty off for me."

Wei Mai stood up shakily, and Li Heng quickly helped him sit down.

"Prince Yan, you are now old, so you do not need to bow to me."

After Wei Mai apologized again, Li Heng and Wei Yong left together.

After returning to the palace, Li Heng knew he still had trump cards up his sleeve. Even without the support of the Prince of Yan, he felt much more confident.

The imperial court was filled with spies from all sides, and the contents of the discussion that day quickly spread.

With the imperial court making such a significant move, the various military governors naturally wouldn't be unaware of it.

The ten military governors of the western frontier have begun to strengthen city defenses, preparing their troops and standing ready for battle.

The nine military governors of the north and the eight military governors of the south also began to meet more frequently to discuss whether to send troops directly to support the ten military governors of the western frontier, jointly resist the imperial court, and prevent being defeated one by one by the imperial court.

Under the threat from the imperial court, the nine military governors of the north all personally came to Yunzhou to discuss important matters.

Zhang Huai, the military governor of Yunzhou, summoned his trusted advisor Huang Ce.

Huang Ce was originally a candidate for the imperial examination, but when he went to the capital to take the exam, someone impersonated him and he was denied the opportunity to achieve official success.

That family was powerful and influential; it was not something a commoner like him could resist.

When he complained to the court, he was instead slandered, stripped of all his honors, and banished from the capital.

Later, he wandered to the north and met Zhang Huai, who was out hunting. By a twist of fate, he gained Zhang Huai's approval and became his strategist.

It was with his help that Zhang Huai gradually rose to the position of military governor of Yunzhou.

After assuming the post of military governor of Yunzhou, Zhang Huai trusted Huang Ce even more and entrusted him with important responsibilities, putting him in charge of the entire administration of Yunzhou. Huang Ce lived up to expectations, governing Yunzhou in an orderly manner and making it the most prosperous prefecture in the north.

With Huang Ce's financial support, Zhang Huai was able to recruit soldiers and train elite troops, and his strength quickly increased, making him the top military governor in the north.

"Boming, the other eight military governors will arrive in Yunzhou in the next few days to discuss how to counter the imperial court in Luoyang. Should we attack or remain inactive?"

Holding the secret letter, Zhang Huai sat there, his usually composed and imposing face no longer showing any sign of anger.

The Tang Dynasty had unified the country for nearly a century, and the Li family's rule was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Both Zhang Huai and Huang Ce were educated from childhood to be loyal to the emperor, and their loyalty was to the emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

If they were to surrender without resistance, not to mention whether they would be willing to accept it, the imperial court would probably not trust them, and they would likely face life imprisonment. As someone in a position of power, Zhang Huai knew very well that those in power would never trust someone with the ability to rebel.

Zhang Huai has already experienced the feeling of having great power, and it's impossible for him to be subservient now.

He absolutely could not accept being imprisoned; if that were the case, he would rather make a grand spectacle of himself.

But if you ask him to make a firm decision to rebel, the imperial court's long-standing authority weighs heavily on his mind. How can he, a mere prefecture, possibly contend with the Tang Dynasty, which possesses the essence of the world?

Rebellion is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family; how could one make such a decision so easily?!

"My lord, I'm afraid we have no choice but to fight this time."

After Huang Ce appointed Zhang Huai as his lord, he gradually promoted him to the position of military governor.

As a strategist, he also hoped to be like the strategist Zhang Liang, the Crouching Dragon Zhuge Liang, and the strategist Fang Xuanling and the decisive strategist Du Ruhui, assisting a wise ruler, establishing a new dynasty, and leaving a brilliant mark on history.

The Tang emperor was incompetent, and corrupt eunuchs and treacherous officials ran rampant. Powerful families controlled the government and protected each other through marriage networks. Poor families were suppressed everywhere. He wanted to open up a new world for students from poor families.

"The court's attitude can be seen from its treatment of the ten military governors of the Western Frontier. The court's intention to weaken the regional military governors is already set. Once the ten military governors of the Western Frontier are deposed, we will be next."

"Unless our lord can accept the imprisonment of the entire clan and the eventual extinction of our bloodline, we have no choice but to rebel!"

"But the imperial court has decreed that as long as we hand over human, financial, and military power, the court will let us go and allow us to continue serving as military governors."

Zhang Huai still held onto a sliver of hope: they had guarded the frontier for the court, and even if they hadn't achieved great merit, they had at least worked hard, so the court wouldn't exterminate them all.

"My lord, those princes and nobles in the court cannot see our hard work."

"If we hand over human rights, financial power, and military power, aren't we just like fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others?"

"The court's promise may be useful in the short term, but what about you, young master? With this matter still in the works, I'm afraid you'll never have a chance to rise in society."

"Moreover, circumstances change. If the new dynasty is again dominated by powerful relatives of the empress and eunuchs, do you think our lord would be willing to give up such a lucrative prize as Yunzhou?"

"Does our lord think they would care about a decree issued by the imperial court in the past? Or would they care about a military governor who has no military power?"

Huang Ce advised.

Zhang Huai's last shred of hope was shattered by Huang Ce. Yes, he couldn't just think of himself; he also had to consider his son.

If he surrenders, what will become of his son?

He's struggled his whole life, wasn't it all for his family? If his son has no future, what's the point of all he's done?

"Sir, please help me send my children out of Yunzhou and hide them under assumed names."

"If I win, I'll bring them back."

"Even if I lose, the Zhang family bloodline will not be extinguished."