The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

"Your Majesty should know that I come from a humble background," Chen Huai'an said with a self-deprecating laugh. "To put it bluntly, I'm just a peasant."

"However, I am now a first-rank Duke, and concurrently serve as the third-rank Minister of Works and Minister of Revenue."

"Your Majesty, I have a question for you first. Given my current official position, can you count the number of people in the world who are of higher rank than me on one hand?"

Li Shimin seemed to understand what Chen Huai'an wanted to say and readily agreed, saying, "If there were a ranking, with your current status, you'd easily be in the top five. You could count the number of people with more power than you on one hand!"

Indeed, even including the royal family, only the Crown Prince could outrank Chen Huai'an; even the favored Prince Yue, Li Tai, couldn't.

Even powerful dukes don't need to fear princes.

"Then... I can be considered to have brought honor to my ancestors, right? My name should leave a significant mark in the history books, shouldn't it?" Chen Huai'an said, looking at everyone. "Seriously speaking, the Chen family genealogy should start with me, shouldn't it?"

No one answered Chen Huai'an's question, because everyone knew he was right.

But whether it's right or wrong isn't important; what's important is what Chen Huai'an is about to say.

Those who remain here are all seasoned shrewd individuals; everyone already vaguely understands what Chen Huai'an is trying to say.

Because they understood this, all the officials in the court had solemn expressions.

Chen Huai'an continued, "Even though I've achieved so much and hold such a high position, people outside still look down on me!"

"They don't care how high my official rank is, how much power I wield, or how big my mansion is."

"They only see one thing: I, Chen Huai'an, come from a poor family!"

Li Shimin sat up straight.

He truly understands this deeply.

Let alone looking down on Chen Huai'an, he looks down on all the people of the Five Clans and Seven Families, and he looks down on the Li family's princess even more.

The reason is that there is a consensus among people all over the world today, which is that... social status is paramount!

No matter how high your official rank is, if you come from a poor family, you are still considered inferior.

"Minister Chen... what do you want to say?"

"What I want to say is that if this situation doesn't change, even if we implement a perfect imperial examination system, unify the classics, and select more talented people," Chen Huai'an said, emphasizing each word, "they will still be looked down upon, just like me!"

"What's your idea?" Li Shimin asked impatiently.

Based on his understanding of Chen Huai'an, he knew that whenever the other party raised a question or objection, a complete solution had always been prepared.

"It's very simple!" Chen Huai'an said slowly, "The rule is clear: the rank of an official in the current dynasty is higher than that of someone from a traditional family!"

"The royal family and families of officials of the third rank or above in the current court are ranked in the first class; those of the fifth rank or above are ranked in the second class; all other aristocratic families, no matter how illustrious their ancestors were, are downgraded if they do not have high-ranking officials in the current court."

"Only genealogies approved by the government have legal effect; those that privately elevate a family's status will not be recognized."

These words shocked not only the aristocratic families but also people like Wei Zheng.

Chen Huai'an... he's really going to rip the sky apart!

Should we simply wipe out all the powerful families?

ruthless!

Too bad!

Chen Huai'an didn't care what they thought and continued, "The Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate will take the lead in establishing a character evaluation system!"

"Officials are judged by their political achievements, military merits, and integrity, while ordinary people are judged by their filial piety, farming and weaving, and good deeds."

"The 'good officials,' 'righteous citizens,' and 'meritorious officials' selected each year will have their biographies engraved on monuments by the Ministry of Works and announced to the world, receiving practical rewards such as tax reductions and the bestowal of noble titles."

From this day forward, official rank and merit will be the primary measure of success in the world!

silence.

The hall was completely silent.

Li Shimin was at a loss for words, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He guessed that Chen Huai'an wanted to further suppress the powerful families, but he didn't expect it to be this kind of suppression.

Isn't this just driving someone to their death?

They forcibly elevated the status of officials, while suppressing the five prominent families and seven powerful clans.

This move... is hard to evaluate.

Chen Huai'an himself doesn't care what others think.

Since we've already started the struggle, let's fight to the very end.

Whether this matter succeeds or not, there will be absolutely no problem with unifying the classics and implementing the new imperial examination system.

Human nature.

Both are difficult to predict.

When you want to open a window, everyone will object, but when you suggest tearing off the roof, everyone will agree to open the window.

Therefore, Chen Huai'an never expected this matter to succeed.

If it succeeds, that's great; if it fails, it at least ensures that the next steps will go smoothly.

Some things still need to be done step by step.

His method was originally a weakened version of Li Shimin's approach in history, which was to revise the "Clan Records".

"..."

After a long silence, Cui Shanwei said in a deep voice, "Duke Anguo, this matter is of utmost importance. You must be cautious."

"Besides, nobody looks down on you. Don't talk nonsense."

"I'm talking nonsense?" Chen Huai'an sneered. "Do some people not see me, Chen Huai'an, as a nouveau riche?"

"Is he just a lucky peasant?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yanqing could no longer remain seated: "What the Duke of Anguo said is somewhat exaggerated. With your current status, who could possibly look down on you?"

"Even the Feng family took the initiative to seek a marriage alliance; isn't that enough to explain the situation?"

A fierce glint appeared in Chen Huai'an's eyes: "Whether it's true or not, everyone here knows the answer. Don't bring up the Feng family. My marriage to Feng Qiao'er was personally arranged by His Majesty and facilitated by Her Majesty the Empress. There was no question of me coming to ask for a marriage alliance!"

"you......"

"Shut up, you bastard!!!"

Before Lu Yanqing could speak, Chen Huai'an interrupted him sharply: "What is the purpose of the majority of scholars in the world's education?"

"Serving the country? Absolutely!"

"But first and foremost, it's so they can hold their heads high and be proud to face their parents and relatives, so they don't have to toil in the fields every day just to earn a living!"

"Only then can one serve the country and be loyal to the ruler!"

"Finally, it is to establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, and to secure a destiny for the people!"

"To continue the lost learning of the sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations!" Chen Huai'an pointed at Lu Yanqing.

"Not to be looked down upon by certain people!!!"

Lu Yanqing's mouth was open, and his pupils were somewhat unfocused.

Inside the court, all the remaining fifth-rank officials sat up straight, gazing at the tall, slender figure in the center of the hall.

The four short sentences, like thunderclaps growing louder and louder, exploded in their ears.

Chen Huai'an waved his sleeves: "Don't tell me such a thing didn't happen. You look down on people from poor families and believe that social status is everything?"

"Very well, today, I, Chen Huai'an, will shatter this notion!"

"You may block out the sun in the sky, but you can never block out the light shining in the eyes of the people!"

"I, this official, simply want to tell the world!"

"From this day forward!"

"The rules have changed!"

"..."