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

"Aren't you going? What are you standing there for?"

Feng Qiao'er asked in confusion.

Feng Zhidai: "..."

Why do you think that is?

He muttered to himself, then reluctantly agreed, "Fine, I'll go now."

After agreeing, Feng Zhidai didn't hesitate. He first wrote a letter to his father, informing him of the situation here, then wrote down his younger sister's request, and finally ordered someone to send it back to Lingnan as soon as possible.

After doing all this, Feng Zhidai went out and headed straight for the Duke of Anguo's residence.

Anyway, the two houses are very close to each other, just a few steps away.

Just then, Chen Huai'an returned home and had not yet stepped inside.

"Huai'an." Feng Zhidai called out to Chen Huai'an, then quickly walked over.

Chen Huai'an was somewhat surprised that Feng Zhidai had arrived at this time, but he didn't hesitate and quickly invited him in.

"I already know about what happened today," Feng Zhidai said bluntly. "My younger sister knows as well. Her idea is to open up the canal transport route between the Central Plains and Lingnan as soon as possible, so that the Feng family's influence can spread."

"In addition, the Feng family actually has some connections with the Wang family of Taiyuan. If you need, I can help you make contact."

"The Wang family of Taiyuan?" Chen Huai'an pondered. "There's no rush. The Wang family of Taiyuan and the Li family of Zhao County didn't put in much effort in court today. They probably have their own ideas."

"If your Feng family has connections with the Wang family of Taiyuan, they will come to you on their own without you having to seek them out."

"If they hadn't come looking for us, there probably wouldn't have been any possibility of cooperation, let alone the need for us to come to them."

"As for the Feng family..."

Chen Huai'an shook his head: "The Feng family should just maintain the status quo and keep things in Lingnan. I think I understand His Majesty's arrangements a little better now, so you'd better not show yourselves for the next two years."

"It's best to develop quietly."

"His Majesty's arrangements?" Feng Zhidai asked, intrigued, lowering his voice. "You mean His Majesty is doing his utmost to arrange your marriage with my younger sister?"

"What did you guess?"

They'll be family soon, so there's no need to be so formal. In private, Feng Zhidai didn't hold back and asked directly.

Chen Huai'an hesitated and said, "It's very likely that they are looking for a way out for the sale of ironware and refined salt by the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, so that the court will be separated from the aristocratic families and the national treasury revenue will not drop sharply all of a sudden. In addition... His Majesty should be adding more to my budget."

"Of course, none of this matters. The imperial decree for the marriage has already been issued, the wedding date has been set, and the whole world knows about it. There's no point in discussing this."

"The main thing is that, whatever the reason, the Feng family should refrain from making any rash moves."

Feng Zhidai was somewhat puzzled, but he didn't ask any further questions.

If Chen Huai'an were willing to tell him, he believed the other party would not hide anything.

If they're being vague now, it's because they don't want to say anything.

If you don't want to talk about it, why ask?

He then brought up another matter, saying with some concern, "At first, I thought you were quite impressive when I saw you pointing out the flaws in the court and reprimanding the officials. But after my younger sister reminded me, I realized that your current situation is too dangerous."

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"In a year of famine, it's not a good thing to go against these people."

Chen Huai'an scoffed, "This isn't something I started; it was the powerful families who broke the balance first. I can't just sit here and wait for them to make their move, can I?"

"Hundreds of years of tradition have filled their bones with arrogance and contempt for everything. If they can't have something, they're determined to destroy it."

"This is a fundamental conflict that cannot be resolved."

As he spoke, he looked at Feng Zhidai and said, "I'll say something you might not like to hear: I might be a little better in their eyes, but don't they look down on your Feng family?"

Feng Zhidai was speechless for a moment.

Chen Huai'an was telling the truth.

Of the five prominent families and seven influential clans, apart from the Wang family of Taiyuan, with whom they had some connections, almost none of them looked down on the Feng family.

Although the Feng family claimed to be descendants of the Northern Yan royal family, they had long been regarded as "southern barbarian chieftains" among the gentry families of the Central Plains because they had settled in Lingnan for generations and married into the Xian clan, the leader of the Li tribe. Yang Su once commented on his father Feng Ang, "I never expected there to be such a person among the barbarians."

In the eyes of people in the Central Plains, the Feng family was not even as good as ordinary gentry families, let alone the most prestigious families like the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families.

However, this does not mean that the Feng family is weak.

In fact, the Feng family's military strength far surpassed that of any other prominent family in the Central Plains.

The standing army numbered 20,000, and if we were to prepare for war, we could muster 50,000 troops.

These are not just any random group of people; they can barely be considered an elite force.

"I'm sorry, we probably can't help you with these things," Feng Zhidai said.

Chen Huai'an softened and said gently, "There's no need to apologize. You don't owe me anything."

"Furthermore, I think you wouldn't want a son-in-law who only leeches off you. The matter between me and the aristocratic families is not as simple as you think. The situation is quite complicated, so you shouldn't get involved."

"If the Wang family contacts you, you can help make the connection."

"No problem." Feng Zhidai patted his chest and agreed, then said, "By the way, you said you wanted to suppress the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families and forcibly elevate the status of the royal family and third-rank officials."

"Are you really planning to do this?"

Chen Huai'an chuckled and said, "This is just a pretext. My purpose is to tell the aristocratic families that they shouldn't go too far in some things, or they'll all suffer the consequences."

"This matter sounds simple, but it's not so easy to do. We have to take it one step at a time."

"That's a pity." Feng Zhidai was a little disappointed. He would have been so happy if it were true.

After all, these people from the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families always called the Feng family barbarians. If they could forcibly suppress the status of the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families, he would certainly be happy to see it.

Chen Huai'an smiled without saying a word. Just because he can't do it now doesn't mean he can't do it in the future.

Why don't you wait until the fourth year of the Zhenguan era and then see?

Immediately afterwards, Chen Huai'an chatted with Feng Zhidai for a while, telling him that the Ministry of Works would officially begin construction of the canal in February.

The imperial court will invest a great deal of manpower and resources in this effort to open up the canal for grain transport before the third year of the Zhenguan era.

Feng Zhidai had no objection to this, offered a few more words of concern and advice, and then left.

Watching his departing figure, Chen Huai'an remained silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

He suddenly felt that marrying Feng Qiao'er might not be a bad idea, at least the Feng family's personalities were indeed to his liking.

After the incident, the Feng family did everything they could to help him.

Finally... Chen Huai'an had a sudden thought.

When I get tired and have done most of what I need to do, it would be nice to take my sister, niece, and Feng Qiao'er to live in Lingnan.

At least over there, the Feng family, as the absolute hegemon, is powerful enough to protect their family and ensure their peaceful life.

"..."