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

seek death......

Feng Zhidai pondered the two words in his mind and couldn't help but agree with them.

The Feng family was the absolute local tyrant in Lingnan, but they would never do anything that targeted the common people or went against the emperor.

On the contrary, they were often led by their father to provide disaster relief and govern Lingnan, which is why the Feng family was able to have such a high status in Lingnan.

Aren't the five surnames and seven clans just courting death?

"The five clans and seven powerful families have monopolized the path to advancement, seized land, controlled the classics, and privately minted coins." Feng Qiao'er blinked her beautiful eyes gently. "So His Majesty can no longer tolerate them?"

"Hmm." Chen Huai'an nodded slightly. "Actually, there's another issue. When His Majesty raised his army, he couldn't have done without the support of the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families."

"A major reason why they support Your Majesty and want to overthrow the Sui Dynasty is that the Sui Dynasty established the imperial examination system."

"You might want to think about what the problem is here."

Feng Zhidai frowned, not quite understanding Chen Huai'an's meaning: "Are you saying that the imperial examination system seriously encroached on the interests of aristocratic families, so they want to overthrow the Sui Dynasty?"

"That's only part of the reason," Chen Huai'an said helplessly. "What we're discussing now isn't why the aristocratic families helped His Majesty raise an army, or what their reasons were for doing so."

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"I understand!" Feng Qiao'er suddenly raised her head and said seriously, "The Sui Dynasty was overthrown because of the participation of the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families. However, after the country was conquered, the relationship between His Majesty and the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families was far more complicated and fraught with more conflicts than the relationship between any other aristocratic families."

"His Majesty must be thinking, since you could help me raise an army to overthrow the Sui Dynasty, can't you also help others raise an army to overthrow the Tang Dynasty?"

"Moreover, His Majesty originally intended to promote those from humble backgrounds and to thoroughly improve the imperial examination system based on the foundation laid by the Sui Dynasty, thus opening up a new path."

"Under these circumstances, His Majesty's vigilance towards the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families reached its peak!"

"That's right," Chen Huai'an said cheerfully. "So, the Five Surnames and Seven Clans are just courting death."

"Of course, it cannot be denied that the powerful families are indeed quite troublesome. They have too much control over the Central Plains, and the country cannot be governed without them. Otherwise... how could His Majesty tolerate them?"

"And now?" Feng Zhidai asked. "The Zheng and Lu families were slaughtered by His Majesty, their blood flowing like rivers. Their influence in the court was almost completely eradicated."

"We couldn't handle it before, but can we now?"

"So you only killed two families," Chen Huai'an said matter-of-factly. "One of the difficult aspects of dealing with the Five Clans and Seven Clans is that, under normal circumstances, they have a complex relationship through generations of intermarriage and are usually very united."

"But now, they are no longer united."

"As long as we don't eliminate all five surnames and seven clans, but only two, and then when it comes to the distribution of benefits, everyone can get a share, then there won't be any problems in the world."

There's a saying that goes, "If you won't do it, plenty of others will."

Feng Zhidai seemed to understand: "I think I get it now. You mean that if the Zheng family and the Lu family fall, there will naturally be other families to take their place, and various other families, large and small, will also be able to rise to power?"

"Hmm..." Chen Huai'an clicked his tongue, "The situation is far more complicated than this, but you just need to understand that among the five surnames and seven clans, some have already realized their own problems, while others have not yet."

"The Lu and Zheng families were the ones, which is why they died."

"They were betrayed by their former allies."

Feng Zhidai opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

The struggle in Chang'an seemed to be both far more complex and far simpler than he had imagined.

What's complicated is that the emperor and the five clans and seven powerful families were wary of each other. Beneath the seemingly calm surface, various struggles over interests and politics never ceased.

The simple thing is that it's also very easy to bring down a powerful family; it's so easy that all you need to do is fake your death once.

So...simple and unadorned.

Seemingly guessing what he was thinking, Chen Huai'an said calmly, "There is actually no such thing as political intrigue in the world. True political intrigue is not about taking risks step by step and slowly laying out plans, where one wrong step will lead to an abyss."

"The real power struggle is very simple: hold meetings, have meals, and then take action!"

"You must be aware of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, right?"

"The night before, His Majesty, Changsun Wuji, Yuchi Gong and the others gathered together for a meal. They said something like, 'Strike first,' and then immediately smashed their bowls and started to fight."

"It's that simple, that unpretentious."

Feng Zhidai: "..."

That makes a lot of sense.

Chen Huai'an looked at the two of them and said leisurely, "I'm telling you all this so that you can understand that if the Feng family wants to continue its legacy, there are some mistakes that absolutely cannot be made, and some bottom lines that absolutely cannot be crossed."

"We understand," Feng Zhidai replied solemnly.

Now he finally understood why Feng Ang always taught them not to rebel.

Feng Qiao'er said tactfully, "Regarding the matter of trade between the Central Plains and Lingnan, I will immediately send a message to my father and try to get a reply as soon as possible."

Chen Huai'an gave her a strange look: "Of course, we should wait for your father to arrive so we can discuss these matters with His Majesty."

"We are talking about long-term trade rules for the future."

"And now, your Feng family has a great opportunity to prove yourself."

"What?" Feng Qiao'er was stunned.

Chen Huai'an's topic jumped around a bit too quickly, and she didn't immediately understand what he meant.

"His Majesty is short of money right now..." Chen Huai'an said meaningfully, "Before formal trade is established, it means there are no rules to bind us."

"And the first exchange of goods is always the most profitable."

"No matter how much benefit the Feng family can bring to the court in the future, the benefit will always belong to the court and will not fall into His Majesty's hands. At most, His Majesty will just praise you."

"But if you were to negotiate a deal with His Majesty now, allowing him to make a fortune while you make a small one, in His Majesty's eyes, the loyalty and attitude of your Feng family would be beyond question."

His words left the two siblings completely bewildered, their minds going blank.

What does it mean that there were no rules or regulations in place before formal trade was even established?

This is smuggling...

Do not!

Feng Qiao'er suddenly realized what was happening.

How can this be called smuggling?

It was clearly a celebration of the opening of the Grand Canal between the Central Plains and Lingnan regions, marking the first friendly exchange between them. Everyone exchanged some supplies they needed, demonstrating the friendship of Lingnan's formal return to the Central Plains.

What smuggling?

vulgar!

At that moment, Feng Qiao'er understood.

Why did Chen Huai'an have such a good image with Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun?

Besides Chen Huai'an's own strangeness, another reason is that Chen Huai'an's charm with beautiful women is constantly making money for the two of them!

"..."