I really didn't want to burn it.

However, it turns out that these people were overthinking things.

This Emperor Li was not one to follow the rules. He never gave the aristocratic families a second glance, but instead valued the commoners whom the aristocratic families had previously looked down upon.

Furthermore, this unconventional emperor made the decision to exhume the ancestral graves of all aristocratic families, breaking the cultural monopoly.

As early as when Li Ang was vying for supremacy, he had already systematically educated his army.

When Li Ang officially became emperor, he vigorously promoted education for all citizens and arranged for his former students to control the government.

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That wasn't all. Emperor Li Ang also confiscated all the privileges that aristocratic families had enjoyed in previous dynasties and forced them to pay taxes. Moreover, the larger the family, the more taxes they were required to pay.

These measures to weaken the aristocratic families were naturally infuriating. How dare they allow commoners to share power with them? Do you believe that if the aristocratic families united, even the emperor wouldn't be able to sit still?!

For the first 30 years after the establishment of the Tang Empire, the main theme of the country's political situation always revolved around two words—rebellion.

Almost every month, large and small rebellions would occur, challenging Li Ang's regime. These rebellious forces were invariably instigated by aristocratic families dissatisfied with Li Ang's policies, and some were even personally involved in these rebellions.

However, what puzzled the aristocratic families was that the more they rebelled, the more stable Li Ang's regime became.

No matter how large their rebellion was, it was crushed into dust within a month at most in the face of the Tang Empire's massive war machine.

The aristocratic families' greatest hope—to bleed the country dry through continuous rebellions, ultimately leading to the collapse of Li Ang's regime—also did not materialize.

Since Li Ang became emperor, the land of China has enjoyed favorable weather and abundant harvests year after year, and the lives of the people have improved day by day.

This indirectly led to the cost for powerful families to instigate rebellions increasing year by year.

There's nothing you can do; if you don't give them more money, they won't even talk to you.

After nearly 30 years of various rebellions, the powerful families finally quieted down. It wasn't that they didn't want to bring down Li Ang, but rather that they were no longer able to rebel.

Those aristocratic families who opposed Li Ang were either killed or rendered powerless by Li Ang, and could only lie low and think of other schemes.

Some aristocratic families became obsessed with metaphysics and started making effigies at home every day, cursing the heavens to take Li Ang away.

These guys started making effigies from father to son, from grandfather to grandson, generation after generation, but Li Ang only got more and more energetic.

"Just what kind of monster is that guy surnamed Li?!"

Almost all prominent families were deeply curious about this question.

In fact, those aristocratic families did not know that their enemy was a transmigrator who had traveled through several worlds and possessed a bugged system. He was a protagonist with a full halo and was almost invincible.

Thus, when the news of Li Ang's death reached the ears of the aristocratic families in the 95th year of the Tang Dynasty calendar,

These aristocratic families outwardly expressed their grief and lamentation: "We express our deepest condolences on the unfortunate passing of His Majesty Li Ang. This is a tremendous loss to the Tang Empire and a major setback for the progress of Chinese civilization..." and so on... and so on... and so on...

But in reality, these people were already laughing so hard they were practically bleeding inside.

Many who lacked composure even cried out: "Heavens above! Earth below! That wicked, despicable emperor is finally dead!"

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P.S.: I'd like to recommend my friend's new book, "Starting as a Pet Owner".

Summary:

"This world is terrifying!"

"The mystery has resurfaced! All sorts of demons and monsters have come out, and those people called 'players' are fighting with strange creatures every day."

"Yesterday, some self-proclaimed 'strongest' player threw Xia Eryi Island out of the sea, smashing some ancient god into the ocean. It was like a mobile catastrophe!"

"I always felt that the world was going to end sooner or later."

"Unless someone can control the players."

After posting the message, the Keeper of Secrets, Shang Qi, threw away his phone, opened the rulebook of "The End," and wrote a new task for the "strongest" player: to do three thousand squats while dressed as a woman.

Timeframe: Complete immediately.

The "strongest" player, who was fighting the demon legion in Hellfire, received a mission, and a look of despair appeared on his arrogant face.

(Many books are complete, so you can read with peace of mind)

Chapter 288 The Graveyard of Empires—Afghanistan

No wonder these people were shouting so happily. After all, Li Ang had suppressed these guys for decades, leaving these aristocratic families with no temper left.

If that damned emperor were allowed to continue for several more decades, everyone would have no choice but to kneel down and shout "Long live the emperor!"

Thankfully, that person finally died.

In fact, some people have questioned the cause and truth behind His Majesty Li Ang's death.

After all, before that emperor died, he was still very healthy and robust, showing no signs of being a centenarian. Rumors often circulated in the palace that His Majesty the Emperor had sex with ten women in one night.

He doesn't look like he's about to die at all.

It is known that there have always been rumors in the Tang Dynasty that Emperor Li Ang cultivated immortal arts and was a celestial being who descended to earth to rule the Tang Dynasty forever.

Well……

In any case, the members of the noble families were all relieved that the man (the emperor) was finally dead.

The noble families celebrated their triumphs, while the common people were deeply saddened by the death of Emperor Li Ang. No one could believe that Emperor Li Ang would suddenly pass away, and all sorts of conspiracy theories and rumors flew around.

Although the news of His Majesty Li Ang's passing caused a great stir for a long time, with some people feeling relieved, some feeling regretful, some happy, and some grieving... the earth will not stop turning just because someone dies.

Time will keep flowing, and life will go on.

However, the subsequent development of the Tang Empire exceeded everyone's expectations.

First, there is the heir to the empire. Although Emperor Li Ang has taken countless concubines, he has never had any children or adopted any sons.

His Majesty Leon's original intention was that after his death, the empire's succession could break away from bloodline inheritance, move beyond the established mindset of father-to-son succession, and move towards what he called a "republic."

Unfortunately, the ambitious men had no interest in the “republic” that His Majesty spoke of. After being suppressed by His Majesty for nearly a century, all they had in mind was one sentence: “The emperor’s throne rotates, and next year it’s my turn.”

However, to everyone's great surprise, in this fierce power struggle, the one who ultimately stood at the top was a woman.

Even though this woman was a favored concubine of Emperor Li Ang during his lifetime and often helped him with government affairs, it still could not change the fact that she was a woman.

Reality is often full of surprises; Empress Wu Zetian became the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

Then, the aristocratic families discovered that their hard times were still ongoing.

Compared to that murderous emperor, this empress's attitude towards aristocratic families was even worse than her husband's, making her a typical example of adulterous lovers.

The Empress had only one solution for dealing with disobedient noble families: kill them.

At least the late Emperor Li Ang gave people the option of doing hard labor, but Empress Wu's actions were direct and straightforward.

As a result, someone called her a vixen in front of the Queen, but she accepted it with a smile and said it was the highest praise for her.

"Hmph, they are right, you are a female fox."

In the imperial palace council hall of Luoyang, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, a man with long blond hair sat at a huge round table. As he flipped through the historical records of the Tang Empire, he complained to the pink-haired woman sitting opposite him.

"I'd never deny it, I'm the vixen who bewitched His Majesty the Emperor!"

Koyanskaya fiddled with the folding fan in her hand and said with a smile.

The man shook his head helplessly and said, "Your Majesty, no, Miss Koyanskaya."

“Hmm, Kirshtalia Wodim… Hmm, what’s wrong with your name? It’s so long and hard to pronounce.”

Secretary Fox covered the lower half of her face with a folding fan and squinted as she complained.

"Then you can just call me Wodim. Anyway, we're not close enough to call each other by name."

When Kirshtalia Wodim answered, his voice was completely flat, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

"Honestly, they're the ones who saved you and your men from the explosion, how can you be so distant?"

Listening to Koyanskaya's insincere tone, Kirshtalia Wodim said coldly, "Although I am very grateful that you transferred us from Chaldea at the last minute before the explosion, if I were to show you any more affection, you would express your dissatisfaction with me by claiming that you are His Majesty's persona, wouldn't you? You fickle fox."

“That’s just how I am!” Koyanskaya proudly raised the tip of her nose.

"never mind."

Kirshtalia Wodim shook his head slightly. Perhaps this fox's erratic behavior was just a symptom of its own; he should just ignore it.

"I have a question."

"Excuse me, Mr. Wardham."

"Why did you change your public name? You've always been the Empress."

"Well~" Koyanskaya smiled wickedly, "New people, new atmosphere, right? A new empress needs her own confidants to ascend the throne, which is why she established the Council of Hidden Ones. Isn't that quite logical?"

Kirshtalia Wodim didn't believe the other party's explanation at all and pressed further, "Since they're both empresses, does it really make any difference whether we use Wu Zetian or Yang Guifei?"

“The difference is huge,” Koyanskaya said, shaking her finger with an air of complete ignorance. “Although both women are said to be reincarnated foxes, their significance is completely different.”

Kirshtalia Wodim sneered, "It seems that you, now using the alias Yang Yuhuan, are preparing to destroy this empire."

Koyanskaya, fanning herself with a folding fan, said with a smile, "No, that's not it at all. It's just to show that I'm His Majesty the Emperor's harmless little favorite concubine~"

Kirshtalia Wodim tried to discern the truthfulness of Koyanskaya's statement from the details on her face, but without success.

"Speaking of which, what's the point of you capturing that maid? Are you deliberately trying to anger the Emperor you're talking about?"

“You’ll find out later,” Koyanskaya said, her golden eyes fixed on the other woman. “For now, you and your men just need to follow my instructions and complete the mission.”

“I have already sent Kadoc and Ophelia, as you requested, with the Imperial Guard to what you call the Afghan province.”

"That will do."

Koyanskaya nodded slightly, and with a flash of light, she transformed from a pink-furred fox girl into a beautiful woman in black-haired palace attire.

popping.

Koyanskaya tapped her folding fan twice on the table, signaling the maid outside the door to come in.

"Issue an imperial decree summoning all ministers to the palace to discuss state affairs."

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Great Tang Dynasty, Afghanistan Province.

"I originally thought the previous garrison commander was a good-for-nothing, but I didn't expect the enemy to actually be quite capable. Even if the captain comes, unless he takes action personally, these enemies will still be quite troublesome."

In the temporary command tent of the Tang Dynasty Imperial Guards, Ophelia Famsolone, the acting commander of the Imperial Guards Expeditionary Force, spoke with a solemn expression.

"I think that man had already foreseen this outcome before we even set off."

"Ophelia's second-in-command, Kadoc Zemrups, said while drinking water."

"Those guys are like leeches, impossible to shake off, and their attacks are nowhere to be found, just like modern guerrillas! They've trapped our troops in one place, unable to move! What kind of monsters are these?"

With a self-deprecating tone, Ophelia covered the side of her face that wasn't covered by the blindfold.

"It's a good thing your servant can lead troops into battle, otherwise it would be really troublesome. We two magicians are not cut out for command."

"Kardok said with a sigh."

"I never imagined that the rebels of ancient times would have such high moral character. Could it be that the people of this singularity are monsters?"

“These aren’t just rioters, they’re a well-trained army! That’s been clear from the first day we arrived!” Ophelia corrected her companion. “The question now is, are these people locals or from the other side?”

"...We've already attacked their stronghold, there's no reason why they shouldn't retaliate."

Kadoc shrugged, his tone clearly indicating that he believed the latter.

Although he did not participate in the operation by the Hidden Ones to raid the other singularity, he was aware of the mission's existence.

Since you've already made a move, don't blame others for stabbing you in the ass.

However, that operation was a secret mission known only to the upper echelons of the Tang Dynasty. Even high-ranking nobles could not know about it, let alone outsiders.

Therefore, when the capital city of Luoyang received a request for help from the province of Afghanistan, everyone was taken aback.

Since the later years of Emperor Taizu Li Ang's reign, there have been no rebels within the territory of the Tang Dynasty. How come someone suddenly came out to rebel?

To make matters worse, these rebels utterly annihilated the local garrison.

Is this an April Fool's joke?!

But whether you believe it or not, the matter still needs to be resolved.

Empress Yang Yuhuan, or rather, Miss Koyanskaya, knew more about what was happening in this place than anyone else.