"That’s Murong Longtu. Damn, this old guy just uses that to mess around. But, after today, whether Murong Longtu wins or loses, the Martial World will be thrown into complete chaos, and the Academy will buzz with activity."
"Hmm? You’re asking if Murong Longtu could go further?"
Siming had a complex expression on his face and, in the end, he simply laughed and said, "Who knows?"
While Li Guanyi and Jiang Wanxiang were playing chess, the emperor of Ying Country asked, "I heard you’ve allocated lands to the common people. I’ve instructed our officials to issue a similar land distribution decree based on your approach."
"It allows many people to cultivate the wastelands. Aristocratic families are also urged to participate. How do you deal with those families?"
Li Guanyi answered frankly, "If the aristocratic families are willing to relinquish their lands as well, they can be distributed according to the number of people they have."
Though Jiang Wanxiang was old, he quickly responded,
"You plan to move against the aristocratic families?"
He was silent for a long while, then, looking at Li Guanyi, he smiled and shook his head, "Truly a young tiger. But the aristocratic families are deeply entrenched. How difficult would it be to uproot them?"
Li Guanyi made his move, "Because I have no roots."
Because he had no prior foundation, he had come up from nothing without the help of any major or minor noble families from Jiangnan, ensuring that the Qilin Army wasn’t ensnared and infiltrated by such families, which is why he could achieve this step.
Jiang Wanxiang lowered his gaze and acknowledged, "The power of aristocratic families is a curse."
"A piece of advice, it’s up to you to listen or not,"
"If you ever succeed, never rely on the talent or power of aristocratic families!"
"A powerful state relies on strict laws, where merits are rewarded, and offenses are punished. But with aristocratic families, it’s different. They recommend their offspring for governmental positions. The nation’s wealth depends on ordinary people engaging in farming and sericulture; yet, it’s the members of aristocratic families who become the officials."
"National security relies on the bravery of soldiers, yet military honors fall into the hands of young nobles supervising the army. Ordinary people face severe punishment for crimes, but nobles can offset their crimes with weapons, copper coins, or gold."
"The existence of aristocratic families means that criminals are not fully punished, those who have not fought receive honors, and the laws of the sovereign are not enforced."
"As long as someone is a son of an aristocratic family, even if foolish, they could be nominated for official posts; whereas a commoner’s child, even if exceedingly knowledgeable, would only toil in the fields. Tell me, what should we do?"
"If this continues, the nation’s customs will drastically change, venerating those who gain honor without toiling the lands, and the commoners will envy such people."
This aged king clenched his teeth and sighed deeply,
"Aristocratic families are a deadly poison to the state!"
Li Guanyi said, "That’s naturally so. Why do you tell me this?"
Jiang Wanxiang responded with a relaxed smile:
"I’m just hoping you won’t take the wrong path. This world, whether it’s you, me, or Chen Fubi, Chen Dingye, we all strive and struggle against each other, and eventually, there will be a victor. Naturally, I hope to be that victor, but I must also consider the possibility of my defeat."
"Then, I hope you can avoid this issue. Moreover, I see a hope in you because you are unlike me, Chen Dingye, or Chen Fubi..."
Jiang Wanxiang extended his hand, the emperor squinting his eyes, said:
"You rose from obscurity. If you win, you could eradicate the eight-hundred-year rule of aristocratic families, creating a different world. Though, as long as class distinctions exist, new aristocracies will emerge. "
"However, revisiting a period without aristocratic families might improve the lives of the common people, and the sovereign might feel more at ease. Such a world would resemble the early years of the Red Emperor. Ha... when I was young and read history, I wanted to return to that era."
"To be a Ranger, to herd horses and sheep, watching the sky while singing the Chi Lei Song."
Li Guanyi said, "History follows patterns."
He picked up a chess piece and made a move, locking down Jiang Wanxiang’s positions on the board, saying:
"But we should preserve some embers. I plan to promote talent by ability, not by recommendation, to break the hand of the aristocratic families and then, land, education — all accessible for the common people to engage in the Mo School, Mathematics, Martial Arts — widespread learning for all."
"One step at a time."
Jiang Wanxiang pondered thoughtfully, "The common people..."
"The common people balancing the aristocratic families, with ample knowledge they can break the exclusive advancement in education, curtailing the arrogance of aristocratic families in this era..."
He thought deeply for a while, then suddenly sighed, "It’s a pity that I didn’t meet you earlier. But if I had met you earlier, back then I was a supporter of the great aristocratic families, and to secure my position in this realm, I would marry a daughter from one of those families. Back then, hearing your words, I probably would have killed you with one sword."
"Now, hearing your words, I feel a deep sense of melancholy."
He extended his palm, his wrinkled hand shaking slightly, Jiang Wanxiang with a trace of light laughter, said:
"My life will not last much longer."
"And the realm of Ying Country is vast. This nation has had a reign of three hundred years. Three hundred years ago, my ancestor played a significant role, during which these aristocratic families were incredibly useful. Over these three centuries, the poison of the aristocratic families, like vines coiling around a great tree, has entwined at every corner of our nation."
"Like maggots in the bone!" "
"If you wish to remove these aristocratic families, you must dig them out along with the bones and flesh, and discard them."
"I am powerless now, and my sons are even less capable than I am. They cannot manage this vast Ying Country or reverse the deep-seated poisons accumulated over more than three hundred years, but I ultimately cannot afford to lose."
Jiang Wanxiang revealed a faint smile: