"Over time, these people gradually gained some rights, they had larger landholdings, and everyone respected them more. Of course, their own characters did not change, but their descendants grew up in an environment where they were flattered by others."
"As time slowly passed, this lineage would expand locally."
"They had land, were esteemed by others, and also held fame and status."
"The official system was based on recommendations, and under such a system, naturally, the families with influence in each region could recommend people to rise up. Once these families had an official, they could develop even better locally."
"Then comes the third step, where Court officials recommend new officials. If one is a commoner and the other is a family member, there’s no doubt they will choose their own noble son."
"Throughout the dynasties, sovereigns tried to contain this, which only led to worse outcomes."
"One is an unknown person, and the other is from a different family."
"Which one will the official recommend?"
"At this time, something new emerges—’favors.’
Wen He pushed his wine cup forward and said softly, "Family A, through favors, gets Family B to recommend their son, and then reciprocates. Don’t their relationships become closer?"
"Such things have happened continuously over these eight hundred years."
"And now we have the current state of the sons of the aristocratic families."
"It is impossible for a common man to become an official. Before a son from an aristocratic family becomes an official and enters the Court, he must first spend almost half an hour greeting his uncles and great-uncles."
"This is what shaped the current noble families."
"The true reliance of the aristocratic family should be the Court, while their local land is merely a backup. When the commoners desperately seek a living, the aristocratic family can hold office or retreat to possess thousands of acres of fertile land and enjoy life without loss."
"The aristocratic families in Jiangnan are complicated, but if you think carefully, due to the events of the past decade or so, they are actually not deeply entrenched. In fact, they are not difficult to deal with, as these families are, in fact, stripped from the aristocratic family system that has accumulated over eight hundred years."
Li Guanyi said, "Teacher, do you have any guidance on how to approach these families?"
He truly did not understand the complexities of the families of this era.
Wen He said, "It depends on how thoroughly you want to solve the problem."
"Do you want the aristocratic families to feel fear and then live in peace with you, or do you intend to...?"
Li Guanyi replied, "Completely."
Wen He was surprised and after a moment said, "One of the reasons I previously stated that your approach was too hasty is also because of your examination system, which selects officials based on talent. This is good, but..."
The plain-faced youth picked up his drink and said lightly,
"Why do you think that sons of the aristocratic families, who have enjoyed the best resources for eight hundred years, will lose to the commoners of today? Believe me, Lord, starting the examinations without a foundation will only allow the aristocratic sons to enter the Court even more swiftly."
"Under the recommendation system and the limited number of positions, a family can’t have everyone become officials."
"But when you open up the number of positions for the examinations,"
"then the educated sons of these aristocratic families are highly likely to surpass the commoners. In eight hundred years, almost a millennium, these families will adapt to new rules even faster than you expect."
"If it were an era of great unification and prosperity, initiating the examination system would be a compromise — allowing the aristocratic families some benefit while also opening the way for commoners to rise. However, your current status doesn’t require such considerations."
"You can act even more thoroughly."
Li Guanyi grasped Wen He’s arm, feeling this man was indeed the talent most suitable for himself and the current Qilin Army, his eyes almost gleaming with light, and said, "Teacher, please continue!"
Wen He said, "Why not start by practicing on the Jiangnan aristocratic families?"
"Do you know? There is a very clear hierarchy among the families, with the higher ones looking down on the lower, and the lowest ones even considered commoners, with all sorts of different rules and thresholds."
"The height of the step signifies different levels, like the social classes."
"You don’t need to deal with all the families."
Wen He wore a warm smile, "Recruit some, divide others, suppress a few, offer benefits, and let them fight among themselves, spilling gold outside, while still having to praise you, Lord."
Li Guanyi nodded firmly.
Wen He said, "But this is just a lesser strategy. People inside the aristocratic family will realize this tactic and quickly unite, which is why the families have been difficult for dynasties to handle, for they are interconnected by marriage."
"Their interests are aligned, making them hard to resolve."
"You don’t know the aristocratic families."
"Internally, they are even more ruthless than outsiders think, with the direct descendants, illegitimate children, and the younger sons of the illegitimate, even from the same bloodline, receiving different treatment. The family wealth will only be passed to the heir, while the illegitimate children are treated no better than servants."
"With just one word from the Family Head, you have to die, even if you are full of learning, you must serve as a stepping stone for the direct descendant, and you wouldn’t think that those treated as servants or stepping stones are happy, would you?"
"Everyone has an unwilling heart."
"If they’re not discontent with the status quo, it only means they haven’t seen something better."
Wen He leaned in with a smile, his eyes warm and calm yet with a cold hue, speaking softly as polished jade: "Win them over, the internal struggle of the families is cruel, give them opportunities, help their parents, and bless their wives and children."