Seeing Li Xiang's surprised look, Changsun Wuji finally won the game in his heart. Since the last time Li Xiang came back, Changsun Wuji no longer treated Li Xiang as a child. For a long time, Changsun Wuji has treated Li Xiang as an equal to himself.
"You haven't been to Third Master Cui's place for a long time. Third Master Cui has also contributed to your current achievements. Although the Five Surnames and Seven Families have been suppressed by you and can no longer raise their heads, they still have a huge influence. Now Third Master Cui has been able to integrate them, so you should go to Third Master Cui's place for dinner."
After Changsun Wuji said this, Li Xiang immediately understood what was going on. Thinking back to when he went to war against Tuyuhun, the Five Surnames and Seven Eminences were like mountains on his back. If it weren't for the continuous victories in foreign wars, the Five Surnames and Seven Eminences probably wouldn't have taken Li Xiang seriously. After all, they were all capable of fighting against Li Shimin, so they really didn't think much of a grandson of the emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
But it was precisely because of their contempt that Li Xiang had an opportunity to rise. In the successive foreign wars, Li Xiang won one victory after another, which also led to a sharp increase in Li Xiang's prestige.
As Li Xiang's prestige rose, Zhidaobao appeared out of nowhere. Whether it was external credit and savings business, or the various rare and strange things distributed by Zhidaobao, they all helped Li Xiang accumulate a large amount of wealth, leading to serious concentration of social wealth.
Coupled with Li Xiang's subsequent combination of punches, the Five Surnames and Seven Clans gradually lost their advantages. Although they still possess great power in the local area, they cannot be said to be insignificant in the city of Chang'an, but it is impossible for them to continue to fight against Li Xiang.
"Since the Five Clans and Seven Families are now weak, why not take care of them together?"
Li Xiang said with some surprise that Changsun Wuji and the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families should be mortal enemies. Changsun Wuji suffered a lot at their hands in the past. Because Changsun Wuji was also considered the most powerful family in the court, the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families regarded him as a target and often taught the Changsun family how to behave.
"We don't have full control over the centuries of heritage of several families yet. If we act now, I estimate we have an 80% chance of winning. But the problem is that 20% is not in our hands. This 20% may affect the lives of millions or even tens of millions of ordinary people. Can you take the risk?"
Changsun Wuji's words hit Li Xiang's heart like a heavy hammer. After the victory of the Eastern Expedition to Fuso, Li Xiang did feel that his heart was a little floating. If he continued like this, it would not be a good thing.
"Thank you for your teachings, uncle."
Li Xiang stood up solemnly and saluted. Changsun Wuji was also satisfied and nodded. There was not much he could do to help Li Xiang. This child was becoming more and more mature, but it was no problem to help him grasp the scale.
"Master Cui has always been your partner. Your dinner at his place won't cause too much of a stir. It will also send a signal to the other families of the Five Surnames and Seven Kingdoms that we don't want to break off relations with them. Perhaps we'll maintain the current situation. In a few years, when the imperial examination system matures, we can replace the members of their family. Of course, as you said before, if they are capable and loyal to the Tang Dynasty, we can continue to use them."
Changsun Wuji had no choice but to do so. The Five Surnames were intertwined and many people in the court and local government offices were their people, and many of them were even hiding. Compared with those who had been exposed, those who were hiding were the most terrifying.
After leaving the Changsun family, Li Xiang also understood one thing. Changsun Wuji was not in a hurry to do anything, but wanted him and Mr. Cui Sanye to have this meal, and it had to be a grand meal, so that everyone in the five surnames and seven families would know about it, so that they would not take risks and affect his plan to advance south.
As he left the street, Li Xiang was still grateful to Changsun Wuji. Historically, many people said Changsun Wuji was a sinister person, but from Li Xiang's perspective, the Changsun family had really helped him a lot. His two sons were helping fight in the south, Changsun Wuji was helping Li Xiang with his plans, and Changsun Pingting...
Not to mention, maybe she can even give birth to a child for you. Such a kindness is really beyond repayment.
Mr. Cui Sanye had found Changsun Wuji before. Although the two sides had exchanged letters when Li Xiang returned to Beijing several times before, the hierarchy in the court was becoming more and more serious. Although Mr. Cui Sanye had become the head of the Cui family, he still felt half a head shorter when facing Li Xiang.
In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, the patriarchs of the five surnames and seven families were almost on par with Li Shimin. Now they no longer have that prestige. Whether in the court or among the literati, they have already retreated to the second line.
This time, Li Xiang came to the Cui family in the capital with great fanfare. The people in the capital were also very curious. If Li Xiang had come here two years ago, he would have said it was a visit. Now that the Cui family is weak, why did Li Xiang come here?
Apart from Mr. Cui Sanye, Li Xiang didn't see a single familiar face here. It seemed that those old acquaintances were no longer in the capital. Mr. Cui Sanye was still strong and able to control the direction of the entire Cui family, which was not easy.
"I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."
What made Li Xiang feel strange was that Master Cui San did not even wait for Li Xiang to get off the carriage, but directly led all the people of the Cui family to kneel down. This was also a disguised way of pledging allegiance to Li Xiang, and to express that the five surnames and seven families were no longer the same as before. In the past, when Li Xiang came to visit, at most some younger members of the Cui family would kneel down, but a person in power like Master Cui San would never kneel down.
"What is Third Master doing? We are all friends. If you keep kneeling, there's really no point in chatting. This king has issued an edict today that I have no control over other royal relatives. From now on, if Third Master kneels before me, I will turn around and leave immediately."
Li Xiang is also a very good person. In the past, when I asked you to kneel down and you refused, I lost face. Now, I want to kneel down and I don’t let you, but it’s you who loses face.
However, Mr. Cui San was also very satisfied at this moment. With Li Xiang's words, the glory of the Cui family could continue for a while. If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince doesn't kneel before us, how could other local officials have the nerve to ask us to kneel?
