msmithbooks Chapter 199 The Proton Takes Effect
Chapter 199 The Proton Takes Effect
What are today's plans?
Lu Xiao pondered the sentence carefully, but after a long while, he still couldn't understand it.
What did he arrange?
Isn't it just about sending Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui to participate in the imperial examinations?
What does this have to do with thinking about your son?
Seeing his silence, Yang Ru thought he had finally come to his senses, and her smile deepened.
She couldn't be happier today. Who would have thought that the child's father would suddenly have a breakthrough?
"It's good that you've come to your senses; after all, this is for our son's sake."
Lü Xiao: "..."
He really couldn't figure out what Yang Ruyi meant by those words.
After pondering it for a while, he simply stopped trying.
Anyway, this woman always speaks in a cryptic way, so there's no point in overthinking it.
Just go along with what she says.
"Uh-huh……"
He mumbled a response twice and closed his eyes.
Before long, her breathing became even, and she drifted off to sleep.
Yang Ruyi gazed at his peaceful sleeping face, a gentle smile curving her lips.
Yang Guang's edict quickly spread throughout the land.
The imperial examinations and military examinations were held simultaneously, presided over by the emperor himself, and open to second-class gentry, commoners, and ordinary people.
This edict was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand waves.
The powerful families in various regions disregarded this and even scoffed at it.
Even now, Yang Guang is still suppressing them; he's practically courting death.
But those of the lesser aristocratic families sensed that an opportunity had arrived.
Previously, Yang Guang had been trying to curry favor with them, but now the massacre in Luoyang undoubtedly demonstrates his complete break with the top aristocratic families.
With the fall of the top aristocratic families, wouldn't it be a perfect opportunity for these second-rate aristocratic families to rise up?
Children from impoverished families even chose to participate directly.
For them, this is a sure-fire way to make money.
Even though the Sui Dynasty collapsed amidst these rebellions in various regions, they were still able to prove themselves through their own abilities.
When a new dynasty changes, what it lacks most is talent. People can switch allegiances at any time and find a place in the new dynasty.
In a short time, the second-class gentry and poor scholars who were still wavering all turned their attention to the imperial court.
Meanwhile, the top aristocratic families completely broke ties with the Sui Dynasty because of Yuwen Chenglong's massacre in Luoyang.
Undercurrents are brewing.
Taiyuan, the residence of the Duke of Tang.
The night was deep, but the study was still brightly lit.
Li Yuan sat behind his desk, with a stack of letters beside him, all of which were secret letters sent by people from powerful families in various places.
The letters were largely similar, expressing their willingness to support the Li family and hoping that the Li family would take up arms soon to achieve great things together.
"Father," Li Jiancheng said hurriedly as he entered the study, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement.
"Yang Guang has dug his own grave; our Li family's chance has finally arrived!"
He placed a stack of letters on the table; they were several confidential letters he had just received that day, from several prominent families in Guanzhong.
"He who wins the favor of powerful families wins the world," Li Jiancheng exclaimed excitedly.
"Yang Guang is pushing the aristocratic families to our side! As long as Father issues a call to action, all the aristocratic families in the land will surely rise up in response!"
"Father, this is rebellion!"
Li Yuanji went even further, slamming his hand on the table and standing up.
His face was full of impatience; he couldn't wait to start an army the next day.
People like Dou Jiande of Hebei and Liu Wuzhou of Dingyang had already raised the banner of rebellion.
Locals flocked to join them, and they have formed a considerable force.
The Li family is strong and well-equipped, why should they wait?
If they don't raise an army soon, those powerful families will go find someone else to bet on!
"No rush."
Li Yuan closed his eyes slightly, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.
The word "rebellion" is easy to say but difficult to do.
He had to consider whether, after raising an army, he would become Yang Guang's primary target for elimination.
For Yang Guang, neither Liu Wuzhou nor Dou Jiande were considered major enemies.
Those people are just commoners; they'll never amount to anything.
But the Li family was different. They were nobles from Guanzhong, relatives of Yang Guang, and a force that could truly shake the foundations of the Sui Dynasty.
Once news of the rebellion reaches Luoyang, Yang Guang will likely send troops to Taiyuan immediately.
At that time, no matter how brave Li Yuanba is, can he stop an army of hundreds of thousands?
"Why aren't you in a hurry..." Li Yuanji was so anxious that he paced back and forth in the study like an ant on a hot pan.
He suddenly stopped and looked at Li Shimin, who was standing silently to the side. "Second Brother, say something!"
He desperately wanted to be a prince.
If the Sui Dynasty hadn't fallen, he would never have had that chance in his lifetime.
Li Shimin sat upright in his chair, his expression calm and composed.
He glanced at the agitated Li Yuanji and slowly spoke:
"Xu Maogong has already gone to persuade various places to revolt, and I am waiting for news from him."
Actually, he had another thought in mind.
Lü Xiao is truly remarkable.
He had dealt with Lü Xiao several times and knew how terrifying this man was.
His martial prowess was unparalleled, and his Red Valiant Army was the elite of the elite.
To succeed, we must lure Lü Xiao away.
Xu Maogong went to the Jianghuai region with the aim of luring the tiger away from the mountain.
Once Lü Xiao leads his troops south to quell the rebellion, the eastern capital will be left vulnerable, making it the perfect time for them to raise an army.
At that time, Lü Xiao will be in a difficult situation.
Even if he had wings, he wouldn't be able to get back to the Eastern Capital to save the emperor while he was in the Jianghuai region.
"Just wait, all you do is wait!"
Li Yuanji was extremely irritable, and he wanted nothing more than to overturn the table in front of him.
Li Shimin was too lazy to pay him any attention.
This third brother is a madman.
In short, what belongs to the Li family belongs to the Li family.
With Li Yuanba's pair of golden hammers, the Li family is bound to have a share of the world.
Beiping Prefecture.
The atmosphere was heavy inside the main tent of the Yanshan Iron Cavalry.
Luo Yi sat in the main seat, his brows furrowed and his face gloomy.
There were many rebels in Hebei, with Dou Jiande and Gao Shida emerging one after another, and their momentum growing stronger.
He could have remained a bystander, watching the tigers fight from the sidelines.
However, the eldest son, Luo Cheng, became a hostage and was detained in Luoyang.
Yang Guang had this Achilles' heel firmly in his grasp, leaving Yang Guang with no choice but to side with the court.
"Your Highness," Zhang Gongjin said cautiously, noticing Luo Yi's troubled expression.
"Could we use the pretext of quelling the rebellion to go and find Prince Kao Shan, and ask him to persuade His Majesty to allow the Crown Prince to return to Beiping?"
Luo Yi and Yang Lin were on good terms.
Yang Lin is aware of the importance of Yanshan, so he probably won't just sit idly by, right?
Luo Yi shook his head, his voice low: "I'm afraid that's not a good idea."
In terms of loyalty, Yang Lin's devotion to the Sui Dynasty is as clear as day and night.
That old man dedicated his entire life to the Sui Dynasty, choosing to remain unmarried for life in order to protect the Yang family's empire.
With rebellions raging everywhere, Yang Lin is eager to control Beiping Prefecture and force the Yanshan cavalry to serve the imperial court.
What does their friendship amount to in the face of the fate of the nation?
Qin Qiong sat at the lower end of the table, without saying a word.
He didn't know what to say.
Although Luo Yi's current situation is not entirely his fault, it is indirectly caused by him.
If he hadn't sought refuge with the Beiping Prefecture, Luo Cheng wouldn't have been targeted by Lü Xiao.
Because of Luo Cheng's affair, this uncle-in-law had already developed a dislike for him.