Chapter 226:

Chapter 226:

Chapter 226

A few days later, inside the imperial palace, Li Er gazed upon the three elderly men lying on the ground, his expression extremely serious.

“Your Majesty, while the aristocratic families have made errors, their actions don't justify capital punishment!”

“Prince Yongle has become consumed by bloodlust. Allowing him to continue unchecked could lead to the destruction of the entire Zhu Xia region. Your Majesty, can you truly bear to repeat the ancient history of the Five Barbarians disrupting the Han Dynasty?”

“Your Majesty, you also hail from the Li family of Longxi. Can you stand by as Su Li massacres our fellow Li clan members?”

The three individuals before him were all at least eighty years old. According to the imperial decrees of the Great Tang, individuals above eighty were exempt from punishment if they committed a crime. Moreover, they didn't need to kneel and bow before the emperor. Instead, the emperor would treat them with respect. Hence, even common citizens could enjoy such treatment if they lived long enough. Not to mention the three people before him, all of them were elders of the Li clan from Longxi.

Regarding the connection between the imperial family and the Li clan of Longxi, Li Er felt a bitter taste. Previously, the imperial family had claimed to be descended from the Li clan of Longxi, but the Li clan had strongly disputed this assertion.

The reason was quite simple. In the Great Tang, almost everyone knew that the imperial family had non-Han Chinese ancestry. The Li clan descended from the Xianbei during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Yu Wentai implemented a policy known as the “Guanzhong-centric” policy, which ordered the Xianbei people to adopt surnames from the Guanzhong region. The Li clan's native place was primarily associated with Longxi. During that time, Li Er's ancestor, Li Hu, claimed to be from the Li clan of Longxi. Despite intermingling with the native Central Plains population over nearly a hundred years, they couldn't be considered part of the Han Chinese mainstream.

Even with Li Er's firm stance, when it came time to revise the “Clan Chronicles,” he still listed the Li clan of Longxi as the foremost among the thirteen regional lineages of the Li clan and as the preeminent surname in the nation. Naturally, there were suspicions of trying to flatter the Longxi Li clan. However, changing the recognition of ancestry wasn't as simple as wanting to recognize it. People would not simply accept it because the Li Tang imperial family wanted to enjoy the world.

Whether it was the hereditary system of officers in the pre-Qin period, the examination system during the Han Dynasty, or the nine-rank system after the Wei and Jin dynasties, officers were predominantly selected from noble backgrounds. This was the aristocratic families' true strength.

Recognizing this, the early Sui Dynasty introduced the imperial examination system. However, it was more of a facade, merely changing the process of appointing officers from recommendations to examinations while still favoring the same group. Most literate people were already under the influence of the aristocratic families.

Li Er understood that allowing Su Li to ruthlessly destroy the aristocratic families without restraint would be unwise. They were essential for providing the court with numerous scholars of exceptional abilities and perspectives to serve as officers.

So, when the Longxi Li clan proposed a connection, Li Er was intrigued. He saw the potential benefits. His simple agreement could lead the aristocratic families to bow down and submit, eventually falling under the imperial family's control. This could bring stability to the Great Tang's court and elevate his personal prestige. Aligning with the Longxi Li clan would no longer be a contentious issue, and he could even declare the imperial family as the main lineage of the Longxi Li clan without much opposition.

As for other aristocratic families without such connections, there would be no need to be overly considerate. They could choose to cooperate or oppose as they saw fit. It was an opportunity worth seizing.

The more Li Er pondered this, the more relieved he felt. But just as he was deep in thought, an unexpected interruption occurred,

“Your Majesty, you wouldn’t want to carry the reputation of a family torn apart by internal strife, would you? If you don’t give us a clear answer today, we three old men are willing to die right here in this hall!” Suddenly, one of the old men cried out, struggling to rise and crashing towards a hall pillar.

Li Er swiftly signaled the guards to restrain the three individuals. He then spoke gently, “You may return for now. Su Li has been excessive lately, and I will personally speak with him.” The three elderly men blinked with teary eyes, seemingly surprised that Li Er agreed so readily.

“Rest assured, Su Li is my son-in-law. He wouldn’t go so far as to ignore my words!” Li Er’s words carried resolute confidence.