Chapter 12: From the Plight of the Aristocratic Clans to the Dawn of a New Dynasty!

"Xuanling, why are you back so late? How did Chengqian deal with Qingque and Fujie?"

Li Shimin paced the hall, his brows furrowed in deep anxiety, each step heavy with restlessness. Fang Xuanling had just entered the palace gates, followed by Yuchi Jingde, Cheng Yaojin, and Li Ji. They all wore grim, dark expressions, remaining completely silent. Seeing this, Li Shimin's apprehension surged like a rising tide.

"What is wrong with all of you? Have you been struck dumb? Speak to me!" Li Shimin’s voice rose, carrying a hint of imperial reprimand.

Fang Xuanling slowly lifted his head, casting a complex, somber look at Li Shimin. "Your Majesty, Prince Wei and Lord Changsun are unharmed. The Crown Prince spared them, imposing only house arrest and a salary deduction."

Hearing this, Li Shimin’s tense nerves slackened, and he let out a long sigh of relief. "As long as there is no fratricide, that is enough!"

However, his brow did not fully unfurl, and his confusion deepened. "If Qingque and Fujie are fine, why are you all wearing such gloomy faces?"

Fang Xuanling sighed again, a sound heavy with boundless concern. "The Crown Prince executed quite a few officials from the aristocratic clans today and sent men to scour the records of every official in the court. Only those found without fault were permitted to leave the Taiji Hall. Nearly half of the officials remain in the hall now, most of whom are from the noble clans." He paused, his gaze hardening. "The Crown Prince intends to strike at the clans."

Li Shimin understood at once why they were so grim. His lips twitched; the prospect of attacking the aristocratic clans was a heavy and volatile matter. Which emperor throughout history had not wanted to move against these powerful families? It was not a lack of courage that stopped them; it was the impossibility of the task.

The scions of the clans held the books—the repositories of knowledge. In an age where cultural transmission was limited, books meant wisdom and power. When the court needed to govern, it had to rely on these clan members. Killing was easy, but indiscriminate slaughter would lead to unimaginable consequences. If the court were emptied of officials, the administration would collapse, and the clans would watch from the sidelines as the dynasty crumbled like a falling building.

Furthermore, imperial decrees often only held weight in areas like Chang'an; they were difficult to implement in the provinces, which were controlled by various local clans who served as the gatekeepers for tax collection, disaster relief, and the recommendation of officials. To mishandle the relationship with the clans was to invite the destruction of the dynasty.

Even the sagely Li Shimin felt a headache brewing. He pressed his temples. "What is the situation now? How many have been killed?"

"Anyone who participated in the rebellion was executed by the Crown Prince today," Fang Xuanling replied helplessly. "They were taken from the Taiji Hall to the vegetable market for beheading. These people came from all the major clans. As for the rest... I do not know."

Li Shimin collapsed into his seat, drained of strength. "It is my fault. I did not teach Chengqian how to be an emperor. He should have taken it slowly!" His voice turned hoarse with self-reproach. "Is the Great Tang to follow in the footsteps of the Sui? The feud between my Li family and the clans has reached a point of no return." A flicker of ruthlessness crossed his eyes. "Tomorrow, you shall accompany me to court. If the Great Tang must fall, it shall not be at the hands of Chengqian, nor will I let him bear a legacy of infamy like the Emperor Yang of Sui. If necessary, I shall conquer the world all over again!"

Li Shimin’s eyes blazed with the same spirited vitality he had possessed as the General of Heavenly Strategy. Even in this moment of crisis, his sense of duty as a ruler remained unshaken.

"Your Majesty!" Fang Xuanling and the others, moved to tears by his resolve and fearful for the fate of the Tang, knelt before him.

***

At the hour of Si (9:00 AM), ministers arrived at the palace. Unlike the previous day, many new faces appeared among them—young men in pristine, brand-new official robes. They were vibrant, their faces full of youthful energy, standing in stark contrast to the world-weary veteran officials. Even Fang Xuanling, sitting in his carriage, felt a sense of rejuvenation watching them; their vitality seemed to dispel the gloom of the court.

Li Shimin, observing from his carriage, was puzzled. He had expected the palace gates to be desolate, like fallen leaves in late autumn. Instead, he saw a scene of vigor.

"Xuanling, the situation is not what I expected," Li Shimin remarked. "I wonder where the Crown Prince found so many young men, and if they are capable."

Li Shimin initially wanted to attend, but fearing he would be proven wrong again, he decided, "Forget it. Xuanling, I will not show myself today. I shall go to your estate; you can attend court and judge the capabilities of these young men yourself."

Inside the Taiji Hall, the atmosphere was much lighter, thanks to the Crown Prince's new rule: work began at the hour of Si. For the officials, no longer having to depart at 3:00 AM was a massive relief.

Li Chengqian, dressed in simple red robes, walked into the hall with a casual, confident gait and took his seat on the throne. Beside the Prime Minister stood Mr. Qi, who looked utterly exhausted from a sleepless night of reassigning vacant positions.

"Ministers, I have an announcement," Chengqian’s voice rang out, clear and resonant. "Do not be confused. You are the pillars of the Tang. Those who are not here today will not be returning. The faces you see before you are their replacements."

A murmur rippled through the hall, but the young officials he had promoted were filled with excitement, preventing any real disturbance.

"From today, for the next three years, the format of the morning court will change," Chengqian declared, his gaze sharp. "Your task is simple: I issue orders, and you execute them. Of course, you may submit suggestions. If I am wrong, you may step forward to criticize me, as Master Wei often does. However, whether I listen is entirely up to me."

Silence descended upon the hall. Even Wei Zheng remained quiet, deep in thought.

"We accept the decree," the young officials responded in unison, their voices full of spirit. The veteran officials, though reluctant to abandon tradition, bowed their heads and followed suit.