Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

"For generations to come?"

This slightly elevated tone didn't make the stubborn old families present think too much; instead, they all sat down, eager to get a piece of the pie.

Even if the Yangzhou aristocratic families were destined to lose a lot of money and food this time, as long as they could get a piece of the pie.

Then, in less than five or ten years, they would not only be able to make up for the lost money and food, but also deepen the family's foundation.

For a time, many representatives of the stubborn aristocratic families really felt that Marquis Guoshi was a benevolent gentleman, and the reason why no notice of recalling the meeting three days in advance was sent was all because Zhu Zheng had interfered early on.

The reason was also very reasonable.

The more stubborn aristocratic families were purged, the more benefits Zhu Zheng could get in his eyes, so naturally he hoped that the losses of the remaining aristocratic families would be even more惨重.

It's no wonder they would judge like this, because if it were them, they would definitely do the same.

As the various aristocratic families sat down again with their own thoughts, Li Ji ordered people to bring a document that he had personally drafted in advance, saying.

"Because this matter is of great importance, words are not enough, so I have drafted a confidentiality agreement, and I would like to ask you to sign it."

Confidentiality agreement?

Obviously, this concept does not yet exist in this era.

However, this is not something difficult to understand. The content of the document is as Li Ji said, mainly requiring that the content of today's speech must not be disclosed to others, otherwise the government will pursue responsibility based on the losses and impact.

Almost all the aristocratic family representatives signed it after a little thought.

At this, a hidden smile appeared on Li Ji's face.

In this era when the spirit of the rule of law is not obvious, the "Confidentiality Agreement" will certainly not really make them realize the importance of confidentiality. This is just to let the Yangzhou aristocratic families take the initiative to leave a handle.

If it is really leaked, Li Ji will not rush to pursue it;

However, if some aristocratic families are stubborn next, then this agreement will become the most suitable death warrant.

After all the aristocratic family representatives completed the signing of the "Confidentiality Agreement", and Li Ji personally confirmed that it was correct, he said in a deep voice.

"Everyone, since Emperor Gaozu founded the Han Dynasty, it has been nearly four hundred years. During this period, there were also people like Wang Mang who brought disaster to the world, and then Emperor Guangwu, with the full assistance of the aristocratic families, pacified the world and revived the Han Dynasty."

"It can be seen that without the help of aristocratic families, there would be no Great Han today."

"For the country and the people, the aristocratic families can be regarded as the mainstay, supporting the Great Han."

This series of praises, coupled with Li Ji's identity, almost made the aristocratic families present feel like they had drunk fake wine.

Are we so noble?

However, it is a great honor to be evaluated by Marquis Guoshi in this way?

Even though they tried hard to maintain their posture, the upturned corners of their mouths, the downturned eyebrows, and the slightly raised chins were enough to reveal the changes in their mood.

After Li Ji paused slightly, he arched his hand slightly towards the upper left to show his intention.

"Today, the world is in chaos, the Han Dynasty is declining, and the heroes have begun to rise together. My lord, as a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan and a relative of the Han Dynasty, should rise up and emulate Emperor Guangwu to support the Han Dynasty and rebuild the Great Han."

"Li Ji is incompetent, but the lord does not think I am despicable, but condescends to visit me in the thatched cottage, consults me on current affairs, and entrusts me with military and political affairs. I am grateful and worried day and night, fearing that there is something I have not done my best…"

When this passage was said, the aristocratic families present listened attentively, only feeling that Li Ji's heart could be called a loyal and virtuous minister.

And Liu Bei, who had deliberately taken the time to squat at the corner of the courtyard out of curiosity, couldn't help but shed tears at this moment, saying with some choking.

"Bei is originally a person of little benevolence and virtue. It must be the blessing of my ancestors, otherwise how could I get Zikun to help me so much?"

It's just that Li Ji obviously didn't know that he had casually borrowed two sentences from the "Chu Shi Biao", but it almost moved Liu Bei to tears.

Liu Bei heard… "Chu Shi Biao"?

Presumably, Li Ji would definitely feel strange, and then the solemn and solemn color that he had managed to maintain would be broken on the spot.

Immediately, Li Ji's gaze swept over the aristocratic family representatives, and he said earnestly.

"And the chaos of the Great Han today, isn't it also the chaos of the aristocratic families? Now that the aristocratic families have developed to this point, they have undoubtedly reached a bottleneck period."

This remark made many aristocratic family representatives frown on the spot.

It was not because they were annoyed by what Li Ji said, but precisely because Li Ji had pointed out the pain point.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the original "aristocratic family" referred only to families with "hereditary salary" and "hereditary officials". This term also comes from "Mencius · Teng Wengong II".

Later, Liu Bang established the Great Han. Because there were princes and marquises who founded the country, and their descendants inherited it for generations as aristocratic families, Sima Qian wrote thirty chapters of "Shiji" when he wrote "Shiji".

After experiencing four hundred years of development, they assisted Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu in reviving the Great Han in the middle, which further increased the privileges enjoyed by the aristocratic families and became more and more inflated.

Not only the privileges on taxation, which allowed the aristocratic families to continue to annex land, making it difficult for the people to gain a foothold, resulting in a sharp decline in the taxes that the government could collect from the people.

For the sake of political achievements, the government can only impose exorbitant taxes on the people, so that the bankrupt people can only choose to sell their land to the aristocratic families, and then form a vicious circle.

In addition to the privileges on land taxation, the recommendation system also allowed the aristocratic families to control the right to speak on the promotion and appointment of most officials in the locality.

In the past few hundred years, the aristocratic families can be said to have been developing vigorously, but this development is also limited, and the aristocratic families have almost reached the end of the road they are developing in front of them.

Except that Li Ji used a series of means to allow Liu Bei to get rid of the restrictions of the aristocratic families, and after mastering enough righteousness, he could even turn around and make the Yangzhou aristocratic families have to submit humbly.

This… is just a special case!

Even if some ambitious princes try to suppress the aristocratic families, the status of the aristocratic families in the local area is often detached.

However, the aristocratic families also clearly know that the road in front of them is almost at the end, so some aristocratic families are already trying to change.

In Li Ji's view, what the Yuan family, who had four generations and three princes, was eyeing was the throne, and some other insightful aristocratic families had also begun various attempts and plans.

Li Ji also knew that in the original trajectory, the next step of the aristocratic families would evolve into a valve group headed by "Five Surnames and Seven Wangs", reaching a detached position.

And the aristocratic families may be large or small, but some people have already reached the end.

Compared with behemoths like the Yangzhou aristocratic families and the Yuan family, there is naturally no comparability, but they also clearly know that the Yuan family is the upper limit of the height that the aristocratic families can get at present.

(End of this chapter)