Chapter 281

That sounds like his style!

What a pity!

Wuji, oh Wuji, you really don't know what it means to have someone above you, and a heaven above the heavens.

What kind of person is Qin Mu?

How could he let you take advantage of him?

Now look at this!

Not only did you lose a son, but you also lost the entire foundation of the Zhangsun family.

You can't blame anyone else for this, you can only blame yourself!

Li Er was still brooding over the fact that Zhangsun Wuji had forced him on the street previously.

Zhangsun Wuji had truly broken his heart.

For the Great Tang reforms, Li Er had originally placed the greatest hope in Zhangsun Wuji!

But who knew that Zhangsun Wuji would become the greatest obstacle to the reforms.

Every time Li Er prepared to discuss how to reform with him, Zhangsun Wuji would only shake his head.

In any case, nothing would work, which made Li Er quite furious.

This trip to Jiannan Circuit was a case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice, and he even disgusted himself upon returning to Chang'an City.

People really do get more muddled as they get older!

"Your Majesty, it seems the Duke of Zhao has suffered heavy losses this time."

The more Fang Xuanling thought about it, the more he felt fearful, and even felt a chill down his spine.

Zhangsun Wuji is the number one official of Great Tang, a noble of the imperial family!

Now that he has ended up in such a state, who is the real mastermind behind it?

Qin Mu!

With just a few books, he buried half of Zhangsun Wuji's life in a coffin.

Qin Mu knew that Great Tang would trade for 100,000 books from him, yet he still traded with Zhangsun Wuji; this was clearly intended to trap people!

And he didn't even have to lift a finger himself.

Once those 100,000 books were transported to Chang'an City, the Emperor would surely be impatient to make those books public.

In this way.

The books in Zhangsun Wuji's hands would naturally become a pile of waste paper.

This move of borrowing a knife to kill someone was truly ruthless!

Qin Mu, oh Qin Mu, every time you set your mind to something, the whole of Great Tang suffers!

When will this ever end?

Fang Xuanling sighed with despair in his heart.

"That is his own business, he has to bear it himself!"

"Forget it, let's not talk about these annoying things. Xuanling, after the 100,000 books were made public, what was the response?"

Li Er waved his hand, not wanting to mention Zhangsun Wuji again.

What he is most concerned about right now is the talent issue.

Once these 100,000 books are made public, they will surely cause a sensation throughout the court and the country.

What will the subsequent impact be?

Will it be able to help the scholars from humble backgrounds?

These are the things Li Er most wants to know.

"Your Majesty, the response has been very intense! Since these books were distributed, your humble servant has imitated the academies seen in Great Qin and built several in Chang'an City and the surrounding towns, and placed the books there, guarded by heavy troops."

"Your humble servant posted notices at the entrance of every academy, and any student can enter the academy to read the books at will. For a time, every academy was crowded with people. The scholars from humble backgrounds even shouted that the imperial grace was vast, believing Your Majesty to be a wise and sagacious ruler rarely seen in a hundred years."

Mentioning books and scholars from humble backgrounds, Fang Xuanling immediately became spirited.

It was heartening!

With just 100,000 books, the influence was so great.

If the trade with Great Qin could be maintained, wouldn't the talent of Great Tang grow continuously?

With enough talent to help, the reforms would surely be twice as effective with half the effort!

"Good!"

Li Er nodded repeatedly with gratification, unable to stop a smile from appearing at the corners of his mouth.

Finally, some good news.

"Sigh! Your Majesty, Old Fang, this is just a superficial phenomenon; in reality, there are undercurrents surging."

Du Ruhui sighed, seemingly implying something.

"I say Old Du, speak your mind, don't be so cryptic."

Fang Xuanling rolled his eyes.

He and Du Ruhui were close friends, so they naturally spoke more casually.

"Your Majesty, although the effect of these 100,000 books is immediate, there are also some invisible side effects."

"Invisible side effects? What are they?"

"The noble families!"

Du Ruhui said concisely, pointing directly to the crux of the problem.

The expressions of Li Er and Fang Xuanling suddenly became grave.

They understood what Du Ruhui meant.

The resources for books were originally in the hands of the noble families.

They monopolized books, which meant they monopolized the talent pool.

To become an official, one could only be selected from the children of noble families...

In this way, they could be officials for generations, enjoying the wealth supplied by the common people!

Now that 100,000 books are open for public reading, this is indeed a sage-like act.

But this also means breaking the noble families' monopoly on books!

As the saying goes, taking away someone's wealth is like killing their parents!

Those noble families who monopolize books will never let it go.

These powerful families, which have lasted for hundreds of years, have deep roots and will stop at nothing to protect their family interests.

No one can predict what terrible means they might take.

"Forget it, let's not think about this. As the saying goes, soldiers come to block, water comes to cover. The Great Tang reforms are imperative, and no one can stop them."

Li Er knew the stakes involved, but he had to take the risk.

There was no other reason.

Qin Mu!

Great Qin!

Only after witnessing it with one's own eyes can one understand how terrifying they are.

If Great Tang continues to enjoy comfort, perhaps in the near future, Qin Mu will be at the city gates.

He is even dreaming of annexing Great Tang!

Precisely because of this.

Li Er could not eat or sleep in peace.

There was a sense of crisis hanging over his heart at all times.

"Your humble servant obeys!"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui answered in unison.

There was no better way.

"Xuanling, has Yaojin's army returned from the Western Regions?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, news from the front line was received yesterday; General Cheng said that he would arrive at the Great Tang border in three days' time."

"Good! Pass on my order: three days from now, I will lead the army in person to crusade against Great Qin."

Li Er stood up, his gaze majestic as he spoke.

"Your Majesty, are we really going to raise an army again?"

Fang Xuanling was truly helpless, and even somewhat speechless.