Chapter 37: The truth of the prosperous age

"Hmph! Isn't it all because of those damn aristocratic families?"

Before Erhu could speak, an old man of considerable age grabbed the conversation indignantly.

"Oh? Old man, tell me, what is going on?"

Qin Mu turned to look at the old man.

"Savior, you don't know."

"The governor of our Yunzhou city is a wine-bag and rice-sack, who only knows how to indulge in pleasure and never dares to go to the battlefield to command operations."

"Since the Emperor signed the Weishui Alliance with the Turks three years ago, Yunzhou city has not suffered any major invasions, but small groups of Turkic cavalry have been harassing us constantly."

"In order to claim credit from the imperial court, the governor viciously captured strong men, hoping to make great achievements on the battlefield."

"Erhu was forcibly captured into the military camp at that time."

"But that governor only knew how to talk on paper, causing our garrison to fall into encirclement several times, with countless casualties."

"We old guys fought to the death to repel the enemy repeatedly."

The old man explained to Qin Mu in detail.

But Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou’s face became uglier and uglier.

Truly reckless!

How could the imperial court let such a wine-bag and rice-sack be a governor?

"Old man, since you repelled the enemy, that counts as a great achievement."

"Especially for wounded soldiers Wu Li Ke Erhu, shouldn't there be a pension? How did you end up living in such a place?" Qin Mu asked the key question again.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou also hurriedly listened.

This was also the question she cared about most.

"Sigh!"

"Savior, don't mention any pension!"

"I can't guarantee other places, but in this Yunzhou city, even if your whole family died on the battlefield, you wouldn't see a single cent!"

"Last time, several of our disabled soldiers went to the government office to ask how to settle down, but they didn't even get through the door before being beaten out."

"That governor said that it is a great honor for us to be born in the prosperous age of Great Tang, and wanting a pension is simply ungrateful."

The old man shook his head and sighed repeatedly.

"Simply unreasonable! What kind of bastard governor is this?"

Princess Changle couldn't listen anymore, her little face flushed with anger.

"Young lady, you can't say it Wu Li Ke that. This governor is said to be a descendant of an aristocratic family in the capital, and coming to Yunzhou is just to accumulate achievements. In less than a year or two, his family will say a few good words in the imperial court, and he will be able to rise to the top."

"To power-holders Wu Li Ke them, the lives of us common people are Wu Li Ke ants, aren't they?"

Another big sister holding a newborn baby chimed in.

The crowd around also nodded silently.

"Old man, now our Great Tang has reformed many advanced technologies, and the supply of money and grain is continuous, at least you won't go hungry, right?"

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou grabbed the conversation and asked.

She never dreamed.

Under the prosperous age of Great Tang, such huge darkness would be hidden.

Shocking!

"Bullshit!"

"What new technology, we haven't seen anything in Yunzhou city."

"If the few saviors walk on the street and look carefully, you will understand; our Yunzhou city has long been short of grain."

"Our Yunzhou city only has two shops, both operated and controlled by aristocratic families. If they don't release grain, we people will starve to death." A big man with a broken arm complained in a muffled voice.

No need to guess, he must also be a soldier who was injured on the battlefield.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou was completely speechless.

She knew what to say.

If it weren't for this experience, perhaps she would never have imagined it in her life.

The prosperity of Changancheng was just a facade.

And the power of the aristocratic families had gradually become stronger with various reforms, even strong enough to control frontier towns Wu Li Ke Yunzhou city!

So.

The people who benefited most from all the reforms were not the common people, but those aristocratic families, those powerful nobles!

I don't know how long it had been.

Qin Mu’s group finally walked out of the street.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou remained silent and thoughtful all the way.

He already understood why Qin Mu brought her to this place.

It was to let her see all this with her own eyes!

And as for why Qin Mu was called a savior by them, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou had already guessed some of it.

Probably Qin Mu had long sent people to establish his own forces here, and to adopt and help war orphans, as well as those injured by the war.

As for the purpose.

No need to guess, I already knew.

It must be some preparations for attacking Great Tang in the future.

This child...

His scheming is truly unfathomable!

While Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou was shocked by Qin Mu’s scheming, she was also full of disappointment with the rotten aristocratic power of Great Tang.

Behind the vermilion gates, meat and wine go to waste; on the road, there are the bones of the frozen to death.

It is not false at all!

This Empress of Great Tang had seen through it.

The so-called reform.

It was just a development that did not touch the interests of the upper class!

The lowest-level people were still in deep water and hot fire.

Is this the so-called prosperous age of Great Tang?

"Hehe!"

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou gave a bitter laugh.

"Empress, people all say the Great Tang is prosperous and wealthy, a supreme celestial empire. I wonder what you think of this Yunzhou City?"

Qin Mu’s voice rang out again, with the exact same words as before.

Yet anyone could hear it.

His words were filled with irony.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou’s face flushed red; it was as if a thorn were stuck in her throat, and she could not utter a single word.

Indefensible!

Humiliating!

People are just Wu Li Ke this.

If one’s flaws are seen by one’s own people, one doesn't really feel much.

But once seen by outsiders, one feels so ashamed they wish they could crawl into a crack in the ground.

Especially letting Qin Mu see it.

Doesn't this just confirm that his defection from the Great Tang was not wrong at all?

In a Great Tang ruled by aristocratic clans, who would be willing to serve?

"Perhaps, perhaps only Yunzhou is Wu Li Ke this?"

Princess Changle said with some stubbornness.

She, too, had received a massive shock and impact.

Yet she was still unwilling to destroy the prosperous golden age in her heart.

"The Great Tang has a total of ten circuits and commanderies, and over three hundred counties; is there a single official in these places who does not come from an aristocratic clan? Is there one who does not put their family interests above those of the common people?"

"Your mother is a virtuous Empress of her generation, with outstanding ability; just ask her and you will know."

Qin Mu replied calmly.

"Mother..."

Princess Changle widened her eyes, looking at Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou with anticipation.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wugou lowered her head, silent, still unable to answer this question.

Qin Mu was right!

In the over three hundred circuits and counties of the Great Tang, almost all were held by scions of aristocratic clans. ===== CHAPTER 83 =====