Chapter 563: Schemes Resurface

At this moment, on the other side.

The main figures of the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes gathered together again for the first time, all discussing how to proceed from now on.

And Wang Gui, who was at the top, after returning, felt increasingly uneasy.

Is it really just because I'm suitable that I hold the position of Minister of Works…?

Does Li Shimin simply want him to temporarily fill this position, or does he have other considerations?

After pondering for a while, Wang Gui suddenly thought of the Tang Dynasty Daily that the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes dreaded, and he was enlightened.

"So that's it, so that's it!" Wang Gui chuckled wryly, shook his head, and recalled that day when Chen Yan and Cui Xuan presented three conditions.

At first they all thought the first two were the hardest, while the last one—building a few libraries—was actually the easiest.

But the facts seem not to be so!

Who is this Wang Gui?

Even after stepping down from the position of Imperial Attendant to become Minister of Works, he remains one of the leading figures of the aristocratic families.

Moreover, he voluntarily proposed at the court meeting to resign as Imperial Attendant, take the post of Minister of Works, and oversee the construction of the Wen Ming Dian for the Imperial Examination.

Once this news spreads through the Tang Dynasty Daily, what will the world think?

And Chen Yan's proposal that their aristocratic families fund the library construction, when that news also spreads, what will the world think?

Once these two pieces of news spread, everyone will think that Li Shimin is vigorously promoting the Imperial Examination, and that the formerly monopolizing aristocratic families are now fully supporting it.

It sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

That's a good reputation.

However, the reality is not so; once the world believes the aristocratic families support the Imperial Examination, they will no longer have any power to block it, not even small maneuvers, and can only watch helplessly as the examination grows and the low‑born have a chance to rise.

Otherwise, they will be seen as hypocrites, saying one thing to the face and another behind it.

Wang Gui sighed, "Truly impressive, another blatant yang scheme!"

"No wonder Chen Yan assumed we'd agree to his three conditions; now my position as Minister of Works is set, building the Wen Ming Dian is the inevitable trend, whether we take this step or not is no longer up to me."

Cui Han hesitated, "Why does Wang Lao He say that, and what does it have to do with the three conditions Chen Yan proposed?"

The others also cast puzzled glances.

Wang Gui fell silent for a moment, then spoke out everything he had figured out.

Zheng Zhi Li, upon hearing, became agitated, "What the hell, these old man and son‑in‑law really think we're easy to bully? Step by step they plot against us; what do they take our aristocratic clan for?"

"I told you, that little bastard Chen Yan doesn't lack this money at all, so why force us to pay? Turns out that's the plan!"

"And Li Shimin… isn't he about to go to war? At such a critical point this year, they still dare to press step by step; at worst they'd risk a total disaster!"

"We don't need any of the sugar, silk, or technology; I want to see what they can do to me!"

"Silence!" Above, the elder of the Zheng family scolded, "You're old enough, why are you still so impatient?"

"Don't Li Shimin and Chen Yan know this year is a pivotal one? Do you think they have no guard against us?"

"Don't forget how many people have come to propose marriage during this period; Cheng Yaojin is beyond mention, already married, but Wei Zheng and the Yu Chi Family have just followed with proposals."

"Moreover, Li Shimin not only holds supreme power, but has already captured public opinion; do you think the situation is still in our hands as before?"

"Compete? How do you compete?"

"Back then, did the Wei family never think of fighting? They even had a beloved Wei Concubine, but facing the tide and popular discontent, would the Wei Concubine even dare to fart?"

"Instead, they just cower, hide in the palace, and dare not even probe concrete information."

"Do you want the Zheng family to become the second Wei family?"

Those words, like a bucket of cold water poured over him, instantly extinguished all of Zheng Zhi Li's anger.

The ancestral hall was dead silent, and at the very bottom, Cui Xuan sat restlessly, at this moment finally grasping profoundly the gap between himself and Chen Yan.

He was still looking one step ahead, while others already saw three steps ahead.

The two differ too vastly to be compared!

"Alas~"

Wang Yan Zhi sighed, "Let's stick to the original plan: disperse when needed, find a back route when needed. I originally resisted Chen Yan's conditions, but now that we've come this far, we might as well secure the technology, leaving us a chance to rise again later."

"Actually, we're not unfamiliar with this, are we?"

"A dazzling new star rises, and everyone else can only become background, avoiding its brilliance!"

"Otherwise they'd be crushed by an unmatched force; wasn't that how the Ho family fell years ago?"

"No matter how strong Li Shimin is, or how cunning Chen Yan, there will come a day they fade away!"

He finished, and the nearby Lu Zhong Xuan, who had kept his eyes closed and dressed as a scholar, opened his eyes at the words, "Saving money isn't a big deal; Chen Yan is principled—since he dared to open this Money Shop, he surely won't ruin his own reputation."

"At present, Old Wang's construction of the Wen Ming Dian is set, and it was his own proposal; surely by tomorrow, at the latest the day after, the Tang Dynasty Daily will spread this news across the realm."

"The third point is also harmless; after all we've already fallen for a yang scheme, just as Old Wang said, whether we take this step or not is no longer up to us."

"Of Chen Yan's three conditions, I have no objection to the second and third; the only uncertain one is the first condition."

"Progressive tax system… just hearing that name, I can guess roughly what it means."

"It's not aimed solely at us; it's targeting all landowners, gentry, and Meritorious Nobles across the realm."

"Chen Yan's move is also ruthless; as I recall correctly, his family's visible lands total over a hundred thousand mu."

"He's so ruthless he could even slaughter himself!"

Cui Han: "That's precisely why Chen Yan has earned Li Shimin's deep trust; he's truly odd, as if he has no ambition at all, wholeheartedly assisting Li Shimin."

"Even Du Ruhui, whose entire fortune is a mere seven thousand guan, cannot achieve this."

"It's fate!" Wang Gui sighed, "Heroes in the world are like fish crossing a river; we have never looked down on the people of the world, yet we didn't expect that in this era so many incomprehensible figures would emerge."

"Go and make contact with Chen Yan, see if we can gain more benefits for us; as for your first concern…"

"Hehe, you don't think that because Chen Yan dared to voice his thoughts, he'll place his hopes of success on us, do you?"

"If my guess is correct, they already have full confidence; we are merely a flower on the brocade—whether we exist or not makes no difference…"

"......"