Chapter 632: Have You Really Made Up Your Mind?

Hehe......

Li Shimin looked deeply at Chen Yan, lifted his wine cup, and drank on his own.

He naturally knew what Chen Yan meant; it was nothing more than disturbing the temple's privileges.

The Meritorious Nobles' privileges he could not yet touch; even a progressive tax system requires step‑by‑step groundwork and careful planning.

Yet until now, they have not taken any concrete action.

Why?

Because the Tang Dynasty's realm was secured by the support of these Meritorious Nobles, and if their interests were disturbed, Li Shimin wouldn't dare say what would happen.

Since the Meritorious Nobles' interests cannot be moved, yet he wishes to boost treasury income and curb land annexation, he naturally must choose a soft target.

Temples naturally entered their line of sight.

This is why, when Han Zhongliang brought it up, Chen Yan instantly gave the go‑ahead, even if it meant hard‑fighting a group of civil officials.

However, once the Buddhist Establishment's interests are touched, combined with earlier events, even the most foolish Meritorious Nobles understand what Li Shimin is planning.

Because Li Shimin now holds several strong cards, even if the Meritorious Nobles know his plan, they have little to do for the moment.

Just as Chen Yan spoke of the progressive tax system without hesitation, he is not at all afraid that the aristocratic families and Meritorious Nobles might turn hostile now.

Rather than conceal, it's better to speak openly, giving both sides a psychological preparation.

However, Li Shimin's conflicts with many aristocratic families and Meritorious Nobles have already reached an irreconcilable level; as movable type printing, papermaking, and hydraulic textile machines gradually appear, the foundations of the aristocratic families are being shaken bit by bit.

And now Li Shimin is about to take the step of disturbing privileges and involving land... there truly is no turning back.

Truly, it's either you die or I live.

Zi An...

Li Shimin set down his wine cup and said slowly, "You should already have an answer in your heart."

"Since you told me about this Dynastic Cycle Law, explaining that each dynasty, when it reaches its end, will go through a cyclical reshuffle."

"I knew that if I, like previous emperors, were only a wise ruler for one generation, or even an eternal emperor, I could never guarantee the continuous inheritance of the Tang Dynasty's realm."

"If I hadn't known these, perhaps I wouldn't be so eager to deal with the aristocratic families; I would proceed step by step, even leaving it to Cheng Qian, or even my imperial grandchildren, to handle, and that would be fine."

"But now I understand that the aristocratic families aren't that terrifying; what is truly frightening is this cycle. I cannot let this situation arise; I must do something."

He let out a low laugh, his tone complex, and said: "Back then, in Weinan County, after you finished telling me the Dynastic Cycle Law, I returned and thought day and night, holding long nocturnal talks with the ministers."

"Later, I and Du Ruhui and the others suddenly discovered a terrifying truth: the cycle you described is too cruel!"

"It's truly too cruel!"

"It is not only a dynastic cycle, but also a cycle of countless lives; recalling the times of Han Wendi and Han Wudi, when the Han Dynasty was unprecedentedly strong, what was the population then?"

"But after the fall of Xi Han, when Dong Han was established from the ruins, what was the population then?"

"A few years before the Daye Era Era Era, how many households did the Government register? Over eight million households, yet in Wude Year 1 the population was how much? Hehe...... I tell you, less than thirty percent of the figure from a few years before the Daye Era Era Era!"

"Where did the remaining seventy percent of the population go? Zi An... as the one who proposed the Dynastic Cycle Law, aren't you aware?"

Chen Yan fell silent, saying nothing.

Although he is only a medical student, he is somewhat aware of such historical matters.

The Dynastic Cycle Law is not merely a dynastic cycle; everything begins to reshuffle, not only the realm, land, nobles, Imperial Family, but also the population that has finally recovered after rest.

Why?

Because in this era, land is the foundation of all production, yet land also has a limit of capacity.

Once that limit is exceeded, the surplus population must be cleared, so that the world can return to normal operation and a new dynasty can be established.

As for how to clear...

Naturally, there is no better method than a turmoil, an all‑covering war, plague, or natural disaster.

History repeats itself, the cycle never ends!

"Your Majesty, have you decided?" Chen Yan lifted the wine jar and filled Li Shimin's cup to the brim.

"Are you confirming with me?" Li Shimin retorted, then continued speaking to himself:

"I strongly support your establishment of workshops, recruitment of commoners; I support you opening a library so that people across the realm have the chance to study and become enlightened; I support you, in the name of the royal family, opening a Money Shop to gather the realm's wealth."

"My thoughts, do you truly not understand?"

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty; I naturally understand..." Chen Yan smiled and nodded, "However, this path is too difficult; perhaps we can win all the way to the end, then stand at the pinnacle of the world, proudly across ages, engraving the character 'Tang' deep into the very bones and blood of this land's people."

"At the same time... we might smash a southern wall, only to find an even higher, thicker southern wall behind it. Yet with no way back, we can only grit our teeth and keep crashing, eventually ending with a broken head, bleeding, becoming a joke for others' idle chatter."

"Your Majesty..."

"So I must ask you, have you truly decided?"

"......"

In the Dali Temple Prison, where sunlight can never reach, only a single oil lamp flickered quietly inside the cell.

The slightly messy floor reflected two silhouettes holding chopsticks, yet remaining silent.

The entire cell fell silent, leaving only the bubbling gurgle of a hot pot.

"Zi An, there's a hidden meaning in your words." Li Shimin lifted his wine cup, drank it in one gulp, "I know what you want to say; if this path is taken to the end, it will either become everlasting glory or an irrecoverable disaster."

Chen Yan said nothing, only quietly watching him.

"But I ask you," Li Shimin set down his wine cup, his tone calm, "If I were to stop now, could I peacefully become a tranquil sovereign? Would the aristocratic families spare me? Would they think I'm sensible and then obediently listen, no longer opposing the court?"

Li Shimin didn't give Chen Yan a chance to speak, continuing, "It won't happen; I know them too well."

"When both sides have already fought to this point, if I step back one inch, they will take two steps; if I give them an inch, they will seize a foot!"

"In the end, my descendants will either become puppets in their hands, or, like the emperors at the end of the Han, watch helplessly as the realm shatters."

Chen Yan slightly bowed his head, still saying nothing.

"So then." Li Shimin picked up his chopsticks, stirred the hot pot, "I have no choice, you have no choice; we are both strapped onto this boat, we can only paddle forward."

"......"