Chapter 11: The New Emperor Points His Sword at the Aristocratic Families!

"Your Majesty! This action will shake the very foundations of the state! It must not be done!"

An elderly official stepped out from the ranks of the court, his body trembling, his footing unsteady. His face, etched with deep lines of age and worry, was twisted into a tight frown, and his voice was raspy with fear and desperation.

In an instant, the civil and military officials in the Great Taiji Hall—whether they hailed from prestigious aristocratic clans or humble backgrounds—all knelt in unison, pleading for mercy on behalf of the accused aristocratic officials. The scene was a sea of bowed heads, their voices rising and falling in a cacophony that echoed through the magnificent hall.

Even Li Jing, the God of War of the Great Tang, a commander of immense dignity and legendary service, wore a grave expression as he cupped his hands and earnestly implored, "Your Majesty, I hope you will rescind this order!" His eyes flickered with a complex light, reflecting both anxiety over the state of affairs and his duty to advise the Emperor.

Listening to the wave-like protest rising from below, Li Chengqian sat on the dragon throne, his expression cold and stern, as immovable as a towering mountain. His gaze swept over the courtiers, the sharpness in his eyes intensifying until it felt like a tangible blade, chilling all who met his stare.

"Shake the foundations of the state? Hmph! Let me see just how this is supposed to shake the foundations of the state." Li Chengqian’s voice was low and authoritative. He waved his hand sharply. "Take the ringleaders to the vegetable market at the East Market and execute them immediately!"

As soon as these words fell, the entire court went deathly silent. The air seemed to congeal, thick and suffocating. The silence was broken only by the panic of men like Cui Chan and Cui Sheng. They were seized by soldiers of the Three Great Camps, who held them with the strength of iron clamps. They struggled violently, but it was as futile as a mayfly trying to topple a tree. Their faces were pale as parchment, filled with terror, and their usual arrogance had utterly vanished.

Even while being dragged away, the Minister of Personnel, Cui Sheng, craned his neck, a sinister glint in his eyes. He shouted, "Your Majesty! Do you intend to make an enemy of all the great clans in the empire? Do you wish to follow in the footsteps of Emperor Yang of Sui?" His voice was jarring in the silent hall, dripping with threat and provocation.

"Audacious!"

Qin Ruzhao, who had entered the hall wearing his sword and court boots, moved like lightning, drawing his blade. The steel gleamed, reflecting the candlelight with a chilling, lethal luster. He pointed the sword directly at Cui Sheng, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "If another word of disrespect toward His Majesty escapes your dog mouth, I will splatter your blood right here on this floor." His words were as sharp as an icy blade, causing Cui Sheng to shudder uncontrollably. Feeling the cold steel against his neck, Cui Sheng was terrified into silence, his lips trembling and beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"More than half of the court officials come from aristocratic clans! By doing this, Your Majesty, are you not afraid that the government will grind to a halt?" A young official suddenly stepped forward. Dressed in luxurious robes and wearing his black gauze cap, he glared at Li Chengqian, his voice ringing out with a reckless lack of self-preservation.

Li Chengqian glanced at him with a look of cold scrutiny. "Who are you?"

"I am Lu Guanyu, a junior official in the Ministry of Rites, hailing from the Lu clan of Fanyang," he declared, head held high, as if his family background were his greatest shield.

"The Lu clan of Fanyang, is it?" A disdainful sneer curled Li Chengqian’s lips. "Drag him out and execute him as well. So young, yet so eager to jump out and seek death?" His tone was icy, devoid of the slightest pity. The soldiers of the Three Great Camps swarmed forward like wolves. As he was dragged away, Lu Guanyu screamed, "Tyrant! You are a tyrant!" His cries echoed through the hall, but no one answered him.

Yet, the remaining aristocratic officials felt no fear. They were convinced that the new Emperor was merely posturing to suppress them. In their eyes, these clans possessed centuries of roots and vast influence; how could they be easily shaken by an Emperor who had not even officially ascended? They believed themselves to be ancient, towering trees, not fragile clay, which was why their resistance remained so fierce.

It was not until they were brought to the market and saw the head of Cui Sheng, who had been shouting just moments before, rolling on the ground while blood splattered the stone, that they awoke from their delusion. They finally understood that this new Emperor was not merely suppressing them—he intended to uproot the clans entirely and eradicate them.

Each official brought to the execution ground began to tremble, their legs turning to jelly, some even losing control of their bladders. They wailed in despair, but the soldiers of the Three Great Camps remained expressionless, their heavy blades rising and falling in rhythmic, brutal succession. Soon, heads were rolling across the ground, and blood sprayed like a fountain, dyeing the market floor a sickening crimson.

Back in the hall, the remaining officials felt a chill creep up their spines. They dared not breathe, glancing at one another with sheer terror. Li Chengqian sat on the throne, watching them with a smile that failed to reach his eyes—a smile that made their skin crawl.

"I do not trust any of you. It would be best if you stayed right here and did not move until I have investigated each and every one of you." His voice was slow and low, striking every heart like a heavy hammer. "Of course, do not be too afraid. As long as your actions truly benefit the state, I will treat you fairly, even if you are from an aristocratic clan."

The courtiers stood stiffly, sweat soaking their robes, paralyzed by fear. Teams of Jinyiwei guards moved in and out like ghosts, their steps silent and their faces grim. Each time they returned, they placed intelligence reports on the Emperor's desk before vanishing again. Each report was like a death warrant, tightening the suffocating atmosphere of the hall.

Night fell over Chang'an, but the Taiji Hall remained brightly lit, the swaying candlelight casting distorted shadows on the faces of the men within.

"Minister Fang, you may go and rest. From now on, the morning audience will begin at the hour of Si, so everyone can get some extra rest," Li Chengqian said, breaking the silence. "Cheng Zhijie, you may also leave. Li Ji, Hou Junji, Li Jing, Yuchi Jingde..."

Those whose names were called felt as if they had been granted a reprieve. They bowed respectfully and retreated from the hall, walking with the utmost caution.

"Minister Xiao Yu, you may return home to rest. Though you hail from the Xiao clan of Lanling, you have not been corrupt; in fact, you have used your own wealth to assist the people," Li Chengqian said, a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Yu was moved to tears. He looked deeply at Li Chengqian before turning to leave.

Those who were dismissed breathed a sigh of relief as they crossed the threshold, but those remaining in the hall were drenched in cold sweat. The Jinyiwei, dressed in their flying-fish robes, were a terrifying sight—mysterious, cold, and ruthlessly efficient.

When no more Jinyiwei entered, the atmosphere became even more oppressive. Li Chengqian yawned, a trace of fatigue in his eyes. He looked at those remaining—a mix of aristocratic scions and officials from humble origins. Most were not only corrupt but had committed countless heinous acts.

The highest-ranking among them was Cui Renshi, the Chancellor of the Secretariat.

"Take them all away. The Jinyiwei will interrogate them in the dungeon, and once the trials are concluded, confiscate their estates."

The remaining men were stunned, unable to believe their ears. Most were from the great clans. Was this a declaration of total war?

Cui Renshi stood up, his ornate robes and high cap unable to mask his panic, though he tried to remain composed. "Your Majesty, if you wish to confiscate our property, we cannot resist. But we are scions of the great clans. If you persist in this folly, I fear the Li Tang dynasty will end with you, just as the Sui did."

Zheng Renji, from the Zheng clan of Xingyang, stood up, furious. He threw his official cap onto the floor and scoffed. "An enemy of all the clans in the world?"

Li Chengqian looked at this group of "gentlemen in robes, beasts in heart" with utter contempt. "You do not even know what it means to be the Son of Heaven, yet you dare to spout such nonsense? So what if you are great clans?" His voice rose, filled with majesty. "The Son of Heaven is he who commands the strongest armies. I said: confiscate their estates. Since you are so unconvinced, I will tell you this: eventually, I will have your entire clans join you. Stay in the cells and wait for your kin to reunite with you, so you may see how laughable your threats were today."

"Ruzhao, take them all to the dungeon," Li Chengqian ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Qin Ruzhao led the soldiers to haul them away.

Nearly sixty percent of the court officials had been killed or imprisoned in a single day. In all the dynasties of history, such a thing had never occurred. The Emperor had openly drawn his blade against the aristocratic clans; it was a storm without precedent.

Mr. Qi sat in a grand chair in the corner, feigning sleep, his expression as calm as still water. Only when Li Chengqian had finished did he slowly open his eyes.

"Has everything been settled, Your Majesty?" Mr. Qi asked softly.

Li Chengqian nodded. "The tumors in the court have been removed, but the provinces remain. I will have to trouble you with the aftermath, Mr. Qi."

Mr. Qi waved a hand. "Your Majesty is too kind. You promised me a high position, and now it is merely a case of eating the ruler's grain and serving the ruler's needs." He smiled. "The students from our Xianyang Academy can fill the majority of these vacancies, enough to keep the government running. The rest can be filled gradually."

"Then I must trouble you to stay up and oversee the general situation tonight," Li Chengqian said gratefully.

"I am honored, Your Majesty!" Mr. Qi replied respectfully. He looked up at Li Chengqian and couldn't help but laugh.

Li Chengqian joined him. "Even you find this pretense amusing, don't you?"

The two shared a laugh, and in the midst of the tense situation, the moment seemed to alleviate some of the stifling pressure.