Cui Zhengyu, the young master of the Qinghe Cui family.
Cui Zhichong, the young master of the Boling Cui family.
Wang Zhigang, the young master of the Taiyuan Wang family.
Lu Xuanyi, the young master of the Fanyang Lu family.
Li Shichang, the young master of the Zhaojun Li family.
The five were gathered for a casual meeting when a servant from the Wang family, running with a newspaper, delivered it.
"Young master, take a look at this quickly!"
Wang Zhigang, initially dismissive, took the newspaper and glanced at it. His eyes, however, became fixed on the pages, and as he read, his expression changed drastically.
He was aghast!
For the newspaper carried a decree regarding tax reduction, along with other policies that benefited the common people!
Handing the newspaper to the others, he turned to the servant who had delivered it and asked,
"Where did this come from?"
The servant's face was filled with resentment.
"Reporting to my lord, it's being sold by people from the Hejian Wang family!"
"I hear it's not just in Chang'an, but also in several surrounding prefectures and counties. The servants of the Hejian Wang family have already taken the newspapers out of the city!"
Upon hearing that it was being sold in large quantities, Wang Zhigang exclaimed, "This is unacceptable!"
"We'll deal with Chang'an later. Immediately send someone to find out where those newspapers are going after leaving the city! What routes they are taking! Report back to me as soon as you have the information!"
After the servant left, he looked at the other four.
"Tell me, how should we handle this? If this newspaper is successfully spread throughout the Great Tang."
"I fear there will be chaos within our own ranks!"
Cui Zhengyu, having finished reading the newspaper, also looked anxious.
"This is no small matter."
"The exploitation of the common people stems from two main factors: power and the information gap."
"The aristocratic families control the official mouthpieces, and policies beneficial to the people are directly suppressed and not disseminated."
"But once the common people become aware of these matters."
"The ensuing chaos will be immense!"
"The newspaper's final section is very clear!"
"Once the common people see this, they can also submit articles if they have anything they wish to report to the Emperor!"
"Reasonable submissions will be sent directly to Li Shimin's imperial desk!"
"The rampant nature of the aristocratic families is known to all, but this is merely an unwritten rule. If someone foolish enough were to present evidence directly to Li Shimin."
"It would be utterly absurd if Li Shimin could just turn a blind eye!"
The five second-generation heirs first notified their families and then huddled around the table to plot how to deal with the newspaper.
A quarter of an hour later, the servant from the Wang family returned.
"Young master, I have found out. The servants of the Hejian Wang family split into six routes after leaving the city."
"They are heading separately to the six prefectures of Yong, Shang, Qi, Feng, Long, and Jing, all carrying the newspapers!"
Wang Zhigang stood up and looked at the other four families.
"Gentlemen, what are we waiting for? Send people after them immediately!"
"If this newspaper truly spreads, you know the consequences, I don't need to elaborate, do I!"
"As for the Longxi Li family, there's no need to consider them; this business is theirs to begin with."
"The Xingyang Zheng family, though their main line is gone, their second son cannot be allowed to remain idle!"
"It just so happens that each of us can take one route. I'll take care of the Yong prefecture route. Farewell!"
With that, without waiting for their responses, he left with his men.
The other four nodded to each other and then followed suit.
Simultaneously, each family dispatched a servant to put pressure on the second son of the Zheng family!
"We can't do the dirty work ourselves; let the Zheng family reap the benefits!"
That afternoon, news reached the newspaper bureau.
The Li family servants carrying newspapers to various locations had been waylaid!
All the newspapers and their personal belongings were thoroughly looted, leaving the servants with only their undergarments!
Fang Er had anticipated that the aristocratic families would make a move.
He just hadn't expected them to act so quickly!
Li Xiaogong grabbed a vase from the shelf behind him and raised it above his head, smashing it down! "They want to go at me with force!"
"Guards!"
Fang Er grabbed him.
"What are you doing?"
"What am I doing? I'm going to attack them! This isn't just stripping the servants' clothes; it's an insult to my honor!"
Fang Er was speechless.
"Even your own family can't confront them directly, and you think you can? Aren't you afraid they'll chop you to pieces and feed you to the dogs?"
"Do you have any evidence?"
Li Xiaogong glared at him.
"When you wiped out the Zheng family, what did you think? Didn't you just go straight for them?"
"That's completely different! That kid's move was unexpected. Do you think we targeted the Zheng family's main line instead of that second son in Chang'an back then for no reason?"
"If things escalate here, the repercussions will be too great! Even the Emperor won't be able to protect you!"
Fang Er quickly explained.
To be honest, Fang Er still felt a chill down his spine when he thought about wiping out the Zheng family later.
If Li Shimin had buckled under the pressure from the aristocratic families, he would surely have been handed over.
Fortunately, he had silenced everyone who knew his identity in the Zheng family.
Even if they guessed, without evidence, Li Shimin had plausible deniability.
"But this, you attacking them in broad daylight, it's a miracle if there are no issues."
"Besides, they've surely made preparations!"
Li Xiaogong was somewhat displeased.
"Then what do you suggest we do!"
Fang Er pointed in the direction of the imperial palace.
"First, go inform the Emperor about this and see what he says. Tomorrow, during the morning court, bring it up in front of all the ministers."
After pacifying Li Xiaogong, Fang Er returned to the estate.
The next morning, during the morning court at the Taiji Hall.
Li Xiaogong stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, your subject has something to report."
Li Shimin knew everything; the Hundred Riders Command had already reported the incident of the newspapers being intercepted.
He was quite satisfied that this fellow could suppress his anger and wait until now to speak.
"Speak!"
Li Xiaogong's face was filled with righteous indignation.
"Your Majesty! Yesterday, a servant of your subject was transporting newspapers to the surrounding prefectures and counties."
"Unexpectedly, they were waylaid en route. No harm was done to the person, but all their property and the newspapers were stolen, and their clothes were stripped, leaving them with only their undergarments!"
"This is an insult to my person and an insult to the Longxi Li family!"
"Your subject requests Your Majesty to adjudicate! Please dispatch the Yangwei Army to conduct a thorough investigation!"
Before Li Shimin could speak, Zheng Lao Er from the Ministry of Works came forward.
"Your Majesty, I believe this is inappropriate!"
"As the Prince of Hejian stated, this is clearly the work of mountain bandits or vagrants, and it is sufficient for the prefectures and counties to handle it."
Li Xiaogong trembled with anger.
"That stray dog dares to show off!"
He lunged forward and kicked Zheng Lao Er, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Fang Xuanling, standing nearby, was pulled down as he tried to grab him.
Zheng Lao Er's head hit the imperial steps, and he lost a front tooth.
He shakily got up, pointing at Li Xiaogong, blood gushing from his mouth with every word, looking utterly pathetic.
"Your Majesty, please uphold justice for your subject~!"
With that, he knelt before Li Shimin.
Seeing his miserable state, Cheng Yaojin couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
"Hah, doesn't he know these newspapers came from Fang Family Village?"
If the Prince of Hejian hadn't made the first move, he would have wanted to go and beat up Zheng Lao Er himself.
"His roots are gone, what is he being so smug about?"