Chapter 127: My Aspiration to Attain Sainthood

There are so many wise people in the world; how could they fail to see that the aristocratic clans are a malignant tumor? Yet, why does no one stand up and issue a rallying cry? Instead, they take pride in marrying into these families.

It is simply because the former path is fraught with insurmountable difficulties, while the latter offers a shortcut to success. By openly pitting himself against the clans, Cai Cong has brought trouble upon his own head.

Cai Cong remained motionless, standing in the throne room like a wooden statue. Yan Dong walked over and asked with a faint smile, "Marquis of Chang'an, why haven't you left yet?"

Cai Cong replied with a huff, "When has His Majesty ever let me leave without a lecture?"

Yan Dong said nothing more and turned to walk away. Cai Cong followed, dragging his heavy footsteps behind him. He had managed to survive today's crisis, but how would he withstand the attacks to come?

Li Shimin sat wearily on a folding chair. Seeing Cai Cong enter, he waved a hand, signaling for him to find a seat. Cai Cong did not stand on ceremony; he dropped onto a stool, paying no mind to the blood staining his clothes or whether he might soil the furniture.

"Today, I owe it to your boldness. Otherwise, we would likely still be at a stalemate," Li Shimin said calmly, unable to muster a smile. Though today had been devoid of literal blades and swords, it was far more perilous than the Xuanwu Gate incident.

"Your subject wishes I had never come today. These people orchestrated such a grand display specifically to force me into the throne room, hoping to pressure Your Majesty into purging the court of those around you. Now that they have made such a move, they surely will not stop easily! I beg Your Majesty to execute me to appease the world. I only ask that you look after my mother."

As Cai Cong knelt on the floor, Li Shimin glanced at him and said listlessly, "Do not test me here. If I were to actually take you up on that, you would be dead."

Cai Cong stood up, his face flushed, and asked, "Your Majesty is wise, but the clans are powerful. If they exert their influence collectively, the court will not be able to withstand it."

Cai Cong’s scalp tingled. The clans’ students and former subordinates were scattered across the land. If they were to act in unison, the Tang Dynasty would be plunged into instability in an instant.

"It is more than just being unable to withstand it. If that were to happen, my edicts would become meaningless. You may not know this, but aside from Niu Jinda, Li Jing, and Shubao, all my other ministers have, to varying degrees, marital ties to the clans."

Li Shimin smiled bitterly. The power of a millennium-old clan is immense; they invest heavily in talented individuals of every generation, and once those people rise to prominence, they become a major pillar of support for the clan.

"Your Majesty is not one to sit and wait for death. This year's imperial examinations and my military reform are both aimed at weakening the clans, but there is not enough time! The clans must have realized this, which is why they have chosen to act now."

"You are right. Unfortunately, whether it is the examinations or the new army, both need time to grow. The clans are forcing me to cut off my own arm!" Li Shimin said, his face full of sorrow. He only wanted to leave behind a reputation as a sage in the history books; if he were forced to purge his own court, it would be a stain on his legacy. If it weren't for the sake of the bigger picture, he would have long ago had someone execute a mere Cai Cong.

"I am currently at the center of this vortex. If I can remove myself from it, perhaps I can buy Your Majesty some time," Cai Cong said, gritting his teeth. The clans had been planning this for months, and Cai Cong’s reputation in the Tang Dynasty had already been dragged through the mud. If he couldn't turn the situation around, even if Li Shimin could save him this time, he wouldn't be able to save him the next.

"At this moment, the only way is to have you step away from the court temporarily. There is no other way," Li Shimin said, shaking his head. He had already planned to sideline Cai Cong for a few years.

"I believe we cannot retreat. The clans are like gluttons, constantly devouring the lifeblood of the people while never giving back. Your retreat will only embolden them to press closer. You know this better than I do," Cai Cong said gravely.

Li Shimin stared at him blankly for a moment before asking, "I sometimes truly do not understand how much of a grudge you hold against the clans. From the moment you entered the court, you have been at odds with them, even more so than I."

"It is not that I hate the clans; it is that I hate their hypocrisy. They claim to inherit the virtues of poetry and ritual, yet they act like parasites, picking bones and sucking marrow. It is disgusting. I am no saint either; the illegitimate son of the Chang'an Magistrate was strangled at my orders. I can be indifferent to life. But I will never strike at the commoners struggling in misery. That is a principle I cannot cross."

Li Shimin nodded. He was not at all moved by Cai Cong’s admission of murder. To him, whether it was the Chang'an Magistrate or anyone else, if they chose to strike at Cai Cong, they had to be prepared to face the retaliation of a national marquis.

"If we do not retreat, what would you do? Even I cannot easily trigger a war. The people have only had a few years to recover; they cannot withstand such turmoil."

Cai Cong stood up, looked at Li Shimin, and said word by word, "I intend to become a sage!"

"That is impractical. Throughout history, few have become sages, and they only ascended the altar after their deaths. Even if you died now, you would only earn the reputation of someone who died young." Li Shimin laughed at his own words. If Cai Cong wanted to be a sage, he would have to toil for decades. Only then might he have a chance to be elevated to the altar. As for becoming a sage now, Li Shimin did not think highly of his chances, even if he possessed knowledge that transcended time.

"If I can ensure that smallpox no longer ravages the world, can I become a sage?" Cai Cong asked loudly. Smallpox had plagued China for millennia, striking fear into the hearts of all. If he could solve this problem, even if he couldn't become a sage, he would certainly survive this ordeal.

Li Shimin stood up abruptly, grabbed Cai Cong, and sat him on the folding chair. With a look of horror, he asked, "Are you saying you can solve smallpox?"

"I cannot cure it, but I have a sixty percent certainty that I can prevent it."

"Sixty percent is enough! If you can do it, I will grant your family a noble title for ten thousand generations. If you can do it, those clans will have to be respectful when they see you. Who would dare to attack you then?"

Li Shimin spoke with great intensity. Later generations might not know how terrifying smallpox was, but Li Shimin knew all too well. Places ravaged by smallpox were ghost towns; the dead were ghosts, and the living were no better.

Li Shimin was deeply moved, while Cai Cong felt a pang of guilt. He only remembered that smallpox had something to do with cows; as for the specifics, he had no idea. He had to placate Li Shimin first and plot the rest later.

Cai Cong was chased out of the palace by Li Shimin. He had wanted to discuss delaying the smallpox matter until after the New Year, but Li Shimin kicked him out the door. If this matter wasn't resolved, you wouldn't have a peaceful New Year, and neither would I. Get out of here!

Though his words were harsh, by the time Cai Cong arrived home, Li Shimin’s rewards had already arrived.

Back in the palace, Yan Dong relayed Cai Cong’s words to Li Shimin: "Although this move is a last resort, my heart for the people remains unchanged. If this attempt fails, our bodies shall be burned to ashes, lest we bring disaster upon the world. I entrust my family to Your Majesty. Your subject bows and bids you farewell in tears."

"Is that brat really so miserable?" Li Shimin said nothing, but Empress Zhangsun asked, her eyes red with grief.

"Impossible! When he said those words, the rascal was gnawing on a pig's trotter!" Yan Dong exclaimed. How could such a heartless brat possibly be crying?

Zhangsun immediately wiped her tears, her brows knitting as she prepared to say something harsh. Li Shimin took her hand, pulled her into his embrace, and sighed sadly.

Zhangsun froze for a moment, then wrapped her arms around Li Shimin’s waist and wept silently, choking on her sobs.

Yan Dong sighed, shook his head, and retreated. Everyone said they were the most noble couple in the world, but who knew that in their moments of despair, it was only a young man who set aside his own fear of death to comfort them?