Meng Yuanqiao was silent for a long while. Though he felt Meng Zhao's argument was far too shocking, the more carefully he considered it, the more plausible it seemed.
According to Meng Zhao, the Beitang Imperial Clan wanted to gather imperial power into its own hands and level the aristocratic clans across the realm, yet could not act personally lest they draw a united attack. Thus, they had secretly formed or supported the Plainclothes Alliance and several rebel factions.
Their aim was to use chaos to bring about order: first clear the field, then rebuild the rivers and mountains.
Take the southern rebellion, for instance. The Beitang Imperial Clan could clearly have quelled it swiftly, sparing the people the suffering of a drawn-out war and preventing the drain on National Strength. Yet battle after battle ended without victory, allowing the situation to rot further and spread outward in every direction from Xu Prefecture.
The southern rebellion might have had nothing to do with the Beitang Imperial Clan and instead been led by the Nine Surnames Li Family. Yet by borrowing strength to strike strength, they had cleverly used the Rebel Army as a sharp blade to eradicate who knew how many aristocratic clans, saving the Beitang Imperial Clan who knew how much effort.
In other words, what the Li Family had done might well have played right into the Beitang Imperial Clan's hands. After all, the Li Family itself had suffered considerable losses in this rebellion, its foundations and strength both diminished.
Of course, where there was gain, there was loss. The price was a drastic decline in the dynasty's prestige, making people feel that Great Yong was strong on the outside but hollow within, already riddled with hidden dangers. This had spurred Ambitious Persons to emerge one after another,