This is, without a doubt, the center of the world.

This is the most powerful era of the Central Plains.

And the one in the palace is therefore honored as the Holy Emperor throughout the Divine Continent of the Central Plains. In this Divine Continent, everyone is thus complacent and self-satisfied, with an air of pride permeating everywhere.

But except for Charles Bennett, no one knows that beneath this extremely powerful exterior, the empire is declining from its peak, heading down the path of decay.

Beneath the illusion of prosperity, with horses exhausted and bows racing, countless crises are already brewing.

On the western plateau of the Great Tang, U-Tsang is rising powerfully, rapidly entering its most formidable era. Even further west, the White-robed Arabs have collapsed with a bang, replaced by the most powerful era of the Black-robed Arabs in the history of the Arab Empire.

To the northeast, Yeon Gaesomun is preparing for war, while in the south, the Erhai region is also seething with undercurrents.

All these crises are on the verge of erupting.

Yet in the Central Plains of the Great Tang, everyone is still immersed in the illusion of this prosperous age, completely unaware of these lurking dangers. Even as the barbarians prepare for war and eye the Central Plains like tigers, the Confucians are still brewing a new ideological trend both inside and outside the court, attempting to persuade the court to abolish the military, return territories, promote benevolence, and use ritual and education to civilize the barbarians, in exchange for lasting peace between the Divine Continent and the barbarians.

This is an unprecedented act of self-destruction:

The tiger has discarded its claws, and the wolf has pulled out its fangs!

Four years later, when the barbarians descend like tigers and wolves, when another even greater, world-shattering disaster sweeps in, the entire Central Plains will have no strength left to resist.

When, four years later, all these crises erupt at once, it will be a catastrophe with the sky collapsing in the southeast and the earth sinking in the northwest! This vast and glorious empire will completely decline.

And the family he loves so deeply will also, in these four years, go from prosperity to decline, fall apart, and utterly collapse, dropping from a lofty family of generals and ministers to struggling in the mud.

In his previous life, he muddled through, only waking up when everything was beyond redemption. But in this life, with all the memories and experiences of his past, he will never let it all happen again!

Why did this vast empire fall apart so quickly? He had pondered this countless times back then. If he could implement the plan he devised "thirty years later," there might still be time to change everything.

But before that, he must first stop another major event about to happen in his family. His little sister, eldest brother, father, mother, and the entire The Bennett Family... everyone was affected by this event.

It was after this event that the entire The Bennett Family gradually fell into decline, with no way to recover.

Those he loved and those who loved him, after this event, went through a series of other things, and slowly "left him."

And all of this happened not long after he transmigrated to this world.

Back then, he was still ignorant and clueless. But in this life, he will never give up!

If one cannot keep one's own house in order, how can one rule the world? Under a toppled nest, how can any eggs remain unbroken? If he cannot save his family's fate, how can he hope to save the world?

No matter what, he must stop it!

With this in mind, Charles Bennett pushed open the door and quickly walked out. Outside, the buildings stood in rows; looking at those familiar scenes, Charles Bennett knew full well how important what was about to happen was to him.

Chapter 2: Reborn as a Human

The autumn wind rustled!

The closer he got to the main hall, the more nervous Charles Bennett felt. Perhaps only those who have lost something truly know its value.

In his previous life, he muddled through, indifferent and careless about everything. It's hard to imagine that just going to eat a meal would make him feel nervous.

"This must be what they call feeling anxious when returning home."

Charles Bennett thought to himself. Looking up, the two lion-headed doors stood tall; ahead was the main hall where the family dined.

The The Bennett Family was not some noble house of princes and marquises, without such strict rules, but it was still a family of generals and ministers. Although his mother hadn't set many rules, the customs of a large family still existed.

With many children in the family, no matter who it was—including the father—as long as they were still in the capital, there had to be a family dinner once a week. Everyone would gather around a big table and eat happily together.

This was the last day of Charles Bennett's confinement, and also the first family dinner in seven days. But this was not what Charles Bennett cared about.

If nothing unexpected happened, by this time, his father should have already returned home. Because of his official duties, his father left early and returned late every day; even as his son, he couldn't see him whenever he wanted.

And after that event, his father would soon leave the capital and return to his post at the military camp. After that, he probably wouldn't see him for at least half a year.

If he wanted to stop that event and change the family's fate, this family dinner was the best and last opportunity.

But would his father believe him?

Thinking of himself, Charles Bennett fell silent.

You reap what you sow. In his previous life, he considered himself a so-called transmigrator, cynical and frivolous, doing too many absurd things.