Northern Dynasties

Chapter 1384: Enthronement of the Eastern Palace
On the day when the Nanchuan army entered the capital, the imperial court arranged a welcoming ceremony at Bashang outside the capital, and even the current supreme emperor came to welcome them in person.

The scale and achievements of this war alone were not worthy of the Supreme's presence, but since it was the first time that the King of Qin had supervised an army, the significance was naturally different. The Supreme was not only the Son of Heaven, but also a father, and there was no need to conceal his deep love for his children.

After rewarding the soldiers in the Bashang military camp, Li Tai noticed that his son was a little taciturn, so he asked someone to arrange a tent for the father and son to have a private conversation.

"How do you feel about supervising the battle in Shannan this time?"

After entering the tent and sitting down, Li Tai looked at his son who was keeping his head down and saying nothing and asked.

It would have been better if he hadn't asked. Upon hearing his father's question, Li Jin's emotions suddenly became unstable, his eyes slightly reddened, and he managed to restrain his tears. He lowered his head even more, and said in a bitter tone: "I have brought shame to you, father. This time when I led the army to the battle, I was unable to quickly put down the rebellion, and was instead restrained by the local tyrants in Nanchuan, making it difficult to quell the rebellion. When you toured the west, you shocked the world, but now I am in charge of the country, but I have not been able to enhance our country's prestige..."

Hearing his son say this, Li Tai couldn't help laughing again, and then he said, "No matter what the process was, the result is always good. The rebellion in Nanchuan has been quelled, and the people have returned to peace. I have seen reports from the prefectures and counties that this quelling of the rebellion has not only not caused much harm to the people's livelihood, but has also benefited them. The household registration matters that have not been implemented in the past few years have benefited a lot because of your decree this time."

"It's different. I am now leading the army to fight against the bandits. The gap between us and the enemy is huge. The bandits are good at taking advantage of the terrain and roaming around in the fields to fight against the government troops. But I am not good at military strategy and tactics. It is difficult to eliminate the bandits by fighting. I have no choice but to adopt other strategies. Moreover, those strategies were all proposed by my subordinates. I just took the beneficial ones and implemented them. They are not good strategies that I came up with myself..."

At this point, Li Jin's face showed a deeper sense of frustration. "Father is extremely talented and powerful, he unified the world and accomplished such a great feat. Now I am only trying to pacify Nanchuan but still encounter so many setbacks. I really have no face to comfort myself. The world, the world will surely be greatly disappointed. Father, Father will also be disappointed that my son is so unfilial..."

At this point, his voice was already choked with sobs, and he looked at his father with tearful eyes. What he was more worried about was that he would see disappointment in himself on his father's face.

But there was no disappointment on Li Tai's face, and his eyes even revealed his undisguised admiration for his son.

Raising a child is like a lottery. No matter how well parents take care of their child and educate him, they cannot be sure what kind of temperament and talents his child will have. There are too many cases in this world where the father is a wise and powerful man while the son is extremely stupid, as if it were a genetic mutation. Of course, there are also examples where both father and son are capable and complement each other.

Li Tai was also somewhat curious about what kind of person his son was. Although he had a certain understanding of his son in daily life, many of his qualities were often not revealed until the time came. The so-called appreciation and evaluation based on the details was just an extremely irresponsible, lazy and labor-saving way of evaluating people. It was a manifestation of the arrogance of those who had the right to speak, and it was not fair to the person being evaluated.

Li Tai was too lazy to comment on irrelevant people, but when it came to his sons, especially his successors, he would try to comment on them from a more comprehensive perspective, or teach and urge them.

The reason why Li Tai sent his son to Shannan to quell the rebellion this time was not because he hoped that his son would make a big splash. In fact, he even felt that it might not be a bad thing if things did not go smoothly. He could then use this incident as an example to educate his son and teach him to be less arrogant and impatient.

However, although the process was not smooth, Li Tai found that he had nothing to criticize about his son's behavior. On the contrary, the boy took himself as an example and cared too much about the outside world's views. He was unable to clearly recognize the right and wrong of his behavior, and was a little self-deprecating.

So Li Tai did not intend to teach his son a lesson, but to enlighten him. Suppressive education can certainly make people less arrogant and impatient, but sometimes it can backfire if used too much, and it also depends on the specific situation of the person being educated.

What kind of people can be called outstanding talents? Those who are born with genius and can accomplish anything they are supposed to accomplish are certainly worthy of trust and admiration. But how many such people are there in the world and in history? Most people just have both advantages and disadvantages, and some have outstanding talents but fatal defects.

Including Li Tai himself, to be honest, he was no better than those outstanding people of that era, and was even quite inferior. The reason why he was able to achieve this career, in addition to his courage to think and act decisively, was that he had a clearer and deeper understanding of the laws of history and the general trend of the world.

Of course, there will be all kinds of accidents in life, especially when one's own ability is not enough to counter some unexpected risks, any accident is enough to wipe out the infinite hope of a person's future. But when one becomes strong to a certain extent, and has a sufficient understanding of the rules and trends, it is really difficult to lose.

On the contrary, some people are strong enough and smart enough, but they do not have enough knowledge and respect for the rules. Even if they have climbed high enough, it only takes a moment to fall. Wear a helmet when fishing, and do not offend the cook when usurping a country.

Speaking of outstanding successors, we have to mention Gao Huan's sons, especially Gao Cheng, who was mature and resourceful at a young age, and Gao Yang, who was brave and courageous when he was entrusted with tasks in times of crisis. Not to mention in the special period of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, they were very capable fighters even in the entire history.

But are these good enough and qualified heirs? Li Tai doesn't think so. Although they are excellent, they may not be suitable for him.

"Gao Huan's sons were all known for their ability, but where is their country now?"

Li Tai raised his hand to signal his son to sit closer to him, and then he continued: "In the world, fools only see the present, but cannot see the future. Foolish people think of the future, but ignore the present. Foolish people and idiots are both unacceptable. Wise people should walk slowly and look forward to the future. The truth is simple, but people may not be able to perceive it thoroughly and integrate knowledge and action in their dealings. Although you and I are father and son, our circumstances are very different. I can only teach you the spirit of the truth, but not the deeds."

Seeing that his son was still a little confused, he continued, "You were born in troubled times and grew up in adversity. You must be brave and not slack off easily. Sailing against the current, the wind is strong and the waves are dangerous. If you are careless, the boat will capsize and you will die. But this is not your situation. You are born into a noble family and are living in a prosperous era. You have a lot of room to be calm in your dealings with others. You don't have to be competitive or rush to be the first in everything. Being humble and patient will win the hearts of others, and things will be perfect if you take your time."

When Li Jin heard this, the disappointment on his face faded a little. After a moment, he lowered his head and said, "But I still didn't satisfy Aye after all. As a result, Aye was tired from the western tour and wanted to send an envoy to blame me. If I had been more decisive and made a quick decision, I wouldn't have disturbed Aye."

Speaking of his son's previous request to ask the country for advice on what to do, although Li Tai reprimanded him in a letter at the time, this incident was the most satisfying part for Li Tai in this expedition.

The Nanchuan rebellion was, after all, just a local disturbance. With the overall prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, such disturbances were bound to be difficult to sustain for a long time. It was just that the final method of suppression was different. This was the reason why Li Tai sent his son to lead the suppression of the rebellion.

There is an absolute power gap between the government troops and the rebels. Even if things have some twists and turns, they are only temporary. There are many ways to break the deadlock. At that time, all the subordinates who followed the expedition also put forward various suggestions. But Li Jin did not make a decision directly, but chose to ask the court directly. Before giving such behavior an evaluation of indecision and hesitation, we must first consider that this is a teenager who has left his parents and assumed some responsibilities independently for the first time. Before he was sure of the consequences of the matter, he did not listen to the opinions of others and make a rash decision, but chose to consult his trusted parents.

Such steadiness is difficult for most people to achieve. The little kid did not squander his wealth recklessly, but chose the method he thought was the safest. Although he longed for recognition, he was willing to admit that he was incapable and was suffering setbacks before he was sure of his success.

Perhaps because he favored his son, Li Tai was willing to interpret the matter in a positive way. He had also been thinking about what kind of heir he needed to inherit this business. If he was confused before, now he was clear in his mind, that is, to stay calm and not reckless.

He also imagined how Gao Huan's sons would handle such a situation. For example, Gao Cheng would go to the front line, form alliances, persuade and disintegrate the Nanchuan tyrants, and subdue them all, just like Hebei pacified Gao Aocao and Henan persuaded Wang Sizheng to surrender. Gao Yang would probably be angry and lead his troops to exterminate all the rebels.

It is undeniable that such behavior can indeed highlight one's presence and personal charm. On the other hand, under the pressure from his own scolding, his son still did not choose a more extreme approach, but instead adopted the suggestions of his group and implemented a plan that he felt was safe.

Li Tai was not sure how others would evaluate his son, but he thought that if it was Yang Jian in history, he would probably cry with envy when he learned that the empire he founded had perished in the second generation.

In history, whenever a great turbulent period ended and a new empire was born, there would always be some problems when the second generation handed over power. This was true for the Qin Dynasty to the Han Dynasty and the Sui Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, as if the birth of the former was just to give birth to a more glorious latter.

Putting aside some overly metaphysical arguments, just taking the current Tang Dynasty as an example, the empire itself was established during the long-term division of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, but there are still significant cracks in all aspects such as concepts, systems and ideology.

As a monarch of a unified empire, he must not hold the mentality of "those who obey me will prosper and those who defy me will perish" and "I am the only one who is supreme". He needs to have a broader mind, tolerate those differences that cannot be completely eliminated for the time being, use education instead of attack, and use time to heal the rifts.

But Li Tai himself could not achieve such a state. He had too many things in his mind and often felt that time was running out. Although he knew the principle of combining work and rest, he still used the people's power at a high load. If his successor also took him as an example and set a goal to surpass his achievements, it might not be a good thing for the whole world.

"My son has encountered a problem and needs to ask his father for advice. How can this be considered as a nuisance? It's just that it's difficult for you to give me a timely and appropriate response every time, and I may not even be as knowledgeable about people and things as you are. Since you are the one in charge, all the disciples rely on you for decision, but if you delay making a decision, it is inevitable that people will lose their morale. So when it's time to make a decision, don't hesitate. Even if the decision you make is not the best, it is better than being indecisive!"

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As I said before, it is not difficult to resolve the rebellion in Nanchuan, but how to resolve it can reveal one's true intention. Facing a stalemate and bearing the huge pressure from his father, Li Jin still chose a more stable way to resolve it. His emotional stability has surpassed many adults, and the kindness and tolerance in his character made Li Tai deeply satisfied.

Such an heir was much more satisfying to him than a so-called distinctive personality or a genius. Whether as an emperor or a father, after this incident, Li Tai's worries about the future of his children and grandchildren were mostly gone.

At this moment, he was no longer stingy with his praise for his son. He stroked his back and said with a smile, "Everyone has their own fate and mission. This time I am on a tour to the west and look back at my homeland, and I feel deeply touched. Back then, our ancestors' careers were ruined, they crossed the desert, and they founded a country in a desolate place. It is incomparable with today's wealth and control of the world.

But this does not mean that the predecessors were inferior to me. When we were exiled to Guanxi, we were respected because of our family name. If there were no predecessors, how could we be you and me? My father and I are the same. I am the pioneer and my son is the guardian. If we can each make achievements in this way, then my father and I can be called perfect people. The vulgar people secretly discuss who is better, father and son, but we don’t need to pay attention to it. ”

"I will keep Aye's teachings in my heart and never forget them!"

After listening carefully to his father's words, Li Jin nodded and said seriously, and then asked hopefully: "Aye, do you really think I can be called a perfect person like Aye?"

Li Tai rolled his eyes upon hearing this and said with a smile: "Whether you can do it or not is up to you to do it. It is all my opinion after my death. How can I answer you while I am still alive?"

"My son is not me... Long live Aye, forever and ever, I, I don't have to be a perfect person!"

When Li Jin heard this, he looked embarrassed and waved his hands repeatedly.

Li Tai laughed again when he saw this. Seeing that he was no longer as depressed as before, he did not waste any more time. He pulled his son out of the tent, and they each mounted their horses and returned to Chang'an to attend the banquet that had already been prepared in Taiji Palace to celebrate the triumphant return of the army.

The Nanchuan war was over and it was midsummer. Li Tai was not in a hurry to do other things right away. Instead, he took advantage of the triumphant return of his army and the fact that the monarchs of various foreign countries were still in the court, and in the presence of all the Chinese and foreign ministers, he formally appointed his eldest son Li Jin as the crown prince. He also personally presided over the crown prince's coming-of-age ceremony, and then formed a staff of officials in the Eastern Palace, so that the throne of the Tang Dynasty was no longer vacant.

After all these things were done, and when they came to an end, the time had already entered the second half of the year. Another thing that had been planned for a long time was put on the agenda, which was to reform the administrative units of the prefectures and counties throughout the country.

In the past, the Three Kingdoms coexisted, and the establishment of prefectures and counties was extremely complicated. There were many names of various overseas and two-way prefectures and counties, which were not conducive to governance and also easily bred local evil. For example, during the reign of Gao Yang, the ruler of Qi, some prefectures and counties were abolished, but places like Huainan added many prefectures and counties in order to win over local tyrants, and gave prefecture and county officials to the tyrants. In addition, due to the problems of officials eating dry fiefs in various parts of Hebei, the names of prefectures and counties were still relatively chaotic.

Previously, the imperial court had abolished and rectified some prefectures and counties for the sake of management, but no deeper systematic reforms had been carried out. Now that the external situation is stable and the people's livelihood is developing in an orderly manner, it is time to make the local administrative system more standardized and further reduce the room for local powerful families to monopolize rural power.

Li Tai had just finished a tour to the west and was physically and mentally exhausted. Disbanding the county seat and merging the states were very tedious and required meticulous work, so he simply sent his son Li Jin, the newly appointed crown prince, together with his subordinates Wang Songnian, Zheng Daoyong, the right servant of the minister, and Xue Shan, the minister of the Ministry of Revenue, to Luoyang to preside over the matter.

At the same time, given that the Nanchuan gentry had previously rebelled over the issue of equal distribution of land to households, the abolition of the county and Bingzhou would inevitably have a significant impact on the rural order in Hebei, Shandong and other places, and the hidden danger left in the remnants of the Northern Qi in Liaodong had also come to the point where it needed to be resolved.

In order to prevent them from continuing to cause chaos, Li Tai ordered Li Muhui to attack the remnant Qi in Liaodong together with Li He of Youzhou and He Ruoyi of Yingzhou. At the same time, in order to prevent these remnant Qi armed forces from continuing to flee, Li Tai ordered the Turkic Khan Shetu to lead his army to the south of the desert to cooperate, and Yang Kun, the governor of Guangzhou, led the navy to cross the Bohai Bay to cut off the remnant Qi's way to the east, determined to capture them all!