People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1771 Cabinet, Grand Secretary (1/2)

In early April, the Wei River is full of sails.

A huge four-masted sailing ship was slowly moving downstream along the Wei River. In front, behind, and on both sides were tall three-masted sailing ships, more than twenty in total, and there were even hundreds of small boats in front and behind.

The black dragon flag fluttered in the wind.

On both sides of the bank, there were endless golden-armored soldiers guarding them.

From time to time, news was delivered to the imperial ship by small boats.

Li Xuan sat on the third-floor attic with windows on all sides open, and the green fields suddenly filled his sight.

A refreshing feeling.

"I have to admit that the person who proposed eating in Dongdu back then was really a genius." Li Xuan sighed, then turned sideways to look at Lu Yuanfang and others and asked, "Who was the first to propose eating in Dongdu back then?"

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

For a moment, everyone couldn't figure out this question.

"Reporting to Your Majesty." Li Yiyan bowed and raised his head and said, "In fact, the emphasis on the Eastern Capital dates back to the time of Emperor Taizong. When Emperor Taizong was the Minister of the Eastern Shaanxi Circuit, he summoned all the wise men to Luoyang to discuss the affairs of the world.

Later, the emperor moved to the Eastern Capital. It was actually Chu Gong's suggestion that Emperor Gaozong made the final decision. He lived in Luoyang for the last six months and in Chang'an for the last six months. But in fact, before that, he also conducted government affairs in the Eastern Capital many times, but the time was scattered. "

"When Emperor Taizong toured the country, he visited Luoyang, Taiyuan, Yangzhou, and Dingzhou. Later, when he attacked Goguryeo, he also focused on Luoyang. However, at that time, he stayed in Luoyang in winter and returned to Chang'an in February. It was not until the second year of Emperor Gaozong's Xianqing reign that the rule of staying in Luoyang in summer and returning to Chang'an in winter was adopted." Lu Yuanfang added.

Li Xuan nodded and said, "In any case, eating in Luoyang is a good policy."

Li Xuan sighed and said, "After a winter of storage, Luoyang has enough grain and the price is low enough. In autumn, it is just right to send the autumn tax to Chang'an.

After a winter of consumption in Chang'an, grain prices rose again. Just then, all officials went to Luoyang, and grain prices immediately fell. "

The ministers couldn't help but look back at Chang'an City. Indeed, they were sure that after they left Chang'an, the price of grain in Chang'an would drop by more than 30%.

The emperor went on a tour to Luoyang in the east, and was accompanied by more than 100,000 people.

In addition to officials and their families, there were also more than 50,000 soldiers of the Sixteen Guards, as well as a large number of literati and business travelers.

Moreover, these people consume the most precious food in Chang'an. Without them, food consumption can be reduced by half immediately.

But the same is true. The amount of grain imported into Chang'an will be much less throughout the summer, and will only increase in the autumn when the emperor returns to the court.

"Your Majesty, please exempt the people of Chang'an from grain taxes for three years. This way, the people of Chang'an will have a much better life in late summer and early autumn. This will spread throughout the world, and I don't know how many people will be able to survive because of this. This is truly a good policy." Wang Jishan bowed to Li Xuan, his expression full of emotion.

Li Xuan smiled calmly and waved his hand, saying, "These are all learned from practice back then, but as far as today is concerned, farming is the most important thing in the world."

Li Xuan's expression suddenly became solemn.

The ministers immediately bowed and said, "I will listen to your Majesty's instructions."

Li Xuan nodded and said, "Agriculture comes first in all world affairs, so the Ministry of Revenue will send people out throughout the summer to assess the provincial governors' efforts to promote agriculture. If they are slack, they can be dismissed immediately."

"Yes!" Lu Yuanfang bowed solemnly.

"The Ministry of Personnel will send someone to follow and prepare for next year's national assessment." Li Xuan looked at Wang Dezheng.

Wang Dezhen immediately bowed: "Yes!"

"The Secretariat must be in charge of the overall situation and have close contact with the various states. As for tools and ditches, the Secretariat must plan more and communicate with the various states." Li Xuan looked at Li Yiyan.

Li Yiyan bowed and said, "Yes!"

"As for the Ministry of Personnel." Li Xuan looked at Zhang Da'an and said solemnly, "The Ministry of Personnel, the Censorate, and the various governors' offices, local recorders and military officers should communicate more and supervise the actions of all parties to ensure that there are no mistakes."

Zhang Daan and Wang Jishan both bowed and said, "Yes!"

"My Lords, food is the foundation of our current situation." Li Xuan looked up at the lush green fields outside, and then said, "If we can have a good harvest this year, not only can we make up for the deficits of the past few years, but we can also have a solid foundation for the future. Only in this way can our time of governing the country be worthwhile."

"Your Majesty, we will follow your instructions." All the ministers bowed in unison, their expressions solemn.

……

It was drizzling, and Li Xuan was standing at the gate of Qianyang Palace.

The four-zhang-high jade steps allowed Li Xuan to see the entire Luoyang at a glance.

The rain and fog enveloped the entire Luoyang city.

Li Xuan felt a little worried.

Zheng is now eight months pregnant and will give birth in two months.

Except for her, everyone else is better.

Wu Niang Qiong Yu was six months pregnant, and Zhao Huan was five months pregnant.

Only Wang Jian's mother was not pregnant.

Among the concubines in Li Xuan's harem, Wang Jianniang, Qu Douer, and Pei Shitong all came to Luoyang with Li Xuan, while the fourth wife Liu Shubi stayed in Chang'an to take care of her elder and younger sisters.

Among the sons, Li Zhiming, Li Zhiyou, Li Zhichang and Li Xuan came to Luoyang together.

As for the others, the virtuous Queen Mother Zheng brought Li Chongjun, Li Chengqi and Li Xuan to Luoyang.

Li Xuan would not keep them in Chang'an. Now was not the time to catch fish, so Li Xuan had no intention of keeping the fish in Chang'an.

The most important thing for Li Xuan this year is stability.

Only by stably harvesting a year's food can we set the tone for the world.

A prosperous era is impossible without sufficient food support.

So there must be enough food.

This year, when everyone's attention is focused on farming, the affairs of Li Zhi, Li Xian, and Empress Wu will be forgotten.

Li Xuan turned around and handed the letter in his hand.

Yu Ze stepped forward, took the letter and placed it on the imperial desk.

Behind the curtains on both sides, Yu Ze, Chen Zi'ang, He Zhizhang, Du Shenyan, Yang Jiong, and Hu Yuanfan were processing memorials from all over the country, then writing down their suggestions and inserting them among the memorials to facilitate comparison between Li Xuan's suggestions and those of the ministers in the Council of State.

A small cabinet has been formed, including Wang Bo in Hebei, Yao Chong in the Dali Temple, and Song Jing in Yongzhou Prefecture.

This is Li Xuan’s complete cabinet team.

However, they now belong to the Menxia Province and the Secretariat Province respectively, so no one has linked them with the Beimen Scholars for the time being.

It was by relying on the Northern Gate Scholars that Empress Wu forcibly usurped the power of the prime minister.

But Li Xuan did not do so. He tried to think about the problem from multiple perspectives as much as possible, not to make it empty but to enhance it.

Just at this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside.

Zhou Qian quickly walked up the jade steps, bowed to Li Xuan and said, "Your Majesty, I just received news that the Buddhist Master Huineng has arrived in Zhengzhou, and Shenxiu came to welcome him in person."

Li Xuan raised his eyes slightly and said calmly: "It seems that the Buddhist sect will not give up the matter of the White Horse Temple so easily."

“After all, the White Horse Temple is one of the foundations of the Northern School of Buddhism, and Buddhism also relies on the White Horse Temple to resist the eastward invasion of the Consciousness-Only School. If the Consciousness-Only School is allowed to enter the Central Plains, then these Zen disciples will probably jump up and down.” Li Xuan sneered.

Although the Consciousness-Only School was founded by Xuanzang, and even Buddhists all over the world sent people to learn Indian scriptures from Xuanzang, when Xuanzang's Consciousness-Only School tried to enter the Central Plains, it was immediately strongly resisted by Buddhism, led by the Zen sect.

Even the Yogacara school could not leave Chang'an at all.

That is to say, when Li Xuan later attacked Tuyuhun and Tubo, he used a large number of disciples of the Consciousness-Only School. Then the development of the Consciousness-Only School would probably have been much more difficult than it is now.

Furthermore, if the original history had developed and Empress Wu had relied heavily on the power of the White Horse Temple when she ascended the throne, I'm afraid that the Consciousness-Only School would not have developed at all during Empress Wu's reign, and would even have been suppressed by the White Horse Temple. In the end...

"Send an order to summon Kong Huiyuan, a scholar from the Hongwen Academy." Li Xuan turned sideways to look at He Zhizhang and said, "Ji Zhen, you go."

"Yes!" He Zhizhang immediately bowed and walked quickly outside.

Yu Ze walked to Li Xuan's side and whispered, "Ji Zhen was a top scholar in the imperial examination. He and Mr. Kong should have a lot to talk about."

"Buddhism!" Li Xuan sighed and shook his head, "I kept that scholar Kong in Luoyang and did not let him go to Chang'an because of today. Buddhism still needs Confucianism to deal with it. Taoism can take advantage of Confucianism, but it is difficult to ask them to take the initiative to do anything."

"Your Majesty has already transformed the White Horse Temple into the Qingyang Palace. Are the Taoists in the Qingyang Palace going to give up?" Yu Ze sneered.

“The Taoists in Shu may not be willing to stay in Luoyang for long, but if they are the Taoists from the Shangqing Palace in Maoshan, they will never let go until they die.” Li Xuan waved his hand and revealed the inner workings of Taoism in one sentence.

There are countless Taoist sects in the world, but the ones who really like to scheme for personal gain are the Taoists of the Shangqing Palace in Maoshan, followed by the Taoists of the Louguan Dao in Zhongnan Mountain, and then there are those from the Zhang family in Longhu Mountain.

The Taoists in Shu may not be willing to come out to fight, and of course the most they can do is to occupy a place to stay.

The White Horse Temple was transformed into the Qingyang Palace by Li Xuan himself. Otherwise, if it were someone else, they would not be willing to stay.

Any smart person could see that there must be a vortex there, a vortex of conflict between Buddhism and Taoism, and behind it there was the emperor's support.

……

Kong Huiyuan, wearing a scarlet robe and holding a bamboo sceptre, bowed solemnly to Li Xuan on the golden steps and said, "Your Majesty, I am Kong Huiyuan, a scholar of the Hongwen Academy.

"Mr. Kong, please stand up." Li Xuan nodded, and then asked, "How is the copying of the Secretary's files going?"

"It will take more than ten days to finish copying." Kong Huiyuan bowed seriously. The reason why he stayed in Luoyang for a long time was because Li Xuan allowed him to copy the documents needed to edit the "Book of Han". Li Xuan even told him about the future compilation of national history.

Kong Huiyuan, as a scholar of the Hongwenguan, participated in the compilation of the "Book of Han" and even compiled the national history. In addition to his identity as a descendant of Confucius, his own profound knowledge was also one of the important reasons.

After Kong Huiyuan arrived in Luoyang, Li Xuan had a lot of thoughts about him.

Li Xuan nodded and said, "Mr. Kong, I want to ask you something."

"Your Majesty, please speak." Kong Huiyuan bowed gently.

Li Xuan raised his head and looked towards the square outside. He said solemnly, "Where did the term 'university scholar' first come from?"

"Reporting to your majesty, it should be from the Zhou Li. The Zhou Li Chunguan records: When the edict is issued and the retreat is made, the scholars shall lead the retreat and sing." After a short pause, Kong Huiyuan said seriously: "My ancestor once said in the notes of Yi Lun: Scholars refer to the scholars of the township, the prefecture, and the country's universities and elementary schools. The scholars of the university can be called the university scholars."

Li Xuan nodded and said, "Since I ascended the throne, I have often felt that those who focus on studying are treated too poorly in this dynasty. The fifth rank is the highest rank of scholar, and after that, it is the official position of the doctor, but there is no real job. Even the word "scholar" is too low above the level of history, so I want to set up a university scholar to manage the Hongwen Academy, Chongwen Academy, and the left and right historians. What do you think?"

"Aren't other officials from the Imperial College and the Secretariat included?" Kong Huiyuan looked at Li Xuan carefully.

"No, because that would easily disrupt the political situation, and the ministers would not agree." Li Xuan shook his head slightly.

If the Imperial College and the Secretariat are included, then it will be a real third-rank position. By that time, even the prime minister in the court might want to compete for this position.

It even happened that this university scholar had already become the prime minister.

The fundamental reason why Li Xuan set up this Grand Secretary was just to provide more room for maneuver for some officials who were difficult to place, rather than to really create a behemoth that was in charge of academic research, history, and teaching. That would drive the people in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites crazy.

"If that's the case, it's not difficult." Although he said so, Kong Huiyuan couldn't help but frowned.

He did not get much support from Li Xuan, and the position of Grand Secretary was mostly a nominal position for Li Xuan and did not have much real power.

But these three words alone are enough to cause some waves.

Li Xuan looked at Kong Huiyuan and said, "Go back and think about it slowly. The most important thing this year is farming. If there is a good harvest this autumn, I will withdraw from the system of Grand Secretary. As for the specific position, it depends on what you think."

"I accept your order!" Kong Huiyuan immediately bowed his hands solemnly, then bowed and said, "I will take my leave."

Li Xuan nodded calmly. Behind the curtains on both sides, six or seven pairs of eyes were staring at Kong Huiyuan.

……

In front of the Qingyang Palace, Kong Huiyuan looked at Huineng and Shenxiu walking from the distance on the long street, and felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

He knew that it was not so easy to get the emperor's favors.

However, he hadn't even received any benefits from the emperor yet, but he was already infatuated just by seeing the three words "Grand Secretary".

The emperor planned to announce the matter of the Grand Secretary after the autumn, but if Kong Huiyuan could assist the prince and compile the "Book of Han" this year, then the Grand Secretary would definitely be him.

It can be seen that the emperor has a big heart.

This Grand Secretary should at least be associated with an institution like the Nine Temples, which means he should be at least of the third rank, which can balance the position of the Imperial College Chief Academician.

If he could get this Grand Secretary title, it would be of great benefit to Kong Huiyuan and the entire Kong family.

However, he had to put the matter of "Han Shu" aside for now and face these two masters first.

Huineng and Shenxiu.

(End of this chapter)