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

Chapter 1808: Zhaojun Li Clan, Qinghe Zhao Clan

Under the night sky, a cruise ship sailed peacefully on the Luo River, with stars reflected and the waves sparkling.

The long streets on both sides were completely silent, with only faint noises coming from the neighborhoods.

At the beginning of the morning, a curfew was imposed in Luoyang city.

Li Xuan stood on the deck, looking at Li Sichong and Hao Xiangxian behind him, and said with emotion: "It has been a long time since I sailed so peacefully in Luoyang."

Amid the flickering fire, one could vaguely see a dozen small boats guarding in the distance on the Luo River.

Also on the shore, two teams of Jinwu Guards were patrolling diligently.

There were no civilians in sight.

Li Si Chong bowed lightly and said, "Your Majesty is now the emperor. If you go out easily, it will disturb the people too much. Therefore, for the sake of the people, it is better not to appear in front of them casually."

Li Xuan sighed softly and said, "I just miss the feeling of walking freely among the people."

"Ordinary people are busy day and night just to get three meals a day. They never care about how they feel when walking. Therefore, what people can really remember is nothing more than the occasional glimpse of surprise between countless ordinary people." Hao Xiangxian's words made Li Xuan and Li Sichong extremely surprised.

Seeing their gazes, Hao Xiangxian bowed slightly and said, "I am just expressing my feelings."

"Brother Hao Xian, I'm afraid you've been to the North City too often." Li Sichong looked at Hao Xiangxian with a smile, and Hao Xiangxian couldn't help but blush.

Li Xuan smiled calmly. He really envied the relationship between Li Sichong and Hao Xiangxian.

Especially after what happened that year.

At that time, because King Li Zhen of Yue was plotting treason, Li Sichong and Hao Xiangxian pleaded for mercy everywhere, and finally Li Jingxuan was implicated.

Emperor Gaozong, who was already somewhat disgusted with Li Jingxuan because the Zhaojun Li family sold weapons and ironware to the grassland, immediately got angry. Li Jingxuan was transferred to be the governor of Qianzhou. Although he was a third-rank official in the Secretariat, he never returned to Chang'an until his death.

However, Li Si Chong, who was originally somewhat dissatisfied, felt a sense of fear after seeing the huge turmoil that Empress Wu subsequently caused.

Fortunately, Li Jingxuan was transferred away from Chang'an at the beginning, otherwise, given his background as a member of the Zhaojun Li family, he would probably have ended up like Pei Yan.

How could they be as free as they are now, when both of them are the Secret Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel and follow Li Xuan around.

At the same time, he holds a high position of power and has a bright future.

……

Li Xuan stood at the bow, looking at the Luo River sparkling in the night, and said calmly: "The people are like water. On weekdays, everyone ignores them, but once the wind and waves are stirred up, they are immediately in danger of capsizing."

Hearing what Li Xuan said, Li Sichong and Hao Xiangxian became serious at the same time.

"Jingyuan, you should go back to Zhaojun tomorrow." Li Xuan turned and looked at Li Sichong.

Li Sichong immediately bowed and said, "I accept your order."

Li Xuan nodded and said, "This time Zhang Jianzhi is investigating in Jizhou, and there are many links to Handan. You go back and deal with it. Clean up what needs to be cleaned up in the family. After the new year, you will be transferred to the position of Junior Minister of Rites."

"Yes!" Li Sichong immediately accepted the order solemnly.

Taichang Temple is the head of the Nine Temples. The Minister of Taichang Temple is an official of the third rank, equivalent to the six ministers.

The Shaoqing of Taichang was an official of the fourth rank, while the Shaoqings of the other nine temples were all officials of the fourth rank or above.

Li Si Chong could still tell the difference between using the scum in the family in exchange for a higher position in his official career.

Li Xuan sighed and said, "The Zhaojun Li family settled in Hebei to suppress the local area. Remember, don't become a person who harms the local area."

"Yes!" Li Sichong bowed again.

Li Xuan turned sideways to look at Hao Xiangxian and said, "You should also accompany him back to Hebei, and at the same time, check for me if there are any amazing scholars in Hebei."

"What is your Majesty's plan?" Hao Xiangxian asked very directly.

"Next year's imperial examination, there must be a Hebei candidate for the top three, and it would be best if the candidate is from a poor family." Li Xuan's eyes became serious, and he said, "I need Hebei to fight bravely when I use the army against Silla, instead of holding it back."

"Yes!" Hao Xiangxian suddenly became serious.

What Li Xuan has done in Hebei in recent years is actually to resolve the resentment of Hebei people.

What he wanted was for the people of Hebei to actively support him in his conquest of Silla. To achieve this goal, Li Xuan did not hesitate to kill the aristocratic families.

Between the aristocratic families and the common people, Li Xuan resolutely chose the common people.

If he needs the help of the aristocratic family, then he must make a deal with the family, and even pay a high price.

And even so, he still needs to worry about the aristocratic families playing tricks on him behind his back.

But the people are much easier to manipulate.

With the stability of the people of Hebei, it would not be easy for the Hebei families to do anything they wanted to do.

At least they don't have such loyal private soldiers available, so the only thing left is to falsely convey the imperial edict.

Li Xuan had already been prepared.

Now, in preparation for the conquest of Silla, Li Xuan's attention has been mostly focused on Hebei.

Although he will tour Jingzhou next year, he will get to know Hebei better until he knows it like the back of his hand. "When you come back, you can go to the Taifu Temple and serve as the Shaoqing of the Taifu Temple." Li Xuan looked at Hao Xiangxian seriously.

Hao Xiangxian immediately bowed and said, "Yes!"

Although the Taifu Temple is below the Taichang and Dali Temple in terms of power, it is in charge of money. If it does not speak up, the operation of the entire court will be in trouble.

"Next year, next year." Li Xuan's expression gradually became cold.

……

At the east gate of Sigongfang, Li Xuan, dressed in red and golden armor, stood outside the east wall of Yulong Garden like an ordinary Jinwu Guard.

Directly to the east is Taipei City.

Li Xuan's house is located in one of the best locations in the whole Luoyang.

"Your Majesty, do you want to go in?" Zhao Gong leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

Li Xuan shook his head and said, "Forget it. The west side of Yulong Garden is the residence of Duke Bian. If we really go there, we will inevitably alarm them."

After a short pause, Li Xuan looked towards the North Market and said, "My uncle will send someone to the North Market tomorrow to copy down the prices of grain, cloth, and furs in the North Market to the palace. I want to take a good look at it."

"Yes!" Zhao Gong accepted the order solemnly, and then asked carefully: "What does your majesty want to do?"

Li Xuan nodded and said, "Anton is cold, and ordinary clothes and armor are not suitable there, especially in winter, so I need to prepare a lot of fur linings, hats, shoe covers, leg covers and other things in advance."

Zhao Gong nodded seriously.

He knew that the more details there were, the more likely they would determine the outcome of a battle at a critical moment.

Li Xuan said solemnly: "Once the war begins, it will be easy for the vanguard to break in, but the rear guard will be easily entangled by all parties. Once winter comes, it will be easy to be defeated, so I need to prepare in advance."

"These cost a lot of money." Zhao Gong looked at Li Xuan carefully.

"So in the next few years, we need peace and prosperity, so that all prices inside and outside the country will drop to a reasonable level. Then next year, in Changzhou, Fanzhou, Eastern Turkic, Western Turkic, and Central Turkic, I will give priority to replacing taxes with furs."

"Then what about the Uighurs?" Zhao Gong's face couldn't help but become solemn.

Now, the grassland's preparations for war will be delayed, and Li Xuan will even recruit some grassland cavalry.

Once the grassland barrier becomes weak, the Uighurs can easily attack the foot of the Great Wall if they suddenly send out troops.

"Let them go." Li Xuan calmly shook his head and said, "As long as they don't cross the Great Wall and enter Guanzhong, then I don't care. It's just right. When I come back after destroying Silla, I will have the next target to practice with."

"Yes!" Zhao Gong breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Xuan turned his horse and headed towards the Luo River, saying, "I don't care too much about other things, but this time the Jizhou incident involves the Qinghe Zhao family. I want to ask my uncle's opinion, should we give them another chance, or..."

Zhao Gong's face looked a little heavy. He knew that a dense network had been set up in Hebei.

In the end, once the net is closed, no one knows how many people will be implicated, and then their heads will be cut off, their families will be destroyed, their properties will be confiscated, and then distributed to ordinary people.

The Zhao family of Qinghe has always been very close to the Cui family of Qinghe. Zhao Gong's wife is also a daughter of the Cui family of Qinghe.

Of course she was a concubine's daughter. Just like Zhao Gong, although he was a legitimate son, he was already the second son who was not loved by his parents. In many things that happened later, he could not rely on the help of his family.

It was not until he became the leader of the secret guards and relied on the power of Empress Wu that he established a relationship with Zhao Renben.

It was also at that time that Qinghe Zhao reconnected with him.

"Just follow the original steps. Clean up what needs to be cleaned up, and the rest will flourish in the future." Zhao Gong made the decision without any hesitation.

"That's it." Li Xuan smiled and said, "After Silla is incorporated into the Tang Dynasty, Hebei will have plenty of opportunities. I just need to recuperate and Hebei will prosper."

Hebei is the real center of the north in Li Xuan's heart.

Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the development of Hebei has been very low, and even somewhat suppressed. The fundamental reason lies in the affairs of Dou Jiande and Li Jiancheng. Even Li Chengqian was involved in many things related to Hebei, so that the Hebei families have been rarely used in the Tang Dynasty in recent years.

Now that Li Xuan is in power, there are naturally no such taboos.

However, the people he wants to use must be clean and upright, so that they can improve the customs of Hebei.

He doesn't mind using villains, but the number of villains must be firmly controlled. Otherwise, if too many villains are used, the world may collapse.

……

Under the night sky, Shangqing Temple.

Li Xuan was lying on the bed, sleeping soundly.

The plump Pei looked sideways at Li Xuan, her eyes full of curiosity.

She didn't understand why Li Xuan let the queen return to Chang'an so easily...

At this moment, the door of the palace opened with a creaky sound.

Pei looked up in surprise and Gao had already put her head in.

(End of this chapter)