The Great Tang General

The trip to Guanzhong not only intimidated the power of local clans, but also enabled Li Xuan to have some understanding of the people's livelihood in Guanzhong.

The Jinyiwei in Guanzhong was the area with the strongest control, and there was also the Fengxiang Military Governor's Office, which assumed the responsibilities of the previous central army.

Li Xuan asked Jingzhao Yin Zhang Xun to make preparations. After Yan Zhuang led his men to Henan and Hebei, he immediately announced the abolition of the lowly and the promotion of good people, and demanded that the powerful families not resist and accept investigation.

The liberation of serfs is the basis for equalizing the land tax.

On May 10th, court meeting was held in Taiji Hall.

Li Xuan was going to discuss with civil and military officials about abolishing the granted lands to the royal family.

The royal family of the Tang Dynasty generally had to find their own way to make a living once they were within the five degrees of mourning.

Some of them fell into disgrace after being three or four generations away from the royal family and the emperor, because the title of their father was inherited by the eldest son, and the second son would fall into disgrace.

If one can enter the officialdom without relying on family connections, most of the people who still serve as officials do so because they have strived for excellence.

For example, Li Xuan's fourth brother, Li Jiqing, passed the imperial examination when he was in his twenties. There were also many members of the royal family who passed the imperial examination.

Although the princes of the Tang Dynasty no longer had fiefs, they had 10,000 mu of permanent farmland. In addition, the princes of the counties and the heirs of the princes had 5,000 mu of permanent farmland. The dukes had 4,000 mu of permanent farmland.

Perpetual property refers to land that is cultivated from generation to generation and will not be returned upon death.

Li Longji had so many sons and princesses, and he also had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and he owned endless permanent fields outside the city of Chang'an.

Not to mention their private land annexation.

The common people became tenants, with countless slaves working the fields for them.

"My lords, I have been inspecting Guanzhong and found that although Guanzhong is the capital, there are still many people who lack land. Is there any solution? We all work together to make the people have enough food and clothing. It is not a long-term solution to be tenant farmers."

In the palace, Li Xuan asked this question after listening to the prime minister's report on daily affairs.

This sentence made all the civil and military officials feel overwhelmed.

The small Jingzhao Prefecture had a registered population of 1.95 million.

In theory, opening up new land to the north and migrating to the west are good choices.

But these tenant farmers are not without land to farm.

Once immigration or land reclamation occurs, the land of princes and nobles will become barren.

Just like the civil and military officials standing in the court, who doesn’t have thousands of acres of fertile land?

Will their families go to farm?

Obviously impossible!
"I have no idea how to deal with this, so I came to ask for your opinions. It is a disgrace to me to do this near Chang'an, and it is ridiculous for the ruler of the country."

Li Xuan sighed to himself, full of worry.

There is land in the Guanzhong Plain, but there is no arable land for the people.

As time went by, many people lost their land due to various reasons.

This is a class conflict.

The vested interest groups instinctively ignore this kind of gaze.

Many ministers in the court believed that giving their own farmland to landless tenants was a charity, not making them serfs.

But the word "tenant" says it all.

In the long run, will the people feel a sense of belonging to the Tang Dynasty?

If someone rises up in rebellion, the landless or landless tenants will surely follow.

"Your Majesty, the Guanzhong region is now full of tenant farmers because the court has relaxed its management of Guanzhong since the late Kaiyuan period, resulting in the increase of many unregistered fields. The unregistered fields should be immediately confiscated and redistributed to the landless people to ease the conflict."

As the saying goes, when the emperor worries, his ministers are humiliated. Seeing that the emperor was worried about the livelihood of the people, Prime Minister Lu Huan reported this to Li Xuan.

He was a clean-handed man with no family property, so he fully supported this kind of thing.

He believed in the wisdom of the Supreme Being and was not afraid of offending others.

"Only the land outside the register is not enough..."

Li Xuan shook his head slightly.

He discussed this with the prime minister that day, and the prime minister knew that he wanted to get rid of the lowly and make the good.

What he wants is not just the land outside his registered permanent residence.

"Your Majesty, I have ten acres of good land in my clan and I am willing to give it up and distribute it to the people, but it is just a drop in the bucket."

At this time, Liu Yan, who had discussed the matter with Li Xuan beforehand, stood up and bowed.

"I am very pleased that you have such a heart. However, it is not easy for you to work hard for the country and support your family. You cannot do this."

"Land outside the family register is of improper origin and has no legal status. I believe that there are hundreds of royal family members who have obtained permanent land, and they have obtained more than ten thousand hectares of good land in Guanzhong. However, many royal family members linger in the brothels and spend money like water in the gambling houses in Chang'an. I restrained my desires and dared not add concubines to the harem. They are useless and waste the people's money. I don't want to describe them as termites, but there is no better explanation. If we want to reduce it, we should also weaken the permanent land of the royal family."

With Liu Yan as an introduction, Li Xuan revealed his plan in full to all civil and military officials.

Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, there have been too many royal family members. After all, even Li Yuan's cousins ​​are counted.

With such a large royal family, it is inevitable that there will be some useless people.

Just like Li Xuan's fifth brother Li Lang, he was almost good for nothing before he turned over a new leaf.

The civil and military officials finally understood Li Xuan's intention. Not only did they want to confiscate the land outside the registered capital, but they also wanted to take action against the permanent land of the royal family.

This will affect the great interests of the royal family.

But Li Xuan did it for both the minor and major clans. The largest clan now is the descendant of Emperor Ruizong, and the contradiction between them and Li Xuan is basically irreconcilable.

Li Longji's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren totaled over a hundred.

Some ministers speculated whether the Supreme Emperor was targeting Li Longji's son so that other members of the royal family would be implicated.

In fact, Li Xuan was not that petty, he just wanted to deal with the entire royal family.

One prince, ten thousand acres of land.

The prince's son has five thousand acres.

As the new emperor ascends the throne, new princes will continue to be born.

Even if some land could be recovered through the Enfeoffment Order, the damage to Guanzhong would become increasingly severe.

Among the ministers, the only members of the royal family besides his brothers were his close confidants Li Xian, Li Shu, Li Mian, Li Yi and others.

Li Xuan did not cut the salaries and land grants of the civil and military officials; it was none of their business.

A new emperor appoints new ministers, and no minister stood up to persuade Li Xuan to revoke his decision.

"As a prime minister of the royal family, I think your majesty's words are reasonable. When the country is exhausted, they are enjoying the fruits of their labor, which is already a blessing from heaven. If they continue to occupy a large amount of land, it will be detrimental to both the country and the people."

Li Xian took the lead and spoke to Li Xuan.

Once when Li Longji celebrated the Tianchang Festival, all civil and military officials searched for treasures all over the world and tried to offer the best, but Li Xian only presented a colorful forged horse.

The atmosphere of the royal family is wrong.

He had already seen that Li Xuan did not play by the rules and offended everyone he could just to create a prosperous era.

But if Li Xuan firmly grasps three things, he can control the world.

The first is military power, the second is the people's support, and the third is the respect of the barbarian chiefs.

Li Xian didn't understand what Li Xuan meant by "spiral upward", but he was willing to follow Li Xuan to complete it.

For Li Xuan, failure to make the historical leap would mean being liquidated by future generations.

If he completes it, he will be a legend!

"Good! Draft an imperial edict immediately, and have the Right Prime Minister lead a thorough investigation of the royal family's land. Whoever dares to resist will be brought to justice first, and then tried by the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple. I will set an example myself, and my children will only keep 10% of the permanent land under their names."

Li Xuan handed this important matter over to Li Xian for coordination.

From harvesting the land to dividing the land, I believe Li Xian will get it done.

Li Xuan’s hint was very clear, his children were so noble, yet he only kept 10%, how much do you kings and princesses want to keep?
"The minister obeys the order!"

Li Xian knew what to do.

Civil and military officials mourned in their hearts for the royal family members.

It was their luck that Li Xuan did not settle accounts with Li Longji's lineage.

How could Li Longji's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren dare to say that it was unfortunate when they lost some land?

It should be noted that during the reign of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu, the fate of the royal family was extremely tragic.

After the court meeting, the royal family's version of "eliminating lowly people and making them good people" spread quickly throughout Chang'an.

Li Xuan moved against the royal family at this time to pave the way for eliminating the lowly and promoting the good.

Let the powerful families understand Li Xuan’s determination and stop their meaningless resistance.

Especially in the east and west Jiangnan areas, the combined population is even more terrifying than that of Hebei, but no taxes can be collected.

This is a challenge to Li Xuan's patience.

Thirty thousand Jinyiwei and four military governorates were established in Jiangnan, ready to attack and quell the rebellion at any time.

On that day, many members of the royal family closed the door and scolded Li Xuan for not recognizing his relatives.

In the Han Dynasty, the marquisates of the royal family all had fiefs. Now, not only do they have no fiefs, but even most of their permanent lands will be taken away from them.

The most combat-capable member of the royal family was imprisoned in Xingqing Palace by Li Xuan!

Li Xuan will not release them until the campaign of eliminating the lowly and turning them into good people is over.

If one or two of Li Longji's children and grandchildren ran to Jiangnan, it would cause unnecessary trouble for Li Xuan.

Those who suffered losses wanted to enter the palace to meet the retired emperor Li Shizhi.

But Li Shizhi would not ask about such things. He just wanted to be a leisurely old man and enjoy the happiness of family.

He knew that Li Xuan had a long-term vision and was not just looking at the present.

"It's only been a short time since the abdication, and you're already touching my children and grandchildren?"

When the news reached Xingqing Palace, Li Longji was furious.

This must be directed at him.

He felt cheated.

Where has the wealth gone?

"Sanlang calm down. Li Qilang knows his limits. The princes and grandchildren have managed the business properly and are rich enough."

Gao Lishi comforted Li Longji.

Now that Li Longji is old, he begins to worry about his descendants.

A few days ago, I asked Gao Lishi whether there would be a figure like Li Qilang among his descendants who would take back his kingdom and let him rest in peace in his grave.

Gao Lishi was just trying to comfort him. After all, Li Qilang was a person who only appeared once in history.

"I'm worried that he will go too far and my children and grandchildren will have nowhere to live in the future."

Li Longji still couldn't hide his anger.

"As long as they behave themselves, Li Qilang won't do this. He is a man of virtue."

Gao Lishi didn't know what to say.

Since he was able to go to Taizhen Temple, Li Longji would go there every once in a while, hoping that Lady Yuhuan would change her mind.

But every time Yang Yuhuan refused to see him, Li Longji became more and more impatient.

"Will a virtuous person still usurp the throne? My children and grandchildren can't even leave Xingqing Palace, who will remember them?"

Li Longji felt extremely regretful.

If I had known this earlier, I should have sent my children and grandchildren to various regions to hone their abilities.

From the Sixteenth Prince's Residence to the Baisun Courtyard, even the Crown Prince did not live in the East Palace. Li Longji had always been on guard against his sons and raised them like canaries.

The biggest problem was that he prohibited civil and military officials from contacting their children and grandchildren, so that his own children and grandchildren had no supporters.

"Alas! Sanlang, don't worry about these things anymore. You should enjoy your old age. Prince Yong's youngest son has just been born. I asked them to bring him to you for a look."

Gao Lishi was also helpless, as he clearly had no chance.

Why do saints always think about those trivial things? With Li Qilang's charisma, the longer he governs, the more stable his power will be.

Through reforms, he brought benefits to the grassroots people and won the hearts of the people.

He also improved the treatment of soldiers under the conscription system to gain control of the military's morale.

Since ancient times, any conspiracy or intrigue will run into the mountain of military power.

"Look! I used to forget what my grandson's name was."

Li Longji also knew that he would not have the chance to shake Li Xuan.

Madam Yuhuan didn't see him again, so he was just complaining out of his depression.

……

On the morning of May 15th, a group of unusual people appeared a few miles outside Mingde Gate in Chang'an City.

These people have blond hair, blue eyes and high noses.

But the common people coming and going were accustomed to this, and they even thought it was a large caravan coming from the Western Regions.

After the Silk Road was reopened, more Hu people came to the Tang Dynasty from the Western Regions.

Although the official name for the Four Barbarians was "Fan", a non-discriminatory term.

But people still like to call foreigners "Hu people".

In the Tang Dynasty, a country with cultural confidence and flourishing poetry, common people held their heads high and felt superior to others.

Moreover, due to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, ordinary people were not allowed to have private dealings with foreign merchants, and only commercial transactions were allowed.

"This is Humdan, it is much taller than Constantinople..."

At the front of the team, a middle-aged man wearing a large square cloak and loose clothes looked up at Chang'an City and sighed.

On his right shoulder, the two ends of the fabric were fastened with large jewel pins, making him look unique.

He was Abogas, the special envoy sent by Constantine V of the Roman Empire to the Tang Dynasty.

Apogasius was the chief deacon of the Roman Empire and held a very high position.

He had started his journey from Constantinople more than two years earlier, taking a detour north of the Caspian Sea due to different roads.

Fortunately, the power controlled by the Tang Dynasty was huge, so after reaching the Persian Kingdom, Abogas did not have to worry and could speed up his journey to Chang'an.

As the chief steward, he risked his life to go to Chang'an in person for political purposes.

Nowadays, the Bulgarian Khanate and the Arab Empire are a constant threat to the Roman Empire, making them vulnerable to attacks from both sides.

The general Tian repeatedly defeated the Arabs, killed the governor of Khorasan, and indirectly caused the death of Abu Abbas.

The powerful Black Caliphate was also gradually eroded by the power of the Tang Dynasty.

Constantine V hoped that the Tang Dynasty could unite with Rome to destroy the Caliphate and divide it up.

In this way, the Roman Empire could focus on dealing with the Bulgarian Khanate.

The Bulgarian Khanate caused the Roman Empire a lot of suffering. Even now, the Roman Empire still pays tribute to the Bulgarian Khanate, which is a shame for the Roman Empire.

As a sign of sincerity and respect for the Heavenly General, Abogas was sent here under such circumstances.

In front of the majestic city gate of Chang'an, envoys from the Roman Empire were getting closer and closer, bringing with them the scent of a distant foreign land.

Behind them, there were horses loaded with goods and the jingling of camel bells, as if playing the prelude to the exchange between the East and the West.

The group looked at the tall city wall and couldn't help being shocked.

Constantinople is also a big city, but it lacks the grandeur of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty.

It gives people a heavy and vicissitudes of life feeling.

"No matter how many troops there are, they can't break through a city like this!"

Abogas subconsciously believed that Chang'an was an impregnable city.

In fact, both Chang'an and Luoyang were too large and had too many people to defend.

In history, the capital of Chang'an was captured six times and the emperor moved nine times, which made later generations doubt the existence of a land surrounded by mountains.

Unlike Constantinople, Constantine V's father defeated the White Caliphate by defending Constantinople.

The rest of the Romans also marveled at the grandeur of Chang'an.

They had talked about this city many times along the way.

The Tang Dynasty had already known the route of the Roman Empire's envoys, and Li Xuan appointed Xiao Hua, the Minister of Rites, to greet them at the city gate.

"But the Roman messenger?"

Xiao Hua, with a team of officials, asked Abogas outside Mingde Gate.

At Li Xuan's request, historical records henceforth recorded Fulin as Rome.

Abogas hired a Sogdian who knew both Chinese and Greek as an interpreter.

When the Sogdian translator told Abogas about Xiao Hua's greetings, he immediately responded: "I am the messenger!"

"Abogas, the Roman monarch's special ambassador!"

Then, Abogas saluted Xiao Hua with the etiquette of the Roman Empire.

"I am Xiao Hua, the Minister of Rites of the Tang Dynasty, and I am here to welcome you on the orders of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Please follow me to Chang'an..."

Xiao Hua returned the gift and maintained his composure.

He only knew that the Roman Empire was an ancient and vast country.

The Supreme Emperor attached great importance to it and specially met him in the Hua'e Xianghui Tower of Xingqing Palace.

In front of the Mingde Gate, the guards inspected Abogas's carriage, horses and camels before allowing him to pass through the Mingde Gate.

The pass that Yan Zhenqing had previously issued for the Roman delegation was no longer needed here.

Under Xiao Hua's guidance, the Roman delegation entered Suzaku Street.

Zhuque Street is wide and straight, like a giant dragon lying horizontally, with orderly streets and markets. Houses and shops are lined up on both sides. Hu merchants gather here, and the streets are bustling with traffic.

This bustling crowd of people shocked Abogas to see how big the world was.

Hundreds of years ago, the Roman Empire recorded that there was a mysterious country in the far east. They opened up roads and sold exquisite and beautiful silk all the way to the Roman Empire and even further away.

Today, the country's silk is increasingly fine and colorful, and it also has beautiful porcelain and aromatic tea.

These are hard currencies that can be directly exchanged for gold and silver coins.

In the past, the Roman Empire had sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty and brought back stories of its prosperity. He thought that was an exaggeration, but now that he saw it with his own eyes, he also felt worried.

Is it a good thing or a bad thing for such a powerful country to border the Roman Empire in the future?
He had heard of the territory of the Tang Dynasty, although he had traveled thousands of miles from the Caspian Sea to Chang'an.

But according to the Sogdians, the most important area of ​​the Tang Dynasty was east of Chang'an.

It is even more vast and boundless. Silk, porcelain, and tea all come from there.

There were mulberry and hemp fields, and houses were everywhere. The Tang Dynasty had a million-strong army, all of which was supported by taxes there.

In the past, the Tang Dynasty had powerful enemies in the northeast, southwest, and north.

Now all the enemies have been crippled and disabled, and they have all surrendered!

The Heavenly General whom he wanted to meet also became the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty through rebellion.

Although they were wary of the Tang Dynasty, the pressure on the north became greater after the failure of Constantine V's personal expedition.

He was eager to find allies at this time.

Abogas arrived at the end of Suzaku Street with a nervous mood, and then he realized that there was a magnificent palace ahead.

But his destination was not these man-made palaces, but to turn east.

From a distance, Abogas saw a tall building rising from the ground and towering into the sky.

"That is our Hua'e Xianghui Building, where we usually receive foreign guests."

Looking at Abogas's unsophisticated look, Xiao Hua explained to him.

"This must be the tallest building in the Tang Dynasty!"

Abogas was dumbfounded and stammered, saying that this was a magnificent building that seemed like a divine building, and it was awe-inspiring to look at it.

"No, the Mingtang in our capital Luoyang is three times the size of this building."

Xiao Hua smiled.

The Mingtang was built with the largest wood in the world, and anyone who sees it will be shocked.

An Lushan couldn't help but proclaim himself emperor after seeing the Mingtang.

"The Tang Dynasty is the kingdom of God."

Abogas knew nothing. When he arrived, he had already learned that the Tang Dynasty had another capital.

Luoyang was only a secondary capital in the early Tang Dynasty.

But after Emperor Gaozong moved to Luoyang, it became the capital of the country together with Chang'an, and they were equal.

Gaozong stayed in Luoyang for twenty-six years, Wu Zetian stayed in Luoyang after she became emperor, and Li Longji stayed in Luoyang for ten years.

The restructuring of Chang'an and Luoyang would either make them the Eastern Capital and the Western Capital, or the Eastern Capital and the Western Capital.

After the An-Shi Rebellion in history, the mountains and rivers were broken, and majestic buildings such as the Mingtang were burned down, and then it became a secondary capital.

After listening to the translator's words, Abogas wanted to visit another city, Luoyang.

"Please tell the Emperor of your country to allow me to present treasures to the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty first. I will show respect to the great emperor on behalf of our king."

Under the pressure of Huaya Xianghui Tower, the Roman delegation entered the palace gate. Abogas asked Xiao Hua that this was their tradition.

They had made many diplomatic missions to the Tang Dynasty, and this one was more grand than any other.

Even though they consumed a great deal of gold, silver, and jewelry along the way, and more than 200 warriors died in battle or of illness, they still escorted what they considered to be the most precious treasures to Chang'an.

In addition, he also brought some seeds of fruits, vegetables and flowers from the Roman Empire to Chang'an.

I hope to give General Tian a good impression.

Xiao Hua nodded, and he instructed his subordinates to report to Li Xuan who was waiting in Hua'e Xianghui Tower.

Li Xuan agreed and led a group of officials above the fifth rank out of Hua'e Xianghui Tower.

More than a dozen carriages and camels, protected by the Yulin Army, arrived at the area of ​​Hua'e Xianghui Tower.

This is the residence of the retired emperor, so it is heavily guarded.

Abogas originally came with horses and camels, but after arriving in Dunhuang, he bought some lighter and more labor-saving vehicles.

Now there were only more than one hundred Roman officials, guards, servants and slaves accompanying the delegation.

The journey was extremely thrilling.

"This is His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang..."

Xiao Hua brought Abogas and the Sogdian translator to Li Xuan and gave them a hint.

"Roman Deacon Abogas greets the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. On behalf of my monarch, I express my highest respect to you."

Abogas quickly bowed to Li Xuan, but he did not stand up, waiting for translation.

He had never expected that the famous General Tian was so young.

Li Xuan, dressed in a dragon robe and wearing a crown, looked so majestic that Abogas had to be convinced.

The Heavenly General became the Heavenly Khan, and he understood the meaning.

The person who can be compared with Li Xuan is not the Great, but Alexander the Great.

"The envoy has come from afar, no need to be polite!"

Li Xuan raised his hand to signal Abogas not to be polite.

To preserve the Persian Empire, the best way is to directly destroy the Arabs.

Li Xuan was not confident in sending generals to do such a big job. When the country was stable and reforms were unstoppable, and there were sufficient taxes, he would lead the army himself.

(End of this chapter)