The Great Tang General

At the court meeting the next day, Li Xian took the lead and brought up the issues that he had discussed with Li Xuan yesterday one by one.

Received doubts and responses from civil and military officials.

Compared with the trial of abolishing the curfew system, it was changed to a provincial system and merged departments.

Adding the Minister of Culture, the Minister of Commerce, and the Minister of Agriculture is the heavy topic.

Change the ranks of central government officials so that their authority is greater than that of local officials.

The prefect was promoted to governor.

The governor was promoted to assistant minister.

This is the norm.

Otherwise, the assistant minister was only of the fourth rank, while the governor of a prefecture was of the third rank, which was higher than the assistant minister.

In the past, a county governor could be promoted directly to prime minister.

This is a disguised way of strengthening the power of local officials.

From now on, only the governor would be promoted to vice minister, and then the vice minister would be promoted to minister, becoming a first-rank official.

In a prosperous era, there must be a strict promotion system, rather than the emperor promoting an inexperienced official at his own pleasure.

Like Li Longji, Yang Guozhong, a commoner, became the chief prime minister in just a few years.

How can there not be chaos in the world?

Among the ministers below, who would be convinced?

Without motivation for promotion, the court would be dead silent.

Among the nine grades and eighteen ranks, the most important thing is to clarify the promotion system.

From the ninth rank to the first rank.

It is confirmed that direct promotion above the third level is not allowed.

That is to say, if an official of the ninth rank is promoted.

The highest promotion level is eighth rank.

The eighth rank, can be promoted to the sixth rank at most at one time.

This is just in theory.

In fact, reaching the level of governor and being able to advance one level to the central government as a vice minister is considered a high promotion.

It can also be said that if a local official wants to be appointed as prime minister, he must serve as governor-general so that the court can see his ability to govern.

The system of nine ranks and eighteen levels and provinces was changed to the nine ministries of the Shangshu.

After a brief debate, he gained the approval of all civil and military officials.

There are too many officials who have vested interests.

Everyone wants to get promoted and get better benefits.

Similarly, the heads of the various temples were Li Xuan’s brothers, father-in-law, etc.

Li Xuan had already informed them, so there was no way they would object.

It was precisely because he wanted to merge these departments that Li Xuan appointed his brothers and father-in-law as chief officials of the nine temples.

Among the five supervisory organs, the Military Equipment Supervisory Organ was incorporated into the Weaponry Department of the Tiance Mansion.

The Imperial College was merged into the Palace of Wisdom.

The Shaofujian and Taifu Temple were merged.

The Construction Supervision Department will be incorporated into the Ministry of Works.

The Du Shui Jian was incorporated into the future Ministry of Agriculture.

After the court meeting ended, the county governors were summoned, causing an uproar among the governors of the country.

The imperial court clearly stated that the establishment of provinces would begin in January of the fifth year of the Qianyuan reign, and that the provinces could handle financial and supervisory affairs on behalf of the imperial court in the counties under their jurisdiction.

This is different from the Inspectors in the Han Dynasty.

The Inspector was only a supervisory official, while the Governor-General was the direct superior of the Prefect.

Of course, without military power, the governor could not be compared with the provincial governors in the late Han Dynasty.

But once he becomes a governor, he will stand out from hundreds of prefects and attract the attention of the court, which can determine whether he will make further progress in the future.

The twenty-four provinces do not correspond to the provincial governorates.

That is to say, a province may have the armies of two military governorates.

It is difficult for its administrative chief to collude with its military chief.

Although the governor was mainly responsible for local management, the central government would often send censors, and the emperor would secretly monitor local areas through the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

If there are major changes in a province, the governor will be held accountable.

There were many ambitious local officials, and they were overjoyed.

The court announced that the first governor would be selected from among the prefects.

This means that at least twenty-four prefects have the opportunity to be promoted.

At least forty-eight prefects can settle for the second best and serve as deputies of a province.

The probability of promotion is still very high.

Therefore, local officials raced against time, sympathized with the people, built water conservancy projects, and completed the court's orders beautifully.

I hope to get a chance for promotion during the court assessment.

May 1st.

The imperial court posted notices in the 108 markets in Chang'an, announcing the cancellation of the curfew system.

According to the discussion, a trial was carried out in nine markets with a relatively prominent "entertainment atmosphere", namely Xishi, Dongshi, Changlefang, Pingkangfang, Quchifang, etc.

In addition, candles will illuminate Zhuque Street and Qujiang River.

At the same time, the court issued a series of regulations, such as prohibiting arson, and any mobile vendors must be in open areas, three meters away from houses, otherwise they will be severely punished.

No fighting, drunkenness, hooliganism, theft or robbery is allowed.

Once such criminals are discovered, they will be exiled directly to the Loess Plateau and forced to plant trees for more than three years.

In order to protect the Guanzhong area from soil erosion, Li Xuan issued an order as early as the first year of Qianyuan that banned the felling of trees on the Loess Plateau.

The problem of food shortage has been plaguing Chang'an.

It is impossible for Li Xuan to continue to exhaust all resources.

Even if the ministers did not understand, Li Xuan would strictly enforce it.

Of course, ordinary people can still collect materials normally, but they are not allowed to make a profit and must report to the township.

Once the curfew was implemented, many dignitaries and ordinary people came to join in the fun at night.

Due to insufficient preparation, the night market seemed deserted.

But the clever businessman soon saw the business opportunity.

Within a few days, various night markets were set up on Zhuque Street and in the nine designated markets.

The development of various snacks and handicrafts is already obvious.

The most lively street is undoubtedly Zhuque Street.

There are "street lights" set up by officials here, making Zhuque Street as bright as day.

With the brightly lit Suzaku Street, Chang'an is like a city that never sleeps.

Some shops on Zhuque Street are considering changing their business.

There are also some sneaky people who want to steal things at the night market.

But when they saw the constables walking around with knives, they all retracted their necks.

Even if there are occasional thieves who refuse to give up, they will be caught by the police.

The establishment of the constables also made Chang'an's public security better than during the Kaiyuan period and was widely praised.

A month after the curfew was lifted, more and more people are marching at night.

Some even play until late at night.

For example, the nightlife in Pingkangfang has also developed greatly.

The taxation of brothels was the highest in history, but the imperial court's supervision of brothels was also becoming increasingly strict.

Since Li Xuan ascended the throne, he has executed more than a dozen brothel managers.

Because these people in charge resorted to lynching and forced women into prostitution.

The law does not tolerate lynching.

Nowadays, even if a master executes a slave, it will be a capital crime.

The situation where high-ranking officials treat slaves like livestock as in the past will no longer exist.

If the high-ranking officials still refuse to repent and kill slaves at will, they will be executed.

Because Li Xuan knew very well that many of today's slaves came from poor people who had to sell their children in the past.

Even the descendants of criminal nobles and officials cannot be executed based on one’s likes and dislikes.

Li Xuan has never been so irritable.

However, the time is not right yet, and Li Xuan is unable to completely abolish the slave system.

But many officials realized the Supreme's intention and they could no longer buy slaves in the market.

Because the slaves were purchased by the Jinyiwei and joined the Jinyiwei.

If the people are well fed and clothed, there will be few people selling their children as slaves.

As for official slaves and girls from the imperial music academy, Li Xuan no longer gave them to ministers as rewards.

Titles and official positions no longer came with slaves.

Some ministers who understood the emperor's will began to hire good women as maids, servants, and guards in their homes.

Although the slave system did not collapse, it gradually fell apart.

The smaller the population in the slave market, the more foreign merchants sold slave girls and slaves from their own countries to Chang'an.

There were even white slaves and black slaves.

One month after the curfew was lifted, there was no major chaos in Chang'an. Instead, the city became prosperous due to the night market, the people felt relaxed, and all civil and military officials finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They admired the Supreme's wise decision.

Night markets promoted trade, although the Tang Dynasty spent a lot of money on maintaining law and order and lighting.

But compared to the benefits they bring, these are not worth mentioning.

After get off work, some officials would bring their wives and children to visit Zhuque Street and cruise around Qujiang Lake at night.

The fatigue of court affairs will be relieved a lot at this moment.

Even Li Xuan took his wife and children to Qujiang Lake to see the hustle and bustle and the lights of thousands of homes.

……

In July, Li Xuan went to Jingyang County, north of Chang'an City.

The first batch of cement was produced at the cement factory in Jingyang County.

After being mixed with sand and gravel, it hardens into a solid rock.

After checking the results, Li Xuan felt that the cement was burned well.

He ordered more cement to be made and taught craftsmen how to use it to pave roads.

His first step was to pave cement roads in Chang'an City.

This will prevent heavy rain from affecting Chang'an City and make it more convenient for vehicles to travel.

In addition, there is another important strategy, which is to build an ancient road between the two capitals with cement.

The Tang Dynasty had a dual capital system.

Whenever it rains heavily, the ancient roads between the two capitals are always muddy and even impassable.

Moreover, there is a section of the Yellow River from Luoyang to Tongguan known as the "Gate of Man", "Gate of God" and "Gate of Ghosts", where the water flows rapidly and there are countless shipwrecks throughout the ages.

Water transportation is very inconvenient.

If there was a cement road from Chang'an to Luoyang, it would connect the lifelines of the two capitals.

Six hundred miles.

It may not mean anything in later generations, but in this era it is a long way off.

This road does not need to be too wide, as long as it meets the needs of this era.

....
Time is like an arrow, the sun and the moon are like a shuttle.

September, Sayan Mountains (Tannu Uriankhai area).

On the boundless grasslands in the north, there are many tribes of Hu people. Some small tribes live near water and grass, and are generally difficult to wipe out.

They would rely on powerful nomadic dynasties as their way of survival.

Since the establishment of the Huihe in the second year of Tianbao, after the wars fought by Guli Peiluo and his son Moyanchuo, they finally took over the former territory of the Xiongnu.

Ten years ago, Mo Yanchuo was afraid that Li Xuan would attack him, so he built the first city of the nomadic dynasty, Shanyu City.

Last year, Moyanchuo completely controlled the Xiaohai area (now Lake Baikal) and built a wealthy city on the banks of the Sen'er River (now the Selenga River).

All nomadic peoples in the north of the grassland were brought under the rule of the Uighurs.

This made the Uighurs nominally possess all the former territories of the Xiongnu.

In the spring of this year, the Sayan Mountains tribes rebelled. Moyanchuo set out in the summer and arrived in the autumn.

Win the battle in one go and reunify the Sayan Mountains tribes.

But there was no time to clean up the battlefield, as Mo Yanchu suddenly fell seriously ill and never recovered.

"Can I still go back to Shanyu City?"

In the central army tent, Moyanchu asked Mohedagan with a dry mouth.

Mohedagan was the nephew of Moyanchuo and the general in charge of this trip.

Dagan was a high-ranking official of the Uighurs.

This Mohedagan is not the same person as the Turkic leader Mohedagan named Huang.

"The wizard said that the Great Khan will recover. The Great Khan is blessed by heaven."

At this time, Mohedagan had no other intentions and was loyal to Moyanchu.

He also hoped that Moyanchuo could cheer up, return to Shanyu City in triumph, and receive worship from his people.

"If the wizard's words had come true, there would have been no defeat of Bai Tinghai."

Mo Yanchu looked at the top of the big tent and his voice was weak.

The Great Khan can use wizards, but cannot trust them.

This is what his father Guli Peiluo told him.

He still couldn't forget the Battle of Baitinghai.

He returned alone with 50,000 soldiers and horses.

He once dreamed of drinking from the Yellow River, but now he has no chance to wash away this shame.

"Woo woo... the doctor has collected a magic medicine for you. The Great Khan will recover."

Mohedagan said again, seeing Mo Yanchuo's depressed look, he couldn't help choking up.

"But I don't even have the strength to get up from the couch. The men of the grassland can't ride horses or bend bows. I'm about to meet the gods."

Mo Yanchu raised his arms and then let them fall weakly.

Mohedagan hurriedly went to hold Moyanchuo's hand.

Mo Yanchuo is on his deathbed.

After his last serious illness, Moyanchuo personally led the army to pacify the Sayan Mountains tribes in order to show his power.

After the long journey, his body was completely broken down.

Mo Yanchuo is not very old, but maybe this is his fate.

"I am dying. A heavy soldier dies of shame due to illness. I can also be considered to have died on the battlefield..."

When saying this, Mo Yanchu was trembling.

He is like a candle in the wind, which may go out at any time.

"Great Khan...you have to cheer up, you will be fine."

Moheda Gan shouted.

Moyanchuo was the mainstay of the Huihe people, and the tribal alliance also recognized Moyanchuo's status as a heroic leader.

Now the northeastern Hu tribes have all been surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, and in the west there is the vicious dog of the Tang Dynasty, the Karluk.

The Tang Dynasty Military Governor's Office headed straight for the grassland.

In such a precarious situation, Mo Yanchu couldn't just leave like this.

"The Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Turks, their territories are almost the same as our Huihe. But they were all glorious and powerful for a time. Why can't we Huihe be like that? We have to pay tribute to the Central Plains every year..."

Mo Yanchu seemed to have a last burst of energy. He had strength when he said this, and his eyes were filled with unwillingness.

why?
The powerful Uighurs were as weak as a sheep in front of the giant Tang Dynasty.

The establishment of the Tang Dynasty's Military Governor's Office made the Uighurs even more desperate.

"I betrayed my father's trust..."

Mo Yanchuo has tried very hard, but still feels that he has let Guli Peiluo down.

"Li Xuan is too powerful. The Great Khan is second only to him in the world. Sooner or later, the Huihe will hover over the Central Plains like a goshawk."

Mohedagan could only comfort Moyanchuo.

Second only to Li Xuan, it is not an insult to a proud Khan.

But infinite praise.

No matter how much Mo Yanchu hated Li Xuan, he would never be so arrogant as to say that he was stronger than Li Xuan.

"After I die, who will succeed me as the Great Khan?"

Li Xuan's voice, appearance and smile appeared in his mind, and Mo Yanchu's tone became weaker.

He knew he was dying, and while he still had a breath left, he wanted to make arrangements for his funeral.

But this sentence seems a bit redundant.

Because now Yehu is nominally the crown prince.

If Moyanchuo died, Crown Prince Yehu should be recalled to inherit the throne of Great Khan.

"Prince Yehu should be recalled from Chang'an immediately."

Moheda Gan said with tears in his eyes.

"Yehu has been in Chang'an for a long time, and Li Xuan actually asked Yehu to stay and go hunting. When did they establish this relationship? If Yehu is the Great Khan, will Huihe become the Protectorate of the Tang Dynasty?"

Mo Yanchu said worriedly.

He also learned that there were eight protectorates in the Tang Dynasty.

Different from the previous protectorates such as Andong, Annan, Shanyu and Baoning.

The Protectorate before Qianyuan was only used to appease the various vassal states and pacify foreign invaders.

The current Protectorate is directly involved in the management and operation of the territory.

The original Protectorate was located in the county.

The eight current protectorates each control an area of ​​thousands of miles.

Not long ago, Mo Yanchu received a letter from Prince Yehu.

Prince Yehu said that "the Mandate of Heaven has returned to the Tang Dynasty" and persuaded him to "serve wholeheartedly", which caused Moyanchu's blood pressure to soar.

He threw the wine glass to the ground and it broke into pieces.

Thinking that after Crown Prince Yehu returned to Shanyu City, he would depose him and make his favorite second son Yidijian the crown prince.

He has been a soldier all his life and can accept failure and endure humiliation.

But we cannot accept Prince Yehu’s cowardice.

However, man proposes, God disposes.

Before Prince Yehu returned, Moyanchuo was already dying.

And it left Mo Yanchu with a century-old problem.

"I am stupid and have no opinion..."

After hearing what Mo Yanchuo said, Mohedagan shut up tactfully.

Now Mo Yanchuo has three sons who are relatively outstanding.

The eldest leaf protector.

The second son moved to Jian.

The third son, Hu Lu, was appointed as the governor.

Mohedagan had heard the rumors long ago and understood that Moyanchuo did not like Prince Yehu and preferred Yidijian.

Yidijian is ruthless and has the spirit of a hero. Moyanchuo believes that Yidijian is like a ferocious white wolf and will achieve great things sooner or later.

"If I appoint Yidijian as the crown prince, and Yidijian takes the throne after my death, Li Xuan will definitely use Yidijian's rebellion as an excuse to enthrone the crown prince Yehu as the Great Khan and attack the Huihe."

Mo Yanchu was breathing heavily as he spoke.

He knows Li Xuan too well.

This man is ambitious and has a unique strategic vision. He will not sit idly by and watch the Uighurs grow stronger.

"This...is not possible!"

Mohedagan couldn't believe it.

He has a very good relationship with Yidijian and secretly hopes that Yidijian will become the Great Khan.

Now, hearing what Mo Yanchuo said, cold sweat broke out.

What a coincidence.

It happened that when the Great Khan was seriously ill, Crown Prince Yehu was retained in Chang'an by Li Xuan.

This stay lasted for more than half a year.

As if he had predicted the future, Mo Yanchuo tried to get off the tiger even before his death.

"That must be it!"

"Cough cough..."

Mo Yanchu said with certainty.

After he finished speaking, he coughed heavily a few times as if he had regained his strength.

His face was pale, without a trace of blood or life.

The secret death could not be concealed from the Tang Dynasty.

The powerful Tang Dynasty had many spies within the Uighurs.

It’s possible to conceal it for a few days, but is it possible to conceal it for several months?
"I must defeat Li Xuan once in my life. Call the generals and nobles into the big tent."

Mo Yanchuo felt extremely powerless and prepared to make arrangements for his final affairs.

"As ordered!"

The guards hurriedly called the Uighur generals and nobles outside the central army tent into the tent.

"After I die... summon Crown Prince Yehu back to Shanyu City to succeed him as the Great Khan. Crown Prince Yehu... is not a wise ruler and will bring ruin to the Huihe people. When he arrives at the grassland, immediately... kill him and report to the Tang court that Yehu died an unnatural death, and re-establish Yidijian as the Great Khan."

"This is my last order as the Great Khan of the Grassland. You must swear to obey it!"

Moyan Chue stammered as he spoke to a group of Uighur generals and nobles.

As for whether Li Xuan would be angry because of the death of Prince Yehu, Mo Yanchuo could only leave it to fate.

He tried his best!

"Great Khan..."

Seeing Mo Yanchuo giving his last words, everyone came forward quickly.

"swear……"

Mo Yanchu used up his last bit of strength to utter the last two words, his eyes wide open.

He refuses to admit defeat and will wait for Li Xuan in the underworld.

"We swear to the gods to obey the will of the Great Khan. If we disobey, we will be struck by lightning and pierced by thousands of arrows..."

Mohedagan and a group of Uighur generals and nobles immediately knelt down, raised their hands and swore to the sky.

Then he bowed to Mo Yanchuo.

However, Mo Yanchuo never let them rest.

When Mohedagan looked up, Moyanchu had already closed his eyes...

A great leader fell.

"Great Khan..."

Loud cries were heard from the big tent, and the sound quickly covered the Sayan Mountains and spread farther and farther... (End of this chapter)