The Great Tang General

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you and congratulate you on your triumphant return..."

Li Xuan stopped his carriage in front of the civil and military officials.

"No need to be so polite, my lords."

Li Xuan spoke slowly, his voice becoming even more magnetic.

An expedition takes five years, but how many five years do we have in our life?

As always, when the civil and military officials welcomed him, they did not ask about state affairs.

He first expressed his condolences to the retired Prime Minister Pei Zunqing because Pei Zunqing was older.

The prime ministers who worked hard for the country and ushered in the Qianyuan prosperous era deserve preferential treatment.

Li Xuan gave them enough honor and recorded their life stories in history books.

Only then will those who come after us pay more attention to reputation, restrain themselves, and serve the country and the people.

Be loyal to the country, not to the king.

This is not only what Li Xuan said when he rebelled, but he also often said it after he became emperor.

As long as the emperor is wise and brave and does not do whatever he wants, the emperor and the country will be integrated.

On the contrary, the emperor and the country will be separated, and the government and the people will be treated differently.

Like Confucius and Mencius in the pre-Qin period, they followed the Tao and not the king.

The country is open-minded and there will be a hundred schools of thought.

Before the Industrial Revolution, there must have been dawn in the East.

"How is your health, old man?"

Li Xuan said while holding Pei Zunqing's hand.

Pei Zunqing’s face was flushed and he looked very energetic.

He also envied Pei Zunqing for his good health.

"I am doing fine, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Pei Zunqing replied to Li Xuan.

He was born in the most turbulent period of the country and witnessed the ups and downs of the Tang Dynasty.

Then there were big ups and downs.

He was fortunate to serve as prime minister during the Qianyuan period and assist a monarch like Yao and Shun.

A bowl of porridge means a peaceful and prosperous era.

This is a fallacy.

He thought that the Kaiyuan Period of Prosperity was the peak of the dynasty, but compared with the concept of supremacy, Kaiyuan was just that.

Afterwards, Li Xuan also asked Liu Yan, Yan Zhenqing, Yang Wan and others one by one.

Next are the current prime ministers such as Li Mi and Lu Sigong.

"When I was away from Chang'an, it was all thanks to the hard work of you gentlemen that the country was safe and the people lived and worked in peace..."

Finally, Li Xuan spoke to all the civil and military officials.

When he left Chang'an, he laid the foundation for the Tang Dynasty, appointed wise prime ministers with a vision that transcends time and space.

It enables him to do many things.

"It is our duty..."

Civil and military officials did not dare to take credit for themselves.

After some condolences, Li Xuan ordered his carriage to return to the palace.

Along the way, Li Xuan kept waving to the people who came to greet him...

Zhuque Street has been completely renovated and the whole city is full of flowers.

After the abolition of the Fangshi system, the demolition of the Fang walls officially began.

If necessary, Li Xuanhui will set up new markets and neighborhoods outside the city.

Although Chang'an City is large, its development is restricted.

After returning to the palace, Li Xuan instructed the prime minister to perform his duties.

After seven days, the next court meeting will be held.

Li Xuan wants to visit his father and accompany his wife and daughter.

I haven't attended court for five years, so a few days won't make any difference.

As soon as Li Xuan entered the Taiji Palace, he went to the Wude Hall to visit Li Shizhi.

Although Li Shizhi was not bedridden, his health was deteriorating as he was over 70 years old.

Maybe it's because I drank too much when I was young.

As one of the Eight Immortals of Drinking, no one could persuade Li Shizhi to stop drinking.

As Li Bai wrote in his poem: When life is happy, one should enjoy it to the fullest, and never let the golden cup face the moon empty.

"Father……"

When seeing Li Shizhi again, Li Xuan did not salute, but walked quickly forward and hugged Li Shizhi.

"Qilang is a man who is doing great things. He doesn't need to be sentimental."

Although Li Shizhi said so, he gently patted Li Xuan on the back, his joy evident in his expression.

It's been more than five years since we last met.

When he was seriously ill last year, he thought he would never see Qilang again.

His seventh son restored the ancestral heritage, and he became extremely rich and powerful as a result.

He would die without regrets if he could see Qilang again.

"How is father's health now?"

After some reflection, Li Xuan asked Li Shizhi.

"Father is doing fine. You don't have to worry about his health. When he gets old, he will have some minor illnesses!"

After seeing Li Xuan, Li Shizhi felt much better.

He has become open-minded about birth, old age, sickness and death.

"That's good!"

Li Xuan knew that Li Shizhi was comforting him.

"If Dad finds Chang'an boring, I can accompany him to Luoyang after a while... The cement road between the two capitals has been built, and you won't feel the bumps when you sit in the car."

Li Xuan and Li Shizhi said after sitting down in front of the chairs.

Li Shizhi once served as the governor of Henan. Before Li Xuan went to the battlefield, he said he wanted to visit Luoyang.

Moreover, Li Shizhi had several old friends in Luoyang.

In order to avoid causing trouble, Li Shizhi stayed in Chang'an after Li Xuan went to the battlefield.

"Qi Lang, you should focus on state affairs. I am old and I will be fine in Chang'an."

Li Shizhi shook his head.

He didn't want to trouble Qilang, who was busy with all kinds of things, for such a trivial matter.

"If you don't fulfill your father's wish, you are not a filial son, and you can't be a role model for the world."

Li Xuan thought it was nothing.

"The filial piety of the emperor is different from that of ordinary people. Qilang serves the country and the people. This is the greatest filial piety."

Li Shizhi had his own reasons.

"That's fine!"

Li Xuan said no more.

But I have made up my mind.

As the population of Chang'an grew, food pressure became very great.

In the era without chemical fertilizers, the Guanzhong Plain was not enough to feed millions of people due to soil erosion.

Over the past decade or so, the population of Chang'an Prefecture has doubled due to the increase in the number of people migrating from other places.

The population of Shaanxi Province also increased by 30 percent.

There was a constant stream of vehicles transporting grain along the ancient road between the two capitals.

In the past, Li Longji went to Luoyang to "seek food" five times for a period of ten years.

I'm afraid it won't be long before something like this happens to Li Xuan.

Therefore, Li Xuan would definitely go to Luoyang to govern.

The most important thing is that Li Xuan has to start planning and preparing for the industrial revolution in the Central Plains.

A series of deployments were carried out by utilizing the human and material resources of Huainan, Jiangnan, Qiantang, Henan, Qilu, Hebei and other places.

It would be a waste of resources to transfer all these manpower and material resources to Chang'an.

In times of peace and prosperity, the emperor resides in the center of heaven.

Compared with the Protectorates, the Protectorates in the west will be firmly controlled as soon as the nine most core provinces among the twenty-four provinces of the Han area enter the Industrial Revolution.

It is impossible for Li Xuan to put the cart before the horse and develop the west first.

"Father, follow me to Ziwei Palace, and we will have a meal together as a family."

After Li Xuan talked with Li Shizhi for a while, he welcomed Li Shizhi to Ziwei Palace.

"it is good……"

Li Shizhi did not refuse.

In Ziwei Hall, when Li Yi and Li Song paid a visit to Li Shizhi, Li Xuan also reunited with his wives after a long separation.

They are an old married couple, full of sincerity.

Li Xuan was good at managing his family. Although he was a king, there was no atmosphere of fighting in his family.

Li Xuan thanked them for their hard work in the palace. Pei Lingxi and other women also said that their husbands had a harder time when they were on a long expedition.

While dining, Pei Lingxi mentioned Li Yi's marriage.

The prince is unique in that he is still unmarried at this age.

The main reason is that the expedition took too long.

However, Li Xuan asked Li Yi and Li Song to meet more girls in the capital during this period. As long as a girl is their favorite, no matter what her identity is, as long as she has impeccable moral character, she can be designated as the Crown Princess or the Queen Princess.

Pei Lingxi didn't say anything. After all, he and Li Xuan met by chance.

It has left an incomparable beauty till now.

Li Shizhi also wanted to see Li Yi and Li Song get married and have a big fat boy for him to hold.

As for Li Xuan's daughter Li Zhenzhen, I heard that she already had someone in her heart. When I asked her about it, she blushed.

It was Shuang'er who told Li Xuan that Li Zhenzhen was in love with a man from Chang'an named Wei Gao.

Wei Gao was from the Jingzhao Wei family and was three years older than Li Zhenzhen.

Li Zhenzhen liked Wei Gao because she felt that Wei Gao was different from other scholars.

Since her father was not in Chang'an, she of course could not get married, and it has been delayed until now, when she has grown into a grown-up girl.

When Li Xuan heard that it was Wei Gao and saw that his daughter was happy, he immediately agreed to the marriage and agreed to get married as early as August this year.

Li Xuan remembered that Wei Gao was a man of both literary and military talents. In history, Wei Gao was said to be the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang, which shows his moral character.

The whole family had a great time and ended the day's meal together.

The next day, Li Xuan called his brothers and nephews to have a party.

Seven days have passed and the court meeting has begun.

The first thing Li Xuan did was to order generals such as Xue Cuo, Luo Xing, and Pei Ying to arrange for the imperial troops on the expedition to take a long vacation in batches for three months. If their home was far away, they were allowed to ride horses home, and the vacation could be half a year to a year, depending on the distance of the journey.

The wounded soldiers of the imperial guards had already returned to Chang'an by carriage.

As for the soldiers who died in the battle, a cenotaph will be built for them at the foot of Mount Zhongnan.

After being rated as a martyr, his family members received preferential treatment and rewards.

If you have offspring, they can attend universities in the provinces unconditionally.

The Ministry of War must also make arrangements for the remaining soldiers who died in battle or were wounded or disabled.

It is imperative that pensions and rewards are distributed to every household.

Local provinces must fully cooperate with the state's policies on casualties.

If the development does not meet the standards or there is dereliction of duty, the governor will be directly evaluated.

If there is any corruption in pensions, we will hold everyone accountable from the bottom up and punish those who commit it without mercy.

Silk, tea, new industrial products and handicrafts were also distributed as rewards to the Hu tribes who participated in the Western Expedition.

Then, Li Xuan talked about the governance of the six newly added Grand Protectorates.

Use the prisoners to build roads.

About the development of minerals, the construction of commerce and workshops.

Unswervingly preside over reform.

Li Mi also reported military and political affairs to Li Xuan.

In the tenth year of Qianyuan, Xin Yunjing crossed the strait, landed on Liuqiu Island, conquered the tribes on the island, and set up government offices.

Li Xuan renamed it Ryukyu County and placed it under the jurisdiction of Fujian Province.

In the Yunnan Protectorate, Geluofeng fulfilled his mission and, with the cooperation of the Tang army, arrived at the "Ocean" designated by Li Xuan last winter.

The tribes in the mountains and forests along the way either migrated or were conquered.

The Yunnan Protectorate expanded greatly.

Li Xuan rewarded Ge Luofeng with a thousand pieces of Shu brocade, ten thousand gold coins, and one hundred thousand silver coins.

We must increase our control over newly conquered areas.

Li Xuan hoped that there would be a port of call in the Indian Ocean during the great voyages of discovery.

During this court meeting, Li Xuan asked Diwu Qi about the reserves of gold and silver coins.

As early as eight years ago, samples of gold and silver coins had been produced. When Li Xuan was on his southern tour, he gave a gold coin to a ferryman in Huaiyin.

Central bank, eight years in the making.

Li Xuan also asked Diwu Qi to concurrently serve as the Minister of Commerce and Vice-President of the Ministry of State Affairs.

The representative said that during the Fifth Qi's term of office, gold and silver coins would definitely be circulated in the world.

Diwu Qi reported to Li Xuan that the warehouse was already filled with two kinds of gold coins, large and small, and three kinds of silver coins, large, medium and small.

Even though the trade had been prosperous for more than a decade, and even though Li Xuan had fought wars in the east and west and dealt with tens of thousands of gold and silver.

However, due to the large storage of gold and silver coins, the reserves of gold and silver in national warehouses became increasingly scarce.

Li Xuan is not worried about the gold and silver reserves for the time being.

He requested that starting from August 1, gold and silver coins should be gradually transported from the two capitals to banks in various places.

Clearly estimate how many copper coins can be exchanged for a small silver coin.

At the same time, the new currency "Qianyuan Tongbao" gradually replaced "Kaiyuan Tongbao".

After all, Kaiyuan Tongbao has been implemented for more than a hundred years, and there are too many bad coins.

In the Tang Dynasty, many people and businesses used silk as hard currency in transactions, and even as a barter.

This is a lack of confidence in the currency.

Monetary reform is also imperative.

Li Xuan let Diwu Qi take charge and perform steadily.

Other prime ministers should also pay attention to food prices in different places.

The Tang Dynasty occupied the gold and silver mines of the Arabs and obtained countless dirhams.

Later, gold and silver will be transported from the West to Chang'an.

The gold and silver coins of the Arab Empire were also melted directly and became the currency of the Tang Dynasty.

All trade with other countries uses hard currencies such as gold and silver.

In addition, in January next year, the central government will be temporarily moved to Luoyang.

Civil and military officials went to Luoyang to handle official business.

Li Xuan will continue to explain various advanced knowledge in the Palace of Wisdom to promote the development of the country.

Li Xuan also introduced the focus of the next twenty years to all civil and military officials.

We must continue to build bridges and roads and develop water conservancy projects.

Cultivating and growing new crops, adapting to local conditions, and popularizing vegetables and fruits is a long-term plan for the next millennium.

The migration of Han people to the Western Regions must be continuous, with higher welfare provided, so that young and middle-aged people can go to "Develop the West" and scholars can go to the Mediterranean to preach.

As long as a scholar taught in the six newly established protectorates for five years, he could take a shortcut and become a ninth-rank official, or return to the Central Plains and become the principal of a school.

The Tang Dynasty encouraged Han men in Persia and the Mesopotamian region to marry women of other ethnic groups.

Especially soldiers.

This is the fastest way to settle down. Any Han soldier or civilian who marries a woman of a foreign race will receive a certain amount of extra reward.

Li Xuan believed that there would definitely be women from other ethnic groups who were willing to marry Han men.

The exploration of non-ferrous metals such as gold, silver, copper and iron cannot be stopped.

The exploration of coal and oil must be put into practical use.

Li Xuan hopes that some Han scholars can discover the secrets of oil.

After all, petrochemical industry in later generations covers almost all the necessities of life.

Increase investment in artillery and muskets.

Any craftsman who has made contributions to the development of firearms will be received by Li Xuan.

Li Xuan added the "Dragon Medal" and the "Peony Medal".

The Dragon Medal is the highest honor award for inventors.

The Peony Medal is an award for top talents in the industry.

An expert in the planned breeding of livestock such as chickens, ducks, cattle, pigs, and sheep.

Hopefully, these animals will appear in more farmers’ homes.

When the trend just started, we didn’t need to have meat every meal, but we had to have meat once during the Chinese New Year.

We must promote the inflow of commodities and industrial products in turn, increase commodity efficiency and reduce costs.

The investment in the Salesian Church and the Jisheng Church will increase.

We will continue to crack down on corrupt officials who abuse their power for personal gain and will not tolerate any further corruption.

Gradually ban transactions in the slave market.

Officials should set an example by employing people first, and any official who owns slaves will have five points deducted from his or her annual evaluation.

It would take Li Xuan twenty years to dismantle the slave system.

Of course, Li Xuan also knew that the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and no one would sell their children.

During the past ten years of Qianyuan, the slave trade was almost non-existent.

Counties were notified to prohibit preference for sons over daughters. The village chiefs were responsible for the supervision. Any parents who drowned their children after giving birth would be convicted.

If one is unable to raise the child or does not want to raise the child, he or she can be given to the Salesian Church.

Li Xuan encouraged counties and prefectures to develop the characteristics of their hometowns.

While developing state-owned factories, strengthen management of merchants...

Plans are being made to prepare more cement roads, etc…

……

The prime minister and the civil and military officials understood that the Supreme Being was guiding the way forward.

They kept the words of the Supreme in mind.

In particular, officials who aspired to become prime ministers were all trying to figure out Li Xuan's policies, hoping to become the most powerful official in the country during the next term of office.

……

In September, after the wedding of Li Xuan's daughter Li Zhenzhen, Li Xuan once again met with the inventors of the Tang Dynasty.

This time, Li Xuan saw thermometers, clock-like timers, telescopes, etc.

Although it was very rough, Li Xuan was very pleased.

He knighted inventors and awarded them the Order of the Peony to encourage them to continue their efforts.

January of the fifteenth year of Qianyuan.

Li Mi was re-elected as the chief prime minister, while Duan Xueshi, Lu Sigong and Zhang Hao were dismissed.

Li Xuan also appointed Yang Yan, Xiao Xin and Wei Zhi as prime ministers.

Tiance Mansion also began rotation.

The center of the Tang Dynasty officially moved to Luoyang.

Li Xuan also brought Li Shizhi to Luoyang as he wished.

Li Xuan planned to build suburbs and streets around Luoyang.

By surrounding the Yi River, the size of Luoyang was expanded without expanding the city.

Because Li Xuan understood that once the emperor arrived in Luoyang to govern, Luoyang would be flooded with population in a short period of time, just like Chang'an.

In the spring of the fifteenth year of Qianyuan, Li Yi and Li Song got married in Luoyang one after another.

Li Yi married a lady from a prominent family, while Li Song fell in love with the daughter of a seventh-rank official.

Li Xuan also followed his wishes.

Flowers bloom and fall, winter goes and spring comes.

In the blink of an eye, time entered the eighteenth year of Qianyuan.

In this year, Li Xuan ordered the change of the names of the six western protectorates and the names of the mountains and rivers in Heze.

The name "Li" was bestowed upon 132 local families that had made great contributions to assisting the Tang Dynasty.

The title of "Li" was given to forty-nine tribes, including the Karluk, Turgesh, Khitan, Shiwei, and Uighur.

It is named after the country's surname, and is even more noble because of the Heavenly Khan.

At the same time, Li Xuan referred to Asia, where the Tang Dynasty was located and which was called "Zhongzhou" by Westerners.

It means the center of the world, where China is.

Change Europe to "Western Antarctica", which means the Western World.

Change the historical Africa to "Yanzhou" because there is an insurmountable desert there, which is arid and dry.

The undiscovered continents and four oceans will be named in the future.

It was also in this year that the most primitive steam engine was invented by the Palace of Wisdom.

But Li Xuan was not satisfied with this steam engine because of its low efficiency and poor applicability.

Li Xuan explained the principles and applicability of steam engines.

It was promised that whoever could improve the steam engine would be made a marquis and awarded the Order of the Dragon.

Countless geniuses flock to the Palace of Wisdom.

In the autumn of the eighteenth year of Qianyuan, Li Xuan ordered the crown prince to govern the country and leave Luoyang to inspect the Qi and Lu provinces in the east.

Accompanying them were the Prince of Yan, Ma Sui who was transferred back from the Mediterranean, and Li Xuan's son-in-law Wei Gao.

In the port of Penglai, there were five huge sailing ships prepared for Ma Sui.

The five sailing ships are Taishan, Songshan, Huashan, Hengshan and Hengshan.

Li Xuan appointed Ma Sui as the Grand Navigator and Wei Gao as the Deputy Grand Navigator.

Compass, astrolabe, telescope, quadrant, nautical charts, etc. are all available.

However, the nautical chart is very rough, and Ma Sui still needs to explore the details.

Among the entourage were imperial guards equipped with powerful crossbows, muskets and cannons.

There are doctors, cooks, servants, oceanographers, astronomers, etc., and all kinds of medicines and tools are available.

Daily necessities such as clothes, equipment for collecting fresh water, food, candy, canned food, dried meat, lamps, fuel, etc. are also prepared.

We plan to replenish it when we reach the South China Sea.

Ma Sui's route was to go south from Penglai, passing through Jiangnan, Qiantang, Fujian, the South China Sea, then across the Strait of Malacca, to the Indian Ocean, passing through the Tang Dynasty's territory of Persia, to the Yanzhou Continent, and the Cape of Good Hope...

The world is round and he will come back from the other side.

New continents may also be discovered.

This was far more than a journey. Before the voyage, Li Xuan held a grand banquet to express his condolences to every sailor. Even a cook received care and blessings.

Every crew member was awarded a pure gold "Medal of Navigation". This medal will only be awarded once and will never be awarded again.

Li Xuan hopes that they can return safely without missing a single one.

The eighteenth year of Qianyuan, December, fifteenth day, early morning.

This is a historic moment.

The mist was thick, and the fairy island of Penglai looked like it was covered with silk. In the harbor, exquisite sailboats were ready to set sail, with masts pointing to the sky and white sails fluttering as if they were about to ride the wind and break through the mist.

Li Xuan was specially dressed in a dragon robe, a crown with tassels and pearls, and stood tall and straight. His majestic and solemn aura seemed to silence the heaven and earth. All the ministers standing behind him held their breath.

Ma Sui and Wei Gao led the team in the front. The crew members were wearing cotton clothes but were in high spirits. They bowed in unison and shouted "Long live the emperor".

Li Xuan glanced over, his eyes showing both anticipation for exploring the unknown and concern for those who were traveling far away. He raised his hand slightly, motioning them to stand up.

The sea breeze gradually rose, fluttering Li Xuan's dragon robe, as if urging him to set sail.

"You are on this journey with the heavy responsibility of pioneering. You should be fearless and explore the ends of the ocean. Bring more crops back to Chang'an, so that the world can understand the wider world... I hope you will return safely and drink with me..."

Li Xuan's voice is like a loud bell, and every word he speaks is powerful and can be heard clearly amid the roar of the waves.

"We, the ministers, will do our best to live up to your grace, overcome obstacles, bring rewards, and spread the power and virtue of the Tang Dynasty far and wide!"

Ma Sui spoke on behalf of the crew.

After another salute, he turned around and boarded the ship. Once the order was given, the fleet cast off and set sail.

Li Xuan raised his hand again!
Suddenly, drums and horns sounded on the shore and conch shells were blown long and loudly.

The oars paddled the blue sea, the water splashed like snow, the sails gradually went away, and disappeared in the vast sea of ​​smoke...

Li Xuan was at the shore, and only came to his senses after seeing them disappear without a trace.

"Song'er..."

Li Xuan shouted to Li Song who was more stable next to him.

"Father..."

Li Song bowed to Li Xuan.

"There is a country across the sea, and their king calls himself the emperor, which is a disrespect to the Tang Dynasty. The people there once fought with the Tang Dynasty, and only obeyed after the Battle of Baekgang. But they fear power but not power. You lead the North Sea Navy and the Shenji Camp to cross the ocean to capture the so-called emperor and make that place the territory of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Xuan gave the task of attacking the island country to Li Song.

The Tang Dynasty had dozens of gunboats and hundreds of ships in the North Sea.

The navy of the Beihai Governor's Office has been established for nearly twenty years, and has been waiting for this moment.

"My son obeys the decree..."

Li Song said excitedly that his father finally let him fight and he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Li Xuan smiled and said that he would order his staff and generals to assist Li Song.

In this era, island nations are not a concern.

He was just worried about Ma Sui and Wei Gao who had just set out, as they would face tremendous storms and numerous difficulties.

If the Tang Dynasty wants to reach for the moon, it must take this step.

From now on, Li Xuan will develop the country while waiting for Ma Sui and Wei Gao to return triumphantly!
Wait until that day comes, wait until the steam engine is improved, wait until the Tang Dynasty's muskets become more powerful, wait until the Tang Dynasty's cannons have a longer range, wait until the railroad is laid, and there will be the sound of the "woohoo" flute...

In this world, nothing can stop the progress of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Xuan's original mission has been completed. The great voyage is the beginning of a new journey...

(Complete the book!)
(End of this chapter)