Thief Emperor

Chapter 1119 Li Li's Blind Date
Building a reasonable, well-functioning, and problem-free imperial system is an extremely difficult task.

No one can create a completely new and flawless system from scratch.

Ideally, one should first create an ideal prototype, then gradually add to it, and continuously iterate and revise it based on reality.

However, Li Yun clearly couldn't do that.

In this era, he was the only one with a vision and insight that transcended the entire time.

The most critical issue is that this kind of perspective and insight cannot be passed on to others, because some things, even if you publicize them, are things that others have not experienced, so they will not understand or believe them.

In the end, they'll still treat you like a madman, a psychopath.

In this situation, Li Yun alone cannot erase the existing system from its foundation and rebuild it from the very basics.

Therefore, after Li Yun founded the country, in terms of the main framework, he could only inherit the national system of the old Zhou Dynasty, or the framework of the imperial system of three departments and six ministries. Then, on this framework, he would add some patches that conformed to his own ideas and could indeed transform this era.

Therefore, Li Yun had to find ways to learn from various dynasties and systems for many of them.

For example, the feudal system of the Tang Dynasty.

Leaving aside the entire dynasty, a relatively good system of imperial clansmen was actually like that of the Qing Dynasty, where the imperial clansmen were not allowed to go to their fiefdoms but were kept in the capital. They were given both a carrot and a stick approach, which prevented them from rebelling while also ensuring their support for the court.

Throughout the Qing Dynasty, the emperors were relatively harsh on the imperial family, often stripping them of their titles or even executing them. However, there was one thing to note: while titles could be stripped, they were not abolished. For example, those hereditary princes who committed crimes would not have their titles revoked.

Instead, they would find someone else from this branch to inherit the title.

This measure, to some extent, won over the imperial clan, making them work together with the emperor.

However, different systems are suited to different situations. When the Manchus unified the country, there were already a large number of imperial relatives. In addition, they had their own unique military household system, so it was not appropriate to simply apply the same system to the Tang Dynasty.

For example, the Northwest is now largely pacified, but it is too far from the imperial court. To maintain stability in the Northwest, it would require a permanent garrison of over 20,000 troops.

These 20,000 troops all need to be combat soldiers.

In other words, if you include non-staff members, the number is far more than that, and the total number may exceed 100,000.

Given the distance from the imperial court, the only way to ensure that so many people could function stably in the Northwest was to grant them a degree of autonomy.

So, this was actually the vassal state of the old Zhou dynasty.

That is, the Jiedushi (military governor).

During the reign of Emperor Zhangwu, Li Yun had plenty of people he could send out as "military governors," such as Chen Da, Yu Ye, and even Qian Zhong, Zhang Xuan, and so on. Li Yun could guarantee that they would not have any rebellious intentions during the reign of Emperor Zhangwu.

But what about the future?

It's hard to say.

Therefore, at this time, the only option is to send the prince to garrison the northwest. Even if Li Tong is not currently capable of commanding so many troops, he can still hold the title and will naturally be able to take over these troops in the future.

There are also some unspeakable thoughts.

Even if the Northwest really becomes a warlord region in the future, it will still be the Li family who are in charge. In the end, the spoils will still end up in the Li family's pot.

That was probably the idea behind Zhu Yuanzhang (Emperor Taizu) back then.

Now, Li Yun has similar thoughts.

The fourth prince, Li Tong, came from a less than ideal background, so the crown prince had no fear of him. In addition, he was very tall and skilled in archery and horsemanship.

There is no better candidate.

…………

Two days later, at dawn, the fourth prince arrived at Ganlu Hall early in the morning to await an audience, as ordered by imperial decree. At this time, His Majesty the Emperor had just finished breakfast. He had just arrived at the entrance of Ganlu Hall from his sleeping quarters when he saw his fourth son, who was already waiting at the door.

His Majesty the Emperor beckoned to him: "Come, come, come."

The fourth prince quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Father."

His Majesty the Emperor smiled and said, "Didn't I tell you to come in the morning? Why are you here so early? Have you eaten yet?"

The fourth prince quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I have already eaten."

The emperor nodded and said, "Come inside with me and wait for me a moment."

After saying that, he walked into the Ganlu Hall with his hands behind his back, and the fourth prince followed him in cautiously.

For many years, Li Yun has kept his life and work separate. He basically handled all political affairs in the Ganlu Hall, which was the emperor's only office.

The harem, on the other hand, was where people lived.

However, because there were so many things to do in the early years of the founding of the dynasty, Li Yun spent almost half of his day in the Ganlu Hall, and sometimes even slept there. As a result, this hall, which was originally just the emperor's study, gradually became the political center of the Tang Dynasty.

Only those who can enter the Ganlu Hall are considered important officials.

Even the Fourth Prince, who had only entered the Ganlu Palace a handful of times since childhood, followed his father into the palace. Once inside, the Emperor told him to find a place to sit for a while, and then sat in the main seat and began reviewing some important matters. Apart from the Grand Court Assembly, Li Yun would review the matters placed on the table in the Ganlu Palace almost every morning. These matters included those sent by the Secretariat, the Nine Departments, and others through other channels.

If something is placed on his desk early in the morning, it's almost always something very important.

It took Li Yun almost half an hour to finish processing these documents. During this time, he lost his temper twice. On one occasion, he summoned Eunuch Gu and ordered him to personally deliver an oral edict to reprimand him.

It was nearly 9 AM when His Majesty the Emperor stood up, glanced at his son, and said, "Let's go, your father will take you out of the palace for a walk."

"Gu Chang, prepare the car."

Eunuch Gu responded and quickly went to prepare the carriage. Not long after, His Majesty the Emperor boarded an apricot-yellow four-horse carriage.

There are many rules for the emperor's travels. If he wants to be serious, he has to set up a grand procession. He may not be able to leave the house for a whole day. This carriage is used when the emperor travels in a simpler way.

In addition, there were also carriages for traveling incognito, all of which were fully prepared in the imperial city.

The emperor beckoned to the fourth prince: "What are you standing there for? Come up here."

The fourth prince lowered his head, somewhat apprehensive: "Father, I can just walk alongside you."

The emperor glared at him, and the fourth prince dared not say anything more. He quickly got into the carriage and sat opposite his father.

The father and son sat facing each other. Emperor Li carefully looked at his fourth son and said with a smile, "Among your many brothers, you are the most handsome, just like your father."

That was just a joke.

Among all the princes, the one who looks and has the most similar appearance and build to Li Yun is the second prince, Li Zheng, who is about 60-70% similar.

Although the fourth prince is handsome, he looks more like his mother.

Li Yun said this partly as a joke, and partly to slightly improve the relationship between father and son.

There was nothing he could do; he had too many sons.

In addition, he has been busy with work for so many years, so he doesn't have many sons who are particularly close to him. Even the crown prince didn't spend much time with Li Yun after the founding of the country.

In comparison, Princess Lujiang actually spent more time with Li Yun.

The fourth prince lowered his head and smiled, saying, "It is only right that I resemble you."

After that, the father and son fell silent again.

Emperor Li did not speak again, but sighed silently in his heart.

Whether in public or in private, the sense of oppression he exerted as the founding emperor was still too strong.

The more assertive a person's image, the harder it is for them to get close to others.

Even though he rarely hit his sons, unless he deliberately showed them affection, their relationship with him was more like that of a ruler and his subjects.

Rather than the father and son in the common folk.

Of course, even among ordinary fathers and sons, the majority are not close to each other.

This "lack of intimacy" doesn't mean there's no father-son affection; it just means that men often don't express their feelings and sometimes maintain a certain air of authority.

The relationship between father and son is more like that of ruler and subject.

This applies not only to royalty.

The journey was silent for an unknown amount of time before the carriage stopped in front of the Duke of Xuan's residence. As soon as it stopped, Duke Meng Qing of Xuan, along with his entire family, knelt to welcome the imperial procession.

After Emperor Li alighted from his carriage, Meng Qing bowed deeply and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject Li Qing respectfully welcomes Your Majesty."

Behind him, the family members of the Duke of Xuan's mansion knelt down in a rush, all addressing him as "Your Majesty."

Behind Li Yun, the Fourth Prince had also gotten off the carriage. He wisely avoided standing in front of the Duke of Xuan.

Emperor Li stepped forward, helped Meng Qing up, then looked at his family behind him and said with a smile, "Get up, all of you, get up."

After everyone stood up, Li Yun turned to look at his son. The fourth prince understood and immediately stepped forward: "Nephew Li Tong greets the General."

Meng Qing hurriedly returned the greeting: "Greetings, Fourth Prince."

Li Yun helped him up and said with a smile, "It's not your turn to worship him today. Come on, let's go inside and talk."

Soon, the group entered the main hall of the Duke's mansion and took their seats. Li Yun pulled Meng Qing to sit next to him, while Li Tong stood in the main hall. Then, he smiled at Meng Qing and said, "Look, what do you think of my fourth son?"

Meng Qing glanced at Li Tong, then turned to look at Li Yun, and said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

Emperor Li made no attempt to conceal his feelings and said with a smile.

How about I become your son-in-law?

(End of this chapter)