Thief Emperor

Chapter 1149 Giving Power, Not Relinquishing Position

The following year, after the New Year, His Majesty the Emperor and Prime Minister Du reviewed the specific projects of the new policies. In February, Zhang Sui began to push forward the policies to Jiangnan West Circuit and Huainan Circuit.

During this period, Du Xiangong's eldest son also took up a post in Jiangnan West Circuit, serving as the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Jiangnan West Circuit.

Sixteen years after the founding of the Tang Dynasty, its new policies finally began to be vigorously implemented.

Even Emperor Li himself could only take the lead in such matters and roughly grasp the direction; he could hardly intervene in every aspect.

Regardless, his new policies, which he has devoted many years of effort to, are finally beginning to be rolled out on a large scale.

This is a good start.

However, whether it will bear fruit and whether it will ultimately be good or bad governance remains to be seen.

After all, policies need to serve reality; a policy that seems reasonable may not be suitable for this era.

Fortunately, His Majesty the Emperor is still in his prime.

He started it himself, and he has a long time to watch this seed grow little by little.

If one day in the future these policies really become bad policies, as the founding emperor, the future Emperor Taizu Gao of the Tang Dynasty, he will have enough power to suppress them.

In short, if it can be implemented, that's a good thing.

As for the new policies that Li Yun painstakingly implemented after his death, will they simply cease to exist after his passing...?

Li Yun used to care a lot about this matter, and even tried to cultivate and test the Crown Prince because of it.

But now, it seems that it is no longer so important.

Even if it's just his Zhangwu dynasty, as long as he's done his best, that's enough. He'll take care of what he can see, until the day he can't see it anymore.

Actually, it doesn't really matter.

This may seem like a compromise, but in reality, it is a letting go. Otherwise, this obsession will only deepen, and when Li Yun gets older, he will inevitably become possessed by evil. In the end, it would be the least of his worries to turn against his father.

If things go wrong, it could lead to rivers of blood and piles of bones.

After the year ended, Li Yun and Du Qian worked together for more than three months. During this time, the two of them also visited some emerging factories in Jinling Prefecture and near Suzhou City.

These factories... have terrible working conditions.

However, the workers who had jobs were quite happy, since these jobs could indeed supplement their family income and improve their lives.

Before they knew it, it was mid-March, and the time for His Majesty the Emperor to leave Jiangnan was drawing ever closer. On this day, the Emperor, accompanied by Minister Du, took a tour of the Maritime Trade Office.

At this time, the port of the Maritime Trade Office was not exactly overflowing with merchant ships, but the flow of merchant ships coming and going was quite continuous.

In other words, regardless of whether Li Yun's new policies will succeed in the future, the Maritime Trade Office he established has already been quite successful, and such a money-making institution will certainly be retained in the future.

After watching for a while, Li Yun turned to Du Qian and said with a smile, "These past few days, I've seen quite a few foreigners near this dock."

Minister Du nodded and said, "I have seen quite a few as well. In the past, most of the Hu people in Chang'an came from the Western Regions. Those who came from the sea were still a minority."

The emperor nodded: "This world is vast."

"Our Great Tang Dynasty doesn't even reach the eleventh eleventh month."

Du Qian looked at Li Yun with a questioning look in his eyes. His Majesty the Emperor turned to look at him and said in a daze, "Someone has measured it."

Minister Du then nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I believe in you."

His gaze drifted into the distance, and he exclaimed with emotion, "I originally thought that our Celestial Empire was already extremely powerful."

"I wonder what those more distant places are like."

"There's nothing good about it either."

Emperor Li said with a smile, "In the end, it's still more comfortable to stay on this land."

After chatting for a while, Li Yun finally spoke up: "It's been more than half a year since we left home. It's about time we headed back. We still have to go to Guanzhong. If we don't move soon, we might not be able to return to Luoyang by the end of the year."

Du Qian bowed his head and said, "Yes, Your Majesty and I have already discussed it and agreed. We can set off at any time as long as Your Majesty gives the order."

His Majesty the Emperor grunted in response.

"Then tomorrow, call Fei Lian and Geng Yong over and give them a few more instructions. Three days later, we will leave Jinling."

Minister Du nodded and asked, "Your Majesty, shall we return to Luoyang to rest first, or go directly to Guanzhong?"

The emperor thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Once we reach the Central Plains, let the Empress and Prince Jin return to Luoyang first. The two of us will take the rest of the people to Guanzhong. With fewer people, we won't need to make such a fuss."

Du Qian nodded and said, "Your subject obeys."

The emperor, with his hands behind his back, said quietly, "Once we return to Luoyang after this trip, if the crown prince doesn't make any major mistakes, we can gradually hand over the affairs of state to him."

Relinquishing political power while retaining only military control was something Li Yun had been considering for a long time.

Firstly, it will make things easier for him in the future.

Secondly, allowing the crown prince to participate in politics and the new policies will make the future transfer of power much smoother. If the policies can be sustained, that would be even better. Most importantly, this way, there will be virtually no conflicts to erupt.

After all, the Crown Prince wasn't a bad person; Li Yun could tell from their years of father-son relationship.

Moreover, with military power in hand, even if the crown prince had any ideas, he wouldn't dare to act recklessly.

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Du's expression changed, and he lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, I think it's too early."

"At least another ten or twenty years..."

Li Yun looked at him and said with a smile, "It's not like I'm handing everything over to him all at once. I'm letting him do it little by little. We haven't been in the court for the past six months, but the court has still been running just fine, hasn't it?"

"Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Emperor Li remained calm: "I'm here."

Lord Du lowered his head and sighed silently in his heart.

He couldn't understand Li Yun's thoughts at all, after all, throughout history, few emperors were willing to give up their supreme power.

Moreover, the current emperor is still in his prime and has not aged at all.

Thinking of this, he looked up at Li Yun, then lowered his head again.

His Majesty the Emperor is currently only middle-aged. In a few years, when he stands next to the Crown Prince, most people who don't know him will think they are brothers.

Retiring at this age is a wise move.

Prime Minister Du took a deep breath and a bold idea came to mind.

I'm afraid... I'm afraid His Highness the Crown Prince might not be able to survive...

Upon hearing this thought, Du Qian quickly shook his head, dismissing the idea from his mind.

Regardless, he respected His Majesty the Emperor's decision.

No matter what happens in the future, as long as His Majesty the Emperor is still alive, the court will not be in chaos, and if the Crown Prince causes any trouble...

His Majesty the Emperor was also able to correct it in time.

Thinking of this, Prime Minister Du looked at Li Yun and asked, "If Your Majesty no longer handles state affairs personally, what are you planning to do?"

The emperor looked around and said with a smile, "I think it's fine as it is now."

"Occasionally, I can go out for a walk, or hide in the deep palace, practice boxing, or practice shooting. That's how I'll retire."

At this point, Li Yun smiled and said, "It saves me from conflict with my son, and I can also have a few years of freedom. Isn't that great?"

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Originally, I intended to abdicate directly to him."

"Thinking about it for the past year or two, I'm worried that it might end up causing unrest in the country and that if something goes wrong, future generations will laugh at us."

"Therefore, abdication is out of the question."

The emperor said quietly, "Let him govern the country as the crown prince."

Minister Du bowed deeply: "Your Majesty is wise."

"However, even if His Majesty relinquishes power, the process cannot be too quick."

"In my opinion, five to ten years would be ideal..."

"We'll talk about that when we get back to Luoyang."

His Majesty the Emperor stretched and said casually, "Let's not think about these things now. After we leave Jiangnan, let's go to Guanzhong together, and you can go back to your hometown to take a look."

"I came here to see the situation in the Northwest and to see how Guanzhong is now."

"Secondly, I want to see my son."

His Majesty the Emperor narrowed his eyes and grunted, "Look at him now, what kind of person is he?"

Minister Du lowered his head and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, the Northwest has achieved a great victory..."

"I know."

His Majesty the Emperor, with his hands behind his back, said, "This matter has nothing to do with the Northwest."

He waved his hand: "Let's not talk about that now. We'll talk about it after we get to Chang'an. We'll be setting off in a few days, and there's probably a lot to prepare. Brother Shouyi, you should go ahead and get busy."

"We'll talk about it on the way."

Du Qian lowered his head and said.

"My minister obeys."

(End of this chapter)