Thief Emperor

Chapter 949: The Eighth Year of Zhangwu
In the first year of Zhangwu, General Su Sheng pacified the Guanzhong Road and captured the bandit leader Wei Quanzhong and his son alive.

At the end of the year, he was ordered to be torn into pieces and his head sent to Guanzhong.

In the twelfth month, the emperor issued an edict to exempt Guanzhong from taxes for three years. At the same time, the emperor returned to Luoyang.

The following year, Chen Bochong, the defense commander of Guanzhong Road, captured Lingzhou, wiped out the remnants of the Shuofang Army, and ordered the extermination of the three clans of the Wei family. The rebellion in Guanzhong was thus quelled.

Then, like the crows flying away and the rabbits running away, seven years passed in the blink of an eye.

Time came to the spring of the eighth year of Zhangwu.

During the previous seven years, except for the battle in Youyan, the Tang court had not launched any large-scale wars. Although it did not completely stop fighting and focus on culture, it did give the people a rest for seven years.

In seven years, the world's population has not yet fully recovered, except for a lot more newborns. However, Luoyang's population has expanded again and reached the million level. The entire Luoyang city can be said to be thriving in all industries, making it the world's largest city.

It is almost catching up with the old Zhou Chang'an.

The entire New Tang is also full of vitality.

On that day, the city of Luoyang was decorated with lights and lanterns everywhere. At noon, the sounds of music and dancing continued incessantly. Especially in Anrenfang, the streets were so crowded that there was no room to move at all.

Because today, a distinguished person is getting married in Anrenfang, and a buffet will be set up for three whole days. The whole Anrenfang and nearby neighbors can eat, so it is packed with people.

Until a series of rough voices came: "Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw a group of soldiers in black armor, protecting an apricot-yellow sedan chair, striding into Anrenfang.

Looking at the feathered warriors on the black-armored soldiers, those who knew their stuff had already recognized them and their faces changed.

"Yulin Army!"

Seeing the Yulin Army clearing the way, everyone quickly made way, but they still gathered on both sides of the road, talking a lot.

Someone whispered, "Which noble could have asked the Imperial Guards to clear the way?"

A scholar dressed as a student at the side rolled his eyes and pouted, "I can tell you are not from the capital. In this world, anyone who can ride in a yellow sedan chair and have the Imperial Guards lead the way must be a royal family member."

He also lowered his voice and said, "And it must be the prince. Even Prince Jin doesn't have such a grand ceremony."

"Prince?"

Many people looked up and stretched their necks, wanting to see what the prince in the sedan chair looked like.

This scholar was a native of Luoyang. When he said this, he was a little proud. He fanned the folding fan in his hand and said with certainty: "It's either His Royal Highness the Crown Prince or His Royal Highness the King of Yue."

He thought for a moment and then said, "But I heard that His Royal Highness the King of Yue went to join the army under General Meng of Hebei Province, so this should be His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

The King of Yue is the second son of the current emperor. He was crowned king in the fifth year of Zhangwu. He is naturally brave and fond of military affairs.

"His Royal Highness?"

Someone was surprised and asked, "Why is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince coming to Anrenfang?"

"Because the wedding today is held in the family of Mr. Du."

The scholar smiled and said, "It's the son of Mr. Du who is getting married."

Although everyone was rushing to eat the buffet, most people only knew that it was a wedding in a nobleman's family. Occasionally, if someone asked, they would just say it was in the prime minister's family.

In addition, many people were illiterate and did not know that a wedding was being held at Mr. Du’s mansion.

The scholar looked at the prince's sedan chair, fanned himself and said with a smile: "Mr. Du is the head of all officials in our Tang Dynasty. Our Anrenfang got its name from Mr. Du. Now that his family is having a wedding, it's not surprising that the prince is present."

"I heard that the Crown Prince wanted to become Mr. Du's apprentice, but Mr. Du refused to accept him."

At this moment, the escorting Yulin Army had already passed by, and everyone was looking at the yellow sedan chair, still talking about it.

Someone looked at the scholar who had spoken earlier and exclaimed, "Sir, you really know a lot."

The scholar waved his fan and said proudly: "I am from Anrenfang."

A resident of Anrenfang nearby glanced at him with some disdain: "Then why don't you speak our Luoyang dialect?"

The scholar stretched his neck and shouted, "What's so great about being able to speak Luoyang dialect? Nowadays, most people in Luoyang can't speak Luoyang dialect!"

He was naturally very proud, so after saying these few words, he blushed and said, "Even if it's your Majesty, you're not from Luoyang, why don't you let your Majesty speak your Luoyang dialect!"

The local man felt guilty when he heard this, and he muttered a few words and left angrily.

The scholar snorted angrily, spat on the ground, and cursed: "You look down on me. When I pass the imperial examination next year, I will teach you to call me 'husband'!"

When the topic of the exam came up, a few scholars among the crowd gathered around. They sat down in a teahouse and talked about the exam for a while. Someone smiled and said, "Speaking of which, I heard that the court will hold a ceremony to crown the crown prince this year. Maybe His Majesty will hold an extra exam this year."

As soon as this was said, some people followed suit, while others shook their heads and said, "Whether it is the regular or the system subjects, the practical and current policies are too difficult. Last year's examination was personally conducted by Prime Minister Zhuo, and the final current policy topic was about the East and South Seas. Who could know about those foreign lands?" "That's right."

A middle-aged man shook his head and said, "Last year it was too difficult, only a hundred people were selected as Jinshi."

The middle-aged man looked at everyone, raised his head and took a sip of wine, and said, "If you ask me, taking the regular examinations or the special examinations is not a way out. Taking the Agricultural Academy is the way out. The Agricultural Academy has admitted more than 200 people in the past few years. I heard that if His Majesty likes people from the Agricultural Academy, he will grant them official positions."

"It's much easier to take the examination for the Agricultural College than the imperial examination."

As he spoke, he looked at everyone and said, "I have already bought ten acres of land in the suburbs with my own money. I plan to study agriculture for a few years and take the examination for the Agricultural College."

"Maybe, I can become an official."

Someone followed up and echoed, "Yes, this year the court selected officials, and among the county magistrates and county magistrates assigned to the local areas, some were from the Agricultural Affairs Academy."

“It’s also a way out.”

A group of scholars gathered together and talked a lot.

On the other side, with the Imperial Guards clearing the way, the Crown Prince's sedan chair finally landed at the gate of the Du Mansion. When the Crown Prince got out of the sedan chair, Prime Minister Du was already waiting at the door. He came forward from afar, pretended to bow, and was supported by the Crown Prince.

At this time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was already seventeen or eighteen years old.

He looks somewhat like the emperor, but his features are more like those of the empress.

However, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is much shorter than the current emperor, half a head shorter than him. In addition, he is not strong enough and does not look as majestic as the current emperor.

But because her eyebrows and eyes resemble those of the Empress, she has a more scholarly air than today's queen.

After supporting Mr. Du, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince smiled bitterly and said, "If my uncle kneels down now, I will be scolded by my father again when I return home."

Upon hearing this, Du Xianggong shook his head and smiled, "I bow to Your Highness, it is the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects, it is what I should do, no one can say anything to Your Highness."

"If Your Majesty scolds Your Highness for this, I will go to the palace and speak for Your Highness."

The prince shook his head and said, "I dare not, I dare not."

At this point, he bowed to Du Qian and smiled, "Congratulations, uncle."

Du Qian pulled the Crown Prince's sleeve and invited him into the Du Mansion. As they walked in, he said, "I'm sorry to trouble you to make a trip to my son's marriage."

The prince was walking with Prime Minister Du, and said with a smile: "Father said that our two families will be family friends in the future. If there is a happy event in the Du family, our family should send someone. I am here on behalf of Father."

"Uncle, just think that it is the emperor himself who has arrived."

Du Qian invited His Royal Highness the Crown Prince into the main hall of the inner room, and met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince with his family and the groom. Then he personally poured tea for Crown Prince Li Yuan, accompanied His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, sat in the main hall, and asked, "I haven't seen His Majesty for several days, and I haven't heard that His Majesty has met anyone. Did Your Highness see His Majesty today?"

"seen."

Li Yuanlao said honestly: "I went to see the emperor early in the morning. After getting the emperor's approval, I left the palace."

Du Qian handed over a cup of tea and asked, "Your Majesty, what have you been busy with recently?"

Originally, a minister should not ask this question, but Du Qian could ask it, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was happy to answer it. He lowered his head and thought for a while, then said, "Recently, some local generals have been rotated, and before they go to the Ministry of War, they seem to have to go to the palace first to meet with my father."

Du Qian was speechless when he heard this: "Those are your Majesty's old brothers. It is normal to meet them."

“It’s more than just a meeting.”

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince looked around, then lowered his voice and said carefully: "Father...Father seems to be scolding people, scolding them all the time..."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Du stopped working on the teacup in his hand, shook his head slightly, and said with a smile.

"Your Majesty's temper is still the same as before."

…………

At the same time, in Ganlu Palace.

A general in a military officer's robe looked up at Li Yun and said through gritted teeth, "Master, I will accept any punishment you want. The worst that can happen is death!"

"But I still want to say something, to speak for my brothers!"

He looked up at the emperor and gritted his teeth and said, "Since you have won the world, why can't you let us share some of the benefits? Do you know how many old brothers say you are stingy in private?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Li slammed the table hard, furious.

"Did you kill people because you were greedy for money?"

(End of this chapter)