Tang Dynasty: The poisonous scholar in the Eastern Palace, please abdicate and let the wise one take

Chapter 385: One Emperor and One Courtier
Outside the palace.

Li Chengqian had a smile on his face, followed by civil and military officials, quietly looking at Su Chen and others.

As Su Chen and the others stopped, Li Chengqian opened his arms and said, "Welcome home, everyone!"

The Crown Prince personally led all the officials to welcome them outside the palace. Such an honor made the many soldiers present unable to contain their emotions.

"See His Highness the Crown Prince."

"No need to be polite, soldiers. Please stand up quickly."

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said with a smile, "Thank you all for your hard work on this trip to the Western Regions."

"Where is the Minister of War?"

"The minister is here."

"I'll leave these soldiers to you."

"I accept your order."

Li Jing smiled, turned around and winked, and the official from the Ministry of War came forward with a smile and took away a group of elite soldiers.

Li Chengqian looked at Su Chen, who smiled and cupped his hands, "Thank you, Your Highness, for welcoming me in person."

"You have done me a great favor."

Li Chengqian smiled and walked forward, holding Su Chen's arm, and walked side by side. "If it weren't for you, how could the Turks retreat to the depths of the northern desert, and how could the countries in the Western Regions surrender?"

"It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. I am discussing the matter of the Western Region Protectorate and the official caravan with you gentlemen."

"Since you are here, why don't you listen together?"

Su Chen: "Isn't it appropriate?"

Li Chengqian looked at the ministers and asked, "What do you think, my Lords?"

Gao Shilian stroked his beard and smiled, "The matter of the Western Region Protectorate was a strategy formulated by Su Chen himself, so he should be present."

Fang Xuanling smiled and agreed: "Not bad, not bad."

After the two big guys spoke, the rest of the people naturally had nothing to say.

Li Chengqian nodded, "That's it."

"You can't be lazy if you want to."

Su Chen shrugged.

When the group arrived at the Taiji Hall, several bigwigs from the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of War and other departments enthusiastically sent out invitations.

"Stand here."

"You should be on my side."

"Nonsense, what does Su Chen have to do with your Ministry of Justice?"

"Hey, hey, has Lord Dai forgotten the relationship between him and the princess?"

"..."

Su Chen smiled.

Okay.

Except for the people from the Ministry of Rites, everyone else came to snatch the person away. What could he do?
If you count carefully, except for the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War, he has a good relationship with the ministers of the other four departments.

"Su Chen, just stand here."

Li Chengqian raised his hand and pointed a location to Su Chen.

Everyone looked at it, all showing some surprise.

Beside Gao Shilian?
Is this appropriate?

Gao Shilian stroked his beard and said, "With Su Chen's contribution today, there is no problem. Come on, Su Chen, stand beside me."

Hear the words.

Many ministers nodded hesitantly.

According to Su Chen's merits during this journey to the West, he could stand in that position. After all, he is still a commoner and the prince's confidant.

Li Chengqian said calmly: "Where were we talking about just now?"

Li Jing stepped out and said, "Your Highness, we were just discussing whether to select Guo Xiaoke or Xue Wanche to serve as the Protectorate General of the Western Regions."

Li Chengqian nodded and looked at Su Chen, "We have selected three candidates this time."

"They are Xue Wanche, Guo Xiaoke, and the governor of Liangzhou."

"Everyone is more enthusiastic about Xue Wanche and Guo Xiaoke. After all, one of them entered the Western Regions first, fought there, and is very familiar with the countries in the Western Regions."

"Although Guo Xiaoke is a little bit inferior, he has been in charge of Liangzhou for a long time after all, and he knows all the countries in the Western Regions very well."

"Who do you think is more suitable?"

"Guo Xiaoke."

Su Chen smiled and said, "Although General Xue has gained a reputation in the Western Regions, he still does not have as deep of an understanding of the Western Regions as General Guo."

Li Chengqian nodded, "Do you have any different opinions?"

No one reacted too much to Su Chen's choice.

Firstly, they were already among the candidates, and secondly, what Su Chen said was objective fact.

Although Xue Wanche made a name for himself by leading his troops to fight in the Western Regions this time, his understanding of the countries in the Western Regions was ultimately not as good as Guo Xiaoke's.

Letting Guo Xiaoke take the position is undoubtedly the best solution.

Seeing that no one objected, Li Chengqian smiled and said, "If that's the case, then this matter is settled. The Secretariat will write an imperial edict and send it to the Western Regions later."

"Now that the matter of the Western Region Protectorate has been resolved, it's time to put the issue of the caravan on the agenda."

As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, he turned his gaze to the Minister of Revenue Dai Zhou.

Dai Zhou walked out holding a tablet in his hand, "Your Highness, regarding the formation of a caravan, after discussing with many ministers and businessmen, we have decided to form a caravan heading west, led by the merchant Pei Mingli."

"We use tea, porcelain, and cloth, which are the most popular products in the Tang Dynasty, as our main commodities and trade with the Persian Empire and other countries in the west."

"We need to form a merchant caravan of 1,000 elite soldiers, 500 workers, and 200 vehicles. We should first try it out in various countries."

Everyone couldn't help but think about the plan proposed by the Ministry of Revenue.

Many ministers also looked at Su Chen from time to time, because everyone knew that Pei Mingli was supported by Su Chen, and had been very close to the prince in recent times.

"Why use Pei Mingli?"

At this time, a minister came out and said, "The Ministry of Revenue has so many capable people, but they chose a businessman who has no official position!"

"Sir Shangshu, aren't you afraid that this man took our goods to Persia and other countries and never returned?" Dai Zhou rolled his eyes. "His roots are in Chang'an."

Pei Yuncheng sneered: "Money can move people's hearts. Merchants have always been bad at this."

Zhang Mingcheng, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, walked out holding a tablet and said calmly, "Master Pei is right, but Master Pei seems to have overlooked one thing."

"What's the matter?"

“Although the Ministry of Revenue has many capable people, it does not have business channels in countries such as Persia.”

Zhang Mingcheng explained: "Although Pei Mingli is just a businessman, he has good relations with Persian merchants, Arab merchants, etc."

"Having him lead the team is much better than selecting a new person from the Ministry of Revenue."

"If Lord Pei doesn't believe it, he can go around and ask and listen to see if it's true. Then Lord Pei will know why the Shangshu chose this person, instead of doubting this and that here."

Pei Yuncheng's face couldn't help but look a little ugly after being ridiculed by Zhang Mingcheng.

Dai Zhou smiled and said, "Your Highness, maybe Lord Pei thinks there should be a better plan. Why don't you ask Lord Pei to come up with a complete charter?"

Pei Yuncheng: “…”

Dai Zhou looked at Pei Yuncheng with a smile, what a young man he was, he didn't know how high the world is.

Li Chengqian pondered and looked at the other ministers, "Do you think it is feasible for Pei Mingli to be in charge of this westward caravan?"

Faced with Li Chengqian's questions, many ministers remained silent, but they also had supporters.

For example, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War.

They all have a good relationship with Pei Mingli, especially since Su Chen and the prince are standing behind Pei Mingli!

One emperor and one courtier.

Su Chen is the prince's confidant and right-hand man, and Pei Mingli is Su Chen's man with outstanding abilities.

It makes sense to recommend this person.

Li Chengqian: "In that case, then this matter is settled. The Secretariat will issue an imperial decree to confer Pei Mingli the title of seventh-rank foreign trade official, in charge of commercial exchanges with western countries, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue."

hiss.

Soar into the sky.

Upon hearing about Li Chengqian's appointment, many officials were secretly shocked.

He was a commoner one second, and the next he became a seventh-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue, with enormous power and a lucrative job!
"As ordered by the prince."

"Okay, now that the matter of the Western Region Protectorate and the westbound caravan has been settled, it's time to reward Su Chen and the others."

Li Chengqian looked at Su Chen with a smile, but found that Su Chen was not interested in these things.

On the contrary, Li Jingheng and others looked excited.

Li Dao Zong stepped out and said, "Your Highness, General Xue and his men have not returned safely yet. Isn't it too hasty to reward them now?"

The smile on Li Jingheng's face froze and he turned back to look at his father silently.

Does anyone else think it’s too early to award the title?
Cheng Zhijie stepped out with a smile and said, "Lord Li is right. Your Highness, it is too hasty to reward people for their contributions now. It would be better to wait until the army returns before rewarding them for their contributions."

Li Jing: "You two adults are right."

"It seems that I am too impatient..."

Li Chengqian smiled awkwardly and glared at Su Chen again.

I was kind enough to help you with the reward, but you didn't react at all. It seems that I am the one who is anxious.

"In that case, I will follow what you gentlemen say."

"After General Xue and his men return victoriously, I will reward the soldiers according to their merits."

"The prince is wise."

"If there is nothing else, today's meeting ends here."

"I'm waiting to retire."

Dispersed.

Li Jingheng and Cheng Chumo were taken back by their respective parents immediately.

Su Chen wanted to leave staggeringly, but was stopped by Eunuch Tiancai.

"I have met Master Su."

"Eunuch Tiancai."

Su Chen smiled and said, "Congratulations to Eunuch Tiancai on his promotion."

"It is I who should thank Master Su."

Eunuch Tiancai smiled and said, "If it weren't for Master Su's support, how could I be where I am today?"

Su Chen smiled and waved his hand, "Why did Eunuch Tiancai call me?"

"The prince invites you."

"Don't go."

Su Chen shook his head. "It's nothing more than bragging, saying thank you, or helping Pei Mingli make decisions. Go back and tell him that I'm tired and going home to sleep."

"what?"

Tiancai was stunned.

Is this okay?

Su Chen smiled and walked past Eunuch Tiancai and went straight out of the palace.

Seeing this, Eunuch Tiancai scratched his head, but did not dare to stop it and turned to go towards the East Palace.

"Prince."

"Hey, didn't Su Chen come with you?"

"Master Su said that he was exhausted from the long journey, so he went back to the mansion to rest first."

As he spoke, Tiancai carefully observed the changes in Li Chengqian's expression. After seeing a hint of helplessness on Li Chengqian's face, he was even more surprised at the relationship between the two.

"I knew he would be like this."

Li Chengqian sighed, "I was originally thinking of celebrating for him, but now I've saved myself the trouble."

Tiancai agreed, "Perhaps Master Su knew the Crown Prince's intention and left first."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Okay, let's go down."

(End of this chapter)