The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 191: Get to the bottom of it

Li Chengqian returned the duck egg to him and said, "Let it hatch ducklings."

Li Zhi nodded heavily.

“There can be no more than five ducks in Taiye Pond.”

"Brother knows."

"Ducks are not suitable for you to keep as pets. They are poultry and are for eating."

"My brother understands. When there are other ducklings in Taiye Pond, this big duck will be stewed. It is bigger now and not as pretty as it was when it was little."

After all, he is still a child. If he says he doesn’t like something, then he doesn’t like it.

"You haven't been playing with Di Renjie lately?"

"He follows Judge Di Tong around the counties every day. I plan to go and play with him when the court is on vacation."

Li Chengqian nodded and walked to the side.

"What is your Royal Brother going to do?"

"Just take a walk."

The Hexi Corridor is going to cost money again, with food and construction costs always accounting for the bulk of the expenses.

The Secretariat was also very quiet today. Yu Zhining was talking to two officials, and his uncle was sitting by the stove, drinking tea and reading a book leisurely.

Li Chengqian walked straight into the Secretariat, picked out a few files from a tall bookshelf nearby, and placed them on his desk.

Soon, there was a pile of files on the table.

Changsun Wuji drank his tea and glanced at the prince beside him, then turned to look at the files beside him. It seemed that his nephew was very busy today.

But seeing that he looked relaxed, Changsun Wuji also relaxed and said, "Have some tea. Recently, the two roads in Jiangnan have sent a lot of tea, and the taste is better than before."

Taking the bowl of tea handed over by his uncle, Li Chengqian asked, "Are they still drinking tea the same way as before?"

Zhang Sun Wuji shook his head and said, "My uncle has always been a person who hates trivial matters. Once things become complicated, he will be very annoyed."

Li Chengqian nodded in understanding, looked at the files in front of him and started today's work. When he had free time, he could also say a few words to Yu Zhining beside him.

"Has there been any result in the Cheng family's case?"

Yu Zhining replied: "No results yet, waiting for Jingzhao Prefecture to send the files."

"President Di Tong is not efficient enough."

Of course, Changsun Wuji knew what was going on with the Cheng family’s cows. In fact, if the prince wanted to eat beef, he didn’t have to wait for Cheng Yaojin’s family. He could also kill one or two cows at home.

Li Chengqian looked through the surplus from each trade this year to see if he could raise an extra 20,000 strings of cash. It was not that the court could not come up with the 60,000 strings of cash.

It is always good to leave some surplus and think a little more for emergencies.

The Hexi Corridor is both a barrier and an important port for Silk Road trade, with defense and trade being the main focuses.

When they had almost finished checking the accounts, the files from Jingzhao Prefecture were delivered. Yu Zhining handed them over and said, "Duke Zhao, the Crown Prince has delivered them."

Zhang Sun Wuji took the file first and read it. He smiled as expected and said, "It turned out that an old cow accidentally ate fermented glutinous rice and fell into the ditch and died. Fortunately, the Cheng family's farm already had stronger cows. Judge Di Tong believed that it was their fault that the cow accidentally ate fermented glutinous rice, so he fined the Cheng family ten strings of cash."

Li Chengqian asked: "Have you accepted the punishment?"

Yu Zhining replied, "I accept the punishment, but General Chumo inevitably had a few arguments with the officials of Jingzhao Prefecture."

As to why the cow accidentally ate fermented glutinous rice, it is unknown. Perhaps only Cheng Yaojin knows what happened.

A eunuch brought in steaming hot zongzi and gave it as a reward to everyone in the Secretariat.

The eunuch laughed and said, "I heard that the old Cheng family had a cow die, and His Majesty asked me to deliver some steamed cakes to General Cheng's mansion, so I didn't stay long."

Li Chengqian and his uncle sat in front of the Secretariat, eating zonggao and breathing the fresh winter air.

As far as the eye could see, as soon as the zongzi was delivered, guards came into the imperial city carrying a slaughtered cow. The cow had been slaughtered not long ago and was still steaming.

Judging from the part, it is a cow's head and half of a cow's body.

"It seems that the East Palace will be busy again." Li Chengqian ate the zongzi on the plate and said, "Uncle, come to the East Palace for dinner."

Chang Sun Wuji waved his hand and said, "My teeth have been bad lately, so I can't eat beef."

"What a pity. I'll send some to my uncle's house some other day."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Yu Zhining stood in the back listening to the conversation. It turned out that Duke Zhao had already figured out that the cows in Cheng Yaojin's family would definitely die, and that His Majesty and the Prince both had beef to eat.

Feeling greatly moved and understanding the whole cause and effect, Yu Zhining did not dare to say much. After finishing the work in his hands, he bowed hastily and left quickly.

There was another heavy snowfall in Chang'an City at night, and the snow did not stop until dawn.

On the morning of the winter solstice, General Tunwei, Duke of Guo Zhang Shigui, led 30,000 soldiers and horses and escorted a large amount of money and food to the Hexi Corridor.

After sending out this grain and salary, Li Chengqian felt more at ease. All the money spent was costs, and these costs would be earned back from future profits.

Money cannot be wasted; this is the key to the government's strategy of increasing revenue and reducing expenditure.

On the day of the winter solstice, the wind and snow had just stopped, and the court began its last court meeting before the holiday.

As the crown prince of the current dynasty, Li Chengqian, who was in charge of the allocation of money and grain in the court, stood out of the court and reported to his father the matter of the transfer of money and grain to the Hexi Corridor, and also made it known to everyone in the court.

In the Taiji Hall, the voice of the Crown Prince echoed. Li Chengqian said, "Father, I have been in charge of the government's money and grain allocation and the strategy of increasing revenue and reducing expenditure for two years. Now the government has a surplus of money and grain."

After saying this, Li Chengqian turned to the court and said loudly: "Everyone, I have decided that in the next ten years, the court will continue to maintain the strategy of increasing revenue and reducing expenditure, and will persevere and promote frugality."

When Li Shimin heard the strategy of tightening spending in the court, he suddenly felt a headache. Going to Jiucheng Palace to escape the summer heat and to Lishan Palace to spend the winter, how long would it take for these things to happen?

Li Chengqian added: "Do you have any objections?"

There was silence in the court, and no one objected to the prince's words.

Li Shimin wanted to say something several times but stopped himself, fearing that all the civil and military officials in the court would be silenced by the prince's money and food.

For a long time, there was silence in the Tai Chi Hall.

Li Chengqian said: "Since no one objects, the Tang Dynasty is still not rich, and we still need to make progress."

"Therefore, we will continue to adhere to the strategy of increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. I hope you will supervise us, and we also hope that we can supervise each other."

"We obey your orders." A group of civil and military officials said in a loud voice.

"Father, I have finished speaking."

The hall was quiet for a moment.

Seeing no reply, Li Chengqian called out again, "Father?"

Li Shimin then said in a deep voice: "Since no one objects, then let's do as the prince wishes."

Li Chengqian bowed and said, "Yes."

The prince walked back to his original position.

Prince Wei Li Tai walked out of the court and said in a loud voice: "Father, I sent a letter to Luoyang earlier. Now Luoyang has sent a letter, hoping that the court can grant the right to mobilize troops from various counties." As soon as he finished speaking, Han Yuan, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War, stood out of the court and said: "May I ask your highness, Prince Wei, why are you mobilizing troops from various counties?"

Li Tai said: "Of course it is to catch the corrupt county magistrate."

Han Yuan said calmly, "Why was this matter only sent to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei? Why was there no discussion in the court? This was a private letter from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu who was far away in Luoyang to the Prince of Wei, and it was not discussed in the court. As the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, I have the right to inquire about this matter."

Li Tai took out a memorial and handed it over, saying, "Of course I'm prepared."

Li Shimin looked at the court procession in front of him and glanced at all the ministers present.

Han Yuan took the memorial handed over by the King of Wei, glanced at it, and then closed it and said, "Your Majesty, I think that His Royal Highness the King of Wu should not be given the power to mobilize troops from various counties."

Li Tai asked, "Why?"

Han Yuan said: "If it was His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei who was in Luoyang, I would also be opposed to it."

Wei Zheng stood up from the court and said, "Your Majesty, Minister Han is probably still worried about the nobles in various places, right?"

Han Yuan said nothing.

The court was still very quiet, and everyone listened to the debate in the court.

Wei Zheng said: "We are officials who are in charge of the country. We must not be afraid to take action just because the local gentry have held local power for many years and hurt Luoyang's foundation. Are we going to do nothing just because the local gentry have held local power for many years and hurt Luoyang's foundation?"

Han Yuan said: "Your Majesty, a small move can affect the entire body."

Li Tai is a very smart child. He would not speak without purpose in the court. If he speaks up about this matter now, he must have a plan in mind and he believes that his father will agree to this move.

Ever since his father came back from the autumn hunt, Li Tai had figured out his father's thoughts very clearly.

If all the officials in Luoyang were to be arrested at once, how many of them would be connected with the seven surnames and ten families?

Li Chengqian stepped out of the court and stood with his brother Li Tai, saying, "Father, I often think that hiding in a warm little house can avoid the cold, and even if there is a heavy snow outside, it has nothing to do with me. But when more and more people hide in this little house, the air will become more and more turbid, and the environment will become more and more dirty."

Glancing at his brother beside him, Li Chengqian continued, "Everyone in the court knows that I am a clean person. If I were you, I would never hide in a warm house. The wind and snow will stop one day, and the sun will come out outside."

“People can live in pain, but they cannot live in numbness.”

The prince's words echoed in the palace.

Li Chengqian turned to face the civil and military officials in the court and said coldly: "If we are all hiding in a warm room, not even knowing whether there is warm sunshine outside, and not even daring to breathe the air outside, then who is the coward?"

"Is that you? Minister Han?"

Han Yuan remained silent.

"That's why I always insist on staying awake in pain rather than being numb and confused. We must understand pain and endure it, even if it hurts a lot. Broken bones will grow back."

As soon as the prince finished speaking, Wei Zheng stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I second the motion. The Luoyang flood case must be thoroughly investigated. Officials who did nothing about it must be dismissed, officials who participated in it must be exiled, and those who should be killed must be killed. Just as the prince said, even if Luoyang is turned upside down, we must investigate it thoroughly."

At this moment, everyone's eyes turned to His Majesty.

Li Chengqian said in a clear voice: "I ask your father to temporarily appoint the Supervisory Censor Ma Zhou as the Governor of Luoyang and give Ma Zhou the authority of the Governor."

Li Tai quickly said, "I second the motion."

Wei Zheng said, "I second the proposal."

Zhangsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling stood out of the court and said, "We second the motion."

All the civil and military officials saluted and said, "We second the motion."

Han Yuan stood in the court, stunned for a long time. He swallowed hard, bowed slowly, and said, "I... second the motion."

Li Shimin's eyes fell on the prince. This son was courageous, outspoken and bold.

As Gao Shilian told me at the beginning, he had another conversation with Wen Yanbo, and he said that the prince had a very sharp edge.

As long as Ma Zhou became the governor of Luoyang, he would have the authority to mobilize the counties in Luoyang, and all officers and soldiers in the territory would have to obey the governor's orders.

Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "Order the Supervisory Censor Ma Zhou to temporarily take over as the governor of Luoyang and conduct a thorough investigation of the Luoyang flood case."

The ministers shouted: "Your Majesty is wise."

People are born with a sharp edge, which may be rebelliousness or ambition.

The decree was hastily sent out of the Taiji Hall and headed towards Luoyang.

After leaving the Taiji Hall, Li Tai said, "Qingque is panicking and doesn't know what to do. Thank you, Brother Huang, for speaking out."

Li Chengqian, with his hands in his pockets, continued to walk at the back of the group of ministers. He was the last one to leave the Taiji Hall and said, "As the eldest brother, this is what I should do."

Li Tai was touched and smiled shyly, saying, "Qingque was not well prepared. I am sorry that you embarrassed me, my brother."

"It doesn't matter. If you can stand up, we brothers and sisters will stand up together. I have said that whoever is against us brothers is the enemy of our entire family."

"Qingque will remember my brother's teachings."

Li Tai's expression finally relaxed a lot.

"Would you like to come to the East Palace for dinner?"

"No, there's still a lot to do at the Literature Museum."

If you are afraid of starting a war, you dare not compromise with the aristocratic families, but instead give in, and you will keep giving in in the future.

The Zhenguan period lasted only nine years. During the first three years of these nine years, Guanzhong was in disasters, and during the last three years, it was in war.

Now that the border is peaceful, the Tang Dynasty can finally recuperate and free up its hands to solve the current problems.

Han Yuan was summoned to Ganlu Palace, and Du Zhenglun went with her.

Li Shimin looked at the memorial in front of him and said in a deep voice, "Han Yuan, is your wife doing well recently?"

"Your Majesty, everything is fine with my family."

"Your wife is the queen's cousin. I should call you my brother-in-law. You are my in-law."

"I don't deserve it." Han Yuan bowed.

The cold wind outside the hall blew into the hall from time to time, causing Han Yuan's beard to tremble slightly. He didn't know whether it was the wind or he was trembling in fear in front of it.

Du Zhenglun stood aside without saying a word.

Li Shimin asked: "Have you had any contact with the officials in Luoyang?"

Han Yuan quickly said, "I don't have any."

"Really?" Li Shimin raised his chin, looked at him, and said, "You should know why I opened this imperial examination."

Han Yuan saluted again in a panic and said, "I lost my temper in front of the palace. I would like to resign and reflect on my mistakes."

"Resign?" Li Shimin was so angry that he laughed again. He walked to his side with his hands behind his back and said in a deep voice: "If I find out that you have contact with certain people in the future, I will not let you off easily, even if you are my brother-in-law."

"I don't dare."

"You should go back to your hometown in Liangzhou and rest for a while. In the future, you will support the construction of the Hexi Corridor. Cheng Qian wants to build four counties along the Hexi Corridor. You can help to look after them."

(End of this chapter)