The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 196 Relatives of the Li Family

On the nineteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, His Majesty entertained the generals in the court, while His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was still repairing the East Palace.

On the twenty-first day of the twelfth lunar month, Your Majesty, Yuchi Gong, Qin Qiong and others went hunting in the suburbs of Chang'an, while His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was still repairing the East Palace.

While the Emperor was busy accepting gifts from relatives and outsiders from all over the country, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was still renovating the East Palace.

As the end of the year approached, Li Shimin was extremely busy. The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace of the Tang Dynasty seemed to have really taken a vacation. He didn't care about what was happening outside and spent the whole day building houses in the Eastern Palace.

Li Ke sent a letter from Luoyang, saying that he would not return to Chang'an this year, and that he would finish the water conservancy project by the autumn of next year at the latest.

Li Chengqian finished reading the letter and asked, "Has it been delivered to Concubine Yang?"

Ning Er said, "King Wu also sent letters to His Majesty and Concubine Yang."

Li Yuan smelled the grape wine in the bowl and was reluctant to drink it. He could only drink this one bowl a day. Only after smelling it again and again did he dare to drink it.

It’s pretty good to stay in the East Palace. Li Chengqian plans not to go out for a few days.

After solving the problem of using cement substitutes for ground irrigation, Li Chengqian also thought about the construction style of the Eastern Palace Library in the future.

There are more and more books in the East Palace, and just as Ning'er said, there needs to be a room to store the books.

Li Chengqian looked at the limestone in his hand and was thinking about how to keep the house dry.

When His Majesty was meeting with many relatives whom he had not seen for a long time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince finally walked out of the East Palace. He did not go to meet the relatives of the Li family with His Majesty, but went straight to the Secretariat.

The Li family has too many relatives, and this is because my father has too many brothers and sisters.

Not to mention the cousins ​​of the brothers of the royal family, there were also many married aunts from the outside who came to visit with their families.

Your Majesty has been receiving these relatives from the beginning of the twelfth lunar month until now, at the end of the twelfth lunar month. It is rumored that the Ganlu Hall and the Lizheng Hall are filled with gifts sent by relatives from all over the country.

The first decade of the Zhenguan period is finally coming to an end. The next year will be the tenth year of Zhenguan, which is the peak of the current emperor's career and also the age when the emperor is in his prime and most vigorous.

As the crown prince, Li Chengqian really didn't want to get involved in these family affairs.

But as the eldest son in the family, relatives couldn't help but mention the current prince again and again.

When they reached Chengtian Gate, eunuchs came after them. They laughed bitterly and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty invites you to go to the Taiye Lake for a banquet."

Li Chengqian walked out of Chengtian Gate with his hands in his pockets, saying, "Tell my father that I am very busy."

"Ah...yes." The eunuch was frightened by the prince's light response, and hurried to the other end of the palace to pass on the message.

Among the royal family relatives who came this year, except Li Yuanchang and Princess Changguang, everyone who could come came.

It is said that the emperor is recuperating in the East Palace. Since he doesn't want to come out, we won't force him.

When Li Shimin heard the eunuch's reply, he asked with a straight face, "Is he still repairing his house in the East Palace?"

"Your Majesty, no, the Crown Prince has gone to the Secretariat."

"Tell him to come over after he finishes what he is doing now."

"Yes." The eunuch wiped the sweat from his forehead and ran away quickly, heading towards the other end of the palace.

Who would have thought that being a eunuch in the palace was such a physically demanding job? They had already made three trips back and forth, and had run the longest distance between the north and south of the palace.

Not daring to delay His Majesty's words, they ran halfway and vomited on the spot. Their faces were pale and they looked like they were about to faint on the spot.

In this cold winter, I ran until I was sweating profusely.

After taking a short break to catch my breath, I continued running, enduring the sweet taste in my throat.

Li Chengqian was looking through the account books sent by Jingzhao Prefecture when he heard someone fall at the door. He looked up and saw that it was the eunuch who had just delivered the message.

"Why are you back again?"

His Highness's voice was calm and ruthless.

The two eunuchs could no longer run. Their legs were trembling and they looked like they were dying. They opened their mouths and said, "Your Majesty, please... please..."

He couldn't even finish a sentence and was about to die on the spot.

Thinking that being a eunuch in the palace was not easy, Li Chengqian still looked at the file and said, "Lie down for a while. If you faint, it will be difficult to treat you."

"Thank you... Your Majesty..."

"Do not talk."

The two eunuchs swallowed their words again. They were new eunuchs and had never heard that this job was so hard and so life-threatening.

"Breathe out quietly, I'm getting annoyed."

The prince's ruthless words were heard once again, and they immediately breathed more carefully.

Li Chengqian looked at the contents of the account book. Du He rented a piece of land from Xu Jingzong, covering a total area of ​​200 acres, just to the west of Chang'an, at the border with Xianyang County.

Du He rented these two hundred acres of land for five years, for a total of two thousand strings of cash.

If Xu Jingzong rented out most of the wasteland in Guanzhong, the court would make a fortune.

Unconditional leasing of land for development and construction is not advisable.

Yan Qinli also talked about the Prince of Gaochang. This Prince of Gaochang came to Chang'an from afar and brought a lot of gold and silver. They wanted the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace to see whether the shapes of the gold and silver were regular.

Although he did not specify that the Prince of Gaochang intended to give money, the meaning was clear: the Prince of Gaochang's intention to give money was obvious, but his means were too poor.

Jingzhao Prefecture was in charge of trade, and the people in Jingzhao Prefecture were all followers of the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace. Anyone with an eye could see that they were bribing the current Crown Prince to give Gaochang greater trade conveniences.

Being in such a critical position, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace must be more cautious.

So, if people’s will is not firm, they can be easily led by the nose. The Censorate has a long way to go.

Yan Qinli decisively rejected the Gaochang prince's request.

The other memorial was presented by Xu Jingzong.

On weekdays, we have an agreement with Jingzhao Prefecture that if there is no important matter, there is no need to come to the Eastern Palace to report, and the memorials and account books can be directly placed in the Secretariat.

If you don't come in the past half month, a lot of things will pile up, all of which happened in the past half month.

This year, not only merchants from the south of the Yangtze River came to Chang'an to trade, but also merchants from Lianghuai, Shuzhong and Liaodong.

Last year, after the successful transaction in Guanzhong, the reputation of high quality and low prices spread throughout the Central Plains, and this year many merchants came to Chang'an to purchase.

Soap, soy sauce, raisins and grape wine are still the main goods, followed by dates and dried persimmons, dried meat and candied fruits.

Thirty-five merchants conducted transactions under the auspices of Jingzhao Prefecture, with a total transaction value of 200,000 strings of cash. Jingzhao Prefecture collected a total of 40,000 strings of cash in market taxes from both ends.

In essence, Xu Jingzong disliked these merchants. The profits generated by these merchants from shipping goods were definitely enough for them to make a profit without any loss.

In order to ensure the interests of the villagers in the counties of Guanzhong, their goods had to be sold through their hands. The construction of Tongguan was imminent, so that ordinary people east of Tongguan would know that they could come to Tongguan to buy goods, seasonal fruits or grains.

Villagers in various counties in Guanzhong were also able to know where they could buy goods.

In this way, both parties have the right to buy and sell, and the bargaining power of merchants is weakened.

Li Chengqian frowned and rubbed his brows. Details determine too many things, and many processes need to be repeatedly scrutinized.

People’s livelihood is the top priority and also the most pressing issue at the moment.

If we only consider construction without considering the foundation of people's livelihood.

If you only consider making money without considering the interests of ordinary individuals.

This will only make the original intention go further and further in the opposite direction.

This opportunity was not considered before because there were too many extremely poor households in the counties of Guanzhong.

We can start considering it now because the past two years have provided the Guanzhong counties with a foundation for getting started.

Li Chengqian took a sip of hot tea and wrote his own discussion on his current work.

Seeing the prince concentrate on writing, sometimes stopping and sometimes writing, maybe he was really busy. The two eunuchs did not dare to disturb him at this time. They could only stand aside in silence, keeping their breathing subtle and not daring to breathe out heavily.

If there are needs, there must be regulations, and if there are regulations, there must be corresponding people and links that can get things done.

With the mentality of arranging things first, it doesn't matter even if some things go wrong.

There must always be a beginning, followed by long-term maintenance and improvement.

There are things that need to be done, even if they are not done well.

If you have aspirations in your heart, why fear the long and difficult road ahead?

Time passed unknowingly. From the Secretariat, one could only see the blue sky outside but could not see where the sun was at the moment.

There were footsteps outside the door.

Seeing the current emperor coming, the eunuch knelt on the ground in panic, "Your Majesty, I want to wait until His Royal Highness the Crown Prince finishes his work..."

"It goes without saying."

His Majesty's words came.

The two eunuchs were covered in cold sweat and could vaguely feel the coolness coming from the back of their clothes which were soaked with sweat.

Li Chengqian said: "Father, I was busy with the things at hand and delayed them. There is no need to embarrass them."

Gao Shilian said with a smile: "It's the rest season, yet Your Highness the Crown Prince is still so busy."

Li Shimin sat down and said, "People who don't know would think that the Crown Prince is seriously ill again."

Li Chengqian looked at the two eunuchs and said, "You go out first and tell the East Palace that my father, I, and my uncle are having dinner here."

"Here."

Li Chengqian put down his pen, looked at his uncle and father who were sitting on the side, and said, "There are still many things to do in Jingzhao Prefecture. I have to pay more attention to it. Father, please forgive me. There are too many people watching my career now. There is nothing I can do. I offended too many people at the beginning of the construction."

Gao Shilian stroked his beard and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is so diligent in government affairs, and no one in the court or the public will criticize him."

"My uncle is right. I am not mature enough now." Li Chengqian sat with his hands in his pockets and said, "I need time to accumulate and strengthen myself little by little."

Hearing this, Gao Shilian nodded with satisfaction and said, "Although Fu Ji is the Crown Prince's elder, His Royal Highness is much better than Fu Ji in terms of his attitude towards life."

"How dare I compare myself with my uncle? Uncle, you must be joking."

Li Shimin felt that these words sounded a bit strange, so he cleared his throat to indicate his presence.

Gao Shilian whispered, "Your Majesty, I have said that no matter how good or sumptuous the banquet is, Your Highness will not delay the current political affairs."

Li Shimin nodded slightly, "Cheng Qian, government affairs cannot be delayed. As the crown prince, you should also pay attention to the closeness between you and your royal family members."

"I have indeed been negligent these days, please forgive me, Father."

"Tomorrow, I have arranged a banquet. Your teacher, uncle, aunt, Duke Zheng, and Jingde will all be there. Don't refuse."

"Will there be many younger generations like me?"

"Well." Li Shimin said, "Why? Don't you like getting along with them?"

Li Chengqian smiled cheerfully, "Father, don't worry. I like getting along with people of my generation the most. It's always fun to drink with them."

The atmosphere in the Secretariat became more relaxed, and the Eastern Palace sent over food and wine.

"Uncle, you haven't eaten the food of the Eastern Palace for a long time, right? You must eat more today. And this braised pork, the Eastern Palace rarely makes it. Even if there is braised pork on weekdays, my brothers and sisters always rush to eat it."

Li Chengqian added: "Gao Yang and Zhi Nu don't like to eat it. They are still young and have aversion to meat that is too fatty."

Gao Shilian smiled as he took a bite of the braised pork, took another sip of the wine, and asked, "Wen Yanbo often comes to see me, worried about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. To be honest, I have never been worried about His Royal Highness. It's just that he said that the crown princes of all dynasties were like this and that, and the crown prince should just find a role model to learn from."

Wen Yanbo has mentioned this issue more than once.

Gao Shilian explained: "It may be that he is old and is worried about the remains of the soldiers still stranded in Liaodong and the fate of the Tang Dynasty. The older people get, the more they worry. I am afraid he may not live for many years."

Li Chengqian asked, "Is your uncle worried?"

"I am old..." Gao Shilian said in a clear voice, "I am eager to die soon. My grave is ready. My relatives in my ancestral land are wondering when I can be buried. When I am buried, they will have one less worry. Otherwise, they will think about me every day and will be annoyed to death if I don't die."

My uncle has always been a very open-minded person. He has met countless people in his life and now he is indifferent to life and death. If he really dies one day, he will have no worries in this life.

Li Shimin wanted to say something but stopped himself, as he found that he could not get a word in the conversation between his uncle and Cheng Qian.

"On the day my uncle passes away, I will write the epitaph for him myself."

"Okay." Gao Shilian said, "When I return, I will ask Gao Lin to pass the order that no one except His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is allowed to write my epitaph."

Li Shimin took a deep breath. Could it be that the conversations between Cheng Qian and his uncle on weekdays were always so unpleasant to listen to?

Seeing his uncle drinking the wine, the old man smiled even more. Li Chengqian sat down beside him and said, "Uncle, please help your grandson think about it. If the goods in Guanzhong are circulated, is there anyone in the court who can recommend someone?"

"Hmm..." Gao Shilian thought for a moment and said, "Du Zhenglun."

"Du Zhenglun is not in Guanzhong." Li Shimin said with a straight face, "I have something important to do, so I have assigned him to handle it."

It is indeed inappropriate to steal my father's girlfriend in front of him.

Li Chengqian did not ask any more questions. He picked up his tea bowl and clinked it with his uncle's, saying, "My grandson wishes my uncle a long life and more happiness."

Gao Shilian replied: "I don't want to live long. Your Highness, please don't say such things anymore. I have lived enough in this life and have seen enough people. If I see too much, I will get tired of it."

(End of this chapter)