The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 212 Strong Will

"You can't resign, or your relatives in Hedong will think of you in the future."

Pei Xingjian grinned, listening to the scolding without caring, and remembered the old servant's words before his death.

"The old man has taken care of the young master for sixteen years. The young master was raised by the old man. I know best what the young master wants to do. I have done my best to honor the spirits of the general and the deputy general in this life. From now on, the young master can do whatever he wants, go ahead..."

After he said this, the old man left.

After the burial, he resigned from his official position.

Pei Xingjian breathed in the fresh air. He felt much better after no longer serving as the county magistrate.

Looking towards the official road from the grassland, there are now more people traveling to and from Chang'an than before.

Pei Mingli whispered, "Since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince issued the decree, more and more people have moved to Luoyang and Guanzhong."

Looking at the crowd, a very tall man walked towards them.

"coming."

Hearing this, Pei Xingjian immediately sat up and waved his hand, saying, "Brother Xue!"

The tall figure stopped and looked around with his dark face like a potcake, as if looking for the source of the sound.

"Brother Xue!"

There was another round of calling, and Xue Rengui looked over and saw Mingli in coarse cloth and Shouyue standing on the donkey cart.

He strode forward, his steps heavy, each step deepening the mud an inch or two beneath his feet.

“So you’re here.”

Pei Xingjian handed over a package and a water bag, saying, "Eat first."

Xue Rengui sat down beside the donkey cart, opened the package and found a lot of Hu cakes. He stuffed the food into his mouth and chewed it hard.

Pei Mingli took out a roasted chicken wrapped in coarse cloth.

The three people who always wanted to eat chicken legs when they were young are now a little helpless when faced with a roasted chicken because a chicken has only two legs.

Xue Rengui stretched out his hand and broke off two chicken legs, gave them to the two people in front of him, and said in a heavy voice: "Why are you still so thin?"

Pei Xingjian wanted to say something but stopped himself. He just shook his head and smiled, then gnawed on the chicken leg and stopped talking.

Pei Mingli patted Brother Xue on the shoulder and asked, "Is Mr. Liu willing to marry his daughter?"

Xue Rengui bit into the chicken and said in a deep voice: "Wait for me to win a military merit!"

The three of them drove a donkey cart along the official road to Chang'an City. In a courtyard in the west market of Chang'an, there were children's laughter. Two women were taking care of the children. They were servants hired by Pei Mingli to take care of his younger brothers and sisters.

"Brother Xue, General Shouyue has resigned, but it doesn't matter. My brother has established a firm foothold in Chang'an City."

Xue Rengui glanced around and put his package aside.

Pei Mingli took the package and said, "Brother Xue, Shouyue will live with me. We can squeeze in. Although the yard is a little small, we can live together later..."

As he was talking, he made all the arrangements for the three brothers, but he heard Shouyue and Brother Xue talking about the Hexi Corridor.

He whispered, "What do you want to do?"

Pei Xingjian smiled and said, "Of course, we should go to the Hexi Corridor to see the scenery there."

Pei Mingli shook his head and said, "You want to go to war."

After staying in Chang'an for a day and resting for a night, Xue Rengui and Pei Xingjian planned to go to the Hexi Corridor together.

Pei Mingli knew that he could not persuade them, so he stood in front of Chang'an City to see them off.

It was still the donkey cart that carried the two people, Xue Rengui was driving the donkey, and Pei Xingjian was sitting on the cart reading a book.

Pei Xingjian felt that his package was heavy and curious, so he opened it and saw a few shiny silver cakes inside.

Xue Rengui said: "Mingli stuffed it in secretly."

"Yeah, he's always like that."

I had heard that the court was going to hold an imperial examination, but it would be difficult for Xue Rengui to stand out in the examination with his knowledge.

"There is very reliable news that a war is about to break out in the Western Regions. Instead of waiting for the imperial examination, it is better to try your luck in the Hexi Corridor. If all else fails, Brother Xue can always come back to take the imperial examination."

The donkey cart was not moving very fast, and soldiers on war horses passed by on the official road, raising a cloud of dust, which made the two people on the donkey cart look quite embarrassed.

Xue Rengui nodded and said, "Why don't we join the army in Chang'an?"

Pei Xingjian held a scroll in his hand and said, "I will probably stay in Chang'an in the future. The various roads in Guanzhong are gathering troops. If we can go to Hexi first, we will need civilians even for transporting food and grass, and we will be closer to the battlefield."

Xue Rengui looked towards the west of the official road with a firm gaze.

Today's morning court was quite unusual, with endless arguments in the court.

The nobles of the time stood in the Taiji Hall and accused Li Xiaogong of doing evil in the East Palace Right Army. The Prince of Hejian, who had driven away so many people, became the evil man among the nobles.

Cheng Yaojin, who had always been righteous, shouted in the hall: "You only know how to protect your shortcomings. Don't you have to endure hardships to enter the Guard House?"

Li Xiaogong, Li Daozon and Cheng Yaojin stood together and quarreled with a group of nobles. For a while, spit was flying in the hall.

But no one mentioned the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.

Because the prince only went to the East Palace Right Rate once.

Of course it has nothing to do with the prince. So many children were driven back, it must be someone else's fault.
The Eastern Palace Right Army, which had just begun construction, was facing disbandment in less than half a month. Li Shimin looked at his son, Cheng Qian, who was still standing in the hall like a wooden sculpture as usual.

Seeing that the court meeting could no longer continue, the ministers became confused.

Li Shimin had no choice but to wave his sleeves and hastily say that he was leaving the court.

As soon as the emperor left, the quarrel in the Taiji Hall became more intense.

The fight broke out in the hall, and the nobles led by Li Xiaogong, Li Daozon and Cheng Yaojin began the siege.

The court officials of the Tang Dynasty were full of energy and had gotten used to such scenes after seeing them so many times.

It has to be said that facing the fists and kicks of the crowd, the three people headed by the uncle of Hejian, faced with the siege of dozens of nobles, and they did not lose the upper hand despite the punches and kicks.

Originally, most of the nobles in Chang'an City were appointed by the emperor's father, and they seldom came to the morning court specifically to impeach someone.

Now that this is a problem, it concerns my own child and since it is a matter of face, I naturally have to make it clear.

Li Chengqian walked out of the Taiji Hall with an expressionless face and instructed the guards in front of the hall: "Go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and invite the people here. There will probably be a few people who need to be carried out of the hall today."

The guard responded, "Yes!"

Li Tai stood in front of the hall and looked back at the hall. He didn't know whose boots were thrown out. He shook his head and sighed, and could only leave.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned you."

Li Chengqian stopped and followed the eunuch who delivered the message to Ganlu Palace.

Compared to the bustling Taiji Hall, the Ganlu Hall is much quieter.

Li Chengqian walked into the hall and saw his father enjoying his meal.

He also sat down nearby and took a bowl of millet rice.

"How many people are left in the Eastern Palace Right Army?" Li Chengqian thought for a moment and said, "Before the court session this morning, my uncle told me that there are thirty-one left, including my uncle himself."

Li Shimin took a sip of tea and whispered, "It is reasonable that something like this happened. I didn't think it through before."

"Thank you for your understanding, Father."

After that, the father and son ate quietly. His Majesty didn't speak, and the prince was also quiet.

After finishing the meal, Li Chengqian stood up and said, "I still have to prepare for the imperial examination with my teacher, so I will leave first."

Li Shimin nodded slightly.

The eunuch noticed that His Majesty looked quite well.

After the prince left, Li Shimin suddenly smiled and ordered, "Call Maogong."

"Here."

Half a minute later, Li Ji hurried into Ganlu Palace and saluted, "Your Majesty."

Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "On weekdays, Cheng Qian is close to you. Have you been around recently?"

Li Ji replied, "Your Majesty, I discussed the war in the Western Regions with General Yuchi today. I neglected the Eastern Palace."

"I asked the Crown Prince to rebuild the East Palace Right Army, but I didn't expect it to become like this."

Li Ji bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has things he is good at and things he is not good at."

As a father, Li Shimin suddenly felt relieved. He added, "Xiaogong and the others are used to being rough on weekdays. You should guide Chengqian more when you have free time."

"The last general takes orders."

Li Ji hesitated for a moment and said, "Since the reconstruction of the Right Army is the will of His Majesty, it cannot be easily abandoned."

"I know everything." Li Shimin flipped through the military reports on the table and whispered, "Take a look at these reports and tell me your strategy for the war in the Western Regions."

"Here."

Next, Li Ji discussed with His Majesty the strategy for the Western Regions and the current situation.

The preparation for the imperial examination has reached the most critical stage. Li Chengqian is still preparing for this year's imperial examination with his teacher in the Secretariat, and he listens to the discussions of several officials. Sure enough, many people were carried out of the Taiji Hall today.

The Grain Rain season is approaching, and it is raining again in Guanzhong.

Li Chengqian looked at the report. There was also a heavy rain in Luoyang ten days ago. The report sent by Ma Zhou explained the current situation in Luoyang.

Fortunately, it did not affect Li Ke's project of building river embankments and dredging rivers.

"Prime Minister Fang, this is the list submitted by the Hongwenguan." An official handed over a file.

Li Chengqian, who was sitting next to his teacher, also took a look and saw that there were more people taking the imperial examination this year than last time.

As preparations for the imperial examinations began, the population in the Central Plains was also moving.

With the help of the imperial examination system, more people will move into Guanzhong, which is undoubtedly good news. Only with people coming here can Guanzhong be built better, and the focus of construction will be placed on Guanzhong.

If everyone leaves, Chang'an will slowly be forgotten.

Zhang Sun Wuji asked, "I heard that after the court session, His Majesty summoned Your Highness again?"

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and frowned, "As the crown prince, my father still has some requirements for me."

The world was in chaos back then, and the emperor's achievements were so brilliant that some people had high expectations for the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.

With such an emperor, I wonder what the prince feels in his heart.

Seeing the worried look on Changsun Wuji's face, Fang Xuanling felt much more relaxed. If these pressures would overwhelm His Highness, he would have collapsed when he was dealing with court affairs.

On the contrary, the prince was an extremely tough young man and these pressures could not crush him.

Instead, it will make the prince more determined to make progress.

Looking at the notice that the prince was going to prepare for the imperial examination, and then hurried away, Fang Xuanling said, "Your Majesty will probably be relieved now."

Zhang Sun Wuji looked at the rain outside and said, "Over the years, I have watched the prince enter the Secretariat and gradually gain control of the finances and grain. He has never backed down when faced with difficulties."

"What Fu Ji said makes sense." Fang Xuanling agreed, and added: "Just don't rush for success."

The current emperor has brilliant achievements, but the emperor is the emperor and the prince is the prince.

If the prince insists on becoming an emperor like Your Majesty, Fang Xuanling feels that this is what he should worry about as a teacher.

If the prince could behave himself well and understand the focus of the country, Fang Xuanling felt that this prince would definitely become a new emperor with considerable achievements in the future.

It was too early to say this. Fang Xuanling suddenly felt that he was worrying too much and smiled with relief.

"Prime Minister Fang, Duke Zhao, His Majesty has summoned you to the Ganlu Palace to discuss matters."

Most likely because of the war in the Western Regions, the two men hurried along.

Li Xiaogong had a fight in Taiji Hall and returned to Qujiangfang as if nothing had happened, continuing to arrange the training of Donggong Youlu.

Today's meal includes braised lamb with pickled mustard greens and salted fish.

Those who remain after these days of screening are all capable people. Some of the young men will only corrupt their conduct, so they will leave if they want to.

Only then did Li Xiaogong feel more comfortable.

After Grain Rain, this year's imperial examination will not begin until mid-May.

After the changes in Guanzhong in the past two years, the court was short of manpower and needed to recruit officials, especially in Jingzhao Prefecture, which needed timely recruitment of officials.

When he had free time, Li Chengqian would sit in the Chongwen Hall and read the book in his hand, occasionally saying a word or two to his grandfather.

Li Yuan said: "Yanqi is a small country dependent on the oasis. During the reign of Emperor Wu, Huo Qubing led 10,000 cavalrymen to flatten Yanqi. Later, Yanqi has always been an old country during the Han Dynasty. That place is also very good. It is 900 miles away from Gaochang and connected to Qiuci and Guazhou. It is a good place."

"Grandpa said this to tell his grandson that a man should conquer."

Li Yuan smiled and said, "I am old, this is a matter between you and your father."

Li Chengqian was drinking tea when he saw Li Shen and Li Zhi being scolded by Li Lizhi. He asked, "What trouble have these two boys gotten themselves into again?"

Li Yuan said with a smile: "It's still grape wine. We don't drink much, only one bowl per person."

"I heard that a lot of people moved to Luoyang and Guanzhong this year."

Li Chengqian retracted his gaze, looked at the scroll in his hand, and said, "My grandson has always believed that only with people can there be more productivity. Wealth and labor complement each other. If you lose people, you will lose wealth."

I don't know if my grandfather can understand these words. Li Chengqian feels the cool spring breeze blowing. The wind brings a little rain on his body, and he feels a little cool, which makes him more energetic.

Little Sizi came to the East Palace with a book. She looked around as if she was looking for something. When she saw the emperor, she set her sights and walked up to him quickly, saying, "Grandpa? Emperor?"

Li Yuan stroked his beard and smiled, "Little Sizi, have you had time to come visit Grandpa?"

She grinned and said, "Mingda misses grandpa."

Li Yuan picked her up and said with a pout, "Little Sizi is too heavy. Grandpa can hardly hold her anymore."

Noticing his granddaughter's gaze again, he asked, "Want to play with your brother?"

"Mingda has something he doesn't understand, so he wants to ask his royal brother."

(End of this chapter)