The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 229 The Emperor's Family Affairs
Upon hearing this man's idea, Li Chengqian was so angry that he called Xu Jingzong over and scolded him, "Xu Jingzong! You're using this year's persimmons to exchange for next year's soap. Did a donkey kick your brain?"

Xu Jingzong lowered his head and remained silent as he was scolded.

Soon, the Crown Prince's angry voice was heard from the Secretariat again, "How much is the soap? How much is a persimmon? Can they be exchanged? Are you a pig?"

Listening to the Crown Prince angrily scolding Xu Jingzong, the officials in the Secretariat all looked at him with sympathy.

Li Chengqian slammed a file on the table and said, "If you can't handle this matter well, you will continue to stay in the position of Shao Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture. Do you still want to be promoted? Don't even think about it."

After being severely scolded by the crown prince, Xu Jingzong walked out of the Secretariat with a bitter face.

Li Baiyao, the Minister of Rites, saw this and said, "Xu Shaoyin is really..."

Xu Jingzong raised his belt and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince scolded me well. I just can't wake up without scolding you."

Even after being scolded by the crown prince, Xu Jingzong still looked very proud.

Li Baiyao looked towards the Secretariat again and said, "In fact, I also know that persimmons are not selling well. I can help Xu Shaoyin."

"There is always a way out." Xu Jingzong bowed and said, "I wonder if you have any advice for me in person."

Li Baiyao smiled and said, "Xu Shaoyin, let me have a chat."

After a day of preparation, it turned out that the method Li Baiyao gave to Xu Jingzong was actually very simple. The Persian monk Aroben wanted to return to Persia, and this Persian had always wanted something from the Tang Dynasty.

Although A Luo had no money on him, he could preach in the Western Regions, and at the same time, he could persuade those who believed in Buddha to buy persimmon cakes with their belongings.

When the Persian monks' beliefs are combined with persimmon cakes, there is no need to worry about selling them.

This method sounds like another stupid move, but it is better than exchanging this year's persimmons for next year's money.

This is one solution, but it is not enough.

After being scolded by the crown prince, Xu Jingzong finally understood that the crown prince did not want the people in Jingzhao Prefecture to use their power to solve the problem.

This approach is lazy, and Jingzhao Prefecture must solve this problem in a down-to-earth manner.

In this way, Xu Jingzong agreed to the Minister of Rites, and Jingzhao Prefecture and the Ministry of Rites would cooperate together. There was also an opportunity this year. That was when Dilish Khan, who was south of the Ili River, wanted to attack Yugushe who was defeated in the battle of Gaochang.

This allowed them to sell persimmons to Dilish Khan as food.

In order to prevent the proliferation of persimmons in the future, crop diversity in Guanzhong must continue to be promoted. This is a lesson that concerns the villagers in various counties and is unforgettable for Jingzhao Prefecture.

This matter was not handled well.

But it is better than getting nothing and letting the persimmons rot.

This is a difficulty that is bound to be encountered during the development cycle.

The Jingzhao Prefecture tried almost everything it could, using all its connections and trade routes, and ordered merchants entering and leaving the pass to buy persimmons and sell them. Even when the Turks started eating persimmons, the price of persimmons was barely maintained.

Persimmons can be preserved for a period of time as persimmon cakes. When Aroben left Chang'an with thirty carts full of persimmon cakes, Li Chengqian was satisfied only after seeing that Jingzhao Prefecture had dealt with the matter with results.

Outside the Secretariat, Li Chengqian sat on the steps, feeling the coolness of the autumn day.

Li Xiaogong said: "I am not blaming those children, they just can't bear this kind of hardship."

Li Chengqian was eating a persimmon, and handed over another one, saying, "Uncle, do you want to eat persimmons?"

Seeing this, Li Xiaogong cleared his throat and took the persimmon. He had eaten too many persimmons these days and bought a lot of them in order to please the powerful families in Jingzhao Prefecture.

Now when he burps, Li Xiaogong can feel the persimmons still floating in his stomach.

Li Chengqian didn't care about the Prince's Right Leader and even forgot that the Eastern Palace had established the Right Leader.

"How many people are there now?"

"Fifteen."

Li Chengqian ate a persimmon and nodded, "Very good."

"Good?"

"Those who stayed behind are the elite. What's wrong with that?"

Originally the right officer of the crown prince, Li Xiaogong was relieved to see that the crown prince was satisfied. He no longer mentioned the matter of the right officer of the Eastern Palace, and sat aside and whispered, "I heard that Zhang Shigui and Qu Zhisheng will arrive in Chang'an in the next two days."

After saying that, Li Chengqian suddenly turned around and saw Du Zhenglun standing behind him by coincidence.

Du Zhenglun looked around, ignored the prince's aggressive gaze, turned around and left.

Li Xiaogong also looked around and asked, "What's wrong?"

Li Chengqian finished eating the persimmon in his hand, wiped his hands and said, "Nothing, I just feel like I'm attracting rats recently."

"What? A rat?"

"When was Qu Zhisheng escorted to Chang'an? I haven't heard about it."

Li Xiaogong leaned closer and whispered, "It was your majesty's idea. Many people in the army don't know about this."

Li Chengqian looked behind him again to confirm that Du Zhenglun was not eavesdropping, and asked, "How did the emperor's uncle know?"

Li Xiaogong replied: "Back then, there was an old general under my command who served beside Zhang Shigui."

Li Chengqian understood what was going on. It seemed that all the generals had extensive connections in the army.

"Your Highness, is there something on your mind?"

"Merchants from Jiangnan and Jiangnan sent a lot of tea. Does the emperor want some?"

"I haven't finished the pickled mustard greens that His Highness gave me last time."

Li Chengqian looked at the officials coming and going in front of the Zhongshu Province and said, "Next year, I will not trouble the emperor's uncle. I will ask Guanzhong to make more pickled plums and export them to the Western Regions."

Li Xiaogong shook his head and sighed, "Is the court still so short of money?"

"Yes, we are always short of money. The Tang Dynasty is too poor."

That day, Li Yuan took a very long nap. When he woke up, the sun was setting. He even felt as if he had slept in another world.

When the old man sat up in front of the Chongwen Hall, he saw a group of children flying kites in front of the East Palace gate.

Li Yuan's eyes looked into the distance, sometimes blurry and sometimes clear.

Next to me was the voice of my grandson and son. The father and son were discussing whether to renovate the Lishan Palace this year.

After Zhang Shigui's western expedition, he looted a lot of treasures in Khan Futu City.

Li Chengqian asked: "Grandpa, are you feeling unwell?"

Li Yuan suddenly smiled, waved his wide sleeves and said, "Haha! My old eyes are blurry."

Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment, then asked, "What are you laughing at? Is this a good thing?"

"This is naturally a good thing. I am old, I am finally old." Li Yuan wanted to roar to the sky, but he stopped in front of the children and smiled, "It's good to be blind. From now on, everyone will be a beauty."

"You are old."

Li Yuan was still very happy, and even drank a bowl of grape wine. At my grandfather's age, his body began to age, and now his eyes began to age and his teeth became fewer and fewer.

This is an inevitable part of aging.

Let's get back to the present situation. The treasures that Zhang Shigui transported included 600 kilograms of silver, 300 kilograms of gold, and various jade artifacts.

Gaochang was very rich. God knows how much treasure Hou Junji collected from Gaochang after he took it.

My father was a confident man, so he didn't think that Hou Junji would hold on to Gaochang and declare himself king after conquering it.

If he really did that, he would be courting his own destruction.

Therefore, ever since Zhang Shigui led his troops back to Guanzhong, military reports have been sent in that Hou Junji, who was in the rear, had also set out from Gaochang with his troops and was also on his way back.

Li Chengqian said: "Father, the Lishan Palace has been abandoned for many years. What is the point of repairing it?"

It is autumn now, and the prince is still fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.

Li Shimin said: "If I don't build the Lishan Palace, some people will think I am unreasonable. The emperors of all dynasties not only built the Lishan Palace, but also built the Luoyang Palace."

"So after the Lishan Palace is built, Father will definitely go to see it and go hunting?"

Li Chengqian continued, "I have always thought that the emperor would not care about the reputation of building a palace. Some people only advise the emperor to build a palace in order to please him, so as to follow his wishes and achieve his goal of gaining his appreciation."

"There are many markets in Chang'an that need to be repaired, and many streets and alleys in the markets have been in disrepair for a long time. There are still five markets in the West Market that have been abandoned to this day. The Qujiang Market in the East Market has not been repaired until this year. Every rainy season, there is water accumulation in the streets of the markets in Chang'an. The ditches in Chang'an also need to be repaired."

"Besides, there are still many palaces in the palace that have not been repaired yet."

Li Yuan echoed, "Yes, even this Eastern Palace was built by Cheng Qian alone."

"Besides these, is there no extra money to build a palace?"

"It's not enough. I really don't have any spare money!"

"Don't you collect a lot of city taxes in the Hexi Corridor?"

"Father, that requires a long-term effort. There is no way to get rich overnight in one or two years." Li Chengqian said with emotion, "I am in a dilemma too."

Li Shimin looked thoughtful.

Li Chengqian said: "Father, please be frugal. If you are not frugal, how can I live with myself?"

"After listening to you for so long, if I repair the palace, it will be difficult for you, the crown prince?"

"I have no such intention. As long as your Majesty does not bother me with your advice, that will be fine."

Li Yuan laughed out loud and walked into the Chongwen Hall with his hands behind his back, in a very good mood.

"How about this." Li Chengqian said, "I will help you to renovate the villa, make it more beautiful, and build a few more houses."

Li Shimin remained silent and drank his tea sip after sip.

After saying so much to his son, he was still unwilling to give in, so Li Shimin went to see Li Ke again.

Li Ke now serves in the army as the deputy general of the military guard. He is a prince who holds real power over the army and the only prince who holds military power except the crown prince.

Li Tai was still compiling the Comprehensive Geography in the Literature Institute.

Li Shimin called them both to Ganlu Palace. He first looked at Li Ke and asked, "What did Hou Junji do before he asked you to go to help Zhang Shigui?"

"Father, after I entered the Gaochang Royal City, General Hou let me leave."

Li Shimin nodded and said, "What did Hou Junji do in Gaochang afterwards? You have no idea?"

Li Ke said: "I am ashamed."

It seems that Hou Junji is still restrained. At least he doesn't do anything excessive in front of the prince, and he doesn't dare to do so.

Li Shimin breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Cheng Qian said that Li You should go to guard Songzhou. These days, You'er wrote another letter and asked Niu Jinda to send it to me. He said that he admitted his mistakes and hoped that I could let him come back. He has realized his mistakes and can go to his fiefdom."

Li Ke said sternly, "Father, you must not do that."

"Why?"

"Li You's bad habits have long been deeply rooted. If they are not eradicated, he will definitely become even worse in the future if we give him some favors now. He is the son of the emperor, and he knows that the emperor will never punish him too harshly no matter what. So many years have passed, and he has been taught so many times. If he could change, he wouldn't be like this today."

Li Ke bowed and said, "Father, I think Yin Zhihong and his family need to be sent away."

Li Shimin observed his two sons. Qingque was fine, and the same was true for Li Ke. They were very united with Chengqian as their backbone.

"Is this what you agreed upon by Cheng Qian beside the Taiye Lake?"

"Replying to the Emperor, my brother did tell us that none of us three brothers would give up. My brother had already expected that the Emperor would come to ask for your opinions."

Li Tai also replied: "Father, my brother has told me that this is our family affair."

"Hehehe..."

Li Shimin suddenly smiled and said to himself, "He actually thought of it."

Li Ke bowed and said, "I have also discovered that many people in the court have pleaded with the emperor to forgive Li You."

Li Tai said: "These people are more or less under the various instructions of Concubine Yin and the Yin family. I hope that the emperor will understand."

Li Ke said: "Since it is a family matter, as long as our family is united, we will naturally not allow others to interfere. If the family is not united, it will be influenced by others, and Li Tang..."

Li Ke stopped talking halfway through his words. If he said too much, it would be considered treason. He was not the emperor's brother, so he did not dare to be too presumptuous in front of his father and maintained the demeanor of a son.

Li Tai took over the conversation and said, "Father, relatives by marriage have always been useful, but also need to be guarded against."

Li Shimin placed one hand on the table and held a tea bowl in the other hand and asked, "How do you think I should deal with this?"

Li Tai has always been more shrewd than Li Ke. He immediately said, "Your Majesty, we should deal with the Yin family. As for the other censors, their advice is nothing to worry about. When the Yin family falls, they will naturally stop giving advice. This is called removing the fuel from under the cauldron."

"Did Cheng Qian also tell you these words?"

Li Tai and Li Ke looked at each other and bowed deeply.

Li Shimin noticed something was wrong and asked again, "Didn't Cheng Qian teach you?"

Li Tai said: "Father, I still insist that this is our family affair. If the family is not united, then the prince will be controlled by his relatives like Li You."

Li Ke said: "Father, I think so too."

There was silence in Ganlu Hall for a long time, and Li Shimin said, "You can leave first."

"Here."

After Li Tai and Li Ke left, an imperial edict was sent out of the palace. Now many censors were pleading for Li You, but the emperor not only turned a blind eye, he also exiled the Yin family to Shuofang, and they were not allowed to leave without permission.

This is the emperor's family affair, and he does not want outsiders to interfere too much.

And on this day, Zhang Shigui escorted Gaochang Prince Qu Zhisheng to Chang'an City.

(End of this chapter)