The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 242 Princess Changle's Plan

In Chang'an City, General Zuo was led out with a group of soldiers. Ever since His Majesty sent troops to the west, Liang Jianfang had been thinking about going out to fight again, and everyone wanted to have military merit.

It's a pity that Liang Jianfang did not have extensive connections in the military, unlike Li Ji's son Li Zhen, who was able to raise or dispatch food and fodder for the army that conquered the Western Regions in the Hexi Corridor and was appointed as the commander of the Jiaohedao Zhechoufu.

Not to mention currying favor with Hou Junji or Zhang Shigui.

He had been holding an idle position for many years, and was only transferred to the Left Army as a deputy general by General Yuchi last year to look for an opportunity to send troops.

Seeing the troops marching out, Liang Jianfang put down the eight-foot-long spear in his hand, called a soldier and asked, "Why are the troops being mobilized suddenly?"

The man replied, "I don't know. General Cheng was ordered by the Crown Prince to mobilize the troops."

"Your Majesty is not here, and the Crown Prince is guarding Chang'an. Why are you sending troops out of the city at this time?" Liang Jianfang asked in return, "What are you sending troops for?"

The soldier spoke with an authentic Guanzhong accent. He spoke briefly and shook his head.

Liang Jianfang asked again: "How many troops were mobilized?"

"A thousand people."

There were 60,000 garrison troops in Chang'an City, and if you count the militia, there would be at least 100,000 troops at most. In addition, there was Li Daoyan and General Zhang Shigui in charge.

Hearing the number of troops being mobilized, Liang Jianfang seemed to be thinking about something and asked, "Only a thousand people?"

The soldier replied, "We only need a thousand men. Do you want to go, General?"

Liang Jianfang put his heart back in his stomach. He pushed the soldier away with his big hand, picked up his eight-foot-long spear and began to wipe it, with a thoughtful look on his face.

The prefectural governor of Jingzhao and the vice prefect of Jingzhao hurried into the Suzaku Gate.

In the Secretariat, Li Chengqian was holding a roll of paper in his hand, looking at the gloomy sky with his hands in his pockets. It seemed that the snow was not going to stop yet.

"His Royal Highness."

The two walked up to him, and Li Chengqian smiled and said, "It's New Year."

Li Dao Zong said with emotion: "Yes, congratulations to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for growing one year older."

"Congratulations, Your Highness."

Xu Jingzong also bowed and said.

If a crown prince can grow up smoothly and healthily, it is undoubtedly something worth celebrating.

Li Chengqian sat on the steps in front of the Zhongshu Province and said in a friendly manner, "I'm twenty this year. No wonder my uncle didn't look at me in a good mood last night."

Li Dao Zong said: "Is it because the old gentleman passed away?"

"Not really." Li Chengqian calmed down and said, "It snowed heavily this year. How are the conditions in the counties?"

Li Dao Zong replied: "According to reports from various counties, many houses have collapsed. The situation is not very good. In addition, many counties have roads blocked by heavy snow, and many people are trapped."

Li Chengqian ordered: "Immediately dispatch personnel to all counties and villages to deal with the snowstorm, rush to help the trapped villagers, and prepare food and clothing if necessary."

"Here."

Li Chengqian hesitated and said, "I remember that Weinan County collected a lot of old cloth and old clothes. I will send someone there now."

Xu Jingzong bowed quickly and said, "I will arrange it right away."

Li Chengqian handed over a roll of paper and said, "This is the newly drafted rescue strategy. Remember, if any county or township official fails to provide timely rescue, and a problem occurs, the county magistrate will come forward to take responsibility. I am in the Secretariat, and before the snow control is over, please let me know if there is any situation."

"Here."

Xu Jingzong's mind raced and he left quickly. After taking two steps, he took a deep breath in the cold air and ran all the way.

Li Daozong glanced at Xu Jingzong who was walking away and said, "I heard that His Highness has mobilized troops?"

"Yes."

"Mobilizing troops at this time will inevitably cause people to think too much."

"I can only mobilize a few unemployed generals, which may make the emperor's uncle laugh."

"That's fine. Your Highness is also considering the safety of His Majesty. It's just..." Li Dao Zong paused and added, "It's inevitable that he will be impeached."

"It doesn't matter. Which prince wouldn't be impeached?"

Li Dao Zong forced a smile.

It is said that when a country is strong, one can see trees turning green, rivers flowing for hundreds of miles, or herds of horses working in formation.

It is beautiful to yearn for something, but we also have to face the messy reality.

If you compare how quiet Jingzhao Prefecture was during the winter solstice, it is just as busy now.

Xu Jingzong took the prince's rescue plan, which was more like a transfer order. Yan Qinli, Di Zhixun and thirty officials from Jingzhao Prefecture left Chang'an with groups of people.

They gathered militiamen along the way and rushed to various counties.

The official road had long been covered with snow, the wind was howling, and from afar, the houses in the villages and counties were buried in the snow. Only a little light could be seen coming through the windows, indicating that there was someone living in that house.

Yan Qinli called the militiamen and said, "Dig! Dig out the road."

A group of militiamen started shoveling the snow.

When Di Zhixun arrived in Weibei, he shouted to several county officials in the distance: "The Jingzhao Prefecture has issued an order! All counties must help each other, but if there are any needs, they must report to the Jingzhao Prefecture. If there are any omissions or any mistakes, you county officials will be punished!"

After he finished speaking, Di Zhixun rode his horse towards the other counties in Weibei.

The Wei River had been frozen for a long time, and the war horses could walk on the river surface and cross the river.

At present, people in Guanzhong are constantly riding away on horseback. For a moment, there are few people entering the city and many people leaving the city.

For two consecutive days, Li Chengqian almost lived in the Secretariat. The East Palace delivered meals to him every day, and Ning'er even prepared bedding for him.

Knowing that the emperor was concerned about the situation in Guanzhong, Li Zhi and Li Shen, as well as Xiao Sizi and Dongyang, saw that the emperor did not return to the Eastern Palace for the past two days, so they simply moved in.

In the Secretariat, two stoves were burning and never went out.

Today, Jingzhao Prefecture began to send in reports from various counties.

Li Daozong explained: "There are still several counties and towns trapped in the snow, and the news cannot be delivered for a while."

Seeing the prince frowning again, he added, "But Jingzhao Prefecture has already sent someone over."

Li Zhi and Li Shen sat on one side with Xiao Sizi, and also helped their brother to organize the reports from various counties.

Li Chengqian asked in a low voice: "How many people froze to death?"

"There are many people who have been frostbitten. According to your highness's instructions, all county residents whose houses are broken or have been in disrepair for a long time have been moved out. Several families have gathered together to keep warm. Each county has given up its county government office and allowed many county residents to go in to keep warm. With more people, it won't be so cold."

"There is also Liu Rengui from Xianyang County. Our people from Jingzhao Prefecture haven't arrived yet, but County Magistrate Liu has already moved the county residents who are suffering from the cold into the county government office to temporarily avoid the wind and snow."

It was snowing outside again. I was reading the report while listening to the emperor's uncle's story.

Not long after, my uncle came with Duke Zheng.

Wei Zheng was still coughing all the way.

Zhang Sun Wuji said with a worried look, "I've already told you that Lord Zheng, you don't have to come in person."

Wei Zheng said in a deep voice: "With such heavy snow in Guanzhong and the prince working all night to supervise government affairs, how can I not come?" His uncle's face showed an expression of being unable to be persuaded.

Li Chengqian first asked Lord Zheng to sit down and said, "The people from Jingzhao Prefecture have already arrived in each county."

Wei Zheng whispered, "I heard that Your Highness has been suffering these days."

"I should do it."

"That's what we should do." Wei Zheng put his hands on his knees and whispered, "Since ancient times, not many people know what we should do. Not many."

Li Chengqian continued to sit in the teacher's seat and continued to look at the map of Guanzhong. The geographical locations of each county were on the map.

Heavy snow in the north swept across Guanzhong, with Weibei and Weinan being the worst hit.

Wei Zheng said slowly: "The Crown Prince mobilized the militia to deal with the snowstorm. I want to see who dares to impeach the Crown Prince in this court."

Zhang Sun Wuji remained silent. His Majesty gave the Crown Prince the power to enter the Secretariat. The intention was very clear. Throughout the dynasties, those who held the power of the Secretariat were the leaders of all the officials in the court. His Majesty placed the Crown Prince in this position.

And it’s very close to this location.

Dongyang handed the stack of memorials to his brother's desk in silence.

Li Daoyan came quickly and handed over a report: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, Master Du He took out 30,000 strings of silver and 2,000 pieces of cloth to help the counties."

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and asked, "What's the situation in the Hexi Corridor?"

"No news has been sent yet."

"Then wait and I will send you the news as soon as I have it."

"Here."

Li Chengqian sat in the seat of honor. The 20-year-old prince did not look panicked. Instead, he calmly sorted out the situations in various counties. If he was worried or anxious, it was just a slight frown.

Li Daoyan, who had just left, came back and reported: "Your Highness, Master Du He wants to see you."

Changsun Wuji first looked at Wei Zheng beside him, and seeing that he didn't say anything, he looked at the prince.

Li Chengqian took a sip of tea and asked, "Does he have anything important to report?"

"Your Highness, it's about the Hexi Corridor."

"Let him in."

Hearing His Highness's calm tone, Li Daoyan quickly invited the person in.

Not everyone can panic, but the prince who is guarding Chang'an cannot afford to show any signs of panic at this moment.

Du He was wearing a round-necked robe. Even though it was the simplest color, it was top-notch in terms of color and material.

He bowed and saluted, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Duke Zhao, Duke Zheng, greet His Highness the Prince of Jin, Princess Dongyang, His Highness the Prince of Ji, greet the Prince of Jiangxia."

He addressed all the people in the Secretariat one by one.

Li Chengqian closed the report in his hand and put it aside and said, "Has the cotton been delivered?"

Du He replied, "Your Highness, after the battle of Gaochang last year, Murong Shun left the Gaochang royal city and traveled to various countries in the Western Regions. Under the guidance of the King of Yanqi, Murong Shun found his way to the banks of the Ili River and received 260 stones of cotton."

"Only two hundred and sixty stones?"

Du He said: "This is the most cotton he can get. The Gaochang people don't value cotton planting. In the past six months since the Gaochang King was defeated, Murong Shun has tried every possible way."

"Because the cotton he collected later was in small pieces, he had to store the cotton in the Hexi Corridor first, so that he could collect it from the people in the Western Regions later, and stockpile enough to send it to the beginning of winter. Today, he hurriedly found me and said that the news he sent three days ago was that the cotton he stored in the Hexi Corridor was sent to the vicinity of Qishan, but it has not been delivered yet. Most likely, it was trapped by the heavy snow."

Zhang Sun Wuji listened to these words with a suspicious look on his face. He had read the military report in the emperor's hand at that time and had also seen the name of Fuyun Khan Murong Shun.

Last autumn, when the military report was delivered, the King of Gaochang hanged himself. Gaochang was defeated and Yu Gushe fled westward. Before the defeat, Murong Shun was congratulating with the King of Gaochang.

Then Murong Shun disappeared, and when there was news, he appeared in Yanqi.

Murong Shun traveled around the Western Regions and only returned to Chang'an in winter.

At the beginning of winter, His Majesty issued an edict to reprimand Murong Shun for his abdication, and then issued an edict to inform the Tuyuhun subjects and announce it to the world.

There has been no reply yet on this matter, and now something has gone wrong.

Du He was standing in the Secretariat. If the situation was not urgent, he would not have rushed to the Secretariat to seek a meeting.

Li Chengqian looked at the King of Jiangxia and said, "Uncle, can you send someone to look for this caravan trapped in the snow?"

Li Dao Zong replied: "We can draw more personnel from the Leading Army Guard, but..."

Wei Zheng asked loudly: "What? Are you still afraid of being impeached by your subjects?"

Seeing that the prince didn't say anything else, Li Daozong quickly bowed and left with Du He.

After everyone left, Changsun Wuji asked, "When was the matter between Du He and Murong Shun arranged?"

Li Chengqian said: "We started to arrange it after Gaochang was defeated, but these matters are all presided over by Du He, and I will not interfere."

Changsun Wuji nodded in understanding.

The prince's transfer orders were sent out one by one, and the actions of Jingzhao Prefecture affected most of Chang'an City.

Standing on the top of the city wall, you can see people riding war horses back and forth on the official road that has just been cleared.

But now many nobles are not in Chang'an. They and Your Majesty are in Mount Li.

The heavy snow had just stopped for one day when another batch of food and fodder was delivered to the Lishan camp.

Inside the tent, Li Lizhi, who was sitting next to her mother, skillfully moved the abacus and then wrote down the current surplus of food and fodder.

Originally, the food and fodder matters of the Lishan camp were arranged by the generals, but the emperor gave 400 dan of food and fodder to the residents of several counties under Lishan, so the food and fodder of the camp was not enough.

At this time, Princess Changle still needs to make proper arrangements. In this way, the power of food and fodder here will be in the hands of the princess.

Empress Changsun said with a smile, "Lizhi has been by Chengqian's side since she was a child. Now she is doing things in a way that is similar to Chengqian."

Li Shimin looked at the bowl of millet rice in his hand and remained silent.

Li Lizhi handed over several urgent reports and said, "General Yuchi has sent 3,000 men to clear the snow around Mount Li."

Yuchi Gong was a little hesitant, wondering whether to follow Princess Changle's arrangements, and looked at His Majesty.

Li Shimin nodded slightly.

He then said in a clear voice: "Yes."

Not just now, the princess's demeanor is somewhat like that of a prince. Even in normal times, the younger brothers and sisters in the palace must listen to the arrangements of her eldest sister and are absolutely obedient.

Now the princess feels more like the boss of the Lishan camp.

She placed a pile of military reports on her father's desk, and then sat down to look at the reports sent in from various counties, responding to and cooperating with her brother. She knew that it would be more convenient for her brother to send people from Chang'an than to go to the Lishan camp at the moment, especially the counties to the east of Lishan, which she had no time to take care of at the moment, so she could ask her father to send people over.

The emperor was concerned about the situation in the counties of Guanzhong. When Cheng Yaojin led his troops to clear a road through the snow and delivered food to the Lishan camp.

Li Shimin then learned that the prince had begun to mobilize troops from Jingzhao Prefecture to go to various counties to deal with the snow disaster.

(End of this chapter)