The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 250 Night Fishing
Seeing that his father had recovered his breath, he asked the eunuch beside him to place the memorial on the table.

Afterwards, all the palace maids and eunuchs in Ganlu Palace left, leaving behind the Queen, His Majesty, and the Crown Prince.

Regaining his dignified appearance, Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "I heard that at the morning court today, you asked the Ministry of Works to complete the project before the summer harvest."

Li Chengqian opened a window nearby. It was noon and a warm breeze blew into the palace. He said, "Father is recovering from his illness. We should open the window to ventilate the palace and keep the air flowing."

At this moment in Ganlu Hall, the smell of medicine that was originally there had dissipated a lot with the incoming wind.

After thinking about his father's question again, Li Chengqian said, "The rules and methods used by the various departments in the court are mostly slow and inefficient."

Li Shimin sat upright, motioned his wife to sit down, then looked at his son and asked, "What kind of process do you think is efficient?"

"It would be better if it wasn't as redundant and complicated as it is now." Li Chengqian turned back from the window, sat down and said, "The best one is the one that suits the current situation."

After hearing the ambiguous answer, Li Shimin drank a sip of tea, took a deep breath, picked up the file beside him and started reading it. Suddenly he asked again, "The market tax in Guanzhong is about to exceed the land tax. Zhang Xuansu has repeatedly advised me to clarify the taxation in Guanzhong."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly but did not express his opinion.

"I know that taxes are the foundation of a country, but when I first ascended the throne, Guanzhong had just emerged from a drought. Back then, I said that the Tang Dynasty would reduce taxes and levies. If I had said something, it would have changed."

"Your Highness understands that there are some things that cannot be done by your Father."

Li Shimin smiled in surprise and continued, "Why? You still want to break the rules I set."

Li Chengqian sat with his hands in his pockets, looking solemn, "Father, I think people who believe in the rules of their ancestors are idealists who pursue perfection. Such people often hope that others will abide by the rules, but thousands of people in this world are different."

"Just because one person thinks this way doesn't mean that millions of people will think this way. We, the Li family, govern millions of people. I believe that people's thoughts will change with the environment. Sometimes, government orders need to change with the environment, rather than remain unchanged."

After saying this, Li Chengqian added, "For our Li family."

Li Shimin looked at last year's tax files in silence.

The hall fell silent again. The Queen sat aside, arranging some clothes. Whenever the father and son talked about state affairs, the Queen would always find something to do and didn't really listen to them.

Noticing the looks on his father's and mother's faces, Li Chengqian said, "I will take my leave now."

"Cheng Qian, wait."

Seeing the pile of clothes handed to him by his mother, Li Chengqian took them and said, "My brothers and sisters are indeed thinking about new clothes this year."

Empress Changsun said with a smile, "Your brothers and sisters are getting older every year. If you make new clothes this year, they probably won't fit them next year."

"Thank you, mother."

"Go ahead. There are still a lot of things for you to do in the court."

"My son, please retire."

After her son left Ganlu Palace, Empress Changsun complained, "You always criticize Cheng Qian like this, but your son scolds you instead. Are you happy now?"

Li Shimin picked up a booklet from under the table. He did not look at the file in front of him, but picked up the booklet and started reading it. He said, "Cheng Qian is dissatisfied with the six ministries in the court. This kid is almost asking me for power. Humph, he is really ambitious."

Empress Changsun tidied up the palace again, and after opening the window she felt the air here was much better.

Li Shimin continued, "The reason he said that was to force the Ministry of Works to change its previous cumbersome working rules. He knew better than anyone that some positions needed to be replaced by more energetic and motivated young people. Zhang Daan had only been the magistrate of Weinan County for a year, but Cheng Qian insisted on putting him in the position of Jingzhao Prefecture."

"Didn't you let him work in the East Palace?"

"Most of the people who hold posts in the Eastern Palace hold honorary titles."

"Cheng Qian doesn't want so many people in the East Palace to give him advice?"

Li Shimin straightened the book in his hand and said, "He never needs too many people to give him advice. He just needs the officials under the East Palace to have more real power. For example, if Zhang Daan were to work in the East Palace, Cheng Qian would feel that it would be the same with or without him. But if he were to work in Jingzhao Prefecture, the meaning would be different."

Empress Changsun whispered, "The relationship between you and your son is really..."

The emperor liked this booklet very much and read it many times. This was a booklet prepared by Chongwenguan for the teachers who taught in the countryside, and each teacher was asked to carry a copy with them.

The first sentence of the booklet is that teaching and educating people is a century-old foundation and a century-long plan...

The Zhenguan period had always been a period of relaxation. In the twelfth year of Zhenguan, after the crown prince gained power, all departments in the court could feel the pressure from the Eastern Palace.

At that time, especially the Ministry of Works, the Minister of Works Yan Liben personally went to the construction site of the canal repair, scolded the craftsmen, and ordered them to speed up the construction period.

The Minister of Works personally supervised the craftsmen in building the ditches.

In every alley of Chang'an City, there are craftsmen busy working.

Li Zhi, Li Shen and Di Renjie were squatting in a street, looking at the group of craftsmen.

Behind the three of them was Zhang Jianzhi, who was running and crying with his face covered.

Since following his father to Chang'an, Zhang Jianzhi has not had a single peaceful day.

Li Zhi and Li Shen didn't care that Zhang Jianzhi was the son of Zhang Xuanbi, and the two brothers would not care who the great Confucian scholar of the Dongyi era was.

Di Renjie knew very well that even if he was beaten, there was nothing else he could do, as his biggest backer was the current Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.

Who is the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace? He is the most powerful prince in the world. The twelve counties of Chang'an, including the counties in eastern Shaanxi and even Tongguan and Luoyang, are all under the jurisdiction of the crown prince.

Who asked Zhang Jianzhi to complain to his father? His father also advised the emperor about how domineering the prince was.

Later, Zhang Xuanbi's memorial was rejected by the crown prince. Now Prince Ji and Prince Jin still acted as if nothing had happened and beat Zhang Jianzhi again.

In the words of Prince Li Zhi of Jin, fighting is one thing, but you, Zhang Jianzhi, can't beat me, yet you dare to complain.

If you have the guts, come and fight me next time. Whoever loses should call me grandpa. If you can’t beat me, just complain. In that case, you, Zhang Jianzhi, are a bitch and deserve to be beaten.

This is probably what Li Zhi understood.

There are physical education classes in the Eastern Palace. When it comes to strength and physical training, Li Zhi is more confident than ordinary children.

Di Renjie looked back at General Xue Wanbei standing behind him. He sighed and said, "Your Highness Prince Jin, I am hungry."

Li Zhi glanced at Di Renjie and said, "You are so fat now, why are you still hungry?"

Di Renjie said, "Then I will go back to eat."

"Wait." Li Zhi turned his head and looked at Li Shen and asked, "Did you bring money?"

Li Shen shook his head and said, "No."

The three children turned around and looked at Xue Wanbei.

He noticed the gaze and stepped back, saluted and said, "I will go buy some food right away."

Leaving behind three or two guards, Xue Wanbei left in a hurry. When he came back, he brought a Hu pancake, a few buns, and a small piece of zonggao.

Yan Liben walked hurriedly to this street to see the craftsmen busy here, but saw Prince of Jin Li Zhi and Prince of Ji Li Shen squatting not far away.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, wondering if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was still worried and asked Prince Jin and Prince Ji to supervise the work.

Then a guard came running over and said something to Di Renjie.

The three children then quickly left.

Outside Chang'an, Jingzhao Prefecture organized another 30,000 shi of grain and grass, all of which would be transported to the Hexi Corridor today. Li Zhi and Li Shen looked at the long grain transport team, which was very long and large, with more than a thousand people escorting them, standing in a long row in Chang'an.

Li Zhi pointed at an official who was giving instructions and asked, "Is that your father?"

Di Renjie nodded and said, "My father has been very busy lately and has no time to take care of me. He has left me in the East Market several times and forgot to take me back."

"Ah?" Li Shen asked in surprise.

"Ah."

Di Renjie continued, "After that, my father would come out to look for me, but I knew the way. Whenever I was hungry, I would go to Chongwen Pavilion to eat. After looking around for a while, my father would come back and find out that I had already eaten at Chongwen Pavilion."

He looked a little sad, and added: "I still have to prepare meals for my father later."

Di Zhixun also noticed the three guys here. After the grain transport team set off, he walked over quickly and saluted, saying, "This subordinate greets the King of Jin and the King of Ji."

Li Zhi looked at the sky and said, "It's time to go back, or we'll miss dinner."

Li Shen said quickly: "Brother, what you said is absolutely right."

It was already dusk, and before leaving, Li Shen said to Di Renjie, "Dinner at the East Palace doesn't wait for anyone. If you go too late, you won't be able to eat. I'll come and play with you another day."

Di Renjie nodded and said, "Come to Chongwenguan to find me next time."

As they were talking, Li Zhi and Li Shen had already run away.

Di Zhixun looked at the two children running wildly on Zhuque Street. There was a group of guards behind the two children. "Prince Jin and Prince Ji have grown a lot taller."

Di Renjie stood in the spring breeze and said sadly: "The child has become fat."

Dickson stroked his beard and smiled, "My son is not fat at all!"

Father and son walked into Chang'an City at dusk. Walking on Zhuque Street, Di Renjie suddenly asked again: "Is Zhang Jianzhi a bitch?"

Di Zhixun smiled and said, "Why do you say that?"

"Prince Jin said so."

"That's probably true."

In the imperial city, Li Chengqian and his uncle sat in front of the gate of the Secretariat, discussing the current taxation issue.

When his uncle talked about reducing the land tax and increasing the market tax, Li Chengqian said, "Father's words will not change. Now is not the time to increase or change taxes."

Changsun Wuji said: "Jingzhao Prefecture has reorganized the city taxes."

"It's just a reorganization. There won't be any major changes. I can increase the import and export tariffs in the Hexi Corridor."

It seems that the prince really intends to treat the Hexi Corridor as his own property.

Zhang Sun Wuji smiled with relief. This was good. At least the prince could keep the family business. "Do you need me to make any arrangements?"

"I want to send a few people to the Hexi Corridor. I'll need your help when the time comes."

"Your Highness, there is no need to say this."

Seeing Li Zhi and Li Shen coming towards them, Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "I will take my leave now."

After bidding farewell to his uncle, Li Chengqian still stood in front of the gate of the Secretariat. This uncle who was loyal to the emperor would definitely tell his father what he had said today.

Inside the Secretariat, Chu Suiliang was busy. He needed to sort out all the monthly allowances for the teachers who would teach in the countryside this year, and he would probably be busy until late at night.

Li Chengqian said: "Minister Chu has worked hard. If you don't have time, you can take it home and work on it."

Chu Suiliang bowed and said, "Your Highness, you are worried too much. I can finish my work."

"In that case, I feel relieved." Li Chengqian smiled gently and left the Secretariat only after his two younger brothers came closer.

"Brother, I beat up Zhang Jianzhi again today."

Li Shen said: "You can't beat someone up every day."

"The kid from General Cheng's family can also be beaten..." Halfway through, Li Zhi's voice came again, "Hey, why did the emperor hit me?"

"Ouch, hit me again!"

……

The voices were getting farther and farther away. Chu Suiliang wiped the sweat off his face, sorted out the rosters and files in the gradually dimming Secretariat, put them away, closed the door, and left in a hurry.

Today, there are a lot of wild vegetables in the East Palace. It is the best time for wild vegetables in Guanzhong to grow. Xiaofu also stewed soup with noodles and wild vegetables.

Dinner was mainly vegetarian, and the only dish with meat was minced meat fried with wild vegetables.

Gao Yang ate the scallion oil fried eggs, but he didn't have much appetite. It was too plain and not as good as the eggs fried in mutton oil.

Seeing her brother and sister's bitter faces, Li Lizhi said, "As long as there is a season to eat wild vegetables, you are not allowed to be picky about what you eat."

Xiaofu smiled and said, "These are all wild vegetables that Her Royal Highness the Princess and I personally picked. We were busy all day."

Li Zhi took the chopsticks and listlessly put the food into his mouth. Fortunately, he had eaten some meat outside. He whispered, "Didn't I pick too much?"

"What did you say?"

His sister suddenly said something, and Li Zhi quickly shrank his neck and kept putting food into his mouth.

Li Yuan was eating noodle dumpling soup with a smile on his face.

After dinner, Li Chengqian looked at the bright moon in the sky, hung a small fluorescent stone on the fishing line, and went to Taiye Lake to fish.

It was a perfect night, the full moon was very bright today, and Ning'er walked to the side of the prince holding a lantern.

As they walked along, Li Chengqian asked, "Have they tried on all the clothes that the Queen Mother sent?"

Ning Er said, "It fits me perfectly. The Queen also sent some cotton quilts. Princess Gaoyang and Princess Qinghe both like them very much. All quilts in the harem can be made of cotton."

"Cotton is good, but when you stir it, you must prevent dust."

Ning Er whispered, "Don't worry, Your Highness. They all work with masks on in the eunuch workshop."

The Taiye Lake was even quieter at night. Without his brothers and sisters to disturb him, Li Chengqian threw the fishing line into the water, and the fluorescent stone floated on the water surface together with the buoy.

From a distance, you can see a lantern lit by the dim Taiye Lake.

Li Shimin was walking by the Taiye Lake when he saw a light in the distance.

The old eunuch explained: "That's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince fishing."

Li Shimin nodded and said, "This kid is busy all day and can only go fishing during his free time at night."

The old eunuch bowed and smiled, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is diligent in government affairs, and the officials in the court are all praising him. The Crown Prince likes fishing and does it day and night."

Li Shimin took a closer look at his son who was fishing by the Taiye Lake, then returned to the palace.

(End of this chapter)