The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 254 Jingzhao Prefecture Articles

Sambuza looked at the prince's back, and when he glanced sideways he saw Li Baiyao, who had an expressionless face.

"Emissary, does Songtsen Gampo have anything else to say?"

Sambuza said, “Everything that needs to be said has been said in the main hall.”

Li Baiyao still held the tablet in one hand and stroked his beard with the other. Then he ignored the messenger and quickly walked down the steps of the Taiji Hall.

Standing alone in front of the main hall, Sambuza saw Tang officials leaving in groups of two or three. He looked around but could not find the Crown Prince.

He had no choice but to leave the imperial city alone and wait for the Tang people's decision.

In the Secretariat, everyone was arguing in the main hall. Now that the morning court session was over, everyone gathered here and was still arguing.

Li Chengqian was sitting in the Secretariat, picking up a file beside him, with noisy officials in front of him.

Chu Suiliang shouted: "How can Tubo have an army of 200,000?"

Zhang Xingcheng said: "At most 100,000 soldiers, and at most 40,000 soldiers that can fight."

Cen Wenben, who had always been relatively calm, slammed the table angrily and said, "This is too much bullying. We must teach the Tibetans a lesson. We must win this battle."

"Fight!" Duan Zan said loudly, "Withdraw the troops from Anxi Protectorate and join forces with Songzhou to attack Tubo."

……

From their words, we can hear the stance of the majority, that this battle must be fought, and Songtsen Gampo should deploy 200,000 troops on the border and then come to ask for the princess' hand in marriage.

So this battle must be fought.

The court officials, who were usually tough, had already been ignited with anger.

Li Chengqian wanted to find someone to pass the document over, but he saw several people still spitting.

I originally wanted to settle today's political affairs in the Secretariat, but I'm afraid I won't be able to get anything done in the next hour or two.

After putting down the documents in his hand, Li Chengqian walked out of the Secretariat and sat down on the steps in front of the door. It was still quite cool at this time.

Especially when sitting in the shadow of the eaves of the steps, the cool breeze here feels more comfortable on your body.

After the Grain Rain season in Guanzhong, it was the busy farming season. Li Chengqian took out a bun from his sleeve and ate it quietly.

Some guards passed by and saw the prince sitting alone eating buns, and they all bowed to him.

Seeing the prince smiling at them again, the guards lowered their posture, saluted and continued their patrol.

After finishing the meat buns, Li Chengqian took out the pottery kettle from his waist and took a sip of the still warm tea.

"His Royal Highness."

Suddenly, a voice came from behind. Turning back, he saw that it was Du Zhenglun. Li Chengqian asked, "What's wrong?"

Du Zhenglun smiled and said, "Seeing Your Highness sitting alone, is there something on your mind?"

Li Chengqian raised his head and looked towards the Secretariat where people were still arguing.

Du Zhenglun understood and smiled again.

"Can you please stop smiling so hypocritically? The young talents of the Du family in Jingzhao Prefecture should be more upright."

Du Zhenglun stood aside, rubbed his face, put away his smile and said, "I'm used to it."

Li Chengqian continued to pour tea into his mouth.

Du Zhenglun said: "The current Jingzhao Du family is no longer what it used to be. After my uncle passed away, His Majesty gave Jingzhao Du family many preferential treatments. If there is a successor, things will probably be better in the future."

The Du Ruhui he was talking about seemed to be still complaining about the current Du He not living up to his expectations.

In terms of personal achievements, Du He is a very promising young man and his business model is the most avant-garde.

In fact, as the crown prince, he did not give much advice to Du He. If he did give any guidance, it was only a few secret recipes.

The rest of the business was figured out by him on his own.

If Du He really doesn't live up to his expectations, he won't be able to keep the secret recipe and family business.

Du Zhenglun took out a note from his sleeve and handed it over.

Li Chengqian asked suspiciously: "What is this?"

"A letter from the Bohai nobles."

Li Chengqian took the note, opened it and saw a sentence written on it.

Du Zhenglun said: "They say that the emperor is like a bamboo. Although he stands there for a long time, he is still the tallest."

Li Chengqian looked at the words on the note in silence.

Du Zhenglun sat down at a side, keeping some distance from the prince, rolled up his sleeves and stretched out his arms, and asked, "What does the tallest bamboo look like?"

He waved his arms left and right and said, "The wind is the mouthpiece of the officials in the court and the local nobles. The bamboo will lean to the direction where the wind blows. The bamboo will lean to the side where the wind is stronger."

This short sentence on this piece of paper fully reveals the aristocratic families' understanding of the emperor.

These old and corrupt families have always used the same way of thinking to judge an emperor.

So, there must be a reason why Monkey King could cause so much havoc in Heaven.

Li Chengqian handed him the paper and asked, "Can you help father check them?"

"I have a close friend among the Bohai nobles. Compared to the information obtained by the court, I know more."

Du Zhenglun worked for his father, the emperor. A palace censor was considered a high-ranking official.

The officials under the Eastern Palace have become a force that cannot be ignored in the court, but there is a lack of people like Du Zhenglun.

Talent is scarce in every era.

Li Chengqian stood up and didn't want to continue talking to this stubborn person.

Du Zhenglun stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, are you not going to take care of government affairs today?"

Li Chengqian whispered, "It's okay. I'll work overtime alone."

Du Zhenglun caught up with him and said, “Your Highness, it is very likely that Lu Yuan was killed by someone.”

Li Chengqian kept walking while Du Zhenglun was talking. He left the Secretariat and went to the Ministry of Households first. He saw the Crown Prince coming down and Xu Xiaode personally came to greet him.

The craftsmen here have become familiar with the use of vernier calipers, which is a great improvement.

If you want to do your work well, you must first sharpen your tools. In the future, the Ministry of Industry can continue to develop manufacturing technology for more sophisticated objects.

Afterwards, Xu Xiaode and a group of officials from the Ministry of Works were sent to Zhuque Street to check on the repair of the canal.

Under Yan Liben's personal supervision, the construction of the ditch has reached the final stage.

Several markets in Chang'an city are still under construction. It looks like they can be completed before this year's rainy season, and these ditches will then be put to use.

In the afternoon, Li Chengqian was in the East Palace looking at the reports from the counties in Guanzhong and the transportation of grain and grass this year. There were 50,000 soldiers and horses stationed in Songzhou at present, and 200,000 stones of grain and grass.

Zhang Shigui went to the Western Regions to build the Anxi Protectorate and took away another 100,000 shi of grain and fodder.

Li Chengqian looked at the map and whispered, "Finally, there is some pressure."

Li Lizhi walked to her brother's side and said, "Qinghe and Runan like calligraphy, and Gaoyang said yesterday that he wanted to learn painting, and today he wants to learn mathematics."

"They are at the best age to learn knowledge. They need to try slowly what they are best at, and it doesn't hurt to try a few more times."

Noticing that her brother was looking at a map of Songzhou, Li Li asked, "I heard that Songtsen Gampo sent an envoy to ask for the princess' hand in marriage from you, father?"

Ning'er brought the food. Li Chengqian put the map aside and took the bowl and chopsticks.

In fact, Ning'er is a very capable woman. Her knowledge and insights are no less than Li Zhi's, but she doesn't talk about state affairs.

Ning'er is also a female official in charge of the Eastern Palace who knows her position very clearly.

Li Chengqian was eating pork belly stewed with pickled mustard greens. Du He's pig farm was still not big enough, and the Eastern Palace rarely had the chance to eat pork.

The development of the breeding industry in the Tang Dynasty was far from as smooth as imagined. Today, Guanzhong is still dominated by a free-range model of raising sheep, chickens and ducks.

Pork can only be said to be a kind of food used to change the appetite. Moreover, the number of people who eat pork is still small, and living habits determine the production rules.

Li Chengqian did not want to break this status quo. The current Tang Dynasty was still a weak peasant economy, or it was transforming into a small workshop model dominated by workshops.

Li Zhi and Li Shen came in panic, saying, "Brother, sister! Something happened."

Li Lizhi was sitting beside her eating and asked, "What happened?"

"The emperor ordered Niu Jinda to be the commander-in-chief of the Kuoshui Road, and General Liu Lan, the right commander, to be the commander-in-chief of the Taohe Road, and to lead 30,000 troops to attack Tubo."

In May of the 12th year of Zhenguan, the emperor issued two edicts to accept Songtsen Gampo's challenge.

The rising Tubo encountered the booming Tang Empire.

The two sides are bound to compete to see whether the Tibetans are stronger or the Tang people are more brave.

When Li Lizhi heard her brother's words, she put down her bowl and chopsticks and said, "Then my sisters probably don't need to get married."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Don't worry, my brother is here."

Ning Er smiled and said, "Now the people of the world have all submitted to your majesty, and your majesty is at the peak of his power. Your troops are brave and you conquered Gaochang last year. Your military is at its peak."

Knowing that these words were meant to comfort her, it would be fine if her younger siblings were comforted. However, as the eldest sister, Li Lizhi had to face the reality. Before her father gave the order, it was still unclear whether she would marry into the royal family.

Li Chengqian looked at his two younger brothers and asked, "Do you want to marry the sisters of the Eastern Palace?"

Li Zhi and Li Shen didn't think much about it and kept shaking their heads.

"That's good. If we unite as a family, we won't be influenced by outsiders."

Li Zhi nodded heavily and said, "If anyone dares to talk about marriage with Tubo again, I will beat him up."

On the third day after the emperor issued the decree, the Wei Palace began to mobilize troops, and an article was sent out from Jingzhao Prefecture.

"Guanzhong has emerged from drought and drought, but its development cannot be separated from the villagers of each county. We are looking forward to the blooming of the Baili River, the return of spring to the trees, and the herds of working horses. Now we are moving towards a bright future where everyone can afford to eat a bite of grapes."

"This is our home. Jingzhao Prefecture has been based in Guanzhong for four years. During these four years, Jingzhao Prefecture has always adhered to the concept of benefiting Guanzhong and achieving common prosperity with all counties, and implemented every government order. We opened Chongwen Hall, built river embankments, established branch schools, and went to rural counties."

"Someone is going to attack our homeland. We will not give up an inch of the Tang territory. The Tang generals are guarding the border. At this time, the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo and the Tibetan Prime Minister Lu Dongzan are leading an army of 200,000 to the Songzhou border. The eleven counties of Songzhou are in danger. How can we sit idly by? Jingzhao Prefecture and the counties in Guanzhong will provide 30,000 stones of grain to support the border. May the Tang Dynasty win forever."

Three days later, an article circulated among the people in Chang'an City.

Like a stone that caused a thousand ripples, the people of Chang'an were furious, and the shouting and cursing of the Tibetans was endless.

General Liu Lan of the Left Army has recruited 30,000 soldiers for this expedition and is preparing to go to Songzhou.

But now, at the gate one mile outside Chang'an City, there are many men who have signed up to go to the battlefield.

It would have been fine if this article had not come out. Once it came out... not to mention Chang'an City, all the counties in Guanzhong were in an uproar.

Liu Lan stood on the table and shouted to the crowd of villagers outside the gate: "That's enough! We have enough manpower, we don't need you anymore."

The soldiers formed a human wall outside the gate to block the villagers who were about to rush in.

Liu Lan shouted, "Damn it! Grandpa blocked it. Are all these people going to drown me?"

Not far from the camp, Wei Chang was watching this scene with a smile. Next to him was a man in his early twenties, who was a newly recruited subordinate of the Outlaws.

"Why doesn't Brother Wei go?" asked the short and thin boy.

"With so many people going, one person from a certain family won't be enough." Wei Chang turned to look at him and asked, "What did you do before?"

He said, "The boy used to be a thief."

"Good." Wei Chang nodded and said, "What a flying thief."

Hearing the compliment, he scratched his head and smiled innocently, "After being caught by the Dali Temple, I was sentenced to three years of corvée labor. Now I am no longer a thief."

Wei Chang put his hand on his shoulder and said, "I need you to do something."

"Brother Wei, please speak frankly. Jingzhao Prefecture Xu Shaoyin asked me to work with you, and I am willing to obey your orders in the future."

Wei Chang instructed: "You go to the Hexi Corridor now and hand it over to Li Zhen, the commander of the Hedao Zhechongfu. He will give you a scroll of letters, and General Li will arrange the rest."

"Here." The thief blew a whistle, and a skinny horse came over. He jumped on the horse and left.

Today, Wei Chang is a close confidant of Jingzhao Prefecture, with three hundred bad guys under his command. He thinks that he is no longer the same as before. Although he has no chance to make military achievements and his life is not as decent as those in Chang'an City, he is at least more comfortable.

Not long after the child was born, Wei Chang had to go back to take care of the mother and daughter.

Recently, Sambuza was staying in the inn and was covering the bruise on the side of his face with a cloth soaked in cold water.

He added: "Barbaric Tang people."

He muttered to himself that it was because he was always beaten when he went out these past two days. The beaters were very cunning and would run away after beating him.

Seeing that Tian Khan had ordered a general named Liu Lan to lead troops to Songzhou, Sangbuza was unable to even send a letter.

Just as I was thinking depressedly, I saw the door of the room was pushed open.

The person who came was none other than the Minister of Rites Li Baiyao. He did not enter the room, but stood outside the door and said coldly: "I heard that the envoy was attacked, and the Jingzhao Prefecture ordered me to come and take a look."

Sambuza still covered his face with a cloth, and said with bruised eyes, "Please arrest the murderer."

Li Baiyao said calmly, "I'm already looking for it."

Whenever Sambuza showed any expression, his face twitched in pain.

Li Baiyao then warned, "The residents of Chang'an have been very unfriendly to the Tibetans recently, so stay out of the house."

Sambuza bowed his head slightly and said, "Thank you for your care."

Li Baiyao was about to leave. Hearing the noise in the post house, he said, "There are some things I haven't told you. Don't go out too much to avoid being beaten to death. Stay alive and wait until the battle of Songzhou is over. Then you can negotiate with us."

(End of this chapter)