The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 291: Rest but No Rest

As expected, the Tang army killed nearly 100,000 enemies in Tianshan this time. The battle lasted from autumn to winter.

Listening to the conversation between my father and Duke Ying, Xue Rengui subdued a group of soldiers with just a roar and a single arrow. It was truly amazing.

For the stability of a dynasty and for productivity, every loss of a group of people is painful, and it will take nearly ten or twenty years to recover.

But there was nothing that could be done about it. The cost of the Tang army's expedition was very high, and they would not be worthy of going on an expedition if they did not destroy several countries each time.

The last time we went to war, Gaochang was lost. The time before that, Tuyuhun was lost. This time, Yanqi and Qiuci were destroyed. Now, Tianshan is also gone.

If Tibet had not been located on a plateau, their family might have been wiped out.

If this continues, the Tang army will either not go out to fight, or go out to destroy the country.

This is the deterrent power created by powerful strength, and the justification for the expedition to attack Yugushe. Yugushe had once colluded with the King of Gaochang to bring disaster to the Western Regions, cutting off the trade routes and even preventing the countries in the Western Regions from paying tribute to the Tang Dynasty.

Li Chengqian said: "Father, I think that Yu Gushe's actions in the past have endangered the country of the Tang Dynasty and the peaceful and happy living environment of the subjects of the Western Regions. We should make it known to the world and expose his crimes."

Li Ji bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I second the proposal. We should announce it to the world to maintain long-term peace and stability in the Western Regions, so that the people of the Western Regions can live and work in peace and contentment."

There was silence in the Guande Hall for a moment, and Li Chengqian said again: "Father, how should we prepare for post-war construction?"

Li Shimin asked, "Didn't you build Chongwen Hall in Xizhou and Tingzhou?"

Li Ji also said: "Your Highness, after taking over the Ili River, Guo Luotuo led the people from Chongwenguan into the Ili River and is persuading the tribes to surrender."

Seeing that his father was about to speak again, Li Chengqian asked, "Father, do you want to ask who should be made the next Khan of Western Turks?"

Li Shimin thought for a moment, closed his eyes and said, "I have no such plan yet."

"I want to build Chongwen Halls in various places and lakes in Western Turkestan."

"That's your business, don't tell me."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly. His father seemed to be intending to leave the future construction matters to him, so there was no need to say more.

Guande Hall is the largest hall in the Western Garden of the Imperial Palace. When it was built, it had to be simple and not too complicated. It could not be renovated like a maze. Of course, the style of the palace is still based on the current dynasty palace style.

After all, the construction norms of the dynasty are all related to the ritual system.

Li Chengqian whispered, "Father, I want to promote someone."

"It's rare that you would take the initiative to help."

"How about bringing Shangguan Yi to the Imperial Censorate?"

Last time, this son stuffed Xu Xiaode into the Ministry of Works, and he has been in charge of all construction projects of the Ministry of Works ever since.

It was just a matter of sending one person to the Censorate, and Shangguan Yi's words, deeds and abilities were acceptable. Although he was close to Xu Jingzong, he was an upright person.

Li Shimin nodded and said, "Let the Ministry of Personnel arrange it."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Thank you, Father."

There are only a few people under the command of this son in the Eastern Palace. In terms of their ability to do things, people like Xu Jingzong, Yan Qinli, and Zhang Da'an are all quite valuable.

Just like Chu Suiliang, Cen Wenben, Zhang Xingcheng and other officials from Xu Jingzong's faction in the court, they would not necessarily be worse than Chu Suiliang and Cen Wenben if they stood in the court one day.

Li Shimin stroked his beard and said, "Two years ago you talked about the construction of Tianshan. Now Chongwen Hall has been built in Tingzhou. You will be in charge of the rest."

"My son, take your orders."

"You have to remember that it's easy to conquer a territory, but it's not so easy to govern a territory."

"I will take my leave now, as I remember your teachings."

After his son left the Guande Hall, Li Shimin drank his tea and said, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Maogong."

Li Ji said: "I dare not laugh at you, Your Highness has always been wise."

Li Shimin looked at the candlestick beside him and whispered, "If he wants to do too many things, he will run into a lot of trouble."

Li Ji stood aside and nodded, listening to His Majesty's words and thinking. In fact, the prince began to pay attention to the situation in Tianshan two years ago, whether it was the classics collected by the Literature Museum or the Western Regions people in the Sifang Museum.

Now His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is just about to go to Tianshan Mountain in person to take a look. It is said that he has drawn several maps of Tianshan Mountain, which are even more complete than those used by the army.

The news from the Ministry of Personnel arrived very quickly. Xu Jingzong would come to the Hongwenguan in his spare time. He was not surprised to hear that Shangguan Yi was working in the Menxia Province. He just happened to come to Shangguan Yi to ask for some files and heard that someone from the Ministry of Personnel had given Shangguan Yi a new official position.

In the blink of an eye, the man who had once served the prince with him became a censor of the Censorate.

If we talk about the most powerful person in the court today, it is the Censorate. Even after Shangguan Yi took office in the Censorate, he was able to supervise the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Shangguan Yi took the blue official uniform and saluted, saying, "I obey your command."

After the official from the Ministry of Personnel walked away, Xu Jingzong said, "Great, you are now the Imperial Censor. If anyone dares to bully Jingzhao Prefecture in the future, I hope Brother Shangguan will help you."

Shangguan Yi smiled and said, "Since I am working in the Censorate, I will definitely fulfill my duties conscientiously."

Xu Jingzong has heard the phrase "perform duties conscientiously" so many times recently that his ears are almost callused. This is the trend in the court now, that people must perform their duties conscientiously. It is already winter, and there are still many people working overtime in the Secretariat at night.

It snowed a little last night and it was still very cold this morning.

Xu Jingzong and Shangguan Yi left Hongwenguan and planned to go to the tavern they usually went to drink together.

Shangguan Yi said, "It's a pity that Brother Guo is not here."

Xu Jingzong nodded and said, "The military report was sent to Chang'an after the morning court today. Brother Guo is very safe in Tianshan now. Maybe he can even order the herdsmen in Tianshan to reclaim the land."

As they talked, the two sat down in a tavern.

The shop owner enthusiastically poured drinks for the two of them, served them dishes, and said, "These are freshly baked buns."

The method of baking steamed buns also came from the Eastern Palace. It first came from the Literary Institute. After Prince Li Tai of Wei ate baked steamed buns once, he asked people to learn how to make them.

After the people in the Institute of Literature learned it, people in the various markets in Chang'an also learned it.

Shangguan Yi said: "Now people have more dishes on their tables. Isn't this something worth celebrating?"

Xu Jingzong sighed: "Mutton is not valuable anymore. It is not as valuable as the green onions in Weinan."

Seeing Shangguan Yi was somewhat stunned, Xu Jingzong said helplessly: "I have been working in Jingzhao Prefecture for a long time, and I can't control my mouth anymore. Whenever I open my mouth, I talk about these things."

While drinking some wine and eating some toasted buns, Xu Jingzong could talk about current agricultural affairs in Guanzhong.

Old Xu, who is busy with construction in various counties all day, seems to be becoming more and more inseparable from Jingzhao Prefecture.

Shangguan Yi felt that letting Xu Jingzong serve in Jingzhao Prefecture for his entire life would be the best story.

"It's okay, Lao Xu, you can eat it. I will pay for today's meal." Shangguan Yi smiled and picked up a toasted bun and handed it to him.

Xu Jingzong broke the baked bun apart, tore off a corner of the dough, and put the dough into his mouth with the mutton juice.

Shangguan Yi added: "Actually, there is one more thing I want to tell you."

Xu Jingzong nodded slightly.

"My son was born, his name is Shangguan Tingzhi."

"Tingzhi..." Xu Jingzong nodded and said, "It's a good name."

In fact, among the three people, Guo Luotuo got married relatively late, and Shangguan Yi got married even later, only getting married last year and only now having a son.

Xu Jingzong had already married and was the oldest of the three. The two talked in a low voice, and Xu Jingzong knew in his heart that even if Shangguan Yi became the censor, he would not exclude dissidents for Jingzhao Prefecture.

He is an upright person. As a friend, it would be a lie to say that I am not envious.

Xu Jingzong didn't want to force this friend to do anything for Jingzhao Prefecture, even though they had never been the same kind of people before.

Previously, Xu Jingzong also wondered whether His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had forgotten about Shangguan Yi. This year, Shangguan Yi first went to the Menxia Province and then was transferred to the Censorate. He was promoted twice in a row in one year.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince seldom promotes anyone. The only time he promoted someone recently was to Zhang Daan, not to mention promoting him twice in a row.

Both of them are members of the Eastern Palace. It is naturally a good thing for officials under the Eastern Palace to rise higher and higher in the career.

While eating, I saw people arguing in the tavern.

The Shao Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture is sitting right here. How dare he cause trouble in Chang'an? He is truly blind.

Xu Jingzong did not reveal his identity, but called the store owner and asked, "What's wrong?"

The shopkeeper replied, "Replying to Xu Shaoyin, the one who was beaten was an envoy from Silla, named Jin Chunqiu. Recently, Goguryeo has repeatedly refused to return the remains of the former Sui soldiers to the Tang Dynasty. Those people thought the Silla envoy was from Goguryeo, saying that their accents were the same. People in the streets have long been unhappy with Goguryeo people, so they started fighting. It is really impossible to persuade them."

Xu Jingzong took out his badge and handed it to the shopkeeper, saying, "Go to Jingzhao Prefecture to get someone to take this Silla envoy to Jingzhao Prefecture."

"Here."

The shop owner hurried away holding the sign in both hands.

When the people from Jingzhao Prefecture arrived, the Silla envoy was taken away.

Seeing that he had lost interest in eating, Shangguan Yi paid the shop owner and left first.

In the afternoon, the Silla envoy was brought into Jingzhao Prefecture and listened to him explaining in unfamiliar Guanzhong dialect.

Xu Jingzong patted the table and asked, "The Silla envoy?"

The other party bowed and said, "Foreign minister Jin Chunqiu greets you, my superior."

As if feeling that his manners were not thoughtful enough, Jin Chunqiu lowered his posture even more.

Xu Jingzong understood and said, "It's rare for Silla to send an envoy."

Jin Chunqiu smiled and said, "I am here on the orders of the Queen of Silla to be an envoy to the Tang Dynasty. I wish to establish friendly relations with the Tang Dynasty."

Seeing this man's flattering smile, for some reason... Xu Jingzong felt nauseous. This man's smile was really flattering.

Xu Jingzong controlled his fist, and he felt an inexplicable urge in his heart to punch this person in the face to make his flattering smile disappear first.

Xu Jingzong asked, "Why did you fight in the market?"

Jin Chunqiu bowed deeply again and said, "The outsiders did not fight, they were the ones who beat the outsiders."

As he spoke, Jin Chunqiu handed over a silver cake, still with a flattering smile, and said, "I have heard that there is a very powerful person in Jingzhao Prefecture. Is it Xu Shaoyin?"

Xu Jingzong saw a palm-sized silver cake on the table, raised his head slightly and said, "Do you still want to bribe me?"

"I dare not, I just..."

“Is this the way you are in Silla?”

"No, no..."

Just as Jin Chunqiu was about to explain, Xu Jingzong waved his sleeves and ordered, "Take him to the prison and search his residence."

"Here!"

Li Zhi watched Jin Chunqiu being taken away, and the envoy was still chattering all the way.

Xu Jingzong asked in confusion: "Your Highness Prince Jin, why are you here?"

"Zhi has been here all the time."

"Your Highness, please feel free to do so. I have something important to do."

As night fell, Chang'an became colder. Li Chengqian was making a cradle for his unborn son. In fact, this kind of work could be handed over to the Ministry of Works, but it was more meaningful to make the cradle by oneself.

"Just think of it as a whim of mine, no need to say more."

Seeing that she couldn't persuade His Highness, Ning'er had no choice but to let His Highness be busy.

Li Lizhi came with the file and said, "Brother, it's too cold tonight. All the people from the Secretariat have gone back."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Well, let them go back early during the day off. After all, day off doesn't necessarily mean they can rest. Even if they are resting, they should be prepared to come back and work overtime at any time."

No wonder everyone in the court says that the Crown Prince is strict. Ever since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince turned twenty years old, the court has become increasingly busy.

"Zhi Nu, why are you looking for food as soon as you come back?"

Li Zhi, who had just returned, stopped again when his sister yelled at him.

Xiaofu poked his head out of the kitchen and said, "Your Highness Prince Jin, please wait a moment. You will be able to eat soon."

Seeing her brother sitting in the kitchen with a wronged look on his face, Li Lizhi asked, "Why? Xu Shaoyin won't give you food?"

Li Zhi shook his head and said, "My brother is always hungry easily."

Xiaofu placed bowls of dishes on the table, and then a large bowl of millet rice and some mutton buns. She shouted, "It's time to eat!"

The voice echoed in the East Palace, and a group of children ran to the front hall, found their seats and sat down, picking up their bowls and chopsticks as soon as possible.

Li Zhi put the food into his mouth and said, "Brother, Xu Shaoyin arrested someone today."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

"The Silla envoy was captured."

"Silla people?"

"They seem to be quite rich." Li Zhi asked, "Brother, are the people of Silla rich?"

Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Li Lizhi said, "After dinner, you two go to the Imperial Observatory and bring Mingda here."

Li Zhi and Li Shen nodded at the same time.

The two younger brothers’ appetites are getting bigger and bigger. They can eat two bowls of rice and a piece of pancake at one meal.

After dinner, Su Wan looked at the cradle that His Highness had just made, reached out and rocked it, and imagined what the baby would look like lying in the cradle after it was born.

Ning'er is knitting new clothes for her unborn baby. Everyone in the Eastern Palace is preparing for the birth of the child. After the child is born, he will have everything he needs.

Li Chengqian looked at the map. The powerful Tang Empire was going to reach its peak again and again. This empire was going to move from its current peak to another peak.

Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Lingnan, Li Chengqian circled these four locations.

Li Lizhi sat aside quietly reviewing memorials. When she heard a familiar voice outside the hall, she knew that Mingda had returned.

Little Sizi walked into the hall carrying a bowl of rice, intending to sit next to his brother and sister to eat.

(End of this chapter)