The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 295 That Kind of People
Facing his uncle and the emperor's uncle, Prime Minister Fang said a lot of things, and Li Chengqian also heard a lot.

My uncle said that there was some wasteland that could have been used for farming, but the Jingzhao Prefecture used it to build workshops.

Now Jingzhao Prefecture has not yet started to occupy arable land, but they have begun to occupy land that can become arable land in the future.

So who does the land occupied by Jingzhao Prefecture belong to now? Jingzhao Prefecture will benefit from the future land tax. The future population will lose their allocation of land. Even after the prefectural army returns from the Western Expedition, how will the land be divided?

The Prince of Jiangxia said that Jingzhao Prefecture had been developing in accordance with the regulations of the court. If it were always constrained and restricted by the court, the development of Guanzhong would inevitably slow down.

We also had to take the feelings of the court officials into consideration, so the original three-year plan would have to be delayed to ten years.

The cotton and linen workshop was cut in half before it even got off the ground, which was an enormous loss.

What Li Xiaogong talked about were all internal affairs of the royal family, so just listen to it.

Li Chengqian was eating wontons while listening to their stories. He listened but paid no attention to them and just forgot about them.

After finishing his wontons, Li Chengqian stood up and said, "Let's go to the morning court. Today's court meeting will surely be very lively."

They stopped talking and walked towards the Tai Chi Hall together.

Before the court session started, there were already quite a few people standing in the court. Officials above the fifth rank even stood all the way outside the Taiji Hall. This was Shangguan Yi's first time attending court, and it was obvious that he was very nervous.

When Li Chengqian, his uncle and Fang Xiang arrived at the Taiji Hall, everyone was already there.

Seeing a group of messengers in strange costumes standing outside the hall, Li Chengqian saw Lu Dongzan again.

The other party saluted and said, "Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian stopped and said with a smile: "The Prime Minister is still the envoy of Tubo. I thought Songtsen Gampo would send someone else."

Lu Dong praised: "The foreign minister is the prime minister of Tubo. The foreign minister has always been the envoy of Tubo in Chang'an."

"I heard that you wanted to serve in Jingzhao Prefecture, but were rejected by Xu Jingzong." Li Chengqian stopped in front of the Taiji Hall, facing the empty throne, and said to him with his hands in his pockets.

Seeing that he lowered his head, Li Chengqian continued, "After that, you went to the streets of Jingzhao Prefecture to listen to lectures every day, and even took notes while listening."

Lu Dongzan said: "If Your Highness does not agree, I will not do this in the future."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "It's OK. Chongwen Hall will prove that our Tang people's governance philosophy is better than your Tibetan people's, and the herdsmen far away in Tibet will know it."

Seeing the prince walk into the Taiji Hall, Lu Dongzan wanted to say something else but swallowed it back. Qinghai has opened the Chongwen Hall and has been absorbing the population south of Qinghai.

In other words, why bother?
"Congratulations, brother."

"Qingque, how are you doing lately?"

Li Tai replied: "I am still sorting out the compilation of the Comprehensive Geography. Everything is going well recently."

After the eunuch shouted loudly, the hall finally quieted down. The emperor walked step by step into the Taiji Hall and sat on the throne. After all the ministers paid their respects, the morning court began.

Li Chengqian, as usual, listened to the ministers reporting various matters to the emperor one by one.

Judging from the treasures presented by envoys from various countries, the imperial system of the Zhenguan period once again reached its peak after the Battle of Tianshan. Envoys from various countries presented their utmost sincerity to this powerful empire.

The foundation of Li Tang became more solid, and the ruling power of the imperial system was also demonstrated.

My father’s power and prestige once again reached the pinnacle of his life.

Li Chengqian glanced sideways at his father, who was sitting as the emperor at the moment. His father was at the peak of his life. He had a grandson in his prime and pacified the Tianshan Mountains.

Today, my father's imperial system has completed most of its structure, and the centralization of power under the system of three provinces and six ministries has been further strengthened.

Subsequently, the emperor's decree was issued, which roughly meant that the Tang Dynasty would focus on civil governance, adhere to an agricultural-based system, strengthen the official selection system, especially in the imperial examination system, and externally, intimidate the four directions and stabilize the borders.

He once again said things like the people depend on the country, and the country depends on the people.

It tells the reasons for the demise of the previous dynasty, and serves as a warning to the people, hoping that the court will be united and not suspicious of each other.

Generally speaking, all these can be attributed to one phenomenon.

Li Chengqian thought to himself that this phenomenon and the various decrees and policies in the court today were what history books called the Zhenguan Reign.

This is the most intuitive impression. Now the Zhenguan Administration is heading towards its most prosperous path.

If you draw a picture on a graph, it would be an upward curve.

After the envoys from various countries came to the audience, my uncle stood up from the court and talked about what he had said in the East Palace in the morning, and thus started arguing with Duke Zheng again.

The envoys from various countries outside the hall were still standing respectfully, listening to Zheng Gong's loud words inside the hall.

At this moment, Lu Dongzan vaguely understood something in his heart. Looking at the civil and military officials in the Taiji Hall, Tian Khan still had capable and battle-hardened generals in his hands. These people were selected from the war in the late Sui Dynasty.

But Tubo did not have so many capable people, nor did it have young successors like Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, Zhangsun Wuji, or the capable ministers behind them, such as Zhang Xingcheng, Cen Benwen, Yu Zhining, and Chu Suiliang.

There is also a younger generation, those people... Lu Dongzan knew them all, including Xu Jingzong, Shangguan Yi, Yan Qinli, and Xue Rengui, whose fame spread throughout Chang'an before he even returned from Tianshan.

The Tang Dynasty, with its many strong men, is extremely enviable.

Duke Zheng said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty! What Duke Zhao said is that we should rest and recuperate, but people cannot always be at ease. When Guanzhong gets used to ease, gets used to the natural maturity of grain, gets used to the unique advantages of nature, people will lose their courage."

"Just as without Suiren making fire, people would not be able to cook food, and people who eat raw meat and drink blood would not live long. Just as without Dayu controlling floods, people would lose everything in floods again and again. Without Shennong, there would be no Baicao Jing today."

The voice resounded in the hall, and Duke Zheng continued, "It will not be like this now. People can rest and recuperate, but they cannot be complacent. I still advise Your Majesty not to be arrogant, not to indulge desires, not to enjoy pleasure to the extreme, and not to be satisfied."

Regarding these words, Li Chengqian felt that on the issue of construction or recuperation, his uncle and Duke Zheng lacked a disclaimer, and it was enough to just say that it was none of his business if anything went wrong.

But this is the main hall, and the disclaimer is of no use to the emperor.

When the court was dismissed, many people in the court were still discussing the debate in the hall.

"The debate in the palace today concerns Jingzhao Prefecture. Qingque saw that my brother didn't seem to care?"

Li Chengqian said: "It is inevitable to have arguments. For some things, the sooner you argue about them, the better. This is not a bad thing."

Li Tai asked doubtfully, "Is your Royal Brother happy to see this happen?"

"Before the start of the dynasty, I went to see Taoist Li. Taoist Li said that even if he argued with reason, there would still be people who would refute him, because no one has ever seen the truth of this world, and no one has ever seen the true face of this world."

Li Chengqian looked up at the blue sky, and heard the footsteps of the officials leaving. He said, "Unless someone can stand above the sky and see the whole picture of the earth."

"Otherwise, this debate will continue for a long time. Perhaps many years later, it will become a doctrine that people study and explore, just like the Hundred Schools of Thought, such as the Huang-Lao School."

Li Tai said: "Sometimes, Qingque admires my brother's state of mind."

Li Chengqian said: "Because no one knows what the future will be like, so let everyone do their best and produce results to convince the public."

"But Brother Wu Wang said that land annexation is a terrible thing. Building a workshop would be better."

"It's always good to have more choices." Li Chengqian asked again: "Let's go to the East Palace for dinner?" "There are still many important things to do in the Literature Museum, Qingque dare not delay."

Li Tai bowed slightly and left quickly.

Li Chengqian looked at him suspiciously. He always felt that his younger brother had not lost any weight at all. He wondered if he was really trying to lose weight.

In today's debate in the main hall, Duke Zheng brought up Suiren, Dayu, and Shennong, and won the argument over his uncle.

When Duke Zheng finished speaking, it was obvious that my uncle was dissatisfied, but it was only limited to Duke Zheng.
My uncle would submit to Duke Zheng, but if it were someone else in the hall at that time, my uncle would not give up so easily.

When they returned to the East Palace, the younger brothers and sisters were eating around the cradle. They almost surrounded little Yu Tu and watched the little guy while eating.

Even until he was taken away by his queen mother, they felt reluctant to let him go as they had not seen enough.

Li Lizhi asked, "Why are you staring at Xiao Yutu? Just enjoy your meal."

Then everyone dispersed and sat back to eat.

As soon as Li Chengqian sat down, a eunuch hurried over and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, His Majesty has summoned you."

"Father, can't you eat?"

"Your Highness, His Majesty has already eaten the food sent by the East Palace."

"What's the matter?"

Although he knew that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had always been like this, the eunuch still said with embarrassment: "Your Majesty is looking at the files of the workshops in Guanzhong, and I have something to ask Your Highness."

"I have an appointment with the craftsmen of the Ministry of Finance in advance. I will go there in the afternoon."

After saying this, Li Chengqian glanced at his younger brother and sister and said, "Lizhi, you and Qinghe are going to see the emperor. Most likely you have something to ask."

"it is good."

Qinghe also nodded, chewing his food, his eyes bright, and blinked in surprise, then nodded and said, "Yeah."

After dinner, Li Chengqian sat in the back hall, lying on a recliner, planning to take a nap.

I held my son to my side and closed my eyes, planning to take a nap.

Little Yutu's limbs were still somewhat out of control, so he lay on his father's abdomen and closed his eyes in the sunlight.

Su Wan, who had just given birth to a child, still needed some time to recover. She couldn't help but smile when she saw her husband and child.

Ning'er also looked up and saw little Yu Tu lying on his father's belly. Both father and son had one hand hanging by their side and the other on their stomach.

"How come this father and son even have the same sleeping position?" Empress Changsun laughed in surprise when she saw this scene.

When he woke up, Li Chengqian saw that the child who was supposed to be lying in his arms was already in the cradle beside him, still sleeping soundly.

He perked up and took the towel Ning'er handed over.

I wiped my face vigorously with the warm cloth and felt much more refreshed.

Next to them were the Queen Mother and Su Wan. They were still preparing new clothes to wear in the spring, and the Queen Mother was teaching them how to sew.

Inside the Ganlu Palace, Li Shimin was listening to Prime Minister Fang's story, which was all about what needed to be done in the court this year.

Li Shimin frowned and flipped through the files, then asked, "Has the population of the counties in Guanzhong increased so much?"

Fang Xuanling replied: "The workshops in each county can accommodate more people. When it comes to population, Jingzhao Prefecture is like a glutton and will never be satisfied."

"Well, has Xu Jingzong been arguing a lot with the auxiliary machine recently?"

Fang Xuanling, who was sitting nearby, nodded and said, "There are indeed many, but they are all restrained. It's just that Xu Jingzong is usually quite reckless."

"You are Cheng Qian's teacher. I feel more at ease if you take charge of some things."

"I accept your order."

Li Lizhi brought Qinghe into Ganlu Palace and happened to hear the conversation between her father and Prime Minister Fang, so she stood aside and did not disturb them.

Fang Xuanling bowed slightly to the two princesses.

Li Shimin looked up and saw his two daughters, and asked, "Is Cheng Qian very busy?"

"Replying to Father, my brother said he wanted to go to the Shaofu Supervisor."

"This was sent by Jingzhao Prefecture. Take a look."

Li Lizhi took it and looked at it, then replied: "This outline for poverty alleviation... My daughter has read it before, and many of the annotations to Jingzhao Prefecture were written by my daughter."

"Oh?" Fang Xuanling was very surprised.

Li Shimin snorted coldly, his expression still stern, but he resisted the temptation to raise the corners of his mouth, and said, "Tell me what you want to say."

Li Lizhi replied: "In the past, there were roughly 100,000 extremely poor households, 80,000 tenant farmers, and 10,000 refugees in the twelve counties of Chang'an."

Fang Xuanling asked again: "What about now?"

"There are probably less than 3,000 extremely poor households now, and the first to be affected is Jingyang, which was the first to start. After grapes were planted, the counties in northern Wei shared the grape fields, and then things got better. In addition to farming, tenants can work in workshops in their spare time."

"My brother is also very dissatisfied with the number of extremely poor households, so he asked the officials of Jingzhao Prefecture to go around the counties to persuade them. Guanzhong has been operating for six years, and many improvements have been made in these six years."

"When the basic agricultural system began to shift to workshops, their individual wealth grew faster than farming in the past, so individuals had more choices."

"My brother went to the Imperial Household to learn production technology. When production technology reaches a certain level, perhaps in a few years a new class will emerge in Guanzhong. To use my brother's words, in other words, a new type of people will emerge, called workers."

Fang Xuanling nodded with satisfaction, "Thank you, Princess, for clearing up this old minister's confusion."

Li Shimin still had a stern face, but his brows relaxed a little. He looked at his 19-year-old daughter and asked, "I heard from your mother that you are not in a hurry to get married, and Cheng Qian spoils you, but what are your plans for the future?"

"My daughter wants to write a book and establish a theory."

Fang Xuanling hesitated and asked, "Theory?"

Li Lizhi took two steps with her hands behind her back and said, "Humans are very fragile. A person can live for fifty or sixty years. People like grandpa are considered to have a long life. Generation after generation will die, and generation after generation will come. What can be passed down to the world are usually books and knowledge."

"Please forgive my daughter for being arrogant, but this is a career that she can work hard for her whole life. She wants to become an outstanding person."

In her words, Li Lizhi revealed a somewhat strong aura.

Fang Xuanling stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty has such a daughter. I congratulate Your Majesty and the country."

(End of this chapter)