The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 326 Su Tan's Family Affairs
"Yeah." Li Shimin responded.

Li Chengqian continued, "Isn't it a huge expense for the Prince Jiang's Mansion to keep so many servants? But why didn't these eight thousand servants bankrupt the Prince Jiang's Mansion? Instead, why did they make him richer and richer?"

Li Shimin's expression became more solemn.

"That's because they are not servants in the real sense. They are hidden households. King Jiang has thousands of acres of land."

"The population fell into the hands of King Jiang, and the land was also annexed into his hands. The Ministry of Justice investigated for two months. Later, they checked the county records and found that the population of five counties was reduced by nearly 20,000. These people did not die, but their household registration was lost out of thin air. Why?"

Li Shimin clenched his fist and was trembling slightly.

Anyone would be angry that even family members are involved in the issues of land annexation and hidden households.

In fact, this is not the case. If a person changes his status through military merit or other reasons, developing farmland and annexing land will be considered the right thing to do. If you do not annex land, people will think that you are not considering the family and are not doing your job properly.

Li Chengqian added: "The root of the problem lies not only in the system, but also in the environment. Fortunately, the Tang Dynasty has only been established for more than 20 years. If it really reaches a point where it is difficult to reverse, it will be a real problem that cannot be solved."

Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "So, you are in such a hurry to investigate the whole country?"

"The Li family has the final say in this world. We must let everyone know that if we, father and son, don't have the final say, the Li Tang Dynasty will be destroyed."

Li Shimin snorted coldly: "Are you saying that I can't govern the country?"

"My son, I have absolutely no intention of doing this."

"Humph."

Li Chengqian picked up the tea bowl beside him, looked at the moon and took a sip of tea.

"Let's eat mooncakes." Li Lizhi came over with a bowl of mooncakes. She placed the freshly baked mooncakes on the table and said, "There are ones with red bean paste filling and ones with nuts filling..."

"Hmm..." She hesitated for a moment and said, "There are also mooncakes with mutton and green onion fillings. If you are not used to eating mutton fillings, give them all to Zhinu. Anyway, the mooncakes with mutton fillings are all made by him."

Li Ke ate one, which happened to be stuffed with mutton, and said, "It's quite delicious."

"Really?" Li Lizhi said with a smile, "Well, then we won't have to worry about Qingque not being able to finish it all by herself."

Li Ke chewed and nodded.

Li Lizhi is now the eldest sister in the family, and the Mid-Autumn Festival family dinner is hosted by her and her mother.

Li Shen was running with a lantern in his hand, and Xiao Yutu was chasing him from behind, laughing loudly. No one knew what he was laughing at.

When little Yutu fell down while running, he must have been hurt and started crying loudly.

His uncles and aunts gathered around him and coaxed him.

Finally, he stopped crying and making a fuss in Li Lizhi's arms, but there were still some tears in his eyes.

The Mid-Autumn family dinner ended only when the children were all sleepy.

Raising a son and a daughter is not a problem. There are so many brothers and sisters in the family who can take care of the two children. This also makes Donggong very worry-free. The children can eat and sleep with anyone.

Until the lakeside returned to silence, His Majesty and the Crown Prince were the only ones left in the pavilion. The father and son were fishing.

A lantern was placed by the lake, illuminating the figures of His Majesty and the Prince.

Some eunuchs thought that His Majesty and the Crown Prince had gone to rest, but when they turned around and saw the lanterns in the waterside pavilion, they saw His Majesty and the Crown Prince again, and they perked up again from their sleepy eyes.

Li Shimin caught a small fish, but it was too small, so he let it go. He put away his fishing rod and said, "I will not attend the morning court tomorrow."

"it is good."

After saying this, Li Chengqian also put away his fishing rod and left.

Late at night, Li Chengqian brought Su Wan and Ning'er back to the East Palace. His son and daughter stayed in the villa by the Taiye Lake. They were all asleep now. They had so much fun that they were reluctant to leave.

In the bedroom, Li Chengqian was closing his eyes and preparing to fall asleep.

Su Wan beside the pillow seemed to have something to say.

Li Chengqian opened his eyes slightly, glanced at his wife beside him, and asked, "What's wrong? Are you worried?"

Su Wan whispered, "Your Highness, don't worry about my family affairs."

Li Chengqian said: "I don't take it to heart."

Su Wan smiled with relief and said, "Actually, my father wants to resign."

"Why?"

"It's not that Your Highness treats me badly, but my father needs to go and settle the affairs of the clan. After I married into the Eastern Palace, some people thought that the Wugong Su family was rich, so some of the children in the clan were a bit domineering. My father went back to discipline them."

Li Chengqian said: "He is my father-in-law. If I leave now, people will inevitably think that the Eastern Palace is indifferent."

Before Su Wan could explain again, Li Chengqian said, "Give me a reason for your illness and go back to recuperate. You can keep your official position for the time being."

"Ah."

Su Wan nodded in response.

The next day, when all the officials came to Chengtian Gate to prepare for court, a eunuch said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty has ordered that you are not feeling well today and will not attend court for one day. If you have any matters to report, you can ask the Crown Prince."

After saying this, all the ministers dispersed.

When the crown prince did not mention investigating the affairs of the country and the officials did not advise him to do so, the matter was left as a tacit understanding between the monarch and his subjects, as if nothing had happened and nothing had been heard of.

As a subject, if you are involved in such matters, you will face the risk of being torn into pieces.

As for what the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace thinks, it seems unimportant.

In the morning, Li Chengqian met Su Tan early.

Outside the Secretary's Office, Su Tan bowed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian looked at him and said, "No need to be polite."

Su Tan bowed again and said, "I dare not be disrespectful."

"Wan'er told me everything about Wugong County."

"I am ashamed to have caused Your Highness to worry."

Li Chengqian walked with his father-in-law and said, "In fact, my father still attaches great importance to the nobles of Wugong County, but in the future, I also hope that our nobles in Guanzhong will have a new look."

Su Tan asked, "I understand your Highness's meaning. As long as your Highness gives orders, Wugong County will definitely help with all its strength."

With the marriage of the Eastern Palace and the Su Tan family, the status of Wugong County naturally improved.

Su Tan is a very honest person and knows when to advance and when to retreat.

Such people are very useful.

If you think about it carefully, this marriage was arranged by grandpa. He used gold sand to exchange for a marriage for his grandson. I have to say that grandpa had a sharp vision.

The family must stick together, and the Su clan of Wugong County must also advance and retreat together with the Eastern Palace.

Even if he, the crown prince, said he wanted to rebel, Su Tan would join the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace's rebel team without hesitation.

Li Chengqian said, "You will recover after you go back. You will retain your position as Secretary General. If you want to return to the court in the future, just let me know."

The prince was so generous that Su Tan dared not hold himself back. He quickly said, "I am willing to listen to your arrangements, Your Highness." Li Chengqian saw him out of the Suzaku Gate, and then went on to deal with today's government affairs.

After my father came back from his trip, he took care of state affairs for a few days and then began his vacation again.

Li Chengqian had no choice but to take on the responsibility and deal with various matters after the autumn. Like in previous years, he had to finish this year's state affairs before winter, and after winter he had to prepare for next year's affairs.

Su Tan did not go directly to Wugong County, but came to Chongwenguan first.

The head of Chongwenguan was not there at the moment, and there was no one else in the hall except a child of about twelve or thirteen who was looking through files.

Di Renjie looked up and saw the person coming. Seeing that the other person was wearing official uniform, he quickly saluted and said, "May I ask in person..."

"I am Su Tan, the Secretary General."

Hearing the name, Di Renjie thought for a moment and soon smiled.

The King of Jin had heard of the name Su Tan. After the prince got married, Su Tan became the father-in-law of the prince of the Eastern Palace.

"My dear Di Renjie, Master Yan is not here, do you have any explanation?"

"Really?" Su Tan was a little disappointed, but seeing that the boy was quite polite, he asked again: "I heard that Chongwenguan has more than 3,000 scholars, and there are thousands of teachers teaching there, but why is this place so desolate?"

Di Renjie replied, "Chongwenguan has always been like this. On weekdays, there are very few people sitting here. They are all walking around the counties. Some people will come back in the evening, and sometimes there is no one all day."

“It turns out they are all busy outside.”

Su Tan stroked his beard and looked around, then said, "I will wait here for a while."

There was no point in talking to a kid, so it would be better to ask Yan Qinli. Su Tan simply sat down.

The Chongwenguan became quiet again. Di Renjie sat down again and continued to look at the files.

A man walked in quickly, holding a file and said, "Young Master, this is a report from Luoyang Chongwenguan."

Di Renjie looked up and said, "Put it aside."

The man put the file down and left quickly.

Occasionally, three or two more people came. Seeing this, Su Tan asked curiously, "Do they all call you Little Master?"

Di Renjie replied: "It's all a joke."

Su Tan smiled and nodded again, thinking that the Chongwenguan under the Eastern Palace was truly full of talented people. A boy of twelve or thirteen years old could handle affairs so calmly.

Just by watching how he responds to people who occasionally walk into Chongwenguan, it is enough to see that this child is a good seedling. As long as he is well trained, he may be able to enter the six ministries in the future.

Looking at the situation in Chongwenguan, it seemed that no one took the initiative to teach him.

Such a smart kid should be left alone in the Secretariat, where he should be taught by someone.

"Is there no one to teach you?"

Di Renjie's eyes were still on the file. He replied, "It was Mr. Wen Yanbo who taught me before."

When Su Tan heard that it was Mr. Wen, a famous scholar renowned throughout the Central Plains, he perked up.

"It's just that he has passed away. Now Master Yan is teaching me, and Xu Shaoyin will come to give me some advice occasionally."

Su Tan asked tentatively, "If I want to govern the noble families in Wugong County, I wonder if the Chongwen Hall has any files to hand over to me."

Di Renjie looked up and thought for a moment, then stood up and walked to the bookshelf. He flipped through the labels on the books one by one, took five volumes, held them in his arms, and placed them on the other person's desk.

Then he sat down again and continued looking at the files.

Su Tan picked up one of the volumes with doubt and looked at it carefully. The volume explained the importance of the development of the gentry and the popularization of the foundation.

This is probably the main point that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince hopes that the gentry in Wugong County can change.

Before he knew it, it was almost evening, and Su Tan hadn't seen anyone else coming to Chongwenguan. He stood up and said, "These books..."

“You can take it away.”

"This……"

Di Renjie explained: "The Chongwenguan has all the copies, and these are also the experiences of the masters who traveled around the counties on weekdays."

"Okay, I'll take it back and have someone copy it and return it to you."

Di Renjie smiled and nodded.

The Chongwenguan under the Eastern Palace was once famous throughout Guanzhong, and now it has expanded to the Western Regions and Songzhou. Everyone in the court knows that the Chongwenguan and Jingzhao Prefecture are one and the same. Wherever the Chongwenguan goes, people from Jingzhao Prefecture go too, and even the staff are shared.

For this reason, the court once advised Your Majesty, but the great achievements made in Jingzhao Prefecture and the Chongwen officials never asked the court for anything.

Gradually, no one in the court talked about Chongwenguan anymore.

After Su Tan got on the carriage with the five volumes of books, he left Chang'an City.

At night, Li Chengqian met Yu Zhining and Shangguan Yi alone.

Shangguan Yi and Yu Zhining were the first to follow the Eastern Palace. Yu Zhining has always been the Eastern Palace Chancellor, a position that has not changed for many years. The former Xu Xiaode is now serving as the Vice Minister in the Ministry of Works.

Shangguan Yi climbed up the career ladder from a small clerk in Jingyang County to the director of Hongwenguan, then entered the Menxia Province, and served in the Censorate. His promotion speed was very rapid.

Among the many officials under the Eastern Palace, Shangguan Yi was the only one who was promoted the fastest.

The most important person in the court was Xu Jingzong, who was rumored to be the prince's right-hand man. He served as Shaoyin in Jingzhao Prefecture and stayed there for several years.

As for Yan Qinli and the others, they just stayed in their original positions without moving.

In front of Li Chengqian was a map of Shandong. He said, "Go east from Luoyang and go to Shandong first."

Shangguan Yi replied: "Your Highness, do you want to investigate secretly?"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Well, in fact, Donggong Youlu's people have always been in Shandong."

Seeing that the two were silent, Li Chengqian asked with a smile: "Why? Do you think that the six men of the Right Commander have secretly attacked Liaodong?"

Shangguan Yi lowered his head and smiled. It’s not unrealistic for everyone to have such thoughts.

Yu Zhining replied: "Your Highness, do you want to send someone to investigate Shandong at this time when the court officials are all paying attention to the Eastern Expedition?"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "In fact, their advice is not bad. One sentence cannot do everything, nor can we investigate the whole world in one go. The uncle of Hejian often taught us that we should take one step at a time and be down-to-earth."

Shangguan Yi asked doubtfully, "Prince of Hejian?"

Li Chengqian said sincerely, "Yes, Uncle Hejian taught me all the time. His enlightenment to my life is of great significance. He is my uncle and teacher. I dare not let him down."

Yu Zhining said: "I didn't expect that the Prince of Hejian seemed to be out of tune and a little absurd. I didn't know that he had so many instructions for the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian was disappointed and said, "It's just that the emperor's uncle's teachings have always been strict... Let's continue discussing the secret investigation of Shandong's nobles."

They both said in unison: "Yes."

A lot of things have happened in the court in recent days, and the hearts of the civil and military officials in the court have been fluctuating. Although no one will lose their heads, they will not dare to advise His Royal Highness the Crown Prince casually in the future.

Today in the Taiji Hall, the ministers stood in the hall waiting for His Majesty to come for the morning court. During the discussion of the ministers, a secretary general left the court, saying that he was going back to recuperate. Su Tan was a relative of the Eastern Palace, so the people in the court wondered if there was another reason.

(End of this chapter)