The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 365 Banquet
The banks of the Luoshui River were surrounded by guards, and the people around them avoided them.

Seeing Li Xin crying loudly, Xiao Yutu put the broken windmill on the table and said, "Why are you crying? You just know how to cry."

Li Shimin heard his grandson crying, then looked at the eldest grandson who had started the riot, then retracted his gaze and said, "Cheng Qian."

"My son is here."

"Before, my puzzles were broken in his hands."

"My child is ignorant and I am sorry to make you laugh."

Li Tai said: "Xin'er shouldn't cry like this."

Li Shimin added: "Qingque was also a crybaby when he was young."

Li Tai suppressed his smile and said, "I don't remember anything about my childhood."

Both the father and his sons were smiling.

Li Ke said: "When the child grows up, I plan to travel around and see the mountains and rivers of the world."

Li Tai asked, "When?"

“When the children are older and can be independent, they can go out for a walk.”

Li Shimin lay on the recliner, closed his eyes and whispered, "Alright, alright."

In fact, the emperor doesn’t care if children nowadays play like this. Besides... children in the Eastern Palace should be outstanding.

Li Chengqian said: "Yutu."

"The child is here."

A babyish voice came from behind.

Li Chengqian said: "Your brother is crying, it's you who caused it, you have to comfort him."

Xiao Yutu responded reluctantly and had to go and coax Li Xin.

Li Shimin closed his eyes comfortably.

When Li Xin's crying stopped and there was silence for a while, a soldier came on a fast horse. He dismounted and said, "Your Majesty, good news from the Western Regions. Ashina Helu has been captured."

The eunuch at the side took the military report and handed it to His Majesty with both hands.

Li Shimin looked at the military report and said with a smile: "What a scoundrel."

Later, seeing his father handing over the military report, Li Chengqian put down his fishing rod and took the military report to read. The scale of the rebellion this time was not large. Ashina Helu was dissatisfied with the Anxi Protectorate for asking him to take the herdsmen to grow cotton.

Then this person will openly rebel against the Tang Dynasty.

The interesting thing about this incident is that when Ashina Helu rebelled, Liang Jianfang led 20,000 troops to quell the rebellion, but the other side ran away before he even fought.

After Liang Jianfang chased for several miles, Ashina Helu was tied up by several herdsmen and sent to the Anxi Protectorate.

Not only did Liang Jianfang fail to quell the rebellion, but the herdsmen living under the Tianshan Mountains took the initiative to capture the traitor.

In the Anxi Protectorate, Liang Jianfang was very angry. He beat Ashina Helu and was on the way to Chang'an.

However, another thing was mentioned in the military newspaper. Because Guo Luotuo dug thousands of karez in the Western Regions, the tribal chiefs of several tribes in the Western Regions wanted to erect statues for Tian Khan and Guo Luotuo at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains.

This was a spontaneous action of the herdsmen in the Western Regions and was not presided over by the Anxi Protectorate.

The statue of Tian Khan is fine, but the statue of Guo Luotuo might be in a farming posture?
In other words, the statues of successive Khans of the Tang Dynasty would be erected at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains.

From the perspective of imperial power, this matter is beneficial, but it is too formal.

Li Chengqian put the military report aside, looked at the river and thought, it was not easy for the Tang Dynasty to achieve such results in the Western Regions. It consumed thousands of manpower and took three years of operation to achieve such results.

In order to build these karez, Guo Luotuo almost exhausted the manpower of the Western Regions.

The emperor and his family left here in the afternoon.

Li Chengqian stood in the Qianyang Palace, discussing arrangements for tonight's banquet with several eunuchs.

"Teacher is not in good health, so there is no need to invite him. It is a long journey from Chang'an to Luoyang. I will go to visit him after I return."

The eunuch nodded and said, "Prime Minister Fang looked at the list of successful candidates and said that this year's imperial examination has added many talents to the court."

Li Chengqian said: "If the teacher is pleased, I will be relieved."

Since the battle of Liaodong, talented people in the Tang Dynasty have emerged one after another. Governing the country always requires talents, so the imperial examination needs to be persisted.

Li Chengqian looked at the account book, paced back and forth and said, "The fruits sent from Lingnan this year will also be included in this banquet."

"Here."

"Prepare a few more kinds of wine besides grape wine."

Every time the prince spoke a word, a eunuch would quickly leave to give instructions.

The tables in Qianyang Palace are always tidy. No matter how busy His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is, the place is always kept clean.

As night fell, civil and military officials entered the palace one after another. They took their seats in the Qianyuan Hall. There were rows of desks in front of the hall, and many officials needed to sit outside the hall.

All officials of the fourth rank and above in the court had to participate.

In addition, all military officers, starting from the rank of General of the Household and below, must be present.

This was the first grand banquet since the emperor's return, and the curfew in the entire Luoyang city was lifted for three days.

The emperor and his subjects celebrated together. After Li Chengqian presided over various matters, he met Guo Zhengyi who came to meet him.

Today, Guo Zhengyi is working as a Censor in the Menxia Province, a fifth-rank official. Although he cannot attend the meeting, he can still take this opportunity to come to the emperor if he has something to report.

Guo Zhengyi handed over the memorial and said, "Your Highness, this is a memorial on the reform of Jingzhao Prefecture."

Li Chengqian took the memorial and looked through it.

Guo Zhengyi stood quietly aside, waiting for the prince's words.

Although he was about the same age as the prince, Guo Zhengyi felt tremendous pressure because the prince was much calmer than his peers.

Guo Zhengyi couldn't help but show a gesture of submission from the bottom of his heart.

This is a powerful prince, not one who gains power by making friends with court officials and building up influence.

The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace is now too powerful, so powerful that the entire Guanzhong and Western Regions can obey his orders.

People in the court and the public have discussed what the situation will be like once His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ascends the throne.

But now it seems that this crown prince does not need to cultivate confidants at all. No matter when this crown prince ascends the throne, all the civil and military officials in the court are convinced, and the prince is only half a step away from the throne.

In addition, people in the court and the public were still discussing that the day when this prince would ascend the throne was not far away.

After reading the memorial, Li Chengqian said, "Jingzhao Prefecture is divided into six prefectures: civil affairs, commerce, agriculture, household, grain, and construction."

Guo Zhengyi replied: "That's what I thought, but..."

Li Chengqian handed the memorial back to him and interrupted, "The Jingzhao Prefecture's powers of arrest and public security are not detailed enough."

It seems that His Highness is not satisfied. Guo Zhengyi said: "I will correct it right away."

Li Chengqian looked at the bustling hall with his hands in his pockets and said, "Don't worry, take your time."

"Here."

Observing this official, Li Chengqian said, "You can also visit Jingzhao Prefecture more often. Don't feel alienated. You can communicate more and cooperate with each other. I can also feel more at ease. The three provinces and six ministries in the court and the various supervisory offices need to work closely together. This has always been advocated."

"I accept your order."

After saying this, Guo Zhengyi bowed and left.

Li Chengqian was still standing outside the Qianyang Palace. Later, Xu Yushi also submitted a memorial on the reform of Jingzhao Prefecture. He advocated that Jingzhao Prefecture be reorganized into three prefectures, and then divided into four prefectures: finance, construction, industry, and education. He did mention something that Guo Zhengyi did not mention.

But it was still a bit too general. Li Chengqian said, "It's still not good enough."

Xu Yushi bowed and said, "I will go back and revise it."

The reform of Jingzhao Prefecture was not carried out in a high-profile manner. Li Chengqian simply asked several people to submit memorials in private and let them figure it out on their own.

Each era has its own unique methods. Advanced methods may not be useful in the era of imperial autocracy, but those that are suitable for the present are the best.

The unknown, or ignorance to a certain extent, is the biggest moat of this empire.

It is like a blank piece of paper on which you can paint many colors.

No one knows what the future will be like, but we might as well take a few more steps and see.

Duan Zan came hurriedly, took out a leather-wrapped letter and said, "Your Highness, there is an urgent report from the Anxi Protectorate. Murong Shun of Sifang Pavilion is doing business in the Pamir Mountains. He has sent someone to inform the Anxi Protectorate that Persia has fallen."

Li Chengqian was a little surprised to hear the news. The ancient country at the western end of the Silk Road had finally been defeated by the Arabs.

Duan Zan continued, "Persian prince Peroz fled eastward and now appears to have reached the Anxi Protectorate."

Li Chengqian looked at the contents on the letter. The letter was written by Pei Xingjian. He was worried about the powerful Arabs. As more and more Persians fled eastward, some news about the Arabs also reached the Western Regions.

The ancient Persian Empire, which was so powerful a hundred years ago, now collapsed. The rising Arab Empire destroyed Persia with ease.

The Arabs were also conquering the east and the west, and after they swallowed up Persia, they were very close to the border of the Tang Dynasty.

Even the Arabs expanded toward the northwest and were about to border the Gauls.

The Tang Dynasty had not yet built the city of Suiye, and the barrier west of the Tianshan Mountains had not yet been established.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Take the urgent report back first, and we will discuss this matter in the morning."

"My minister retire."

Seeing that more and more people were entering the palace, the eunuch came forward to report: "Your Highness, His Majesty will be here in half a minute. Please go and preside over the banquet first."

Li Chengqian walked towards the main hall and asked, "Are Zhinu and Shendi still not planning to come back?"

The old eunuch smiled and said, "The two princes sent a letter to Your Majesty, saying that they were busy in Shandong and would come back to visit Your Majesty when they were done."

Li Zhi and Shen Di are both fifteen years old. They have guards around them, so as long as they don't spend money recklessly, there is no need to control them too much.

Li Chengqian knew these two younger brothers too well.

In front of the main hall, Xu Jingzong pointed at Chu Suiliang and said, "Chu dog! If you have the guts, do it. I am now on the same level as you!"

"Xu thief!"

"Chu dog!"

"Xu thief!"

……

Both sides continued to shout and curse.

Yu Zhining looked painful and wanted to cover the mouths of these two people. It felt so embarrassing. He decided to pretend not to know them.

The two people who were shouting and cursing suddenly stopped.

Everyone looked up and saw the prince walking towards them.

Everyone immediately sat up straight and kept silent.

When Li Chengqian walked into the hall, the noisy crowd finally quieted down and all the ministers sat up straight.

Walking to the front of the crowd, the prince said in a loud voice: "This time, the Eastern Expedition has been a great victory. I respect you all."

Everyone raised their glasses and said loudly: "Tang Dynasty will win!"

"The Tang Dynasty is victorious!"

"The Tang Dynasty is victorious!"

……

Loud shouts came one after another. Li Chengqian looked at the excited faces, the elderly General Yuchi, General Qin Qiong, General Su Dingfang, the emperor's uncle Li Xiaogong, and the emperor's uncle Li Daozon, who were all in tears at this moment.

The Tang Dynasty conquered Liaodong and recovered the four counties of the Han Dynasty, sweeping away the resentment of the former Sui Dynasty.

This is certainly something to be proud of, as it is the most glorious achievement of the Tang Dynasty.

While the crowd was still cheering, Li Shimin walked into the hall wearing the emperor's crown.

Only then did the ministers quiet down.

Only three days had passed since returning from the Eastern Expedition, and many generals had finally settled their families and recovered from the fatigue of their travels.

Li Shimin sat on the throne, raised his glass and said, "I drink with you all."

The court officials raised their glasses.

Li Chengqian sat on one side, and the atmosphere in the hall finally relaxed a lot. Everyone talked about the Eastern Expedition, and some even said that the Eastern Expedition did not require 50,000 troops, but only 20,000 troops would be enough.

Li Chengqian listened to the ministers' stories with a smile.

"Brother Royal."

Hearing the voice beside him, Li Chengqian looked over and asked, "What's wrong?"

Li Ke whispered, "Father asked me to take charge of the army guards."

"That's good. You now have your own army."

Li Ke whispered, "But I don't want to lead the troops anymore. I want to decline the offer from my father. I know I'm not good at speaking, so I don't know how to ask my father."

Li Chengqian looked at Li Tai standing beside him and asked, "What does Qingque think?"

Li Tai thought for a moment, "Why?"

"Ke came back from Liaodong and saw the desolation of Yingzhou and Hebei. Ke wanted to travel around like he did in the past. Maybe because he has lived in Guanzhong and Luoyang for a long time in recent years, he doesn't know what the outside world is like. At least people should not live like that."

Compared to the high spirits of the ministers in the palace, Li Ke seemed much more disappointed. He said, "My royal brother taught me to think more. In fact, I have thought a lot. My father wants to rest with the people, and I want to do what I want to do."

Li Tai patted his shoulder and said, "Now is not the time to talk about this. Some things can be done in the future."

Li Ke took a sip of the wine, nodded heavily as if he had made up his mind.

Li Chengqian said: "This matter is not troublesome, I will help you."

"Thank you, Brother Huang."

When the drums and music sounded, the laughter and joy in the hall became even louder, and some people stood up in groups of three or four, hugging each other and dancing.

After three rounds of drinks, it was already late at night and the court officials outside the palace dispersed one after another.

Li Chengqian walked out of the hall, breathing the slightly cool night air. As he walked away, the laughter and joy in the hall became much dimmer.

Just as the emperor said, we must celebrate it in a grand manner. They haven't been so happy in a long, long time.

Li Chengqian suddenly stopped and looked at the bright moon in the sky, knowing that he would be busy again tomorrow.

The next day, as expected, His Majesty sent out another decree, ordering the court to suspend for another three days and ordering the Crown Prince to preside over state affairs.

There was nothing that could be done about it. Early this morning, when the eunuchs went to the main hall again, my father and a group of generals were lying in the hall in all directions. There was no way to hold the morning court, and the whole hall was in chaos.

Li Shimin woke up from a hangover and saw himself in the mirror looking so haggard.

(End of this chapter)