The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 378 The Era of Great Passion

Li Baiyao said with a smile: "I am ashamed. Your Majesty once said to me that you are old but talented, old but innovative. I am also ashamed to accept the title of county lord given by Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian said: "You don't have to keep saying you're ashamed. I hope the Tang people will always be proud."

Li Baiyao whispered, "People in the future will be proud...proud."

Little Yu Tu said, "Dad, Grandpa said it's time to eat."

Li Chengqian asked several students to help Li Baiyao go and rest, then he carried his son out of the Confucian Temple and returned to the team to have dinner.

Li Shimin asked, "Have you talked to Li Baiyao?"

Li Chengqian nodded, "His son Li Anqi is serving in Guanzhong."

Li Shimin nodded and ate, and his attention was focused on his grandson and granddaughter.

When the team was about to leave the Confucian Temple, a young student came up quickly. He was wearing a long gown and bowed and said, "Your Highness, I am Li Yiyan, the old master's disciple. The old master has something to say to me."

Li Chengqian stood beside the carriage and said, "Please speak."

Li Yiyan said: "The teacher said that he was ashamed because he was unable to save the collapse of the former Sui Dynasty and the chaos that fell into the Central Plains. The old man is proud of the achievements of the current Tang Dynasty."

Time has always been ruthless. Li Baiyao has always expressed his shame, and only let his disciples convey his pride.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I understand."

Li Yiyan bowed again and said, "Student, take your leave."

The Confucian Temple returned to its previous tranquility and the team set off again.

Li Chengqian saw Xiao Yutu asking his father about Li Baiyao. He was very interested in how this man had dealt with the Tubo envoys several times.

Li Chengqian looked at the scenery outside the carriage in silence.

In early September of the 20th year of Zhenguan, the emperor's carriage finally returned to Luoyang.

As soon as they returned to the palace, Xiao Yutu and her sister ran to see the retired emperor and Duke Xu.

Li Yuan smiled and held the child in his arms and asked, "Did your grandfather agree to let you be the crown prince?"

Xiao Yutu shook his head and said, "Grandpa hasn't agreed yet."

Li Yuan said loudly: "He is still sitting on the throne and refuses to give it up. You should try to persuade your grandfather."

The child nodded very seriously and said, "Yu Tu will persuade Daddy. I still want to lead the Flying Tigers."

"Flying Tigers?" Li Yuan pouted and asked in confusion, "When did the Flying Tigers appear in every prefecture in the world?"

"That was the team led by Daddy. Even Grandpa didn't know what the Flying Tigers were like."

"Really?" Li Yuan asked in surprise.

"I will be in charge of the Flying Tigers in the future. I have also climbed Mount Tai."

Li Yuan said with a smile: "Good, good, you are worthy of being a son of the Li family."

The emperor went to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth. He set out in spring and returned to Luoyang in autumn.

After returning to Luoyang, Li Shimin, Li Chengqian and Zhangsun Wuji dealt with the state affairs that had remained over the period of time.

Li Chengqian first wanted to take a look at the current Jingzhao Prefecture, so he walked alone to the side hall, Qianyang Hall, and summoned Xu Jingzong, Yan Qinli, and Liu Rengui.

Listening to them talk about the changes in Luoyang and Guanzhong today, both places are the emperor's base. The center of the empire is right under the emperor's feet, and they are to become the most prosperous and richest places.

Therefore, Li Chengqian was very concerned about the construction of these two places.

Yan Qinli re-established the rules for settling in Luoyang and Guanzhong, requiring one to work in workshops in the two places for three years and pay taxes for three years before continuing to settle there.

Liu Rengui also submitted a proposal for tax reduction. He felt that it was not good to ask people with meager incomes to pay city taxes from the few hundred coins they earned from working in a workshop after working for a month, as this would put more pressure on the poor.

I heard Li Ke talk about Liu Rengui's character more than once. He was a man who loved his people like his own children. Of course, he was also brave on the battlefield of the Eastern Expedition.

Liu Rengui said: "Your Highness, I think we can increase taxes on the wealthy and reduce taxes on the poor."

He was a man who would use his salary to help the villagers. After he became the Shaoyin of Jingzhao Prefecture, he maintained this style and still advocated giving better conditions to the poorest households.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Are there any specific rules?"

Liu Rengui was speechless for a moment and said, "Not yet."

Yan Qinli said, "Your Highness, if you really want to do as Liu Shaoyin said, you need to investigate all the workshops in Guanzhong and Luoyang."

Xu Jingzong said: "Since its establishment, Jingzhao Prefecture has always faced challenges head-on and has never been afraid of tedious and difficult tasks."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Now that the national treasury is rich, and my father often says that we should give the people a rest, it is time to reduce taxes."

The three Shao Yins saluted in unison.

Just as Li Chengqian was about to speak, another eunuch stood outside the palace and said in a loud voice: "Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered that you return to Chang'an in half a month."

"I know."

The eunuch bowed and walked away in small steps.

Looking at the three people in front of him, they are all good people in Jingzhao Prefecture. They are capable and are in charge of the construction of the two places.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "You can discuss with the Secretariat, but you can't just reduce it blindly. The tax policy is related to the foundation, and it can't be changed again and again."

Liu Rengui, who is now over 40 years old, was a little surprised. He did not expect that the prince would make a decision so quickly and abandon some taxes for the lower-class people so decisively. He was a rare and benevolent crown prince.

Liu Rengui looked serious, dressed in proper court robes, and bowed.

Then he and the other two Shao Yin left Qianyang Palace.

Li Chengqian was flipping through the memorial when another eunuch came to report that Censor Shangguan had returned.

Shangguan Yi reported to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince on the affairs of various places in Shanxi. Now all these matters have been settled. All thirty-six coal mines have been taken over by the court. The court has made some promises to the local governments and paid a lot of money.

After the Crown Prince and His Majesty returned, another strange sight appeared in the Luoyang Palace.

His Majesty was sitting in the Qianyuan Hall, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was sitting in the Qianyang Hall. There were long queues outside both halls, ready to report matters to His Majesty and the Crown Prince.

The long line stretched all the way to the palace gate, and there were even more people going to meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince than His Majesty.

After the emperor performed the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, there were so many memorials and documents of congratulation that they piled up very high, leaving so many tables that they could not fit them all.

Among them, envoys from various countries also came to congratulate the emperor on his Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai. Once again, the congratulatory letter from the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo arrived first, and he also sent a lot of gold, silver, and jewelry, and even a lot of Tibetan barley wine.

The officials who lined up on the first day did not see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Majesty.

The next day, His Majesty adjourned again.

In desperation, the court officials could only go to meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

It took Li Chengqian more than ten days to settle these long-pending state affairs, and the court finally returned to normal.

In mid-September, when autumn was in full swing, Li Chengqian sat in front of the main hall drinking medicine to remove heat.

Dongyang said: "My brother is exhausted by state affairs. How can anyone handle so many state affairs for several days in a row?"

Changsun Wuji sat aside with a guilty look on his face.

Li Chengqian said: "Uncle, please don't be offended. I just don't want to put the matter aside for too long, so as to avoid delaying it again and again."

"minister……"

"Uncle, don't blame yourself."

Only then did Changsun Wuji stop talking.

Li Chengqian took out a memorial and handed it over. "This is a memorial for Songzhou's money and salary. You can send it before winter this year." "I will give the order right away."

When taking the memorial, Changsun Wuji glanced at the Crown Prince's expression and bowed again in shame.

After seeing his uncle off, Li Chengqian finished drinking the medicine in the bowl. It was extremely bitter, so bitter that his teeth were chattering.

Su Wan handed over a bowl of water and said, "Your Highness, please rinse your mouth."

No matter how young and strong the prince was, he could not be immersed in state affairs for several days in a row. He talked with court officials every day and dealt with memorials from all over the country. He almost lived in the Qianyuan Hall.

Su Wan said: "Your Highness, please have a good rest for two days."

Noticing his wife's worried look, Li Chengqian waved the palm-leaf fan in his hand and said, "Actually, this is a good thing. It shows that my uncle's prestige in the court is getting lower and lower, while my prestige in the court is getting higher and higher."

Su Wan came from a prominent family, so she naturally knew how serious it was. As the crown prince became more and more powerful, the officials in the court naturally favored him.

Even though the Duke of Zhao was serving as prime minister, he was no longer the same as he used to be.

The current Duke Zheng and Prime Minister Fang are both old, and only the Duke Zhao remains in the court.

As a crown prince becomes more powerful, his relatives by marriage will become weaker and weaker.

If the prince's talents are limited, he needs to rely on this uncle.

Then Duke Zhao should be at the peak of his career now, otherwise it would be like this now.

However, Su Wan also knew that she was also a relative by marriage, and the Su family had been elected as the leader of the Guanzhong gentry because of their martial arts, but this was just an empty title.

Now that her husband is so powerful, Wugong Su has no choice but to stand by him and go forward and retreat together. This is the only way.

As the prince's wife, Su Wan often had to take care of the East Palace's family business, which was very stressful and sometimes she had no time to take care of her children.

The Donggong's business was enormous, including the Hexi Corridor, the Shu salt fields, and several workshops in Guanzhong.

Feeling the warm hand holding her own, Su Wan smiled brightly. Her husband's hand was so warm.

Just as Your Highness said, Your Highness is not your father, and you cannot become someone like your father.

My father is a shining star in the eyes of the world, but only His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is always warm and radiant.

In the 20th year of Zhenguan, near October, half a month after returning to Luoyang, it was time to move again because news came from Chang'an that Duke Zheng's condition had worsened again.

Duke Zheng sent another letter.

Now Mr. Zheng can only sit in a wheelchair and his hands can no longer write.

The letter was written by his son, in which he once again advised His Majesty to abdicate and let the crown prince ascend the throne.

Li Chengqian stood in front of the main hall, where his father was reading a letter.

Outside the palace, teams of eunuchs were carrying boxes to be transported back to Chang'an.

Every year, the autumn rain arrives as scheduled and always accompanies the empire. Li Chengqian reaches out to catch some rain and feel the coolness of the autumn rain.

In the distance, a figure was walking towards the hall.

Someone was holding an umbrella for the elderly figure.

As they got closer, they saw that it was Mr. Gu Nalu. Li Chengqian walked into the rain to help him. "Mr., why are you here today?"

Gu Nalu was holding a book in his arms and said, "This is a book I compiled, specially sent to Your Highness."

Li Chengqian took the book and helped the old man to take shelter from the rain under the eaves in front of the hall. He said, "You don't have to come here in person."

After saying that, he asked someone to bring a chair.

Gu Nalu sat down, looked around the hall, and said, "Your Majesty, this is..."

At this moment, my father was in the palace, feeling depressed.

Li Chengqian explained: "Mr. Zheng's condition has worsened again."

Gu Nalu sighed, "I heard that Your Majesty often regards Duke Zheng as a mirror."

"Yes, my father has always valued Duke Zheng. In fact, Duke Zheng's health was no longer able to handle state affairs two years ago."

Gu Nalu whispered, "There are always many things in this world that are hard to accept. May I ask Your Highness if you know what Duke Zheng is worried about?"

"He still wants me to ascend the throne. In fact, Duke Zheng said so long before my father went on the Eastern Expedition."

There was silence in front of the hall for a moment, with only the rustling sound of raindrops being heard.

Gu Nalu sighed silently.

Li Chengqian did not open the book immediately, but asked, "Old sir, can we go to Chang'an together?"

"I won't go to Chang'an. I can't walk such a long distance. I'll stay in Luoyang. Luoyang is also very good. It's prosperous, with many people and children. There are more books in Chongwenguan."

"Ah..." Gu Nalu seemed to be reminiscing. He stroked his beard and asked, "Why is there no conclusion to the book of Red Mansions yet?"

As early as ten years ago, the subsequent content of "Dream of Red Mansions" was discontinued.

This book was listed as a banned book among the scholars, and they forbade children or more young people to read "Dream of Red Mansions".

But what can be done about it? The book of Dream of the Red Chamber is still widely circulated among the people and the children of the gentry.

Gu Nalu asked, "Is it true that there is no sequel to this book?"

Li Chengqian said: "I don't know."

Gu Nalu smiled and said, "Then people in the world will have more worries."

"It's better to have more. The more worries the world has, the more people will work hard for it, just like the old gentleman wants to educate the world."

"Hahaha……"

Gu Nalu suddenly burst into laughter. The old man laughed very happily. I had never seen him so happy before.

"If I were forty years younger, I would definitely be a close friend of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"You are wrong, old man. I will never become a great scholar."

“Hahaha…” Gu Nalu laughed again. He laughed so hard that he had to lean on his cane and said, “Having the Crown Prince as my friend regardless of age difference is enough for me in this life.”

Li Chengqian frowned and said, "Old man, you are joking."

Gu Nalu still had a smile on his face. He bent over and stood up and said, "This book will be given to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Thank you, sir." Li Chengqian bowed and said goodbye.

There was still a young student holding an umbrella for the old man, and Gu Nalu's steps felt much more relaxed.

From the early Sui Dynasty to the Wude period, and then to the twenty years of Zhenguan now, this generation has experienced too many ups and downs.

Just like my father, Duke Li Wei, Qin Qiong, General Yuchi, and Duke Ying, they value friendship and loyalty, are willing to travel thousands of miles to fulfill their promises, and their lives are mostly full of heroic spirit.

The hero's heroism amazed the people of the world. He galloped across the battlefield and pacified the world.

But now, they are old, and their lifelong efforts have created this era.

Li Chengqian walked into the hall, sat beside his father, and also picked up the letter from Duke Zheng and read it.

Li Shimin said in a low voice with a gloomy face: "Let's go back to Chang'an."

"Well, it's time to go back."

(End of this chapter)