The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 398: Honesty between the Emperor and His Subjects
Li Lizhi held little Meng Ji in her arms and said, "Meng Ji, do you know how valuable population is?"

Little Mengji, sitting in his aunt's arms, shook his head.

Li Lizhi handed over another memorial and said to Meng Ji, "Let's go and see the snow scene."

Little Mengji didn’t know whether the snow scene was beautiful or not. The ignorant child could only nod and shake his head.

Watching his sister holding his daughter to see the snow scene in the palace, Li Chengqian picked up the secret report in his hand again and started reading.

There are still 30,000 Tang troops stationed in Qinghai, and the troops in Songzhou have been reduced to 20,000. They have been investigating the situation inside Tubo in recent years.

"Your Majesty." The maid came over quickly and said, "A letter from His Royal Highness Prince Jin."

Li Chengqian put down the secret report and took the letter. What Li Zhi wrote in the letter was that Xuanzang had now arrived in Luoyang and was temporarily staying in Chongwenguan.

He also explained the various things that the two brothers encountered in Luoyang, and that Gao Ji Fu was quite diligent in his duties as the governor of Luoyang.

Li Tang's construction focus was then placed on Luoyang and Chang'an.

The heater was still burning, and some palace maids were talking. An older palace maid stopped the maid next to her from putting spices into the heater.

The younger palace maids don't know your Majesty's habits yet.

The palace maids who came out of the East Palace back then are now in charge of this imperial palace. Although there are only more than ten of them, they know the living habits of the emperor's family best.

Then they left the hall on their own accord, and the new hall became quiet.

Li Chengqian opened another memorial left by his sister, which recorded the population and production estimates of each county in Guanzhong.

This is calculated based on tax levies in recent years.

The next day, Xu Xiaode, the Minister of Works, who was resting at home, received the drawings sent from the palace.

The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of the Imperial Household were the busiest in the court in recent years. Xu Xiaode was used to this. He looked up at the eunuch who had brought him the blueprints and asked, "What did your Majesty order?"

The eunuch explained, "Your Majesty said that this is a map of the counties in Guanzhong, and asked the Ministry of Works to make a model."

"But this..." Xu Xiaode looked at the map in confusion and said, "The distribution of houses and workshops in the counties of Guanzhong is not like this."

The eunuch smiled and said, "Your Majesty is in the palace now. If you have any questions, you can go and ask His Majesty."

Xu Xiaode let out a long breath, but still nodded and said, "Please inform your majesty, I will arrange it."

The eunuch nodded with satisfaction.

Sitting down in his study again, Xu Xiaode scanned the details on the map.

Xu Hui walked into the house, put down a bowl of tea and was about to leave.

"stop."

Hearing her father's words, Xu Hui stopped and said, "Father."

Xu Xiaode glanced at his daughter and said in a deep voice, "Come and look at this map with me."

Xu Hui walked closer and looked at the map as well.

Xu Xiaode whispered, "Are you going to find Princess Changle?"

"Well, Her Royal Highness the Princess said there are still files that need to be sorted out today."

"Is the map your majesty gave me wrong?"

Xu Hui stared at it for a long time and said, "This is not the current map of Guanzhong."

Xu Xiaode stroked his beard and asked in confusion: "What do you mean?"

Xu Hui explained: "This is the future layout of Guanzhong. In fact, since your majesty was still the crown prince and took charge of the construction of Guanzhong, there have been several major plans. It took more than ten years to get to the current situation. If Guanzhong is to move forward to the next ten years, there must be some changes."

"is it?"

"Well, if we follow the plan on the map, should we build four counties? Or should we merge the counties of the four states and then divide them into forty counties."

Xu Xiaode immediately closed the map and said, "You must never tell anyone what is on this map."

"My daughter knows."

"It seems that Your Majesty is still not satisfied with the current construction of Guanzhong."

That same day, the Minister of Works went to the imperial city early and arranged for craftsmen to make this model for His Majesty.

In addition to the map given to the Minister of Works, the Jingzhao Prefecture also received the same map.

Xu Jingzong looked at the details on the map and said hesitantly, "Build four prefectures and forty counties?"

Yan Qinli said: "Well, according to the layout on the map, it is roughly like this. Guanzhong is now divided into four prefectures: Xianyang, Weinan, Tongchuan, and Chencang, with 40 counties under its jurisdiction."

Liu Rengui: "Now, Guanzhong has enough population to build a provincial capital."

The three of them were discussing in a low voice, and what followed was the next three-year plan of the Tang Dynasty. The emperor's decree was sent to Luoyang, dividing Luoyang into five districts and fourteen counties.

It seemed that the most peaceful time of the Qianqing reign had passed, and the emperor began to transform Guanzhong and Luoyang.

The decree was issued directly by the emperor without the involvement of the court or the six ministries. The regent, Duke Zhao, braved the heavy snow and came to the palace.

Li Chengqian was helping his grandfather choose newly made walking sticks. The materials used for these walking sticks were very precious and were all donated by the old uncles of the current royal family.

Prince Deng Li Yuanyu and Prince Huo Li Yuangui are visiting grandpa.

These two are considered the better ones among my uncles.

Li Chengqian was still looking at the cane when his two uncles stood behind him. They saluted and said, "Your Majesty."

"I'm sure Father will be very happy that the two uncles can come to visit Grandpa."

Li Yuanyu said: "I still want to visit."

Li Chengqian took a cane, tried it, and said, "My father lives in the village beside Beiyuan, and you two uncles can go there by yourselves."

After saying that, Li Chengqian turned around and looked at the two of them. Prince Huo Li Yuangui had married Duke Zheng's daughter many years ago, and his fiefdom is now in Dingzhou, the northeastern pass of the Tang Dynasty.

King Deng Li Yuanyu has always been fond of literature and often makes friends with literati.

Li Chengqian walked out of the Wude Hall and walked in the palace with his two uncles. He said, "Grandpa didn't live in the Wude Hall originally. He lived in the Chongwen Hall next to the East Palace. After my father left, he moved back. When I have free time, I often come to visit him."

Both uncles were smiling.

Li Chengqian also heard his two uncles talk about some interesting stories from various places. One of them was King Deng Li Yuanyu, who had no children. Recently, he found a very good young man and wanted to adopt him as his adopted son. The young man was called Lu Zhaolin.

However, Lu Zhaolin came from a prominent family in Youzhou. After being noticed by his uncle, he always stayed by his side and worked in the palace.

At the beginning of this year, I stayed in Luoyang with Lu Zhaolin for some time, and now we have come to Chang'an.

Lu Zhaolin was a young man from a prominent family, and his parents were still alive, so his uncle was reluctant to speak.

Li Chengqian asked about Lu Zhaolin's age. He was only fourteen years old. When this child was studying in various places, Li Yuanyu admired his talent very much and took him in as a guest in the palace.

Li Chengqian saw off his two uncles in front of Chengtian Gate as they were going to visit his father.

As soon as I reached Chengtian Gate, I saw my uncle standing at the palace gate.

King Huo and King Deng were both aware of the relationship between Your Majesty and Duke Zhao, and they bowed and left.

Li Chengqian stood in front of the palace gate and said, "I should have gone to visit my uncle in person."

Changsun Wuji said, "I dare not trouble Your Majesty to come and visit."

Watching the two uncles walk away, Li Chengqian led his uncle to walk in the palace and said, "I'm sure my uncle has heard about the decree of the reform of Luoyang and Guanzhong."

Chang Sun Wuji said: "Since it is your majesty's will, I will definitely assist your majesty with all my strength."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "In fact, this matter has to be planned. In order to give full play to the governance capabilities and productivity of each county, some power must be delegated to each county. After more than ten years, the coordinated development of Guanzhong has almost reached a bottleneck."

"So, I have thought about it for a long time. In the future, the development of each county will focus more on its own capabilities, rather than the period when Jingzhao Prefecture provided resources and conditions like in the past. This should end. There will always be changes. In fact, these things should have been done long ago."

"At that time, I was still the crown prince, so I thought I could accumulate for another two years and then transition for a while. Now is the time, and I am not being too hasty."

Zhang Sun Wuji stood behind the emperor and looked at his back, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, I am very fortunate to be so frank with you."

Li Chengqian walked along the palace wall, his feet on the snow on the ground, and said with a smile: "Uncle, I have always felt that you and I should be honest as king and subject."

Changsun Wuji was smiling, but suddenly he felt a little sour in his nose.

Since the beginning of the Zhenguan Dynasty, the ministers in the court had been gossiping a lot about this foreign relative, and at one point they wanted to leave the court.

Now that he has gained such trust, Changsun Wuji feels that all these years of perseverance are worth it.

Li Chengqian continued, "This is just a means of releasing productivity. In the future, the counties will have greater power. Jingzhao Prefecture will retain the right to guide and supervise. In the future, competition between counties will become more and more intense."

"There may also be conflicts between counties over the competition for places and population, and I'll have to trouble you to take care of these matters."

"I will live up to your Majesty's trust."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Over the years, whether it was my father, my grandfather, or anyone else, my uncle has never let anyone down."

Changsun Wuji remained in a bowing posture and said nothing.

"There are some things I hope to be able to communicate, so I made the decision on my own. But in the future, if there are any state affairs, I will still discuss it with my uncle. This is just one time."

Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "Yes."

Heavy snow fell from the sky again. Li Chengqian invited his uncle to have a hotpot meal in front of the former East Palace and talked about the arrangements for Guanzhong and Luoyang in the next few years.

The king and his minister talked for a long time and planned the future production direction.

Li Chengqian fished out some mutton from the copper pot and put it into his uncle's bowl, then said, "Du He's technical institute is almost completed."

Zhang Sun Wuji said: "I have asked Du He before, but he said it was your Majesty's order, so I did not ask any more questions."

Li Chengqian took the teapot handed over by the eunuch, poured some warm milk tea into it, placed it in front of his uncle, and said, "Du He has the largest production resources in Guanzhong, so it is natural for him to do this kind of thing."

Changsun Wuji took a sip of the warm milk tea, feeling the warmth of the tea flowing through his internal organs.

"This is now the favorite way for people in the Western Regions and the Turks to consume tea. It has accelerated the consumption of tea and also made the price of tea higher."

Changsun Wuji nodded, "Well, that's good."

Li Chengqian added: "I heard that my uncle and the imperial uncle from Hejian are having a quarrel. Hope they can reconcile soon."

Seeing that my uncle was silent again.

Li Chengqian suddenly smiled and said, "This is each family's private matter. It's not good for me to say anything too much. It doesn't matter if we don't get along. Everyone has a temper."

Zhang Sun Wuji then said: "Your Majesty should pay more attention to state affairs."

"Thank you for your teaching, uncle." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I had a teacher and my father teach me in the East Palace before. Now my father has left the palace, my teacher has retired, and my uncle is unwilling to come to the palace anymore. I often think about how lonely it would be if no one came to teach me in the future."

As he spoke, he asked the eunuch to refill the milk tea. Li Chengqian said, "I hope you will stay in the court for two more years and teach me more."

Changsun Wuji raised the bowl and bowed again.

An eunuch came hurriedly and reported: "Your Majesty, the Honglu Temple sent news that the Tibetan envoy Sambuza has left Chang'an."

Li Chengqian continued to help his uncle eat mutton and asked, "When did you leave?"

"Just left, less than an hour ago."

"Where are Lu Dongzan and Songtsen Gampo?"

"The only person who stayed in Chang'an was Sambuza. He bought a fast horse and left in a hurry. He did not inform the Honglu Temple. Xu Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites was very angry and went to Lu Dongzan to question him."

Li Chengqian glanced at his uncle.

Zhangsun Wuji understood and said to the eunuch beside him: "Tell Songtsen Gampo that whenever a Tibetan envoy wants to leave, he needs to inform the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple. Such an unexplained departure is not in line with the etiquette of exchanges between the two countries. Order Lu Dongzan to personally meet His Majesty and confess his crime."

"Here."

By the time the instructions were given, several plates of mutton were finished.

The court followed the instructions of their uncle.

The next morning, Lu Dongzan came to the palace and saw Tian Khan who was running in his morning clothes.

Li Chengqian stopped at a corner of the imperial city, exhaled a long breath, and turned into a cloud of white mist in the cold air, and said, "Sit down."

Lu Dongzan didn't dare to sit down, but stood aside.

Li Chengqian sat down, took the hot tea, and drank it while saying, "Leaving suddenly without saying goodbye, is this the custom of you Tibetans to treat guests?"

Lu Dongzan bowed and said, "Something happened in Tubo. Someone sent a letter saying that Sambuza needs to go back."

"I thought that Sambuza was reluctant to say goodbye, so he left on his own. After all, he has been in Chang'an for so many years, and it is really hard to let him go suddenly."

The eunuch said, "Your Majesty, should we send someone to bring him back?"

Hearing this, Lu Dongzan's expression became even more nervous.

Li Chengqian said, "No need, just go. He hasn't done anything wrong. Besides, if the court forces him to stay, how arrogant will the Tang Dynasty appear?"

Lu Dongzan added: "Zanpu's illness has not yet recovered, and I am here to apologize on his behalf."

Li Chengqian raised his head, swallowed the tea, looked forward, and asked, "What happened to Tubo?"

This seemed a bit difficult to say. Lu Dongzan hesitated for a moment and said, "Many Tibetans left with their cattle and sheep. There are fewer and fewer herders in Tibetan territory. They think Qinghai has taken away Tibetan population and want to take them back."

(End of this chapter)