The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 427 The Enemy Is Getting Closer

Guo Zhengyi smiled in astonishment and said, "It doesn't matter. Every morning during the court session, every two or three days there will be people arguing or fighting in the Taiji Hall, some even fighting to the death."

Li Yibiao followed behind, picking his teeth.

Guo Zhengyi added: "Your Majesty doesn't care about those things, and he won't care about you either, but as subjects we still have to be more cautious."

Li Yibiao nodded, walked to the Suzaku Gate and straightened his clothes. Xu Jingzong had been waiting there for a long time.

"Minister Xu!"

Xu Jingzong stopped him from bowing and said, "You have suffered a lot in Tianzhu."

Li Yibiao was moved when he saw the Minister of Rites coming to greet him personally. He said in a loud voice: "I have a heavy responsibility, how can I complain about the hardship?"

Xu Jingzong led his men towards Chengtian Gate. Wang Xuance, Jiang Shiren, and Li Yibiao made great contributions. To say how great their contributions were, it lay in the location of Tianzhu.

Your Majesty is bent on conquering Tibet. After conquering India, you will gain control of Tibet's rear. If Tibet and India are connected, what a great achievement that will be!
Xu Jingzong led his own doctor from the Ministry of Rites, who had made great contributions, and walked in the imperial city with his head held high and steps fast.

Seeing this scene, Chu Suiliang’s face darkened a little.

Ma Zhou said: "If a Ministry of Rites can achieve such achievements, then the Ministry of Civil Affairs headed by Minister Chu will not be weaker than Xu Jingzong."

Chu Suiliang said with a cold face: "He picked up the credit."

Ma Zhou asked again: "Minister Chu, do you want to pick one up too?"

Chu Suiliang snorted again and walked quickly towards his civilian department.

The East Palace, although no one lives there now, His Majesty still comes here from time to time.

Li Chengqian listened to the words of the palace maid beside him. His mother arranged for someone to say that his father had finally recovered and had come out of his sad mood.

I heard from the message my mother sent me that my father had gone to Mount Li to hunt again.

Li Chengqian ordered: "I understand."

Upon hearing this, the palace maid bowed and left.

"Your Majesty, Minister Xu and Minister Guo are here."

Li Chengqian nodded.

The eunuch understood and led people into the East Palace.

The three of them came closer and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets, looked at the three people and said, "You have been away for more than two years. You have worked hard."

Li Yibiao hurriedly said, "I dare not say that I have worked hard."

After saying that, he handed over the file.

Li Chengqian took the file and looked at its contents. It contained all the records related to Tianzhu. The file was so thick that he could not finish reading it in a short time.

"Your Majesty, when I left, General Jiang was still worried about the Arabs."

"Are the Arabs very close to India?"

Li Yibiao replied, "It's not very close, but there are Arabs moving around. General Wang wanted to attack East India at first, but the king of East India was willing to make peace with General Wang immediately. General Wang felt it was necessary to keep East India, so that there would be a barrier between East India and Arabs."

Li Chengqian looked at the files and nodded as he walked.

Xu Jingzong said: "Your Majesty, there are also Arabs in the Ili River in the Western Regions."

Li Chengqian asked, "Are you saying that the Arabs are getting closer and closer to us?"

"I think we are not far from the Anxi Protectorate."

"Minister Xu has been trying to find out about the Arabs in recent years. If you have any information about the Arabs, you can check with him."

Li Yibiao bowed and said, "Yes."

"I know everything about General Wang and General Jiang. In fact, someone brought me the news a few days ago, before you came to Chang'an."

The Eastern Palace prepared a banquet and Li Chengqian personally entertained this meritorious official.

Guo Zhengyi was about to speak.

Xu Jingzong stopped him with a look.

Originally, Guo Zhengyi wanted to say that Li Yibiao had eaten a lot on the way here, so how could he have enough food for the banquet now?

But after Minister Xu signaled, Guo Zhengyi had no choice but to keep silent.

Li Yibiao ate the skewers and said, "They say the food in the palace is the best in the world. Now that I have tasted it, I regret it so much."

"Why regret?"

"I was full when I came here. I ate too much at once. Now..."

Li Chengqian added: "Being honest is a good thing, Minister Xu, please eat more."

Xu Jingzong hurriedly stood up and saluted, saying, "I obey your command."

What we have learned from the files is ultimately one-sided, and we also need to hear what he says about the situation in India.

In fact, it had only been four years since Xuanzang returned to the Central Plains. During the six or seven years that Xuanzang was away from India, a rebellion broke out in India and a thief appeared who usurped the throne.

Li Chengqian did not object to Wang Xuance's marriage with the Indian princess, and was even willing to issue an edict to give Wang Xuance the title of Duke.

It has been a long time since the Tang Dynasty conferred the title of Duke. Recently, except for preparing to give Su Tan the title of Duke of Wugong County, no other titles of nobility have been awarded.

This is not stinginess. Taking the destruction of a country as encouragement is not a good thing. It will also make people think that the generals in the court are warmongering. But this is not a bad thing either. They are already powerful, so why not be warlike?

"But I often hear people in the court say that there is no need to go to war with the Arabs, nor to clear the Pamir Mountains. Minister Xu has fought many battles for this reason."

Xu Jingzong was still stuffing food into his mouth and nodding continuously.

Li Yibiao said: "Your Majesty, I think a war with the Arabs is inevitable."

Li Chengqian ate a walnut and motioned for him to continue.

"Now the Arabs have destroyed Persia, and are communicating with India to the south, and with the various Hu people in the Pamir Mountains to the east. The Arabs know the wealth of the Tianshan Mountains, and will definitely attack. Although India has a lot of food, it is still poor."

Li Chengqian had read Pei Yan's memorial written in the Chongwen Pavilion in the Western Regions. He mentioned that the five-color salt was a very precious salt in the Western Regions. Didn't the people of Dashi want it? The people of Tang wanted it.

The talking stopped and Xu Jingzong finished eating.

"The court is on holiday now. Next year you will serve as the Minister of Rites and be in charge of the affairs of India and Tibet."

"Here."

"You have been to India and Tibet. I hope that officials from various departments in the future can also travel to various places and actually understand the scope of their duties."

After the three of them saluted, they all left.

In the third year of Qianqing's reign, in late December, the climate in Guanzhong became even colder.

With the return of Li Yibiao, this energetic group of officials in the court and the country began to discuss more about India and the Arabs.

People even quickly forgot that Your Majesty had sent Prince Jin and Prince Ji to the Western Regions.

Even those who were not aware of the situation at the time thought that Your Majesty was sending the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Ji to the Western Regions to plant trees.

But among the royal family, from your Majesty's uncles to your Majesty's brothers and sisters, no one opposes your Majesty.

There are even many people who think that it is a wise move for Your Majesty to do so.

After all, the brothers and sisters of the East Palace were all raised by His Majesty. Fortunately, the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Ji were still young, otherwise someone would have made suggestions and worried that the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Ji would rebel if they went to the important border town.

In fact, this was not a concern at all. First of all, Li Zhi, the legitimate son of the retired emperor, could not cause any trouble at all. He would be obedient with just a look, let alone a rebellion. If he was given ten times the courage, he might kneel in the Taiji Hall and apologize with just one word.

There is also Prince Ji Li Shen. When Zhangsun was still the queen, she handed Prince Ji over to the Eastern Palace to be raised. They are all children raised by Your Majesty, so how could they have any rebellious thoughts?

Counting from Li Yuan and down, the third generation of brothers and sisters of Li Tang were quite united. Compared with the imperial families of all previous dynasties, this dynasty was extremely stable.

My father has gone winter hunting, and I don’t know how long he will relax in Mount Li.

Li Chengqian would still go fishing when he was free. Sometimes he would go alone with his guards, and sometimes he would bring his son and daughter with him.

Today Li Chengqian deliberately passed by Weibei, which is the fief of Princess Dongyang. A hospital is being built here and several rooms are already being used to treat patients.

Arriving at the Wei River, His Majesty was alone today, only protected by a team of guards.

Shangguan Tingzhi rode over, "Your Majesty, this is Xuanzang's letter."

"I heard you got married?"

"Yes."

Li Chengqian took the letter and opened it with a smile.

Shangguan Tingzhi married Zheng from Xingyang. The aristocratic family from that time still existed but it was not as prosperous as before.

But today's aristocratic families rely on their past reputation, and marrying off their daughters has now become their only remaining competitive advantage. But in a few years, when the next generation grows up, what will the aristocratic families have left?
Li Chengqian looked at the contents of the letter. Xuanzang also went to Yangzhou and he also planned to go to the south of the Yangtze River. In the letter, he talked about the changes in various parts of the Central Plains. He was particularly impressed by the places in Hebei. It was the first time he saw a county where production work was the core.

When the place where people live changes to one centered on production, their understanding of labor also changes.

When they feel that production value is in their own hands, they will actively support their own interests and naturally stand on the side of the court.

In other words, when the interests of the court are tied to the production value of the people, the productivity that can be brought about is several levels higher than before. Whatever they get is theirs, and except for taxes, everything else is theirs.

Besides, the Li Tang Empire has always had light taxes and levies.

The production and construction in Guanzhong has verified its feasibility several times.

Although current production and construction are still in a classical state, at least people have seen different scenery, and that is enough.

After reading Xuanzang's letter, Li Chengqian put the letter aside and asked, "Do you think Xuanzang will come back?"

Shangguan Tingzhi said: "In fact, Xuanzang also wrote a letter to me."

Seeing that His Majesty's expression was still calm, he added: "I think what Xuanzang obtained in India were scriptures, but what he saw in various places in the Central Plains were the truth."

Shangguan Yi's son is quite good at speaking. I don't know whether these are Xuanzang's original words or what he wanted to say.

The Wei River is still flowing, and there is still some unmelted ice on both sides of the river.

The letter had been delivered, and Shangguan Tingzhi bowed and said, "I will take my leave."

Li Chengqian changed his sitting position and still said nothing.

It is rumored that His Majesty usually likes quietness. Shangguan Tingzhi felt tremendous pressure and was already sweating in this cold winter.

"Let's go back."

"Here."

After walking for a while, Shangguan Tingzhi felt exhausted and got on his horse and left.

"Your Majesty, should we go to Shangguan's house and search for Xuanzang's letters?"

"No need, it's just Xuanzang, I don't need to worry about him." Li Chengqian caught a fish.

The fish was not big, just a thumb-sized fry, and we threw it back into the river.

Your Majesty picked up the fishing rod and headed towards Weinan.

Today, Weinan has become a prefecture and an important production base in Guanzhong. The most common workshops built here are soy sauce workshops.

On weekdays, there are few villagers walking around here. During the cold winter months, which is the slack farming season, most villagers are working in their workshops.

After walking around for a while, he turned back and headed towards Chang'an City.

The third year of Qianqing passed in peace, and in the New Year of the fourth year of Qianqing, after the curfew was lifted, Chang'an City became bustling again.

During this time of year, many vendors would come to Chang'an to sell their goods. It was also the time when Jingzhao Prefecture collected the most generous city taxes. Under the cover of night, people would gather in groups in the brightly lit city of Chang'an.

Inside the palace, a baby's cry was heard from Liangyi Hall. It turned out that Queen Su had given birth to another child.

Dongyang held the newborn baby and said, "It's a boy."

Su Wan looked at her newborn son with a smile on her face.

After handing the child to Su Wan, Dongyang quickly walked out of the Liangyi Hall, walked down the stone steps, and said, "Royal brother, it's a boy."

Upon hearing this, the palace maid beside her quickly left.

Li Chengqian explained: "This is arranged by my mother to ask."

Dongyang took the tea brought by Xiaofu and said, "Royal brother, you must be more careful in the future."

Knowing Dongyang's meaning, Su Wan had already given birth to three children. Although the three children were born four or five years apart, it was still a huge burden on her body.

And this time she will need a longer period of recuperation.

Li Chengqian said, "I know. Actually, I wanted to comfort my father and mother last year and then slowly deal with them later. But Wan'er didn't think so."

"In the future, my royal brother, please give me more advice."

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded, saying, "Don't worry."

Dongyang still trusts his royal brother very much, because his royal brother has always been an extremely self-disciplined person, so self-disciplined that he is almost inhuman.

She put her hands behind her back and walked forward, saying, "The women in the palace will arrange the rest. My sister will go back to the hospital first."

Ning'er personally escorted Princess Dongyang out of Liangyi Palace.

There was a celebratory atmosphere in the hall. Xiao Que'er and Meng Ji looked at their newborn little brother with great curiosity.

At night, Li Chengqian stayed with Su Wan all night. She slept like she was in a coma and looked pale. It would take a long time for her to recover.

At daybreak, she woke up and said, "Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian held her hand and said, "Sleep a little longer."

She closed her eyes again, with a smile on her face, and fell asleep again.

Just after the third day of the first lunar month, the Queen Mother sent clothes and supplies to Zhinu and Shendi and had them delivered to the Western Regions.

As the eldest brother, Li Chengqian sent two sets of top-quality armor and two newly-forged swords.

It was New Year and everyone was celebrating. Brothers and sisters sent a lot of supplies, so much that they had to be loaded onto trucks, which also reduced a lot of discussion in the government and the public.

At this time every year, Su Tan and his wife would come to visit their daughter, and this year they came as scheduled.

Su Tan handed over two volumes of books and said, "Your Majesty, these are volumes compiled by the Chongwenguan. They are the stories of Xuanzang and Wang Xuance."

Li Chengqian just took a look and said, "Are you saying that Xuanzang really has no disciples in the Western Regions?"

"As far as I know, he only had one disciple after he traveled west."

(End of this chapter)