The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 455 From Zhenguan to the Present

I don't know when it started, but the current His Majesty doesn't like to eat in the palace. He always likes to move the table outside and eat in front of the palace.

In the sunshine, Li Chengqian stood in front of the table, watching the emperor's uncle coming.

Along with Uncle Hejian came Uncle Jiangxia.

The two uncles came forward and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian smiled and said with his hands in his pockets: "Uncles, the New Year has just passed and the palace has not prepared much. I wonder if it will suit your taste."

Li Xiaogong looked up and saw a grilled fish and noodles on the table. "I came to talk to Your Majesty about the royal family and the kings."

"Let's eat first."

The two saluted again.

Li Xiaogong sat down, took out noodles from the pot beside him, poured some meat sauce on them as he was used to it, and then poured a bowl of mutton soup, eating it mouthful by mouthful of noodles and soup.

Looking at his two uncles who were wolfing down their food, Li Chengqian ate his biscuits by himself.

While eating noodles, Li Xiaogong and Li Daozon started eating a large grilled fish on the table.

While wolfing down his food, he didn't know how many bowls of noodles he had eaten. Li Daozong looked up again and saw that Li Xiaogong had been standing and eating with his bowl. He asked again, "Are you uncomfortable sitting down?"

Li Xiaogong had just swallowed the noodles in his mouth, then he took a deep breath and let it go. It seemed that he wanted to let the food in his stomach go down faster and leave room for him to continue eating.

Seeing this, Li Daozon looked at the few noodles in the pot and felt a huge pressure. He then looked at His Majesty, who was eating a bowl of noodles and reading a book, looking very calm.

This meal was the longest for the eunuchs, as they had to work hard to cook noodles and roast five fish.

There are a lot of fish bones on the table now.

Li Xiaogong finished the last bite of fish, finally put down his bowl and chopsticks, and shouted: "It's great!"

Li Daozon couldn't eat anymore, so he put down his bowl and chopsticks, leaned back in his chair and couldn't speak for a long time.

Seeing His Majesty nod, the eunuch quietly stepped forward, cleaned the table, and moved the pots, bowls and stove away.

The table and surroundings before His Majesty were soon restored to cleanliness.

The uncle and nephew were silent for a while, and the eunuch refilled the tea. Li Xiaogong took a sip of the tea and said, "It's been so many years since I've had such a good meal."

Li Chengqian said: "I am very happy to see that my uncle can be like he was back then."

These words are spoken sincerely. Looking at the teachers, uncles, and father from those days, they all look old. Although the two uncles are a little old now, fortunately they are still the same as they were back then.

Li Dao Zong said: "Your Majesty, Li Yuanchang has passed away."

Li Chengqian said with a look of understanding: "I remember that recently the uncles from the royal family have often wanted to stuff women into my palace, and he is one of them."

Seeing His Majesty calmly taking a sip of tea and speaking in a calm tone, Li Daozon sat a little straighter.

Your Majesty has no impression of Li Yuanchang. Li Daozon thought about it carefully and realized that Your Majesty really does not need to have an impression of Li Yuanchang as there are so many princes in the royal family.

Li Chengqian added: "I neglected these old uncles. How did he die?"

Li Xiaogong snorted coldly, "How else could Li Yuanchang have passed away? He was so dissolute all day that he killed himself. It is said that he died of a sudden illness, and the local prefectures and counties are still waiting for your majesty's arrangements."

Li Daozong nodded and said, "When Chongyi got the news, he brought people to visit the fiefdom in person."

However, even if Li Yuanchang wanted to cause trouble, he couldn't cause any trouble.

In other words, it was lucky that he did not die at the hands of those powerful ministers in the court.

If the person who handled this matter was my uncle, he would probably say that the body should be thrown to the dogs. This is probably my uncle's temper.

Seeing that His Majesty suddenly smiled, Li Xiaogong and Li Daozon frowned and remained silent.

Li Chengqian added: "Let the royal family handle this matter, and keep everything low-key."

Li Dao Zong continued, "Your Majesty, something else happened recently."

"explain."

"Princess Changguang killed her child and let Zhao Jie inherit the family business. According to the news sent a few days ago, Yang Shidao also died of grief."

In recent years, the royal family of Li Tang has been generally declining and chaotic, not to mention that many uncles passed away early, and now it looks like a mess.

Li Chengqian said: "Let the people from the Imperial Censorate and the Zongzheng Temple go and ask the various kings, and deal with those who can be dealt with."

Li Daozong replied: "Your Majesty is wise."

In fact, since he ascended the throne, Li Chengqian has not had much contact with his uncles, not to mention that two of his uncles are still under house arrest, one was exiled to the Western Regions, and another died on the way to exile.

After listening to the family affairs of his two uncles, Li Chengqian, as the current emperor and the head of the current family, could not ask his father about these matters, so he said, "I'll trouble you two uncles to deal with it."

"Here."

Before leaving, Li Chengqian asked someone to bring some silk, gold and silver, and placed two wooden trays filled with gold and silver in front of the two uncles, saying, "Take them."

Li Xiaogong was puzzled and asked, "Is there a lot of gold in Congling?"

"Well, Pei Xingjian and his men brought ten full carts. The furnace of the Shaofujian has been lit these days, but I still hope that the money in the Central Plains will be mainly copper coins."

Li Xiaogong and Li Daozon did not dare to refuse His Majesty's reward. After all, His Majesty also said that it would be up to the two uncles to take care of it.

In this way, both of them felt that His Majesty wanted to clean up the royal family.

Li Chengqian said: "These riches were brought by the army. If the news spreads throughout the Central Plains and Guanzhong, there should be many people who want to take risks and go out to look for treasures, just like Xuanzang did."

Li Dao Zong said: "Your Majesty, the journey to the Congling Mountains is long, and I am afraid that not many people can do it like Xuanzang."

"It's okay. I just hope that more and more Tang people can go out and come back anytime they want. This is my lifelong wish. That's enough."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaogong and Li Daozon looked stern and saluted once again.

Li Chengqian said: "My two uncles, you must take care of your health recently and don't overeat like you did today."

Hearing this, Li Xiaogong smiled with shame and said, "My family has always eaten a lot."

Li Daozon felt remorseful and thought that every meal he had with this guy was extremely painful.

The two uncles left with a basket of noodles as a reward.

The old eunuch stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, should we send someone to investigate secretly?"

Li Chengqian stood in front of the new palace with a calm expression, holding a tea bowl in his hand, looking forward and slowly drinking the tea, saying: "Over the years, I have indeed neglected the affairs of the royal family, but I have not been close to my uncles and aunts since I was a child, and I have not come to see them for many years since I ascended the throne."

The elderly eunuch Yang stood behind His Majesty with his head lowered, waiting for orders.

Li Chengqian added: "Send someone to sort out all the clan members."

"Here."

In the fifth year of Qianqing, in March in Guanzhong, the weather was warm but still cold. A spring rain fell, and farmers were still busy in the fields.

Li Shimin was wearing a cloth robe and a bamboo hat, standing in the rain, listening to the sound of rain hitting the hat and watching the rain scene alone.

There was the sound of raindrops falling on the umbrella behind him. Li Shimin looked back slightly, then withdrew his gaze and asked, "How did you find time to come and see me?"

There was an eunuch holding an umbrella for His Majesty, so Li Chengqian didn't need to hold the umbrella with his hands in his pockets. He smiled and said, "Recently, many things in the court have been rather loose." Li Shimin said, "Cen Wenben is old now, are you going to retire?"

"I am waiting for his retirement. Everything is ready. I am just waiting for his words."

"Have you thought about who will take his place, Ma Zhou?"

Li Chengqian stood beside his father and asked hesitantly, "Is Ma Zhou suitable?"

Li Shimin sighed: "I am no longer the emperor."

"I want Ma Zhou, Duke Ying, and Yu Zhining to jointly manage state affairs."

"Very good." Li Shimin did not reject his son's idea.

In fact, during the Zhenguan period, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng and Zhangsun Wuji jointly managed state affairs.

Li Chengqian said: "I have served two regents, one is my uncle, and the other is Cen Wenben."

Li Shimin smiled and said, "Your uncle said that you can now take charge of your own affairs and no longer need a regent."

"After all these years, my uncle still understands me so well."

"Your uncle has seen countless people in his life. He knew your mind when you were still the crown prince. Whether he looked at me or you, he never made a mistake."

It’s a bit emotional to say that my father has always valued my uncle very much, especially the successor chosen by my uncle.

Of course, now that my uncle is at this age, he doesn’t need to get involved in many matters at court, otherwise he will get annoyed.

Li Chengqian said: "Father, the uncle of Han has passed away."

"I heard that among your uncles, he is the most naughty one. You can make the arrangements for this matter."

After saying this, Li Chengqian accompanied his father walking in the village.

Originally, Li Shimin didn't want to hear his son talk about the current political arrangements in the court, but after hearing what his son said, he had no choice but to listen.

Li Chengqian left only after seeing his mother again.

Li Shimin returned to the house, took off his bamboo hat, changed into dry clothes, put on his straw sandals and said, "I don't understand the current state affairs."

"Cheng Qian still has a lot to do, and he is still so young." Empress Dowager Changsun sat on a small stool nearby, with a few strands of silver hair hidden among her black hair.

Li Shimin sat on the side, watching the rain outside getting heavier, and said, "Humph, he still looks like the kid he was back then."

Empress Dowager Changsun smiled and said, "Yes, he still looks like a young man, but he has already taken charge of the country."

During the spring ploughing season, under the decree of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, all workshops in the Guanzhong counties were closed, and the villagers in each county were asked to return to the fields to farm. Any workshop that dared to start work privately during this season would be fined.

Over the years, Guanzhong has been developing according to this rule. In this era when farming still relies on livestock and manpower, the efficiency of farming is not high.

Whenever the busy farming season comes, cooperation between the court and the counties is needed.

Therefore, the city tax in Jingzhao Prefecture also entered the off-season.

For a time, all production and manufacturing in Guanzhong counties stopped and would not resume until summer.

In the Taiji Hall, Li Chengqian listened to the report from the Minister of Civil Affairs Chu Suiliang.

This year, the officials in the court all seemed very relaxed. There was no war and no imperial examinations this year, and everyone felt much more relaxed than in previous years.

Duke Ying stood in front of the ministers as usual, as he did every morning at the court, like an unshakable tree, fixed in the court.

After the morning court session, the sun broke through the dark clouds and finally shone its rays on the earth.

Li Chengqian walked alone in the quiet palace.

"Your Majesty, Lord Ying has passed away."

Li Chengqian asked: "Does the emperor have any plans for him?"

The old eunuch replied, "Yes."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly and said, "Leave Ying Gong's affairs to your father to arrange. I agree to everything."

"Here."

Once again walking to the Lingyan Pavilion, Li Chengqian stood here quietly.

Another eunuch hurried over and reported, "Your Majesty, Elder Cen is here."

Li Chengqian turned around and saw Cen Wenben coming with a cane. He went forward to help the old man sit down and asked, "Why did you come to the palace today?"

Cen Wenben handed over a scroll, "Your Majesty, this is the scroll compiled by this old minister."

Li Chengqian took the scroll and said, "This is Tang Wen Shi Yi".

Cen Wenben said: "I hoped that Your Majesty would pay more attention to the foundation of the country. I know that the pressure of supporting education on the country is very great. The money spent on supporting education every year is countless. However, the Tang Dynasty has only been established in the Central Plains for more than 30 years. I hope Your Majesty will pay more attention to the history of the country and the culture."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "This is what I thought. Today's civil servants can also fight on the battlefield."

Cen Wenben said: "I hope this style can continue for another hundred years."

After saying this, Cen Wenben took out a memorial from his bosom with trembling hands. He put his crutches aside, presented it with both hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I am here to retire."

Although I was mentally prepared, when I saw Cen Wenben's eyes, even though I had thousands of words to say to keep him, I couldn't say them at this moment.

Li Chengqian took the memorial, supported him and whispered, "Old Cen, please enjoy your remaining years in retirement."

Cen Wenben bowed again and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian sat next to Mr. Cen and discussed the arrangements for state affairs.

The news was not known to the court or the public until the next day: the Minister of the Central Secretariat Cen Wenben had retired.

After the morning court session today, the emperor summoned the Minister of Personnel Ma Zhou, Duke Ying, and Yu Zhining.

Before Cen Wenben officially left the court, he had to listen to His Majesty's instructions.

Three people were walking towards the new palace. Duke Ying Li Ji was walking in front. His steps were steady and powerful, and his pace was no slower than that of the young people.

The two people following behind were Yu Zhining and Ma Zhou.

Inside the imperial city, in front of the Secretariat, Chu Suiliang stood at the gate, thinking.

Xu Jingzong had just come out of the Secretariat with the decree and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Chu Suiliang raised his head and said, "Since your majesty ascended the throne, you have had two regents, and now both of them are leaving."

Xu Jingzong didn't think it mattered. Anyway, His Majesty had summoned Duke Ying, Ma Zhou and Yu Zhining, and he was not among the prime ministers, and the same went for Chu Suiliang.

He was the popular choice before Your Majesty ascended the throne. When Your Majesty was still the crown prince, you were taught by Duke Xu, and were also cared for by Prime Minister Fang, Duke Zheng, and Duke Li Wei.

Your Majesty is now entrusted with the heavy responsibility of the Zhenguan period. The Tang Dynasty today is open-minded and tolerant, and is showing signs of prosperity. No one knows what the reign of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing was like.

If the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing were the heyday of that time, then the Tang Dynasty should also be entering its most prosperous period.

(End of this chapter)