The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 475: The Civil Rule of the Centralized Emperor

Li Shimin looked at the map and nodded slightly, looking for places that needed correction.

Mingda, who was wearing a Taoist robe, said, "Brother, it's time to offer sacrifices to our father."

Li Chengqian took the scroll of offering sacrifice from the eunuch beside him and glanced at the children behind him. A group of children, led by Yu Tu, were playing happily in new clothes.

Facing the portrait of Daozu, the father and son bowed down in obeisance.

This is not a big sacrifice, it is just a New Year's Eve event to commemorate the ancestors.

He had no idea whether the ancestor of the Li family was the Taoist ancestor. Whether he recognized the Li family as emperor or not, the Taoist ancestor would not speak for it anyway.

When the sacrifice was completed, my father asked about state affairs again.

A map was placed in front of the father and son. Li Shimin frowned and looked at the map and said, "Is there really a hundred thousand acres of farmland in the heart of Tianshan Mountain?"

"The construction of the four Anxi towns and the Anxi Protectorate was for the purpose of farming. Qiuci is a rich land. Including the Northern Court and Yanqi, there are still 50 hectares of land."

Li Shimin looked at the huge land for military farming drawn on the map, stroked his beard and said nothing.

Li Chengqian said: "When we conquered Talas City and then withdrew, we were worried that the rear would not be able to provide support. With military farms, we can station troops there. Moreover, we have the karez. We can connect the Western Regions with the four Anxi towns and build the Anxi Protectorate. Then we can compete with the Arabs."

"Now most of the officials of Sinong Temple have been sent to the Western Regions. They are still thinking about what to plant. They can't just plant cotton."

Li Shimin said: "How are things in the court? I heard that you have a lot to do recently."

"I want to build the Anxi Protectorate, and to the east I want to build a canal for shipping. We will work on both sides, and both the civil officials and the military will be very busy next year."

As we were talking, grandpa in the wheelchair fell asleep again.

My grandfather is always like this now. At this advanced age, as his body becomes weaker and weaker, he always falls asleep without knowing it, and after waking up, he can't remember where he is. He always has to wait for people around him to persuade him before he can remember where he is and when.

Then, Li Chengqian took out another map and said, "The canal transportation must be in the hands of the state in order to benefit the people on both sides of the canal. After the cleanup in the past few years, the local forces on both sides of the canal have been almost eliminated. This canal should also play a role."

Li Shimin took a sip of tea with a serious look on his face. "Fuji has been moving among the big families in Longyou recently."

"I have indeed not considered their interests since I ascended the throne."

"Your uncle took a lot of trouble over this."

Li Chengqian sat upright with his hands in his pockets and said, "Does my son need to consider their interests?"

Li Shimin shook his head slowly, "That's not necessary."

"There are some people whose interests I must consider."

"Well, tell me."

"I have read the letters from the villagers and the soldiers in the army over the years."

Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "Letter?"

"Yes." Li Chengqian took out a roll of brown silk from his sleeve and said, "These are letters sent home by soldiers at the border. A lot of these letters have been collected. Some families' children have gone to serve as soldiers, and their families have regarded their sons who have gone to the border as dead. Although I have asked Jingzhao Prefecture to take care of the families of soldiers at the border, I have also asked them to treat the old soldiers well."

"But I want to do more. In the future, Chongwenguan will follow the army and write letters to the soldiers. If a family's sons and daughters join the army, they will not only be given more land, but also the soldiers' wages will be sent to their families according to their monthly salary. Their families can get houses, medical treatment and their children can go to school."

Seeing that his father was silent, Li Chengqian said, "Father was a general of Tiance. Although I am not a general, our Li family cannot forget those soldiers."

After reading the letter, Yu Tu said, "Dad, Grandpa! I want to be a general."

Li Shimin glanced at his grandson, ignored the child's words, and said calmly: "You arrange it. You have always been the one to arrange the expenses of the court. I will rest assured if you do these things."

"Ah."

"You are the emperor now. You don't need to tell me about these things. If the old generals in the army need me to inform them, just do it."

Li Chengqian nodded, "Thank you for your help, father."

In February of the seventh year of the Qianqing reign, on the Lantern Festival, a grand court meeting was held. Most of the residents of Chang'an gathered outside the Suzaku Gate to see if there would be any new national policies posted this year.

As early as before last year's New Year's Eve, there were rumors in the government and the public that the canal transportation system would be opened, but no one knows what the situation is now.

When people stand at the Suzaku Gate, they can vaguely see the Chengtian Gate in the distance, but they cannot see the Taiji Hall.

An eunuch came to the front of the Suzaku Gate quickly and said in a loud voice: "Some people have advised your majesty to move the capital to Luoyang. Since the Wude and Zhenguan periods, the emperors have guarded Guanzhong. I know that the construction of Guanzhong has not been completed yet, and I will never leave. Please don't discuss it again."

The first decree was issued. As was almost an annual practice, someone again advised the emperor to move the capital, but the emperor refused again.

The decree was posted next to the Suzaku Gate and people were watching.

Another decree was passed out, and the eunuch said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty has ordered that the soldiers of all prefectures and cities in the country be increased, and the salaries of all soldiers in the country be increased by 50%. The salaries of soldiers guarding the border will be increased by three times, and their children and families will be given additional land, housing, medical care, and education. All soldiers guarding the border, from generals to captains, will be treated the same way."

As soon as this decree came out and was recited, it caused an uproar. The emperor's decree had an air of letting one person guard the border and his whole family not have to worry.

More and more people were crowding towards the Suzaku Gate, wanting to see the decree clearly. Some people had already copied it down and distributed it to the people in the back.

In the seventh year of Qianqing's reign, during the court meeting on the Lantern Festival, the emperor's decree spread among the people at an incredible speed.

Gao Shilian said to the old general Li Daliang: "Look, have you ever seen such a scenery in your life?"

Li Daliang looked at the crowded crowd at the Suzaku Gate. People were about to rush into the Suzaku Gate to listen to the emperor's orders.

In recent years, more and more people want to hear the emperor's will. I don't know when it started, but the court's will began to be closely related to the lives of ordinary people, which led to people always paying attention to the news in the court and the country.

Li Daliang said: "I have never seen such scenes in the past, but this is the first time I have seen such scenes."

Gao Shilian nodded with satisfaction.

Then came the second decree. The eunuch said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty has ordered the construction of twelve granaries in Guanzhong, storing 50 million shi of grain, to be transported from Luoyang. The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works will jointly preside over it, and all counties must obey the order."

Guanzhong has a population of over three million. If 50 million shi of grain can be stored in Guanzhong, even if the current population growth is maintained, Guanzhong will not have to worry about food shortages in the next few years.

The emperor finally took action to curb grain prices. People speculated that the emperor hoped that the grain price in Guanzhong could be reduced to six cents per dou?
Gao Shilian whispered: "With money and soldiers, the officials in the court are getting more and more exhausted."

Li Daliang laughed and said, "I'm afraid many people will resign again."

Gao Shilian also smiled and said, "Your Majesty never cares about those who resign."

In the past, if someone wanted to resign during the Zhenguan period, the emperor would definitely try to keep them.

But the emperor today is different. He will not bargain with court officials and will approve any resignation.

When the two regents left, the emperor did not try to persuade them to stay. The next order was about construction, mostly encouraging people to have children and increasing housing construction.

By noon, the Taiji Hall had issued five consecutive edicts.

Half a quarter past noon, another decree was issued, "The Censorate will recruit additional river inspectors, and the Ministry of Works will appoint craftsmen, to be presided over by the King of Wei and the King of Wu."

While people were still digesting the profound meaning of this decree, another decree came.

"Officials should be governed by righteousness. Without righteousness in the world, the country will not be at peace. Duke Zheng's words of advice and admonition are to alert the world. He ordered the Chongwen Academy to compile the Wenzhen Records. He hoped that the anecdotes of the Zhenguan period would continue to be passed down. He ordered the Hongwen Academy to compile the Zhenguan Zhengyao."

This decree seems very simple, just two decrees to compile books.

Since the Jin Dynasty and the Southern and Northern Dynasties, rites and laws were once in chaos.

In the past, people were still arguing about Confucianism and Taoism. Some people used Confucianism to govern the country, while others used Legalism. There was also a debate about the kingly way...

However, the Qianqing Dynasty was not limited by this. Among the many ancient theories of governing the country, His Majesty did not choose any of them, but instead chose a person who had profound significance for the Tang Dynasty, Wei Zheng.

The two words "Wenzhen" in "Wenzhenlu" are Wei Zheng's posthumous title. The emperor elevated Duke Zheng to a new height, and educated officials with the concept of governing the country and the political propositions based on Duke Zheng's thoughts and the Tang Dynasty laws as the core.

Perhaps this approach will not cause too much controversy, nor will it cause decades-long debates like the Confucian classics. Such debates will cause the country to be without a core governing philosophy for a long time and fall into chaos.

Therefore, the ideas of the Qianqing Dynasty were clear and simple.

It clearly points out the Zheng Gong's proposition of refraining from extravagance and practicing frugality, distinguishing rewards and punishments clearly, not showing favoritism, being vigilant in times of peace, and being cautious at the beginning and the end...

The emperor regarded Duke Zheng as a role model for all the literati in the world.

Everyone must memorize Wei Zheng's words, and children must read them starting from elementary school.

Under the arrangement of this strong-handed and extremely centralized emperor, the main tone of the Tang Dynasty's civil governance during the Qianqing reign was set at this year's court meeting.

An eagle flew out from nowhere, perhaps it was brought into Chang'an City by some Hu people. It flapped its wings and flew over the market town of Chang'an City, flying higher and higher, and then flew over the Zhuque Gate which was surrounded by people.

Behind Chengtian Gate, the end of the field of vision is the Taiji Hall.

The emperor sat in the Taiji Hall, listening calmly to the arguments of his courtiers.

Today is the New Year's grand court meeting. The emperor is wearing the solemn crown and robes of the emperor. His eyes are on all the civil and military officials in the court, as well as the endless number of civil and military officials in front of the Taiji Hall, which stretches from the Taiji Hall to Chengtian Gate.

Li Chengqian also saw the eagle flying by, and he could even see the color of its feathers in the sunlight.

Inside the main hall, the envoys from the Pamir Mountains were reciting the Arabs’ letter in the unfamiliar Guanzhong dialect.

This is a letter written by the fourth Alifa of the Caliphate of Arabia. The content of the letter simply expresses the willingness to make friends with the Tang Dynasty. Arabia is willing to make friends with the Tang Dynasty and to be friendly neighbors from now on.

After he finished speaking, Li Chengqian still sat on the throne, his face calm and silent. In fact, he didn't like these words in his heart.

Xu Jingzong stood out from the court and said, "Your Majesty, the Arabs are so arrogant that they want to be on an equal footing with the Heavenly Khan?"

Guo Zhengyi stood out from the court and said: "The Arabs should send envoys to the Tang Dynasty and submit to it."

Liang Jianfang stood out from the line of military officers and said loudly: "Your Majesty! I second the motion! The Arabs are so arrogant, how can we tolerate it!"

Duke Ying was still standing at the front of the line of military generals, wearing the first-rank court robes of the current dynasty, silent and motionless.

In terms of external stance, civil officials and military generals stood on a united front.

Chu Suiliang said: "Minister Xu has the style of Duke Zheng in his past, Your Majesty! I think the Caliph of the Arabs should come to the Taiji Hall to apologize."

The envoy from Dayuan knelt on the ground and dared not speak.

Now that all the state affairs have been ordered, Li Chengqian said: "The battle of Congling was because you, the Congling Hu, looted several times. I sent envoys to negotiate peace several times, but you didn't listen. The battle of Talas in the past was to protect the Ili River. At that time, the Arabs dared to offend the state affairs of our Tang Dynasty."

"Now that the Arabs have asked for peace, does that mean the matter will just end like that?" As he spoke, Li Chengqian slowly stood up.

Upon seeing this, all the ministers bowed in unison.

"The feud between the Tang Dynasty and the Congling Hu people does not need outsiders to interfere. The Arabs attacked our Tang army, and I will settle accounts with them sooner or later."

The emperor's words were clear and powerful, and fell into everyone's eyes.

Duke Ying Li Ji was the first to salute and said, "Your Majesty, you are wise!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

All the ministers followed suit and cheered.

Li Chengqian waved his wide sleeves and stared at the envoy from Dayuan with cold eyes.

The envoy knelt on the ground, and seemed to feel the cold gaze of His Majesty, and was trembling.

"I tell you, the accounts between the Arabs and the Tang Dynasty have not been settled yet. Before that, I will not consider any conditions for peace."

"Yes... yes..." the Dayuan envoy responded with trembling teeth.

Tian Khan's aura was so strong that just hearing his words made the messenger kneel on the ground and tremble.

Li Chengqian also said: "Each department shall follow the arrangements of the Secretariat and carry out their own policies. Then the court will be dismissed."

The ministers saluted once again.

No one moved in the Taiji Hall until His Majesty left and his figure disappeared completely. Then someone took a deep breath.

When the court was dismissed today, the ministers left the Taiji Hall one after another.

However, today, something unexpected happened when everyone was leaving the Tai Chi Hall.

The envoy from Dayuan who brought the letter from the Arabs fell on the steps of the Taiji Hall, uttered a scream, and fell down the stairs.

Then I saw him falling to the ground, hugging his leg. It seemed that his knee was injured. And judging from the degree of bending of his knee, one leg was obviously disabled.

"Jiang Shiren!" an imperial censor shouted, "You actually committed a crime in front of the palace!"

The court officials all stopped walking, but Duke Ying continued walking without any reaction to the movement behind him.

Seeing the court officials around him stop in their tracks, Jiang Shiren said nonchalantly, "I'm committing a crime? What crime would I commit?"

(End of this chapter)