The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 477 Emperor Gaozu
Grandpa's snoring could still be faintly heard in the Wude Hall. Li Chengqian looked at the night sky outside the hall. The night sky was very nice today.

Li Shimin sat aside, looking at his father and listening to his father's snoring becoming quieter and quieter.

When it was almost dawn, grandpa was still asleep, but his snoring was no longer heard.

Li Shimin sat in the Wude Hall all night with red eyes.

In April of the seventh year of Qianqing's reign, cries were heard from the palace. The entire palace was covered with white cloth, and gradually the entire city of Chang'an was also covered with white cloth.

Li Xin looked at the people who were crying in the hall in confusion. He thought carefully and remembered that every time he cried, Brother Yu Tu always said that crying was useless and could not solve any problem.

But now that the old grandfather has passed away, Brother Yu Tu is the one who cries the saddest.

Li Chongyi, the Minister of Zongzheng Temple, walked into the Wude Hall and brought the old man's coffin.

Li Shimin sat there with red eyes, silent and looking at his father who had passed away.

After reading the regulations prepared by the Zongzheng Temple, Li Chengqian nodded to signal them to arrange the matters.

The old man was eighty-eight years old. Li Zhi always said that grandpa would live to be a hundred years old, but this old man who lived for nearly a century did not live to be a hundred after all.

Li Tai was crying with his hands covering his face, calling for his grandpa over and over again.

Li Chengqian patted him on the back and said, "When Grandpa passed away, he drank the best wine in the world."

The first emperor of the Li Tang Dynasty lived until the seventh year of Qianqing. His life did not have too many ups and downs, but was always on the rise.

Li Chengqian looked at his grandfather's life record in the Zongzheng Temple. His grandfather came from a noble family in Guanlong during the Northern Zhou Dynasty. He was named Duke of Tang during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty. He was a general when he was young. From that time on, the young and high-spirited grandfather began to resist the attacks of the Turks. In his middle age, he participated in Emperor Yang of Sui's Eastern Expedition and was in charge of the rear food and grass for the Sui army on the Eastern Expedition.

My grandfather used to be a brave and skilled general and an emperor who had never lost. When the world was in chaos, the children of the Li family fought on the battlefield and pacified the Central Plains.

After the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, my grandfather entered the city of Chang'an, and his life reached its peak from then on, and he never fell again.

Perhaps the lives of most people are full of ups and downs, but my grandfather is the most special.

The current Tang Dynasty is powerful and glorious, perhaps grandpa is proud enough.

Well, although he often loses his temper, he must be very proud.

My grandfather’s posthumous title was written by my father. He was posthumously named Emperor Taiwu, temple name Gaozu, and was buried in Xianling Mausoleum.

In the next few days, people came one after another to pay homage. Some kowtowed at the Suzaku Gate, and some kowtowed outside the city of Chang'an. My grandfather's relatives and close friends from that year came to mourn.

Li Chengqian and Li Lizhi gave their grandfather the final grooming.

The emperor had been silent these days, his eyes were always red. Li Chengqian saw many uncles had returned and were crying in front of his grandfather's spirit.

When Emperor Gaozu's coffin was carried out of the palace, faint cries of grief could still be heard in the solemn city of Chang'an.

Li Chengqian personally saw his grandfather off and pushed his uncle in a wheelchair all the way.

My uncle, who usually lived in seclusion, no longer refused to see people and joined everyone in bidding farewell to the first Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty.

Envoys from various countries followed behind the farewell procession. Songtsen Gampo personally followed to see Emperor Gaozu off. Among them were envoys from the Lesser Bolor Kingdom, envoys from Nanzhao, Ashina She'er, and Qibi Heli who came from Shazhou.

The procession to see Emperor Gaozu off was very large. The coffin was carried in front on Zhuque Street, and the spacious Zhuque Street behind was full of people. From a distance, Zhuque Street was crowded with people.

Lai Ji wrote about this national mourning. Hundreds of thousands of people came to see Emperor Gaozu off, including envoys from various countries, who all came to pay homage.

As he finished writing in the history book, he stroked his beard and looked at the procession that was seeing him off.

When the team left Chang'an City, many people had to stop, and the royal relatives had to accompany Emperor Gaozu to the Xianling Mausoleum for the rest of the journey.

Songtsen Gampo stopped and stood there, feeling the still cool breeze. Seeing Ashina She'er standing beside him, he said, "You have been entangled with Emperor Gaozu for many years."

The Turks and the Tang Dynasty had no grudges against each other for a long time, and everything disappeared after Jie Li died.

In comparison, the conflict between the Turks and the Tang Dynasty was more straightforward, while Tibet was still hesitating.

Ashina She'er said: "I, She'er, will definitely wipe out the Mohe."

Songtsen Gampo looked at the Turkic man and said, "You are becoming more and more like a Tang person."

"Isn't this bad?"

"Tang people are always so ambitious."

Ashina She'er said, "You have been in Chang'an for so many years, but you still don't look like a Tang person."

Gaozu's funeral lasted for more than a month. After the Xianling Mausoleum was completely closed, another half month passed before the family returned to Chang'an City.

Li Zhi and Li Shen stayed and kept vigil for their grandfather in front of the mausoleum.

Li Lizhi fell seriously ill and only recovered after staying in bed for several days.

Even Li Tai has lost a lot of weight.

Li Chengqian had to face state affairs while wearing mourning clothes.

Yang, the eunuch, came to report: "Your Majesty, the emperor has returned to the village, and the prince has gone to the army."

Yu Tu went to the army, whether for training or to become a general, his father agreed.

It would be good for the kid to get some exercise and suffer a little in the army.

Because he concealed his identity in the army, no one would treat him as a prince. Xue Wanbei would train him as an ordinary soldier.

Since the child was old enough to understand, he no longer lived in the Eastern Palace. He often returned to the palace but did not spend much time in the palace. He was always raised by his father.

Li Chengqian flipped through the memorial and said, "Alright."

Old eunuch Yang nodded and stepped aside.

Li Chengqian rubbed his brows, relaxed for a moment, and once again looked at the documents sent by the four towns of Anxi. Some officials had already entered Suiye City.

In order to build the four Anxi towns, the six ministries and nine temples in the court each sent officials, a total of more than sixty people, most of whom were from the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Works, the Honglu Temple, the Censorate, the Taifu Temple, and the Sinong Temple.

According to the records in the documents, under the leadership of Anxi Protector Li Fengjie, the construction of the four towns of Anxi will be completed this year, and the construction of the highway and the city will be completed. After the division of the oasis, the connection between the four towns of Anxi will be completed as early as next year to form the Anxi Protectorate.

The Anxi Protectorate runs through the Tianshan Mountains from north to south, west to the Pamir Mountains and Suiye City, and east to the Altai Mountains, covering a vast area of ​​2.6 million square kilometers.

After Li Chengqian reviewed the memorials that had accumulated over the past few days, he left the new palace.

The doors of Wude Hall were also closed from then on, just like Ganlu Hall and Lizheng Hall.

It is the busy farming season in Guanzhong. The spring rain this year is very short, and the weather has been sunny for a month.

Early the next morning, the sky was just getting light and there was still some fog in the air. A palace maid was walking in front holding a lantern. The light of the lantern was vaguely visible in the thick fog.

Behind the lanterns were the current emperor, the queen, and Concubine Ning. Li Chengqian, Su Wan, and Ning'er came to the East Palace again.

This place has been sealed for many years. Li Chengqian pushed open the old door of the East Palace and walked into the old place he had not visited for a long time.

My footsteps were on the ground which was still a little wet due to the thick fog.

There were still two hours before the morning court session. Li Chengqian walked in front, while Su Wan and Ning'er followed quietly behind.

It still retains its original appearance.

Li Chengqian walked to the front of Chongwen Hall, pushed open the old door, and placed a book on the table in Chongwen Hall.

This was the book that his grandfather gave him. His grandfather said that this book taught people how to be a good emperor. Li Chengqian once doubted whether his grandfather had been fooled by someone.

It would have been fine if I had been fooled, but neither my grandfather nor my father had read this book, and I was the only grandson who had finished reading it.

A portrait was hung up, in which the grandfather was lying leisurely on his side and drinking. Although he loved alcohol the most, he had quit drinking for more than ten years.

The book that Grandfather had given to me was placed in front of the portrait. Li Chengqian said, "Grandfather gave me everything he left behind."

After staring at the portrait for a long time, Li Chengqian turned around and whispered, "Leave someone here to take care of this place."

The two palace maids saluted in response.

Your Majesty, the Queen, and Concubine Ning had breakfast in the East Palace and then left.

Although state affairs have been heavy recently, the emperor still issues decrees extremely efficiently. Under the operation of this imperial machine, large-scale construction is underway on the east and west sides centered on Chang'an.

Because of the national mourning, state affairs were put on hold for several days. His Majesty approved all of the more than 60 memorials in just one day and also made annotations.

Just half a month after the national mourning ended, when the court was still in recess, a Silla envoy arrived in Chang'an City.

The Silla envoy was named Kim Beommin, the son of Kim Chunchu.

As soon as this man arrived in Chang'an City, he kowtowed and paid homage at the Suzaku Gate, mourned for Emperor Gaozu, and even brought two hundred carts of silver ore from the Taiye Lake in the north of Chang'an City to the imperial palace.

This Jin Famin looked exactly like Jin Chunqiu. Xu Jingzong did not like this man and invited him to the Ministry of Rites and asked, "What are you doing in Chang'an?"

Jin Famin said: "I was escorting the silver mine, but I didn't expect to hear about Emperor Gaozu's story on the way. I have asked someone to write a letter and send it back. My father will also wear mourning for Emperor Gaozu."

Xu Jingzong held the letter from Silla in his hand and asked, "Is Jin Chunqiu the king of Silla now?"

Jin Famin said: "My father is a minister of the state of Silla, and was appointed by the Heavenly Khan. How dare I, how dare I!"

Even though Kim Chunchu is now in Japanese territory, he holds great power in Silla. Except for the fact that he is not a Silla citizen in name, his actual power is no different from that of the King of Silla.

Xu Jingzong ordered: "Go to Sifang Pavilion first. After we report to His Majesty, we will let you know if we need to summon you."

Jin Famin bowed respectfully and then took his leave.

The Ministry of Rites quieted down again, and Xu Jingzong then opened the letter from Silla and began to read it.

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Guo Zhengyi, whispered, "It is likely that Jin Chunqiu has sensed that the court no longer trusts him."

Xu Jingzong put down the letter in his hand and asked, "Jin Chunqiu wants to gain more of our trust, so he sent his son to Chang'an as a hostage? Is he showing his loyalty?"

Guo Zhengyi asked: "Did we underestimate Jin Chunqiu before?"

Xu Jingzong's eyes were gloomy, and he said, "Ambition is cultivated."

"How should I report this to His Majesty?"

"Jin Chunqiu now occupies the Japanese silver mines and continues to send silver mines to Your Majesty. Even if Jin Chunqiu owns more silver mines, he will get nothing if he does not pledge allegiance to the Tang Dynasty. He will only have silver mines."

Guo Zhengyi hesitated and said, "So he is afraid? That's why he sent his son to Chang'an to let the Tang Dynasty relieve its concerns about him?"

Xu Jingzong picked up the brush that was placed aside and wrote as he continued, "Jin Chunqiu will not rebel against the Tang Dynasty. Of course, he has ambitions. What he wants is wealth and glory, and only His Majesty can give him these."

Guo Zhengyi nodded and said, "I wonder what else the Honglu Temple needs to arrange?"

"Keep an eye on the messengers who have contact with Jin Famin."

"Here."

The morning court session had not yet begun, and light had just appeared in the sky. Today's thick fog had not yet dissipated, but there were already many busy figures in the imperial city.

In the official residences of the imperial city, officials walked back and forth, handling various state affairs.

When the sun shines completely on the imperial city, all the civil and military officials who were going to attend the morning court arrived at Chengtian Gate. When Chengtian Gate opened, the court officials walked towards Taiji Hall. Everyone walked in silence, and the sound of dense footsteps could be heard among the crowd.

The Tai Chi Hall had been cleaned up early, the floor was clean, and the windows were open for ventilation.

Duke Ying Li Ji walked to the front of the line of generals, then stood still with his eyes closed.

Cheng Yaojin stood behind Li Ji, also with his eyes closed and his head lowered.

The national mourning had just ended and the expressions of the ministers were solemn.

On ordinary days, before the court meeting begins, everyone usually discusses some daily matters at this time.

The first court meeting after the national mourning was very quiet.

Today's morning court session did not begin until Li Chengqian walked into the court and sat on the throne.

Many matters in the court today are still centered around the construction of the Anxi Protectorate and the canal's water transport construction.

The Ministry of Industry is reporting on the progress of the canal construction. A huge new port has been built in Luoyang to accommodate ships coming and going, and to collect city taxes from ships, which are collected according to the size of the ship and the amount of cargo it carries.

The Ministry of Works arranged more than 50 officials and sent them to the north and south upstream and downstream of the canal to build 24 ports in each prefecture along the canal and dispatch personnel.

After honeycomb coal, a new large-scale employment opportunity will emerge in the Tang Dynasty. People can find jobs along the canal and make a living from it.

Just like coal mines, villages and counties were built on both sides of the canal, Chongwen Hall was built, and even workshops could be developed around an economic entity.

"Your Majesty." Sun Chuyue stepped out of the court and said, "I am afraid that the workshops in Guanzhong will flow to Luoyang."

Luoyang's geographical location is really good. With the canal as the center, goods can be more easily circulated through water transportation.

Chu Suiliang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I think there is no need to worry."

Then, Xu Jingzong stood out of the court and said, "Your Majesty, the production and construction in Guanzhong were all carried out according to the strategy of adapting measures to local conditions. Cotton from the Western Regions was sent to Guanzhong most quickly. Cotton cloth cannot be separated from Guanzhong. The same is true for grapes in Guanzhong. Luoyang cannot grow grapes like those in Guanzhong. Guanzhong's soy sauce, vinegar, and wine all have geographical advantages. Going to Luoyang will lose the geographical advantages."

Appendix: Map of the Four Towns of Anxi

(End of this chapter)