The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 486: The Battle of Canal Transport
The Queen of India asked to buy all the tea as soon as she opened her mouth. Although the small Kingdom of Bolor was rich, it did not have as much gold as India.

The Nanzhao envoy looked solemn and sat aside in silence.

There is no need to talk about this.

The gap between countries is incomparable. Although India has experienced several wars, it still retains most of its wealth.

The remaining small countries soon lost their voice and became supporting roles. It was cruel and there was no room for them.

The Ministry of Rites completed this year's tea trade, and the court received 200 kilograms of gold from India.

As is the case in the court, the tea business is also in full swing in the streets and countryside this year.

When tea was no longer a drink only enjoyed by the rich and powerful, many tea-related etiquettes were simplified a lot, and people were even able to come up with various uses for tea and ways to preserve it.

There were not many new things in the Tang Dynasty, and the popularization of tea was one of them.

Many imperial decrees are still posted on the city wall next to the Suzaku Gate, and people from all over the city can walk up to see what the court is doing at any time.

The court wanted to build a grain transport supervisory agency under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works.

Obviously, the emperor had to continue spending money on grain transport.

After the spring hunting was over, the emperor returned and his ministers also returned.

The emperor was still in Chang'an City, like a nail, nailing the court officials and the center of the country to Chang'an City.

The people felt at ease again and were no longer worried.

Today in the Secretariat, everyone began to argue about the construction of the Grain Transport Administration. Officials from the Censorate and the Ministry of Personnel argued endlessly from morning to afternoon, and even the Ministry of War got involved.

The Jinwu Guards were already prepared on the side, and if a fight broke out in the Secretariat, they would definitely rush in to stop the fight.

There are not many elderly people in the court now. For example, Ma Zhou, Yu Zhining, and Chu Suiliang are all in their early fifties and still in good health.

In the Secretariat, Yu Zhining now serves as the Minister of the Secretariat and Minister of War. He is the emperor's most trusted minister and is also in charge of the court's expenses. Naturally, he is involved in this debate.

Du Zhenglun was the Minister of Personnel and concurrently the Imperial Censor, and was also involved in the dispute.

It was almost dusk and the argument had not produced any result. After everyone had left, Yu Zhining sorted out the files in front of him and met Xu Yushi as he walked out of the Secretariat.

Yu Zhining said, "It's time to go back. Today's work is done."

Seeing the door of the Secretariat close, Xu Yushi caught up and said, "I want to be the director of the Canal Transport Bureau."

Yu Zhining hesitated for a moment, glanced at him, and said, "Your Majesty and the Ministry of Personnel will make their own arrangements for this matter."

Xu Yushi hurried forward and said, "I noticed that the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Personnel are all vying for the position of Supervisor."

"Can you beat them?"

"The grain transport is related to people's livelihood, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs should be involved."

Yu Zhining observed this highly motivated man and said, "Each of the six ministries in the court has a quota. You can ask Chu Suiliang for the quota. He is the Minister of Civil Affairs of your Ministry."

"I heard that Minister Yu has two vacancies."

"Yes, I am the Minister of the Central Secretariat, and I have two vacancies like the Minister of the Court Ma Zhou."

Xu Yushi bowed again and said, "Please, Minister Yu, please reserve a place for me."

Yu Zhining stopped and looked back at him.

Xu Yushi lowered his attitude and said, "I dare to say that the Ministry of Civil Affairs has to fight for the grain transport issue."

Yu Zhining was quite troubled and asked, "Do you know that the fight between Xu Jingzong and Chu Suiliang is getting more and more intense? Is this your own idea, or did Chu Suiliang ask you to come?"

"It's all my own free will. It has nothing to do with Minister Chu. Besides..." Xu Yushi whispered, "Minister Chu didn't give me the quota."

There is only one candidate for the position of Superintendent of Grain Transport. Each ministry will recommend candidates, and Your Majesty and the Ministry of Personnel will choose. This is the current rule for selecting officials from among the existing officials in the court.

Although it is not a written rule, officials from all departments act in accordance with this rule to maintain a certain degree of fairness.

Yu Zhining said, "Draw up a dossier on the canal transport dispatch and show it to me. If you can really manage the canal transport well, I will naturally recommend you. If not, then I will pretend that I did not say this today."

"Thanks……"

"Don't thank me yet. Let me see how much you have prepared. Those who want to seek the position of Director of the Canal Transport have also made a lot of preparations, no less than you, such as Zhao Renben of the Secretary General, Zhang Da'an of Jingzhao Prefecture, Li Jingxuan of the Ministry of Works, and Gao Zhizhou of the Imperial Palace. As far as I know, they have all been preparing for the position of Director of the Canal Transport for a long time."

Of course, Xu Yushi was a Jinshi during the Zhenguan period, and he was not lacking in both knowledge and qualifications.

Yu Zhining nodded and said, "Let's give it a try."

"Here."

Half a month later, the current emperor was cleaning the ancestral temple. The only deceased member of the current Emperor Li Tang was his grandfather, and the spirit tablet in the clan seemed a little empty.

The rest are two royal family generals who died in battle, Li Daoxuan and Li Shentong. Those who can enter the ancestral temple are recognized by the royal family, and not everyone's spirit tablets can enter the ancestral temple.

The sound of footsteps came closer and closer. Today was the day for officials from various departments to submit their candidates. After half a month of preparation, it was time to have a result.

Li Chengqian walked out of the ancestral temple and looked at the six Shangshu and three Siqing in front of him, a total of nine people.

He ordered people to prepare tables and chairs, and everyone sat down and took out their recommendation letters.

Seeing that Ma Zhou and Yu Zhining each took out two copies, while Duke Ying had none at all, Xu Jingzong understood that the military seemed not to be involved in this grain transport.

These three are the main people in the court now. Ma Zhou and Yu Zhining are in charge of civil officials, and Duke Ying is in charge of the military.

Many important events in the court cannot avoid these three people.

This is the rule in the court today. Everyone has his or her own duties. In each county or the six ministries of the court, any new position or new resources must compete fairly.

You can also make comments and vote to decide matters.

From the time when Your Majesty was still the crown prince to now, over the years, this court has been evolving into what Your Majesty wants.

Compared with Prime Minister Fang, Duke Zhao and Duke Zheng who were in charge of state affairs back then.

Your Majesty has reduced the decision-making power of the central government and increased the voice of the six ministries and nine temples. He is also willing to listen to the advice of his ministers and discuss everything.

Your Majesty rarely makes decisions on state affairs on his own, and the ministers no longer just raise problems without proposing solutions as they did in the past.

The court, the country, the emperor and his subjects are all changing. After several years of adjustments, the current situation has been achieved. The emperor is no longer autocratic, and the subjects are no longer powerful officials.

Xu Jingzong sat down in his seat and saw Chu Suiliang also sitting next to him. He turned his head away with an unhappy look.

Soon, the memorials piled up in front of the emperor.

The eunuchs were pouring tea for the ministers. The incense in the ancestral temple was so strong that one could faintly smell the aroma of incense.

Everyone sat upright, waiting for His Majesty to finish reading the memorials. After a long while, Li Chengqian finished reading more than ten memorials, and then said, "Among these people, only Master Xu Yu read the Comprehensive Geography of the Literature Museum."

Xu Jingzong looked at Chu Suiliang standing aside.

The others also looked at the Minister of Civil Affairs, Chu Suiliang.

Only Chu Suiliang himself felt a little nervous, and he did not recommend his own Minister Xu Yushi.

While hesitating, Chu Suiliang picked up the tea bowl and took a sip of tea, then looked at Ma Zhou and Yu Zhining again.

Only these two people are qualified to recommend two names, because Ma Zhou is the current Shizhong and Yu Zhining is the current Zhongshu Ling.

The military did not get involved and Duke Ying did not submit any memorials.

Only Ma Zhou and Yu Zhining submitted two.

After reading it, Li Chengqian handed the memorial to Ma Zhou who was standing beside him and said, "Pass it down and have a look."

Ma Zhou took the memorial handed over by His Majesty, opened it and looked at the handwriting. Xu Yushi, as the current Minister of Civil Affairs, has been in charge of the dispatch of grain and fodder in Guanzhong.

When grain and grass from Luoyang, Songzhou and Shuzhong were transported to Guanzhong, the dispatch had to be approved by Xu Yushi.

This assistant minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs has always worked diligently. If he had not been recommended as the Director of the Grain Transport Administration this time, everyone would have forgotten about this former imperial examination winner.

Looking back now, Xu Yushi was indeed a very good candidate.

Everyone passed the memorial around and nodded, thinking that Xu Yushi's water transport plan was very good, and he also knew the grain production in various parts of the Central Plains.

When Xu Yushi's memorial was placed on the table, Li Chengqian said, "If you have no other ideas, let Xu Yushi serve as the Director of the Canal Transport in the summer of this year, and be in charge of the canal transport. He will be on trial until this winter, and if he is suitable, he will continue to serve."

His Majesty did not finish his words, and also gave everyone a way out. He let Xu Yushi serve as the Director of the Grain Transport Administration first, but it was only a trial period. If he did not do well, he could be replaced in the future.

After a brief conversation, many important powers of the grain transport fell into the hands of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

When leaving, everyone felt emotional. Nowadays, if one wants to gain power and get promoted in the court, one not only needs to work hard, but also work hard in the right direction.

This is because your Majesty is an emperor who attaches great importance to ability. Anyone who holds an important position in the court needs to make achievements in certain areas.

Among those who left, even the previously inconspicuous Di Zhixun has become the current Minister of Justice because of his performance when he served in Jingzhao Prefecture.

Some people say that Di Zhixun was able to become the Minister of Justice because he was the only one who impeached the old Cheng family's Niu. In fact, it is not true. Di Zhixun made many achievements in criminal law. Under his rule, many cases were properly handled and there had been no unjust cases in the Tang Dynasty for many years.

Xu Yushi became the supervisor of canal shipping as he wished.

Yu Zhining returned to the Secretariat and saw Chu Suiliang standing in front of his desk. He asked, "Do you have any questions?"

Chu Suiliang said: "Since Master Xu Yu is interested in taking the post of Director of the Grain Transport Administration, you can talk to me."

Yu Zhining sorted out a stack of documents and put them aside. "Because you have other candidates, Master Xu Yu came to me. I already have a spare position. The court only promotes the talented. This is as it should be."

"Besides, the court should try not to miss any available talents. What do you think?"

Chu Suiliang bowed and said, "I will teach you."

Yu Zhining looked at him and said, "Okay, go and do your thing."

After the issue of grain transport was settled, Yu Zhining was reviewing documents from various departments when he heard the news that His Majesty had summoned Jin Chunqiu.

Inside the new palace, Li Chengqian looked at Jin Chunqiu, who was in tears, and read his report. He then asked, "So, now the people of Silla are proud of being able to write in the Central Plains language?"

Duke Ying Li Ji sat on the sidelines in silence.

Jin Chunqiu wiped away his tears, knelt on the ground, and said: "Your Majesty, Silla lacked writing. It was the teachers from Chongwenguan who taught Silla people to write. Silla now has writing. I shed tears for this."

After saying this, he knelt down again and started crying again.

Li Chengqian stroked his forehead, feeling a headache when he saw a man with half of his hair and beard white crying so bitterly.

After several years of separation, when Jin Chunqiu left with the eastern expedition army, the prince was still the prince, but when he came back, the prince had become His Majesty today.

How could this not make him burst into tears? He knelt on the ground and sobbed.

Li Chengqian said: "Don't cry."

Jin Chunqiu was still choking with sobs, and added: "I congratulate Your Majesty, I can't help crying."

Li Chengqian placed one hand on the table, his palm just covering the roll of memorials, and said in a deep voice: "You have suffered a lot these years."

Jin Chunqiu said loudly: "It is not a pity for me to die for your majesty, and these things are nothing."

"That's not how you should use "not a pity to die". You should read more books in the future."

"I made a mistake in my words. I am not well-read. I am ashamed to have embarrassed Your Majesty."

He liked to call himself a minister. At least he was no longer a foreign minister, but a true Tang person, a minister of the Tang Emperor.

In the future, there will be more people like this who aspire to become a Tang person.

It was not a bad thing for the Tang Dynasty that the people of various countries formed such a centripetal force. Whether they were Silla people or Turks, they were all people of the Heavenly Khan.

Li Chengqian asked: "So there are still many silver mines there?"

Jin Chunqiu said: "Every time there is an earthquake or a volcano eruption, some silver ore will come out of the mountain."

"Are volcanic eruptions common nowadays?"

"Over the years, I have seen it five times. It was not the same mountain. Volcanoes in different places occasionally erupted. The largest one engulfed a thousand miles of land, and everywhere it passed was scorched earth."

Jin Chunqiu recalled the original scene. It sounded like the mountain was roaring towards the sky, thick smoke went straight into the sky, covering the sky and the sun, ashes filled the sky, and desperate people knelt on the ground, praying for protection.

The magma swallowed up everything, engulfing their houses, farmlands, and forests. When everything calmed down, it all turned into a scorched earth and a barren land.

There was also the surging sea water, which was pouring back and causing the earth to shake. Wherever the sea water passed, all people and animals died.

Many times, Jin Chunqiu took advantage of the volcano's eruption to trap the Japanese at the foot of the mountain and let them be swallowed by the magma in order to obtain more silver mines.

This went on for several years.

"How many Japanese are there now?"

Jin Chunqiu stopped crying and continued to kneel on the ground, saying, "Your Majesty, I will execute all of them before I return. I am afraid there are still some hiding in the mountains and forests. I think I can send troops to destroy them in the future."

His reply was not much different from Liu Boying's memorial.

However, Jin Chunqiu's words were still conservative. Liu Boying's memorial recorded that Jin Chunqiu killed all the Japanese he could see.

There were only a very small number of people hiding, and it was difficult to search for them. In addition, he had to leave the Japanese territory when the imperial edict arrived.

(End of this chapter)