The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 51 The Crown Prince Defending Chang'an

The Eastern Palace was very efficient and memorials sent from the Secretariat were approved in less than three hours.

It can also provide annotations. Although the annotations left by the prince seem unfamiliar, the key can still be found after further investigation.

Fang Xuanling stroked his beard and was silent for a long time, then said: "If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can teach us well, our lives will not be in vain in the future."

Hearing this, Changsun Wuji on the side smiled and said, "Prime Minister Fang is right. His Majesty specifically instructed us to teach the prince."

Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "Your Majesty has also instructed me in the same way."

Changsun Wuji smiled. It was a good thing that his nephew was capable. Whether it was the vote in the Taiji Hall or his ability to handle government affairs now, it was enough to show that this nephew was an excellent seedling and a top-notch one.

From his abilities to his overall perspective, none of your Majesty's other children can compare to him.

Although Qingque is very insightful, he does not have the same overall view as Chengqian in thinking about things.

Not to mention King Wu Li Ke.

Cheng Qian only made a slight contribution to political affairs, but he received such high praise from Fang Xuanling.

Chang Sun Wuji said with a smile: "Prime Minister Fang, please let me know if these memorials from the Crown Prince can be distributed."

Fang Xuanling said: "I will help Your Highness revise it again, and then it can be sent out."

"In fact, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has become a little withdrawn after a serious illness. Now that I have some free time, I can take Fang Xiang to see the Crown Prince and give him some more guidance."

"Okay." Fang Xuanling smiled reluctantly.

Now Changsun Wuji is somewhat relieved that he has been close to the prince these two days. At least he can't let the old man Fang Xuanling get ahead of him.

Normally, it would take His Majesty at least two days to review and approve these memorials, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince only took half a day and was even able to leave comments.

As a result, after these memorials were distributed, there were soon people in the Secretariat who had nothing to do.

Those who have some free time can chat about family matters.

Changsun Wuji also walked out of the Secretariat holding two memorials.

Cen Wenben walked to the side of Fang Xiang and said, "Duke Zhao means that the Crown Prince is aloof by nature and not easy to approach, so he still needs his introduction?"

Fang Xuanling shook his head and smiled, "It's not just Changsun Wuji's job to teach the prince."

Cen Wenben nodded and said, "That's how it should be."

In the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian finished his work for the day and took a nap for an hour. When he woke up, it was raining outside again.

Li Lizhi was still eating zonggao with Ning'er.

Seeing that her brother had woken up, she picked up her chopsticks and said, "Brother, please eat some zongzi."

Zenggao is the sister's favorite food. Li Chengqian washed his face, looked at the rain outside and said, "You can eat it. You just woke up and can't eat."

Li Lizhi even divided some of the food into a box, saying, "The rest is for the Queen Mother and Little Sizi."

"Well, Sizi is still young, don't feed her too much at once."

"I understand." Li Lizhi walked out of the hall holding her skirt in one hand and the food box in the other.

Xiaofu quickly held an umbrella for Princess Changle and escorted her to Lizheng Palace.

After taking a sip of hot tea, Li Chengqian finally felt more awake and asked, "Are there any more memorials coming?"

Ning Er bowed and said, "All the approved documents have been sent out at noon. No more have been sent."

"Yeah." Li Chengqian took a deep breath of fresh air, stretched lazily and said, "Let's go relax."

Hearing that His Highness wanted to relax on the rainy day, Ning'er was still a little hesitant and had to take the bamboo umbrella beside her.

Li Chengqian also held an umbrella for himself, and the two walked outside the hall, listening to the sound of rain falling on the umbrella.

There was some water accumulated on the slightly bumpy ground of the East Palace. When Li Chengqian walked to Chengtian Gate, the one guarding there was the clan general Li Daoyan.

He was among the generals who returned with a great victory and fought against Tuyuhun, and was also rewarded. Now he is on duty in the Jinwu Guard as a deputy general under General Yuchi Gong, and is on duty at Chengtian Gate.

Li Daoyan was one of the four generals of the royal family at that time and the son of Li Shentong.

Now he is over 30 years old and is one of the bravest generals of his generation in the army.

He began to make many military achievements when he was young.

Seeing His Royal Highness the Crown Prince coming towards him, Li Daoyan quickly saluted and said, "Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian said: "Brother Daoyan, let me take a look at the city defense of Chang'an.?"

"Here."

Li Daoyan led the way up to the city wall, where he introduced the current defense status of Chang'an City.

There were three generals guarding the entire Chang'an. One was General Cheng Yaojin, the other was General Li Ji, and the other was Li Daoyan.

This time when Your Majesty went to Mount Li for the autumn hunting, you mobilized 5,000 soldiers and horses. Now the number of soldiers guarding Chang'an City has increased from the previous 20,000 to 40,000.

Three miles outside Chang'an City, there are the Leading Army Guards to provide support. To the north of Chang'an City, outside the Xuanwu Gate, there are General Qin Qiong's Left Guards guarding, thus ensuring the safety of Chang'an.

Listening to him chattering, Li Chengqian observed the situation of Chengtian Gate. Chengtian Gate was not very tall, so it was no wonder that his father had chosen Xuanwu Gate, which had taller city walls and was more remote.

After all, if there is any trouble in Chengtian Gate, reinforcements from all directions will immediately surround it.

Li Chengqian looked back in the direction of the East Palace. The East Palace was closer to Chengtian Gate and farther from Taiji Hall.

Walking past the city wall of Chengtian Gate, Li Daoyan bowed and said, "I can only escort His Royal Highness the Crown Prince here. Please forgive me for not leaving my post without permission."

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and said, "It's okay. You can accompany me for a walk. This is my order."

"Here!"

After saying that, Li Daoyan called a few guards to follow His Highness.

It was normal for the prince to stay in Chang'an City to check the city defenses and ask a few questions from the army.

As long as Ning'er doesn't say what can't be done, other activities should be fine.

The defenses of Zhuque Gate are not as strict as those of Chengtian Gate, and the people guarding here are all strangers, so there is not much to say.

The Suzaku Gate guards the imperial city. The three provinces and six ministries are all in the imperial city. Officials coming and going would bow to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince when they saw him.

They bowed and greeted each other, and Li Chengqian responded with a smile.

When we arrived at Chunming Gate, there were a lot more guards on the city wall and it was more lively.

There were two or three soldiers sitting lazily on the city wall. They did not know the prince, but they knew Li Daoyan in the army.

When he saw the general, he quickly stood up and stood straight.

With the crown prince beside him, Li Daoyan could not reprimand them on the spot. He could only glare at those lazy soldiers with a stern face.

The Crown Prince should guard Chang'an in the manner of a defender. Even if he does not have military power, it is reasonable for him to take a look at the city defense. At least he should let his father and the court officials feel that I am guarding Chang'an with all my heart.

When I got to the top of the tower, I heard a series of scoldings. I looked up and saw that it was General Cheng Yaojin who was scolding a sturdy young man. The young man was standing in the rain with wet clothes and some mud on his body, looking very embarrassed.

"You bastard, if you dare to sneak into the army again, I will break your legs!" Cheng Yaojin, wearing armor and holding a rattan whip in his hand, said angrily.

Li Chengqian walked up to the city wall, and immediately a guard beside him went to the general and whispered a few words.

Hearing this, Cheng Yaojin immediately put on a smile and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Thank you, General, for guarding Chang'an."

As ferocious as Cheng Yaojin had been just now, his expression was as gentle now. He clasped his fists and said, "I am teaching my rebellious son a lesson. Your Highness, please forgive me for making a fool of myself."

The rain subsided. Li Chengqian put away the bamboo umbrella, handed it to Ning'er beside him, and looked out of the city with his hands in his pockets.

With the attitude of "don't interfere in other people's family affairs, but listen to national affairs".

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "I just want to check on the defense of the city wall and not disturb the general's interest."

"Here!" Cheng Yaojin swung the rattan whip in his hand and hit his son loudly.

Cheng Chumo looked at his biological father, and was so angry that he stood up and said, "Old man! I will fight you."

But Cheng Yaojin swung the whip again.

Cheng Chumo was about to take a step forward, but he could only step back two steps timidly, holding his arm that was hurt, and said again: "Old fellow, if you have the guts, throw away your weapon and fight me alone!"

"Hahaha..." Cheng Yaojin sneered and said to the guard beside him: "Fight alone?"

Cheng Chumo said loudly: "Yes! Fight alone."

"Okay, okay, okay." Cheng Yaojin said okay three times, and then ordered the guards beside him, "Come here! Tie up this rebellious son. I want to hang him up and whip him."

Cheng Chumo stared at his father with his big eyes and was silent for a moment.

The guards did not try to tie up General Cheng, but advised him, "General, don't beat him too hard. If he gets hurt, what will we do?"

"If I don't beat him today, he will rebel tomorrow!" Cheng Yaojin said angrily, "I will tie him up myself. Bring me the rope. If he dares to join the army under a false name today, he will dare to go to the border to fight in the future. If this rebellious son dies outside one day, there will be no one to collect his body!"

Cheng Chumo still said stubbornly: "A man should gallop on the battlefield."

"Good! Good! Good!" Cheng Yaojin said "good" three times in a row, pointed at his son with a whip in his hand, and said: "This Chang'an City is not enough for you to gallop, and you still want to go to the battlefield? I have fought for half my life, and I don't need you to gallop! If I don't peel off your skin today, I have fought for half my life in vain."

Seeing that the situation was not good, Cheng Chumo quickly ran to the tower, and after he got off the tower, he shouted: "Old man, you can't lock me up!"

If the prince had not been here, Cheng Yaojin would have restrained himself and not lost his composure, but veins on his forehead were already throbbing.

Looking at the calm and composed prince beside him, Li Daoyan was too embarrassed to look at them and whispered, "Your Highness, Cheng Chumo is notoriously reckless in the army. He is still stubborn now. Maybe he will be beaten by his husband when he returns home."

Li Chengqian whispered, "That's good. This shows that the young people in our Tang Dynasty are very energetic. It seems that Chu Mo's reputation is well-known in your eyes."

Li Daoyan whispered: "In fact, General Chumo is still a good boy. It's just that this child wanted to join the army, but was stopped by his old man. He still has a good character."

After Cheng Chumo walked away, Cheng Yaojin clasped his fists and said in a deep voice: "I am sorry to have embarrassed you, Your Highness."

"General, there's no need to be polite. Sometimes teaching children is exhausting. If you don't beat them, they won't learn their lesson."

Hearing this, Cheng Yaojin frowned and said, "Your Highness and I, heroes think alike."

Chunming Gate is the east gate of Chang'an City. There are many soldiers guarding here, including the strictly guarded Suzaku Gate.

The coordination between inside and outside ensures the city's defense is impregnable and prevents unrest in the inner city.

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and said, "I will go around, General, please feel free to do as you please."

Cheng Yaojin clasped his fists and saluted, saying loudly: "I am right here. Your Highness, please come and tell me what you have planned."

Li Chengqian walked on the city wall. From here he could walk all the way to the Mingde Gate in the south. To the west was the west gate of Chang'an City, the Yanping Gate.

After the rain, the city wall was still a little wet, and there was water accumulation in many places.

Some soldiers were lazy, some were chatting in groups, but the vast majority were standing upright, guarding the city wall.

According to Li Daoyan's explanation, the defenses here are rotated every three hours.

The rain that had just stopped was about to fall again. Chang'an City was so big that it was impossible to see all the city gates just by walking like this.

In fact, the Tang Dynasty still has many problems, as can be seen from the morning court. Whenever it comes to spending money, Prime Minister Fang always tries to delay it.

Does this mean that the court is very tight on funds, or does it mean that we have to wait until my father returns from Mount Li before making plans?
When it was getting dark, Li Chengqian and Ning'er returned to the East Palace.

Xu Xiaode's memorial was still in the East Palace. Seeing His Highness holding it and reading it, Ning'er asked curiously, "Your Highness, you have read this memorial several times."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "His memorial was well written, but it's a pity that he only pointed out the problem but did not provide a solution."

Ning Er poured a bowl of hot tea and said, "Your Highness, drink a cup of tea to ward off the cold first."

The Tang Dynasty had many problems and many loopholes that could be exploited, such as the trade between the Tang Dynasty and the Western Regions.

The Tang Dynasty had to keep out copper coins, while at the same time ensuring its silver holdings.

Therefore, we can imagine the trade strategies in later history.

By controlling border trade through mutual trade, if we can manipulate the volume of trade, we can export the Tang Dynasty's excess copper coins and retain enough silver.

At present, the situation that Xu Xiaode was worried about can be solved.

Opening up mutual trade is a big project with huge profits and the ability to make money continuously.

But what about now?

Li Chengqian sat alone in the dim bedroom, with only an oil lamp in front of him.

At present, the Eastern Palace does not have the strength or such a large force to do this.

Who wouldn’t be envious if such a big piece of fat was placed in front of them?
I only have this small workshop in Jingyang, and even my father doesn't think highly of it.

"Your Highness, would you like to prepare some midnight snacks?" Ning'er whispered while standing outside the palace.

"I'm asleep, you should go to bed early too."

"Here."

It was still raining outside, and the door of the bedroom slowly closed. Looking outside, I could still see her leaving through the window with a lantern in her hand.

The next day, Li Chengqian woke up early and walked out of the East Palace.

Just like yesterday, my uncle was waiting outside early in the morning.

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath. It rained all night last night, so the air was exceptionally good this morning. Especially today, the dark clouds had dispersed. Although the sky was still not bright, he could see the blue sky when he looked up, which made him feel relaxed and happy.

"Uncle, the weather is so nice today."

Chang Sun Wuji said: "The autumn rain has passed, and the next few days will be sunny."

(End of this chapter)