The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 545 The Power to Lock Up
The water level of Kunming Lake has dropped. Even if the spring rain comes, there is no need to worry about the Kunming Lake bursting due to excessive water storage. Water can be stored here again starting this year.

Several villages and counties east of Peishui and southwest of Chang'an City rely on the water source of Kunming Lake, but water control has always been a big problem. The reconstruction of Kunming Lake was possible because of the foundation laid by Emperor Wu of Han who dug the Kunming Lake.

Today's reconstruction of Kunming Lake and its expansion all rely on the foundation left over from that time. It may be easy to build a reservoir to store water, but it is difficult to manage the reservoir well.

It's like cutting off water flow and controlling water flow. It's easy to cut off the flow of water, but making the water in the river obedient is a problem that people have been facing for thousands of years.

Fortunately, the problem of rivers on the ground in various parts of the Central Plains does not seem to be serious at present.

In fact, this can serve as a supplement to the content in Li Tai's Comprehensive Geography, but for now, Li Tai's Comprehensive Geography is enough to shine in the history books.

Li Chengqian walked back and asked, "Where is Qingque recently?"

Yang, the eunuch sitting in a wheelchair, replied: "Your Majesty, the news sent half a month ago said that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei is still living in Mount Zhongnan."

Li Chengqian came to the side of the carriage, paused for a moment, and said, "Wang Gui was not able to spend his entire life in Mount Zhongnan, but Qingque went to live in seclusion."

Eunuch Yang asked the eunuch behind him to push the wheelchair and asked, "Your Majesty, is there anything you want to tell me?"

Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "No need to disturb Qingque."

"Here."

His father and mother had already gone back. Li Chengqian glanced at the crown prince who was still walking with Xue Wanbei, then stepped onto the carriage and whispered, "Let's go back to the palace."

After the emperor's carriage left, Changsun Wuji was still standing by the embankment of Kunming Lake, watching the water pouring down and stirring up a cloud of mist. Many people were cheering here.

An hour later, the reservoir finally calmed down. Changsun Wuji walked down the embankment and walked along the canal with Pei Xingjian and Xue Rengui.

Pei Xingjian respected Mr. Zhao very much, because even though he was old, his words and actions made people involuntarily lower themselves to respect him.

This is Lord Zhao, who held power in the court for several years after Your Majesty ascended the throne.

Even though Lord Zhao has retired from the court, he is still concerned about state affairs.

Changsun Wuji asked: "Keep the promise?"

"The end will be here."

"Although you are a military commander, I remember that you were born as a county magistrate."

"Exactly."

"In fact, it was not my arrangement that you were appointed as the Anxi Protectorate. It was His Majesty who repeatedly advocated it. I don't know why His Majesty chose you. At that time, there were many other candidates for the position of Anxi Protectorate. Fortunately, you did a good job when you were appointed to the Anxi Protectorate."

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Lord Zhao."

After walking for a while, Changsun Wuji saw a group of children in the distance. They were holding baskets and standing by the river bank. They put the baskets into the water and waited for the fish washed down by the current to fall into the baskets. When a fat fish fell into the baskets, the children would happily run home with the fish in their arms.

"Do you know why Xu Jingzong was determined to take over Nanzhao?"

Pei Xingjian hesitated and said, "I heard that Xu Jingzong has been busy with Tibetan affairs recently."

Zhang Sun Wuji shook his head and said, "Even if Xu Jingzong didn't do anything about the Tibetan affairs, Tibetans would definitely belong to the Tang Dynasty. I heard that Xu Jingzong asked you to send a troop to Nanzhao, but this was rejected by the ministers of the Secretariat."

Xue Rengui said: "That's exactly what happened."

"This is the current political situation. The Secretariat has 19 vice ministers, and each of the six ministries has a minister. So who will have the final say in future matters, the Secretariat or the ministers of the six ministries?"

Pei Xingjian listened very carefully. The Duke of Zhao had been a minister for three dynasties, from Wude to Zhenguan, and up to now. He had to listen to what the old man said.

Zhang Sun Wuji added: "Xu Jingzong is concerned about Nanzhao because he and Your Majesty know that there is a huge copper mine in Nanzhao."

Pei Xingjian immediately looked around and made sure that no one else heard what he said, and then he felt relieved.

Xue Rengui also realized that what Zhao Gong said was of great importance.

Zhang Sun Wuji said: "Xu Jingzong wants to help Your Majesty seize Nanzhao precisely because of this matter. The six ministers of the court are fighting for power, and the Secretariat is also trying to share it. You have to fight for what you want in the army."

Pei Xingjian added: "But the Secretariat has always refused to allow the army to send troops to Nanzhao."

Chang Sun Wuji said: "You can give advice to His Majesty. There are many ways to do one thing. Why wait for others to give it to you?"

Xue Rengui bowed and said, "Mr. Zhao is right."

After saying that, Changsun Wuji walked to the other end, and Xue Rengui and Pei Xingjian also left to take care of their own affairs.

Changsun Wuji knew that His Majesty was determined to obtain Nanzhao. Some things always had to have a beginning. As His Majesty's uncle, he was willing to help His Majesty point out things that others had not pointed out.

The prince was riding his horse and looking at the villages along the way, and Changsun Wuji was watching with a smile on his face.

Yu Tu rode forward and said, "Uncle."

Unlike the gloomy face he had when talking to Pei Xingjian before, when facing the crown prince, Changsun Wuji had a kind smile on his face and said, "Your Highness!"

"What is uncle doing here?"

"I am thinking about what Your Majesty said last night."

"Then Uncle must have figured it out."

Zhang Sun Wuji thought for a moment and said, "So many people were dismissed from their posts this year, causing panic among the people in the court. In the past, the old ministers often advised your grandfather."

Yu Tu said, "Uncle, you are worried about the state affairs. Yu Tu thanks you."

Zhang Sun Wuji looked up at the half-grown prince and said, "Your Highness, there is no need to thank me. In the past, I often advised your grandfather. Now that something like this has happened, I heard that the people in the court are in a panic, so I thought of advising Your Majesty."

Yu Tu nodded and said, "That's right."

Xue Wanbei and Shangguan Yi also rode up to catch up with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Seeing His Royal Highness and Lord Zhao standing and talking, they both held the reins and kept their distance so as not to listen to their conversation.

"Last night, I listened to your Majesty's words, and now I have a clear understanding in my heart."

"Please give me some advice, uncle."

"Your Majesty has always been strict about the law. Look at that reservoir. If the water is in the Kunming Lake, it will be calm. Once it breaks through the reservoir, it will flood."

"Power is like the water in the Kunming Lake. Without a dam to contain power, power will run rampant. Your Majesty has been doing this all along, using laws to confine power. If laws are higher than power, the country will be safe for a long time."

Yu Tu said, "Mr. Lai Ji has taught me that according to what my uncle said, my father's demoting officials is no different from Shang Yang's."

Lai Ji was an old man, and his knowledge came from ancient classics. It was Lai Ji who taught the prince when he was young, and he taught him for seven years until the prince went to the Western Regions. Therefore, it was natural for the prince to think of Shang Yang and the Legalists. In Lai Ji's words, to control power is indeed very similar to the words of the Legalists, which is nothing more than being guilty of the same crime as the common people. This is what Sima Qian wrote in the Biography of Shang Yang.

Yes, the prince was born to the queen. The queen, Su Wan, was the daughter of a famous family and the most outstanding woman in the Su family in terms of martial arts. She was also taught by the current emperor. Even if such a child had average talent, how could his knowledge be compared to that of ordinary people?

Lai Ji, who was well versed in history, had taught the prince. When talking about the relationship between power and law in governing a country, the prince quickly thought of Shang Yang. Fortunately, Sima Qian was well versed in the changes of ancient and modern times and had his own opinion, so he did not stifle Shang Yang's ideas.

Lai Ji could not become Sima Qian, but he was able to read history books and pass down their contents from generation to generation.

The theories of historians come from the great men of all ages recorded in history books. These great men of all ages have shown the way to people in later generations and told them the path they have taken, just like the path Shang Yang took.

Zhang Sun Wuji said: "This Tang Dynasty was not easy to come by. I have seen the collapse of the Sui Dynasty, how many people were displaced, and how desolate the Central Plains was. If the chaos since the Jin Dynasty was caused by the loss of control of power, then why not put the power back under the law now?"

Yu Tu said, "My uncle is right."

Looking at his grandson's high-spirited appearance, Changsun Wuji smiled again. He really looked exactly like His Majesty when he was young. When His Majesty was at this age, he rarely rode a horse, but when talking about the affairs of the world, His Majesty at that time also had such a smile.

Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "It's getting late. I will go back first."

After his uncle left, Yu Tu repeated what he had just said to Shangguan Yi.

After Shangguan Yi heard this, he hurriedly said, "Your Highness, you must not tell anyone else about these words."

"Teacher Shangguan, do you mean that these ideas about governing a country should not be told to others?"

"Unless His Majesty wants the world to know, Your Highness should not tell anyone else."

"These are the words of my uncle."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yi's expression froze, and he added, "Your Highness is the crown prince, and is different from ordinary people."

After wandering around Kunming Lake for a day, Yu Tu returned to the palace.

In the new palace, Li Chengqian was having dinner with his daughter. When he saw his son coming back, he said, "Let's eat together."

Yu Tu bowed and sat down, took the bowl and chopsticks handed to him by the eunuch, and asked, "Father, what Mr. Shangguan said today really puzzled me."

"Tell me."

On weekdays, Shangguan Yi, as the prince's eastern palace attendant, had to follow the prince to study and was also responsible for teaching the prince. Whenever the prince got into trouble, Shangguan Yi would be held responsible.

Fortunately, Shangguan Yi has always been a hard-working person, running around for the prince.

It was enough for his son to have such a person by his side. Li Chengqian never thought of finding other teachers for him. The knowledge in the emperor's family was enough for him to learn.

Sometimes, Yu Tu and Xiao Que'er's cognitive level needs to be taught personally, and the children still have to go to Beiyuan to study. Yu Tu will not tell Shangguan Yi everything he has learned, and he still has reservations from Shangguan Yi.

As for his father, Yu Tu entrusted everything to him.

After listening to him talk about the relationship between power and law, Li Chengqian said, "Your uncle is right."

"Then why is Mr. Shangguan so secretive about this?"

"Your teacher Shangguan will probably be unable to sleep at night after hearing what you said."

"Father, what should I do?"

Li Chengqian said lightly: "It's not a big deal, I will make arrangements."

Don’t think that Changsun Wuji was the only one who gave everything to Li Tang. In fact, Shangguan Yi was the same.

The next day, before the morning court session ended, an imperial edict was posted at the Suzaku Gate. In addition to instructing local officials to continue to focus on people's livelihood, there was also a decree that stated that power should be controlled by law.

After this decree was issued, Xu Jingzong saw Shangguan Yi coming out of the Taiji Hall and went straight to the audience with His Majesty. Even Pei Xingjian and Xue Rengui went to the audience.

Chu Suiliang noticed his expression and asked curiously, "What are you looking at?"

Xu Jingzong whispered, "I always feel like something is wrong lately."

Chu Suiliang smiled and said, "Some people say that Your Majesty should not have opened the dam of Kunming Lake. Recently, many things... well, are quite strange."

Seeing Xu Jingzong leaving quickly, Chu Suiliang asked, "What are you going to do?"

Xu Jingzong did not stop, but replied calmly, "Meet the envoy from Nanzhao."

In early March of the 13th year of Qianqing's reign, a piece of bad news spread throughout Chang'an City: General Yuchi had passed away.

In mid-March, spring rain arrived in Guanzhong. On the same day, a general named Wang Fangyi left Chang'an with a thousand soldiers and the envoys of Nanzhao.

This time the court sent an additional 1,000 troops to Nanzhao, and Xu Jingzong personally saw the general off.

In Anning Village, north of Chang'an City, everything is still the same as before. Li Shimin is sitting under the eaves at the door of his house with a clay bowl in his hand. He reaches into the bowl and takes out some millet and sprinkles it on the ground. There is a group of chickens pecking at the millet on the ground.

Li Shimin looked at the rain falling on the fields, making the scenery more hazy. He sat lazily on the chair and casually sprinkled some millet.

Zhang Sun Wuji came over with a cane, "Your Majesty."

Li Shimin glanced at him and asked, "Is this walking stick given to you by my grandson?"

"That's right." Changsun Wuji sat down beside him, holding his cane with one hand and said with a smile: "I am old now, and I shouldn't discuss the affairs of the court. I won't ask about them in the future."

Li Shimin sprinkled some more grains and said, "Come fishing with me when you have nothing to do. Why bother with the affairs of the court? My son never likes others to interfere in his political affairs. You assisted the government for so many years, and this kid has long wanted you to retire."

Changsun Wuji said: "After your majesty retired, I didn't want to stay for long."

Li Shimin whispered: "Xuanling is gone, Duke Zheng is gone, Jingde is gone, Duke Wei and Qin Qiong are gone too."

Chang Sun Wuji lowered his head and said, "My old brothers all left early..."

"Of the old brothers, only you, Chengfan, Xiaogong and Zhijie are left." Li Shimin looked up at the rain and said slowly, "Father always said he wanted to live a few more years, but when he passed away, I saw him smile. He was so happy. He had never been so happy in the 20 years of Zhenguan."

As he spoke, Li Shimin took a deep breath and said in a much lower voice: "If I can live a few more years, I also want to live a few hundred more years."

Changsun Wuji nodded heavily, "This world is so beautiful. I really want to see what the world will be like in the future."

Outside Chang'an, the spring rain was still falling. On the edge of the field, Guo Luotuo picked up a young seedling. He looked at the branches and leaves of the seedling and said, "Well, the ginger is growing very well this year."

(End of this chapter)