The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 560 The Emperor's Leisure

After Li Chengqian wrote these words, he did not start writing the next content.

Ning Er was surprised to see this and asked, "Your Majesty, do you want to let someone else write the rest of the words?"

In daily life, Ning'er knows Your Majesty best, especially His Majesty's words and deeds. Ning'er is always the first to know what Your Majesty needs and what he doesn't need.

Sometimes Su Wan felt that she, the queen, did not have as much tacit understanding as Ning'er and His Majesty.

In the previous Eastern Palace, Ning'er took care of everyone in the palace, and it is still the same now that His Majesty has ascended the throne.

I see that Your Majesty is still thinking about what kind of article to write under the four words "indivisible".

Su Wan said: "It would be better to let students all over the world write it."

Li Chengqian nodded, "This is a good idea."

After that, Li Chengqian put the paper away again and handed it to the maid beside him, saying, "Give it to Yang Dazhang, and have him arrange for someone to hang this article outside the Suzaku Gate, and inform the name of the street in Chang'an City. Let the students all over the world write articles, and the four academies of Hongwen Academy, Chongwen Academy, Sifang Academy, and Wenlin Academy will select the articles. Each academy will submit one article. All those who are selected will be rewarded regardless of my evaluation."

"Here."

If we say that Duke Zheng’s ideas are an important branch of the Tang Dynasty’s culture and governance, they are the foundation for Tang Dynasty students.

Then the Tang Dynasty still lacked the same ideals and goals. Perhaps it was because it had witnessed too many miracles in the previous life. People at that time relied on a dream to accomplish many great things.

And now, Li Chengqian still feels that if he wants his country to be strong, people need to have common ideals.

For this common ideal, people can protect it, pursue it and realize it.

Therefore, Li Chengqian naturally felt that the Tang people needed a common ideal, but he had not really figured out what this ideal was.

Maybe it's about getting rid of poverty and becoming rich, or maybe it's about expanding territory.

Besides, conquering the world is also a very great dream.

In this era when productivity is still very limited, it may take a long time to realize this dream, or even several generations.

After all, it took three generations for the Tang Dynasty to become as powerful as it is today.

The court began to rest. During the hot summer, the entire Chang'an city was like a huge steamer. People were afraid of being steamed to death if they stayed in Chang'an for too long.

It was at this time that Li Chengqian issued an order for students all over the world to write an article about the inseparability of the Tang Dynasty and the Turks, Tubo, and the Western Regions.

The emperor did not say how much reward would be given for writing this article, but the first essay contest issued by the emperor was open to all scholars and students in the world.

Everyone can write an article and send it to the four major libraries in Chang'an City.

Under the scorching heat, people in the palace have been very worried recently. This worry is written on everyone's face. If the sun continues to shine like this, the water in Taiye Lake will soon be dried up.

I heard yesterday that the Qujiang Lake was dried up due to the sun. Now if you reach out and touch the ground, you’re afraid of getting burned.

People cannot see how the water is evaporating, but they can see with their naked eyes...the water level in Taiye Lake is decreasing.

If the water in Taiye Lake is also dried up, where will Your Majesty go to fish?

Just as everyone in the palace was worried about the water in Taiye Lake, some of them even couldn't sleep or eat because of it.

Finally, after a burst of thunder in the afternoon, heavy rain came to Chang'an City. People in the palace cheered when they saw the heavy rain.

The heavy rain watered the earth and the Taiye Lake, creating a mist on the ground.

Under the eaves of Beiyuan, the emperor and his son were sitting under the eaves, watching the rain all over the sky.

Yu Tu said, "Mr. Lai Ji has left Chang'an City, but he did not allow his son to see him off."

Lai Ji was his enlightenment teacher, and Yu Tu had a very deep affection for him.

Li Chengqian drank his tea and said, "You still followed behind and escorted the old man for a while, didn't you?"

Yu Tu was a little embarrassed to be seen through by his father. He smiled and said, "I just thought I should send the teacher off."

"He doesn't want you to see him off, but he won't stop you from seeing him off." Li Chengqian whispered, "Don't wait until others ask you to do something before you do it. You have to fight for what you want to do and what you want to accomplish. I, your mother, and even your ministers... will help you with whatever you want."

The wind in the heavy rain was a little chilly. A eunuch came quickly and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, this is a letter from the old man."

The eunuchs in the palace addressed the retired emperor as "Your Majesty" or "Old Man". My father did not like the title "Retired Emperor", so in public, everyone called him "Old Man".

Li Chengqian took the letter and was reading it.

Yu Tu asked, "Father, what did grandpa write in the letter?"

"It is said that your uncle King Jin's furnace has made great progress. This time the furnace burned all night and did not explode."

The letter only contained such a simple sentence about Li Zhi. To know how Li Zhi was doing, one had to go and see for oneself.

Looking further down at my father's letter, I can see that the beautiful flying white script has not changed over the years.

The calligraphy that was recognized by Yu Shinan and Ouyang Xun at that time must have been a great achievement.

"Father, what else did grandpa's letter say?"

Li Chengqian calmly folded up the letter and said calmly, "Your grandfather wants to take you to Jiucheng Palace to escape the summer heat."

"Jiucheng Palace?" Yu Tu thought subconsciously and asked again: "I heard from Uncle Jin Wang that my father had the Renshou Palace of the former Sui Dynasty built into Jiucheng Palace for summer vacation. Later, the construction of Jiucheng Palace was stopped several times by my father due to tight budget."

Li Chengqian said calmly: "Your uncle, the Prince of Jin, even told you this?"

Yu Tu smiled somewhat complacently and said, "My son, the Prince of Jin is now my close friend. Uncle can tell me anything."

Li Chengqian placed the folded letter on the table beside him and said, "Actually, your uncle, the Prince of Jin, is wrong."

"What's wrong?"

Seeing his son asking, Li Chengqian put one hand on his temple and explained, "In fact, our old grandfather rebuilt the Renshou Palace once. Later, the Renshou Palace was flooded several times. The Renshou Palace that the old grandfather had renovated was temporarily abandoned. Later, they had to face rebellions in various parts of the Central Plains, and the Renshou Palace was abandoned."

"Later, your grandfather wanted to renovate the Renshou Palace, so he changed its name to Jiucheng Palace. In fact, when your grandfather was young, he followed the Sui Emperor to Jiucheng Palace for summer vacation. I did prevent your grandfather from building Jiucheng Palace several times. Not only that, I also prevented your grandfather from building a summer palace for our old grandfather."

Li Chengqian patiently explained to his son, and then said: "In fact, the so-called Summer Palace is to build a palace in Longshouyuan. Yuan Tiangang said that Longshouyuan is indeed a good place to build a palace. Yuan Tiangang is a Taoist priest. He advocated that if a palace is to be built, it should be built in Longshouyuan, but he also said that if the palace is not built in Longshouyuan, it will not destroy the landform there, which is actually better." "There are too many things in this world that take away the fortune of heaven and earth, but I don't like this statement. I need to advocate not to build a Summer Palace, and I want to abandon his remarks on the fortune of heaven and earth."

Yu Tu seemed to be listening to a story. He asked, "What happens next?"

Li Chengqian continued, "After that, Taoist Yuan left and never came back. Taoist Yuan felt that the favorable conditions of time and place could not be violated, but if it hindered the lives of the people of the Tang Dynasty, if the so-called favorable conditions of time and place could not enable people to live, I would also fight against it, so I rebuilt the Kunming Lake, which had been abandoned for many years."

"For the sake of the people's livelihood in the Tang Dynasty, I can find ways to change the weather and location."

Yu Tu remembered and said, "It took the Tang Dynasty nearly thirty years to plant a forest in the desert. I have seen it in the Western Regions. It is difficult to keep a tree alive in the desert. They can only pull up the dead trees and replant them. Now there is a very dense forest in the Guazhou area, and many wine shops have opened in Shazhou."

Li Chengqian said: "In fact, being an emperor is very simple in your opinion."

Yu Tu shook his head and said, "I find it very difficult."

Li Chengqian added: "What's so difficult about this?"

"I have many files to look at, and I have not yet recorded the taxes in various parts of the Central Plains."

"It's not difficult. Just read it a few more times and memorize a few more sets of data and you'll be able to remember it."

Yu Tu knew how to use data since he was a child. Of course, the emperor could not rely solely on data to govern the country. The so-called data was also a skill that was not passed on to outsiders in the imperial family. It was said that part of it was taught by his father to Taoist Li Chunfeng.

But Yu Tu knew several ways of arranging the data. He was also very self-aware and knew that his father could calculate all the taxes in the Central Plains for the next three to five years.

As long as my father pointed to a county on the map, he could tell you the tax changes in this county over the past five years. He could recite the taxes, population, and household registration for each year accurately.

Of course, as an emperor, it is very important to know how much property you have.

But people cannot be compared. Yu Tu looked at the water in front of him and the reflections of the father and son on the water. He and his father had exactly the same face, but why didn't he get even a little bit of his father's talent?
Yu Tu took a bite of the peach in annoyance.

Li Chengqian said: "Your grandfather asked you to go to Jiucheng Palace to escape the summer heat."

"I don't want to go." Yu Tu turned his head and said, "I still have a lot to learn and a lot of files to read."

Li Chengqian held another file in his hand. When he opened it, he found a painting, the Six Horses by Yan Liben. This was the original painting. He admired it and said, "Go ahead."

"If I don't study hard, my sister will come and make fun of me again."

"Magpie is indeed very clever. You can't compare to her."

Yu Tu became even more annoyed and took another big bite of the peach, with juice splashing out.

The implication is that it doesn't matter if you are dumber than a magpie, and it doesn't matter if you are not so smart when you become an emperor in the future. It doesn't matter even if you appear slow, there will be many people in this world to help you.

But Yu Tu, the most rebellious boy, was aroused with greater fighting spirit when he saw his father's calm attitude. He stood up and walked into the rain, intending to continue studying.

"stop."

Hearing his father's words, Yu Tu stopped subconsciously.

Li Chengqian put away the painting and picked up the tea bowl. The tea in the tea bowl was steaming. He whispered, "Your grandfather wanted to go to Jiucheng Palace several times to escape the summer heat, but he never made it. If you don't go now, your grandfather will never go again."

"My son... go."

"Yes, I'll be waiting for you outside Xuanwu Gate."

Yu Tu ran into the rain and headed towards Xuanwu Gate.

This child is sensible. His talent cannot be said to be good. He is very hardworking but also playful. Maybe he has been taught by Lai Ji since he was young. This child attaches great importance to filial piety. Such a child will not learn bad things no matter what happens outside.

Even if he is slow in his work, he will have a group of capable ministers and generals to assist him in the future.

Li Chengqian took Yan Liben's painting again and continued to appreciate the Six Horses. There was also a Six Horses Painting engraved in his father's Zhaoling Mausoleum. The original work of Yan Liben was the one in his hand.

"Father."

The voice came from behind, Li Chengqian looked back and said: "Didn't you go to play with them today?"

Que'er has a group of playmates around her, all of whom are little girls of similar age from the powerful circle in Chang'an City. She usually also has to take care of Xiao Mengji and Cong'er.

Que'er is a very clever girl. Her intelligence is one level higher than Yutu's. She has been taught by Lizhi and Linchuan since she was young, and has also learned some skills from Xiaosizi.

This daughter studied many different subjects, but she was proficient in each of them.

"Did the Emperor really ask my brother to go to Jiucheng Palace?"

"If your grandfather wants to go, let him go with you." After a pause, Li Chengqian asked, "Why? Do you want to go too?"

She shook her head and said, "My daughter has to go to study mathematics tomorrow. I thought father would ask my brother to study hard."

Li Chengqian said: "Hehe, actually... I am fed up with him."

"Yeah!" Xiao Que'er nodded and said, "Brother is stupid and slow. If he doesn't learn more, he will be bullied sooner or later."

Li Chengqian said: "I will arrange the best teacher in the world for him."

"Isn't the best teacher Father?"

"I am not in a hurry to teach him. Three to five years will be enough. With his current level, it is still difficult for him to understand the underlying logic of the Tang Dynasty's operation, not to mention the productivity model and population relationship. The starting point of these knowledge is too high. It is not the right time to teach him now. In fact, he does not need to learn very well. In the future, when he has a child and gives me a grandson, I can teach him well."

Que'er chuckled and said, "Father always has the worst plan."

Li Chengqian handed her a bunch of grapes and said, "Too many fruits have been sent to Guanzhong recently. Eat more. If you can't finish them, share them with the palace."

"Ah."

Magpie nodded and went to divide the grapes in a good mood, eating as he went.

Half an hour later, news came from Xuanwu Gate that Yu Tu got on his father's carriage and went to Jiucheng Palace, and his mother went to the hospital in Dongyang, saying that she wanted to help Dongyang.

After the rest, Li Chengqian's life became much calmer. He taught his children and enjoyed reading articles sent by the four academies in his spare time.

The moral atmosphere among students has been bad recently, so their articles are divided into two camps: radical and stability-maintaining.

(End of this chapter)