The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 81 The Emperor Who Likes to Build Houses
Zhang Sun Wuji said, "Each of them will be punished with ten strokes of the cane. This is the order of the Heavenly Khan. Anyone who dares to cause trouble again will be expelled from Chang'an."

It was just a farce, and it was just exposed like that.

Ashina She'er said angrily: "The Turks want to go to war with Mobei!"

Changsun Wuji glanced at She'er again and whispered, "You are all guests of Tian Khan now. Stay in Chang'an and wait for an audience."

The Mobei envoy bowed in the direction of the Taiji Hall and said, "Thank you, Khan."

Changsun Wuji gave Li Baiyao a look and asked someone to take the two messengers to be beaten with a stick.

The Honglu Temple fell silent again. Zhangsun Wuji handed over a file: "This was sent by Yinan Khan."

Li Chengqian took it and started reading it, saying, "I don't understand."

"Yinan Khan said he wants to come to the Tang Dynasty to marry a princess."

Li Chengqian laughed and said, "Who gave Yi Nan Khan the courage to come to the Tang Dynasty to marry a princess?"

Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "So your majesty has always felt uncomfortable looking at Mobei."

Li Baiyao took out another file and said, "Duke Zhao, Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is the list of gifts that the Tang Dynasty wants to give back."

Li Chengqian took a look and saw that the goods that the Tang Dynasty was going to send out included silk, cloth, grains, paper and books.

Chang Sun Wuji nodded and said, "Just do it as we did in previous years."

"Here."

Li Chengqian was still frowning as he watched. Sometimes regional differences also led to differences between people. Do the current Turks, or people from Mobei and the Western Regions, use paper?

If you give them paper, they will probably use it for the toilet?
Well, most of them would do so, even if it is a piece of paper with words on it, they might even complain that it is not convenient enough.

Li Chengqian kept silent with his hands in his pockets.

My uncle left first, and the prince is still sitting here.

Li Baiyao whispered, "Does His Royal Highness have any other instructions?"

Li Chengqian raised his eyes and said, "Come here, all of you!"

Everyone in the Honglu Temple looked at each other, and seeing that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince looked unhappy, they all stood up and turned to face the Crown Prince who was sitting with his hands in his pockets.

Looking more carefully, I saw that the prince had a stern face.

It was obvious that the matter had been settled. The fight between the two envoys in the post station was beyond their control and they had no way of managing it. Moreover, the matter had also come to an end. The envoys on both sides were each beaten with ten strokes of the stick and everyone was happy.

This was also ordered by Duke Zhao.

Now the prince called everyone over, and they were all a little confused.

His Highness's face looked unhappy. All the civil servants from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple lowered their heads and drooped their heads. What did they look like? Like students who had made a mistake?

Could it be that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince felt that everyone present had done something wrong?
Li Chengqian looked at the sheepskin on the table again, raised his eyes to everyone and said: "Take a look at this letter sent by Yi Nan Khan."

Everyone kept their heads down and said nothing.

"Look at what is written on this letter. Are these words meant for people to see?"

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's tone became even more serious, which was completely different from the previous rumors that he was humble and polite.

Li Chengqian sighed and said, "From now on, the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple will add a rule for me."

Li Baiyao asked quickly, "What rules do you think should be added, Your Highness?"

"Any envoy coming to the Tang Dynasty, no matter how far away he comes from, as long as he represents a monarch or a Khan, must speak our language and write our characters when he comes to the Tang Dynasty."

Li Baiyao nodded and said: "This..."

Looking at the Crown Prince again, he turned his gaze back to look at everyone and said, "What Your Highness said is not an excessive request."

Li Chengqian waved his sleeves and said, "I don't care whether they ask for someone to teach them or learn on their own. This is related to their attitude towards the Tang Dynasty, and also to our Tang Dynasty's attitude towards them."

His Highness emphasized the word "attitude" and everyone nodded.

Li Chengqian walked out of the Honglu Temple quickly, passed by official residences, and met the general who came with the two envoys, and his uncle.

At the side of the Chengtai Gate, boards fell again and again, hitting the two messengers.

Seeing that it was the prince, Changsun Wuji said, "This is General Su Lie of the Left Guard."

Su Dingfang clasped his fists and said, "General Su Dingfang greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "So it's General Su Dingfang. I've heard of you for a long time."

Looking at the two messengers lying next to each other, Changsun Wuji whispered, "I heard that Jie Li is seriously ill?"

Su Dingfang whispered, "I reported it to His Majesty this morning, and asked the Imperial Medical Bureau to send someone to visit him. I don't know how his condition is now."

Chang Sun Wuji asked again: "Does he know?"

Looking at Ashina She'er, Su Dingfang whispered, "I don't know yet."

"Don't let him know until Jie Li's condition improves."

"Here."

After the conversation, Li Chengqian followed Changsun Wuji into Chengtian Gate.

"Your Highness, please go with me to report to His Majesty first."

Li Chengqian followed his uncle with his hands in his pockets and whispered, "Is Jie Li really seriously ill?"

"If medicine is of no use and he won't live long, I will ask Ashina She'er to visit Jie Li."

"uncle?"

"Your Highness, please speak."

Li Chengqian looked around and whispered, "Is Jie Li really dancing in public in the Taiji Hall?"

Chang Sun Wuji paused for a moment and asked, "Why do you ask this, Your Highness?"

"I was just curious, but it was a pity that I didn't see it with my own eyes."

Changsun Wuji nodded slowly and said, "After that, His Majesty gave Jie Li enough food and clothing. He didn't like living in the house in Chang'an, so His Majesty allowed him to move out. What happened next is what is happening now."

When we arrived in front of the Wude Hall, it was empty.

Ever since my father moved out, the Wude Hall has been empty.

When I walked into the hall, my father was holding an oil lamp and looking at the map hanging on the wall.

"Your Majesty, everything has been arranged."

Li Shimin's eyes were still on the map, and he said, "Sooner or later there will be a war between the Turks and Mobei."

Chang Sun Wuji said: "I think so."

"Assistant, do you think I should intervene?"

"Your Majesty, I think that at this moment, the Tang Dynasty is too far away to make any progress. The battle of Dafeichuan has just ended, and the troops in Guanzhong need to rest. If other troops are mobilized, it may leave the border defenses of various places empty and cause unnecessary trouble."

Li Shimin put down the oil lamp in his hand and nodded, saying: "You and Xuanling both advocate that I should just sit back and watch."

"Your Majesty, the cold winter came early this year. Many cattle and sheep have frozen to death in various parts of the Turkic region. Their war is unavoidable."

Li Shimin sat down, looked at the prince standing beside him like a wooden sculpture, and said slowly: "I should not go to Mount Li for autumn hunting. It costs a lot of food and fodder."

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and continued to remain silent.

"Your Majesty, you still have a good relationship with Jie Li Khan after the battle at Yinshan. Besides, you also had an agreement with Xueyantuo in Mobei. No matter which side you support, it will be bad for your reputation."

Li Shimin smiled as he listened to Zhangsun Wuji's analysis of the pros and cons, and then looked at the crown prince. Even if his son didn't speak, there were still many things for this kid to learn about government affairs. "I think that since it is a feud between them, Your Majesty, as the Heavenly Khan, can persuade them to make peace and stop Ashina She'er and Yinan Khan from going to war. Your Majesty is just persuading them. As for whether you can dissuade both sides from going to war, the court can do its best. If they insist on going to war, Your Majesty can say that you will not interfere in their feud."

Grudges aside, after my uncle's explanation, the Tang Dynasty stood firm on this point and showed enough mercy.

Anyway, it is an internal fight on the grassland that is bound to happen, so why not let them fight.

This is the righteous army of the Tang Dynasty, which justifiably sits on the sidelines and reaps the benefits.

Li Shimin pointed at Zhangsun Wuji, put his hand back into his sleeve, and said with a smile: "Fuji, you really look more and more like your uncle."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. If my uncle were here, he would also make the same suggestion."

A palace maid brought a piece of zongzi, which was most likely sent from the East Palace.

My grandfather doted on his children. Whenever he won money, he would buy zonggao for his younger brothers and sisters.

Those little devils were probably begging Grandpa to let him and Father play more cards. If they won more, they would have a long-term supply of their favorite zongzi.

Are these brothers and sisters really stupid? In fact, these little devils are smarter than each other.

It’s still Li Zhi, the elder sister, who takes the lead well.

Li Chengqian withdrew his thoughts and looked at the scene in front of him again, and whispered: "Father, the Gaochang people are very close to the Ashina tribe."

Seeing that he finally spoke, Li Shimin snorted coldly: "You tell me now."

Li Chengqian continued, "We all know that a war between Mobei and the Turks is inevitable. Not only the Tang Dynasty can see this, but others can see it too."

Li Shimin took two steps back and forth, "Gaochang King Ju Wentai is not a warlike person."

"I just said it casually, please don't blame me, father."

Li Shimin asked again: "According to what you said, the Uighurs will also take the opportunity to invade?"

Li Chengqian said again: "Maybe."

Although he did not quite believe in his son's foresight, Li Daozon actually intercepted Fu Yun who was trying to escape at Wuhai Road during the battle of Dayuechuan.

On this map, there are Tubo, Gaochang in the Western Regions, or Turks, Mobei
There are many forces in the picture.

Wherever there are people, there are grievances. This statement is absolutely true. There is the grievance between the Turks and Mobei, the grievance between Gaochang and the Western Regions, and the grievance between the Tang Dynasty and Tuyuhun.

The endless grudges and entanglements are on the map.

In the end, Li Chengqian's focus fell between Tubo and the Tang Dynasty.

Chang Sun Wuji said: "Before the grand court meeting, I will continue to preside over various matters."

Li Shimin nodded and said, "Go and get busy. Thank you for your help."

"My minister retire."

After saying this, seeing that his son was about to leave, Li Shimin said, "You stay."

Li Chengqian stopped and faced outside the hall with his back to his father.

Li Shimin poured a bowl of wine and said, "When will you let your grandfather return to Wude Hall?"

"We have to wait until grandpa calms down."

"Father, are you still thinking about quitting drinking?"

Li Chengqian took the stool handed to him by the eunuch and sat down with his hands in his pockets.

Li Shimin also sat next to his son.

The father and son were very close to each other. Li Shimin whispered, "Do you know what the court is talking about your father now?"

Li Chengqian put his hands in his pockets and frowned, "I don't know what they are talking about."

Li Shimin waved his hand to dismiss the eunuchs on his left and right, and lowered his voice and said, "They said that I angered your grandfather and asked you, the prince, to help him. They also brought up the incident at Xuanwu Gate. Now it's their turn to point at my nose and say that I am unfilial and not as sensible as you, the prince of the Eastern Palace."

Hearing this, Li Chengqian took a deep breath with a solemn expression and asked in a low voice: "Who is talking about it?"

Li Shimin twisted his beard, put one hand on his son's shoulder, and said, "Who else could it be? It's those few people who are scolding me!"

“Or…” Li Chengqian made a gesture of wiping his neck.

"Alas..." Li Shimin sighed, "I can't kill him. I have always been open to opinions and good at accepting advice. If I kill him, how will people in the future view me?"

"Father."

Li Shimin patted his son's shoulders again. His shoulders were stronger than before. He nodded and said, "There is nothing we can't talk about today."

"Actually, Grandpa is doing well in the East Palace. He can recover from his illness there, and there are so many grandchildren to accompany him. The elderly need someone to accompany them."

Li Shimin took back his hand from his son's shoulder and said, "Should I be scolded by them and accused of being unfilial?"

“In fact, this matter is not without a solution.”

"You said."

Li Shimin put one hand on his knee and twirled his beard with the other hand, thinking.

Li Chengqian whispered, "I can get word out of the East Palace that Grandpa is recuperating in the East Palace, and that Father wants Grandpa to live out his days in peace and let his grandson accompany him."

Li Shimin smiled and said, "Okay, let's do as you wish."

Three or five eunuchs were standing outside the hall. They looked inside and saw His Majesty and the Crown Prince squatting together, as if they were plotting something.

I pricked up my ears to hear what His Majesty and the Prince said, but I could hear nothing.

Li Shimin frowned and said, "You said the court is short of money, is that true?"

"Well, to be honest with you, Father, if I hadn't settled the salary issues for all officials when I was guarding Chang'an, we would still be in a situation where we couldn't make ends meet. However, this method can only be used once, not a second time."

"Why?"

"The price of grain in Chang'an has dropped to six cents a dou."

"It's not like I haven't thought about not going to Jiucheng Palace. In fact, I want to build another palace next to Xuanwu Gate."

"Father, are you talking about Longshouyuan?"

"It is the site of the Afang Palace built during the Qin Dynasty and next to the Jianzhang Palace built during the Han Dynasty."

"I have one thing I don't understand."

"You said."

Li Chengqian cleared his throat and whispered, "I have never been an emperor. Firstly, I have no experience. Secondly, I am a little curious. Father! Do emperors like to build houses so much?"

Li Shimin kept a straight face and did not answer, for a moment he was unable to come up with an answer.

After taking a look at the sky, Li Chengqian said, "Father, it's getting late. I will go back now."

"Go back."

Li Shimin was still sitting there thinking. After the prince left, the eunuch outside the hall came back. The emperor who was thinking suddenly stood up.

"Let the East Palace preach to the grandchildren to accompany the emperor?" Li Shimin snorted again: "Good boy, all the good reputation is taken by you, the East Palace."

The eunuch asked, "Your Majesty, the zongzi is cold. Should we heat it up before using it?"

Li Shimin took the zong cake and ate it, chewing it and saying, "No need to heat it up."

"Yes." The eunuch stepped aside.

While eating, Li Shimin looked back at the map.

(End of this chapter)