The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 85: Troops Not Moved
It felt bad to be called up to be on duty during the rest season. After several people from Mobei died, the guards in various parts of Chang'an City became active.

Many Hu people were also taken into custody at the first opportunity, and the entire Chang'an city was placed under martial law that morning.

Li Dao Zong cursed as he pulled up his belt and walked into the Suzaku Gate with several officers and soldiers, preparing to report to the court. He added, "Damn it, they won't let me sleep well in the middle of winter."

Xu Jingzong was also cursing. He walked down the street and angrily cursed, "Ashina She'er, this bastard! How dare he kill people like this? He ruined my family's business that I worked so hard to run."

Shangguan Yi looked much calmer and said, "The food and fodder are sent before the troops move. When the Sheer people were still in Chang'an, our soap had already been delivered."

Xu Jingzong still cursed: "If She'er is arrested, all our efforts will be wasted."

The two men came to the Suzaku Gate, waiting for the first-hand information from the court. This matter concerned Jingyang, so they had to be nervous.

Xu Jingzong whispered, "Do you know what price Master Du He plans to set for the soap he sells to the Turks?"

Shangguan Yi asked in a low voice: "Have you visited the workshop?"

Xu Jingzong nodded, "One bucket of soap residue costs three hundred coins."

"This is too much..."

"But Wu Shigui also said that Master Du He's soap is still too affordable."

Not long after, an old man walked out from the Suzaku Gate.

Xu Jingzong quickly stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Greetings, Mr. Yao."

The man who came was Yao Silian, one of the eighteen scholars in the Qin Palace. He took out a brush and said, "I don't have many Hu brushes left, so I'll give you one now."

Xu Jingzong took the brush with both hands and said, "Old sir, I have another question."

Yao Silian stroked his beard and said, "Go ahead."

"How does the court plan to deal with Ashina She'er?"

Yao Silian sighed, "Just now, there was a statement. Fang Xiang and the others said that since Ashishel said so, he would naturally come to Tian Khan to apologize after conquering Mobei. As for the grudges in the past, let him go. If he is still alive after that, he will come to Chang'an City to apologize."

"He should be held responsible for killing someone in Chang'an. If he died at the hands of the Mobei people, it would be considered revenge by the Mobei people, and the matter would be over."

Xu Jingzong said respectfully again: "Thank you, old sir, for telling me."

After Yao Silian nodded, he walked back to the Suzaku Gate.

Yao Silian, who was one of the 18 scholars in the Qin Palace, is now the chief editor of the court and is also responsible for compiling national history.

Looking at the Hu brush in Xu Jingzong's finger, Shangguan Yi was still envious and whispered, "I heard that Wuxing Hu brushes are hard to come by. I didn't expect that County Magistrate Xu actually got to know this old gentleman."

Yao Silian was a master of writing and compiling literature. As a native of Wuxing, he naturally had a good command of the Hu style.

Xu Jingzong explained: "Madam Pei of a certain family has contacts with Mr. Yao. I just borrowed the connections of my wife."

Shangguan Yi sighed inwardly, shook his head and smiled bitterly.

On the city walls everywhere, officials held yellow silk and loudly read out the decree of the current emperor, which roughly meant that it had been the eighth year of Zhenguan and we should persist in our frugal lifestyle and work hard to govern the country.

It has been the eighth year of Zhenguan, and Chang'an City has become more and more lively.

As the two were walking, a soldier suddenly stopped them and said, "Xu County Magistrate, Shangguan Scholar, Master Du He wants you to come over."

The two looked at each other and had to go back all the way to the Du Mansion.

Since Ying Gong was in the workshop in Jingyang, they could also spare some time to come to Chang'an.

After entering the mansion, the two came to the main hall.

Du He was playing with a Rubik's Cube in his hand and whispered, "Sit down."

Shangguan Yi did not sit down immediately, but bowed and said, "Mr. Du, is it possible that something went wrong with She'er's matter, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince blames you?"

Du He was only about 17 or 18 years old. He put the Rubik's Cube aside and whispered, "Your Highness didn't say anything and didn't ask anything at all."

Shangguan Yi dropped his hands and said nothing.

Xu Jingzong sat aside and took the tea brought by the servant, drinking it sip after sip.

The hall was silent for a moment, and Shangguan Yi said again: "I shouldn't have looked for She'er in the first place."

Du He looked up at him and remained silent.

Xu Jingzong said: "Master Du He, rest assured. I have already inquired about the court's attitude towards this matter. The court will not pursue this matter too much."

Du He took out a file and said, "You two can take a look at it."

Master Du He usually speaks very little, and now he speaks even less, as if he has suffered some kind of blow.

Xu Jingzong took the file, which was a trade strategy prepared by the court.

Du He whispered, "Not many people know about this file. It was sent by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Shangguan Yi said: "What's the point of saying this now? The Turks and Mobei are about to go to war. Are we going to let the Turks go to war with soap?"

Xu Jingzong looked at the file and said, "Brother Shangguan, please be patient. This may be another opportunity."

When working for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Du He made his identity and position very clear. He was only responsible for production, while the management was entirely left to Ying Gong.

The planning and arrangement are the responsibility of the two people in front of us.

Therefore, Du He felt that it would be enough to just do his own job well. This was also the requirement of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince always appreciated people who were down-to-earth and pragmatic.

Shangguan Yi asked impatiently: "What? Is there any chance of this happening?"

Xu Jingzong whispered, "Since the Tang envoys will be in contact in the future, Murong Shun will be able to do more. The value of soap is not only useful to the Turks, but also to the people of the Western Regions or the Mobei people. They need food, fodder and money, which are more important during war."

Feeling incredible again, Shangguan Yi asked in confusion: "Xu Jingzong, what exactly do you want to do?"

Xu Jingzong said: "The war among the Turks is also an opportunity for us to take advantage of."

Du He looked at the two people who were disagreeing with each other, patted the table lightly to make them quiet down, and said: "Let's not talk about this, the soap still needs to be sold. Please ask County Magistrate Xu to write a memorial to the court to indicate that Jingyang wants to sell soap through the trade."

"Yes." Xu Jingzong agreed quickly.

"Is it necessary to mention His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?" Shangguan Yi asked again.

"No need." Du He whispered, "In this matter, Jingyang was already one step ahead of the court. Now we are just reporting to the court afterwards. There is no need to mention the Crown Prince. That's enough! Let's stop here. You two can go back to your own business. Thank you for your help."

The two walked back to Zhuque Street, and Shangguan Yi was still complaining: "The Turks are unreliable. This She'er almost ruined the good thing I was waiting for."

Xu Jingzong said: "After many twists and turns, we finally delivered the soap. We have done what the prince asked us to do."

Shangguan Yi whispered, "Could it be that when the Turks are at war with Mobei, they will use soap as military rations and chew it?"

As they were talking, they arrived at the gate of Chang'an City and saw a group of people from the Western Regions coming to the city. The team was very long, and there were carts of goods behind them.

Their behavior was so obvious that they were obviously from the Western Regions.

There was also a young man in his early twenties, with a lot of agate and jade hanging on his body, and he had a very noble status.

Xu Jingzong said, "A Gaochang native." Shangguan Yi smiled and said, "I have seen the world. It turns out that you are from Gaochang in the Western Regions."

After saying this, seeing Xu Jingzong walking towards Jingyang again, Shangguan Yi said, "Xu County Magistrate, wait a minute, your statement yesterday about finding a marriage partner for me is true?"

The envoy from Gaochang to the Tang Dynasty was none other than the son of Gaochang King Qu Wentai and Prince of Gaochang, Qu Zhisheng.

Qu Zhisheng looked back at the two Tang people who had just left the city gate, and then politely tried to get close to the guards in front of the city gate.

In the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian sat next to the Chongwen Hall, looking at the memorial Ning Er brought back, and said, "Father really rejected the Eastern Palace's request."

Li Yuan sipped his tea leisurely and asked, "Why does your East Palace need so many craftsmen?"

"No problem." Li Chengqian then threw the memorial on the table beside him and said, "I'll do it myself. At worst, I can seal it myself."

A eunuch came over tremblingly with a dazed look on his face. He knelt down with a plop and said, "Your Majesty, I can't find His Royal Highness Prince Ji. He must have gotten lost..."

Li Yuan glared and asked, "Lost? When did he get lost?"

"I have been searching for an hour but have not found it."

Li Lizhi said calmly, "Another eunuch will bring him back. Don't worry. He won't be lost."

Li Yuan looked at this careless granddaughter and asked the eunuch to look for her again.

Half an hour later, two unfamiliar eunuchs brought Li Shen.

Li Lizhi said, "Grandpa Emperor, just say someone will bring him back."

Li Shen walked over quickly and said, "My brother went to visit mother."

Li Lizhi said, "Next time you leave the East Palace, remember to leave a note. I taught you that."

"Brother, I understand." After saying that, Li Shen walked back to the East Palace in a good mood.

Li Yuan whispered: "It's really difficult for a beautiful woman to take care of a child..."

Li Chengqian said: "Li Zhi knows them better than I do."

Li Yuan sat down comfortably again and drank tea.

Jie Li died, and several envoys from Mobei died in Chang'an. The city of Chang'an was under martial law for half a day, and then a notice was posted in the court, explaining the cause and effect of the incident.

The feud between the Turks and Mobei began in the fourth year of Zhenguan, which means that it was a mess from the very beginning, a mess that even my father and the civil and military officials in the court did not want to take care of.

It was just the middle of January in the eighth year of Zhenguan, and it was still cold, not yet the time for spring flowers to bloom.

It started freezing rain again today, so morning exercises had to be cancelled and the court was still on holiday.

Li Chengqian sat under the eaves of the East Palace, eating the walnuts left over from last night. The walnuts had been roasted and there were some burnt marks on the outside.

She continued to watch her younger brother and sister's homework. When the rain stopped a little, Xiaofu brought the wontons for breakfast. She put a big bowl of wontons on the side and said, "Your Highness, eat first. Don't eat this in the morning."

Li Chengqian brushed off the walnut crumbs on his hands, picked up the wontons and started eating.

The rules of the Eastern Palace are Xiaofu’s rules. Three meals a day must not be missed and everyone must eat well.

She is a person who easily takes rules as her own code of conduct.

She has been emphasizing the importance of eating well over the past year.

Now she hurried into the kitchen again, sat in front of the door and patiently made wontons.

The kitchen is her little world, and everything there is arranged by her.

Ning Er came from the back hall, took out a memorial and said, "This is a report sent from outside the Great Wall. Your Majesty ordered five copies to be made and sent to the East Palace, the Secretariat, and the generals of the various guards."

Li Chengqian took the report and began to read it. The report talked about Tubo. Songtsen Gampo and Lu Dongzan conquered the snowy plateau, dominated Tubo, completed the merger of many small tribes of Tubo, and established their capital in Lhasa. They made friends with Nepal and controlled the upper reaches of the Nepal River behind the snow-capped mountains.

In addition, Tubo sent a congratulatory letter to the Tang Dynasty, expressing congratulations and friendship to the Tang Khan.

After reading it, he frowned and said, "Has this memorial been copied to the generals of the various guards in the army?"

Ning Er nodded and said, "Yes, we sent it there as soon as Chengtian Gate opened in the morning."

Songtsen Gampo has finally reached this point, and now he has gained enough attention from his father.

However, the Tang Dynasty is still at its peak, and the Turks will run away when they see the Tang army.

Qinghai is already under the control of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Chengqian looked at the rain falling from the eaves in silence.

Ning'er stood aside and put away the military newspaper.

Outside the gate of the East Palace, a eunuch stood there and said a few words to the palace maids.

The maid returned and reported: "Your Highness, the envoy from Gaochang has arrived. Duke Zhao asks Your Highness to help preside over the reception of the envoy."

Li Chengqian finished the wontons in his bowl, picked up the umbrella beside him and walked out of the East Palace.

The court seemed even more deserted because after Jie Li died and She'er killed those envoys from Mobei, the imperial city was briefly lively for a few days.

Then everyone quickly returned to their rest state.

Li Chengqian came to the Honglu Temple wearing a blue shirt.

The Minister of Rites Li Baiyao stood at the door to greet them as usual.

Li Chengqian walked under the eaves and said with a melancholy look on his face: "It's either raining or snowing these days, it's really annoying."

Li Baiyao said, "Your Highness, it would be good if it rained a little. The grass in the Hexi Corridor would grow better."

Li Chengqian nodded with his hands in his pockets and said, "God is so kind, he favors us Tang Dynasty."

Li Baiyao whispered, "Your Highness, I am the Minister of Rites. I have read the classics recently. Now that the troops of the court have taken back the Hexi Corridor, can we rebuild the four counties of the Hexi Corridor left over from the Han Dynasty?"

The road north of the Qilian Mountains is the Hexi Corridor, which has been the best horse breeding ground in the Central Plains since the Han Dynasty. Due to the rare good climate in the Tang Dynasty in the past two years, the water and grass in the Hexi Corridor have grown better.

The four counties that had been lost for many years by the Central Plains dynasty controlled the Hexi Corridor. They were Wuwei County, Zhangye County, Jiuquan County, and Dunhuang County.

Only by taking control of the four counties can we truly control the Hexi Corridor.

However, these four counties have not been built for many years.

Li Baiyao put the prince's umbrella aside, bowed and said, "I learned that your majesty asked the crown prince to supervise the distribution of money and grain in the court, so I have this question."

Li Chengqian understood and nodded, "I will discuss this matter with the teacher."

Li Baiyao bowed again and said, "I will wait for your Highness's news."

Changsun Wuji, who was sitting in the Honglu Temple, saw Li Baiyao talking to the prince, so he coughed twice with an unhappy look on his face, interrupting the conversation.

(End of this chapter)