A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 350 Your Majesty, I dare to request a title.

The first day of the third month in the third year of the Wude era.

The emperor issued an edict changing the title of Grand Councilor to Attendant-in-Ordinary, the title of Grand Secretary to Grand Secretary, the title of Attendant Gentleman to Attendant-in-Ordinary, and the title of Attendant Gentleman to Attendant Gentleman of the Secretariat.

Feng Deyi, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, was appointed as the Grand Secretary.

Li Zhongwen, the Duke of Zhenxiang, was appointed as the Inspector General of Bingzhou.

The emperor hunts at Mount Hua.

In the warm spring of March, when flowers were in bloom, Li Yi arrived at Jincheng Palace, thirteen miles east of Huayin City.

Located at the northern foot of Mount Hua, on the south bank of the Wei River.

After crossing the Wei River by boat and then the Cao Canal, the Jincheng Palace, built during the Sui Dynasty, comes into view.

The river flowed swiftly, and boats came and went on the canal, their white sails dotting the horizon. They were all heading to Yongfeng Warehouse in the east. The war was still ongoing, but it was almost over.

Li Yi went on a military expedition in early April last year, but returned to Chang'an in early March, having been away on the expedition for almost a whole year.

The baby is already seven months old.

On the south bank of the canal, Lu Kuan, the Palace Attendant, Qian Jiulong, the Left Palace Attendant General, along with his uncle Zhang He, the Minister of Justice, and Liu Shirang, the Duke of Hongnong, led a group of people to greet him.

“Prince of Fenyang, you must be tired from your journey. His Majesty has specially ordered us to come here to greet you,” Liu Shirang said as he stepped forward.

Li Yi was surprised to see him there.

Last year, Liu Shirang followed Li Zhongwen north, just like him, but was captured by Huang Ziying in Queshu Valley. He later escaped and served under Li Yibai for a period of time before being transferred to the Jiexiu army by Pei Ji. However, he suffered another major defeat and marched south.
Finally, he was defeated and captured by Yuchi Gong in Xia County, which can be described as extremely unlucky.

"When Tang was in the enemy camp, he persuaded Yuchi Gong to negotiate peace with the court. Yuchi Gong then released me and returned. The emperor was lenient and did not pursue my punishment. He also promoted me to Duke of Hongnong and granted me a manor with a hundred acres of land."

Liu Shirang received such a reward from the emperor because Tang Jian, while a prisoner of war, unexpectedly learned of Liu Shirang's planned rebellion from one of Dugu Huaien's subordinates. Tang Jian then persuaded Yuchi Gong to send someone back to the emperor to report on the peace negotiations.
Liu Shirang was selected to return, and Tang Jian instructed him to inform the emperor about Dugu Huaien's plot to rebel. However, upon his return, Liu Shirang discovered that Dugu Huaien's plot had already been exposed and he had been executed by the emperor.

However, the emperor still appreciated Tang Jian and Liu Shirang's loyalty.

Zhang He, the maternal uncle, said, "His Majesty knew that you would be arriving in the next few days, so he specially sent people to Chang'an to bring your wives, concubines, and children to the temporary palace so that you could reunite in advance."

Lu Kuan and his men came to greet them on imperial orders, and had prepared tea and snacks for them. Li Yi and his group rested on the shore for a while.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Li Yi prepared to mount his horse. Lu Kuan smiled and said, "The Emperor has specially dispatched a golden chariot for Your Majesty to ride to the imperial palace."

A carriage decorated with gold, drawn by eight red horses of the same color.

The carriage was twelve feet tall, four feet wide, and three feet deep. Li Yi quickly shook his head, "This is the emperor's carriage. How dare I ride it? I'll ride this Night-Shining White horse instead."

Li Yijian absolutely refused to ride in the imperial carriage, so the others had no choice but to give up.

The emperor had five types of carriages: the jade carriage, the gold carriage, the ivory carriage, the leather carriage, and the wooden carriage. He rode in different carriages on different occasions, but no matter which one he used, it was not something that his subjects could touch.

On the way to the imperial palace, Li Yi rode side by side with his cousin Zhang He, chatting as they walked. Zhang Daoyuan, the Duke of Fanyang, dressed in a purple robe, jade belt, and gold fish pouch, had returned to Chang'an to serve as the Minister of Justice. No longer needing to flee for his life, he had recovered very well, and his beard was neatly trimmed, making him appear very refined.

Back then, when he fled from Zhao Prefecture across the Taihang Mountains to Hao Prefecture, he was practically a wild man, starving and indistinguishable from a ghost. Now, holding an important position in the capital, after a few months of recuperation, he immediately exudes a refined and noble air.

"You were very decisive this time, and you did the right thing. You had just set off from Taiyuan when the court already knew that Chuluo Khan had bestowed upon you the wolf-head banner and the establishment of a southern position. It is estimated that Yuwen Shiji sent an urgent secret report."

His Majesty still trusts you, so don't worry.

This matter caused quite a stir after it was exposed in the court.

Some people took the opportunity to impeach Li Yi.
For example, he secretly became sworn brothers with Nibushe, the son of Shibi Khan, and engaged in private trade. There were also people who impeached Li Yi for having long been colluding with the Turks, such as his ability to mobilize Turkic troops in Hedong.

Some people also impeached Li Yi for privately expanding his army in Hedong, saying that he was abusing his power.

Some say that Li Yi had previously sold prisoners of war to powerful figures in Haozhou as slaves, profiting from the transactions.

Some also impeached Li Yi for repeatedly holding back his troops and failing to advance, and for watching the Jiexiu army suffer defeat, etc.

Fortunately, the emperor ignored all these memorials and kept them in the palace without issuing any replies.

Li Yi thought to himself,
If he hadn't decisively headed south, the emperor might not have trusted him so much.

"Khan Chuluo has sent envoys south again. His Majesty sent Pei Ji and others to negotiate with them, but no agreement has been reached. Chuluo keeps threatening to personally lead 200,000 cavalry south, saying that he wants to come to Chang'an to talk with His Majesty!"

Li Yi snorted coldly, "Chuluo Khan is quite arrogant. Can he command 200,000 Turkic troops now? Even if he could, Shibi Khan didn't have the ability to besiege Chang'an. Does he think he has that ability?"

Zhang He sighed, "The war in Hedong is not over yet. The court is unwilling to completely break with the Turks and is thinking about peace talks. Many people, including the Crown Prince and Pei Ji, are even willing to cede the area north of Shiling Pass in Taiyuan to the Turks."

They even gave the Hetao and Fengsheng prefectures to the Turks for horse grazing.

"The King of Qin repeatedly submitted memorials opposing this."

They entered the Golden City Palace.

Li Yi was brought directly before the emperor.

The emperor seemed to have aged further, with more wrinkles on his face, truly resembling the face of an old woman.

Upon seeing Li Yi enter, the emperor smiled and waved.

"Didn't I have someone prepare a golden carriage for you to pick you up? Why won't you sit in it? Come and sit with your uncle. This past year has been a tough one."

Last year, the situation in Hedong was so critical, but it was all thanks to you that the tide was turned.

Li Yuan walked out from behind the imperial desk, came to the palace gate, took his hand and sat down on the imperial couch together, saying, "Let your uncle take a look at you. You've lost weight this year while fighting on the frontier."

Li Yi said, "I am not good at riding or archery. I spend most of my time in the city and have not fought on the battlefield. I have actually grown taller and stronger."

"Yes, it has indeed grown taller again, my royal prodigy."

Li Yuan held Li Yi's hand the whole time, patting the back of his hand as he spoke, as affectionately as an old father seeing his youngest son after a long separation.

"Without you, I can't even imagine what the situation in Hedong would be like today. You lifted the siege of Haozhou three times and almost recovered all the lost territories that Wu Zhou had conquered."

Liu Wuzhou is now trapped in Changzi County, Luzhou, while Song Jingang is trapped in Yicheng, Huizhou; both are at their wits' end.

The fighting should be basically over this month.

Li Yuan helped him up.
The hall was covered with a huge sheepskin map, on which were drawn all the prefectures and counties of the world.

Liu Wuzhou began his southward march in February of last year, full of ambition and aggressive momentum, at one point even prompting Li Yuan to consider moving the capital.

But now, on the map of Hedong, the Wu Zhou army only has three isolated cities left.

Song Jingang was trapped in Yicheng, Huizhou, Liu Wuzhou was trapped in Changzi County, Luzhou, and another army was trapped in Jiexiu City, Jiezhou.

The remaining lost territories have all been recovered, such as Jinzhou and Jiang County.

Even Liu Wuzhou's original territory was taken over by Li Yi with a single move: "Drive Away the Wolf." Loufan County was seized.

"Wang Shichong wanted to enter Zezhou to support Liu Wuzhou and form an alliance with the Turks, but he was also repelled by Liu Hongji." During Li Yi's southward march, the Hebei-northern army also recovered Yuzhou, Liaozhou and other cities as planned, and Li Daoxuan and Nibushe also captured the entire Loufan.

Now, Li Daoxuan and Li Daozong are defending the Loufan Pass, Shiling Pass, and Chitang Pass to the north, and are leading their troops south, completely surrounding Jiexiu City.

The situation has indeed improved.

The final battle with Liu Wuzhou will also be completed within this month.

Li Yuan would not allow Liu Wuzhou and Song Jingang to return to Daibei.

"After you went south, I appointed Li Zhongwen as the temporary governor of Bingzhou. Now that you're back, take a break and spend time with your wife and children. I'm giving you a month's leave. Go back next month. Bingzhou will still need you to take charge," Li Yuan said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, I was only serving as the deputy chief steward when I accompanied the Duke of Zhenxiang north to reinforce the Prince of Qi."

Later, when the Duke of Zhenxiang ambushed us in Queshu Valley, I was forced into this situation. Fortunately, thanks to Your Majesty's protection, although the journey was bumpy, nothing serious happened.
The situation is now settled.

Your Majesty, I humbly request that Your Majesty select another capable minister to oversee military affairs in Bingzhou, guard the borders, and govern the people. I am only seventeen years old and truly lack the ability to assume such a great responsibility.

Moreover, I have been away on campaign for nearly a year, and I am reluctant to leave my wife and children. I wish to remain in the capital to serve the Emperor, so that my family can be reunited and live in peace.

Li Yi said,

He once again requested the emperor to resign his title of Prince of Fenyang.

“You are my nephew. Even without military merit, you should be granted the title of king. Moreover, you have made such a great contribution. No one can find fault with granting you the title of king.” Li Yuan took his hand and returned to sit on the imperial couch.

“Wu Yi, you are the same age as Yuan Ji, only a month younger than him. You are not much younger than the brothers Feng Ci and Bo Ji, and even a bit older than Dao Zong and Dao Xuan.”

They all told me that in Hedong, they rely entirely on you to maintain the overall situation, and they have complete faith in you.

"Are you worried about the fact that Chuluo Khan bestowed upon you the wolf-head banner and granted you the title of Southern Commander? Actually, you're overthinking it. Anyone can see through Chuluo Khan and Princess Yicheng's clumsy attempt to sow discord; even a three-year-old could see right through it."
They only resorted to this trick because they feared you were a threat to them in Bingzhou.

If you ask me, Chuluo Khan and Princess Yicheng were being a bit stingy. They should at least have bestowed upon you the title of Southern Khan to make it more significant.

Back in the early days of the Great Cause, Pei Shiju had advised Emperor Yang to bestow the title of Southern Khan upon Shibi Khan's younger brother, Chijishe, and to marry a princess to him. Unfortunately, Chijishe was too timid to accept.

These schemes of the Turks, those birds-shooting bows, how could they possibly outwit the Han Chinese of the Central Plains? We could outwit them even with our toes.” The emperor patted Li Yi on the shoulder, “The more they fear you and use tricks against you, the more it proves that you are the most suitable person to guard Bingzhou.”

Look at you, using mud steps to help attack the tower, making Chuluo Khan so anxious he's jumping up and down but there's nothing he can do.

His own uncle's words carry less weight than yours, his sworn brother's.

"Hahaha."

Li Yi sat there and thought it over carefully, but he did not completely believe the emperor's words.

After all, the emperor is probably the most hypocritical person in the world. He can even deny something as inscribed as an iron certificate of immunity from death. What else could be real?

"Your Majesty, I dare to ask you for a reward."

"Oh, whatever reward you desire, just say the word."

Li Yi licked his lips. "Your Majesty, I wish to request that you grant me the title of Duke of Jin, and also that you grant my son, Ping Anlang, the title of Duke of a Commandery. Furthermore, I would like to request a reward for my adopted daughter, Li Shu."
"I wish to truly be granted the title of a thousand-household commander..."

Li Yi seems to be pushing his luck. He not only wants a title from a great nation, but also wants to grant his son the title of Duke of a prefecture, and even his adopted daughter the title of Duke of a county.

We also need to grant a thousand households a real title.

Currently, there are a total of nine meritorious officials who have been granted fiefs, one of whom has been executed, leaving eight. The first tier is for 600 households, the second for 300 households, but Li Yi actually wants to grant fiefs of 1,000 households.

Li Yuan smiled and said, "Just be content with being the Prince of Fenyang. If you don't like this title, I can change it for you."

"Your Majesty, I am young and have little merit. I am not a close relative of the imperial family. How could I be granted the title of King? I would be more than satisfied with the title of Duke."

"Are you really going to decline the title of king?"

Li Yi nodded.

"Don't hold back. I'm not that stingy Emperor Yang of Sui. I can even bestow the title of Duke upon my household servants. I'm never stingy with official titles. I even bestowed the title of King upon people of different surnames like Luo Yi, Du Fuwei, and Nijuchuluo Khan. You are a member of the imperial family and have made great contributions."

"Your Majesty, I would be satisfied with being granted the title of Duke of Jin."

Li Yuan scrutinized him carefully.
That slightly immature face was full of vigor; after a year, he seemed to have grown taller and stronger.

It is truly remarkable that such a young man could consistently decline the title of king.

"Since that's the case, so be it. I will bestow upon you the title of Duke of Jin, with a fief of a thousand households."

Furthermore, your eldest son, Ping An, is hereby granted the title of Duke of Rongguo, and your eldest daughter, Li Shu, is hereby granted the title of Princess of Daning County.

Li Yi expressed his gratitude and then requested to resign from his position as the governor of Bingzhou.

"You will still be in charge of Bingzhou. If you want to rest more in Chang'an and spend more time with your family, that's fine too." The emperor meant that Li Yi was essentially acting as the nominal governor of Bingzhou, just like Li Shimin was nominally the governor of Liangzhou.

"Let Li Zhongwen take charge of Bingzhou first. If something really happens, you'll have to go."

"Your wives, concubines, and children have already been brought here by my orders and are now at the imperial palace. I won't keep you any longer; you should hurry back to see your wives and children."
Your sons, Ping An and Ru Yi, are so adorable.

The emperor personally held his hand and escorted him to the palace gate. Before parting, he issued an edict to reward Li Yihua with a manor in Yin County, 500 mu of land, one million coins, and a jade belt and a gold belt.

Stepping out of the palace gate,

Li Yi felt much more relaxed.

Led by guards, they walked out of several palace gates.
Upon arriving outside the imperial palace, there is a sub-city, which served as the residence for the emperor's officials, guards, and other attendants when he visited the palace.

Zhang He was waiting for him.

"His Majesty has just granted my request to resign from my royal title and instead bestow upon me the title of Duke of Jin, with a fief of a thousand households. He has also granted Ping An the title of Duke of Rong and granted Shuniang the title of Princess of Daning County."

Zhang He didn't expect that he would actually resign as Prince of Fenyang, and even more unexpectedly, the emperor would actually agree. It seems that the emperor didn't really insist on bestowing the title of Prince Li Yi.

"You are a Duke, your eldest son is also a Duke, and both your children are county princesses. This is truly unique."

"The last pair of father and son who were both granted the title of Duke were Xu Gai and Xu Shiji. Now, the father is being held captive by Dou Jiande, and the son, after failing to assassinate Dou Jiande, has fled back to Chang'an with dozens of horsemen."

"Li Shiji has come to Chang'an?"

"Don't you know? After Duke Cao, Li Shiji, returned to Chang'an, His Majesty sent him to serve under the Prince of Qin in Hedong."

"By the way, your neighbor Li Jing has recently made many military achievements in Shannan. This year, Ran Zhaoze, a barbarian from Kaizhou, first attacked Tongzhou and then Xinzhou. Prince Xiaogong of Hejian suffered several defeats. Li Jing led 800 soldiers to attack and successfully killed Ran Zhaoze and captured more than 5,000 barbarian bandits. Then he recovered Kaizhou and Tongzhou, and then attacked and killed Xiao Xian, the Prince of Dongping."

Who would have thought that Li Jing, at his advanced age, would be so formidable? A late bloomer indeed! I heard that last year, His Majesty intended to execute Li Jing for delaying the military campaign, but Xu Shao, the prefect of Xiazhou, intervened and saved him. This year, he has become so brave and invincible.

(End of this chapter)