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

Chapter 623 The Heart of Changing Heirs
Changan.

The Prince Wu'an's Mansion in Shengyefang was bustling with activity early in the morning.

Today we hold ancestral worship at the family temple.

It's the end of the year, and the patriarch Li Yi can't come back, but the ancestors in the family temple still need to be worshipped.

Ji Lingyi, with a gold hairpin in her hair, came to the Gongzi Hall and asked Princess Du Shiniang for instructions, "According to the sacrificial rites for the Lesser Sacrifice, one pig and one sheep have been prepared."

“Our eight young men have all taken a bath and changed clothes in advance.”

Du Shiniang nodded. There are eight sons and six daughters in the family. Today is the family temple sacrifice. The head of the family is not here, so the eight sons will have to take on the sacrificial rites.

The eldest son should preside over the sacrifice, with the other sons following along.

However, since no legitimate son has been born into the family yet, according to custom, the eldest son of a concubine, Rongguo Gongping Anlang Li Cong, will preside over the sacrificial ceremony.

Ji Shi's arrangements were so meticulous that Du Shiniang couldn't find any fault with them after hearing the report.

"How much sacrificial land does our family temple have now?" Du Shiniang asked. Luo Sanniang, who was standing by, replied, "Your Highness, when the family temple was built by imperial decree, my husband allocated 3,000 mu of land for the temple. In the past few years, it has increased by 500 mu every year, and now it has 5,000 mu."

Du Shiniang said, "Our family now has eight sons, so let's add another three thousand mu of temple land."

Temple fields, like burial fields, are a very special type of property.

They acquired temple land, rented it to tenants, and used the rent collected mainly to maintain the family temple and cover the expenses of temple sacrifices. If there was any surplus, part of it could be used to purchase more land for grain storage, and part could be used to help the clan members.

This is a family trust, a family property. Even if an individual commits a crime, this kind of land, like burial grounds, is generally not confiscated.

Of course, Li Yi had also established rules long ago that the Li family's temple lands could not be bought or sold, and that Li family members would not be allowed to rent them in the future.

There are dedicated management personnel.
In the future, the income from the temple land will not only be used for the maintenance of the family temple and the expenses of sacrifices, but also for charity and to help the clansmen.

Each year, a share of the family temple's profits is distributed according to the number of male members, along with food rations and clothing. There are also subsidies for marriage, funerals, and education.

Although the Li family doesn't need this now,

However, in the long run, as the population grows and the number of descendants increases, the situation will definitely become more complicated.

With 8,000 mu of land, the annual rent would amount to several thousand shi (a unit of dry measure). Maintaining the family temple on the ten mu of land in Yonglefang, south of the city, wouldn't cost much. The annual expenses for family temple sacrifices were also not much, leaving a large surplus.

Buying land, storing grain, or even purchasing shops, and then renting them out or taking out loans, can create a virtuous cycle of money that continues to grow.

Now, Li Yi has eight sons, each with a share, and they can receive a considerable amount of money every year.

Even if we don't lack these young men, this is a good start.

was saying,

Lady Xu Xiuzhi of Chongyi has arrived.
The sixth prince's tutor came with Consort Yuwen, along with eunuchs, palace maids, guards, and others.

The emperor sent Consort Yuwen to visit Li Yi's wives, concubines, and children, and brought them many gifts.

Besides silk, brocade, mink fur, and ginseng, etc.

There were also rewards and honors bestowed upon Li Yi's seventh and eighth sons.
The seventh son born to Lady Pei was granted the title of Baron of Dingxiang County, and the eighth son born to Lady Dugu was granted the title of Baron of Yunzhong County.

Li Qilang and Li Balang were both only six months old when their birth mothers held them as they received the imperial edict. The yellow silk decree bestowing the title was placed in their arms, and they were only curious about its bright colors.

The two children's biological mother was extremely happy, holding her children and expressing her gratitude repeatedly.

The emperor issued a special edict to expand the Li Yi family temple to five temples.

Previously, when Li Yi reached the rank of establishing a family temple, he could only establish three temples according to regulations. But now he has established five temples, which is the highest level that a subject can establish.

His father, Yong'an, was posthumously granted the title of Grand General of Dingzhou; his grandfather, Li Yuantong, was posthumously granted the title of Grand General of Bingzhou; his great-grandfather, Li Jing, was posthumously granted the title of Grand General of Youzhou; his great-great-grandfather, Li Chao, was posthumously granted the title of Prefect of Yingzhou; and his founding ancestor was Li Chong, Prefect of Longxi.
The temple was originally the ancestral temple and the four kinship temples, which together formed the five temples.

Compared to before, Li Jing and Li Chao were also invited into Li Yi's family temple.

The addition of two temples signifies Li Yi's rising status.

Emperor Li Yuan, the current emperor, also only has five ancestral temples in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, one for his ancestors and four for his relatives.

Ordinary ministers could only offer sacrifices at three temples: the temple of Zhao, the temple of Mu, and the temple of Taizu.

This time, the emperor erected five temples for Li Yi and also ordered the relevant officials to expand the family temple in Yonglefang of the Li family next year, from ten acres to twenty acres.

The government provided livestock, sacrificial vessels, and bedding.
For this ancestral worship ceremony of the Li family, a special official was dispatched to perform the rituals.

Li Yi had eight sons. The eldest son, born of a concubine, was enfeoffed as Duke of Rongguo; the second son was enfeoffed as Viscount of Qianshui County; and the remaining six sons were all enfeoffed as Barons of the County.
This favor is truly unparalleled.

The emperor specially bestowed upon Li Yi's eight sons imperial purple and scarlet robes.

The eldest son, Li Cong, was bestowed with a purple robe, while the other sons were all given scarlet robes.

The little children, each dressed in purple robes, exuded an air of nobility.

The ancestral worship ceremony at the Wu'an Prince's Mansion was exceptionally grand and lively, and the Yi'an Prince's Mansion also sent people over.

From the Prince Wu'an's Mansion in Shengye Ward to the Li Yi Family Temple in Yongle Ward in the south of the city, the Li family's large procession passed through this route.
This has amazed countless people.

Li Yi's five thousand cavalrymen marched 160 li in a day and night, penetrating deep into the heart of the 100,000-strong Turkic army, and directly attacking the elite camp of Khan Jieli's 20,000 troops. They routed Jieli's forces, capturing his wolf-headed banner and taking his wife and Khatun prisoner.
This matter is now common knowledge in Chang'an.
Li Yi was thus regarded by the people of Chang'an as a war god and hero like Huo Qubing.

In the Taiji Palace,

Li Yuan sipped his tea as he listened to a palace attendant report on the Li family's ancestral worship ceremony in the south of the city.

"Wu Yi is a member of my royal family, my nephew. He is currently guarding the northern border for the court. You should help me take good care of him."

"Your Majesty, the sons of the Marquis of Yuanqiu often visit the Prince of Wu'an's residence. They are refused an audience each time, but they still go there frequently."

Li Yuan put down his teacup.

"Marquis of Yuanqiu?"

"The Marquis of Yuanqiu is Li Zhi, the governor of Longzhou, and the brother-in-law of Consort Yang in the palace." Upon hearing this, Li Yuan remembered that Li Jing's grandson and Yang Su's son-in-law could also be considered his half-brother-in-law.

Li Zhi is also Li Yi's biological father.

However, in order to curry favor with Yang Su, he abandoned Zhang, who was engaged to him and pregnant.

"Is Li Zhi still pestering me?"

He snorted coldly, "As the governor of Longzhou, he lost Dazhen Pass last time. I haven't settled that score with him yet."

An imperial edict was issued, ordering Li Zhi to be demoted to the position of Sima of Diezhou for the crime of losing Dazhen Pass.

"Send another person to the Marquis of Yuanqiu's residence to warn them that if they dare to harass the Prince of Wu'an's residence again, they will bear the consequences."

Li Yuan did this out of consideration for Consort Yang; otherwise, Li Zhi wouldn't have been able to keep his marquisate.

"The New Year is approaching. Let's send some New Year's gifts to Wuyi, who is still guarding the border in Daibei. It's cold in Daibei, so send him a few more fur coats and brocade robes. Tell him that everything is fine at home and that he can guard the border with peace of mind."

"Once the border situation improves next year, we will return to Chang'an to celebrate our victory."

With the New Year approaching,

With the threat from the Turks eliminated, the situation is much better.

The rebel army led by Fu Gongshi in Jiangnan has also been defeated one after another, and it seems that it will be wiped out in less than two months.

Li Yuan was drinking tea in the Taiji Palace, looking at the map of Guanzhong in front of him.
Final decision
The Guanzhong Twelve Armies, which had been established for several years, and the Tianxing Twelve Generals were abolished.

When Liu Wuzhou marched south, he swept across Hedong.

The situation deteriorated so much that Li Yuan even considered abandoning Hedong and only holding onto Guanzhong.

At that time, the situation was in disarray, and the military strength in Guanzhong was depleted. Li Yuan had no choice but to recruit new soldiers. In order to defend Guanzhong, he even set up the Guanzhong Twelve Armies, divided the area into twelve military regions, and appointed twelve generals named after the stars in the sky. Each general was in charge of a region and integrated the troops of the various prefectures that originally belonged to the twelve guards within the region.

In order to unify military power and prepare for the worst-case scenario, if the enemy were to invade Guanzhong, military power would have to be delegated to the generals.

The 12th Army was established under special circumstances. Although Liu Wuzhou ultimately failed to reach Guanzhong and was defeated by Li Shimin's troops, it still played a significant role.

The greatest role of the 12th Army was to better integrate troops and react quickly to protect the Guanzhong base.

However, its drawback is that military power is too concentrated, especially in the capital region, lacking the characteristics of the Twelve Guards, where the various guards and prefectures under their command are interconnected and independent of each other.

The various cavalry and chariot generals under the Twelve Guards were not concentrated in one place, but were intertwined. Normally, the generals of the cavalry and chariot generals of each general only commanded about a thousand troops.

However, the higher-ranking generals of the Imperial Guard could not directly command troops while they were stationed at the Imperial Guard headquarters in the capital.

Thus, the emperor had no need to worry about the hundreds of garrisons and more than 200,000 soldiers in Guanzhong.

The Twelfth Army, on the other hand, consisted of twelve military regions surrounding Chang'an, all under the unified command of their respective military districts. This undoubtedly made it less secure.

A general of the cavalry rebelling would have at most 1,200 men under his command.

A general of the Twelve Guards rebelled, even though he had no soldiers under his command.

However, with a general named Tianxing leading a rebellion and commanding tens of thousands of men, and being located right next to Chang'an, Li Yuan certainly couldn't be completely at ease.

The twelve armies in Guanzhong were disbanded.
It was still divided among the twelve guards.

Once the situation on the border stabilizes slightly next year, we will summon Erlang back to the capital. Although he is the Grand General of the Heavenly Strategy and the Commander of the Twelve Guards, it is only a nominal title.

In a few more years,
When the world is at peace,

They then began to gradually dismantle the General's Office.
The chief steward held considerable military and political power, especially the chief steward's office, which controlled the military and political affairs of more than a dozen prefectures.

In recent years, in order to achieve unification as soon as possible, a large number of general administration offices have been set up in various localities.
Currently, there are five major general administrations: Bing, You, Ding, Jing, and Yi. Under the central general administration, there are more than a hundred general administrations, and almost all the prefectures of the Tang Dynasty are under the jurisdiction of general administrations at various levels.

Even now, the three provincial administrations of Shaanxi East Circuit, Yizhou Circuit, and Xiangzhou Circuit are still preserved.

These are all things that will be phased out gradually.

"It will soon be the sixth year of the Wude era. Before I knew it, I had raised an army for seven years and had been in Chang'an for so long."

Looking back on his journey, Li Yuan couldn't help but feel a little proud.

In just seven years,

He has basically unified the world.

Moreover, they had already defeated the Turks, and the balance of power had shifted.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience."

Li Yuan frowned upon hearing the eunuch's report.

During this period, he was very cold to the Crown Prince, wanting the Crown Prince to reflect on himself. In recent years, he had been supporting the Crown Prince a lot, and the Crown Prince's performance in other aspects was also quite good.

His only weakness is his command of troops, but the fact that the crown prince is not good at fighting is not a big problem.

What truly disappoints Li Yuan now with the Crown Prince is his attitude towards the Turks. The tables have turned in their approach, but the Crown Prince still hasn't grasped the shift.
They have consistently advocated for peace talks, and even for compromise and concessions.

"The situation has changed, but the Crown Prince still doesn't know how to adapt. Alas."

Li Yuan let out a long sigh, filled with disappointment in the crown prince.

Compared to the Crown Prince, Erlang Shimin was able to take the initiative and seize victory after victory in the northern frontier.

Easy to store,

The thought arose involuntarily.

(End of this chapter)