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

Chapter 699 When the ruler is upright, the ministers are honest.

"Don't leave tonight, sleep here with me."

The emperor wanted to have a long talk with Li Yi by candlelight, and then they would sleep side by side.

Li Yi had never experienced spending the night in the palace, let alone sleeping on the emperor's bed.

Sleeping with men is nothing unusual. During military campaigns, when camping in the wilderness during the cold winter, soldiers are used to sleeping in pairs to keep warm.

"I'll have someone bring some wine and food over, let's have a drink and chat."

When Li Shimin first ascended the throne...
I feel that being an emperor is not easy, especially seizing the throne through a palace coup. I always carry a burden in my heart. The more I feel this way, the more I secretly resolve to make something of myself.

But there are so many things to do,
I feel somewhat powerless, or even powerless to know where to use it.

It is also necessary to balance the forces of various factions in North Korea and China.

After Dou Gui killed Wei Yunqi, Guo Xingfang, Wei Ting, and others, many people secretly spread rumors that this was the new emperor purging old officials.
In addition, the dismissal of five Wude prime ministers—Pei Ji, Yang Gongren, Chen Shuda, Xiao Yu, and Feng Deyi—further fueled the perception that the new emperor was purging veteran officials.

But that's exactly how it is.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui also told him that many of the former subordinates of the Prince of Qin's mansion were complaining and had grievances, feeling that everyone was working so hard for His Highness.
Now, success has been achieved.

On the contrary, the old officials were still above them, and even the palace faction members could still hold high positions.

In particular, Hou Junji has repeatedly complained publicly.
That day he committed a heinous crime that would punish nine generations of his family by storming the palace and taking the emperor hostage to the sea. The King of Qin said that his merits were second to none, but this time, his actual appointment was ranked several levels lower.

Not to mention Yuchi Gong, who had already been granted a fief of 1,300 households, he still managed to beat Li Shentong in the palace.

"Fortunately, the Prince of Huai'an's eyes were saved, but this incident has had an extremely negative impact."

Li Shimin held his wine cup, slowly sipping the millet wine. There were some things he had kept in his heart for a long time, and he couldn't help but say them.

But it's not appropriate to say all these things to Guanyinbi.

Guanyinbi was unwilling to discuss politics with him, except when it came to Wuji and Gao Shilian. She would only say a few words when it came to them, always saying that a hen crowing at dawn was only a family matter.

If a hen crows in the morning, the family will fall into ruin; women should not interfere in politics, and she firmly adhered to this bottom line.

"Wu Yi, sometimes I also feel caught in a dilemma."

The old officials in the court said that I was carrying out a great purge and only giving important positions to my former relatives from the Prince of Qin's residence. However, many of my old subordinates from the Prince of Qin's residence complained that the official titles and ranks I was given were too low and that I was giving important positions to people from the former Crown Prince's residence and the Prince of Qi's residence, but not to them.

Even Xuanling and Fuji repeatedly reminded him.

"Wu Yi, I owe much of my becoming emperor to your efforts. Today, this is my bedroom, and there's no one else around. Let's set aside our roles as ruler and subject, and focus solely on our brotherhood."

Just say what you think.

This was the first time Li Yi had ever drunk wine and eaten meat in the emperor's bedroom.
The millet-brewed rice wine is quite good, and the snacks served with it are also very hearty. Although there is no palace music accompaniment or beautiful women dancing, it is still quite nice.

"Your Majesty need not trouble yourself."
The ancient term "perfectly impartial" refers to someone who is tolerant, just, and selfless. Danzhu and Shangjun were sons of Yao and Shun, but Yao and Shun deposed them.

Guan Shu and Cai Shu were brothers of the Duke of Zhou, yet the Duke of Zhou had them killed.

Therefore, it can be seen that a monarch who governs the people should put the public interest first and not harbor any selfish thoughts.

Even Zhuge Liang, who was only the Prime Minister of Shu in the past, said that his heart was like a scale and could not be weighed by others. How much more so should His Majesty govern such a great country?

The first priority in governing a country is to select virtuous and capable individuals and make the best use of their talents.

Li Shimin raised his wine cup and clinked it with Li Yi's. "What you said has touched my heart. We, your servants and I, rely on the people for our food and clothing. This means that our efforts have already been made to serve the emperor, but the emperor's grace has not reached the people. Therefore, we choose virtuous and talented people in order to bring peace to the people."

When hiring people, one should look at whether they are capable of doing the job. How can one distinguish them based on personal relationships or whether they are old or new?
If someone is not capable enough for the job, why should they be given a position simply because they are an old acquaintance?
Now, Xuanling, Fuji, and Ruhui, regardless of their abilities, only say they have grievances, which truly disappoints me!

"I ordered all officials to submit their memorials."

Someone then submitted a memorial requesting that all the former soldiers of the Qin King's Palace be granted military officer status and recruited into the palace as imperial guards.

I consider the world as my home and cannot show favoritism.

As the ancients said, "War is like fire; if it is not controlled, it will set itself on fire."

The emperor finished his cup of wine in one gulp.

Li Yi poured him another full bowl. "Your Majesty, please have some food."

Boiled mutton head, braised beef, roast goose, as well as cold seaweed salad, braised dried tofu, fried peanuts, etc.

It's clear that Li Shimin has been quite troubled by this matter lately.

It's impossible to be completely selfless.

After all, Li Shimin was able to become emperor precisely because his brothers helped him seize the throne.
We definitely need to take good care of these old comrades.

but,

Now that he is the emperor, he cannot only care about the old subordinates of the Prince of Qin's mansion.

Former emperor and former ministers,

Even the palace faction led by Jiancheng Yuanji could not be ignored.

Only about one-third of the Qin King's former subordinates were included in this list of those officially appointed.

The former subordinates of the King of Qin had strong opinions.

Especially military generals such as Yuchi Gong and Hou Junji,
Of the eight hundred guards who were there that day, Li Shimin later awarded them honors, and many were even granted official positions and ranks. However, most of them were not directly granted official positions.

Originally, the Qin King's Palace had over 30,000 guards.

It's even less likely that everyone will be promoted and given a higher rank.

However, many people keep clamoring to grant official titles and ranks to all the former soldiers of the Prince of Qin's mansion, and to transfer them all to Chang'an.

This was also Li Shimin's first time being emperor.

To be fair and impartial

But it's not that easy.

“Even now, people are still submitting memorials every day to impeach Yuchi Gong and demand severe punishment, especially your senior brother Wei Zheng, who wishes I would use Yuchi Gong as an example to intimidate the old Qin family members.”

Li Shimin couldn't help but complain to Li Yi, "I feel that your senior brother sometimes seems to be missing a screw, he doesn't give me any face at all."

Li Yi swallowed the braised pork knuckle in his mouth. "Your Majesty, I believe that having an official like Secretary Wei by your side is actually a good thing."

"It's very annoying," Li Shimin said frankly.

Li Yi put down his wine cup. "Your Majesty," he said, "I have heard that the ruler is the guide for his subjects. If the ruler is upright, the subjects will be honest; if the ruler is biased, the subjects will be wicked. In fact, the vast majority of officials lack true principles."

They will not truly uphold right and wrong; they will only flatter the emperor.

Whether a subject is upright or wicked largely depends on the ruler.

Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and although you have hundreds of officials to assist you, if the emperor only wants to hear pleasant words and only wants to do things according to his own wishes, without considering right and wrong...
Then most officials will inevitably become subservient to the emperor, and over time, there will be no distinction between right and wrong.

Just like Emperor Yang of Sui,
He was once known as a wise king, skilled in both literature and martial arts, but he was stubborn and intolerant of dissent, so his ministers all began to flatter him.
The result was widespread chaos and refugees everywhere. Yang Guang refused to believe it, and Yu Shiji, Pei Shiju, and others only claimed it was a small group of bandits.

Even until the Jiangdu Mutiny, Yang Guang was still living in his own world.

Pei Shiju, one of the five nobles of the Daye era, was known throughout the world as a treacherous and wicked minister, but since his return to the Tang Dynasty, he has received much praise.

Pei Shiju was a treacherous official in the Sui Dynasty, but he is considered loyal and upright in our dynasty.

He survived four dynasties without falling from power. Some say his treachery was enough to bring down the Sui Dynasty, while his integrity helped the Tang Dynasty. This is because treacherous people often have great talents, and their success or failure depends on the times.

Some say that his sycophancy towards the Sui dynasty and loyalty to the Tang dynasty was not due to a change in his nature, but rather that the ruler disliked hearing his faults, so loyalty turned into sycophancy, and the ruler welcomed honest advice, so sycophancy turned into loyalty.

The vast majority of officials were like Pei Shiju and Feng Deyi; they did whatever the emperor liked.

Only a very small number of people are like Wei Zheng, who have principles and can stick to them, regardless of whether the emperor likes them or not.

"Your Majesty, officials like Pei Shiju and Feng Deyi may please the monarch, but truly valuable officials are those like Wei Zheng."

Even if Wei Zheng's advice was unpleasant to hear, honest advice is hard to swallow.
Even if his advice is not always entirely correct, Your Majesty must allow such dissent to exist.

With a ruler like Wei Zheng offering advice,

With his objections,

Only when the officials in the court know that His Majesty is open to advice and listens to different kinds of violations will they dare to become the next Wei Zheng.

Instead of everyone becoming like Pei Shiju or Feng Deyi.

If all the officials in the court are like Pei Shiju and Feng Deyi, blindly flattering the emperor, then in the end His Majesty will only see what he wants to see and hear what he wants to hear, and will not see or hear anything else.

But that's not the whole story.

What Your Majesty sees and hears is all one-sided, even erroneous. Therefore, any judgments made based on this, any strategies for governing the country, and any selection of officials will be flawed.

This is how Yang Guang brought about the downfall of his kingdom.

In the emperor's bedroom, fueled by a bit of alcohol, Li Yi spoke very frankly.

The emperor, who holds supreme power, is actually more easily deceived.

It can't be entirely called deception, but rather it creates an information cocoon. The emperor's preferences and favoritism lead the people to offer advice based on those preferences.

Just like software algorithms in later generations, over time, all it can receive is what you prefer and like, and it is completely enveloped in an information cocoon.

"Do you think Pei Shiju is a treacherous minister?" Li Shimin asked thoughtfully.

"In my opinion, Pei Shiju is a very capable and diligent official, as well as a very hardworking and reliable person."
However, Pei Shiju served several emperors, holding important positions and enjoying great favor. Yet, he failed to fulfill his duties of loyalty and integrity at many crucial moments, especially as a central minister to Emperor Yang Guang, and the architect of his military and diplomatic policies.

Completely subservient to Yang Guang's wishes, they failed to seek truth from facts.

"Go on," Li Shimin said, sitting up straight and becoming serious. He had only intended to grumble a few words about Wei Zheng after drinking, and to speak with Li Yi, Wei Zheng's junior brother.

Unexpectedly, Li Yi was able to utter such profound truths.

"Your Majesty, a bronze mirror can straighten one's clothes. A mirror of the past can reveal the rise and fall of dynasties, and a mirror of people can illuminate one's gains and losses."

"By His Majesty's side, Wei Zheng can serve as a mirror for others."

Li Shimin raised his cup in a toast to Li Yi.
I was filled with respect. “A single conversation with you is worth more than ten years of study. These words have truly enlightened me. I had never thought of this before.”

"Here, this toast is for you."

Li Yi smiled, raised his cup, and clinked it with the emperor's.

Do you think Pei Shiju deserves an important position?

"Yes, when the ruler is upright, the ministers will be honest. Pei Shiju is indeed a man of real talent and has many years of experience as an official. Although he is now over seventy years old, he is still in good health and can still serve for a few more years."

"So what position do you think he's suitable for?"

"I believe that Pei Shiju is well-versed in regulations and has rich experience, which is exactly what the current ministers of the Council of State Affairs lack. He can be appointed as the Grand Councilor and concurrently the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince."

Li Shimin shook his head.
Although Pei Shiju, as the Crown Prince's tutor, cooperated with the Eastern Palace officials to receive the imperial edict on the fourth day of the sixth month, he had, after all, been the Crown Prince's tutor of the Eastern Palace of Jiancheng.

"It is also possible to appoint Pei Shiju as Acting Grand Councilor and Minister of Civil Affairs."

Li Shimin said, "I think you are more suitable for the position of Attendant-in-Ordinary than Pei Shiju. Don't always think about shirking your responsibilities. Pei Shiju is almost eighty years old. You still let him hold several important positions. Do you want to work him to death?"

"Your Majesty, all the retired prime ministers, including Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, and Feng Deyi, have now been dismissed, and the Council of State is now filled with new prime ministers."
Having Pei Shiju enter the Council of State Affairs at this time would be beneficial from every perspective.

Li Shimin thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "It would be fine to let Pei Shiju take on the role of Attendant-in-Ordinary and Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, but you, as Minister of Works, must continue to serve as Attendant-in-Ordinary."

"How about giving Wei Zheng a title of 'Participating in State Affairs' and letting him join the Council of State Affairs?"

The Hall of State Affairs was where the prime ministers discussed state affairs, and those who could enter to discuss state affairs were the heads of the three provinces.

The prime minister of the Tang Dynasty was the head of the three departments of Shangshu, Zhongshu, and Menxia, ​​namely Shangshu Ling, Zuobu Pushe, Zhongshu Ling, and Shizhong.

During the Wude reign, there were also officials who held the positions of Inspector-General, concurrently serving as Chancellor and Attendant-in-Ordinary, and these officials were all prime ministers.

But there has never been a case of someone holding an official position being appointed as prime minister.

Wei Zheng's current official position is Secretary Director, which is the head of the three inner departments and does not qualify him to enter the Council of State Affairs.

The emperor granted him the title of "Participating in State Affairs" and placed him in the Council of State Affairs, thus making him a prime minister even though he was not the head of the three provinces.

“Your Majesty, Wei Zheng is my senior fellow student. I should avoid suspicion. Your Majesty may appoint Wei Zheng as Attendant-in-Ordinary and me as Minister of Works. Your Majesty may summon me at any time, and I may serve as your attendant and advisor.”

Li Shimin shook his head.
"Let Wei Zheng participate in state affairs as Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat. I need a loyal and upright person by my side, and the Council of State Affairs also needs such a person."

(End of this chapter)