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

Chapter 710 Demoting a Prince of the Commandery to a County Duke
Qujiang Pool

In Furong Manor,
Li Lianhua brought an ice pack and applied it to Li Yi's feet.

"It's just a toe injury, it's not that serious," Li Yi said with a wry smile.

“Even a broken toe is a fracture, so we can’t be careless. I’ve asked the doctor, and he says to apply ice every hour, and then apply medicine. I don’t want my lover to become a cripple.”

"It really was just a minor fracture in my little toe. I was just taking this opportunity to resign as prime minister. It's really not a big deal."

You haven't seen soldiers on the battlefield, riddled with arrows, yet still charging forward with their guns. Some soldiers even have gaping wounds in their stomachs, their intestines spilling out, but they're pulled back up and put back in, still fighting!

Lianhua said with heartache, "That's different. On the battlefield, you risk your life, but afterwards, you also have to treat your injuries and recover from your illnesses."

"You're injured now, so you need to treat and recover properly."

Apply an ice pack.

Li didn't mind his big feet and helped him massage them.

"You say you're only twenty-two years old. In most families, that age is just the beginning of adulthood. Yet you're always thinking about retiring while you're still ahead."

His Majesty trusts you so much, why are you always thinking about backing down?

"Look at you, you acted out a fall from your horse and injured your leg, claiming that your leg injury prevented you from performing your duties and asked to resign. Yet His Majesty still granted you the title of Chancellor and appointed you as Prime Minister. How much favor he has shown you!"

Li's movements were very gentle.

Li Yi lay there comfortably and closed his eyes.

He didn't expect that either.

He had already staged a scene of falling off his horse, injuring his leg, and resigning as prime minister, but the emperor still only accepted his resignation as Grand Councilor and added the title of Chancellor.

Hey.

It's likely that Li Yi realized he hadn't actually broken his leg.

Knowing that he wanted to resign as prime minister, the emperor refused to allow it.

"Very well, as long as I recover from my illness, I can enjoy some leisure time until I am fully recovered."

Honestly, getting up at four in the morning and going to bed before dawn every day is really unbearable.

"I've never been this tired even when I was commanding troops in battle. I have to get up earlier than the chickens."

Li laughed and pinched him, "Others are working hard to climb up the ladder, but you, at such a young age, are already thinking about retiring and enjoying a peaceful life."

"What can I do if I don't enjoy a life of leisure? At my age, I'm already at the pinnacle of my position. Do I have to climb any higher?"

Too much power is not a good thing.

As the old saying goes, "The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind."

Li Shimin is indeed treating him very well now, and he is not the kind of person who would kill meritorious officials. However, even if he supports the meritorious officials who made the initial plans, there is still a natural conflict between the emperor and his ministers and between the power of the prime minister.

So be sensible.

Sometimes taking a step back opens up a vast expanse of sky and sea. Taking a step forward, however, leads to an abyss.

The moon wanes when it is full, and water overflows when it is full.

Many people understand the principle, but most people, when they actually get to that point, may not be willing to give it up.

Li Shimin was a great and wise ruler.
He has only been in power for two months, and his reign for a little over a month, yet the Council of State has already dismissed seven prime ministers: Pei Ji, Yang Gongren, Chen Shuda, Xiao Yu, Feng Deyi, Gao Shilian, and Changsun Wuji.

It's practically a record-breaking achievement.

The only emperors who were so fond of changing prime ministers were probably Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

The coup that seized the throne was so short, yet the central government was changed so frequently. It has to be said that Li Shimin was bold and capable, and was still able to firmly control the court.

Although he often confided in Li Yi about his troubles, his confusion, and his exhaustion, this man was not only a war god and commander on the battlefield, but also remained as sharp as ever in governing the country after stepping down from his post.

If you understand one thing, you understand everything.

"Everyone else hopes to become prime minister one day, but you treat the position like a hot potato and throw it around carelessly."

"Hahaha,"

This is fine as it is now. He retains the position of prime minister with the title of "Chancellor of the Secretariat and the Chancellery," but he is no longer the head of the three ministries.

In this way, they would still have sufficient influence in the imperial court.

It wasn't that in-depth.

He didn't stand that high or rush that far. If the emperor and the prime minister really had a conflict, Li Yi wouldn't be in the eye of the storm.

Even the officials who offered criticism and advice wouldn't keep such a close eye on him.

Besides, Li Yi really wanted to slack off.
Being a court attendant is no easy job.

The next step is to find a way to resign from the position of Crown Prince's Chamberlain.

The title of Governor of Yongzhou was nominal; in reality, the Prefect and the Chief Administrator were in charge of the affairs of Yongzhou Prefecture.

The Left Guard General was even more leisurely.
In that case, he can live a very carefree life.

Even if Li Yi has lost his title of Chancellor and Grand Councilor, there's no need to worry, as long as he hasn't been convicted...

He still held considerable prestige in the imperial court.
Du Ruhui, the Right Minister, was his wife's cousin, from the same grandfather.

Wang Gui, the Attendant-in-Ordinary, was his wife's cousin-in-law; though not particularly close, they were still relatives.

Another person involved in politics was Wei Zheng, who was also his senior fellow student.

There are quite a few of our own people in the imperial court, especially in the central government.

"Hey, where are you touching with your massage hands? My leg is still injured." Li Yi felt her slender hands getting restless and quickly called out.

"Look who's being dishonest."
Besides, you only injured your little toe; it doesn't affect anything else.

You've been so busy lately, I haven't seen anyone.
You've finally delivered yourself to my doorstep; I can't let you get away with this.
I heard that several of your princesses and concubines are pregnant?

"Yes, four of them are pregnant."

"Hmph, you're always thinking about the family, but you've completely forgotten your promise to have my baby."
"I must work hard today."

As Li Lianhua spoke, she simply forced herself on him, and Li Yi pretended to resist halfway. The two of them had a unique kind of fun in this way.

After a long time,

Li collapsed onto him.

Li Yi stroked her loose hair, "Originally, I wanted to come to your Hibiscus Manor to find some peace and quiet, but I was afraid of those visitors coming to see me and bring gifts."

Unexpectedly, they had fallen into the lion's den.

Hearing this, Li couldn't help but bite his shoulder. "Hmph, you're getting the benefit and still acting innocent."

Since you're here,
"Then you'll have to feel guilty and recuperate at my Hibiscus Manor for a while."

"Have you kidnapped me?"

"Yes, you're not leaving until I get pregnant." "Then let's do it again."

"Wait, let me catch my breath. How can you be so aggressive, like an animal?"

"Of course, how can a man not be fierce?"

He mounted his horse, picked up his spear, and went to battle again.

Shengye Lane, the residence of the Prince of Dai.

Countless people came to visit Li Yi today to check on his injuries, and long queues formed in front of the gate as cars and people streamed in.

Robert, the doorman

I'm so tired of receiving business cards!
They had no choice but to have several large boxes prepared, and name cards of officials of rank nine and above but below rank six were placed in one box.
The calling cards of officials of the sixth or seventh rank were placed in one box, and the calling cards of officials of the fourth or fifth rank were placed in another box.

For those of the third rank and above, another box was placed.

As for the name cards of guests without rank, we could only fill several large baskets.

I will not accept any gifts.
Whether it's ginseng and deer antler velvet, or donkey-hide gelatin and fish maw, whether it's medicinal herbs or precious stones, we won't accept any of them.

Uncle Fu accepted their calling cards but refused their gifts, explaining to them repeatedly that Situ had gone outside the city to recuperate from his injuries.

He didn't know where he went.

The next morning,

Li Shimin ascended the throne and sat on the imperial throne. When he saw that the familiar figures below the steps were no longer there, he was slightly lost in thought.

Today is the second day of the eighth lunar month, a regular morning court session.

Those attending the meeting were regular attendees. Only officials of the fifth rank or above in the capital, as well as officials of the two provinces, assistant ministers, censors, and doctors of the Imperial Academy, were regular attendees.

Changsun Wuji was promoted to the rank of Grand Master of the Three Departments, a first-rank official, but this was a nominal rank. He no longer held any official position, so he was not qualified to attend the regular court session today.

Gao Shilian has been demoted from the capital to Anzhou.

Wen Yanbo, serving as Chancellor, was granted a purple robe and gold fish design, as was Wang Gui, serving as Attendant-in-Ordinary. Both were only fourth-rank officials, not yet qualified to wear purple, but now, having entered the Council of State as Chancellors, they were specially granted this honor.
He also stood in a position near the front of the hall.

Li Yi's position has been replaced by Wei Zheng, the Duke of Julu.

"Your Majesty, the Turkic Khan Li Sizhong, Yimini Shushilibi, has sent Zhishisili to present 3,000 horses and 10,000 sheep."

Li Shimin came to his senses.
"The Turks are vassals of the Great Tang, and they just experienced a devastating disaster last year. How can I accept such a generous gift? I order the officials to calculate the value of these horses and sheep and reciprocate with silk, tea, and salt."

Wang Gui submitted a memorial stating that after the great chaos, many licentious shrines had been erected by the people, and he requested that they be banned.

"Yes, ordinary people are not allowed to set up shrines to evil spirits without authorization. Apart from divination and witchcraft, all other miscellaneous practices must be strictly prohibited."

Wei Zheng, the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat and a member of the government, once again submitted a memorial to the throne, requesting that the court collect more than 200,000 volumes of books from the four categories of classics, history, philosophy, and literature and store them in the Hongwen Hall of the Secretariat, and that a Hongwen Pavilion be established next to the hall.

Li Shimin readily accepted advice.
Several former scholars of the Prince of Qin's Palace, including Yu Shinan, Chu Liang, Yao Siqian, Ouyang Xun, Cai Yungong, and Xiao Deyan, were selected to concurrently serve as scholars of the Hongwen Academy while retaining their original positions.

They were to take turns on night duty, and during the emperor's leisure time from attending to state affairs, they would be brought into the inner palace to discuss the words and deeds of ancient sages and deliberate on the major policies of the current dynasty.

"I quelled the chaos with military force, and when I went out and about, those who accompanied me were all brave and valiant men from the Northwest."

Now that the world is at peace, we should lay down arms and focus on literature, selecting scholars from the Hongwen Academy to discuss and deliberate.

Those who wish to maintain the status quo, what other option do they have but Confucianism?

Li Shimin's policy of emphasizing civil administration over military affairs and promoting Confucianism won the praise of the civil officials in the palace.

“Hongwen Academy selects the sons and grandsons of officials of the third rank or above to serve as students.”

The number of students at the Hongwen Academy was set at thirty. Admission was strictly limited to close relatives of the imperial family, sons of first-rank officials, prime ministers, and officials of the third rank or above in the capital. Students were aged fourteen to nineteen.

All students, teachers, and examiners, such as those at the Imperial College.

"An imperial edict ordered 24 sons of officials of the fifth rank or above in the capital who were fond of calligraphy to study calligraphy at the Imperial Academy."

The additional 24 sons of fifth-rank officials who were later recruited to study calligraphy were essentially an expansion of the student body. They were selected from among the sons of fifth-rank officials to study alongside the sons of imperial relatives, meritorious officials, prime ministers, and third-rank officials.

Pei Ju, the Grand Councilor and Minister of Revenue, submitted a memorial requesting that each household in the border regions that suffered from the invasion and ravages of the Turks in recent years be granted a bolt of silk.

Li Shimin disagreed with calculating based on households.

"I govern the world with integrity and do not wish to have a mere name of compassion without substance. Households vary in size and the number of people in each household is different. How can the rewards be the same for everyone? They should be calculated according to the number of people in the household."

finished,

The emperor rose,

Walking with hands behind his back

a long time,

The emperor then glanced at his ministers and asked, "Is it beneficial to the entire nation to grant titles and privileges to all members of the imperial clan?"

Upon hearing these words from the emperor
The ministers in the hall were all invigorated, knowing that the emperor was finally going to take action against the practice of bestowing titles upon members of the imperial clan during the reign of the retired emperor. Previously, the emperor had said at the palace banquet on the night of his coronation that princes of the imperial clan who had not rendered meritorious service would be demoted to county dukes.

right now,

It’s officially about to begin.

Wang Gui, one of the attendants, stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, initially, the Emperor Emeritus wanted to strengthen the imperial clan to stabilize the realm. Therefore, he enfeoffed dozens of people, including the emperor's distant cousins ​​who shared the same great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather, as well as their sons, even children and infants. This was unprecedented."

"In the previous dynasty, only the emperor's sons and brothers were granted the title of king. Other members of the imperial clan were not granted the title of king unless they had made great contributions."

The Emperor Emeritus, known for his harmonious relations with his nine clans, bestowed titles and ranks upon members of the imperial family in unprecedented numbers since the Han Dynasty. The high ranks and abundant servants granted seem hardly a demonstration of impartiality to the world!

Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction.

Indeed.
I became emperor to care for the people; how could I burden them to support my own clan?

deliver an imperial order,

Those who were members of the imperial clan or princes were demoted to county dukes, except for those who had rendered meritorious service to the country.

The emperor named a list of imperial clansmen who would not be demoted. The first was Li Yi, the Prince of Dai, who was also a member of the imperial clan. The second was Li Yi, the Prince of Yan, who was also a member of the imperial clan. The third was Li Xiaochang, the Prince of Yi'an.
Then came Prince Zhao, Li Xiaogong; Prince Wei, Li Daoxuan; Prince Rencheng, Li Daozong; Prince Huai'an, Li Shentong; and Prince Xiangyi, Li Shenfu.
There were also several others, including Prince Chang Le, Li Youliang; Prince Longxi, Li Boyi; Prince Bohai, Li Fengci; Prince Xiangwu, Li Chen; and Prince Jibei, Li Dengjian.

Dozens of princes from the imperial clan were demoted to county dukes, but a dozen or so princes from the imperial clan were still retained.

The three Li brothers, the two Li brothers, the two Li brothers, the two Li brothers, the two Li brothers, the two Li brothers, and the two Li brothers, including Li Xiaogong.

of course,

The three princes listed in the imperial register are particularly noteworthy.
Li Yi and Li Xiaochang were uncle and nephew.

Li Yi was the only king of a different surname who was truly granted a surname.

From bestowing titles upon dozens of members of the imperial clan as kings

Now only the eighteen princes of the royal family remain.

The new emperor's move was ruthless!

The two brothers, Li Shentong and his brother, and their fifteen sons who were princes, have all been demoted to county dukes this time.

(End of this chapter)