Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 184 Li Shimin: The King of Wei Has Complaints (Part )
The autumn light is bright and the palace is quiet.

Li Chengqian was lying on the bed alone, reading a medical book carefully in his hands.

With a creaky sound, the palace door opened.

Li Chengqian ignored it. There were many medical officers coming in and out every day, and he was used to it.

Suddenly, he felt something was wrong. Why didn't the medical officer close the door?

Li Chengqian subconsciously put down the medical book and suddenly found a familiar figure standing beside the bed.

The emperor, wearing a red and yellow dragon robe and a black jade hat, stood on one side with a calm face.

Li Chengqian quickly sat up, bowed in a flustered manner, and said, "Father!"

"No need to be polite!" Li Shimin waved his hand, his eyes falling on the medical book in Li Chengqian's hand. He asked, "What book are you reading, Prince?"

Li Chengqian quickly picked up the medical book and handed it over, saying, "This is some of the methods Master Sun has summarized for treating plague over the years. Many of them have been collected from ordinary people and have proven effective, but many still need careful verification."

After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said seriously, "My son and Master Sun both believe that we need to learn more from the people. However, folk information also needs to be verified and identified. After all, some things are just coincidences under special circumstances."

Li Shimin thought about it for a while and understood this truth.

This is true in many places on the battlefield, and also in many aspects of governing a country.

Li Shimin nodded and said calmly, "I have inspected the fields you have cultivated at Beimen, Wugong County, and Chang'an Wannian. They have all yielded abundant harvests, which is no easy task. I have asked Ma Zhou to review all the matters and spread the various methods of farming that will be beneficial to the country in the future. This way, the world will be able to harvest even more abundantly."

Li Chengqian was sitting on the bed and could clearly see that the emperor clenched his fists tightly when he said this.

For a capable emperor, the people's livelihood is very important.

Each year's grain income will be related to the various government affairs of the following year, especially the prevention of floods, droughts, plagues and wars.

There have been good harvests in the past few years, with no floods or droughts, but plagues and wars have occurred every year in the past two years.

The plague was nothing, as it only affected four or five states. What really concerned the emperor was the war.

In recent years, the emperor has been preparing for the eastern expedition to Goguryeo.

However, the emperor has always been in charge of the details himself. Apart from a few prime ministers, the person who knows the most is the Minister of War Li Ji.

But Li Ji, who should have returned to the court long ago, stayed in Bingzhou because of war and plague.

Few people in the court knew the emperor's true plan in Hebei.

Li Chengqian pondered for a moment, then raised his head and said, "Father, these planting techniques for increasing farmland yields are actually possessed by aristocratic families throughout the world. If you want to spread them throughout the country, besides being wary of these aristocratic families, you also need to be wary of the clerks. After all, they are the ones who actually carry out these things. The speed of spread, even the deletions, are all in their hands."

Li Shimin's face darkened, and he nodded, saying, "Officials, officials, the affairs of the world are in the hands of these two words. I can manage officials, but it is difficult to manage officials."

Apart from the hundreds of officials in the central government, the emperor could only control the local provincial governors, chief secretaries, Sima and registrar-in-chief, and at most he could control the local military officers.

At most, they are county magistrates of special places, or special officials that you pay attention to.

That's it.

Other more detailed matters were in the hands of local governors, county magistrates, lower-level officials, and clerks.

"What does the Crown Prince have in mind?" Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian with a scrutinizing and testing look in his eyes.

Li Chengqian spoke up, "As for the farming season, I think we could carve the various planting methods summarized by the Sino-Agricultural Temple onto stone slabs and either place them in front of the city gates or embed them on the walls on either side. This way, the common people can see them. This would last longer than an imperial edict."

Li Shimin nodded slowly.

"Furthermore, the emperor only needs to send out patrols every year to check and see if there are any." Li Chengqian paused, then continued, "As for the rest, whether officials go to the countryside or traveling merchants spread the word, it won't be long before these things are widely disseminated... Moreover, the words on the stone tablets can help the people learn to read."

"So many benefits!" Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian and nodded in surprise. "Prince, did you come up with all these on your own?"

"I guess so." Li Chengqian shook his head slightly and said, "This kind of stone engraving method is common in Taoism and Buddhism. There are also many other methods such as bamboo slips and tortoise shells. I think if more people can learn to read, they will not be oppressed by officials so much."

Li Shimin nodded and said with emotion: "The prince now has the demeanor of Emperor Ming of Han."

"I resemble Emperor Ming of Han, so my father must be Emperor Guangwu of Han." Li Chengqian paused, then shook his head and said, "My father is far superior to Emperor Guangwu."

"Ah...hahahaha..." The emperor couldn't help but burst into laughter, laughing very loudly.

……

Li Shimin suppressed his smile and sat down on the bed. His eyes fell on Li Chengqian's left leg, which was tightly clamped by the willow board. He asked with concern, "How is your leg?" "Much better." Li Chengqian looked at his left leg and said with a smile, "Master Sun said that I can now walk on crutches for no more than a quarter of an hour a day. Not only is there no harm, but it will speed up recovery. But only a quarter of an hour a day is enough."

Li Shimin nodded slowly and said with emotion, "Master Sun is a skilled doctor. He has put a lot of effort into this plague. He also helped treat your leg. Unfortunately, I wanted to give him an official position, but he refused to accept it."

"Master Sun has a pure and innocent mind, like a newborn baby, which is actually a good thing." Li Chengqian nodded in agreement.
Sun Simiao refused to accept high positions and generous salaries, which allowed him to easily stay away from the chaos of court officials, and the emperor respected him much more.

"I'm a little sorry for Qingque's matter. We had agreed to let him return this year." The emperor looked at Li Chengqian apologetically.

Li Chengqian smiled and shook his head, saying sincerely, "Father, Qingque is in poor health, and Xiangzhou is unfamiliar to him, so he's inevitably worried. Furthermore, Princess Wei is pregnant now, so it's normal for him to stay by her side to take care of her... And to be honest, I think Princess Wei's pregnancy is more important. After all, it's the continuation of the royal bloodline. Other things that should be let go should be let go."

Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction and said, "You are right. The continuation of the royal bloodline is more important. It is rare for Qingque to have another child after so many years. I am reluctant to let him go like this. Now is a good time. Since Princess Wei is unable to move around easily, let them stay in Luoyang for the time being."

Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows, then lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty is right."

"Let's wait until the Princess of Wei gives birth next year, and then let Qingque go." Li Shimin shook his head and said, "Anyway, he is no longer the governor of Yongzhou."

One of the important reasons why Li Tai was able to stay in Chang'an with good reason was that he was the governor of Yongzhou.

The governor of Yongzhou stayed in Chang'an, and no one could say anything.

But now, he is no longer the governor of Yongzhou. By March next year, even if Li Tai wants to stay, the officials in the court will not agree.

Unless the emperor reappoints him as the governor of Yongzhou.

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded, saying, "Your Majesty is right, but I am a little worried about the political affairs in Weizhou and Xiangzhou. After all, Qingque is away, and many things are not going well. It would be bad if something goes wrong."

"Don't worry, I'll have the Ministry of Personnel conduct a strict review of everything going on in Weizhou and Xiangzhou." Li Shimin nodded and said, "Your approach is very effective. At least Qizhou has done well this year."

"Father, please continue to be strict next year!" Li Chengqian nodded with a smile.

"Hmm!" Li Shimin nodded slightly in agreement. He then looked at Li Chengqian with a gentle gaze and said, "I have returned to the capital, and your health has improved a lot. So, pack up and return to the Eastern Palace today. The ministers have not seen you, the crown prince, for too long, and they are a little uneasy."

"It's my fault." Li Chengqian quickly bowed his head.

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "It's already August, and Crown Prince Liangti will be giving birth soon. I will be there when the time comes."

"Thank you, father!" Li Chengqian bowed deeply.

"I asked Yang Wulian to make a taller wooden wheel cart so that you can go to the Taiji Hall to attend court sessions on the first and fifteenth days of each month. I also need to hear your opinions as the crown prince on many matters." Li Shimin's expression became unusually serious.

"Your son obeys your command!" Li Chengqian bowed seriously. He didn't have to wait until a year later to participate in the government affairs, he could do it now.

……

Watching Li Chengqian riding on a wooden cart towards Wude Gate, Li Shimin suddenly sighed softly: "Li Wu, do you think I am too cruel?"

Li Wu, dressed in black, calmly stepped out from behind the pillars and said, "Your Majesty has returned to the palace. The inner palace guards have returned to their previous state, making it difficult for anyone to spy on the palace. Now that the Crown Prince is safe, he will naturally return to the Eastern Palace."

"Yeah!" Li Shimin nodded, then turned sideways and asked, "Where are the things?"

"Here it is." Li Wu pulled a memorial from his sleeve and handed it to Li Shimin, saying, "Your Majesty, this records everyone the Crown Prince met while recuperating in Wude Hall, as well as most of their words and deeds."

"Most of them?" Li Shimin looked at Li Wu in surprise.

Li Wu bowed and said, "The guards guarding Wude Hall are not allowed to hear the private conversations between His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. In addition, the Crown Prince was whispering something to Li Anyan, so the guards should not get too close to listen."

"The Eastern Palace still has some secrets." Li Shimin waved his hand slightly and said, "Are you keeping an eye on Li Anyan's movements outside?"

"Keep an eye on him." Li Wu nodded and said, "We are keeping an eye on all his movements. However, there are many officials in the Eastern Palace. If he tells others in advance, it will be difficult for me to find out."

"So have there been any changes in the key areas of Chang'an City in the past six months?" Li Shimin asked immediately.

"No." Li Wu bowed and said, "No one from the East Palace has ever been near these."

"That's not bad." Li Shimin raised his head, looked ahead, and said calmly: "As for the rest, if nothing happens, then nothing happens. If there is a problem, they will take action sooner or later."

"Yes!" Li Wu bowed slightly.

"That's how it is in the Eastern Palace," Li Shimin said as he walked towards the Lizheng Palace. "Pay more attention to Luoyang. Compared to the Crown Prince, the Prince of Wei worries me more."

"Yes!" Li Wu stood on the steps and watched the emperor walk away.

He understood that no matter what the prince did, he would not really put his mind to it before his leg injury healed. On the contrary, the King of Wei, who was dismissed from his position as Governor of Yongzhou, was bound to have some resentment in his heart!
(End of this chapter)