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

Chapter 19 The Prince’s Leg May Not Be Broken

Sitting on the main couch, Li Chengqian lowered his head in deep thought.

Of course he knew that his father, the emperor, was almost going crazy wanting to perform the Fengshan ceremony.

But unfortunately, every time something unexpected happened that prevented him from moving forward, and he ultimately never succeeded in his life.

This time is naturally the same.

If Li Chengqian remembered correctly, the plan failed this time because of unusual changes in the stars, with a star in Taiwei.

So there was absolutely no need for him to stop it this time.

He could even help out in advance, making the event as large-scale as possible, making it as loud and famous as possible... But later, the stars changed, and the Fengshan ceremony was forced to stop...

Li Chengqian could imagine the pain his father felt at that time.

What's more, someone needs to bear the consequences of this matter...

……

"History has always emphasized merit, virtue, ritual, ceremony, sincerity, and respect." Li Chengqian looked up at Kong Yingda and said, "Your Majesty, father, has all the merits and virtues. The barbarians are submissive, the world is stable, and the people are prosperous. He is sincere and respectable. All he lacks now is ritual."

Kong Yingda nodded in agreement and said, "Since Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty held the Fengshan ceremony in the 32nd year of his reign, there has been no Fengshan ceremony for 600 years. The rituals have been seriously damaged. Although many people in the court are restoring the rituals now, it is still a far cry from a complete Fengshan system."

Not to mention the time of Emperor Guangwu of Han, even since the end of the Jin Dynasty and the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the world was in chaos, books were lost, and the severity of the lack of etiquette in the world was more serious than people imagined.

Especially since the Tang Dynasty established its rule over the world, it has actually placed more emphasis on military prowess and lacked civil governance. Most of the world's classics were hidden in the hands of private individuals in the south, and the Tang Dynasty was very harsh towards the south...

This made the Fengshan ceremony even more difficult.

The previous Fengshan ceremonies only remained at the decision-making stage, and the subsequent implementation did not progress much.

However, when honoring Heaven and worshipping God, the rituals must be complicated, the merits must be great, and the sincerity and respect must be great.

"The Eastern Palace requests the Emperor to perform the Fengshan ceremony. Minister Kong has drafted a memorial to clarify the etiquette and serve as a role model for all the ministers." Li Chengqian looked deeply at Kong Yingda as he said the last sentence.

Kong Yingda nodded in agreement, his eyes deep.

The emperor's Fengshan rituals come first. If one masters the Fengshan rituals, he or she can occupy a place in Fengshan, and even have it clearly recorded in the historical records of the ages.

Which minister could ignore such a thing?

Especially since Kong Yingda is a descendant of Confucius, who else but him could handle such matters?

"Among the officials of the Eastern Palace, those who are best versed in etiquette are Scholar Kong, Yan Shigu, and Scholar Ouyang," Yu Zhining said, looking at Li Chengqian. "You all have families, teachers, and classmates, and perhaps they can connect with you."

"Yes, Lord Kong, please handle this matter." Li Chengqian looked at Kong Yingda and said, "This is the second time the Eastern Palace has requested this. There might be a third time. Lord Kong can intervene with etiquette then."

"Yes!" Kong Yingda bowed deeply.

He declined three times.

The emperor declined the title three times. The emperor refused the request of King Jing Li Yuanjing for the title. The emperor might also refuse the request of the crown prince. So what remained was the request of many prime ministers for the title.

If Kong Yingda could leave something eye-catching in his memorial, then this matter would be his. Looking at Kong Yingda's gleaming eyes, Li Chengqian smiled happily. This matter was just the beginning, and there would be a lot of work in the future.

……

"The second thing." Yu Zhining's expression relaxed. He was sitting at the left, then handed a memorial to Li Chengqian and said, "A few days ago, Your Majesty wanted to go to the northern part of Tongzhou for winter hunting. Xianyang County Magistrate Liu Rengui reported that the autumn harvest was very good, and the people had harvested a small amount. The money used to support the hunting, repair roads and bridges would cost 10,000 to 20,000 yuan, which would actually hinder farming. I request that the imperial carriage be stopped for ten days.

Although His Majesty has not yet responded, the winter hunt has been suspended, and the Secretariat has now sent a letter to the Eastern Palace, wishing to put an end to this matter."

"North of Tongzhou, autumn is late and winter is early. Xianyang is a strategic point eastward from Weibei to Tongzhou, and it also has some influence on the south. It does not harm the people. This is the foundation of statecraft and should be rewarded." Li Chengqian tapped the table lightly and said, "I suggest promoting him to a higher rank for his sincerity... Wait, Liu Rengui, the one who executed Lu Ning?"

"Yes!" Yu Zhining smiled and nodded, saying, "Back when Lu Ning was the Commandant of Qizhou, he was often arrogant and broke the law. Successive Chencang County Magistrates were unable to control him. Later, Liu Rengui was transferred to Chencang County and specifically warned Lu Ning not to repeat the offense. Lu Ning initially complied, but then continued to be violent and rude as before, and was eventually beaten to death by Liu Rengui with a cane."

"A ninth-rank local county lieutenant killed a fourth-rank commander in charge of a thousand government soldiers. What do you think, gentlemen? Is it that Lu Ning is too incompetent, or that Liu Rengui is too capable?" Li Chengqian sighed.

"Of course Liu Rengui is capable," Zhang Xuansu said, adding, "When His Majesty learned of this, he summoned him to court. After a conversation, Lu Ningfa was executed, and Liu Rengui was promoted to Xianyang County Magistrate. Now, His Majesty is recommending a promotion to the next level, which would be the position of County Magistrate, at least the sixth rank of Ji County Magistrate."

"A capable person is like a needle standing in a bag. He will eventually stand out and show his talent." Li Chengqian smiled lightly.

He had just summoned Dai Zhide, who later became Li Zhi's Shangshu You Pushe, and now Li Zhi's Shangshu Zuo Pushe Liu Rengui has come out. He is so lucky.

Li Chengqian's expression grew solemn. He looked at Yu Zhining and Zhang Xuansu and said, "Just handle this matter with fair and just documents. Don't say too much. The Eastern Palace is in turmoil right now. Don't let the talented people be implicated because of the Eastern Palace."

"Yes!" Yu Zhining and Zhang Xuansu bowed at the same time with serious expressions.

"The third thing." Yu Zhining flipped through another memorial and handed it to Li Chengqian, saying, "The General Commander of the Jiaohe Road Army, the Minister of Personnel, and the Duke of Chen, Hou Junji, has led his troops to Shazhou and will be in court on the first day of December.

The Council of State has issued an order requesting that the Crown Prince personally welcome the army at the Golden Light Gate on behalf of Your Majesty. After the Eastern Palace has recovered, we will submit this request to Your Majesty."

"I won't go. My leg injury hasn't healed yet, so it's not convenient for me to appear before the army." Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "I'll ask the Chief Secretary to return to the Wenzheng Hall and report to my father. The Prince of Wei can go and receive the bride in person on my behalf."

"Here!" Yu Zhining looked solemn, and then took out another memorial.

……

Pingkangfang under the night sky.

Lanterns fill the streets and crowds of people are surging.

Lu Hu, the assistant minister of the Eastern Palace Prince's Palace, entered the Southeast Cuiyun Tower with a few friends, jokingly.

At the door, a pedestrian in ordinary clothes quietly slipped into the alley beside the street, staring at everyone passing by.

Upstairs, after Lu Hu chatted with his friend for a few words, he left the room under the pretext of going to the toilet, and without anyone noticing, he went to a private room upstairs.

"What's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry to meet me? If you have anything to say, just leave a letter at the old place." Chang'an County Magistrate Cui Qian looked at Lu Hu and couldn't help but complain, then handed him a cup of hot wine.

"I didn't have time to leave a letter." Lu Hu took a breath, drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, and then said hurriedly: "The Crown Prince officially took charge of the affairs today. After the palace was dismissed, he sent two pieces of silk, a box of winter fruit, and a box of food to all the officials in the East Palace. I couldn't carry it alone, so the Crown Prince sent guards to accompany me and deliver it to my home. But when I went out to hide the letter, I found someone secretly following me, so I had no choice but to come here to meet you."

"Tell me, what's the matter." Cui Qian looked at Lu Hu with a serious expression.

"The prince's leg may not be broken." Lu Hu said in a low voice.

(End of this chapter)