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

Chapter 193: Winning over the People, Jiangnan Family (Part )
In the Chongjiao Hall of the Eastern Palace, Sun Simiao sat in the inner hall with his left hand on the pulse of Li Chengqian who was lying on the bed.

Li Chengqian lay quietly on the bed, his eyes fixed on the outer hall.

In the outer hall, Zhang Xuansu, Ma Zhou, Xiao Jun, Changsun Xiang and others were all watching nervously, but Li Anyan in the inner hall was very calm.

After a long moment, Sun Simiao released his pulse gauge and calmly lowered Li Chengqian's arm. With a relaxed expression, he said, "The Crown Prince is recovering well. In a few months, Your Highness will no longer be restricted in his time in bed and can walk freely... But don't rush things. After all, Your Highness is aiming to fully recover from his leg injury this time, so there's no need to rush."

"I'll keep in mind the Master's teachings." Li Chengqian said with gratitude, "I'll be grateful to the Master."

Sun Simiao smiled lightly and didn't say much.

The officials of the Eastern Palace in the outer hall couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

They had experienced Li Chengqian's broken leg once before.

This time they finally have hope of complete recovery, and they don't want to see this expectation shattered again.

Li Chengqian slightly withdrew his gaze, then looked at Sun Simiao and said, "Master, I heard that your "Complete Prescriptions for Women" is almost finished?"

Sun Simiao glanced at Li Chengqian, shook his head, and said, "I simply collected folk prescriptions for gynecological diseases and sorted them out a bit. I haven't done any in-depth and detailed dialectical practice... The resistance from all sides is too great, and women's illnesses are ten times more difficult to treat than men's. I'm just doing my best."

"Master, I think, just like my leg disease, there is no need to rush. First, organize the first draft of "The Complete Prescriptions for Women" and present it to my father. Then circulate it throughout the country. After the world has adapted to it, you can come up with it again in three to five years, and it will be more in-depth. Then, revise it every three to five years. I don't believe that it will not be complete in a hundred years." Li Chengqian looked determined.

Women's affairs are of great importance to the world, especially the matter of offspring, which is a major matter concerning the stability of the world and cannot be taken lightly.

"I'll do my best." Sun Simiao smiled calmly, then stood up and nodded, saying, "Your Highness, please take good care of yourself. I'll take my leave now."

"Teacher, take care." Li Chengqian looked at Li Anyan and said, "Housekeeper, please escort the Master on my behalf. Also, get some more herbs from the warehouse and have someone accompany the Master to deliver them."

"Yes!" Li Anyan bowed solemnly.

Sun Simiao bowed slightly to Li Chengqian and said earnestly, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian nodded in return.

……

Watching Sun Simiao's departing figure, Li Chengqian looked at the ministers who had entered the hall and said, "Master Sun is a man of high moral character. If I had given him gold or silver, he would certainly not have accepted it. Instead, medicinal herbs would have been more useful to him, as he often provides free medical treatment to the people."

"Your Highness is wise." All the ministers bowed in unison.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Master Sun is working hard for the affairs of the world, and I cannot hold him back, right, Li Qing!"

The attendant physician, Li Qin, stepped forward and said, "Your Highness!"

"The compilation of 'The Complete Collection of Prescriptions for Women' should be more detailed, and any difficulties encountered in the process should be sorted out so that I can raise them together when presenting it to my father." Li Chengqian turned sideways and looked at Li Qin seriously.

"I obey your command." Li Qin bowed seriously.

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded, then looked at the ministers and said, "My lords, everything that Master Sun does benefits women and children all over the world. If you have any prescriptions that are effective for women and children's illnesses, please donate them to Master Sun. No matter what the result, it will be a meritorious deed!"

"We obey your command!" All the ministers bowed in unison.

"If we can cure more diseases among women and children, it will be extremely beneficial to the population growth of the world." Li Chengqian looked at his ministers and said, "There is another thing that can increase the population of the world, and that is the autumn grain.

The Sino-Agricultural Temple has gained a lot of experience this year, and Father has already ordered the local authorities to carve a stone tablet and announce it to the world..."

After a brief pause, Li Chengqian pondered and said, "Although this year's events have greatly benefited Guanzhong, I feel that there are still many beneficial methods among the people that have not been collected. Next year, the Eastern Palace and the Sinong Temple will conduct trials in Guanzhong, and also in Jiannan, Bingzhou, and Henan. You should visit the people more often and collect more relevant methods."

"Here!"

"However, the fundamental benefit lies in improving rice varieties." Li Chengqian looked at Ma Zhou and said, "I have heard that in Jiaozhou, there are three harvests of rice a year, and in Jiangnan, there are two harvests a year. If there were also improved and high-yielding rice in the north, it would be the foundation for a good harvest for the whole country."

"I will try my best to find it!" Ma Zhou bowed.

"I've already written to Du Zhenglun, the governor of Jiaozhou. You can also contact Yan Xuansui, the secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. Mr. Yan is now the governor of Guangzhou. You might want to have him make more trips to Guangzhou next year to get some information." Li Chengqian raised his head slightly, and Ma Zhou immediately understood and nodded, "Yes!"

"Alright, everyone, get busy. I'll be meeting with Zhang You, the Imperial Court Officer, to see if things can get underway in Jiangnan." Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "If we can increase the amount of food produced by the country, who knows how many more people will survive... The more people there are, the more prosperous the Tang Dynasty will be!"

"Your Highness is wise and virtuous. We are willing to die for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty!" The ministers immediately bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian smiled faintly. ...

In Guangtian Palace, Zhang You, with a calm expression, wearing a green robe and a jade ornament on his waist, was whispering something to Zhang Xuan.

A calm voice sounded, and the two turned around to see Li Chengqian sitting on a wheelbarrow, being pushed in by Li Anyan.

Ma Zhou followed behind Li Anyan.

Zhang You and Zhang Xuan immediately stood up at the same time and saluted, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."

"No need to be so polite, we're all family." Li Chengqian stopped beside Zhang Xuan, looked directly at Zhang You, and said apologetically, "Master Sun was here just now for a routine checkup. Afterwards, I had to arrange some government affairs for the Eastern Palace, so I'm a little late. I hope my father-in-law will forgive me."

"I dare not. Your Highness is busy with the affairs of the world. How dare I disturb you?" Zhang You immediately bowed.

Although Li Chengqian called him father-in-law, it was just a courtesy.

Not to mention Duke of Zheng Wei Zheng, General of the Left Jinwu Guard Zheng Rentai, even the Governor of Taizhou Su Tan was not comparable to him.

Of course, Su Tan was the Secretary before, which was not much better than him, the Supervisor of the Imperial Household, but his daughter was the Crown Princess, while Zhang You's daughter was only a fifth-rank lady, so how could they be compared?

Especially since Su Tan is now the governor of Taizhou, while he was only granted a fifth-rank official title of Chao San Da Fu because his daughter married into the Eastern Palace. How can they compare?

"Father-in-law, there's no need to do this." Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "I'm not able to move around much right now. When I'm free next year, I'll bring my beloved concubine back home to visit my father-in-law and mother-in-law."

Zhang You immediately bowed in surprise and said, "In that case, I will wait patiently for Your Highness."

Li Chengqian smiled and changed the subject, saying, "I've heard that Jiangnan is prosperous, and my father-in-law was born in Jiangnan. Why don't you tell me about the scenery of Jiangnan?"

"In that case, I will respectfully obey your command." Zhang You straightened up slightly and said seriously, "It's true that Jiangnan is prosperous, but it's mostly concentrated in Yangzhou, Muzhou, Suzhou, Changzhou, Huzhou, Hangzhou, and Yuezhou. Other places, such as Taizhou, Muzhou, Wuzhou, Quzhou, and Kuazhou, are much poorer."

"I've never been to Jiangnan. I only know about it from books. Yang Guang wrote a poem: 'The evening river is still, spring flowers are in full bloom. The flowing waves carry the moon away, the tide brings the stars in.'" Li Chengqian sighed and said, "After the three failed expeditions to Goguryeo, Yang Guang retreated to Yangzhou, numbing himself with its prosperity."

"Yangzhou is the capital of Jiangnan. Many merchant caravans from Champa, Zhenla, Japan, Baekje, Silla, and Goguryeo all come directly to Yangzhou by sea. Many merchants from Guanzhong and the Western Regions also go to Yangzhou to make purchases. Sometimes, Yangzhou's prosperity is not even inferior to Luoyang, but of course it cannot compare to Chang'an." Zhang You explained the affairs of Yangzhou clearly in a few words.

Afterwards, Zhang You talked a lot about the scenic spots in Yangzhou and the local families.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I'm concerned about Jiangnan because its taxes have been increasing year by year, especially the grain tax. A high grain tax means increased grain production. If Jiangnan's grain production can maintain its growth, or even increase faster, then if there's a disaster in the north, Jiangnan will be able to provide timely reinforcements."

"There is actually a lot of food in Jiangnan, but the problem lies in the waterway, especially the waterway north of Yangzhou. There is a very risky section. The pirates from Hongze Lake will rush out from time to time to rob, which has a very bad impact." Zhang You shook his head slightly.

Hongze Lake frequently overflows, resulting in an increase in the number of disaster victims on both sides of the strait.

Once disaster strikes on both sides of the strait, the victims will turn into bandits and go east to plunder. There is nothing that can be done about it.

"The Yangzhou Grand Military Governor's Office should be able to find a way to resolve this." Li Chengqian gently changed the subject and said, "I'm concerned about the Hangzhou and Yuezhou areas. The south of the Yangtze River is prosperous and has a well-developed water system. If we can expand westward and increase arable land, it will benefit the country."

"Your Highness is talking about the Fuchun River, Xin'an River, Lan River, Wu River, and Qu River. Although the waterways there are feasible, they are narrow and large ships have difficulty passing through. However, they are not impossible to develop. In the early years of the Southern Chen Dynasty, the Shen family intended to develop Wuzhou and Quzhou. Later, the Southern Chen Dynasty was destroyed and everything was delayed." Zhang You lowered his head and pondered.

"What's wrong?" Li Chengqian asked subconsciously.

"Shen Qian, the military officer of the Yangzhou Household Department, is the direct descendant of the Shen family. His clan has been planning this all along. We need to ask Shen Qian for the details." Zhang You suddenly realized and looked up and said, "Your Highness, I didn't mean to say anything, but many people know about the Shen family's affairs..."

"Don't be nervous, father-in-law. I'm just asking casually." Li Chengqian smiled, then turned to look at Ma Zhou and said, "Ma Qing, send someone to retrieve Shen Qian's Ministry of Personnel file and have the Chief Secretary take a look. He's very experienced in local affairs. Then send someone to investigate in Jiangnan. If he's suitable, then the Eastern Palace can recommend him and transfer him to Chang'an first to serve as the Secretary General. After the investigation is complete, he can be transferred back to Jiangnan."

"Yes!" Ma Zhou immediately bowed, then turned around and left quickly.

If Shen Qian is really a talent who can increase grain production in Jiangnan, then even if Li Chengqian doesn't say it, Ma Zhou will try his best to recommend him.

Turning around, Li Chengqian looked at Zhang You and said with a smile, "If you have any talented people, please recommend them to me. Although I can't compare to the Ministry of Personnel, I can still recommend someone to serve in the Eastern Palace."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Zhang You breathed a sigh of relief.

"As for my father-in-law," Li Chengqian smiled and said, "I'll ask my father to transfer him to the Imperial Academy as a doctor. Jiangnan is a place of flourishing literary talent, so he should be well-suited to the position. Similarly, outstanding scholars from Jiangnan can also be recommended to me."

"I obey your command!" Zhang You bowed excitedly. Wasn't this the reason why he married his daughter into the Eastern Palace?
The Doctor of the Imperial College is not as powerful as the Junior Supervisor of the Capital Water Conservancy Bureau, but a Doctor of the Imperial College can send outstanding children of Jiangnan families to the Imperial College and even recommend them to the Eastern Palace. This is exactly what the Zhang family and many other Jiangnan families dream of.

Li Chengqian, who was sitting opposite Zhang You, had a deep look in his eyes.

A Jiangnan family!
(End of this chapter)