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

Chapter 279: The Crown Prince Has Controlled My Finances (Part )

"The Chief Secretary is going to implicate my royal brother!" Li Zhi gently closed his eyes and began to think deeply.

Ji Jiafu stood aside, looking at Li Zhi in such a state, his face full of shock.

He had only just started the plan, but Prince Jin had already guessed all of Wei Ting's thoughts and plans.

Ji Jiafu couldn't even imagine such ability and level.

For a moment, he looked at Li Zhi as if he was looking at a god.

"Change the political situation." Li Zhi slowly opened his eyes and nodded. "Yes, tell the Chief Secretary that you can do it, but be careful not to get yourself involved."

"Yes!" Ji Jiafu bowed slightly.

Li Zhi smiled. It was impossible to impeach Fang Xuanling. Wei Ting's real purpose was to alienate Li Chengqian and Fang Xuanling.

In today's Chang'an, the crown prince is the regent and Fang Xuanling is the assistant governor.

What would happen if someone accused Fang Xuanling of treason?

The first person to face the impact was Li Chengqian.

How did Li Chengqian deal with Fang Xuanling’s rebellion?
Is this kind of thing something Li Chengqian can handle?

However, as long as Li Chengqian does not deal with it, Fang Xuanling will feel distrusted, and the relationship between Fang Xuanling and the prince will become distant.

This is Wei Ting’s purpose.

This is a conspiracy.

Even when the matter was traced back to Tian Renhui, it was finally traced back to him. If he was forced to reveal the matter of Fang Yiai, everything would become even more complicated.

This matter will inevitably be brought to the attention of the emperor.

What would the emperor think?
Was there a conflict between the Crown Prince and Fang Xuanling, or what?
Who is plotting all this behind the scenes?

What's the purpose?
Li Zhi smiled lightly. One should not think too deeply about these things. The more one thinks about them, the more things will come to mind.

Li Zhi didn't believe that his father was unaware of Fang Yiai's affairs.

Even if the truth is finally revealed, Tian Ren will take full responsibility and will not implicate Wei Ting and Li Zhi.

Li Zhi withdrew his thoughts, looked at Ji Jiafu and asked, "How has the prince been doing recently?"

Ji Jiafu's expression grew serious, and he whispered, "The Crown Prince is very cautious and acts according to court regulations. He hasn't made any personal arrangements. The Crown Prince's regent, the officials of the Eastern Palace, and those connected to them, haven't been transferred to many of the six ministries and nine temples... The Crown Prince hasn't taken the opportunity to cultivate personal power."

"My Royal Brother is very cautious, which is a good thing. Similarly, being too cautious is also a bad thing." Li Zhi sighed and said, "This means that if something really goes wrong, not many people will stand up to speak for my Royal Brother."

Without an absolute confidant, the prince has insufficient control over state affairs. Once the emperor changes his mind, the prince will be deposed.

Everything is in the hands of the emperor.

Li Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and asked, "How's the investigation going in the palace?"

"There are some spies from other aspects, but they seem to be people in the palace?" Ji Jiafu's voice lowered again.

"In the palace?" Li Zhi frowned in confusion.

"It's not the Eastern Palace, it's the palace." After a brief pause, Ji Jiafu said, "The Crown Prince is now in charge of the country, and he relies more on the Qianniu Guards and the Jinwu Guards. Now, outside the palace, there are Qianniu Guards and the Jinwu Guards monitoring and protecting him. And in the palace, there are people from Your Majesty's palace, the eunuch Zhang Ananda."

Li Zhi fell silent. He could do something about the people from the Hundred Cavalry Division, but he found it difficult to deal with Zhang Ananda's people.

It’s not that Zhang Ananda’s people can’t do anything or kill, but that there’s not much point in killing them.

Those people in the palace are worthless whether they live or die. If this group of people dies today, a new group of people will be sent out from the palace tomorrow.

"Forget it, keep an eye on them and don't let them access secrets that they shouldn't. If they really cross the rules, just kill them." Li Zhi looked at Ji Jiafu coldly.

"Yes!" Ji Jiafu bowed slightly.

Those people in the palace should be restrained by the rules of the palace. If they break the rules, they will be beaten to death. Even Zhang Ananda will say something.

In fact, these people would not go beyond the rules to investigate anything. All they did was report back everything they saw on a daily basis, and that was enough.

Without the palace and the emperor's orders, they would not do anything at all.

So these people do pose some threat, but that's all they are.

"By the way, how is Guo Xiaoshen now?" Li Zhi's voice lowered.

Ji Jiafu looked at Li Zhi with a little surprise. Even in the previous incident with Wei Ting, the King of Jin was not so cautious.

After a moment's thought, Ji Jiafu said, "Guo Xiaoshen has now joined the Ministry of Justice as a clerk, working under Wei Wanqing, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice."

"Yes!" Li Zhi nodded and said, "Tell the Chief Secretary that if there is a chance, have Wei Wanqing investigate Tian Renhui and give Guo Xiaoshen a chance to be promoted."

"Yes!" Ji Jiafu bowed seriously. He could feel Li Zhi's attention to Guo Xiaoshen, even more than before.

"Okay, that's all for today. You can go out again tomorrow." Li Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, then stood up and walked outside while saying, "My brother has two more sons. The princess asked the emperor's sister-in-law for advice a while ago. I hope she learned something."

"Yes!" Ji Jiafu forced a smile. Besides studying, the current King of Jin was most concerned about his offspring, but this kind of thing couldn't be forced. ...

In early October, snow falls heavily.

Su Xu, along with Zhao Yuankai and Tang Jian, entered Liaodong City with a large batch of food and supplies.

When the people in the city saw this scene, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and their faces were filled with joy.

When the Goguryeo people ruled, their daily lives were not easy and it was difficult to survive a day. But now that they have returned to the Tang Dynasty, not starving to death is a thing of the past. Now the problem is how full they can eat every day and whether they have meat.

Liaodong City is the largest city in the entire Liaodong. As Su Xu came along, he was also checking the nearby fields, mines, roads, and bridges, and gradually got a general idea of ​​the situation.

The Liaodong City Lord's Mansion is heavily guarded both inside and outside.

Su Xu, Zhao Yuankai, and Tang Jian, led by a tall eunuch, walked quickly towards the depths of the mansion.

At this time, the emperor's voice had already come from the main hall.

"Tell Gai Suwen that I have only three demands: withdraw troops from Silla, return the Goguryeo throne to the King of Goguryeo, and then kowtow before me and confess your guilt." Li Shimin snorted coldly and said, "I have conveyed my orders twice, but he has ignored them completely. He even dared to detain the Tang envoy. He truly doesn't know how to live or die."

"Yes, after returning, the foreign minister will report to our king." An envoy bowed and then carefully left the hall.

Immediately, the eunuch led Su Xu, Zhao Yuankai and Tang Jian into the Tang Dynasty.

In the Tang Dynasty, Zhangsun Wuji, Li Daozon, Li Ji, Cen Wenben, Liu Li, Chu Suiliang, Li Daliang, Zhishisili and Qibi Heli and others stood on both sides.

An official with a familiar appearance was standing in the hall. Su Xu thought about it and immediately remembered that it was the Prime Minister Li Xuanjiang of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Xiang Lixuan, who was once sent as an envoy to Goguryeo and was finally withheld by Gaesomun.

"Duke Ju, you came at the right time. Your beloved Xiangli has returned from his diplomatic mission. I have just transferred him to be a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue, and the position belongs to you." Li Shimin looked at Tang Jian with a smile.

"Yes!" Tang Jian bowed earnestly, then said, "Your Majesty, I came to Liaodong City this time to accompany the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of the Imperial Academy to escort food, clothing, and military equipment. This is the largest logistics batch we can guarantee this year. As for the future, the snow in Liaodong is deep, and time is difficult to guarantee."

Li Shimin's expression grew serious, and he nodded and asked, "Have you calculated whether it will last until next spring?"

"It's barely enough." Tang Jian cupped his hands and said, "But we still need soldiers and civilians to go to the mountains to hunt for some mountain products and catch some fish in the water. That will be enough."

"Duke Ju, be cautious!" Li Shimin could hear that everything was enough, and the rest was just a matter of whether it was sufficient or not.

"Yes!" Tang Jian bowed and then retreated back to the train.

Li Shimin looked at Zhao Yuankai and Su Xu. He sighed and said, "Why did you two come to Liaodong? Are you adjusting well along the way?"

"Your Majesty, we are honored to see you. May your Majesty live forever." Zhao Yuankai and Su Xu bowed to the emperor together.

"Stand up." Li Shimin raised his hand and said, "Let's talk about the matter."

"Yes!" Zhao Yuankai stood up and said, "I'm here on orders from the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Fang to inspect Liaodong's preparations for next spring's planting. I'm here to check how much fertile land there is, how much can be planted, and how much can be replenished. Furthermore, I'm here to determine how much timber, medicinal herbs, and minerals can be transported back to Chang'an."

"I am here to survey the mines, check the location, calibrate the terrain, and at the same time inspect the construction of the Liaodong Provincial School." Su Xu followed with a bow.

Li Shimin looked at Zhao Yuankai and Su Xu, then smiled at Zhangsun Wuji and Tang Jian and said, "Wuji, Duke of Ju, it looks like someone is trying to take your positions!"

"Your Majesty!" Tang Jian stepped forward first, bowing and saying, "Minister Wei has brought the total amount of the Ministry of Revenue's expenditures for supporting the Liaodong War this year. Your Majesty, please review it."

Zhao Yuankai took out a memorial from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Ananda.

Zhang Ananda took the memorial and placed it on the emperor's desk.

All the civil and military officials in the hall bowed, and no one dared to speak carelessly at this time. The Ministry of Revenue was here to settle the accounts.

Li Shimin flipped through the memorial, then looked at Tang Jian helplessly and said, "Duke of Ju, I know the losses this year have been enormous, but now we have taken Liaodong, with nearly 400,000 civilians, as you have seen."

"Your Majesty, while that's true, the Ministry of Revenue needs to achieve a timely balance." Tang Jian bowed and said, "So, I've come this time hoping to secure timber, medicinal materials, ores, and seized gold, silver, and jewelry from Liaodong for transport back to Chang'an. I will take all of it to ensure next year's logistical needs."

Li Shimin looked at Tang Jian and frowned, "Is this also what the Crown Prince meant?"

"This is the opinion of the Crown Prince, Prime Minister Fang, Prime Minister Gao, Prime Minister Yang, Prime Minister Xiao, Prime Minister Yu, and everyone in the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of the Imperial Household, and the Ministry of the Imperial Household." Tang Jian looked at the emperor pleadingly and said, "Your Majesty, the Tang Dynasty is not limited to Liaodong. We must also take care of other places."

"It seems that the prince has control over my finances?" Li Shimin looked at Tang Jian coldly.

Tang Jian bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and all the officials in Chang'an are fully supporting Your Majesty's Eastern Expedition. Everything we do now is also in preparation for next year's war... Your Majesty, next year's war will have to be fought for another year, and even the year after will be delayed. Your Majesty, this account must be settled!"

Let’s settle the accounts.

Even a figure like Li Shimin would get a headache when he heard the word "settlement of accounts".

"Okay." Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Wuji helplessly and said, "Wuji, you, Duke of Ju, Wei Qing, and Su Qing will be counted together."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed seriously.

"Your Majesty!" Su Xu stepped forward and said, "The Crown Prince has entrusted me with a memorial to Your Majesty, reporting that the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince Liangti's grandson are doing well. I would like to review this memorial for Your Majesty's consideration."

Li Shimin's face was immediately filled with smiles.

(End of this chapter)