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

Chapter 309 Why does it feel like the head of the family is the prince? (Part )
Li Chengqian pulled a memorial from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Ananda, saying in a deep voice, "Over the past two years, the Ministry of Personnel has transferred officials, the Ministry of Revenue has collected taxes, the Ministry of Justice has handled cases, the Ministry of War has recruited soldiers, the Ministry of Works has produced military equipment, and the Ministry of Rites has conferred titles below marquis. All of these records are all here."

After a brief pause, watching the emperor flipping through the memorial, Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Fortunately, there will be no war next year. The court can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The world has been stable for the past two years. I have finally lived up to your trust."

Li Shimin took a quick look at the memorial and found that every piece of data in it was very detailed.

Especially the Ministry of Revenue, which has spent a lot of money in the court due to the attack on Goguryeo in the past two years.

Of course, although the imperial court still needed to make certain investments to recapture Liaodong, a large amount of gold and treasures could be directly converted into cash.

In addition, there are a large number of minerals, medicinal materials, timber, etc., which can be compensated by a little logging.

The war was generally a loss, but not a huge one. After two years, when the taxes in Liaodong were paid, the court would be able to recover.

As for the benefits that come after years and months, it is pure profit.

It’s actually digestion.

Digest Liaodong.

But no matter what, basically everything that happened during Li Chengqian's two years as regent was written down in this memorial.

The emperor only needs to review this memorial and let the officials from the six ministries review it one by one, and he will be able to thoroughly understand what Li Chengqian has done, and then take over everything again.

The emperor's gaze fell on the end of the memorial, and his brows couldn't help but frown slightly.

"Finally, there are three more matters. I've brought them up separately because they're also very important." Li Chengqian cupped his hands and said seriously, "The first is the return of Master Xuanzang to the Tang Dynasty. The Buddhist community, as well as countless believers across the world, are all paying close attention to this matter."

Li Shimin nodded. It was not so bad in the north. Except for Luoyang, there were not many Buddhist believers in other places. But in the south, the 480 temples in the Southern Dynasty were not empty talk.

"What is Xuan Zang doing now?" The emperor raised his head slightly.

Li Chengqian bowed and said, "While he was compiling Journey to the West, Buddhist monks occasionally visited him. I did not stop them. This way, he would have more time to write Journey to the West, and it might take longer for him to spread Buddhism in the future. This would also make the Taoists feel more at ease."

The ministers in the hall looked at Li Chengqian in surprise, and Li Chengqian actually told them everything directly.

"What kind of person is Xuanzang?"

"He is low-key, intelligent, and sharp-eyed." Li Chengqian bowed seriously.

"The prince has a very high opinion of me!" Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian in surprise, but when he remembered what Li Chengqian had said before, he immediately understood that Li Chengqian was more afraid of Xuanzang.

"I've read a little bit of Journey to the West; it's quite detailed," Li Chengqian said, bowing. "From Anxi, Kucha, Suiye, Baishui, Western Turkestan, Kangguo, Shiguo, Pamirs, and Tokharistan, we reach Northern India. Although India is vast, it's now divided into dozens of vassal states, just like during the Spring and Autumn Period."

"Spring and Autumn." Li Shimin keenly grasped the two words that Li Chengqian deliberately used.

The Spring and Autumn Period is not the Warring States Period.

This means that although there were conflicts and disputes, and even wars, within India, they were not intense.

"India is vast and populous. Although it's far from the Tang Dynasty, the only two countries we really need to worry about are Tokharistan and Western Turkestan. Contact with them won't be difficult." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian looked at Li Shimin and said, "The real trouble lies with Tubo. Tubo is located on the plateau north of India. And because Songtsen married Princess Nepal a few years ago, their tentacles have extended into India through Nepal."

The emperor raised his brows and said, "Go on."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian bowed, briefly looking at the ministers, and continued, "Tibet originally had Bon as its state religion, but now Songtsen is vigorously promoting Buddhism in Tibet. He has already absorbed a large amount of manpower and resources from Nepal. Once he begins to absorb manpower and resources from India, he will inevitably develop further in the future and eventually threaten the Tang Dynasty to the north."

"Songzan!" Li Shimin sighed softly, then looked at Li Chengqian and asked thoughtfully, "Are you saying that Tianzhu is weak?"

It is inevitable that Tubo is not as strong as the Tang Dynasty, but India is not as strong as Tubo.

"Father, the Buddhists govern Tianzhu." Li Chengqian shrugged and said, "The Buddhists also govern Southern Liang."

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, then he couldn't help laughing, and the ministers in the hall couldn't help laughing as well.

The Southern Liang Dynasty worshipped Buddhism to the extreme, but was eventually easily destroyed by the Southern Chen Dynasty. If the Sui Dynasty had not wanted to use them to win over the hearts of the people in the south of the Yangtze River, I am afraid that the treatment of people like them in the Southern Liang Dynasty would have been much worse.

After a brief pause, Li Shimin waved his hand slightly, then looked at Liu Li with some apology.

Liu Li was the Yellow Gate Minister of Xiao Xin at that time, and Xiao Xin was the great-grandson of Emperor Xuan of Western Liang, Xiao Zhao, and inherited many aspects of his family's genes.

Liu Li bowed calmly. It was unknown how long it had been since Xiao Xin was destroyed.

……

"The Great Tang, India." Li Shimin sighed and said, "The Great Tang is still too far away from India."

"Father, this isn't a bad thing. As the saying goes, make friends with those far away and attack those near." Li Chengqian bowed and said, "There are many intelligent people in the Indian Buddhist community. They see clearly the greed of the Tibetans, so contacting the Tang Dynasty is inevitable."

"But India is too far away." Changsun Wuji stepped forward from the back and bowed, "Your Highness, how can we cooperate with them at such a distance?" Li Chengqian turned and said seriously, "We can ensure that India is not swallowed by Tubo, and at the same time let people know that India is targeting Tokharistan. This will slow down the Tubo's development..."

"Once the Tang Dynasty has conquered Goguryeo, we can turn around and target Tubo. This is the time I need." After a brief pause, Li Shimin sneered and said, "Once Tubo is conquered, I will have a good chance to see what the Buddhist kingdom of India is like."

"Yes!" All the ministers bowed in unison and smiled with understanding.

"Your Majesty," Li Chengqian bowed and continued, "The Honglu Temple has already recruited and trained over a dozen officials and scholars who can communicate in the Indian language. It all depends on when Your Majesty will send an envoy to Tubo. However, I suggest that you send more escorts, even if they only stay at the border, to show the Indians the might of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Shimin nodded in understanding, then smiled and said, "After all, the Tang Dynasty is too far away from India, and there are too many people in the Tang Dynasty who worship Buddhism."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded. The Tang Dynasty and India still have many similarities.

"Let's discuss this matter after we return to Chang'an." Li Shimin smiled and waved his hand. Although he said so, all the ministers knew that the situation would not be much different.

Li Ji stood among the ministers, his eyes flashing.

If we really send people to escort them, then these people will become the fighting force to conquer the Western Turks in the future.

……

"The second matter is the Tubo matter." Li Chengqian said with a serious expression, "Father, Tubo has almost annexed Yangtong. Although the Yangtong King is still alive, his power has been weakened and he is under house arrest. Tubo's power has not only infiltrated Western Tuyuhun through Yangtong, affecting the Southern Silk Road, but has even withdrawn tens of thousands of Yangtong cavalry."

The Tubo cavalry, Zhangzhung cavalry, Yangtong cavalry, Subi cavalry, and Nepalese cavalry are the main combat forces of Tubo today.

In the past, Tubo could also draw on the Yangtong cavalry, but the number was not large. But now, they can draw on the Yangtong cavalry without any scruples, and their strength will be greatly increased.

"That's why you let Prince Yang Tong come to Chang'an." Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian with some relief.

If there was no chess piece of Prince Yangtong, then the Tang Dynasty would have no way to prevent Tubo from annexing Yangtong. But now that they have Prince Yangtong, they can think of a way to launch an attack on Tubo directly from Yangtong.

Of course, the prerequisite is that they first help Prince Yang Tong restore his country.

Li Chengqian bowed and said, "If you want to intervene in Yangtong, besides attacking Eastern and Western Tuyuhun, it's best to attack from Qiuci, Shule, and Congling, and then attack Yangtong..."

"Wait!" Li Shimin frowned and looked at Li Chengqian, saying, "Are you saying that Tubo can also intervene in Congling and Shule through Yang Tong?"

"Yes!" Li Chengqian bowed. Tubo's greed for the Silk Road was obvious. The war between Tubo and the Tang Dynasty in later generations was basically about the control of the Silk Road.

"I understand. After returning to the court, I will go to see Prince Yang Tong to see how to make plans." Li Shimin's eyes were cold.

"The third matter concerns the Imperial Censor." Li Chengqian cupped his hands and said, "The Imperial Censor's death was ultimately confirmed to be suicide. However, prior to this, someone in his family had poisoned him. It was ultimately determined to be a sorcerer named Gongsun Chang."

"Gongsun Chang is wanted throughout the country." Li Shimin interrupted Li Chengqian, shook his head, and said, "I am somewhat ashamed of Wei Qing's affairs. I hereby decree that his barony of Fuyang County be restored, his title of Jinzi Guanglu Dafu be restored, and his posthumous title of Governor of Runzhou be granted."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian bowed in response.

All the ministers bowed and said, "Your Majesty is benevolent."

Li Shimin sighed softly and said, "This Liaodong campaign has resulted in many casualties. The Ministry of Rites should begin drafting funeral and posthumous honors."

"Yes!" Li Daozon immediately stood up and bowed.

Li Shimin waved his hand, looked at Li Chengqian and said, "During this Liaodong campaign, I finally managed to break into Pingrang City. The next time I attack again, I will definitely be able to break through Pingrang and destroy Goguryeo."

Li Chengqian hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "I, your son, will devote all my strength to helping your father conquer Goguryeo."

Li Shimin smiled with satisfaction.

Changsun Wuji stood among the ministers and couldn't help but sigh in his heart when he saw this scene.

The emperor was in poor health, and the previous abscess was nothing serious.

The real trouble was that after being sucked by Li Zhi, although Li Chengqian said that the situation would be handled in time and the consequences would be fine, Changsun Wuji still felt uneasy in his heart.

If the emperor's health was completely broken down by the abscess, then all plans to conquer Goguryeo would be meaningless.

But now the emperor simply would not listen to any advice. If the prince really dissuaded him, it would make the emperor angry. However, now that he has expressed his full support for the emperor, the emperor is naturally satisfied.

The emperor raised his head calmly and said, "I expect to set foot in Liaodong again in the next two to three years. Liaodong's war preparations are very important, so a large amount of food and fodder will still be transported to Liaodong in the coming years. Prince, do you think the court can support it?"

Among the ministers, Li Ji couldn't help but look up, glanced at Li Chengqian, and then looked at Tang Jian in front of him.

Why do I suddenly feel that the prince is the real boss, not Tang Jian, the Minister of Revenue?

(End of this chapter)