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

Chapter 349: A Hypocritical Word, Luo Binwang Gains Li Zhi's Trust (Part )
The Wei River is clear and quiet.

A layer of floating ice on the river reflects the winter sky.

Escorted by hundreds of cavalrymen, a carriage slowly headed towards Chang'an.

Behind the queue, several caravans and more pedestrians followed carefully behind and did not overtake.

Li Zhi lowered the carriage curtain and looked at Luo Binwang across from him with some confusion. He asked, "Luo Qing, why are they following behind us and not overtaking us? I'm not that scary here, am I?"

"Mostly just watching the fun." Luo Binwang shook his head calmly and said, "Everyone is curious. After all, even in Chang'an City, it's not so easy to see a prince. Besides, His Highness is easygoing and doesn't chase them away. Maybe someone will recommend themselves soon!"

Li Zhi smiled and waved his hand, saying, "This is Chang'an. Talented people will go to Chang'an to seek opportunities. Only after they fail in Chang'an will they think of me."

"Just like me!" Luo Binwang nodded calmly.

"My dear, what are you saying? I am truly lucky to have met you." Li Zhi sighed and said, "If you hadn't traveled to Jingzhou, I wouldn't have had the chance to meet you."

"I came here to see the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, but I never expected to meet Your Highness in Yiling." Luo Binwang bowed gently and said, "Your Highness loves the people like your own children. When the Yangtze River flooded, you personally risked your life to go to the Three Gorges to save the people. I admire you deeply."

"Let's not talk about anything else. My dear, you will take part in the imperial examination next year. How are your preparations going?" Li Zhi looked at Luo Binwang with a gentle expression.

"No, maybe the year after next." Luo Binwang shook his head slightly and said, "I have seen the list of applicants for next year's imperial examination. There are many children from aristocratic families. After what happened this year, there won't be many places left for next year, and even fewer for those from humble backgrounds. I'd better prepare the year after next. That way, my chances of passing the imperial examination will be better."

"What are you talking about? Even if I can't come in person, I can ask Prince Xu to do it." Li Zhi looked at Luo Binwang seriously with a sincere expression.

Li Yuanli, Prince of Xu, was the tenth son of Emperor Gaozu and the son of Concubine Guo.

Li Zhi is now carefully trying to win over the kings.

Among the emperor's sons, Li Ke was too conspicuous, and Li Tai and Li You were deposed. King Li Yin of Shu was Li Ke's brother from the same mother.

The maternal clan of King Jiang Li Hun was the Wuhuan Wang clan.

The mother of Prince Ji Li Shen is Concubine Wei. Concubine Wei does not need to take sides in any aspect. Anyone who ascends the throne will treat Prince Ji well.

Although Prince Zhao Li Fu's mother was Concubine Yang, Prince Zhao had the best relationship with the Crown Prince.

The only one left was King Li Zhen of Yue.

The mother of King Yue Li Zhen was Concubine Yan De, who was a very cautious person. If Li Zhi wanted to win over Li Zhen, he would have to pay a high price.

Oh, and there is also Li Ming, King of Cao.

Now Li Zhi is still the nephew of Changsun Wuji. Although there is a fight for the crown prince, Changsun Wuji will still stand firmly on the side of the prince, but that's all. He will not take action to attack Li Zhi.

But if Li Zhi dared to do anything with Cao Wang Li Ming, Changsun Wuji would definitely deal with him as well.

So, Li Zhi chose and chose, and finally only tried to win over Xu Wang Li Yuanli and his son-in-law...

"Your Highness!" Luo Binwang shook his head slightly at Li Zhi and said, "Although I am foolish, I do not want to be outdone by others, Queen Mother. I want to properly consolidate what I have learned so that I can finally gain real benefits in the imperial examinations."

Li Zhi immediately understood that Luo Binwang simply looked down upon the one or two Jinshi positions that were given out from the fingers of the aristocratic families.

"Okay." Li Zhi retracted his gaze and asked in a deep voice, "You have returned to Chang'an a month ago. How is the investigation going with my brother?"

Luo Binwang bowed and said, "I started my investigation the moment Your Majesty entered Cuiwei Palace. Over the past year, the Crown Prince has been acting as regent. The first thing he did was send people to inspect the local spring planting. The Crown Prince is extremely strict with the locals. If more than 1,000 mu of granted farmland remains vacant, the county magistrate will be assessed as inferior. If more than 10,000 mu remains vacant, the county magistrate will be immediately dismissed, and the provincial governor will be assessed as inferior..."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "I know about this. My brother is doing this for this year's autumn harvest. Although this is a bit harsh, everyone from my father to the ministers in the court approves of it."

All the court officials knew that the emperor had been at war for two years and the treasury was empty.

And within two or three years, the emperor will launch another eastern expedition against Goguryeo.

If enough food cannot be prepared before then, the emperor will be furious and the first to suffer will be the officials in the court, followed by the local governors.

Now that Li Chengqian was in power, the unlucky ones started from the lowest level of the local household department, the county magistrate and the county magistrate, and finally the governor.

Moreover, before the assessment, the court gave a one-month buffer period.

Everything may be difficult for large states, but it is too easy to accomplish for small states with only two or three counties.

"That's what you said, but I always feel that there is something hidden in the prince's actions?" Luo Binwang frowned slightly.

Li Zhi looked at Luo Binwang's expression and nodded in appreciation. "Although you come from a humble background, you have a very keen understanding of the current situation. Indeed, the emperor's mind is not only on the autumn tax, but he is also keeping an eye on the powerful officials in the court and the local aristocratic families."

Luo Binwang was very perceptive. He immediately realized, "In the world, ordinary people and the poor have very little land and are absolutely reluctant to let it go idle. However, the rich and powerful and local tycoons who truly own large amounts of land do not care if their land remains idle."

Li Zhi smiled: "Yes, my royal brother is targeting them. If the land in their family is left idle for too long, my royal brother will report to father and punish them." "This means that the prince has something against them." Luo Binwang nodded slightly.

"Yes." Li Zhi sighed softly and said, "My royal brother always manages to use the most legitimate means to threaten the people of the world."

"There will always be people who are dissatisfied." Luo Binwang shook his head slightly and looked at Li Zhi: "Even if he is the crown prince!"

"My Royal Brother's tactics are very clever. He loosens his grip at the critical moment." Li Zhi leaned over and said with a wry smile, "Now that my Royal Brother is governing the country, every loosening and tightening motion is under his control."

"I still say the same thing. The Crown Prince will always make mistakes." Luo Binwang looked at Li Zhi and said, "I am already investigating, and I will continue to investigate!"

"Yes!" Li Zhi nodded seriously and said, "Go on."

……

"It rained heavily starting in May this year." Luo Binwang paused for a moment, then continued, "The Crown Prince ordered the construction of a large number of small boats to rescue people along the Wei, Yellow, and Luo rivers.

When the rain was heaviest, the Crown Prince even went to Shanzhou, the worst-hit area, to personally direct disaster relief efforts. By July, when the rain eased, the Crown Prince sold the boats he had built to the people at a low price..."

"They say it's cheap, but that's only relative to market prices. The cost of shipbuilding has already been recouped for the court." Li Zhi sneered softly, saying, "My Royal Highness is the best at this, using court goods to win over people, but in reality, the people don't get much benefit at all..."

"Hypocrisy!" Luo Binwang nodded and said calmly, "The Crown Prince is hypocritical. Your Highness may not see through it completely, but I understand. I have carefully studied the matter of the King of Wei. The reason why the King of Wei finally rebelled was actually forced by the Crown Prince. Your Highness should be careful."

Li Zhi nodded slightly. The reason why he believed in Luo Binwang was, firstly, because Luo Binwang was indeed talented, and secondly, because Luo Binwang really looked down on the prince.

Luo Binwang stayed in Chang'an for several months. Although he was young, he had a sharp eye and had unique insights into the dispute between the crown prince and the King of Wei, as well as the dispute between Li Zhi and the crown prince.

This is what Li Zhi needs most.

The prince is now very powerful, and there are very few people in the world who are willing to help him sincerely.

Even if some people were willing to help him, Li Zhi would not consider many of them.

The most important thing is that there are very few people Li Zhi can trust.

The incident at Li Yifu caused great harm to Li Zhi.

Li Yifu followed Li Zhi for at least five or six years, but after a few contacts with the Eastern Palace, he began to become suspicious, and even stabbed him in the back when he finally defected to the Eastern Palace.

So even if someone is willing to join him now, Li Zhi will be extremely cautious and examine the matter again and again.

"After the beginning of autumn, it was the incident of Concubine Xu being deposed." Luo Binwang sighed, looked at Li Zhi, and said, "In fact, Concubine Xu didn't see clearly one thing. His Majesty just needs a virtuous concubine who can give him advice. As for whether this virtuous concubine is her, it doesn't matter. But she really takes herself seriously."

A hint of embarrassment flashed in Li Zhi's eyes. The emperor was his father. Luo Binwang spoke of his father so bluntly that Li Zhi looked a little unhappy.

However, deep down in his heart, Li Zhi trusted Luo Binwang even more.

"After Concubine Xu was deposed, Concubine Wu stayed with Your Majesty in Mount Zhongnan for two months before Your Majesty returned to the palace." Prince Luo Bin looked up at Li Zhi, shook his head slightly, and said, "Since Your Majesty returned to the palace, he has continued to neglect state affairs, leaving the empire to the Crown Prince... I am somewhat worried that Your Majesty will become obsessed with pleasure and neglect state affairs. That would be very bad for Your Majesty."

Li Zhi nodded gently, then shook his head and said, "Although the emperor is somewhat obsessed, he is not that kind of person. I still understand him somewhat. Putting aside other things, just looking at my brother, do you think he is relaxed now? No, not at all. I'm afraid he is still extremely vigilant."

"That's right." Luo Binwang nodded slightly and said, "Although His Royal Highness is hypocritical, he does have some ability. I have observed His Royal Highness's actions this year. In the central government and at the provincial governor level, the Crown Prince has always acted impartially, rewarding those who deserve it and punishing those who deserve it, even with those closest to him."

"This is for Father to see." Li Zhi shook his head and said, "The most important positions in the world are no more than the positions of Shangshu Shilang and provincial governors. My brother is trying to win people's hearts by showing his impartiality. His real hands and feet are in the court, above the officials of the Imperial Secretariat, the officials of the various ministries, the secretaries of the temples, and even the provincial governors. Many people from the Eastern Palace have been transferred to these places."

"Yes, His Majesty is personally monitoring the positions of the Shangshu Shilang and the provincial governors. If the Crown Prince interferes, it will easily arouse His Majesty's vigilance." Luo Binwang looked at Li Zhi and sighed softly, "As for the court officials, the Jieshizhong, the Langzhong of each department, the Sicheng, and the local chief officials, His Majesty has allowed the Crown Prince to interfere."

"Yes, he is the prince after all." Li Zhi smiled bitterly.

"But Your Highness, these are useless." Luo Binwang looked at Li Zhi seriously and said, "If it's a normal battle for people's hearts, these are of course important, but given the current gap between Your Highness and the Crown Prince, even if Your Highness puts more effort into these matters, it will be of no avail. Even if the Crown Prince puts more effort into them, that's all. The only people Your Highness can really interfere with are the six ministers, provincial governors, and the generals in the army."

"Generals in the army?" Li Zhi was a little confused.

"Generals!" Luo Binwang nodded gently and said, "I have some clues about what Your Highness asked me to investigate."

"The death of Wei Qing." Li Zhi sat up straight, his eyes solemn and his breathing heavy.

"Yes!" Luo Binwang nodded and said, "I have found out that the sorcerer named Gongsun Chang once appeared at the home of General Tian Renhui of the Right Jinwu Guard."

"General Tian Renhui of the Right Jinwu Guard?" Li Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly, "I am still the Grand General of the Right Jinwu Guard."

"Yes!" Luo Binwang lowered his head solemnly. Inadvertently, a hint of pride flashed across the corner of his mouth, but disappeared in an instant.

(End of this chapter)