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

Chapter 424 Uncle, I also want to offer sacrifices to the gods at Mount Tai (Part )

Li Chengqian's hearty laughter could be heard from the Taiji Hall. "Uncle, what are you thinking? I have never thought of changing the Zhenguan Law."

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji stood at the foot of the red steps and, without even looking up, said directly, "Your Majesty, if you want to revise the Zhenguan Law, I have no objection. After all, the Zhenguan period has already lasted for twenty-two years, and the Zhenguan Law, formulated in the early years of the Zhenguan era, does have many inappropriate aspects that need to be revised. But, Your Majesty, it cannot be done now."

Now, the emperor is still here.

It is now the 22nd year of Zhenguan.

If the Zhenguan Law is changed now, where will the emperor put his face?

Changsun Wuji didn't explain everything, but he believed that Li Chengqian understood these things.

"Uncle, you're overthinking it." Li Chengqian shook his head and waved his hand. "I'm just speaking from the facts. I've always found the population of the world very strange. In the early years of Yang Guang's reign, the world had a population of 60 million. Then, after his three expeditions to Goguryeo, the world was in chaos. Then, the Tang Dynasty was founded. In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, the world's population was less than 10 million."

Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly, "I know that there are cases of household registration being concealed throughout the country.

It was only granted by the imperial court, by the princes and princesses, and by the noble families, but I never imagined that they were hiding so many.”

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji bowed and was about to say something.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Even if Yang Guang's expedition to Goguryeo resulted in 10 million casualties, and the subsequent chaos at the end of the year resulted in 30 million casualties, it's unlikely that by the time the Tang Dynasty was founded, there would only be 10 million people left. Even during the 300 years of the Five Barbarians' invasion of China, that many didn't die, did it?"

"Your Majesty, there are indeed hidden populations in the world, but not as many as Your Majesty thinks." Changsun Wuji bowed quickly. If the number of hidden populations of the noble families in the world exceeded 10 million, then they would be enough to establish another country.

"I understand." Li Chengqian glanced at Zhangsun Wuji indifferently, then said, "During the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, they swept away a large number of people. Although there were not tens of millions, there were still millions. After all, everyone wanted to fight for the throne.

But they were defeated, and these people became slaves. That’s fine, but for decades, they haven’t treated these slaves well. They kill one today, ten tomorrow, and I…”

Li Chengqian could no longer hold back and clenched his fists in anger.

Changsun Wuji fell completely silent. Although what Li Chengqian said was not completely correct, it was basically close to the truth.

Nowadays, there are still millions of slaves who have fallen into the hands of the powerful and wealthy in the world, even if they die again and again.

In this way, it is understandable that the population of the Sui Dynasty was reduced from 60 million to only 10 million by the end of the century.

The powerful here include not only aristocratic families, but also a large number of new aristocrats.

The Li Tang royal family is the most important among them.

Looking at Yang Yuzhi, who had the lives of more than 30 young women on his hands, Li Chengqian couldn't help but feel murderous in his heart, but the more he felt this way, the calmer he became.

"Uncle, things can't go on like this. We need to change." Li Chengqian sighed and said, "I also want to perform the Fengshan ceremony on Mount Tai, but with a population of 60 million..."

The words "I also want to offer sacrifices to the gods on Mount Tai" completely crushed the last bit of desire in Changsun Wuji's heart to resist.

Fengshan at Mount Tai.

From Yang Jian, to Yang Guang, and then to the retired emperor Li Shimin, no one could resist this temptation.

But now, Li Chengqian also had this idea in his heart.

So if anyone really stands in the way of this matter, he will really kill people.

"What about the current matter?" Changsun Wuji raised his head and looked at Li Chengqian.

"As I said before, after ten years of service, all slaves will be free." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "Uncle, do you know what this means? It means that after ten years, the imperial court will have hundreds of thousands more households and millions of people. This is equivalent to fighting another war with Goguryeo, and winning it."

Zhangsun Wuji nodded, his expression becoming serious. "Your Majesty is right. Moreover, Your Majesty has given us a ten-year buffer period, and the previous matters will not be pursued. Any normal official will be able to understand Your Majesty's ambition."

"But there will always be people who are dissatisfied." Li Chengqian looked outside the palace and said softly, "They can have slaves for twenty years, or even their entire lives, but I stripped them of their rights with just one word. I'm afraid these people hate me to death."

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I will get rid of them." Changsun Wuji bowed solemnly. Instead of letting the emperor act rashly without knowing how to be gentle or prudent, it would be better for Changsun Wuji to control all these matters.

"Thank you, uncle." Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "Also, the unauthorized killing of slaves and servants is a fundamental flaw in Tang law. 'Slaves and servants are lowly beings, and are treated like animals according to the law.' Uncle, they are still human beings after all, and cannot be treated like this."

"What does your Majesty wish?"

"Your Majesty, please issue an order." Li Chengqian looked up and said, "Any master who injures my concubine or maidservant, causing injuries above the level of a mortal, will be treated as an ordinary person. Those who die will be treated as ordinary people."

Slaves are slaves after all, and beatings and scoldings are inevitable, but if they hurt others, they will be treated as normal people committing crimes and will be punished one level less severely.

If you kill someone, you must pay with your life.

"Anyone who abuses a maid will be sentenced to one year in prison; those who intentionally kill will be punished one level higher; those who kill concubines or young children who are not cohabiting will be punished according to the law of intentional killing." Li Chengqian's eyes turned cold, and he continued, "Your Majesty, please issue an order, and I will follow it. Then the Secretariat will closely monitor all prefectures and counties across the country and ensure strict implementation."

Changsun Wuji was stunned for a moment, then he bowed and said, "Yes!"

Let the retired emperor issue the decree, so that it would not be considered a change to the Zhenguan Law.

Ten years later, the emperor issued an imperial decree to change the number of households owned by slaves from twenty years to ten years, which was basically unchanged.

In fact, strengthening the punishment for harming and killing slaves is the fundamental change.

The emperor, the emperor, and the two previous emperors of the Tang Dynasty issued orders at the same time, and no one in the world dared to disobey. This was also, to some extent, to take care of the emperor's face.

……

"Uncle!" Li Chengqian raised his head and looked outside the hall. Chang'an City was vaguely visible.

He stood up, walked to the palace gate, and said calmly: "The population of the Tang Dynasty needs to increase. Just relying on the strategies of the past few years, the population has increased by 8 million in 30 years. It was a fluke that gained a million people in the war with Goguryeo. If it weren't for this war, I am afraid that in another hundred years, the population of the Tang Dynasty would not reach 60 million."

Zhangsun Wuji stood behind Li Chengqian and said softly, "I understand your majesty's thoughts, but we cannot act too radically for the sake of the overall situation. Otherwise, if everyone rises up in opposition, it will be like the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "My nephew knows. That's why I chose to give the lowest-ranking slaves a way to survive in order to increase the population. After all, being a slave means having a hard time getting enough to eat and drink, and facing the possibility of being beaten and killed at any time. Who would choose to have children in such a situation?"

Changsun Wuji nodded slightly. During the chaotic times at the end of the Sui Dynasty, countless people were swept away by the aristocratic families.

Of course, the Li Tang royal family gained the most, as they gained the entire world.

But over the years, those people have been dying rapidly.

Although the royal family and the aristocratic families have various mature methods, the reality is bloody.

Just like the bodies dug out from Princess Changguang’s manor.

"I will do everything I can to give these people more living space." Li Chengqian turned to look at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "Uncle, but believe it or not, those aristocratic families, as well as princes and nobles, will quickly adapt to the new laws and use new methods to treat those slaves."

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji bowed in surprise.

"Take murder, for example. If they really did kill someone, it was simply to find someone to take the blame. With countless servants under their command, it's easy to find someone to take the blame." Li Chengqian calmly walked towards the Danbi and said softly, "All I've done this time has only slightly increased the cost of their killing."

Changsun Wuji fell silent.

Li Chengqian sat on the imperial couch, looking outside the palace.

Are there really only a million slaves in the world?
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, it was recorded that there were nine million slaves in the world.

What about now?
……

"Your Majesty, Zhao Jie requests an audience." Cen Changqian stood at the entrance of the palace and bowed to Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian glanced at Cen Changqian, then looked at Xu Jingzong, the attendant sitting on his knees at the back, and asked, "Mr. Xu, you were once one of the Eighteen Scholars of the Prince of Qin's Palace, and later compiled the Zhenguan Code. Why haven't I seen you much?"

"Your Majesty!" Xu Jingzong stood up and said a little embarrassedly, "I'm ashamed. I can't control my mouth. I once made fun of Ouyang Xun, the former Bohai County man, and was eventually demoted to Hongzhou. So, although I participated in the compilation of the Zhenguan Code in my early years, I was later transferred away."

"Xu Jingzong, the Imperial Secretary and the Imperial Recorder." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "It has not been easy for you these past few years."

"I have been in the fifth rank for almost ten years now, so I have sufficient qualifications." Xu Jingzong bowed with a smile.

"You will get what you wish for." Li Chengqian smiled and nodded, then looked at Cen Changqian and said, "Announce Zhao Jie."

"Yes!" Cen Changqian bowed and then walked quickly out of the hall.

However, in his mind, he was recalling the conversation between the emperor and Xu Jingzong, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Xu Jingzong really caught the emperor's eye.

However, Cen Changqian's expression also became serious.

Zhenguan Law.

A while ago, there were vague rumors that the emperor wanted to revise the Zhenguan Code, but then it completely disappeared. Now it seems that the emperor really wants to revise the Zhenguan Code.

But not now, we will definitely have to wait a few years, at least after the death of the emperor.

Cen Changqian paused slightly.

Why did the emperor ask this question when he was present?

Although his uncle Cen Wenben was not one of the Eighteen Scholars of the Former Qin Palace, he was already the Secretary of the Central Secretariat and the Vice-Chancellor when the Zhenguan Law was compiled and completed. Although his name was not officially included, he was also involved.

Although not many people participated, it was not much different from Xu Jingzong.

Is the emperor telling himself that his future will also be “what he wishes for”?

Cen Changqian's eyes suddenly became extremely firm.

　Cen Changqian, a native of Jiyang County, Dengzhou (now Xinye County, Henan Province), was a prime minister of the Tang Dynasty.

　　His parents died at an early age, and he was raised by his uncle Cen Wenben.

　　In the first year of Yongchun, he was promoted to the Minister of War and Tongpingzhangshi, participated in the government, and was successively promoted to the Minister of the Central Secretariat, and suppressed the rebellion of Li Zhen, King of Yue.

　　In the first year of Tianshou, he was appointed as the right prime minister and was conferred the title of Duke of Deng. His power was second only to that of King Wu Chengsi of Wei.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)