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

Chapter 457 Wu Mei Niang: The Retired Emperor... (Second Update)
Li Shimin lowered his head to look at the secret report in his hand, then turned to look at Li Chengqian and asked, "Li Jing won't be able to hold out in Xichang Prefecture for many years, perhaps even longer than you can conquer Tubo. If he's gone, who do you plan to replace him?"

Li Chengqian raised his head and said, "This time, I appoint Duke Weiguo as the governor of Xichang Prefecture, and Duke Nanchang County Li Junxian as the deputy governor.

If the Duke of Wei can no longer support the situation, then Li Junxian will be made the governor of Xichang Prefecture, and Li Dejian will be the deputy governor of Xichang Prefecture."

"Li Dejian is Li Jing's son. As the deputy governor, he can check and balance Li Junxian to the greatest extent." Li Shimin nodded.

Li Dejian was Li Chengqian's confidant, and now that Li Jing was gone, he could smoothly take over the power left by Li Jing and maintain the stability of Xichang Prefecture.

"When Xichang Prefecture has accumulated enough strength, we should be able to send troops to Tubo, and then destroy Tubo in one battle." Li Chengqian's eyes were fierce.

In the previous life, Tubo took advantage of the fight between Li Zhi and Zhangsun Wuji to annex Tuyuhun, then defeated Xue Rengui in a battle at Dayuechuan, and finally even extended its reach to the Western Regions.

Throughout the Tang Dynasty, Tubo was the Tang Dynasty's biggest enemy.

Li Shimin couldn't help but smile when he saw Li Chengqian's appearance.

His son is tough enough.

Only in this way can a huge empire be supported.

"Once we've conquered Tubo, I'll have Li Junxian guard Tubo, with Li Dejian as his deputy. Then, I'll have Li Xiyu become the governor of Xichang Prefecture. They'll check and balance each other and stabilize the border provinces." A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes, and then he changed the subject, "And then there's the matter of Goguryeo."

"When are you planning to destroy Goguryeo?" Li Shimin vaguely understood.

Li Chengqian nodded and said thoughtfully, "I started preparing for this Northwest War last year. So after one battle, the main battle was over in a month. In February, we cleared the local areas, and in March, we could gradually withdraw our troops. Therefore, the overall cost was not great. The gold and silver sent by Tubo and the cattle and sheep captured by Tuyuhun were more than enough to make up for it."

"But you want to govern Xichang Prefecture, which requires investment." Li Shimin directly pointed out the real big deal.

"It depends on how much the green salt on the plateau can make up for." Li Chengqian smiled.

Li Shimin nodded in sudden realization. The green salt produced on the plateau had not been well developed in recent years.

As long as it is developed, the profits will be enough to cover the expenses of the imperial court.

"The plateau will still occupy the court's attention for a while, but it will also allow us to prepare for the war against Goguryeo." Li Chengqian glanced at Li Shimin and said, "I plan to spend five years to destroy Goguryeo.

The first step is to completely transform the land between the Yalu River and the Taedong River into the property of the Tang Dynasty."

"Then you need to fight a battle and completely defeat Gai Suwen's resistance." Li Shimin saw the key at a glance.

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "My uncle is already leading people to study the overall strategy. I will bring it to Father when the time comes."

"Take your time, there's no rush." ​​Li Shimin smiled, then said, "If we can annex everything north of the Taedong River and destroy Goguryeo, we'll be halfway there."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian bowed and said, "However, if we want to better annex Goguryeo, Hebei needs to reduce some taxes to stabilize the people."

"Just go ahead and do it." Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "The people of Hebei are also citizens of the Tang Dynasty. We cannot treat them too harshly. Father has been wanting to solve the problems in Hebei for years, but he just hasn't had the time."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian bowed and said, "I'll go and get busy over there first. I'll come back to consult Father when I have a comprehensive strategy."

"Yeah!" Li Shimin nodded slightly.

Li Chengqian bowed again and then walked out of the inner hall.

Wu Mei Niang and the others waiting in the outer hall, upon seeing Li Chengqian, immediately bowed and said, "Farewell, Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian glanced at Wu Meiniang lightly, and his mind couldn't help but emerge with her appearance in the Lishan hot spring bath that day.

"Wu Jieyu!" Li Chengqian nodded to Wu Meiniang and said, "Take good care of our father."

"Yes!" Wu Meiniang bowed again.

……

Li Chengqian's footsteps had faded away, and Wu Meiniang finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned to enter the inner hall.

In the inner hall, the aroma of incense curled up.

Wu Meiniang came to the bed with the medicine bowl, then knelt down and said, "Saint, it's time to use the medicine."

"Yeah!" Li Shimin turned around and nodded slightly to Wu Meiniang.

Only then did Wu Meiniang stand up, pick up the medicine bowl from the edge of the bed, and feed Li Shimin the medicine.

Only after drinking a bowl of medicine did Wu Meiniang feel a little relieved.

At this time, Li Shimin suddenly spoke: "You heard what I and the emperor said just now. Do you think there is any problem with the emperor's policy of governing the country?"

"Saint?" Wu Meiniang looked up in surprise, then quickly lowered her head and said, "Your Majesty's affairs are not something I can casually discuss."

"It's okay, just say whatever you want." Li Shimin smiled gently, then waved his hand and said, "In the past, there were many people who offered me advice and suggestions, but now fewer people come to see me, and there are almost no people who talk about these things. Moreover, even if I want to do anything now, it's difficult. Just say whatever you want."

"Yes!" Wu Meiniang breathed a sigh of relief, then continued, "Your Majesty, I feel that Your Majesty has just said a lot, but very little about governing the country. After all, whether it's to destroy Tubo or Goguryeo, the world still needs to provide sufficient taxes to support the war."

Li Shimin nodded and said, "You have a good eye, but the emperor has said what he should say. What he hasn't said is that he doesn't intend to make any major changes. Everything should be done according to the rules. This is what any emperor should do when he first ascends the throne: no major changes should be made for three years."

"Yes!" Wu Meiniang quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise and benevolent, and your views are clear and insightful."

"Wise and benevolent." Li Shimin sighed softly and said, "Yes, he knows how to do things. Your concubine, as well as the other talented women and beauties, were all given by the emperor. This also means that I have not broken my promise to you."

"Everything is the grace of the saint." Wu Meiniang looked up earnestly, and Li Shimin couldn't help laughing.

Wu Meiniang lowered her head slightly, and a strange look flashed in the depths of her eyes.

This time, the emperor conferred titles on his concubines and also conferred titles on many people in the Empress Dowager's palace.

Cainv, Yunv, Baolin, Talent, Beauty, Jieyu. ,

Nine concubines and four concubines.

The picking girl is promoted to the royal girl, and the royal girl is promoted to the treasure forest.

Baolin was promoted to a talented person, and the talented person was promoted to a beautiful woman.

Other concubines who were difficult to promote were given additional monthly allowances.

However, although so many people benefited, the one who benefited the most was Wu Meiniang.

She was promoted directly from a fifth-rank talent to a third-rank concubine. The third-rank concubine was enough to ensure that after the death of the retired emperor, she would not be forcibly thrown into a temple and spend the rest of her life in seclusion.

But this is not without cost.

……

Li Shimin's laughter gradually died down. He looked outside the palace and said softly, "Emperor Chengqian won't have any major problems. I'm only worried about one thing."

"Saint!" Wu Meiniang looked up in surprise.

"He's too soft-hearted." Li Shimin shook his head and said, "Although he has done a lot of things over the years, few people have died at his hands."

Wu Meiniang was puzzled. Isn't this a good thing?

"I'm worried he won't be decisive enough at the critical moment." Li Shimin looked out the window and said softly, "He's too fond of planning ahead. However, in this world, many things happen suddenly, and those things could easily destroy his plans. So at the critical moment, he needs to be decisive, even to the point of killing."

kill.

Only by killing people can a passage be opened at a critical moment.

Wu Meiniang nodded slightly, but her eyes were full of doubt.

Does the emperor lack decisiveness? Does he not dare to kill people?

It would appear so.

The King of Wei plotted treason, but the emperor did not kill him.

The Prince of Jin plotted rebellion, but the emperor did not kill him.

However, are there really few people who died here?
Wu Meiniang thought about it, and a name emerged in her mind.

Yuan Shao.

He has many plans but few objectives, and is good at making plans but lacks decision-making power.

Despite this evaluation, Yuan Shao was one of the Eight Commandants of Xiyuan back then, and he never held back when killing people.

The times when he really has difficulty making decisions are when it comes to matters of great importance to his fate.

Most people will never experience that moment in their entire life.

Will the emperor be someone like Yuan Shao?
"I still don't understand." Wu Meiniang lowered her head and said, "Your Majesty's plot against the Tibetans has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties. I don't think Your Majesty is the kind of person who would be soft-hearted."

"You!" Li Shimin raised his gaze slightly and said in a low voice, "Many things are beyond our control."

"Yes!" Wu Meiniang responded softly. The emperor sighed and stopped talking.

The hall calmed down for a moment. Wu Meiniang lowered her head to look at the bedside. At this moment, Li Shimin's hand suddenly slipped off the bed.

Wu Meiniang was stunned, and then subconsciously put Li Shimin's hand back on the bed.

Suddenly, she paused slightly and looked up subconsciously.

Li Shimin's eyes were still looking upwards, and it was unknown what he was thinking.

Wu Meiniang didn't know what she was thinking at this moment. She put Li Shimin's hand back on the silk quilt, in front of the memorial.

Immediately afterwards, Wu Meiniang stood up and saluted, saying, "Saint, do you need me to clean up?"

Li Shimin reacted and followed Wu Meiniang's gaze to the memorial in his hand. He smiled and nodded, then raised his hand and handed the memorial to Wu Meiniang and said, "Put it away."

"Yes!" Wu Meiniang bowed, then picked up the memorial and walked towards the table on the side.

After packing up, Wu Meiniang turned around quickly. At this time, Li Shimin looked at the bed in front of him. It was unknown what he was thinking, and he seemed to be stunned again.

For some reason, Wu Meiniang felt a chill down her spine.

……

In Wanchun Palace, Li Chengqian handed his son, Li Jiu, to Zheng Chu and Lu Mingyue, mother and daughter. He then looked at Zheng Shuang'er, whose eyes had dimmed a little, and asked, "My beloved concubine, you look unwell today. What's the matter?"

Zheng Shuang'er raised her head and looked at Li Chengqian expectantly: "Your Majesty, I heard that the war on the plateau is over?"

Li Chengqian immediately realized what was happening and said with a smile, "So, my beloved concubine is worried about her father-in-law?"

Zheng Shuang'er nodded reluctantly and said, "After conquering Kucha last year, Aye went to the northwest and hasn't been back for a year. Now he's gone to the plateau again..."

"Father-in-law broke out of Xuanwu Gate back then, so these things aren't a big deal now." Li Chengqian smiled and shook his head. At the same time, he gently grasped Zheng Shuang'er's hand and whispered, "As for the battle on the plateau, when father-in-law arrived with the cavalry from the Western Turks, Uighurs, and Tiele tribes, the war would have already ended. They will be sent back immediately and will be back on the first of March."

When Zheng Rentai led the tribes of the Western Regions to the plateau, the war was already over.

Of course, his work is not over yet.

He took those people around the battlefield and looked at the Tibetans who died on the battlefield and the Tang cavalry who killed the Tibetans.

Only then will he send those people back.

When everything is over, he will return to Chang'an.

"On the first day of March, I will confer the title of Crown Prince." Li Chengqian looked at Li Jiu and said, "It's time for Silang to be crowned a prince. What do you think of making him the Prince of Ji?"

"Prince Ji?" Zheng Shuang'er blinked and murmured, "Prince Ji is a bit too old, isn't it? That's a title that should only be given to the Queen's son."

"Really?" Li Chengqian hesitated for a moment and said, "What about the King of Yan?"

"The Prince of Yan seems to be able to do it." Zheng Shuang'er came back to her senses and looked at Li Chengqian and asked, "Why is Your Majesty always keeping an eye on Hebei?"

Li Chengqian said with some emotion: "To destroy Goguryeo, we must ensure the stability of Hebei. Therefore, my father and I attach great importance to the affairs of Hebei. Putting Silang's fiefdom in Hebei and recruiting some of the poor children in Hebei can also relieve some pressure on me."

"Yes!" Zheng Shuang'er nodded. She vaguely understood that the emperor was planning to make use of the connections of the Zheng family of Xingyang in Hebei.

But that doesn't matter. If her son is really crowned King of Yan, I'm afraid everyone will go to help.

Li Chengqian looked at Zheng Shuang'er's expression and smiled gently.

(End of this chapter)