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

Chapter 460: Li Shimin: Calling the Indian Master (Part )

In Ganlu Palace, Changsun Wuji knelt under the imperial couch.

He bowed to Li Shimin, who was sitting on the imperial couch, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that when the time comes, Your Majesty should issue an edict to pardon Lu Dongzan and Gar Qinling from death, and then order the Gar family to offer a daughter as the emperor's concubine. In this way, all problems will be resolved."

"Let Lu Dongzan marry a daughter to the emperor?" Li Shimin looked at Changsun Wuji in surprise.

Zhangsun Wuji nodded and said, "Your Majesty holds a deep hatred for Lu Dongzan, and Lu Dongzan is extremely loyal to Songzan. Therefore, Your Majesty will not use him. Even if the Sage issues an order for Your Majesty to spare Lu Dongzan's life, Your Majesty will imprison him forever and will not let him go."

Li Shimin nodded slightly.

"However, Your Majesty does not harbor such deep hatred towards Gar Qinling, so he is willing to use him." Changsun Wuji shook his head and said, "But if Lu Dongzan remains Your Majesty's captive, how can Gar Qinling be willing to serve the Tang Dynasty wholeheartedly? Therefore, I believe that the marriage contract is the only way to resolve this matter in a way that satisfies both sides."

Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Wuji and asked, "You still want to use Lu Dongzan?"

Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "Although Lu Dongzan's literary knowledge is shallow, he has a wise and resolute character, is good at military training, and is elegant and restrained. Songtsen annexed the Qiang people and dominated Tubo, largely due to his strategies. If he can be used by the Tang Dynasty, then we can emulate the saints and continue the prosperous Zhenguan era."

Li Shimin sat on the imperial couch, pondering quietly. Finally, he looked at Zhangsun Wuji and asked seriously, "What the emperor wants is Lu Dongzan's loyalty. After all this, can he be loyal to the emperor?"

"Yes." Changsun Wuji nodded confidently and said, "Your Majesty is wise and courageous. It's only a matter of time before Tubo is destroyed. Once Tubo is destroyed, Lu Dongzan will have no choice. Moreover, his family will be sent to Chang'an soon."

Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Wuji deeply, then closed his eyes. Finally, he sighed and said, "One is not enough. Let Gar Qinling find a way to send a few more women to the emperor, whether sisters, daughters, or relatives. At least we can dispel all the hatred in the emperor's heart."

"I understand." Changsun Wuji bowed and stood up with a relaxed smile on his face, but he didn't understand.

Li Shimin added much more emphasis to the word "all hatred".

……

Li Shimin lowered his head slightly, then changed the subject and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. The emperor will make the final decision on matters in the court. I'm already idle. After the fifteenth of next month, I will go to Cuiwei Mountain to recuperate."

"Now that the war with Tuyuhun is over, I will have the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of the Imperial Household swiftly transport the Tuyuhun trees to Chang'an." Changsun Wuji paused briefly, then smiled and said, "There are vast tracts of forest between Xichang Prefecture and Kuo Prefecture. Previously, it was difficult to mine them due to the Tuyuhun. Now that they are all part of Tang territory, they can be mined and transported to Chang'an for the construction of the Daming Palace."

In this battle, the Tang Dynasty defeated the 100,000-strong Tibetan army and incorporated half of Eastern Tuyuhun into the Tang Dynasty's territory.

There was not much opposition among the ministers.

Firstly, Su Hegui's tribe was too disgusting. They had been against the Tang Dynasty for so many years. The Tang Dynasty had tried to deal with them many times, but they were all stopped by the Murong family. This time they directly attacked Shanzhou, which gave the Tang Dynasty an excuse to wipe them out in one fell swoop. The people in the court were happy.

Secondly, there is Xinghai where Su Hegui is located. It is the most fertile grassland under the Maji Snow Mountain, and there are a large number of mines at the junction of Hezhou and Guzhou.

It is close to the Yellow River, and once it is transported down, it can be shipped to Lanzhou along the Yellow River.

After arriving in Lanzhou, go ashore, walk a hundred miles to Dingxi, and then follow the Wei River to Chang'an.

Whether it was timber, minerals, salt, cattle, sheep or horses, they were all transported to Chang'an in an endless stream.

After the victory of the war, almost all the people in the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Finance were overjoyed.

The entire central government, the entire Chang'an, and all the people were extremely happy.

All this means that after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the cost of living for the people of Chang'an will be greatly reduced.

"Once the Daming Palace is completed, Your Majesty will no longer have to travel back and forth." Changsun Wuji looked at Li Shimin with sincerity.

Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Wuji and sighed inwardly. He said, "The Emperor has just ascended the throne. Although the country is stable, it is still necessary for him to go to Luoyang this year. Remember to remind him."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed his head and saluted. Although he was confused, he habitually went back to think about it.

"Oh, right, my uncle came over a few days ago and told me about Silang." Li Shimin smiled and said, "After the emperor ascended the throne, many people from the Eastern Palace were transferred to the imperial court, but he is still the Crown Prince's attendant, which makes him feel quite annoyed."

"Your Majesty, I think you have other ideas for him." Changsun Wuji blinked and said, "Si Lang has only been transferred from the Crown Prince's Secretary to the Crown Prince's Secretary for a few years. His qualifications are still far from enough. Your Majesty is letting him stay in the Eastern Palace now, hoping to give him a few more years of qualifications. Why is he in such a hurry to transfer him?"

"Young people always have lofty ambitions." Li Shimin shook his head and said, "After some time, find someone to persuade Silang."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed.

……

Li Shimin stood in front of Ganlu Palace, watching Changsun Wuji's figure disappear under the Ganlu Gate, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

A series of "creaking" sounds were heard from behind.

Wu Meiniang pushed the cart and stopped behind Li Shimin, and Li Shimin sat down.

"You heard my conversation with Duke Zhao just now, right?" Li Shimin turned sideways and looked at Wu Meiniang.

Wu Meiniang bowed and said, "Yes!"

"Who do you think Duke Zhao will ask to persuade Gao Jiasilang regarding his affairs?" Li Shimin narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Either the Secretary General or someone from the Ministry of Personnel." Wu Meiniang pondered for a moment and said, "The position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel is too high. A Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel might be the most suitable."

"He is also the Minister of Personnel's man!" Li Shimin shook his head and looked forward, not knowing what he was thinking.

Suddenly, Li Shimin turned to look at Wu Meiniang and said, "Tomorrow, please invite Master Xuanzang and Master Naluo Ersabomei to the palace. I have some concerns in my heart and I want to hear the Buddha's opinion."

"Yes!" Wu Meiniang bowed.

……

In the Liangyi Hall, Changsun Wuji entered from the side hall.

Li Chengqian, who was sitting on the imperial couch, talking to Li Xuanjiang, the Minister of Agriculture, immediately turned to look at Zhangsun Wuji and asked, "Uncle, how is it? Did the emperor agree?"

"The Saint has agreed." Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "After the three judicial officials have convicted the criminal, the Saint will issue a decree of amnesty."

Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's hard for my father. Others framed him, but he had to forgive them for the sake of the country."

Changsun Wuji was stunned for a moment, then looked up in surprise. From the halls on both sides, the sound of rustling brushstrokes could be heard.

The person on duty in the palace today is the attendant Xu Jingzong.

"Father's benevolence is an example for me to emulate." Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Uncle, I am discussing today's spring planting with the Prime Minister. Uncle, please come and listen."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed, and then at Li Chengqian's signal, he knelt down on one side.

Li Chengqian looked at Xiangli Xuanjiang and continued, "My dear Xiangli, although the Taichang Temple has basically completed the agricultural seed improvement work in various parts of the country in recent years, new problems should have emerged over the years."

"Yes!" Xiangli Xuanjiang bowed and said, "Your Majesty, a lot of official documents have indeed been submitted from many places."

"Medical experts say there's an antidote within ten steps." Li Chengqian raised his hand and said, "When problems arise with farming, the solution must lie in the hands of the people who work the land year-round. So, send people to the local areas to collect and select available solutions. If they prove effective, the court can grant them silk, money, and grain. If they prove of great use to the nation, they can even be granted a title of nobility."

"Yes!" Xiangli Xuanjiang bowed solemnly.

It was not uncommon for the emperor to grant honors to the people for their agricultural work. This was the law in the Qin Dynasty, and Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty also did this frequently.

However, as more and more aristocratic families encroached on the land, such incidents became less frequent.

Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu, and the retired emperor all took similar measures, but they were extremely rare.

"Let's start with Guanzhong. After all, they were the first to improve farmland there." Li Chengqian looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "What do you think, uncle?"

Changsun Wuji didn't know what he was thinking and was a little distracted.

But when Li Chengqian called him, he came back to his senses, looked at Li Chengqian and said, "I think it's okay."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded and said to Xiang Lixuanjiang, "Let's do it. By the way, for these small rewards and incentives, tell the local prefectures and counties not to oppress the people."

"Yes!" Xiangli Xuanjiang bowed.

"Starting from Guanzhong, then to Heluo, and even to the whole world, we should do the agricultural seed improvement work all over again." Li Chengqian looked deeply at Xiangli Xuanjiang.

Xiang Lixuanjiang was shocked, then he bowed and said, "I understand."

Li Chengqian waved his hand calmly, and Xiangli Xuanjiang immediately bowed and said, "I'll take my leave."

Li Chengqian nodded, and Xiangli Xuanjiang then bowed and walked backwards out of the Liangyi Hall.

……

When Xiangli Xuanjiang's figure completely disappeared from his sight, Li Chengqian turned sideways and said, "Mr. Wushui County."

Chang He, the General of the Left Thousand Oxen Guard, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty!"

"Pass the order down and have the Qianniu Guards keep a close eye on these people. If anyone tries to steal the credit, don't do anything. Just write down their names and hand them over to the Ministry of Personnel. All the county officials of the families behind these people will be assessed one level higher." Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I obey your order." Chang He bowed, then turned around and strode out of the hall.

Li Chengqian turned to look at Zhangsun Wuji and asked calmly, "What do you think, uncle?"

Changsun Wuji's gaze was still on Chang He who was striding away.

He was frightened by Chang He's decisive execution of the emperor's orders.

Hearing Li Chengqian's question, Changsun Wuji turned and said, "Your Majesty is right. Some people dare to steal others' things, relying on the influence of their ancestors. In this case, their ancestors are responsible for not disciplining them properly. It is only right to punish them back."

"I thought my uncle would say that I was not generous enough." Li Chengqian smiled lightly.

"Your Majesty has just ascended the throne. For the sake of stability in the world, it is inevitable that you will act more gently." Changsun Wuji said lightly in the public trial.

"Okay, I'll have to trouble my uncle and the Ministry of Personnel to discuss this matter." Li Chengqian nodded slightly to Changsun Wuji.

"Yes." Changsun Wuji stood up and said, "In that case, I will take my leave."

"Yeah!" Li Chengqian nodded calmly.

……

After walking out of the Liangyi Hall, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Turning around, he glanced lightly in the direction of Liangyi Palace.

The emperor's style of doing things is very different from that of the emperor emeritus.

To put it bluntly, it's insidious.

To put it nicely, it is gentle and moistens things silently.

But no matter what, the emperor has his own administrative style, and even Changsun Wuji himself could fall into the emperor's calculations if he was not careful.

Of course, Li Chengqian's plan did not cause any harm to Changsun Wuji.

However, he had to admit that the emperor's control over the entire court was also carried out quietly without his awareness.

Moreover, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but smile bitterly.

The emperor holds a grudge.

We need to warn the people below to be more careful when they act.

Otherwise, you won’t even know when your career will be over.

(End of this chapter)