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

Chapter 463: I Want to Promote Lou Shide to the New Number One Scholarship, What Do You Think? (Part )
"I have heard that to guide the sea, one must rely on the feathers of the heavens; to ride the current, one must wait for the oars of the soaring clouds. Thus, Xuanyuan controlled the destiny and caused the auspicious sign of the strong wind; the Yi Emperor seized the opportunity and brought about the oar of the autumn clouds.

Although I am ashamed of Gu Lie, I am deeply concerned about the Emperor. I have not yet verified Ziquan's divination, but I still have empty dreams of Fu Ye. I want to make the Jupiter official, the Wind God come to the court, and the River recommend Xiao Zhang.

Standing still with clothes hanging down, bowing upright and looking up.

There were many talented people in the Zhou Dynasty, and more people than in the Han Dynasty.

What kind of governance can lead to this?"

The topic of the policy essay written by Li Chengqian flashed through Changsun Wuji's mind.

Seeking talents.

Changsun Wuji lowered his head to read Lou Shide's article: "I have heard that the ruler who established the highest principle and embraced Qian, and the ruler who ruled Kun, who wished to achieve the highest truth and spread great influence, would seek out talented people and appoint many outstanding people.

Trust the achievements of the people to reassure them, pacify all nations and soothe their customs.

Therefore, Xuanqiu received the seal and entrusted it to the four supervisors; Danling held the map and raised the eight officials to illuminate the house... He looked down upon the ignorant and dared to speak clearly.

I sincerely wish to issue a virtuous message, issue a clear edict, consult the nobles, and visit all the officials.

All that you know shall be known, leaving out nothing that is inferior; it is not easy to know people, so do not neglect to choose them with care.

The lower officials must record it, and the superiors will reward him frequently. For example, a dragon from Ye County will descend from the sky, and a fine horse from Yanjiao will come to him for thousands of gold coins.

If the Han Dynasty had not yet gained anything, how could the Zhou Dynasty have gained more?
Perfection is achieved here.

I respectfully agree.

The corners of Changsun Wuji's mouth couldn't help but tremble slightly.

"Issue a clear edict, consult the nobles, and visit the ministers."

The core of Lou Shide's policy essay is these nine words.

There are many articles before and after, but these nine words alone are enough to show his sharp vision and magnanimous character.

Zhang Sun Wuji took a deep breath and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "Your Majesty, I am guilty of my own mistakes. I failed to supervise you."

Li Chengqian smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Guo Zhengyi's writing is also excellent, and he has some spiritual talent, but he is a little confined. However, he can be cultivated and he will be a prime minister in the future."

"Your Majesty, what you said is very true." Changsun Wuji bowed seriously.

Li Chengqian smiled, then looked at Tang Jian, Liu Shi and others, and asked gently: "I want to promote Lou Shide to the top of this imperial examination. What do you think?"

The corners of Liu Shi's mouth twitched slightly, but at this time, Tang Jian and Wang Shidan had already bowed their hands together: "Your Majesty has no objection."

Liu Shi reacted very quickly and raised his hand the moment Tang Jian and Wang Shidan raised their hands.

But when he spoke, his voice was weak and there was nothing unusual about it.

This is an official tactic that has been honed over decades.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Let's decide it this way. Lou Shide will be first, Guo Zhengyi second, and Wang Gongjin third. The results will be announced accordingly. The court will be held on February 25th."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji and others bowed in unison.

"In addition," Li Chengqian continued, "Duke Weiguo will return to the court on February 27th to offer captives at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. I have Lou Shide write the edict for the sacrifice. On March 1st, I have the crown prince enthroned. I have Lou Shide copy the edict and send it throughout the country."

"I obey your order." Changsun Wuji bowed slightly. He knew about this matter before, but he didn't expect that the emperor would finally choose Lou Shide.

……

There was exquisite food on the small table. After Changsun Wuji finished eating, the eunuch took away the plate and a pot of hot tea was brought to him.

At this time, Li Chengqian's voice came from above: "Uncle, you don't seem to like Wang Gongjin either?"

Changsun Wuji raised his head, looked at Li Chengqian who looked curious, and nodded, "Indeed."

"Why?"

"Wang Gongjin and Zhang Changling are equally famous. Initially, he failed the imperial examinations because of his frivolous and flowery style. Later, he took the examinations again, with a completely new style, so the court gave him a chance. After passing, his writing became more ornate, which the officials disliked." Changsun Wuji sneered softly and said, "Wang Gongjin has only spent several years learning half of Zhang Changling's style. It's inevitable that he will relapse into his old ways in the future."

"Guo Zhengyi is actually quite good, but I chose Lou Shide because his writing carries a rare air of war." Li Chengqian smiled and nodded to Zhangsun Wuji, saying, "The court has been holding imperial examinations for many years, and such figures are rare."

Changsun Wuji immediately understood what was going on. Li Jing was leading his army back to the capital just now, and finding such a person to offer captives to Li Jing as sacrifices in the Taimiao would make the generals in the army happy.

"Your Majesty has put in so much effort, I cannot even begin to thank you enough." Changsun Wuji bowed with emotion.

"Duke Weiguo has decided to fight in the northwest this time. With the back-and-forth movements, I've observed quite a bit about the situation in the northwestern states. Generally speaking, there are no problems." Li Chengqian spoke calmly, "This may be related to the long years of war in the northwest, which has drawn too much attention from the court."

Changsun Wuji looked up in surprise.

With the help of Li Jing's battle in the northwest, he checked the food, military equipment, and even personnel movements in the northwestern states, so as to check the actual situation in each state and the changes in the mentality of the governors of each state at this time.

The emperor's mind was so deep that even Changsun Wuji could not have imagined it.

Fortunately, during the years of war in the northwest, all parties actively cooperated and nothing went wrong.

Otherwise, people will die.

Li Jing went to the northwest in the name of inspection at the beginning of the emperor's accession to the throne last year. The governors of various states probably did not dare to neglect him.

Now he is the prime minister of Dingzhou Plateau.

Looking down at the northwest from the plateau, there are many things that the governors and aristocratic families in the northwest dare not do too excessively.

Moreover, the emperor himself has many confidants in the northwest.

In other words, after this battle, the true situation of the entire northwest and most of Guanzhong had fallen into the emperor's eyes.

With just a slight adjustment, he could completely control the entire Northwest.

Long-term planning, water dripping through stone, and a powerful momentum.

The only way to stop all this is to be able to detect when he started planning.

"Oh, right, uncle." Li Chengqian looked up and said, "Duke Weiguo is returning to the capital. I want the Prince of Han and the Prince of Ji to go to greet him on my behalf, along with the six ministers and other civil and military officials. What do you think, uncle?"

Changsun Wuji was slightly taken aback. After a great victory, shouldn't all the civil and military officials go to the court together? Then, Changsun Wuji understood.

The civil and military officials in the court naturally included the prime ministers.

Refers to people like Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling.

According to the emperor, naturally only the six ministers and other civil and military officials would go together, while the prime ministers would not have to go.

But do you really not have to go?
Zhang Sun Wuji smiled and looked up, saying, "Let us accompany the King of Han and the King of Ji together. After all, the Duke of Wei has been a colleague for many years."

"Will it be too hard for my uncle and Duke Liang?" Li Chengqian frowned.

"Going out of town for a walk can help me relax." Changsun Wuji shook his head and said with a smile, "Prime Minister Fang may be old, but I am still in good health."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Then I'll trouble you, uncle."

"This is what I must do." After a brief pause, Changsun Wuji's expression became serious. He looked at Li Chengqian and asked, "Your Majesty, last year when Your Majesty ascended the throne, you exempted all taxes. However, there is a war in the northwest, and the court is under a lot of pressure. This spring and summer, there will inevitably be famine in Guanzhong. Your Majesty, would you like to go to Luoyang for an inspection?"

He inspected Luoyang and had his meals in Luoyang.

If Li Chengqian went to Luoyang, at least 30,000 soldiers from the Sixteen Guards Army of Chang'an would have to follow him. Together with the accompanying maids and the families of the officials, the food pressure of at least 50,000 people in Chang'an City could be reduced.

Moreover, these 50,000 people are the group of people who eat the most and the best in Chang'an City.

Once they leave, the price of grain in Chang'an will drop immediately.

"Yes, I should go." Li Chengqian nodded. He has been on the throne for more than half a year now, and he will soon be named the crown prince. At that time, the crown prince will govern the country, and his father will be watching in Cuiwei Palace, so Chang'an will be stable.

"May, maybe. It's after the Dragon Boat Festival in May." Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "I have just ascended the throne. I can't follow my father's example and go in March. I still need to make more preparations in advance."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji nodded. The emperor's caution was not excessive.

In fact, assassinations of the emperor are unlikely to happen. What will happen is that the local aristocratic families will do something restless at this time.

For example, presenting women to the palace, or planning conspiracies to suppress opponents, such things happened one after another.

In this matter, the emperor was just a pawn used by them.

Li Chengqian was not Li Shimin. Although the court and the local governments had some respect for him, they were far from being as respectful as Li Shimin.

At this moment, a flash of inspiration came to my mind.

Zhangsun Wuji subconsciously wanted to pursue the matter, but Li Chengqian spoke up at this time: "I will leave in May and return in August. This year, I will stay for three months. However, when we get to Luoyang, we must send more people to the various prefectures in Henan Province to check on the spring planting, summer irrigation, and autumn harvest. We cannot let the same thing happen again as the Huaizhou governor did last year to deceive me."

Although Huaizhou Governor Lu Shanzong was stripped of all his official positions, his property was confiscated, and he was exiled to Zhenzhou, the problem of corrupt officials has never been solved by killing people.

The emperor needs to carefully monitor every aspect.

Henan is not as good as Guanzhong.

Although there are too many powerful people in Guanzhong, there are few common people who don’t have connections with the powerful.

You can even directly report to the emperor by beating the drum.

But Henan is different.

When the emperor was in Henan, the only place he could fully control was Luoyang.

As for other states, although the emperor was familiar with the provincial governors, the number of people he directly controlled, including the chief secretary, Sima, and county magistrates, did not exceed ten.

As for the lower levels, the so-called "imperial power does not extend to the countryside" is not empty talk.

Even after thousands of years, the fact that "imperial power does not extend to the countryside" has been difficult to change.

But it was enough for the emperor to have such a status as Guanzhong.

At this moment, Changsun Wuji clearly sensed a connection.

After the emperor had gained a firm control over Guanzhong, he began to take action against Heluo.

With his methods, it is only a matter of time before he fully controls Heluo.

After that, there are Jingzhou, Huainan, Hebei, Jiangnan, and Bashu.

After doing all this, he should be able to become the emperor.

Changsun Wuji felt inexplicably bitter in his heart.

But he also understood that once that time really came, he would be old enough to retire.

"Then who will stay in Chang'an to assist in the administration?" Changsun Wuji looked up and asked.

"Of course it's my uncle." Li Chengqian smiled. He looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "After Xiang'er is crowned Crown Prince, he will be able to govern the country. My uncle will assist in the administration in Chang'an, and my father can rest and recuperate in Cuiwei Palace. In this way, the entire Guanzhong region will be as stable as Mount Tai."

Li Xiang lived in the deep palace, Li Shimin went to Cuiwei Palace to recuperate, and Zhangsun Wuji was transferred to the center of Chang'an City, and the world was stable.

"I thank Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji bowed with a smile.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "After Xiang'er was crowned Crown Prince, Su Jun became the Crown Prince's Household Supervisor, and Yuwen Zhongfang became the Crown Prince's Night Guard Supervisor. The position of Crown Prince's Servant is still vacant. I think it would be better to let Erlang be the Crown Prince's Servant. He has been the Minister of Rites for several years."

Changsun Huan, the second son of Changsun Wuji.

Hearing Li Chengqian's words, Changsun Wuji shook his head and said, "Let's wait for another two years. He's still too old and too conspicuous."

Among Changsun Wuji's sons, only the eldest son Changsun Chong served as the Secretary General, while the other sons all held fifth-rank or even sixth-rank official positions.

In this regard, Changsun Wuji was very restrained.

"It's okay. Xiang'er is still young. It will take at least ten years for the Crown Prince to get involved in government affairs." Li Chengqian smiled and looked at Zhangsun Wuji. "In another ten years, he can be transferred to a provincial governor. That's not bad either."

"This..." Changsun Wuji was about to refuse when suddenly a burst of hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall.

The footsteps were fast and hurried.

(End of this chapter)