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

Chapter 495: The Imperial Decree, Aristocratic Families of the World (Part )
In the Wude Hall, Li Shimin glanced at his sister, Princess Changguang, who was chatting with Concubine Wei in the middle hall. Then he looked at Master Yang and said, "Mr. Yang, how do you feel about taking on the important role of Minister of Personnel?"

"Not so good?" Yang Shidao shook his head slightly, somewhat helplessly saying, "Those who left me a few years ago have returned again, still trying to use my connections to profit for their children. I can't refuse them, so I can only refuse them."

"A noble family in the world." Li Shimin raised his head slightly, his eyes solemn.

Yang Shidao smiled slightly bitterly. He was born in the Hongnong Yang family, and when someone from the Hongnong Yang family came to him, he had to meet them.

Li Shimin lowered his head and asked, "Has the emperor been informed of this? What is his attitude?"

"Your Majesty said that everything should be based on performance evaluation." Yang Shidao looked at Li Shimin with some confusion and said, "Your Majesty got a table from somewhere, which shows all the land reclaimed in a certain place over the past five years and the increase in population and taxes, and compares them all.

Sometimes, the Ministry of Revenue can tell you how well a county or prefecture official has performed, without the Ministry of Personnel even having to say anything."

"Money and grain are the foundation of the world. If we grasp this, it will be difficult for officials in the Ministry of Personnel to make any more tricks." Li Shimin shook his head slightly.

Yang Shidao nodded in agreement.

Everyone can see the emperor's intentions in the Ministry of Revenue.

Although Yan Lide was the Minister of Revenue, Zhang Daxiang and Xue Renfang were both the emperor's absolute confidants.

Even Yan Lide, although he is Li Tai's father-in-law, Li Tai is still alive, Yan Wan is still alive, and Li Xin is still alive.

Although they were imprisoned in Beiyuan, knowing that they were still alive and only a palace wall away from them was enough for Yan Lide to feel completely at ease.

Not to mention, Yan Xuansui is the son-in-law of Princess Jinyang.

Now I am sent as an envoy to Silla by imperial decree.

Everyone can clearly see the emperor's trust in the Yan family.

Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue had long been completely controlled by the emperor.

The Ministry of Revenue was used to restrain the Ministry of Personnel. Although there were not many emperor's confidants in the Ministry of Personnel, it was enough to ensure that the Ministry of Personnel did not lose control of the overall situation.

Not to mention that Liu Shi was exiled, Zhang Xuce was beheaded, and dozens of people were implicated, and the Ministry of Personnel was already trembling with fear.

Now we are just waiting for the emperor to send his confidants over so that the country can be stabilized.

Yang Shidao suddenly remembered that the emperor asked Zhangsun Wuji to recommend a candidate for the Minister of Personnel, and he couldn't help but feel amused.

If he is not a close confidant of the emperor, even if he comes to the Ministry of Personnel, he probably won't be able to win over many people's hearts.

……

After chatting for a while, Li Shimin changed the subject and asked, "How is Yuzhi in Shanzhou? Does he have a child?"

"Not yet." Yang Shidao lowered his head slightly, his expression difficult.

He only has this one son, but he is quite useless.

If the emperor had not shown him special mercy, Yang Yuzhi would probably have been beheaded by now.

Why was he finally exiled to Shanzhou?

Shanzhou is the Yang family’s hometown of Hongnong.

The emperor exiled Yang Yuzhi to Shanzhou, which was equivalent to sending him back home.

Yang Yu's official career was ended and he was exiled.

His only role to Yang Shidao now is to have children and inherit Yang Shidao's incense.

"It won't be long. Maybe it will be there tomorrow." Li Shimin smiled comfortingly.

"I hope he can have a son."

"There will definitely be a son." Li Shimin smiled and said, "If anyone asks, just say it was me who said it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Yang Shidao nodded gratefully and said, "Once the child is born and a little more stable, I will bring him to Chang'an to raise him. By then, I am afraid I will have to retire."

"You're still young, why are you in such a hurry to retire?" Li Shimin shook his head and said, "Besides, even if it's Yu Zhi's matter, it's not so absolute."

"Hmm?" Yang Shidao looked up blankly.

"In ancient times, there was Zhou Chu who eliminated three evils, and Zhang Liang who found enlightenment by picking up a shoe." Li Shimin shook his head slightly and said, "As long as Yu Zhi can completely reform himself and work hard to become a strong person, the emperor will give him a chance."

Yang Shidao murmured to Li Shimin: "Will it?"

"As for your retirement," Li Shimin turned aside and said calmly, "You are well aware of the structure of the court. As the Minister of Personnel, you are still very useful."

Yang Shidao came back to his senses and nodded slightly.

"It's even possible that you might become prime minister again in the future." Li Shimin chuckled softly and said, "I know the emperor best. As long as you can be of sufficient use to him, he will definitely rely on you as his confidant."

Yang Shidao looked straight at Li Shimin and nodded slightly unconsciously.

"When you become prime minister, even if you're willing to retire, the emperor will agree. I'm afraid there might be many who won't." Li Shimin looked at Yang Shidao gently and said, "But with your personality, you might be in a lot of trouble by then."

"Trouble is sometimes not a bad thing." Yang Shidao nodded subconsciously.

Li Shimin smiled, raised his head, looked at the sky outside, and said calmly: "Okay, it's getting late, let's go back."

Yang Shidao suddenly came to his senses. He quickly bowed to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, I will take my leave."

"Yeah!" Li Shimin nodded slightly, then watched Yang Shidao and Princess Changguang turn around and leave. Slowly, Li Shimin's eyes became indifferent.

When the hall was completely quiet, Li Shimin turned aside and said calmly, "Tell the emperor tomorrow to arrange for more people to come to see me."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda bowed.

Li Shimin turned around and looked at the gradually darkening night outside the hall, his eyes becoming sharper.

……

Princess Changguang's Mansion.

The night lights come on and the yard is cold and quiet.

Yang Shidao sent Princess Changguang to her bedroom to rest, and then went to the study alone.

With a creaky sound, the door was gently closed.

The next moment, Yang Shidao leaned against the door somewhat weakly and sat down with a painful look on his face.

Sitting on the ground, he reached into his sleeve with his right hand and finally took out a yellow belt from a hidden pocket inside.

Yang Shidao accidentally touched this thing when he just left the palace.

It was then that he finally understood what the emperor meant by those inexplicable words he said to him.

The emperor wants to use him.

Yang Shidao lowered his head and looked at the belt between his hands.

No, it’s a secret decree.

Although Yang Shidao had never opened it to read, he could roughly guess what was inside.

The emperor was placed under house arrest, isolated from the outside world.

He was unwilling to give up and tried to regain his freedom.

But if this happens, a life-and-death conflict will inevitably break out between him and the emperor.

Ever since Li Shimin was released from restrictions, his illness and what he said to the emperor also reached Yang Shidao's ears.

But he never expected that today, he would have such a thing in his hands.

He didn't even know how the emperor had put this thing into his sleeve.

Yang Shidao closed his eyes gently.

He doesn't want to get involved in this kind of thing.

But the matter here involves Yang Yuzi.

What the emperor said today was actually just one sentence.

As long as he regained power, he would pardon Yang Yuzhi's crime and allow him to return to Chang'an.

Why.

Make meritorious service.

Yang Shidao assisted the retired emperor in regaining power and made great contributions, so the retired emperor could naturally use this to exonerate Yang Yuzhi.

……

Yang Shidao held the belt tightly in his hand.

There was a look of pain on his face.

He wanted to save his son very much.

But will it be enough to just help the emperor?
The current health condition of the retired emperor is known to everyone in the world.

The mind is confused and the body is unable to move.

If Yang Shidao really did it, then was it the emperor who ordered him to do it, or was it Yang Shidao who was plotting a rebellion?

No, not him, Yang Shidao, but the entire Hongnong Yang family.

How could Yang Shidao, alone, get the retired emperor out of the heavily guarded palace?
To achieve this, the entire Hongnong Yang family needs to work together.

By then, the entire Hongnong Yang family will rebel together.

Even if you succeed, people in the world will not respect you.

Especially the Guanlong clans.

Although the Hongnong Yang family was a member of the Guanlong clan, because of their relationship with the former Sui Dynasty, the entire Guanlong clan, and even the entire world, were the most wary of them.

Of course, if they really have the opportunity, it is not impossible.

But do they have a chance?
Although the emperor relaxed his control over the retired emperor after he visited the Duke of Zheng's mansion some time ago, the retired emperor still stayed in the Wude Hall.

To the east is the Eastern Palace, to the south is the Menxia Province, to the west is the Emperor's Lizheng Hall, and to the north is the retired emperor's own harem.

But that place is the most heavily guarded.

This means that if they want to rescue the retired emperor, they will inevitably come into direct conflict with the emperor.

Not only that, although the emperor has relaxed his guard now, Yang Shidao believes that at this moment, there are still people outside watching him.

To be more precise, anyone who has just met the emperor will be stared at.

Although I don't watch you as closely, I won't be too relaxed either.

And who knows if this relaxation is an illusion.

The emperor may have really relaxed, but will people like Li Yifu, Qiu Shenqi and Li Anyan relax?

……

Yang Shidao sighed deeply.

The image of his son Yang Yuzhi flashed through his mind.

He was sure that the emperor would not let Yang Yuzhi return to Chang'an.

Yang Shidao had accepted this a long time ago, and he even felt that the emperor was right. After all, too many people died at the hands of Yang Yuzhi, and if something happened, he should be punished.

The emperor did not kill Yang Yuzhi in the end, which was also a way to give face to himself and the princess.

It would be better for such a useless son to stay in Longxi and never leave.

Why should I involve myself and my entire family for him?

The price is too high.

Yang Shidao stood up, slowly walked to the back of the study, and then hid the imperial edict in his hand.

He won't use him.

But Yang Shidao couldn't bear to burn it.

After all, it still has a use.

If that brat really reforms in the future, perhaps he can present it to the emperor in exchange for his freedom.

Yes, this is an achievement in itself.

As long as he hands it over to the emperor.

but……

Yang Shidao shook his head slightly. If one handled this kind of thing carelessly, the emperor would immediately become suspicious of him.

In the end, they may even be killed to silence them.

I think of the emperor's indifferent method of imprisoning the retired emperor.

Yang Shidao couldn't help but shiver.

If you want to exchange this thing for credit, you have to wait.

……

After hiding the things, Yang Shidao got up and left the study.

Under the night sky, the entire Princess Changguang Mansion was quiet and peaceful.

A familiar figure avoided the visible and hidden lines around and quietly sneaked into Yang Shidao's study.

After a long time, he left silently.

(End of this chapter)