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

Chapter 499: An imperial decree summoning all the princes and their wives to return to the capital (Part )

In the Liangyi Hall, Zhongshu Sheren Dou Dexuan and Jieshi Zhong Li Yifu stood on both sides and bowed.

More officials bowed slightly behind the curtain.

Li Chengqian pushed Li Shimin into the Liangyi Hall.

Everyone in the hall was silent.

Li Shimin suddenly smiled slightly. The place he was most familiar with was the Liangyi Hall.

He has spent most of his time here over the years.

"He is in the center of the tent, planning a thousand miles away." As soon as he said this, Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "It should be planned ten thousand miles away."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian pushed Li Shimin to the West Hall and waved his hand slightly.

Dou Dexuan and Li Yifu immediately stepped forward and lifted the cloth hanging in the center of the west hall, revealing the map of the Tang Dynasty's territory underneath.

Li Shimin's eyes swept across the entire territory map, and the entire Xichang Prefecture was completely included.

Five hundred miles from east to west, and one thousand five hundred miles from north to south.

Although it is a plateau, the vast territory will still provide the Tang Dynasty with unimaginable resources.

It will greatly ease the conflict in Guanzhong.

Many times they don’t even need to do anything, the Guanlong family will do it themselves, and they can even benefit most of it.

Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian and asked, "How many slaves have been killed or injured in Xichang Prefecture over the past six months?"

"Not many, just a few hundred." Li Chengqian said with a relaxed expression, "There are over a hundred thousand people in Xichang Prefecture. I used the cattle and sheep I seized there to exchange for a large amount of food, enough for them to survive, but their lives won't be that good."

After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "That's actually not true. During the Tuyuhun era, although many people raised large numbers of cattle and sheep, these cattle and sheep were not theirs at all. They lived a difficult life every year, and in winter, thousands of people froze to death. The Tang Dynasty's rule was actually a good thing for the vast majority of ordinary people."

"But it's not a good thing for those nobles." Li Shimin couldn't help but smile.

"Those people are the ones who die most in winter. They can't stand the real cold of the plateau." Li Chengqian's expression was calm and cold.

Li Shimin nodded, looked at the map of Xichang Prefecture, and said softly, "Li Jing!"

"This year, Xichang Prefecture has begun searching for areas with lush grass and water to grow grains like barley. They're producing a significant amount, which will reduce Xichang Prefecture's reliance on the imperial court for grain." Li Chengqian looked toward the Chaka Salt Lake and said, "In fact, the salt from Chaka can provide more funds for the Tang Dynasty's governance of Chaka."

"Learn from the experience, it will be useful when we conquer Goguryeo in the future." Li Shimin waved his hand slightly.

"Yes!" Li Chengqian slowly pushed him away.

Arriving at the palace gate, overlooking the entire Chang'an.

Li Shimin said softly, "Take good care of Xin'er and Zhong'er. Don't let anything happen to them."

"I understand, son." Li Chengqian bowed slightly with a heavy expression.

He knew that there were some things that he could not hide from Li Shimin.

Whether it was Li Xin or Li Zhong, Li Chengqian had some feelings for them, but not much.

What Li Chengqian really wanted was to use them as whetstones.

In the future, he will become Li Xiang's whetstone.

But how to do it specifically depends on future changes.

Li Shimin understood this, and what he said was just a final insurance.

Maybe Li Xin and Li Zhong will be imprisoned forever like their father.

……

"I've already told you everything I need to say. What remains is for a ruler to cultivate himself." Li Shimin raised his head and said softly, "Don't be too hasty in everything. Consider the pros and cons clearly and proceed steadily. However, at the critical moment, you must also act decisively and combine the extraordinary and the orthodox."

Nothing is absolute.

Focus on stability and consolidate your basic foundation, but also have some unconventional strategies and unexpected things.

Only then can you avoid being calculated by others.

"Yes!" Li Chengqian bowed seriously.

"When doing things, one must have grand plans and strategies, but one must also proceed step by step, practically and even consider each matter one by one." Li Shimin sighed and said, "Sometimes, when you take a step back, others will think they have an opportunity and then press forward."

Push your nose and face.

There are many such people.

"My son, I know."

"Finally." Li Shimin's expression grew serious, and he said earnestly, "An emperor is a blend of kingship and hegemony, both internally and externally."

"Your son will follow your father's teachings." Li Chengqian bowed solemnly.

"Let's go, take me back to Wude Hall." Li Shimin patted the armrest and said, "Ganlu Hall is too noisy."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian turned around and pushed Li Shimin out the door.

As soon as he left the house, Li Shimin said softly, "There is one last thing, Emperor. Please repair the mausoleum for me and come when I need it."

"Father!" Li Chengqian fell to his knees with a thud, trembling and uncontrollably. Looking up, his face was full of sadness.

"The Emperor!" All the ministers in the hall and the generals outside the hall knelt down in unison.

As soon as the words "renovate the mausoleum" were uttered, Li Chengqian and everyone in the entire hall knew that the emperor was about to die.

While everyone was grieving, they couldn't help but feel a complex and inexplicable emotion.

"Life is like a fleeting moment between heaven and earth, fleeting." Li Shimin gently patted the handrail. Zhang Ananda stepped forward and pushed Li Shimin down the stairs, but Li Shimin's voice could still be heard clearly: "Life and death are simultaneous, death and life are simultaneous, death and life are separated, it is just like this."

Zhuangzi·Outer Chapters·Knowing the North.

Zhuangzi: On the Equality of All Things.

Relaxed and open-minded.

Shangguan Yi knelt on one side and looked up carefully.

Today, he stayed by the emperor and the retired emperor's side from beginning to end, listened to all their conversations with his own ears, and recorded them all while living together.

The Emperor gave the Emperor many instructions today, but in the end, he said goodbye to his life with ease and open-mindedness. Today, he handed over everything that should be handed over to the Emperor.

He will no longer have any attachment to the entire Tang Dynasty and everything about it.

He walked towards the end of life and death with ease and openness.

This is the emperor emeritus.

Shangguan Yi looked at the emperor carefully.

……

Li Chengqian knelt there, tears already rolling down his face without him noticing.

An inexplicable sadness uncontrollably surged in my heart.

He almost couldn't control himself and burst into tears.

But he got it under control.

Finally, he lowered his head heavily and hit his forehead on the ground.

He was crying silently.

Sadness surged from the depths of my heart like a tide.

Keep pouring out...

It was not until a long time later that Zhangsun Wuji's voice rang in his ears: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, get up."

"Uncle!" Li Chengqian raised his head and looked at Zhangsun Wuji. Finally, he couldn't help crying: "Uncle..."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Zhangsun Wuji hugged Li Chengqian, patted his trembling shoulders and said, "Life and death are unpredictable. The Emperor doesn't care, so why should Your Majesty care?"

"Uh...ah...uh uh uh..." Li Chengqian turned his head slightly, took two deep breaths with difficulty, and then slowly stopped crying.

All the ministers in the hall could feel the extreme grief, but the pain that had to be suppressed by force.

Li Chengqian nodded to Changsun Wuji.

Only then did Changsun Wuji step aside.

Li Chengqian slowly stood up. In his sight was the majestic Taiji Hall and the even more vast Chang'an City.

He closed his eyes gently.

Finally, he took a deep breath. Although his face was sad, his eyes were determined.

Turning around, he looked at the imperial couch in the Liangyi Hall, then walked in with firm steps.

After crossing the threshold, all the ministers on both sides retreated to the sides and bowed.

Shangguan Yi knelt on the ground and quickly wrote on his memorial tablet: "The Emperor wept bitterly at the last farewell gift from His Majesty, unconscious for a moment. His filial piety was so sincere that everyone felt the same."

……

Li Chengqian walked up to the imperial throne step by step, and then sat on the imperial couch.

Moving the paperweight on the table aside, Li Chengqian looked up calmly. The ministers in the hall were already standing on both sides.

Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, Li Ji, Yan Lide, Cheng Zhijie, Yuchi Jingde, Zhang Shigui and other civil and military officials had all arrived at some point.

Li Chengqian nodded indifferently and said, "Taichang Temple."

Zhao Yuankai, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward and bowed, "Your Majesty!"

"Let's prepare to start the construction of Zhaoling." Li Chengqian looked at the ministers, and his eyes swept over the faces of Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji and others.

Changsun Wuji looked like he was about to speak.

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly and said, "Minister of Rites!"

"I'm here!" Minister of Rites Li Xizhi stood up and bowed seriously.

Li Chengqian looked at Li Xizhi. There were some things he knew how to say, but for some reason, he didn't know how to say them.

"The Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple should prepare according to the regulations." Fang Xuanling stood up and looked at Li Xizhi.

"Yes!" Li Xizhi bowed and accepted the order.

"Your Majesty!" Fang Xuanling turned to look at Li Chengqian and said with a bow, "Your Majesty, the Emperor is only feeling unwell. His pulse is not weak. Your Majesty does not need to worry too much."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, then shook his head, smiled bitterly, and nodded, "Prime Minister Fang is right!"

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji also calmed down. He stood up and bowed, saying, "The whole of Chang'an knows that the retired emperor is unwell. I request that Your Majesty issue an order that all Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries, as well as all Taoists and monks, chant sutras and pray for the retired emperor. Any people in Chang'an who wish to attend will be welcomed by all Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian raised his head and said, "I am in the palace and it is inconvenient for me to go out. I want Prince Ji to go to Taiyi Qinghua Temple and Daci'en Temple on my behalf to pray for my father."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed and accepted the order.

Li Chengqian raised his head and said, "Issue an order to appoint Duke Lu and Duke E as the left and right Grand Generals of the Jinwu Guard to suppress the Sixteen Guards of Chang'an."

"We obey your order." Cheng Zhijie and Yuchi Jingde stood up and bowed, their expressions solemn.

"The General of the Left Thousand Oxen Guard, Bo Changhe of Wushui County, and the Governor of Yongzhou, Gongqiu Xinggong of Tianshui County." Li Chengqian raised his head slightly.

"I'm here!" Chang He and Qiu Xinggong bowed at the same time.

"Send people to patrol Chang'an and Yongzhou." Li Chengqian lowered his head slightly and said, "Anyone who moves will be killed immediately."

"Here!"

"Issue an order to summon all the princes and their husbands back to the capital." Li Chengqian said, and gently closed his eyes.

"Yes!" Fang Xuanling stood up and bowed.

"Issue an imperial decree to Li Jing, Duke of Wei, Niu Jinda, Duke of Langya, Wang Renyou, Governor of Songzhou, Xu Shuya, Chief Clerk of Jingzhou, Dou Xiaoshen, Chief Clerk of Bingzhou, Li Wenliang, Chief Clerk of Yangzhou, Xiao Jun, Chief Clerk of Luozhou, Du Zhenglun, Governor of Guangzhou, and Lu Chengqing, Chief Clerk of Yizhou, to mobilize their troops and be on alert immediately. If there are any unusual movements, you can act at your discretion." Li Chengqian's eyes turned cold.

"I obey your order." Changsun Wuji stood up and bowed seriously.

"Uncle, you sit in the political hall and review the government affairs of the world. But if there are any lawbreakers, you will punish them severely and strictly."

"I accept the decree."

(End of this chapter)