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

Chapter 539: Lingnan Feng Clan, Willing to Die for Your Majesty (Fourth Update for Lantern Festival)

During the twelfth lunar month, the north wind is as sharp as a knife.

At noon, Li Chengqian walked out of the Lizheng Hall.

Snowflakes as big as goose feathers fell from the sky.

Li Chengqian, wearing a black cape, looked up at the sky, then turned sideways and asked, "How many heavy snowfalls has this been since the beginning of winter?"

Zhang Ananda stepped forward with a solemn expression, bowing, "Your Majesty, this is the ninth round."

"It looks like there will be more snow this winter." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "Order the Sino-Agricultural Ministry and the Left and Right Garrison Guards to send troops into Mount Zhongnan to cut firewood to help the people of Chang'an survive the winter."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda bowed solemnly.

"Also, tell them at the Sinong Temple that next year during the Qingming Festival, I will pray for my father and mother and plan to plant 10,000 saplings in the mountains. Let them be prepared." Li Chengqian waved his hand slightly, then strode forward.

After felling trees, plant them again.

Li Chengqian understood this principle.

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda bowed and accepted the order.

……

In the Liangyi Hall, Li Chengqian sat down on the imperial couch. Just as the ministers were about to bow, Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "No need to bow. It's snowing heavily today, so we should discuss matters early. All ministers should go to bed early. Also, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, the regular court sessions will be postponed for an hour."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" All the ministers bowed and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Governor of Yongzhou!" Li Chengqian looked at Qiu Xinggong.

"I'm here." Qiu Xinggong stood up and bowed seriously.

"It's snowing heavily now, so we need to strengthen the resettlement of the people affected by the snowstorm. All Taoist temples and monasteries must accept the victims." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "The palace will allocate some food, and Yongzhou Prefecture will also contribute some to help the victims through this winter."

"I obey your order." Qiu Xinggong bowed and then returned to the train.

Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at the ministers on his left and right. Tang Jian, Yang Shidao, Liu Dewei, Yan Lide, Changsun Xiang and others were all there.

"Now, all the ministers have returned from their local areas." Li Chengqian turned sideways, looked at the Imperial Censor Sun Fujia, and asked, "Mr. Sun, how many officials were impeached during your local inspections?"

"Your Majesty!" Sun Fujia bowed and said, "Five governors, including Laizhou Governor Zheng Renkai, Fuzhou Governor Xue Qianshou, Suizhou Governor Wei Yuanzuo, and Tangdanzhou Governor Yang Sina, as well as eight chief secretaries and fifteen county magistrates, have been impeached for crimes. There are also various other cases that need to be investigated, but due to lack of time, we haven't been able to find out yet."

"Let's continue investigating next year." Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes slightly.

Zheng Renkai, as soon as you hear his name, you know he is Zheng Rentai's cousin.

Xue Qianshou, that is Xue Wanche’s clansman.

Wei Yuanzuo was from the Jingzhao Wei family.

Yang Sina was from the Hongnong Yang family.

"They are all children of powerful families in the court!" Li Chengqian sneered softly and said, "My lords, you are all high-ranking officials in the court. Can't your family traditions be better?"

"We are guilty!" The ministers quickly bowed their heads and admitted their mistakes, their hearts suddenly lifted up.

The emperor hadn't spoken like this for a long time.

All the ministers in the hall understood that once the emperor spoke in such a harsh tone, it meant that he was extremely angry.

As soon as it was opened, the family traditions of the various families were involved. If it really got out, the future official appointments and marriages of the clan members would be affected.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, looked at Sun Fujia, and said, "Everyone will be investigated by the Three Departments. According to the law, the Censorate will preside over the trial."

"Yes!" Sun Fujia bowed and then retreated back to the train.

Li Chengqian turned around, looked at Zhangsun Wuji, and said, "Uncle, hurry up and work with the Ministry of Personnel to fill the vacancies."

"I obey your order." Changsun Wuji and Yang Shidao stood up at the same time.

Li Chengqian looked at Yang Shidao deeply.

Yang Shidao immediately felt a chill down his spine.

Because Yang Sina is his nephew.

Li Chengqian waved his hand, and Zhangsun Wuji and Yang Shidao immediately retreated to their train. He spoke again, "It's already the twelfth lunar month. How are the Ministry of Personnel's registrations for next year's imperial examinations?"

As soon as Li Chengqian opened his mouth, Yang Shidao stepped forward again, clasping his hands and saying, "Your Majesty, sixty-eight candidates have already registered for next year's imperial examination. By the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, there will be over a hundred candidates."

"Let's extend the time to the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month." Li Chengqian looked outside the palace and said, "It's snowing heavily now, and someone might get stuck on the road. We need to give them more time."

"Yes!" Yang Shidao bowed and then returned to the train.

"It's the end of the year. You have all worked hard this year, and the palace will be giving out rewards." Li Chengqian looked up and said, "In addition, officials above the ninth rank in Chang'an will have their salaries doubled this month."

All the ministers were delighted and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace." Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly and said with a smile, "It is also thanks to the 20,000 taels of gold sent by the Tibetans that I can do so many things."

The ministers couldn't help but smile with excitement.

Li Chengqian's expression suddenly turned cold, and he said, "I have treated you well, and I hope you will repay me with honesty and integrity."

"Your Majesty's instructions will be followed faithfully." The hearts of the ministers tightened again. No one knew where the emperor learned this style of speaking.

"Alright." Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Anything else?"

"Your Majesty!" Fang Xuanling stood up from the crowd of ministers and said with a folded hand, "Your Majesty, Gaozhou Sima Feng Zhidai has arrived in the capital and requests an audience with Your Majesty!"

"Approved!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I want to see what the Feng family of Lingnan has to say about the Yanzhou incident."

"Here!"

……

In the spacious hall, Li Yifu and Xu Jingzong stood on the right.

Xu Jingzong bowed and said, "The Feng family of Lingnan is very wealthy. When Feng Ziyou, the eldest grandson of Duke Geng, came to the capital, he was accompanied by a shipload of gold and silver. After arriving in Chang'an, he bribed everyone. Even I received three gold beans back then, but the emperor didn't approve of this, so I shamelessly kept them. Now Feng Zhidai has come to the capital with ten carriages, and I'm afraid there is a lot of wealth inside."

"He's a smart man." Li Yifu followed suit and bowed, saying seriously, "It's actually much safer to do it with such fanfare."

"Yes, I already know about this matter. If something really goes wrong, I'm afraid the Qianniu Guards will have to investigate with all their strength." Li Chengqian sat on the imperial couch and looked up. "Okay, it's almost time. Summon Feng Zhidai to see you."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda stepped forward and said loudly, "Summon Gaozhou Sima Feng Zhidai to see you."

The voice spread from Liangyi Palace to Chengtian Gate. Feng Zhidai, who had been waiting there for a long time, immediately stepped into Chengtian Gate and then quickly walked towards Liangyi Palace.

Walk up the steps and enter the Liangyi Hall.

Feng Zhidai, a tall and slender man, kowtowed in the hall and said, "I, Feng Zhidai, the Sima of Gaozhou, pay my respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live a long and healthy life."

"Stand up." Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Feng Zhidai breathed a sigh of relief, then stood up and bowed.

"Mr. Feng," Li Chengqian said, looking at Feng Zhidai, "I heard that you brought a lot of gold and silver with you when you came to the capital."

"Yes!" Feng Zhidai bowed and said seriously, "Your Majesty, although I am now the Sima of Gaozhou, I am only twenty years old and unmarried. Therefore, I have come to Chang'an with a large sum of money to ask for the hand of a noble lady from Chang'an."

Li Chengqian smiled lightly and was quite talkative.

It is not easy to live in Chang'an. There are bound to be officials in the city who married their daughters to Feng Zhidai because of Jin Yin.

In this way, the relationship between Feng Zhidai and Chang'an will become closer.

Because of the rebellion of the Yanzhou officials, the suspicion of the Feng family in Lingnan that had arisen in the court had disappeared quietly.

"I wish you good luck." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian turned serious and asked, "I recently read some books and learned that Duke Geng once followed Yang Guang in the conquest of Goguryeo during the Sui Dynasty."

"Yes." Feng Zhidai bowed earnestly and said, "Your Majesty, my Feng family is actually the descendant of Emperor Daxing of Northern Yan. Our ancestor Feng Hong could not bear to surrender to Northern Wei, so he led 10,000 people to flee to Goguryeo. However, he was killed by the Goguryeo king, leaving only 300 people. These 300 people eventually crossed the sea and returned to Jin, eventually taking root in Panyu, where they have lived to this day."

"Ten thousand people killed only three hundred." Li Chengqian looked at Feng Zhidai, nodded thoughtfully, and said, "So, your Feng family and Goguryeo have an irreconcilable feud."

"I wish I could sleep on their skin and eat their flesh." Feng Zhidai cupped his hands and gritted his teeth as he spoke, "That's why my father followed Emperor Yang of Sui in the Eastern Expedition against Goguryeo. Later, for his military exploits, he was appointed General of the Left Guard."

"Being the General of the Left Guard is not easy!" Li Chengqian nodded, then looked at Feng Zhidai and said, "Mr. Feng, if I leave you in Chang'an and appoint you as the General of the Left Guard, and use you to attack Goguryeo in the future, what do you think?"

Feng Zhidai's pupils instantly dilated, and then he knelt straight down, gritted his teeth and kowtowed, saying, "I am willing to die for your majesty."

"Alright." Li Chengqian smiled, then waved his hand and said, "That's it. You don't need to spend your gold and silver to find a good wife. Just buy a house in Chang'an. If you achieve merit in the future, I will choose a girl from the royal family and marry her to you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Feng Zhidai kowtowed again. When he raised his head, his eyes were completely moist.

"Mr. Duan." Li Chengqian looked to the side, and Duan Baoxuan immediately stood up: "Your Majesty!"

"Take him to handle the formalities, and also help him familiarize himself with Chang'an City." Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly.

"Yes!" Duan Baoxuan bowed and looked at Feng Zhidai.

Feng Zhidai immediately kowtowed to Li Chengqian and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace. I will take my leave."

"Yeah!" Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

Feng Zhidai stood up, bowed solemnly to Li Chengqian, then turned and left the hall.

Li Yifu and Xu Jingzong simultaneously bowed to Li Chengqian and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on completely recovering the Feng family of Lingnan."

Li Chengqian nodded gently and said, "The Feng family of Lingnan doesn't want money or safety. What they want is to once again join the ranks of the Tang Dynasty's noble families, rather than completely becoming Lingnan's local chieftains. If you understand this, it will not be difficult to control the situation in Lingnan. Now that Qianzhou is stable, it will be easy."

"Your Majesty is wise." Li Yifu and Xu Jingzong admired and bowed at the same time.

(End of this chapter)