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

Chapter 541: After the Zhenguan Period, the Old Ministers Died (Part )

It was snowing heavily.

The fire in the Liangyi Hall is burning brightly.

Xu Jingzong, who was on duty as the attendant, sat behind a low table and looked forward.

The emperor sat on the imperial couch, his head down, dealing with the documents in his hands.

The hall was silent.

The emperor didn't say anything, and Xu Jingzong didn't know what to say.

Now, he was thinking more about what Li Yifu had said. Was it the emperor who asked him to say it?

If the emperor asked him to say it, it means that Xu Jingzong can not only become the prime minister, but his daughter can also marry into the emperor's harem in the future.

What if I had a son or daughter...

Xu Jingzong did not forget that many of Emperor Gaozu's sons, as well as the previous emperor's sons, married women from their mother's clan as princesses.

There were even daughters in the family who married princes.

In addition, Xu Jingzong was also the prime minister, so his family's status would rise rapidly.

To be frank, isn't that how his Changsun family rose to prominence...

A steady sound of footsteps sounded outside the hall, interrupting Xu Jingzong's wandering thoughts.

Then, the eunuch in blue at the entrance of the palace bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Governor of Shenzhou and the consort of Princess Nanyang, Su Xu, requests an audience."

Xu Jingzong turned around.

On the imperial couch, the emperor raised his head and said, "Announce."

……

Li Chengqian sat on the imperial couch, looking at Su Xu, who was covered in snow, pale, and with a thin and resolute figure, and said softly, "Father-in-law has lost a lot of weight. He has worked hard these past few years."

"This is my duty." Su Xu stood in the hall and bowed solemnly to the emperor. "I haven't congratulated Your Majesty on your ascension to the throne yet. May Your Majesty live forever."

"No need to be so polite." Li Chengqian waved his hand gently, looking to the side and said, "Come here, please take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Su Xu bowed, then walked to a low table on the side and knelt down.

The words are concise and the actions are decisive.

"The weather in Liaodong seems to be really cold!" Li Chengqian sighed softly.

"It's okay, I'm used to it. I'll just wear more clothes, and it won't be a big deal." Su Xu glanced at the tea set down by the eunuch, then looked up and said, "The population in Liaodong has increased by nearly 200,000 since the late emperor's eastern expedition. They are all former Sui civilians who fled to the mountains in the early years because they refused to obey Goguryeo rule."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

The saying that imperial power does not extend to the countryside is not empty talk.

Many people who were unwilling to obey the rule of Goguryeo chose to hide in the mountains, and Goguryeo had no way to stop them. Similarly, those who were unwilling to obey the rule of the Tang Dynasty also chose to hide in the mountains, and the Tang Dynasty had no way to stop them.

However, once they left the mountains, they could not even enter the city gate without the relevant pass.

"I heard that the Tang Dynasty has recaptured Liaodong, and many people have come out of the mountains." Su Xu shook his head and said, "It's a pity that the late emperor never went to Liaodong again after his first expedition. Otherwise, he could really let the late emperor see the prosperity of Liaodong today."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Although the emperor has not visited Liaodong again, he has seen the situation in Liaodong from the memorial, and he is quite satisfied."

Su Xu hesitated slightly, but still spoke, "Duke Ying is currently at the forefront of the army, leading the troops in establishing the Goguryeo Jiangbei Protectorate. Progress is rapid. Many Goguryeo civilians and nobles, unable to survive, have learned that it was King Baozang who established a local Goguryeo government recognized by the Tang Dynasty. Many have left the mountains and are returning home to prepare for farming."

"The news that the Tang Dynasty only wants Quan Gaisuwen to return power to the Gao family and does not aim to destroy Goguryeo has spread across the river, right?" Li Chengqian's expression became serious.

"Yes!" Su Xu nodded and said, "Although Quan Gaisuwen tried his best to suppress it, a lot of news came from the mountains in the east of Goguryeo, and it was impossible to suppress it. If the Tang Dynasty really crossed the river in the future, it would be much easier. However..."

Su Xu hesitated for a long time, but still said, "Your Majesty, do you really want Li Ji to do something like destroying Goguryeo? Your Majesty, have you ever considered leading the army in person? After all, this was the first kingdom you destroyed after ascending the throne, and neither the previous emperor nor Emperor Yang of Sui had done this."

"This is what my father-in-law said. If it were someone else, I might think that he wanted to seize Li Ji's military power." Li Chengqian smiled lightly, his eyes fixed on Su Xu.

Su Xu was immediately startled and said, "I have no such intention."

"I know that my father-in-law is not familiar with the art of marching, so how could he have the idea of ​​leading a large army to destroy a country." Li Chengqian waved his hand slightly.

"Yes!" Su Xu nodded, then looked at Li Chengqian worriedly and said, "Although Your Majesty has pacified the four directions since ascending the throne, the best way to completely eliminate people's ambitions is to conquer the world through military merit. If there are no external forces that can shake Your Majesty's rule, then people's hearts will naturally be much more stable."

It has always been the collusion between internal traitors and external enemies that has led to the rapid collapse of a regime.

Without external threats, the internal situation will be much more stable.

Li Chengqian had to admit that Su Xu had a good vision.

"Forget it. I'm not cut out for a major military campaign." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "The bottom line is, I can't control the unrest that would ensue if I left the capital. Wasn't it Yang Xuangan who ultimately brought down the Sui Yang Emperor?"

Su Xu nodded slowly and said, "Your Majesty, what you said makes sense."

"Come again." Li Chengqian smiled and said, "The Duke of Ying who commands all the troops in Liaodong is more reassuring to me than anyone else." Su Xu was slightly stunned, but he soon understood.

Li Ji was, after all, a surrendered general of Wagang.

He was not a member of the Guanlong family, so even if he commanded an army of 100,000 in the front line, Li Chengqian was not worried about what he could do.

Because the backbone of this 100,000-strong army is made up of people from Guanzhong.

As long as Li Chengqian fought back, he could easily take this army back from Li Ji.

Therefore, Li Ji is the best candidate for the commander-in-chief of the army.

……

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore." Li Chengqian looked up at Su Xu and said, "Everything has been going smoothly in Liaodong in recent years, and my father-in-law has made great contributions."

Su Xu shook his head slightly and sighed, "Liaodong has indeed developed well in recent years, but there are still major problems, especially food. Although I have been constantly expanding the land and turning marshes into farmland, the annual food shortage in Liaodong is already over 20%. It is only with the support of Your Majesty and the court that we are able to sustain this."

"Don't claim your achievements as mine." Li Chengqian couldn't help but laugh. He finally understood the meaning behind Su Xu's words and waved his hand, saying, "Liaodong has been receiving support from the court in recent years, but if a war with Goguryeo breaks out in the future, Liaodong will bear the greatest pressure."

"I understand." Su Xu's expression grew serious, and he continued, "Apart from food, Liaodong's biggest problem lies with the Black Water Mohe tribe in the north. They frequently raid the south, causing considerable trouble."

"The Black Water Mohe!" Li Chengqian nodded, then looked to one side and asked, "The late General of the Right Guard, Duke of Shi, Tudiji, if I remember correctly, was from the Sumo Mohe tribe. Are there any outstanding figures among his descendants?"

"Your Majesty!" Duan Baoxuan, the left Thousand Oxen Guard, stepped forward and said with a bow, "His son, Li Jinxing, the left garrison guard and a man from Wuyuan County, is a man of great appearance and unparalleled martial prowess."

Li Chengqian looked at Duan Baoxuan in surprise and said, "For Lord Duan to say that this man is incredibly powerful, he must be truly extraordinary. Issue an imperial decree to promote Li Jinxing, a man from Wuyuan County, to the rank of General Mingwei and General of the Left Guard. He will be placed under the command of Andong Protectorate and under the command of Su Xu, the Deputy Protector of Andong. Next year, he will escort Su Xu back to Liaodong."

"I obey your order." Duan Baoxuan bowed, then turned quickly and walked out of the hall. He was going to the Ministry of War to convey the order.

Li Chengqian turned to look at Su Xu and said, "Father-in-law, while you're recuperating over the next few months, please visit the six ministries more often. I don't know exactly how much Liaodong needs, so I need you to talk to the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Works."

"I understand." Su Xu stood up immediately.

Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "Right now, Duke Ying is handling all internal and external affairs in Liaodong. However, after we pacify Goguryeo, your father-in-law will take over from Duke Ying in charge of all internal and external affairs. If you have any ideas, you can come to me directly."

Su Xu cupped his hands and said cautiously, "I'm afraid I'm not capable enough."

"That's all right." Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "If I lack ability, I can make up for it with prestige. When Yiniang has a son, I will make him the King of Liao. My father-in-law will help me look after Liaodong and Goguryeo. At worst, I can let my father-in-law take the position of the third rank official in the Secretariat."

Su Xu and Xu Jingzong, who was sitting on the side, looked up at the same time.

"Your Majesty, I am Zhao Yuan's father. How can I be a third-rank official in the Secretariat?" Su Xu's expression grew serious, and he bowed, saying, "Please do not think so."

"Father-in-law, you've misunderstood. I'm merely serving as the Protector General of Liaodong, and concurrently as the Third-Rank Inspector of the Secretariat. This position will be useful in Liaodong. I'll relinquish it upon my return to the court." Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Isn't it the same with the Duke of Wei in Xichang Prefecture now?"

Li Jing served as the governor of Xichang Prefecture and was also the vice-chancellor. As long as he did not return to the court, he was the real prime minister, commanding the entire Ganliang, Shasu and Anxi. However, once he resigned from his post in the west and returned to Chang'an to take up his post, he would immediately be impeached by the entire court.

Su Xu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty may grant me the imperial seal and axe, but please do not think of anything like that with the Third Rank of the Secretariat."

"Don't worry, it's still too early." Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "I think this way for the sake of stabilizing Goguryeo. After all, Goguryeo is different from the Turks and Tuyuhun. The situation there is completely different. Who knows what will happen after Goguryeo is destroyed? The most suitable person to lead the Grand Protectorate of Andong and lead the Secretariat of the Third Rank is the most suitable."

"If that's the case, then I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to resign." Su Xu still refused to give in.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Besides, it might take five or six years for Goguryeo to be pacified. Who knows what the situation will be like in the future... Well, let's not talk about it anymore. Father-in-law, please go see Yiniang later. She has missed you for years. Besides, the Queen and Aunt are here too."

Su Xu was also the Queen's great uncle.

"Yes!" Su Xu could only bow.

Xu Jingzong sat on one side and recorded the conversation between the emperor and Su Xu with steady hands.

He looked at the lines of words he had written, his expression becoming serious.

He never noticed that Li Chengqian glanced at him lightly.

……

"Gee!" A fast horse rushed straight into the Suzaku Gate. The rider raised his token and shouted hurriedly, "Sikong, your majesty, please get out of the way!"

Everyone along the way looked up in astonishment, and when they saw the face of the person on the horse, their eyes were filled with horror.

The son-in-law of Princess Changle, the eldest son of Changsun Wuji, the Minister of Works and Minister of the Left, and the Secretary General Changsun Chong.

Chang Sun Chong ignored these people and at least rushed directly into Chengtian Gate, and even went straight to Liangyi Palace.

Li Chengqian had already heard the voice and walked out of the Liangyi Hall.

Chang Sun Chong had already rushed to the front of the hall. He jumped off his horse and knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, my uncle...he is dying."

With just one sentence, Li Chengqian's head buzzed and his vision went dark in an instant.

He turned to look to the side and said hurriedly, "Prepare the horses. I'm going to the Duke of Shen's mansion now to tell the Queen that I won't be passing."

"Yes!" Xu An immediately bowed.

(End of this chapter)