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

Chapter 576: Treat the disease when it's time to treat it, and kill the person when it's time to kill him (Part )
In late autumn in August, the Yellow River flows.

On the mountain road beside Sanmenxia, ​​Li Chengqian, dressed in black clothes and black armor, reined in his horse and looked into the distance.

The rocks in the gorge stand tall and the waves are like snow.

Li Chengqian leaned slightly aside and looked at Huang Rensu, the Junior Supervisor of Water Resources, and said, "In narrow waterways, the current is fast, so silt rarely accumulates. Wang Jing of the Western Han Dynasty used similar methods to control floods. Mr. Huang, please see if this method can be tried in some of the rivers with serious silt accumulation to dredge the waterways."

"I obey your order." Huang Rensu bowed seriously.

Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly and said, "Be careful not to drain the sand too quickly, otherwise it will be easy for seawater to flow back downstream, which will be troublesome."

"Your Majesty actually knows this." Huang Rensu looked up in surprise.

"It's just empty talk." Li Chengqian restrained his expression, looked forward, and urged his horse, "Let's go to Luoyang."

"Yes!" Tang Jian, Lai Ji, Liu Dewei, Cui Dunli, Changsun Xiang, Li Qianyou, Yang Sina, Xu Jingzong, Li Anyan, Qiu Xiaogong, Xue Rengui and other civil and military officials all bowed.

Countless cavalrymen followed Li Chengqian, forming a long dragon with no end in sight.

We ran along the mountain path towards the ancient Qiaohan Road.

……

Exit the ancient Qiaohan Road and enter the Luo River Plain.

Cross the Luo River and go straight to the city of Luoyang.

Outside Dingding Gate.

The warhorse roared and then suddenly stopped in front of the city gate.

Li Chengqian, dressed in black clothes and black armor, with a long spear hanging on the side of his horse and a Qianniu knife hanging on his waist, looked coldly at the people waiting outside the city gate.

Luozhou Governor Li Wenliang, Luozhou Chief Secretary Xiao Jun, Right Thousand Oxen Guard General Xue Guwuren, along with a host of Luozhou officials, retired elders, and Luozhou scholars, all knelt down in unison: "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to you. May your Majesty live a long and healthy life."

"Everyone, please stand up!" Li Chengqian leaned forward slightly, and his cold eyes gradually regained some luster.

He raised his head, gazing at the magnificent Luoyang City before him, and nodded, saying, "People say that when you first arrive, you should offer generous gifts. I am humble, and I have nothing good to offer. I can only offer my humble regards. I hereby decree that the people of Luoyang be exempted from rent and taxes for the next year!"

"Your Majesty, we thank you very much. Your Majesty's benevolence will last forever." All the ministers kowtowed.

Li Chengqian smiled lightly. These people were used to high positions and generous salaries, and they had never thought about the significance of Li Chengqian's words to the people of Luoyang.

"Gee!" Li Chengqian ignored everyone and slowly urged his horse into Luoyang City.

The fragrance of osmanthus in August.

Various trees are planted on both sides of Dingdingmen Street to ensure that they remain green all year round.

Li Chengqian was not walking very fast on Dingdingmen Street.

The last time he came to Luoyang was the year before last, when he had just ascended the throne and was preparing for the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Song for his father, Emperor Taizong.

In the blink of an eye, nearly two years have passed.

His father is gone, but Luoyang remains prosperous.

The news that the emperor would exempt the people of Luoyang from rent and taxes next year spread quickly.

The people in Luoyang City realized what this meant almost instantly.

There is more rain this year.

Food production has decreased.

Although the imperial court tried its best to provide disaster relief, many victims still flocked to Luoyang. Coupled with the reluctance of unscrupulous merchants to sell their grain, the price of grain in Luoyang really rose a lot.

It was last year that Li Chengqian exempted the people of the world from rent and taxes for one year, which prevented the grain prices in Luoyang from rising too much.

Especially after the autumn harvest, the people had grain in their hands, but soon no one bought the grain in the hands of the merchants, forcing them to lower the price.

This way, rent and taxes will be exempted for another year next year. People will know that even if it rains for the entire summer next year, they can still get by easily.

So when the news spread, cheers immediately rang out throughout the city of Luoyang.

From far to near.

Soon, Li Chengqian's vision was filled with the people of Luoyang who were moved and kowtowing.

Yang Sina, who was following behind, saw this scene and his pupils couldn't help but shrink.

The emperor has just arrived in Luoyang.

With just one sentence, he won the hearts of the people of Luoyang.

People like Li Wenliang and Xiao Jun will find it much easier to govern Luoyang in the future, so they will turn their attention to other directions.

The emperor himself will also feel much more relaxed during his time in Luoyang.

What a good idea!

The loyalty of the people needs to be cultivated with money.

Li Chengqian slowly urged his horse forward.

The Tang Dynasty nurtured the people in Chang'an for three hundred years. This is the fundamental reason why the Tang Dynasty was able to stand firm despite going through countless storms.

Wu Meiniang finally chose to usurp the Tang Dynasty in Luoyang because Li Zhi came to Luoyang with her for inspection every year, and even spent more time in Luoyang than in Chang'an in a year.

The reign title was changed every two or three years, and a general amnesty was also issued.

This is the real reason why she was able to usurp the Tang Dynasty.

The Hongnong Yang family was located in the upper reaches of the Luo River and had a great influence on the entire Luo River Plain. However, no matter how great this influence was, it was not greater than an imperial edict from the emperor.

……

The Luo River flows slowly under the Tianjin Bridge.

Li Chengqian rode his horse and slowly crossed the Tianjin Bridge. Li Anyan, who had arrived earlier, was already standing on the Duanmen Gate and bowed solemnly to Li Chengqian.

Qiu Xiaogong guarded Chengtian Gate, and Xue Rengui guarded Xuanwu Gate.

The entire Luoyang Ziwei Palace is now completely under the control of Li Chengqian.

In front of the ruins of Qianyuan Hall, Li Chengqian turned over and got down.

Tang Jian, Lai Ji, Liu Dewei, Cui Dunli, Changsun Xiang, Li Qianyou, Yang Sina, Xu Jingzong, Li Wenliang, Xiao Jun and others stood on both sides.

Li Chengqian looked to the side and said, "Uncle Gong!"

Li Wenliang immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty!"

"Have you seen the blueprints designed by Yan Qing?" Li Chengqian turned sideways to look at Li Wenliang and asked, "Are there any problems with Luoyang providing the craftsmen and materials?"

Li Wenliang hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Luoyang can provide most of the craftsmen and materials. However, there are very few suitable main beams in Luoyang. We need to transport them from the deep mountains in the southwest. Even in the southwest mountains, we have searched for a long time and still haven't found a suitable main beam."

Li Chengqian nodded gently and said, "I understand. The biggest problem is finding a main beam suitable for the main hall."

The ministers nodded in agreement.

They could see that the ruins of the Qianyuan Hall in front of them were not smaller than the Taiji Hall in Chang'an.

Even the Qianyuan Hall of the pre-Sui Dynasty was more magnificent than the Taiji Hall today.

The various materials required here are even more demanding than those of the Hanyuan Hall of the Daming Palace currently under construction in Chang'an.

Especially the main material.

If the size exceeds by one point, it is very likely that an unknown amount of wood will be eliminated.

"Take your time." Li Chengqian withdrew his gaze from the remains of the Qianyuan Hall and looked at Li Wenliang. He said, "Start the preliminary work first. As for materials, if wood cannot be found, then try to use stone as a substitute."

Li Wenliang suddenly looked up and whispered, "Your Majesty, stone is not like wood, so there is very little room for carving."

"That's all right." Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "The military expenditures at court are quite high right now, and the heavy rains every year affect the autumn harvest. If it weren't for the gold sent by the Tibetans, to be honest, I would have wanted to stop it and put it aside for a few years until the Liaodong war was over before resuming it."

Yang Sina stood at the back, complaining in his heart: You know you can fix it later, why do you still have to fix it now?

"Sometimes, when the palace starts working, the prices of craftsmen and materials on the market go up, which in turn gives these people a way to survive, especially during years of disaster." Li Chengqian turned to look at Tang Jian and asked, "Mr. Tang, am I right?"

"Yes, this is Guanzi's way of governing the country. Your Majesty remembers it correctly." Tang Jian nodded in agreement.

"Especially with the heavy rain these past two years, it's a good opportunity to give the disaster victims an extra meal." Li Chengqian turned to look at the ruins ahead, shook his head, and said, "Let's keep it rough. It's a good idea to use less insecticides like sulfur. I really don't like the smell."

After Li Chengqian finished speaking, all the ministers bowed in unison, "Your Majesty is virtuous."

Yang Sina lowered her head, her eyes full of disbelief.

……

Zhenguan Hall.

Li Chengqian, dressed in a scarlet and yellow dragon robe, sat down on the steps.

All the civil and military officials bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to you. May your Majesty live forever."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Everyone, please stand."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The ministers stood up solemnly.

Li Chengqian spoke calmly, "My Lords, I came to Luoyang this time mainly because of the heavy rain this year, which has significantly affected the autumn harvest in various places. Although the court has provided a lot of relief, I still want to see the true situation in various places. Therefore, Lord Tang will arrange for you to inspect various places later."

Tang Jian stood up and bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian nodded and continued, "My requirements are few, just two words: truth. When you arrive at the local areas, you must visit the poorest and most difficult counties in a state to see how badly they've been affected by the disaster. This is the only way to ensure that there are no problems with local governance."

Those who are most easily instigated are often the ones who can least survive.

It is even more terrifying since these people are organized in counties.

Governing them well is equivalent to raising the lower limit of world stability.

"We, the ministers, will follow the Holy Instructions!" All the ministers bowed their hands with solemn expressions.

"Okay, let's do this. You all take a day off and set off tomorrow. Go early and come back early, and return to Chang'an in October." Li Chengqian raised his hand directly.

"We obey your command and take our leave." The ministers bowed again and turned to leave the hall.

"Xiao Jun stay!"

……

"Your Majesty!" Luozhou Chief Clerk Xiao Jun stood in the hall and bowed with a somewhat nervous look.

Li Chengqian sat on the imperial couch, looked at Xiao Jun, and asked, "I have appointed Li Wenliang as the governor of Luozhou this time. Do you have any complaints in your heart?"

Xiao Jun's expression immediately grew serious, and he bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I'm only concerned that I haven't done anything right, so how could I possibly have any complaints?"

Li Chengqian looked at Xiao Jun deeply and said, "It's best if you think so. The reason I appointed Li Qing as the governor of Luozhou is because you are still a little unsteady. Once Li Qing serves as the governor of Luozhou for one term, you, the third-rank Luozhou Chief Secretary, will be firmly established. Then I will transfer you back to serve two terms as Yongzhou Chief Secretary."

"I thank Your Majesty for your great grace." Xiao Jun bowed with gratitude.

"Secondly," Li Chengqian's expression turned cold, and he continued, "The reason I asked you to move is because your performance in the past two years has been too mediocre.

Although Luozhou has suffered floods in the past two years, the tax revenue has only increased slightly in the past two years... I haven't touched Luoyang in the past two years, so why is it like this?"

"I am guilty!" Xiao Jun immediately knelt down.

"You're not guilty, you're blind." Li Chengqian looked at Xiao Jun coldly and said, "Something must have gone wrong in Luozhou, but you don't know where it is. I'm here this time to get to the bottom of this issue. I'll treat those who need it and kill those who need it."

"Yes!" Xiao Jun looked stern.

"Third." Li Chengqian looked out of the hall calmly and said calmly, "In two years, the Tang Dynasty will invade Goguryeo again. I need someone to stay in Luoyang, control the civil and military affairs, and transport food and fodder. You are not qualified."

(End of this chapter)