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

Chapter 639: The Emperor Has a Fierce Tiger in His Heart! (Part )

While Changsun Wuji was thinking, a figure appeared beside him and picked up the teacup in front of him.

As the candlelight was dimmed, Changsun Wuji suddenly came back to his senses.

He looked up and saw that it was Zhang Ananda.

"Sikong, the tea is cold." Zhang Ananda picked up the cold teacup, replaced it with a new one, picked up the teapot and poured a cup, then bowed and left.

"Thank you, Zhang Jian!" Changsun Wuji nodded politely.

Zhang Ananda is an old man from the Qin Palace period. He has been in charge of the Hundred Cavalry Division by the side of the late emperor and the emperor over the years, and even has some power that even Changsun Wuji is unaware of.

Turning around, Changsun Wuji looked at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, your intention to use Goguryeo to completely replace Hebei is indeed a brilliant move. After all, Dongdao is an outsider. But Your Majesty, it is precisely because of this that Goguryeo alone has nearly two million people. The burden of Hebei falls on them, and I fear that there will be no peace there."

"Uncle, do you think that if I treat the people of Goguryeo with kindness, they will settle down?" Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "They have been Goguryeo people for too long. If the Tang Dynasty wants to completely rule them, it will not work without killing some of them. This is a good way to let the people of Hebei go over there, and use them as the backbone to kill people, so that the people of Hebei can vent their resentment."

"Household soldiers!" Changsun Wuji nodded. The emperor said that in the future he would increase the recruitment of household soldiers in Hebei and then station them on Dongdao Island.

"The Tang Dynasty has been established for thirty-five years, and all its systems have become ingrained." Li Chengqian raised his head and sighed, "Uncle, I've considered making drastic reforms to the system, but I've found it's not easy, especially when wars are raging both internally and externally. So, I can only patch up some details, hoping it will be effective."

Li Chengqian really thought deeply about the system that currently operates in the Tang Dynasty.

From the founding of the country to the present, from Wude, to Zhenguan, to the present Yongwei, the world is gradually moving towards prosperity.

This shows that even though the current system has flaws, it has not yet reached the point where it needs to be completely overturned. Therefore, what he needs is not a complete surgery on the system, but to find the shortcomings and defects of the system and then make up for them so that it can stay at the top longer and climb higher.

Until it falls from its peak in the future, it will undergo major surgical reforms.

Instead of performing a major operation rashly now, which would cause the situation to backfire to the point where he couldn't handle it himself.

So, what he has to do now is to eliminate hidden dangers and make minor modifications.

The Tang Dynasty today had just emerged from the Zhenguan era, and the vast majority of court officials had the idea of ​​maintaining the Zhenguan era's prosperity and even pushing the entire prosperous era to a better level.

There's really no need to bother too much at this moment.

Maintaining this upward momentum, imposing constraints and modifications, eliminating hidden dangers that may cause huge problems in the future, and making the prosperous era more prosperous and more lasting, this is what a mature emperor should do.

Li Chengqian is also gradually maturing.

Of course, it is not easy to do this, especially when there are external enemies.

……

"Your Majesty is right." Changsun Wuji nodded with some admiration.

What he feared most was that the emperor would make drastic changes, which even he might not be able to control.

"So next year I will go to Hebei. When I return to receive the army, I will exempt Hebei from rent and taxes for one year, giving the people of Hebei a break." "Then I will announce that the people will be exempted from taxes for three years if they move to Tuzhou."

Only rent and taxes are exempted, while everything else remains unchanged.

This is a more appropriate method of appeasing the people that has been tried in recent years.

After a brief pause, Li Chengqian continued, "Tuzhou has just been incorporated into the Tang Dynasty, and I also plan to exempt it from taxes for three years, which makes a total of six years."

Six years of tax exemption was enough to attract quite a number of people to Tuzhou.

"Your Majesty is benevolent." Changsun Wuji thought for a moment and said, "But Your Majesty has just exempted Hebei from rent and taxes. The people of Hebei will not easily leave their homes and go to Tuzhou. In this situation, I'm afraid the aristocratic families of Hebei will take advantage of them."

Li Chengqian nodded, what Changsun Wuji said was right.

The Tang Dynasty treated Hebei with harsh policies, but in fact the real helpers in the court were the local aristocratic families in Hebei.

Therefore, when good policies and systems were implemented in Hebei, the first to discover and utilize them and enjoy the benefits were the Hebei families.

"Uncle, you're right. I've considered this, too." Li Chengqian looked at Zhangsun Wuji and shook his head. "But uncle, if the aristocratic families of Hebei aren't willing to go to Tuzhou, to Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, then how can the local people of Hebei be willing?"

Changsun Wuji was stunned for a moment, then nodded slowly.

The leading role of the family cannot be ignored.

"So, let the Hebei noble families benefit at the beginning. Find someone impartial and fair to set up rules in Tuzhou to prevent the noble families from gaining too much." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "I think that in the first year, there won't be many people from Hebei coming to Tuzhou, but by the third year, the people will probably be anxious."

"Why?" Changsun Wuji looked up in confusion.

"Tuzhou is exempt from taxes for three years. I can change it to within three years. Anyone who moves to Tuzhou can still enjoy the three-year tax exemption policy of Tuzhou." Li Chengqian smiled lightly and said, "But after three years, anyone who moves to Tuzhou again can only enjoy the three-year tax exemption policy for those who come to Tuzhou."

There is a three-year tax exemption policy for land and a three-year tax exemption policy for people, which adds up to six years.

But if you are one step too late, three years will be up, and then there will only be three years.

"The common people are always looking for an advantage," Li Chengqian said with a sigh, shaking his head. "As soon as the news gets back to Hebei from Tuzhou, when the three years are almost over, the people will get anxious because they didn't get the three-year tax exemption. Naturally, some will migrate to Tuzhou."

Zhang Sun Wuji could not help but bow and said, "Your Majesty is wise and I admire you deeply."

"Once they arrive in Tuzhou, they'll settle down, calmly sort things out, integrate with the locals, and then become government soldiers. It'll coincide with the fall of the Three Kingdoms, and the people of Hebei will move south to suppress them. This way, the whole cycle will be established." Li Chengqian glanced northeast and said, "And if nothing unexpected happens, the more time passes, the more people from Hebei will arrive in Tuzhou."

"Why is this?" Changsun Wuji asked subconsciously.

"Uncle, although Hebei's burden is relatively heavy, it has actually been peaceful for thirty years since Liu Heita's rebellion in the third year of Wude, and its population is large." Li Chengqian thought for a moment and said, "Because of the war in recent years, Hebei has been under great pressure. While the people may not be complaining, they are suffering terribly. So, if I exempt them from rent and taxes for one year next year, they will feel a little relieved. However, in a few years, or even longer, the pressure will return, and it will be difficult to accept. Going to Andong is their best option."

In many cases, we should not only think about ourselves but also think about future generations. When many things are piled up together, it is not difficult to think about what people are thinking.

"In this way, the officials of the Andong states in the future will basically be mainly from Hebei, supplemented by surrendered officials from Goguryeo, and together with the government troops, they will suppress lawlessness and reconcile internal and external conflicts. Gradually, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla will be completely integrated into the Tang Dynasty." Li Chengqian smiled lightly after he finished speaking.

The three kingdoms of Dongdao, plus Liaodong, have a total population of three million, nearly one-third of the population of the Tang Dynasty. If all these people were integrated into the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty would have more foundation and capital for its prosperity.

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "Uncle, although governing Dongdao is not easy, it is actually not that difficult either. Goguryeo and Silla Baekje have always had a fundamental hidden danger that has not been resolved in recent years."

"Your Majesty, please give your instructions!" Changsun Wuji looked serious.

"They are slaves." Li Chengqian sneered softly and said, "Over the years, although under the influence of the Central Plains, Goguryeo has gradually converted slaves into civilians, the civilians are still divided into several classes. Moreover, during the war, this process was stopped long ago. There is not much we need to do."

Li Chengqian deliberately paused and looked at Changsun Wuji, who shook his head slightly.

Li Chengqian smiled. "People from Hebei, when Hebei people are widely present in the Three Kingdoms of Dongdao, we only need to reserve one Jinshi quota for the people of Hebei on Dongdao every year, and at the same time quickly promote the slaves of Dongdao from slaves to civilians, and tell them that they will also have a chance to pass the Jinshi exam in the future. Uncle, what do you think they will do?"

"They'll go crazy." Changsun Wuji murmured and nodded. Then he came to his senses and looked at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, but that's a Jinshi!"

"I understand." Li Chengqian calmed down and asked, "Uncle, according to the imperial system, can ordinary farmers' children also participate in the imperial examinations?"

Zhang Sun Wuji was stunned for a moment, then nodded slowly and said, "Yes, the 'Election Order' stipulates that the classes of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans are lowly and cannot take the imperial examinations, while the children of farmers are considered good people and can take the imperial examinations."

Although this is what they say, the imperial examination is extremely expensive. Ordinary children from poor families may only be able to afford the cost of taking the imperial examination in Beijing once in their lifetime, not to mention ordinary children from farming families.

Moreover, participating in the imperial examination is one thing, and passing it is another.

Transmitting documents, communicating, attending banquets, how could an ordinary farmer's kid understand these things?

If this is the case for farmers, it is even more impossible for industry and commerce.

In addition, the Tang Dynasty had millions of slaves.

Yes, there were slaves in the Tang Dynasty, but most of these slaves were criminals, prisoners of war, people without identity from other countries, etc., all of whom were of low status.

The total number of slaves in the Tang Dynasty accounted for more than 10% and less than 20% of the total population.

Among them, the largest number of slaves were held by the emperor, royal family, and aristocratic families.

However, even such slaves must have a bond.

If there is no body contract, it will be difficult to walk and you can only hide in the deep mountains and forests.

If you are lucky, you may be able to become a good local family if the government opens up the mountains and accepts people.

Of course, this kind of thing usually happens during the founding period of a country or in remote counties.

Also, there is the territory of the enemy country that has just been incorporated into the Tang Dynasty.

For example, the Eastern Turkic tribes, Gaochang, the current Tuzhou, and the future Goguryeo Kingdom.

"The transformation of slaves into civilians is enough to make those Goguryeo slaves lean towards the Tang Dynasty. If they can also see the dream of crossing classes and becoming officials, I believe that those people will be even more loyal to the Tang Dynasty." Li Chengqian smiled with a hint of expectation in his eyes.

Zhang Sun Wuji thought for a moment and said, "But Your Majesty, you were talking about the Hebei immigrants in Dongdao."

"Of course!" Li Chengqian smiled and said, "It's not that easy to pass the imperial examination. Even for ordinary children from poor families, it's extremely difficult, let alone those from Goguryeo. So, within ten years, if we can have a deliberately trained native of Goguryeo, we'll be very lucky... But that's just a dream after all."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji calmed down completely.

"In this way, if we can completely eliminate the remnants of the Three Kingdoms in twenty years, and Dongdao is completely stable and no longer suffers from recurrences, then the matter of Dongdao will be completely accomplished." Li Chengqian said, his expression becoming serious.

"A man who wants to restore his country!" Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "Your Majesty is right. Using Hebei people as the backbone and local people as the branches can indeed speed up the integration of the Three Kingdoms into the Tang Dynasty to the greatest extent, and at the same time solve Hebei's problems."

When talking about the problems in Hebei, Changsun Wuji couldn't help laughing.

The biggest benefit of Li Chengqian's plan was that they transferred all the pressure and resentment from Hebei, and the Tang Dynasty gained a completely prosperous Hebei.

"It still requires some slow and diligent effort." Li Chengqian looked up at the completely dark sky and said, "I've kept you here for so long, and it's getting late. I won't let you have dinner in the palace... Three days from now, I'll offer sacrifices at Mount Song. I'll eventually report the fall of Pingrang City to the gods and my father personally."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed solemnly.

"Zhang Jian, please see my uncle off." Li Chengqian turned and looked at Zhang Ananda on the side.

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda immediately bowed.

……

On the quiet palace road, Zhang Ananda walked in front holding a lantern.

Changsun Wuji followed behind, and his originally excited expression calmed down.

He couldn't help but look back in the direction of Zhenguan Hall, frowning slightly.

After a conversation with the emperor today, they sorted out all the issues concerning the future governance of Dongdao, but Changsun Wuji always felt that Li Chengqian had a lot of things in his heart that he hadn't said.

What they talked about today was just the tip of the iceberg of the emperor's heart.

For example, when Changsun Wuji heard the emperor's strange reaction when he mentioned the rewards to officials today, he felt that the emperor would have a lot of things to do in the coming year.

The emperor has a fierce tiger in his heart!
(End of this chapter)