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

Chapter 643: If Li Yifu wants to become the Prime Minister, he must do something important (Part )
Before I knew it, it was dark.

Li Yifu and Xu Jingzong walked out of Duanmen together, and the palace gate slammed shut behind them.

Li Yifu suddenly stopped, turned to look at Xu Jingzong, and said with a slight bow: "Brother Yan, congratulations, you are not far from the position of prime minister."

Xu Jingzong suddenly raised his head and looked at Li Yifu: "What did my dear brother Zimei say just now?"

Li Yifu smiled lightly, then turned around and strode towards Tianjin Bridge.

Xu Jingzong immediately came to his senses and followed Li Yifu across Tianjin Bridge.

Only after getting into the carriage did he feel a little relieved.

Thinking of what Li Yifu had just said, Xu Jingzong felt an itch in his heart and quickly asked in a low voice: "Brother, what happened just now?"

Li Yifu smiled and looked outside the car.

The night is deep and the curfew has begun in Luoyang.

The only people on the long street were the Jinwu Guards patrolling from a distance and their carriage.

At this time, Li Yifu calmed down, and then he sighed softly and said: "Sikong has been away from Luoyang for a long time, and he has not been able to notice many things."

Xu Jingzong's eyes tightened instantly.

Then, he shook his head with certainty and said, "Your Majesty has no intention of attacking Sikong. I am very sure of this."

Li Yifu nodded gently and said, "Sikong is your majesty's greatest assistant in stabilizing the country. How could your majesty easily take action against Sikong?"

His eyes turned darkly, and Li Yifu swallowed back the last words in his heart.

The emperor would naturally not take action against Changsun Wuji easily before finding someone who could replace him.

But this day will eventually come.

"But speaking of what happened just now." Li Yifu paused for a moment and said, "What I meant is that Sikong has overlooked something very important."

"what?"

"Farms!" Li Yifu sighed softly, looked out of the carriage, and said softly: "This time when the army returns to the court, in addition to promotions, honors, official positions, money, and farmland...especially farmland."

"Is there any problem with this? His Majesty has made all the arrangements very well in the palace just now." Xu Jingzong looked up cautiously, but couldn't help recalling what had just happened in his mind.

The emperor specially called together people from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of War to discuss preparations for next year.

Official positions are easy to arrange, just assign them according to military merit.

Money and silk were not difficult to obtain. The emperor had already arranged for the Ministry of Revenue to calculate the number, and then asked the Supervisor of the Imperial Household to mint the coins.

Finally, there is the issue of land. The Ministry of Household Affairs will arrange vacant land in local areas based on the household registration of the meritorious soldiers and grant it to them.

Li Yifu shook his head slightly, glanced at Xu Jingzong, and said, "You are also from a noble family, no wonder you don't understand this kind of thing."

"I am stupid and clumsy, so please give me some advice." Xu Jingzong bowed seriously.

Li Yifu raised his head and whispered, "Brother Yan, the Ministry of Revenue makes arrangements based on reports from local prefectures and counties. But are you sure the vacant fields on the lists reported by local prefectures and counties are actually vacant land?"

Xu Jingzong was stunned, and then his expression changed slightly.

"Not only that." Li Yifu shook his head and said, "Whether it's empty or not is one thing, but even if it is, are you sure it's enough?"

Xu Jingzong simply shook his head.

Hiding fields and dumping fields are just common practices in this place.

"The Prime Minister is in Chang'an. Although there are many secret encroachments on the fields in Guanzhong, to be honest, they are right under your Majesty's nose. Most of them belong to powerful families. How much can they encroach on each other?" Li Yifu shook his head slightly.

The fields in Guanzhong are most directly related to the grain prices in Chang'an.

If taxes in Guanzhong are insufficient, grain prices in Chang'an will inevitably soar in spring and summer.

In this kind of situation, the emperor could see it at a glance.

Of course, if it is an emperor who is blinded and even unwilling to listen to the voices of the people, that is another matter.

"So, the Minister of Works is unaware of the changes taking place in the world." Li Yifu sighed and said, "Bingzhou is a small territory, Hebei is heavily taxed, and Jiangnan is remote. There aren't many places left."

"Henan, Jingzhou and Huainan." Xu Jingzong gritted his teeth.

"They just came back from fighting in the army, and finally made military achievements. They also finally got honors, titles and lands, but in the end they found that they had no land. What do you think will happen to those warriors in the army?" Li Yifu's expression became serious.

In today's Tang Dynasty, except for Guanzhong and Bingzhou, the land in other places is still sufficient on paper, so it is basically a real seal.

Especially military achievements.

When Li Jing conquered the Eastern Turks, he granted them 400 households and 30 hectares of permanent farmland, all of which he actually obtained.

But it’s hard to say now.

Xu Jingzong couldn't help swallowing, and then said, "Your Majesty just said that the land of the soldiers in the army must be guaranteed." "It is because it is impossible to fully guarantee it that your Majesty said so." Li Yifu sighed and said, "Your Majesty has long been determined to eliminate the malpractices in land administration. The Hongnong incident is a precedent.

Now that the army has returned victorious, the Emperor's rewards are insufficient. This resentment, in the hands of Your Majesty, will become a knife, a knife that can kill."

"Who?" Xu Jingzong suddenly looked up, stared at Li Yifu and asked, "My dear brother, who on earth could be so unlucky?"

"There are only a few prime ministers in the court. You can count them yourself." After saying that, Li Yifu shook his head and said, "It depends on the person. Some people are cautious in their official duties and won't be easily caught by others, but others may not be so."

Xu Jingzong lowered his head and thought carefully. Suddenly, he raised his head and looked at Li Yifu in disbelief: "Could it be..."

"Hush!" Li Yifu waved his hands and said, "No one knows what will happen to this matter until the end. Maybe it will be the prime minister, or maybe it will be one or two of the six ministers. In any case, the position will be vacant.

But at that time, there will definitely be some disturbance in the court, or even impeachment, and then you will need someone to stand on your side."

"I understand. Thank you, brother." Xu Jingzong breathed a sigh of relief.

"Of course, if you want to take it one step further, you're still a little short of what you need." After a brief pause, Li Yifu said, "I heard that Duke Qiao has a granddaughter who is in her prime. Why don't you try to get her married?"

Xu Shao, Duke of Qiao, from the Anlu Xu family, has passed away, but his descendants have served as governors and provincial governors in the court.

The Xu family of Hangzhou and the Xu family of Anlu are actually from the same lineage.

"It's still about that incident from that year." Xu Jingzong nodded and said softly, "I've thought about this matter. It's not appropriate for me to intervene."

"Of course, brother, you just need to let His Majesty know your intentions." After a brief pause, Li Yifu said softly, "What happens next is actually a matter of tacit understanding. His Majesty knows what you are thinking and what you are doing. Everything will be settled."

"Oh!" Xu Jingzong nodded slightly, feeling quite uncomfortable.

Li Yifu glanced at Xu Jingzong and said calmly, "Brother, you have enough experience over the years, but not enough achievements. The two people who rose to your position before you, Chu Suiliang and Lai Ji, Chu Suiliang was during the time of the previous emperor, while Lai Ji not only has a brother who is the Crown Prince's Secretary, but he himself is also very close to the Minister of Works."

Chu Suiliang's contribution is not comparable to Xu Jingzong's.

As for Lai Ji, he actually benefited from Lai Heng.

Lai Heng was willing to stay in the Eastern Palace all these years because his younger brother became the prime minister.

"Everyone has his own path." Li Yifu suddenly smiled indifferently and said, "Brother, if we really say that prime ministers are appointed based on military merit and achievements, half of the prime ministers in the court are unqualified."

Xu Jingzong nodded slightly.

In fact, many people in the court today are just benefiting from the emperor, the crown prince, and the ministers of the Eastern Palace.

It’s nothing more than loyalty.

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore." Xu Jingzong shook his head and said, "If I can make further progress this time, then you, my brother, may be the most powerful candidate for the vacant position of Huangmen Shilang."

"Not the most powerful, but the only candidate." Li Yifu shook his head slightly and said, "In fact, the only one who can really compete with me is Li Yiyan, but unfortunately, His Majesty has other appointments for him. Unlike us, we have taken the path of luck."

Li Yifu saw everything clearly.

The prime minister must come from a prefecture or county.

The emperor was not just saying this.

The Menxia Province was better and could make some exceptions, but the Zhongshu Province and the Shangshu Province had to do the same.

Therefore, the Menxia Province had the least power among the three central provinces.

If Li Yifu wants to become the prime minister, he must do something big.

……

At the end of the year, Luoyang City became more and more lively.

The people all changed into new clothes and went out for fun together.

Firecrackers were constantly exploding on the long street, and pieces of red silk were hung on the trees.

There are also bonfires piled up on the roadside, which will burn from New Year's Eve to the next day.

Li Xin led the horse onto the long street, seeing the joy and happiness all around, and his heart felt the same way.

In fact, Chang'an and Luoyang are not much different, especially this year Anton broke through Ping Rang City and the battle was about to begin. Everyone knows that next year will be easier, so they are particularly happy.

Especially the war in Liaodong, which ended faster than anyone imagined.

Li Xin couldn't help but sigh.

The emperor's method seems to be to prepare for many years, accumulate huge advantages, and then use force to suppress others, and then add a series of surprising tricks.

Who in the world can be the emperor's opponent?
Before we knew it, Duanmen was already in front of us.

After checking the badge, Li Xin calmly walked into the Ziwei Palace.

After submitting the memorial to the Tongzhengsi, Li Xin waited at Chengtian Gate for an audience with the emperor.

(End of this chapter)