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

Chapter 648: When he can kill someone, he will never compromise (Part )

Hidden Fire in June.

Dingzhou, Taigong Lake.

A building ship was sailing quietly on the lake, with two smaller boats following slowly from behind.

Under the yellow canopy at the bow, Li Chengqian lay sideways, looking at the memorial in his hand.

It was a memorial submitted by both Sun Fujia and Liu Shi at the same time.

The two of them found several small and simple foundries in Dingzhou, and all the people involved were imprisoned and charged, and the foundries were destroyed.

There were only a few sections in the memorial, and not much could be found, so the two began to investigate the prisons in Hebei.

After all, as a Censor and a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, these are what they should do.

The whole of Hebei was silent for a while.

Li Chengqian put down the memorial and raised his head slightly.

Look at the dark blue sky above your head.

It is estimated that Sun Fujia and Liu Shi will not be able to find more foundries.

The dirty money in Hebei is actually manipulated by aristocratic families, even top families like Lu and Cui.

However, these big families are very smart and they will not use their own people to do things like minting coins.

After all, this kind of thing fundamentally touches upon the emperor's power.

The law states that anyone who mints coins privately will have their master and followers cast out of the world, and their three clans will be implicated.

Once it is discovered that he is involved, the emperor's cold butcher knife will fall immediately.

The same is true for Li Chengqian.

Even though Li Chengqian is still polite now and is discussing with them how to deal with the issue of bad coins, once he finds solid evidence that the Hebei nobles have privately minted bad coins, he will mobilize troops without hesitation and directly massacre the nobles involved.

Even among the entire court, no one would come forward to plead for mercy.

Even Li Chengqian's butcher knife will be faster than anyone can imagine.

When he can kill someone, he will never choose to compromise.

Therefore, those aristocratic families have always pushed some irrelevant local powerful families to the front.

Once something happens, those powerful families will be completely abandoned immediately.

Especially after the Huai family was so foolish as to be caught and exterminated by Master Xu Yue, the other families must have gone crazy and removed all the hands and feet that could be removed.

You must know that the emperor came to Hebei not only for inspection, but also to welcome back the 50,000 troops under Li Ji.

……

"Your Majesty!" Cui Luan's voice rang out from the side of the deck.

Li Chengqian turned slightly sideways, and Cui Luan, who was wearing a light yellow skirt, handed a memorial to Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian took it and looked at it carefully.

This is a memorial sent from Guangzhou. The first batch of grain from Guangzhou this year has been sent to Andong.

Although a large number of soldiers have returned to Hebei with Li Ji, there are still tens of thousands of troops stationed in Andong.

This year, Li Chengqian wants to exempt Hebei from taxes for another year. Naturally, the grain from Guangzhou must be sent to Hebei as soon as possible.

It was not just Guangzhou. At every stop when Li Ji led his army back to Luoyang from Pingrang, Zhang Daxiang had already delivered the necessary food to the location, thus minimizing the loss.

Cui Luan sat on one side, looking at Li Chengqian's profile in a daze as he carefully reviewed the memorial.

Even though he was out for a trip today, the emperor still had to deal with a large number of memorials.

Even memorials from many distant places such as Western Turkestan, Tuyuhun, and Tubo were sent to the Emperor of Dingzhou.

However, Cui Luan herself was also reading these memorials. She even didn't understand why the emperor had deliberately asked her to read these memorials since he went north.

Obviously, she couldn't understand many things, but the emperor still let her read them.

Cui Luan looked to the other side and saw Wang Youlan sleeping soundly with her head leaning against the emperor's side.

On the side, Pei Qian, dressed in a tight green robe, held a long spear in his hand, looking in all directions, guarding the emperor.

Cui Luan was a little confused as to why some people would not want to be an imperial concubine but instead want to be a general who fought all over the world.

What's strange is that the emperor actually allowed it. Even in the palace, Pei Qian disciplined all the eunuchs and maids in his palace according to military laws.

The emperor liked her even more.

Just at this moment, the sound of water came from a distance.

Cui Luan subconsciously looked up and saw Secretary Pei Yan coming quickly from a distance in a small boat.

Soon, Pei Yan had boarded the ship, and then he presented the memorial in his hand and said with a bow, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Ying has arrived in Pingzhou!"

"Finally back." Li Chengqian raised his head slightly, then couldn't help but stretch and said, "Let's go back to the palace."

At the emperor's command, the ship immediately turned and headed towards the palace.

……

In the blink of an eye, it’s already the end of June.

The autumn wind could no longer help but blow across the sky and earth of Dingzhou at dusk.

Huang Gai cast a long shadow on the ground.

Li Chengqian stood under Huang Gai, while Yu Zhining, Cui Renshi, Zhishi Sili, Liang Jianfang, Gao Jifu, Li Qianyou, Zhang Daxiang and others stood on both sides and bowed seriously.

In the distance, the shadow of the army has not yet appeared.

Li Chengqian turned sideways and waved to Cui Renshi.

Cui Renshi stepped forward and bowed, "Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian nodded and asked, "When I was in Chang'an and Luoyang, a large number of cases involving Turks were sent to the Ministry of Justice every year in Taiyuan and Dingzhou. I originally intended to carefully observe the movements of the Turks in Dingzhou, but found that they were very well-behaved. My dear, you have been in Dingzhou for many years. What do you think of the Turks?" The expressions of everyone around him became solemn.

Dingzhou was one of the important checkpoints for the Tang Dynasty facing the Turks. Guarding against the Turks has always been an important responsibility of the Dingzhou governor.

Cui Renshi thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, since the fall of the Eastern Turkic state, the Turkic tribes have become disunited and are now scattered within and outside of Chang'an. Although some still cherish their old country, they are no longer strong enough to fight. After all, we have been at peace for too long."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly. Today's Turks are divided into more than a dozen scattered tribes, and there is no leader with enough prestige.

"That's true, but the Western Turkestan is in turmoil right now. Once some people in the Eastern Turkestan are affected, there will be hidden dangers." Li Chengqian shook his head slightly.

It would take hundreds of years for the Turks to completely assimilate them.

During this period, they had to go through a lot of fighting and consumption.

It's early!
"So I've been wondering if we can relocate the Turks further south," Li Chengqian said, shaking his head. "There's not enough land in the Central Plains for us, so how could there be any room for the Turks?"

Domesticating the Turks from a grassland people into an agricultural people is the best way to eliminate the Turkic people, but unfortunately, this is unrealistic.

"Your Majesty!" Cui Renshi bowed and said, "There are still 5,000 Turkic cavalry serving under Su Dingfang in Tuzhou. Tuzhou is vast and sparsely populated. If we could relocate some of the Turkic tribes there, perhaps everything would be easier."

The army marched eastward to attack Goguryeo, and Ashina Zhong led 10,000 Turkic cavalry to follow.

After the fall of Pingrang City, Ashina Zhong led 5,000 cavalrymen to return to Chang'an with Li Ji, but another 5,000 cavalrymen remained in front of the army.

After all, if Goguryeo is destroyed in the future, the army will immediately move south and will also need Turkic cavalry.

Li Chengqian nodded gently and said, "Although the rewards for the Turkic cavalry have already been decided, we can still grant them some additional land in Tuzhou that is not suitable for farming to use as pasture. Let Liu Rengui do this."

Liu Rengui is still staying in Tuzhou and has not returned to the court.

Basically, Li Chengqian had no intention of letting Liu Rengui return to the court.

Whether it is Su Dingfang, Su Xu, or Cui Renshi who may go to Tuzhou to take over, they are only the people in charge on the surface. The only one who can make Li Chengqian feel truly at ease is Liu Rengui.

"Yes!" Cui Renshi bowed. He didn't care about Liu Rengui. After all, although Liu Rengui was the emperor's confidant, he had seen too many of the emperor's confidants over the years.

"Anton can relocate some of the Turks, but if we really want them to settle down, we still have to find ways to corrupt them and make them more adaptable to life within the Great Wall. In the end, only a part of them will be willing to return to the grassland. This will indirectly weaken the threat of the Turks." Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Your Majesty, what you said is absolutely right." Cui Renshi bowed seriously.

Li Chengqian regained his composure and looked at Cui Renshi. "Of course, these are just the basics. The most immediate task is to closely monitor the Turks to prevent the emergence of powerful leaders among them. This is what the Governor of Dingzhou should do."

"Yes!" Cui Renshi bowed. He knew that the emperor was not talking to him. He would be transferred to Liaodong this year, and it was not his business to ask who would be the governor of Dingzhou in the future.

Even the emperor himself may not have the final say on this matter; it depends on Zhangsun Wuji's opinion.

Li Chengqian turned around, looked toward the distant horizon, and said softly, "The Duke of Ying is back."

……

Countless cavalrymen appeared on the horizon, and then rushed towards Li Chengqian's seat at a high speed like a black tide, but they stopped completely just five miles away.

Hundreds of generals in various armors broke out from the army and rushed towards Li Chengqian's position.

Behind Li Chengqian, thousands of Jinwu Guards were lined up on guard.

In the palace in the distance and in the military camp below the palace, there are at least tens of thousands of soldiers each doing their job.

Li Ji, Yuchi Jingde, Cheng Zhijie, Niu Jinda, Ashina Zhong, Liu Demin, Xue Wanbei, Xue Rengui, Pei Xingjian, Wang Fangyi, Duan Baoxuan, Wei Daijia, Feng Zhidai and other generals dismounted ten feet in front of Huang Gai.

The others stood in awe, but Li Ji strode forward alone, arriving in front of Li Chengqian. He then knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice, "I, Li Ji, the pacification envoy of Andong Province and the commander-in-chief of the Andong Province army, pay my respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live a long and healthy life."

"Your Majesty, we are here to pay our respects. May Your Majesty live forever." Many generals knelt on one knee and lowered their heads.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects to you. May your Majesty live forever." Tens of thousands of cavalrymen in the distance knelt on one knee at the same time and shouted in unison.

The rumbling sound resounded throughout the heaven and earth. Even the sunset glow in the sky seemed to be impacted by this force and drifted away in all directions.

Li Chengqian stood in front of Li Ji, looking at the countless soldiers half-kneeling on the ground.

His heart couldn't help but be excited.

While the soldiers were fighting on the front line, he was providing food and military supplies in the rear, and also had to stabilize the hearts of the people.

No one knows how difficult it is for him.

Many times, even he has to make certain compromises for the sake of stability.

Until today, his army finally returned.

……

Taking a deep breath, Li Chengqian bent down and personally helped Li Ji to his feet, saying, "Please stand, my dear minister. This battle took two years and countless battles, but it was finally won. You and the other soldiers have made an invaluable contribution. The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel will assess your achievements. I will not discuss that today. I have prepared fine wine and delicious food to welcome you all."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Ji could feel the emperor's joy from the bottom of his heart, and bowed with some emotion.

"But before the army arrives, I would like to offer you a drink alone." Li Chengqian waved his hand slightly backwards.

Zhang Ananda came to Li Chengqian and Li Ji holding a golden plate.

Li Chengqian poured two cups himself, one for Li Ji and one for himself.

"Duke, you have worked hard in this battle." Li Chengqian raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Ji bowed and then drank the wine in the cup.

Li Chengqian smiled and waved back.

A team of Jinwu Guards in red clothes and golden armor came forward with trays and stood in front of each general.

Li Chengqian, holding a wine glass, walked to the front of the generals and said with emotion, "Gentlemen, please stand up. This cup of wine is my gratitude for your life-or-death struggle. Come, drink this cup of wine, and then we will enter the camp, where there will be more fine wine and food."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The generals stood up, picked up the wine in the cup and drank it all.

Li Chengqian savored the wine, put down his glass, looked at the soldiers in the distance and said, "All the nobles, stand up. You will not return home until you are drunk tonight. Enter the camp."

"Yes!" A resounding voice came simultaneously from tens of thousands of soldiers in the distance.

Li Chengqian stood under Huang Gai and smiled somewhat intoxicatedly.

(End of this chapter)