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

Chapter 651: A New Generation Replaces the Old (Part )

The Luo River is quiet and the autumn wind is killing.

Countless cavalrymen slowly moved towards Luoyang along both banks.

On the imperial boat, Li Chengqian looked down at the memorial in his hand.

Li Ji led the Secretariat, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Personnel, and together with Li Yifu, Pei Shuang and others, began to contact prefectures and counties to coordinate the local land issues involved in the rewards for soldiers.

The whole incident has gradually begun to unfold.

At the same time, Yu Zhining also secretly spread Li Chengqian's words.

It was required that all localities ensure that there was sufficient land to reward soldiers for their military merits.

In Li Chengqian's hand was Yu Zhining's memorial, which dispatched officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple, and the Censorate to inspect the local area.

The purpose is to ensure that officials do not harm the people in this process.

Li Ji led 50,000 soldiers to press forward from above, while Yu Zhining dispatched people from the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple, and the Censorate to stop them from below. Local officials could only take action against the powerful families.

The county magistrate who ruined the family and the prefect who wiped out the entire clan.

If the government really wants to kill people, ordinary people will not be able to withstand it.

Not to mention, everything that happened afterwards was the emperor's intention.

As for whether the larger family behind the scenes will intervene...

A slight sound of footsteps was heard outside the cabin, and Li Chengqian, whose thoughts were interrupted, looked up slightly.

Wang Youlan appeared at the door with a maid.

The maid was holding a tray with a bowl of soup on it.

"Your Majesty!" Wang Youlan bowed slightly.

"Stand up." Li Chengqian waved his hand slightly.

Wang Youlan stood up and walked to Li Chengqian's side. Seeing that Li Chengqian put the memorial aside, she placed the lotus seed soup on the table in front of Li Chengqian.

"Your Majesty, we are about to arrive in Luoyang, so there is no need to work so hard." Wang Youlan glanced sideways at the maid beside her. The maid immediately bowed and left the cabin.

"What's wrong?" Li Chengqian looked up and looked at Wang Youlan.

"Your Majesty!" Wang Youlan sat down beside him with a face full of resentment, biting her lip as she spoke, "I've been in the north for three months, but there's still no sign of pregnancy. I'm thinking of asking the imperial physician to check on me."

"You are still young, why do you care so much?" Li Chengqian looked at Wang Youlan with amusement, his eyes full of doting.

"I am not a child anymore." Wang Youlan lowered her head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Xiao is already pregnant. Your Majesty has also been very fond of Concubine Cui during this trip north..."

Before Li Chengqian's northern tour this time, Xiao Zi was found to be pregnant.

However, because the northern tour was imminent, it was not publicized much.

As for Cui Luan, this time Li Chengqian went to Dingzhou, which was her hometown.

Being with her is the most.

Of course, Li Chengqian treated Wang Youlan well too.

But Li Chengqian knew what Wang Youlan was worried about.

Holding her gently in his arms, Li Chengqian whispered, "I will order the imperial physician to treat you, but you don't have to worry. You are still very young. Among all the concubines in the palace, is there any one I like as much as you?"

Wang Youlan has always had a baby face. Although she is already in her twenties, she still looks like a teenager.

"Yeah!" Wang Youlan lowered her head, then breathed a sigh of relief, and couldn't help feeling a little proud in her heart.

People often say that those who use their beauty to please others will lose their love when their beauty fades.

Wang Youlan was the least worried about this. Her appearance was natural and would not change much even after twenty-three years.

It is still the emperor's favorite look.

"Okay, let's go back." Li Chengqian smiled and said, "I still have a lot of things to deal with here. After we return to Chang'an, I will take you to the Hot Spring Palace to relax this winter. Anyway, I don't have much to do this year."

"Really?" Wang Youlan looked up in surprise.

Li Chengqian nodded gently, and Wang Youlan stood up and bowed with a look of joy, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take my leave!"

"Yeah!" Li Chengqian looked at Wang Youlan gently as she retreated, and his expression gradually calmed down.

Li Chengqian didn't finish talking about going to the hot spring palace this winter.

The situation with Li Ji will show signs of repercussions this winter, and many people will come looking for Li Chengqian, so it would be better for him to stay away for a while.

A hint of indifference flashed across Li Chengqian's eyes.

……

Luoyang, Ziwei Palace.

Huang Gai moved, and the emperor, dressed in a black robe with a golden dragon pattern, sat on the imperial sedan chair and headed towards the Yaoguang Palace.

Li Anyan followed beside him and reported in a low voice: "The soldiers in the army have already obeyed the order of His Majesty and started to take turns to rest. Those who live nearby can go home directly and only need to return to the barracks in three days."

Li Chengqian nodded.

The soldiers in the army returned from the battle in Goguryeo. Although the whole team returned with Li Ji, Li Ji was very strict with the military discipline along the way, and the soldiers rarely had a place to relax.

Even in Dingzhou, Li Chengqian strictly prohibited them from disturbing the people.

Only by returning to Luoyang will the restrictions be slightly lifted.

Only a big city like Luoyang could accommodate tens of thousands of soldiers seeking pleasure.

"How is the autumn harvest going?" Li Chengqian looked serious.

"Luoyang's autumn harvest officially begins next month and will last for over twenty days. We expect a bumper harvest this year." Li Anyan bowed and breathed a sigh of relief. "Congratulations, Your Majesty! This year, the country is blessed with a bountiful harvest."

"It's a good harvest all over the world!" Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help laughing.

A good harvest meant that this year's autumn grain could be delivered as soon as possible. Even if the imperial court in Hebei had to pay for grain, the abundance of grain and low prices would ensure that there was enough grain to go into the warehouse.

"Although there is a good harvest this year, the court still needs to set aside some money to purchase grain. The price of grain cannot be allowed to be too low." Li Chengqian gave a brief reminder.

"Yes!" Li Anyan nodded seriously. Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng had already explained the reasoning behind this very clearly to the late emperor.

"Since Duke Ying and Master Yu have already taken action, the Hundred Cavalry Division should also transfer some of the powerful families who have caused great public resentment to them. It will also be a good opportunity to see the attitudes and capabilities of all parties involved." Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Yes!" Li Anyan bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian stopped talking. It was not yet time for the Hundred Cavalry Division to step in and make a direct execution.

Before he knew it, the imperial chariot had arrived at the edge of Jiuzhou Pond.

Li Chengqian got off the imperial sedan chair at the side of Yaoguang Hall and walked up the stairs.

In the palace, Wang Youlan, Xue Landi, and Pei Qian, the three concubines, as well as Xue Rengui, Xue Wanbei, Pei Xingjian, Wang Fangyi, Duan Baoxuan, Wei Daijia, and others, all stood up and said, "Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian walked to the imperial couch in the center and sat down.

Wang Youlan sat beside him.

Xue Landi and Pei Qian sat on both sides of the steps.

The others sat under the steps.

Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly and said, "Please take a seat, everyone. Today is a family dinner, so there's no need to be too formal."

"Yes!" Everyone bowed in unison and then sat down in their seats.

Li Chengqian glanced at the crowd, then raised his glass and said, "In this battle, all of you have made great contributions. I have already reviewed them briefly, and the relevant rewards will be officially distributed after we return to Chang'an. Today, I would like to offer a toast to you all."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Everyone bowed in unison, then raised their glasses and said, "To Your Majesty, may Your Majesty prosper and the Tang Dynasty live forever."

"Hmm!" Li Chengqian drank the whole glass of wine.

Wang Fangyi is Wang Youlan's cousin, the closest blood relative.

Pei Xingjian and Pei Qian are from the same family and have similar bloodlines.

Xue Landi has a closer relationship with Xue Wanbei and a slightly more distant relationship with Xue Rengui. After all, if it weren't for the Liaodong War, Xue Rengui would have almost become a poor family.

These people are all important generals that Li Chengqian will rely on in the future.

Putting down his wine glass, Li Chengqian smiled and said, "This time, I have sent you all to Andong for training. I believe you have all gained something. Who will speak first?"

This time, it was basically Li Chengqian who arranged for young people like Pei Xingjian, Wang Fangyi, Duan Baoxuan, and Wei Daijia to go to the army.

The purpose is to enable them to grow faster and become independent.

Liu Rengui, Gao Kan, and Li Jinxing were left in Andong by Li Chengqian. They will be the main force to stabilize Andong in the future. With them there, Li Chengqian doesn't need to worry too much.

But the Western Regions, Western Turkestan...

"Your Majesty!" Duan Baoxuan saw everyone hesitate, then he stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that in battlefield marches, besides being swift and fierce, and cutting through both inside and outside, one must also combine the strange and the regular. This is the fastest, most labor-saving, and safest way to achieve a great victory."

When Li Chengqian heard this, he knew that Duan Baoxuan must have been affected by the thunder and lightning that struck the city.

Using kites to draw down lightning and directly bombard the city gate was a method that had never been heard of before.

When he appeared on the battlefield, countless people were affected.

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction, then said, "Not bad."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Duan Baoxuan breathed a sigh of relief, then bowed and sat down.

Seeing Duan Baoxuan take first place, Wang Fangyi stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that in a major military campaign, one should adapt one's tactics to the enemy, seize their weaknesses and vital points, and then utilize various means, pressing them from both within and without, to ultimately defeat them in one fell swoop."

Li Chengqian nodded slowly and said, "Not bad."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wang Fangyi bowed and sat down.

Li Chengqian finally looked at Pei Xingjian.

Pei Xingjian stood up. The others had already said a lot. He thought for a moment and bowed, "Your Majesty, I believe that defeating the enemy requires not only observing the weather and celestial phenomena, but also the hearts and minds of the people. Most importantly, we must have a sense of our own momentum. Once we have this momentum, victory or defeat is in our hands."

At Pei Xingjian's words, Duan Baoxuan, Wang Fangyi and Wei Daijia all looked up attentively.

Pei Xingjian's words were not only grand and righteous, but also had a sense of tyranny and conspiracy that made people feel irresistible.

"Very good!" Li Chengqian nodded slightly. It could be seen that Pei Xingjian really learned something from Su Dingfang and Li Ji.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Pei Xingjian bowed and sat down.

Li Chengqian raised his glass and said, "You have all gained experience in various matters, which will be of great use in the near future. In the meantime, you should hone yourselves and not slack off."

"Yes!" Everyone stood up and bowed solemnly.

……

In late August, the emperor left Luoyang.

On Dingdingmen Street, countless people kowtowed to the ground and respectfully sent the emperor back to Chang'an.

The emperor has been in Luoyang for the past two years, and the people of Luoyang have enjoyed the same treatment as the citizens of the imperial capital.

Now that the emperor is leaving, they are naturally reluctant to let him go.

Li Chengqian was wearing a black robe with a golden dragon pattern, riding a horse in the front, with a long sword hanging at the side of the horse.

His eyes kept scanning both sides of Dingdingmen Street.

He has been in Luoyang for two years, and Luoyang has indeed changed a lot both inside and outside.

Very good, the people are at peace.

He will come again next year.

The power structure in the court was gradually shifting eastward.

(End of this chapter)