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

Chapter 656: Never Push People to Death (First Update)
In mid-November, after Prince Yong's wedding, the Emperor and Empress went on an eastern tour to Mount Li.

The turmoil caused by the emperor's strict investigation of the Jingzhao Du family gradually subsided.

But even so, rumors still circulated in Chang'an City.

However, more people are still mocking Du. Although everyone knows that Du is wrong, it is rare for him to be so wrong.

Du herself had her own grievances, but unfortunately, the people involved were either killed in the explosion or had their property confiscated by the Shaofu, so there was no way to investigate.

They were heavily fined by the emperor and wanted to do something, but unfortunately, the brothers Du Gou and Du He didn't care at all.

As for Concubine Du in the palace, she was also neglected by the emperor because of this incident.

Just when they were making some small moves in private, news suddenly came from the palace that Concubine Du was pregnant.

All of a sudden, all of Mrs. Du's little movements stopped.

They even started to examine themselves, and many of the dirty things they did secretly, began to clean up the traces, and their hands and feet were amazingly fast.
……

Mount Li, Hot Spring Palace.

Palace of Eternal Life.

Sitting in the main hall on the mountainside, you can overlook the entire Hot Spring Palace and most of Mount Li.

Li Chengqian put down the secret memorial in his hand and handed it to Su Shu, who was pouring tea for him. He shook his head slightly and said, "What a pity! The Du family is too smart. As soon as Concubine Du became pregnant, they immediately stopped everything and focused on waiting for the child to be born."

Su Shu looked up at Li Chengqian and said calmly, "Isn't all this exactly what Your Majesty has planned? Your Majesty has been showing special favor to Concubine Du those days, isn't it because he wants to give the Du family a way out and prevent things from getting too extreme?"

"My ultimate goal is simply to appease people like Du He and Du Xingben." Li Chengqian smiled softly and said, "As long as I still favor Concubine Du, they will think it's their own fault and won't do anything."

"So what did they do?" Su Shu asked subconsciously.

"What else can I do?" Li Chengqian shook his head and sighed, "It's just that some people whose interests have been severely damaged are secretly colluding. At most, they can do some tricks where I can't see. They won't amount to anything big."

"Everyone says it won't amount to anything big, but Your Majesty is still keeping an eye on it." Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian with a smile.

"Haha!" Li Chengqian smiled.

What he was really targeting was not just the Du family, but also the Wei family!
Unfortunately, ever since the Du family got into trouble, the Wei family immediately cleaned up all the dirty money that their family had been doing in secret.

Not only the Du and Wei families, but also when the news that Li Chengqian asked Zhangsun Wuji to be in charge of the investigation spread, almost everyone who received the news fell silent during this period of time.

The reason why Changsun Wuji was able to sit firmly in the position of Shangshu Zuo Pushe for so many years was because he was too familiar with the aristocratic families in the world.

If he really kills someone, I don’t know how many people will suffer.

Therefore, Li Chengqian only needed to let Zhangsun Wuji come forward, which was enough to make everyone restrain their actions.

Of course, even if someone restrains himself, if he really suffers heavy losses, it is not something that Changsun Wuji can easily suppress.

……

Li Chengqian took the teacup from Su Shu and said calmly, "Actually, if someone wants to tamper with something, and the timing and location are right, something might really happen. For example, the Jiucheng Palace was partially destroyed by the flood this summer..."

But if someone takes advantage of the opportunity to accumulate water in the mountains in advance, and then bury wooden stakes, and takes advantage of the flood to rush down..."

"That's assassination! That's treason!" Su Shu suddenly looked up at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, is there anyone really planning to do something in Jiucheng Palace?"

"How would I know?" Li Chengqian smiled and shook his head, saying, "I was just reading the military report and happened to see this incident, so I had some ideas in my mind."

"That's better." Su Shu raised her fist in a fierce manner.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but laugh, but the moment he turned sideways, a sharp look flashed in his eyes.

Never push people to death.

Especially before you are sure that you can completely kill others.

"By the way, Your Majesty, aren't Guangzhou Governor Du Zhenglun and Lanzhou Governor Du Fengju also from the Jingzhao Du family?" Su Shu suddenly mentioned the other two people.

In today's Tang Dynasty, the Du family is at its peak.

Not only the brothers Du He and Du Gou, but also the former Minister of Rites Du Xingben, as well as the Governor of Guangzhou Du Zhenglun and the Governor of Lanzhou Du Fengju, people who were deeply trusted by the emperor.

There were also many other provincial governors from the Du family scattered throughout the country.

"Simply put, the Jingzhao Du family is divided into Southern and Northern branches." Li Chengqian paused for a moment and continued, "The brothers Du He and Du Gou, as well as Du Yan's lineage, are all descended from Southern branches. However, Du Fengju, the governor of Lanzhou, is from the Northern branch. As for Du Zhenglun, he comes from the Huanshui Du family, sharing the same ancestor as the Jingzhao Du family, but his lineage is more distant."

Su Shu nodded in sudden realization. This time, the people being investigated were all from Nanqu, and the emperor was quite lenient. Du Fengju and Du Zhenglun naturally wouldn't say much.

"That's not all." Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Du Zhenglun once requested to be included in the same genealogy as the Jingzhao Du family, but was rejected. That's why he's close to the Northern Opera."

The Jingzhao Du family is mainly headed by Nanqu, so if Nanqu says that Du Zhenglun cannot be included in the same genealogy, this matter will naturally not be accomplished.

"So what about now?" Su Shu couldn't help but ask, "Commander Du is now the governor of Guangzhou, a Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor. If he takes the next step, he will become the prime minister. The Du family won't refuse even after such a move, right?"

"Who knows?" Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "Let's wait a few years and transfer Du Qing back before we tell."

Su Shu glanced at Li Chengqian with some concern and said, "Okay."

Li Chengqian hugged Su Shu, who was sitting beside him, and smiled softly, "There's no need to worry about anything. My purpose in dealing with the Du family is simply to wear them down and prevent them from getting too arrogant. And it's obvious that the Du family has understood my intention."

If Du Ni did not succeed in getting pregnant, the Du family would continue to make small moves.

Li Anyan, Qiu Shenqi, even Qiu Xinggong and Liang Jianfang, were all butcher knives prepared by Li Chengqian for them.

Who made the Du family reveal its flaws first?

"By the way, Your Majesty, I heard that a lot of land was confiscated from the Du family this time." Su Shu looked up and asked, "How does Your Majesty plan to use it?"

"What's the matter? Does the Queen have any ideas?" Li Chengqian looked at Su Shu in surprise.

"No, I'm just curious." Su Shu thought for a moment and asked, "Your Majesty, will you distribute these lands to the landless civilians?"

"No!" Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "I will give these things to the meritorious officers and soldiers in the army first. With each additional batch of such people, you and I will be able to sleep more peacefully in Chang'an City."

The soldiers in the army were the targets that Li Chengqian chose to win over.

"Although the poor people of the world have it hard, it's precisely because of this that even if we give them the land, they may not be able to hold on to it." Li Chengqian sighed softly and shook his head. "If we give it to the soldiers, they will at least be able to hold on to some of it, and they will be loyal to you and me."

Those who can truly resist the encroachment of the land by the aristocratic families have never been the common people at the bottom of society, but the poor and the soldiers with military merits.

Moreover, it is not a difficult path to go from an ordinary citizen to a humble family and a soldier with military merit. And then from a humble family and a soldier to an aristocratic family and a general, this is another path.

Although everything is becoming increasingly difficult, it is ultimately a path that can be seen.

"Anyway, these things are finally over." Li Chengqian looked down at Su Shu and said with a smile: "Queen, let's go. Since we are in Mount Li, let's go to the hot springs together... Since Concubine Du is pregnant, the Queen can't delay."

"Your Majesty!" Su Shu rolled her eyes at Li Chengqian and said shyly, "We are already an old married couple..."

……

In the Bailian Decoction, there is golden juice and jade liquid.

In the mist, Li Chengqian leaned against the edge of the bathtub and gently closed his eyes to rest.

Wei Wei and Wang Youlan closed their eyes and hugged his arms beside him.

Taking a hot spring bath is also a physical activity. Wei Wei was fine, but Wang Youlan was so tired that she fell asleep.

This time when Li Chengqian went on his eastern tour to Mount Li, he brought not only the queen but also four concubines: Su Yi, Wei Wei, Wang Youlan and Liu Yao.

Liu Yao entered the palace early, and Wang Youlan had a cold body. She was the only concubine among Li Chengqian's Eastern Palace concubines who still had no children.

Li Chengqian glanced sideways at Wang Youlan.

There are some things that he finds difficult to say.

He came to Mount Li this time, on the one hand, hoping that the hot springs in Mount Li could be beneficial to Wang Youlan's cold body, and on the other hand, because Liu Yao and Wang Youlan were cousins ​​and had a certain blood relationship.

A light sound of footsteps was heard outside the hall, and Li Chengqian slightly turned sideways.

Lu Mingyue stepped into the hall, glanced at Li Chengqian and the other two, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty, there is an urgent request from Luoyang!"

Li Chengqian nodded gently and said, "Put it aside!"

"Yes!" Lu Mingyue lowered her head and left the hall with a blushing face.

Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, picked up Wang Youlan, and then pulled Wei Wei out of the bath together.

The green silk curtain covered the front and back.

The second concubine had already fallen asleep on the bed.

Li Chengqian took a sip of the ginseng soup, then picked up the memorial and read it carefully.

Putting down the memorial, he couldn't help but sigh.

The storm that is supposed to come will come.

……

In late November, the emperor returned to Chang'an from Mount Li.

Inside the imperial carriage, Su Shu handed a memorial to Li Chengqian, saying with a half-smile, "Your Majesty, please take a look. The Grand Princess of Tong'an has arranged a matchmaking agreement. She says that the late Duke of Qiao has a great-granddaughter, Xu Ruyan, who is thirteen years old, gentle and elegant. Please enter the harem to serve Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian ignored Su Shu's deliberate or unintentional ridicule. He sighed softly and said, "I heard that Aunt Tong'an has been in poor health recently. It's really not easy for the Xu family to ask her to come forward."

Duke Qiao was a childhood friend of Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan. His eldest son, Xu Shan, was actually about ten years older than the late emperor and the same age as Crown Prince Li Jiancheng.

Xu Shan’s granddaughter is Xu Lishi’s daughter.

"Xu Ruyan is the great-niece of Xingzhou Governor Xu Yushi. She is also the descendant of Xu Jingzong, a member of the Hangzhou Xu family." Li Chengqian looked at Su Shu and said, "Let her enter the palace first. The Empress will take care of her for a while, and we'll discuss it later."

"Yes!" Su Shu calmed down.

The Xu family was a prominent family in Jingzhou. Although only the youngest son, Xu Yushi, was still alive among Xu Shao's four sons, all four of them had served as high-ranking officials in the Tang Dynasty and should not be underestimated.

Even more fundamentally, they entered the Tang Dynasty because of Emperor Gaozu, and were closer to the royal family and were the emperor's trusted confidants.

Su Shu understood the consolidation of the throne here.

The imperial carriage entered Chang'an City from the Chunming Gate in the east of the city.

Li Chengqian, a disciple of Chunming, summoned Changsun Wuji into the imperial carriage.

"Uncle, please take a look at this memorial." Li Chengqian handed it to Zhangsun Wuji and said, "This is the memorial from Li Yifu, the Imperial Secretary. It details the damage that the corrupt money issue has done to the government's financial and grain supply, and he also proposes some solutions."

Zhang Sun Wuji, who had served as Shangshu Zuo Pushe for many years, was naturally well aware of the disaster caused by the rampant spread of bad money, but for many years, he had no good solution!
Changsun Wuji looked down at the memorial.

The fundamental reason for the proliferation of counterfeit coins is the shortage of copper.

The copper in the hands of the imperial court was not enough to meet the needs of the common people, so some people melted the official coins and cast them into inferior coins of lower value, thus discovering the profit in it.

While they were melting more and more official coins to mint counterfeit ones, they also deliberately buried a large amount of official coins underground, and even cast them into bronze objects, creating a further shortage of coins, which led to higher values ​​of counterfeit coins, and then they plundered more of the profits.

Minting bad coins is tantamount to treason.

Li Yifu pointed out sternly in his memorial that the consequences of minting bad coins were equivalent to treason.

The court issued official money in order to collect benefits from the people and then use it for the affairs of the world.

However, if someone privately distributes bad money, they are destroying the foundation of the world's survival.

It even destroyed the foundation of imperial power.

Therefore, the punishment for those who mint bad coins, secretly help issue them, and harm the people should be increased, and they should all be regarded as treason.

In addition, the minting of official coins should be increased. The discovery of the Goguryeo copper mine will greatly help in this regard. The casting of copperware among the people should also be controlled, and the copperware produced should not exceed three inches.

Bronze casters must be registered, and each person may not cast more than ten bronze pieces per year, and each piece must be registered.

It is stipulated that bad coins will be returned with official money, and three coins will be returned with two.

When necessary, some small change can also be distributed.

The Kaiyuan Tongbao, which is only half the size of official coins, must be exchanged for two small Kaiyuan Tongbao coins.

And so on a series of means.

(End of this chapter)