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

Chapter 680 Duke, Take a Step Back (Third Update)

March, spring is in full bloom.

Helan Minyue has already entered the palace.

In the Liangyi Hall, Li Chengqian looked at Liang Jianfang in the hall and said, "You shall set off in the latter half of May, my dear minister."

"Yes!" Liang Jianfang bowed respectfully. The emperor was to offer sacrifices at Zhaoling in May, and he would go with him. As for the subsequent Fengshan ceremony at Songshan, he knew it was a deception targeting the Western Turks, so there was no need to stay.

“This time, the Duke of Wei has been transferred away from Xichang Prefecture. Although you are also a man of great military achievements, the Tibetans may not value you as much as they do the Duke of Wei. They might take some action. Remember, you must retaliate fiercely against their probing.” Li Chengqian’s eyes were cold.

"Your subject obeys." Liang Jianfang bowed and accepted the order.

"The matter of Tibet must be firmly opposed by Xichang Prefecture and Song Prefecture, forcing them to send troops to the Western Regions." Li Chengqian sneered lightly and said, "The Western Regions are tempting enough. Once they send troops, they can wipe them all out in one fell swoop, and then take the opportunity to invade Tibet and destroy the Tibetan kingdom."

"Yes!" Liang Jianfang nodded vigorously.

It was Liang Jianfang who destroyed the Western Turkic Khaganate.

The destruction of the Tibetan Empire was also done by Liang Jianfang.

“My dear minister, you have three things to do in Xichang Prefecture.” Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and said, “First, you need to send people to intervene in Yangtong. The Duke of Wei and the Ministry of War’s Department of Military Affairs have been doing this all along. I also placed some pieces in the early years. What you need to do is expand these forces. Once you send troops to Yangtong, you must immediately destroy the Tibetan puppet and completely take control of the military power in Yangtong.”

"I accept the decree."

"The second matter is Supi. Although Supi was secretly taken by the Tubo in its early years, the Queen of Supi still has descendants. Let's join forces with the Anxi Protectorate to find this person." Li Chengqian leaned forward and said seriously, "If we attack Supi in the future, this person will be our excuse."

"I understand."

"The third thing is training troops. High-altitude miasma is a problem for many people, but it doesn't have much of an impact on some special people. Some people can even adapt after a certain amount of training." Li Chengqian paused slightly and said, "Whether it's destroying the Tibetan kingdom or governing Tibet afterward, we need a large number of such soldiers."

Tibet also had a population of over a million. It wasn't something that could be accomplished simply by the Tang army, led by Supi Yangtong and the Western Turks, destroying Tibet. They would need a large number of Tang people to remain in Tibet for many years afterward, which was no easy task.

"Your subject obeys the decree." Liang Jianfang solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "That's all. Now that you are in charge of the local area, there are many things to prepare. You still have two months. Please visit the Six Ministries and Nine Temples as much as possible and bring everything you need."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Liang Jianfang bowed respectfully.

"Go," Li Chengqian said, raising his hand slightly. "If you have anything to discuss, come directly to me."

"Your subject takes his leave." Liang Jianfang cupped his hands, then turned and left the Liangyi Hall.

……

Li Chengqian looked outside the hall; Liang Jianfang's figure had already disappeared.

Of the four warring factions, only Tibet remains, and Tibet is far from being as powerful as it was after the Battle of Dafeichuan in the previous life.

Defeating him wouldn't be difficult; Liang Jianfang should be able to do it. However, to destroy the Tubo Kingdom under the powerful influence of altitude sickness would require special abilities.

Li Chengqian did not think highly of Liang Jianfang on this point.

However, by then, the three kingdoms of Dongdao should have already been destroyed, which would have been enough for Li Chengqian to recall Su Dingfang.

Outside the Liangyi Gate, a figure appeared and then quickly headed towards the Taiji Hall.

Soon, Lou Shidao, the interpreter, stood in front of the palace gate, bowing urgently to Li Chengqian and saying, "Your Majesty, Zhang Xingcheng, Minister of Personnel and Duke of Beiping County, has passed away!"

Li Chengqian suddenly stood up and stared at Lou Shidao: "What did you say?"

Lou Shidao cupped his hands, his face full of bitterness, and said, "The Beiping County government just sent a report that Minister Zhang caught a cold last night and was unable to get up today. They had originally invited the imperial physician to treat him, but they did not expect that he was already at the end of his life and had just passed away."

Li Chengqian's wrist trembled slightly. He raised his head, took a deep breath, and tried his best to remain calm: "Li Qing, Xu Qing!"

Li Yifu and Xu Jingzong stood up at the same time, cupped their hands and said, "Your Majesty!"

"You two go and see for me now. If there is any help needed, go directly to the Court of State Ceremonial." Li Chengqian sighed and said, "Seven days later, let the Crown Prince go to offer condolences on my behalf. I will not go myself, so as not to cause too much disturbance."

"Your Majesty, we accept your command." Li Yifu and Xu Jingzong bowed simultaneously.

At this moment, Li Chengqian had already stood up and headed out of the hall, waving his hand and saying, "Issue an imperial decree to suspend court for three days."

"Here!"

……

Under the moonlight, the carriage swayed and wobbled away from the Beiping County Government Office and drove along Chang'an Avenue.

Sitting in the carriage, Xu Jingzong couldn't help but sigh softly, "The public transport in Beiping County is not doing well. It had just begun to be valued by His Majesty this year, but unexpectedly, a cold has... completely cut off everything for it."

Although Zhang Xingcheng was the Minister of Personnel, he was actually positioned between the emperor and Changsun Wuji.

Moreover, Zhang Xingcheng was not entirely neutral; he was somewhat biased towards Changsun Wuji. This is why, although he had served as Minister of Personnel for many years, he did not hold a very important position in the emperor's heart, and for many years, there was no sign of him being appointed prime minister.

This year, with great difficulty, the emperor appointed him, the Minister of Personnel, as the chief examiner for the imperial examinations, which was already a sign of his high regard for him. Unexpectedly, he passed away before he could even recover from a cold.

"Earlier, the imperial physician said that the Duke of Beiping County would die from exhaustion," Li Yifu said, raising his head slightly to look at Xu Jingzong. "Brother Xu, the imperial examinations are the most grueling thing ever!"

Xu Jingzong suddenly looked up at Li Yifu in disbelief. He had so much to say, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Li Yifu waved his hand slightly and said, "Brother, this is just the beginning. The position of Minister of Personnel is vacant. Who will fill it? Guess what His Majesty is thinking? Guess what the Duke of Zhao is thinking? What will happen if they clash?"

Xu Jingzong couldn't help but shudder. At that moment, Li Yifu had already closed his eyes.

Xu Jingzong couldn't help but sigh. The battles in officialdom always happen unexpectedly, with countless swords flashing and shadows appearing.

Under the moonlight, the carriage gradually drove into the depths of the long street.

A few days later, the emperor issued an edict posthumously granting Zhang Xingcheng, the Duke of Beimen County, the posthumous title of Ding, and posthumously awarding him the titles of Grand Master of the Palace and Governor of Bingzhou.

He was permitted to be buried with the emperor at Zhaoling Mausoleum. ...

Inside the Liangyi Hall, Li Yifu stood slightly behind, pondering the Emperor's posthumous honors bestowed upon Zhang Xingcheng.

He was granted the title of Grand Master of the Three Departments and Governor of Bingzhou, all of which were expected. He was not posthumously awarded the title of Prime Minister or given an official position in the Eastern Palace, but he was allowed to be buried in Zhaoling Mausoleum.

This has a deeper meaning.

A series of calm footsteps approached. Li Yifu looked at the tablet in front of him, and after the emperor sat down, he and the courtiers bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."

"All of you may rise," Li Chengqian said calmly to the assembled officials. "The funeral of Minister Zhang is over, but the affairs of state must continue. First of all, the position of Minister of Personnel cannot be left vacant, especially in the coming years. Both the Eastern Islands and the Western Regions will require a large number of officials to fill the vacancy. Therefore, let us decide on the Minister of Personnel today."

"Yes!" The ministers bowed slightly.

Li Chengqian looked at Changsun Wuji and asked, "Uncle, do you have any candidates in mind?"

Just as Changsun Wuji was about to step forward, he faintly heard a very slight tapping sound on the table. His brow twitched involuntarily, and he immediately cupped his hands and said, "I wonder what Your Majesty's arrangements are?"

Li Chengqian's gaze swept over Changsun Wuji, then turned to Yan Lide and said, "Minister Yan, how about appointing him as Minister of Personnel? At the same time, he would be a third-rank official in the Secretariat and Chancellery. It would be more appropriate for him to be transferred from Minister of Revenue to Minister of Personnel. There is also the precedent of Minister Tang. What do you think, Uncle?"

The Minister of Personnel's primary responsibility is to coordinate the appointment of more than 300 prefects throughout the country, and the first task in this is to assess these prefects.

The Ministry of Revenue was responsible for money, grain, and household registration, and it was the most important indicator for evaluating the performance of a prefectural governor.

Therefore, it is appropriate for him to be transferred from Minister of Revenue to Minister of Personnel.

"Your Majesty's arrangements are perfectly appropriate, and I have no objections!" Changsun Wuji bowed deeply. Yan Lide was already the prime minister and the Minister of Personnel, so what could he say?

"Then let's settle on this. As for the vacant position of Minister of Revenue, Xue Qing, you will take it." Li Chengqian's gaze fell on Xue Renfang behind him.

Xue Renfang immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subject accepts the decree."

The Ministry of Revenue has always been the emperor's domain; his word is law, and Changsun Wuji has no say in the matter.

"As for the vacant position of Vice Minister of Revenue," Li Chengqian looked at Changsun Wuji and said seriously, "Uncle, please recommend a candidate."

Changsun Wuji looked up in surprise, then lowered his head and asked, "Your Majesty, what do you think of Ren Yaxiang, the Deputy Protector-General of Yanran?"

The current Protectorate General of Yanran is remotely governed by Prince Yong, Li Jue.

Yes, although Li Jue was the Prince of Yong, the Emperor never intended to replace Qiu Xinggong, the Governor of Yongzhou. So after the Prince of Yong's wedding, he was appointed as the Protector-General of Yanran.

In reality, the person truly in charge of the Yanran Protectorate was Ren Yaxiang, the Deputy Protector of Yanran, who was a man of Changsun Wuji.

"Then it is Ren Qing." The emperor nodded in agreement without the slightest hesitation.

Changsun Wuji immediately understood that the emperor had exchanged the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and the Minister of Personnel, which was also a way of appeasing him.

"As for the Yanran Protectorate," Li Chengqian looked up at the assembled officials and said, "Xiao Siye, Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial."

“Your subject is here.” Xiao Siye stepped forward earnestly.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly and said, "You once lived on the grasslands, so why don't you go back for a few more years?"

"Your subject obeys the decree." Xiao Siye solemnly cupped his hands.

"As for your vacant position as Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial," Li Chengqian said to Changsun Wuji, "Uncle, you can arrange it as you see fit."

"Your Majesty, I obey the decree." Changsun Wuji bowed respectfully. Just then, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that someone behind him was about to make a move. His heart sank, and he immediately bowed again and said, "Your Majesty, Liu Boying, the governor of Xizhou, has made meritorious contributions in pacifying the various barbarians in recent years. He may be transferred to the position of Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies."

Li Chengqian glanced at Changsun Wuji with some surprise and said, "Very well, then let Minister Liu be transferred."

Xizhou was a tributary state, and the rank of the governor of Xizhou was not high.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Changsun Wuji said loudly, then returned to the ranks.

The person behind him also stopped walking.

……

"Duke of Ju, let's have a chat." Changsun Wuji slowed his pace and waited for Tang Jian on the palace road. He turned to look at him and asked, "Brother, it seems you have something on your mind today?"

"The Duke should understand, otherwise he wouldn't have recommended my relative by marriage to be the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies." Tang Jian gave Changsun Wuji a deep look.

Liu Boying was the father-in-law of Tang Jian's youngest son, Tang Guan. Therefore, Tang Jian only stopped when Changsun Wuji recommended Liu Boying to be the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial.

Changsun Wuji sighed softly and asked, "Does the Duke really intend to retire?"

Yes, Tang Jian wanted to retire, and today, as soon as he took the first step, Changsun Wuji guessed his thoughts.

"The Duke of Beiping has passed away, and it is time for this old man to take his leave as well." Tang Jian shook his head gently.

"Let's wait another six months, at least until after the grand court ceremony next year," Changsun Wuji said to Tang Jian with a hint of pleading.

Tang Jian gave Changsun Wuji a deep look and said, "Alright, I'll agree to the Duke's suggestion. But Duke, taking a step back will open up a whole new world. Over the years, many officials in the court have harbored resentment in secret, and His Majesty has heard these words."

Changsun Wuji's expression instantly darkened.

Tang Jian ignored him at this point and strode past him.

Changsun Wuji turned to look in the direction of the Taiji Hall.

With so many palace gates, the emperor's figure was naturally out of sight.

Even his image in Changsun Wuji's mind gradually became blurred.

(End of this chapter)