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

Chapter 81 I am the Prince

In the Taiji Hall, Li Chengqian stood calmly above.

Wei Zheng, standing below him, solemnly unfolded the imperial edict and said in a loud voice, "In the fifteenth year of Zhenguan, in the year of Xinchou, on the first day of the first month of Gengyin, on the first day of the first lunar month of the year Xinmao, the Emperor said:

The sage spreads his teachings and has the people at his heart.

The king is benevolent and extends his mercy to all the world.

Therefore, he was able to bring glory to his home far and wide, and to enrich his wealth and products. From this, he strengthened the Zhou Dynasty and established a system of calendars, and began to make peace with distant countries; he strengthened the Han Dynasty and took advantage of the opportunity to establish the principle of peace and friendship.

I have received the mandate from the Supreme Spirit, and have been able to carry on the great cause, uniting the three talents and governing the world, making the universe my home. My teachings are spread beyond the jujube forest of Jianmu; my teachings extend beyond the borders of the Weak Water and the Flowing Sands.

Leisurely reach the truth, singing loudly in the fragrant breeze.

Perhaps we can follow the example of our predecessors and bring about peace.

I love the Tubo people, who live in the Western world.

At the beginning of the imperial reign, tribute was paid early.

Recently, King Songtsen has repeatedly expressed his sincere feelings for many years and wants to ask for help from his old relatives to strengthen the marriage.

Princess Xinzai, my daughter, grew up in the palace. When you say you are going to a distant place, don’t I miss you? But as a parent, I want to care for the people.

If you grant my sincere prayer, peace will be further promoted, the border areas will be peaceful, and soldiers will have a break.

Therefore, the marriage contract was arranged, and the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo was appointed as the son-in-law of the emperor, the prince of Xihai County, and the general of the right guard.

They will set out on the 16th of this month, and I will personally see them off to the suburbs.

Li Daozon Gan Zhao, the Prince of Jiangxia and the Minister of Rites, was appointed as the envoy, and Li Baiyao, the Junior Secretary of the Imperial Clan and the Right Assistant to the Crown Prince and the Duke of Anping County, was appointed as the deputy, carrying the imperial seal to go and enthronize the emperor.

The general rule is to follow the concubines, and there is no replacement for your rules.

Carry forward the glory of this dynasty and make the barbarians submit.

Admire this. "

In the hall, Lu Dongzan kowtowed solemnly and said, "I, the Tubo envoy Lu Dongzan, accept the order and express my gratitude on behalf of the Zamp. May Your Majesty live a long and healthy life."

"Stand up." The emperor raised his hand calmly and said, "All matters of etiquette should be discussed with the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Household Department, the Imperial Household Department, the Imperial Household Department, the Imperial Household Department, and the Imperial Household Department. Once the matter is settled with the Crown Prince, report to the Secretariat and to me."

"We obey your orders." Li Chengqian, Li Daozon, Dou Dan, Li Baiyao and others all bowed their hands and accepted the orders.

Li Chengqian looked solemn. He glanced at Lu Dongzan and then at Li Baiyao. He felt a little confused.

In the previous life, Feng Dexia, a doctor in the Ministry of War, went as the deputy envoy. Why did it become Li Baiyao this time?
It doesn't matter if it's Li Baiyao, because he is not only the Shaoqing of Zongzheng, but also the Prince's Right Secretary of Li Chengqian.

Representing the emperor, the royal family, and Li Chengqian.

But for some reason, Li Chengqian always had a feeling that something was not right, but his mind soon turned to the various rituals.

He was in charge of all the etiquette for Princess Wencheng's marriage to Tubo, so he could intervene in many matters.

Lu Dongzan raised his head slightly, and Li Chengqian above him looked down at the same time. His indifferent eyes made Lu Dongzan feel a little pressured.

At this time, Lu Dongzan inexplicably thought of the two idiots who had disappeared all night and had not returned. For a moment, he had a feeling that the two were dead.

……

"Your Majesty, the congratulations and the ceremony are over!" Wei Zheng knelt in the center of the Taiji Hall, holding a memorial in his hands.

The above records all the details of today's grand court meeting.

On the throne, the emperor nodded slightly, then said: "Xing!"

Wei Zheng immediately stood up, bowed, and retreated among the ministers.

Li Shimin looked at his ministers and said, "Last year, you all worked hard. This year is very demanding. I hope you all will work hard to create a good harvest. I have prepared fine wine and delicious food, music and dancing in the Taiji Hall. I will enjoy it with you all and will not leave until I am drunk!"

"We thank Your Majesty very much and are willing to share the feast with Your Majesty and not leave until we are drunk!" All the ministers held their tablets and bowed, responding loudly.

"Dismiss the court!" Li Shimin smiled with satisfaction.

The Ruibin bells rang at the same time, playing the music of Taihe, bringing good luck to the world.

"After the court session, the sage left and held a grand banquet for all the ministers at the Taiji Palace."

Amid the voice of the Eunuch Department's ceremonial officials, all the ministers bowed and Li Shimin stood up and walked towards the east wing of the Taiji Hall.

"I respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty, long live my emperor!"

……

In the Liangyi Hall, the singing and dancing slowly faded away.

The entire hall suddenly became quiet.

The emperor sat on the imperial couch, looking at his ministers calmly, and said with a smile: "You ministers have worked hard over the past year. Crown Prince, Prince Jin, please offer a toast to each of you on my behalf."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian and Li Zhi bowed together.

All the officials worked hard, the emperor expressed his gratitude, and the princes took over the work.

This has been the rule for years.

Li Tai should have been there too.

Li Chengqian was in charge of the Liangyi Hall, while Li Tai and Li Zhi were in charge of the outside of the Liangyi Hall. At that time, Li Zhi was young and Li Tai drank a little more.

Only the emperor's three legitimate sons can do this kind of thing.

Even if Li Ke was favored, he would not have any chance at this time.

Li Chengqian stood in the hall, starting with Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Gao Shilian, Wei Zheng and others, the prime ministers of the three provinces, the vice prime ministers of the three provinces, the six ministers, the six vice ministers, the nine temples' ministers, the nine temples' vice ministers, the governors of various states, the doctors of various ministries, the secretaries of the Secretariat, and the attendants.

There were also many generals, lieutenant generals, such as Cheng Zhijie, Yuchi Gong, Li Daliang, Li Ji, Zhang Liang, Niu Jinda, Duan Zhixuan, Zhishisili, Guo Xiaoke, Su Dingfang and other military generals.

Li Chengqian toasted everyone one by one.

Although he was occasionally slow in his actions, anyone could see the problem unless they tried to test him.

He is also fully capable of participating in grand court sessions and pacifying ministers.

After everyone had passed, even the most demanding court officials looked at Li Chengqian with a very gentle gaze.

They no longer had any doubts about Li Chengqian's position as crown prince.

The emperor sat calmly on the imperial couch, watching Li Chengqian win over the hearts of the people, his eyes as calm as usual. This is how a prince should be.

However, Li Shimin knew very well in his heart that Li Chengqian's leg had not completely recovered, and there had not even been much change.

To say that he looks fine now is just the work of the agency.

Even if he can cure it, it will take a long time to be completely cured.

But it’s good now. He is concentrating on Tubo affairs. He has something to rely on in his heart and won’t have any random thoughts.

As for the future, just be prepared.

Before he knew it, Li Chengqian walked in front of Li Yifu.

Looking at Li Yifu standing respectfully in front of him, Li Chengqian couldn't help but smile.

The Censor-in-Chief is one of the few people who is qualified to enter the Taiji Hall.

Seeing Li Chengqian, Li Yifu raised his wine jar in gratitude.

They all had a tacit understanding of what happened last night.

……

Li Chengqian did not make any unnecessary movements. He toasted, said a few polite words, and then took over the next person normally.

He hadn't changed at all because of what happened last night.

Normality, for him, is the greatest strength.

Before he knew it, Li Chengqian had walked in front of Lu Dongzan.

Li Chengqian raised the wine jar filled by the maid behind him and nodded gently to Lu Dongzan who had stood up earlier. "Envoy, I offer you a toast."

"I dare not. I am a foreign minister, but I pay my respects to Your Highness." Lu Dongzan quickly raised the wine bottle and performed the ceremony very respectfully.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "The Tang Dynasty and Tubo will be one family in the future. There's no need to be so polite. However, there is one thing..."

"Your Highness, please speak." Lu Dongzan immediately bowed seriously, with a hint of vigilance hidden deep in his eyes.

"It's nothing. The Tang Dynasty and Tubo are friendly. So, I hope Prime Minister will take good care of the trade between the two countries in the future." Li Chengqian raised the wine bottle slightly and drank it all.

"Foreign ministers will definitely do their best." Lu Dongzan's face was full of gratitude, and then he drank a glass of wine in one gulp.

"Let's trade, learn from each other's strengths and make up for each other's weaknesses." Li Chengqian put down the wine bottle slightly, nodded to Lu Dongzan, and said, "Trade can benefit both sides. Besides, I heard that to the south of Tubo is India.

In the past, the great monk Faxian of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Huisheng of the Northern Wei Dynasty all traveled through the Western Regions to India to seek Buddhist scriptures. If they could go through Tubo, wouldn’t it be safer and more convenient?

Lu Dongzan was a little confused for a moment. How could it be said that trade was also called seeking Buddhist scriptures?

Although Lu Dongzan didn't see through Li Chengqian's intentions, he nodded seriously and said, "Zamp is your Majesty's son-in-law and your Highness's brother-in-law. If he needs help in the future, just send a letter to Tubo, and Tubo will certainly provide full assistance."

"That's good." Li Chengqian raised the wine bottle again and drank it all in one gulp.

Lu Dongzan also drank a glass, and then saw Li Chengqian nodded and walked to the back.

After sitting down again, Lu Dongzan couldn't help but frown. What did the prince mean by this?

However, Lu Dongzan did not notice that when Li Chengqian mentioned the word "trade", many people's eyes fell on Lu Dongzan.

The starting point of the Silk Road is Chang'an, and the end point of the Silk Road is also Chang'an.

The Tang Dynasty was the most prosperous country in the world in terms of commerce, and the number of its merchant caravans was rare in the world.

Of course, most of these caravans are from the current aristocratic families, nobles, and even royal families.

In other words, the people behind these caravans are all in this hall.

The trade route to Tubo has existed for a long time, but because the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo was sometimes good and sometimes bad, the trade route was not very smooth.

Now that the Tang Dynasty and Tubo are intermarrying, many people will immediately realize the huge commercial benefits involved.

……

Li Chengqian entertained envoys from various countries with a gentle expression. No one dared to neglect the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty.

She has a gentle temperament, but her words always bring out a sharpness that others can hardly imagine.

Li Chengqian could more or less talk about everything from north to south and from the ends of the earth.

Since he wants to focus on other things outside of the tribe, Li Chengqian naturally has to be more attentive.

As for Tubo, Li Chengqian calmed down.

Against the backdrop of the recent intermarriage between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo, he could take some measures to weaken Tubo's influence, but this marriage was absolutely not allowed to be destroyed.

Trade is the most hidden means.

Of course, it was more to facilitate the infiltration of the Military Affairs Bureau.

While all the foreigners were making preparations, Li Chengqian was also waiting for Xuanzang to return to Tang.

That's not far away.

Now is the right time to plan ahead for the future.

Li Chengqian smiled and walked towards the envoys from Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla in front of him.

Tubo may be far away, but the three countries on the peninsula are very close.

The envoys of the three countries stood up quickly, but Li Chengqian's casual words made their faces change slightly.

"I heard that there are many rare copies from the Han Dynasty in the Three Kingdoms of Dongdao."

……

Yan Liben sat in his seat, his eyes occasionally sweeping over Li Chengqian.

Li Tai was unable to appear at the New Year's Day court today, which made Yan Liben feel a little uneasy.

When Yan Liben heard Li Chengqian say "a rare copy from the Han Dynasty", he immediately turned around.

What is the prince going to do? Does he also want to revise the book?

Unconsciously, the pressure on Li Chengqian had been relieved.

(End of this chapter)