Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 17 Xupin's Thoughts

Behind the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, there has always been a food shortage problem.

The food shortage here does not refer to the food shortage in the country, but the food shortage in Chang'an City.

The main reason is that Chang'an City has a large population and a small amount of land. The arable land area in Guanzhong is not enough to meet the huge consumption of Chang'an City, and it is inconvenient to transport grain from other places.

During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, he went to Luoyang three times to find food. Xuanzang, the prototype of Tang Monk, was forced to go to the Western Regions because of famine in Chang'an.

Li Zhi was too lazy to ask about the final issue of grain prices.

Before solving the food shortage problem in Chang'an, the most urgent task is to deal with the officials in the Ministry of Revenue who are just sitting there and eating for free.

It happened that after this court meeting, he planned to support a group of his own confidants, so he immediately ordered Wang Fusheng to go to the Ministry of Personnel to get the list of officials.

Li Zhi searched the list for more than an hour. Although he did not find Di Renjie and Zhang Jianzhi, he found a few people who could be used.

He immediately issued an edict to summon Lu Chengqing and Du Zhenglun back to Beijing, appointing Lu Chengqing as the Minister of Revenue and Du Zhenglun as the Vice Minister of Revenue.

Lu Chengqing is also from the Fanyang Lu family, but belongs to the northern ancestral branch.

Lu Chengqing became famous at a young age and was knowledgeable and talented. His father was one of the first people to follow Li Yuan and was granted the title of Duke of Fanyang.

Therefore, Lu Chengqing's official career was very smooth when he was young. During the reign of Emperor Taizong, he served as the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of War, and was later promoted to the Minister of the Left.

When Emperor Gaozong of Tang first ascended the throne, there was a group of officials who supported the emperor among the aristocratic factions.

This group of people believed that Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang controlled the government and undermined the emperor. They were quite disdainful of them and often impeached them.

Lu Chengqing is one of them.

As a result, not long after, Chu Suiliang falsely accused Lu Chengqing and demoted him to the position of Chief Clerk of the Yizhou Grand Marshal's Office.

Before Lu Chengqing took office, Chu Suiliang impeached him again and demoted him to Sima of Jianzhou.

Changsun Wuji's method was more sophisticated. He was worried that the Lu family of Fanyang would completely stand on the opposite side, so he began to support the southern ancestral branch of the Lu family.

Within a few years, the name of the Fanyang Lu family changed from the North Ancestral House to the South Ancestral House, closely following the Guanlong Group.

From this we can see that Lu Chengqing must be full of hatred towards Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang, and now is the best time to recall him.

As for Du Zhenglun, he was also an old minister during the reign of Emperor Taizong. He had also served as an attendant to Crown Prince Li Chengqian. He was demoted because of his involvement with Hou Junji.

This person also had conflicts with Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang, so recalling him could also serve as a check and balance for the Guanlong faction.

After the two decrees were written, it was almost dark outside.

Li Zhi twisted his sore neck and shook his arms and legs in the hall. Suddenly, he smelled a fragrance.

Looking up, I saw a palace servant standing near the palace gate with a bowl of soup in her hand. The smell was coming from that bowl of soup.

Li Zhi walked over and saw that the palace maid looked unfamiliar, so he asked, "Who are you, and where did you get this bowl of soup?"

The palace servant whispered, "I am a palace official from Penglai Palace. I am here on the orders of Madam Chongrong to bring you this bowl of 'Phoenix Embryo'. It was brewed by Madam Chongrong herself."

The Tang people compared fish roe to the fetus of a phoenix. This bowl of soup is made with the fish roe from Weishan Lake.

Li Zhi took a sip and praised it as "fresh". It was only slightly cold. He smiled and said, "Why didn't you just bring it to me? If I had smelled it earlier, I could have drunk it sooner."

The palace attendant whispered, "Chongrong has instructed that if the emperor is reviewing memorials, we must not disturb him, so I dare not approach."

Li Zhi saw her lowering her head, her face rosy and very pretty, and asked with a smile, "What's your name?"

The palace maid said shyly, "My name is Die'er."

Li Zhi finished the soup in one gulp, handed the bowl to her, and said, "Okay, I'm done. You can take it back and tell Chongrong that her soup is delicious."

Die'er smiled, carried the bowl of soup and left Ganlu Palace, then returned to Penglai Palace with brisk steps.

The hall was brightly lit. Xu Jin was walking around holding a piece of paper, muttering, "In vain I was given a robe, but no grace; a touch of incense brings me to ecstasy. Though I never dance, I often shed tears in the spring breeze."

Die'er was slightly startled and said, "My lady, isn't this Madam Shen's poem? Why are you reading it again? The Saint is so kind to you now, you can't read this poem anymore!"

Madam Shen's name is Shen Zhili. She was Xu Jin's best friend before she entered the Prince of Jin's Mansion. She was the daughter of a wealthy family and married into the Xiao family of Lanling.

Like Xu Jin, she was a gifted writer. They often exchanged poems, and the poem Shen Zhili had just written was a tribute to her, inspired by her lament for Xu Jin's miserable situation in the palace.

Xu Jin scolded with a smile, "You little girl, you're teaching me a lesson. It's just that Sister Shen hasn't written to me for a long time, and I miss her a little."

After a pause, he asked eagerly, "Your Majesty, have you drunk the soup?"

Die'er turned the bowl over and said with a giggle, "Not only did he drink it, he also asked the servant to tell you that it was delicious."

Xu Jin took the bowl of soup and held it in her arms, her face gleaming brightly as she said, "I'm really worried he won't be used to the taste of Jiangnan."

She is from Huzhou in the south of the Yangtze River. Jiangnan cuisine is refreshing, smooth and extremely delicately prepared, while people in Guanzhong prefer the original flavor of ingredients and do not like to add too many seasonings.

Suddenly, a female official in her forties came in and handed Xu Jin a note.

This is a visiting card for ladies from outside the palace to pay their respects to the emperor.

When Xu Jin was a concubine, she could not approve women from noble families to enter the palace. Now that she has been promoted to a concubine, she has the authority to approve one entry per month.

The post was sent by Shen Zhili, who wanted to go to the palace to pay his respects to her.

Xu Jin hesitated for a moment, then handed the invitation back to the female official, saying, "I haven't been officially conferred the title yet. My rank is still that of a Concubine, so I don't have the authority to approve invitations."

The female official smiled and said, "It's just a matter of the past two days, why bother taking it so seriously, madam?"

Xu Jin said sternly, "How can we easily break the palace rules? Please ask Concubine Jiang to pass the invitation to Her Majesty the Queen and ask her to grant my permission."

The Shanggong is the head of the female officials in the six Shang Bureaus of the harem. She holds an official position of the fifth rank. Her power and status in the harem are second only to concubines and ladies-in-waiting, and higher than the unfavored imperial wife.

The court lady Jiang Shanggong sighed, "Mrs. Chongrong is so considerate. I will obey your orders."

Concubine Jiang came to Lizheng Hall with the visiting card and relayed Xu Jin's words to Empress Wu.

Empress Wu was practicing calligraphy. Upon hearing this, she chuckled and said to her attendants, "Xu Chongrong is good in every way except that she is too clumsy." She wrote down her calligraphy with a jade pen and ordered her to send it back to Penglai Palace.

Just as Consort Jiang reached the door, Empress Wu suddenly called out, "Come back."

Concubine Jiang turned back and asked puzzledly, "Your Highness, do you have any other instructions?"

Empress Wu asked, "Which noble family did Madam Shen Zhili marry into?"

Concubine Jiang replied, "It seems to be the Lanling Xiao family."

Empress Wu murmured, "As expected, this Xu Chongrong, I almost underestimated her."

Concubine Jiang, also one of Empress Wu's closest confidants, asked in a low voice, "Why do you say that, Your Highness?"

Empress Wu said calmly, "That bitch Xiao has just left the palace, and this Madam Shen wants to enter the palace to pay her respects to Xu Chongrong. What do you think is the reason?"

Concubine Jiang narrowed her eyes and said, "Mrs. Xiao refuses to give up and wants Shen Zhili to plead with Xu Chongrong."

Empress Wu said, "Xu Jin didn't want to offend me, but she also didn't want to reject her friend, so she asked you to come to me. If I agree, she will mention the Xiao family to the emperor, and I can't blame her. If I refuse, Shen Zhili won't be able to blame her."

Jiang Shang Gong said: "This Xu lady is indeed not a simple person. Why not put this matter aside and wait until she is promoted to a concubine and let her deal with it herself."

Empress Wu waved her hand and said, "No need. Just refute Shen Zhijie's post. Since she is Xiao's daughter-in-law, I am not afraid of her holding a grudge."

Concubine Jiang took the order and left.

Empress Wu continued writing calligraphy for a while. Then the eunuchs came to ask about the meal. Empress Wu asked, "Has Your Majesty ordered the meal?"

Zhang Duohai said: "Not yet."

Empress Wu nodded and said, "Tell the Imperial Food Bureau to prepare a few dishes that Your Majesty likes and send them to Lizheng Hall."

A palace maid took the order and left.

There was a side hall next to Empress Wu's main hall, where a large number of medicinal foods were prepared. She came to the side hall and prepared to make a bowl of medicinal food for Li Zhi.

Suddenly, another female official from the Shanggong Bureau came and reported to her, "Your Highness, Madam Helan has requested permission to enter the palace and is waiting at Changle Gate."

Empress Wu ordered, "Duohai, go there in person and bring Madam Helan into the palace."

(End of this chapter)