The two of them traveled through the Tang Dynasty to open a supermarket, and the little Sizi was sup

Chapter 110 Li Shimin asks a question!
Although the dishes don’t look very good, you can tell that they are of high quality.

I am just an ordinary person, but I am looking forward to tasting the imperial cuisine of the Tang Dynasty.

The little princess likes to eat meat, and Xiao Ran really has no opinion on mutton.

The taste feels a bit strong.

The main thing is to eat sesame cakes and drink porridge.

Empress Changsun, Li Shimin, and Li Lizhi could also see that Xiao Ran was indeed not used to the food.

But Xiao Ran didn't complain at all and happily ate with the little princess.

Li Shimin and his companions also had the breakfast brought by Xiao Ran. The one from the Tang Dynasty was indeed not as good as the one brought by Xiao Ran.

After dinner, the little princess kept thinking about what was in the box.

Pulling Xiao Ran, "Little Nangjun~ look at that~"

"Sizi, the young master has something important to do. Let's talk later." Li Lizhi knew that Li Shimin had something important to do.

"The contents of the two boxes are the same. The pink one is Sizi's, and the red one is Ermei's. Go open them and take a look!" Xiao Ran understood the little princess's desire to see.

"Hee hee~"

Princess Yuzhang and Li Lizhi took the two little princesses over and opened the cardboard box.

I saw the Mercedes-Benz inside.

"Wow~"

"Hey~" The little princess gave Daben a hug.

"Sister, can you give me this red one?" Princess Chengyang also asked.

"Yes, if the young master says yes, then it belongs to my second sister." Li Lizhi also likes it.

Princess Chengyang was extremely happy because she now had her own car.

The previous go-kart Chengyang Little Princess can also be played, but it is clear that it belongs to Sizi.

Now I finally have my own.

Empress Changsun did not disturb Xiao Ran and Li Shimin and found an excuse to leave.

Only Xiao Ran and Li Shimin were left at the desk.

"I've had a few encounters before, and I've had my suspicions. Li Zhi said my nephew is from over 1,400 years ago. I have a question and would like to ask."

"Your Majesty, if you tell me what you know, I will tell you."

"The Great Tang Dynasty has lasted for 289 years. I have also heard from Li Zhi. I would like to ask, what caused the Great Tang Dynasty's demise?"

Xiao Ran's expression was solemn, his gaze piercing. "Your Majesty initiated the Zhenguan Reign, which was like the shining sun and moon. Since then, separatist regimes have been like carbuncles attached to the bones, eunuchs' monopoly of power has been like a cancerous tumor, and factional strife and oppression have been like fuel for the flames. Add to that the heavy taxes and the people's misery, and the edifice has finally collapsed."

He suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Everything that rises to the top must fall. This is inevitable. After the Kaiyuan heyday, the Tang Dynasty began to decline."

"After the An-Shi Rebellion, the military governors gained control of their own forces, and the imperial court lost its ability to control them. By the time of Emperor Xizong, Huang Chao's uprising had broken out, and the empire had already fallen apart."

Most people who like the history of the Tang Dynasty like the early and prosperous Tang Dynasty, and they feel sorry for the middle and late Tang Dynasty.

"Separatist regimes and eunuch factional struggles," Li Shimin muttered to himself, thinking about how to avoid these problems.

I definitely hope that the Tang Dynasty will exist for a longer period of time and that it will be better.

"Your Majesty, the feudal lords, eunuchs, and factional strife are indeed the most obvious signs of the Tang Dynasty's decline."

"But at the root of it all, land annexation is the crux of the problem."

"Since the Qin and Han dynasties, wealthy families have continuously annexed land, causing large numbers of ordinary people to lose their livelihoods and struggle to make ends meet."

"During the Tang Dynasty, the equal-field system initially benefited the people, but over time, land annexation resurfaced, leaving the people without land to farm while taxes became increasingly heavy. This was the root cause of the dynasty's instability." Xiao Ran paused, then continued, "Although later dynasties learned from the lessons of their predecessors, they still found it difficult to escape the cycle of rise and fall."

"After the Tang Dynasty, after several decades of turmoil, the Song Dynasty was established in the Central Plains."

"Take the Song Dynasty, for example. In light of the disasters of separatist regimes during the late Tang and Five Dynasties, the Song Dynasty drastically weakened the power of military commanders. The army was frequently mobilized, and the soldiers did not know their commanders, and the commanders did not know their soldiers."

"While this move eliminated the hidden danger of military commanders becoming self-reliant, it led to repeated defeats in foreign wars."

"Border warfare was intense, and in order to maintain peace, large amounts of tribute had to be sent to Liao and Jin each year, increasing the burden on the people and also laying the seeds for the dynasty's downfall."

"Everything has two sides. It is impossible to be perfect and cover everything."

Li Shimin nodded. "That's right. It seems these are unavoidable."

Li Shimin had no choice but to accept it. He was an emperor and a natural politician by nature. He understood these things better than Xiao Ran, an ordinary person.

"How will future generations evaluate me? How will they evaluate the Zhenguan period?" Li Shimin was very concerned about this issue.

Xiao Ran took a deep breath, looked at Li Shimin with burning eyes, and said with sincere admiration:
"Your Majesty, later historians have ranked you alongside the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor among the greatest emperors of all time. However, when it comes to 'omnipotence', you are undoubtedly number one."

He paused, then continued, "In terms of military prowess, you started an army at the age of eighteen, pacified the world, destroyed the Turks, conquered Gaochang, and brought the four barbarians to submission, earning you the title 'Heavenly Khan.'"

"As for governance, you initiated the Zhenguan era, lightened taxes and levies, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, and brought peace and order to the country, with no looting on the streets."

"When it comes to employing people, you are not bound by convention. Fang's strategies and Du's decisiveness, Wei Zheng's direct criticism, have enabled scholars from humble backgrounds to realize their ambitions."

"As for your broad mind, you are receptive to advice and use the saying 'water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it' to warn yourself. No emperor in history can match you."

Li Shimin's eyes moved slightly, and his fingers tapped the table lightly, as if he was thinking.

I was very happy in my heart, but I didn't show it too obviously.

Xiao Ran continued:
“All future emperors wanted to emulate the Zhenguan era.”

"After founding the Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin ordered people to compile the Zhenguan Zhengyao, which he studied day and night."

"Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang once said: 'Government should be like Tang Taizong.'"

"Even overseas countries like Japan and Korea regarded The Essentials of Zhenguan Administration as a must-read for emperors."

Li Shimin's lips curled up slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and said slowly, "Then... will anyone in the future say anything bad about me?"

Xiao Ran smiled calmly: "Yes, but very few."

"Some people criticize the Xuanwu Gate Incident, but many more believe that without Your Majesty, the world would still be plunged into war."

"Some people accused the campaign against Goguryeo in his later years of being a waste of money and manpower, but later archaeological discoveries showed that the Liaodong Campaign was actually aimed at consolidating the border, not at excessive military spending."

Li Shimin was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. His laughter was hearty and clear: "Good! I don't seek perfection, but I do seek a clear conscience!"

He stood up, put his hands behind his back and looked outside the hall. The morning light cast a brilliant light on the eaves of Lizheng Hall.

Li Shimin came to power illegitimately and cared too much about these comments.

It's not just Li Shimin; many emperors who came to power illegitimately were like this.

They all wanted to work hard to govern the country and prove themselves, to prove that they were qualified emperors and the most suitable heirs.

Li Shimin was very happy to hear Xiao Ran's brief comments.

These are what Li Shimin wanted.

After calming down, Li Shimin sat back at the desk and said, "Now the aristocratic families are powerful. I, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, have solved this problem."

"No, but after the Tang Dynasty, this problem no longer exists."

(End of this chapter)