Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 84: The goose passes by and the feathers are plucked, the beast leaves its skin behind [Please subscribe]

Today is definitely the darkest day in Ma Zhou’s life.

Because he felt that he had just escaped from the wolf's den and entered the tiger's den.

I came to Chang'an to seek refuge, but it turned out to be difficult everywhere.

Now, the prince who had just allowed him to listen to a cruel and vicious plan, now tied himself up to a pillar.

What evil have I done to myself?
What kind of prince is this?

"Tell me, you just offended my grandfather, how do you want to settle this account?"

Li Chengqian asked with a stern face, putting one foot on the stool and playing with the dagger.

"Prince, I've told you eight hundred times, it's all a misunderstanding, it's a misunderstanding!" Ma Zhou said with tears in his eyes.

Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows. "If you say it's a misunderstanding, then what's the point of laws? What's the point of the military? If you say that, even if I stab you, you'd still call it a misunderstanding?"

"I"

Ma Zhou opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.

Cen Wenben, who was eating with Li Yuan nearby, said with a smile, "Prince, how about this? We should send him to the government and punish him for disrespecting the Emperor?"

"Then what will be the punishment for the crime of disrespecting the Emperor?"

"What else can we sentence him to? The worst that can happen is beheading!"

"what?"

Ma Zhou was startled and quickly looked at Li Yuan: "Your Majesty, spare me! I really didn't mean it!"

"hehe."

Li Yuan smiled, finding it quite amusing, and said with a smile: "If it wasn't intentional, then it was intentional, right?"

"This, this, this"

Ma Zhou was left speechless by the three of them.

Li Chengqian laughed and said, "Now we give you two choices. Either we send you to the government office and let fate decide your life or death, or you can go to Jiangling with us and make amends for your sins. Which one do you choose?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Zhou instantly realized that the Crown Prince was trying to recruit him. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at Li Chengqian with a resentful look and said, "The Crown Prince is extremely talented, why are you teasing me? Do I have any other choice in this path?"

"Hahaha!"

Li Chengqian and the other two burst into laughter.

Du Caigan on the side also laughed, thinking that this guy was not stupid.

But why did the prince bring this man to Jiangling? He didn't seem to be anything special. He was just ordinary, not as tall and majestic as himself!
"Laifu, untie Assistant Ma and take him to wash up before coming back to see us!"

After the laughter, Li Chengqian ordered Lai Fu to take Ma Zhou away.

What Li Chengqian knew most about Ma Zhou was the four words "famous minister who governs the country".

What is a famous minister who governs the country?

To be honest, such people exist in almost every dynasty and generation. They all master the teachings of sages and the ways of gentlemen. What they have in common is that they are able to handle public affairs well and sort out national affairs.

If the emperor has such ministers, he can create a peaceful and prosperous era.

Although Ma Zhou was not among the twenty-four heroes in Li Shimin's Lingyan Pavilion, Li Shimin definitely treated Ma Zhou like his wife or concubine.

What does that mean?

If I don't see him for a day, I feel empty inside.

This shows the status of Ma Zhou in Li Shimin's heart.

But Ma Zhou was not the kind of capable official who rose to prominence and became arrogant as soon as he entered the officialdom.

Because he came from a poor family, no matter how talented he was, he had no chance to succeed.

Therefore, since Ma Zhou became an assistant coach in Bozhou, he has become unruly, slacking off at work during the day and drinking to drown his sorrows at night.

It is common to occasionally call your boss an idiot.

But as time went on, his superiors could no longer tolerate him and humiliated him in every way. He was so angry that he fled to Bozhou and rushed to Chang'an, where he became a disciple of General Chang He.

Later, by chance, his talent was discovered by Li Shimin, and he eventually reached the peak of his life.

It can be said that without Li Shimin's appreciation, there would be no Ma Zhou, the "famous minister who governs the country."

And since he happened to meet this "famous minister who governs the country" on the way to Jiangling, Li Chengqian naturally would not hand him over to His Majesty Li II.

After all, as a person, you should be proactive and positive in everything you do.

When a goose passes by, you must pluck its feathers; when a beast leaves, you must keep its skin; when you see a talented person, you must poach him.

What's more, the East Palace team needs to be filled, and Ma Zhou is one of the best candidates for the East Palace team.

As for other candidates, Li Chengqian was not in a hurry.

Because His Majesty Li II is probably still planning to take over the court officials.

If he did not deal with the group of old ministers of Wude left by Li Yuan, he would not be able to arrange more officials who would be useful to him.

Therefore, it is most appropriate to pick up bargains around Emperor Li II at this time.

But Li Yuan suddenly asked, "Cheng Qian, do you have any specific plans after you go to Jiangling?"

"Jiangling is a major city in the south, with well-developed waterways and land transportation. It's especially important as a gateway to Bashu. Since ancient times, it's been a battleground for military strategists. Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the Jiangling area has become a major grain-producing area for our country. Therefore, my primary purpose in going to Jiangling is food!"

"food?"

Li Yuan and Cen Wenben were slightly stunned, their faces full of confusion.

They had thought about many reasons why Li Chengqian went to Jiangling, but they had never thought that Li Chengqian went to Jiangling to get food. In fact, they had no idea how severe the challenges that the Tang Dynasty would face in the next few years would be.

There are not only snow disasters, but also droughts, and all kinds of natural and man-made disasters.

Food is definitely a powerful weapon in the face of disasters.

Therefore, the importance of food is self-evident.

However, there were some things that Li Chengqian couldn't explain clearly, so he could only say briefly: "Anyway, my goal is to solve the problem of food and clothing for the people of my Tang Dynasty!"

In Li Chengqian's view, the blueprint for the prosperous Tang Dynasty was definitely not one in which all nations came to pay tribute, nor was it a scene in which commerce was highly prosperous, scholars sang praises of the country's achievements, and the people suffered from hunger and cold and were impoverished.

Even though people in later generations praised the "Zhenguan Governance" so much, in fact, it did not even solve the problem of food and clothing.

But it is our new country in the future that will truly solve the problem of food and clothing.

"However, it is not easy to solve the problem of food and clothing for the people of the Tang Dynasty. Does the prince have any rules in mind?"

Cen Wenben looked at Li Chengqian deeply, then asked curiously.

Li Chengqian smiled slightly and jokingly said, "Although Mr. Cen is a scholar, you don't usually read history books, right? In history, there were certain brief periods when the people were still able to have enough food and clothing!"

"Oh?"

Cen Wenben's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but argue, "Your Highness, if you're talking about brilliant strategies, I may not be good at it, but when it comes to reading, I have read quite a few history books, but I have never seen the grand occasions that the Crown Prince described!"

"It's not that you haven't seen it, but that you haven't paid attention to it."

Li Chengqian smiled, then glanced at Li Yuan and continued, "In fact, throughout all dynasties, the people's lives were actually the best in the first few decades after the founding of the country. Although they may not have been able to eat and drink enough, it was almost the same."

Cen Wenben thought about it carefully and found that what Li Chengqian said was true.

At the beginning of every dynasty, the people lived a relatively good life. Take the current Tang Dynasty for example. If the people had lived an extremely difficult life, they would not have been able to pay back the money and property of the Wei River Alliance, let alone fight against the Eastern Turks.

Moreover, every dynasty and generation would experience a prosperous period in the first few decades after its founding, which indirectly shows that the people were living a relatively good life.

However, after a few decades of prosperity, the country will go to ruin.

As if it were destined.

"During the Wude period, although there were wars year after year, the people's lives were not so difficult. At least it was much better than at the end of the Sui Dynasty." Li Yuan interjected with some complacency.

"Uh"

Li Chengqian's mouth twitched, and he thought to himself, Grandpa, we are all sensible people, so please stop bragging, okay?
Don’t you know how the Sui Dynasty fell?
It’s not that the people can’t make a living!
"Since the people have lived a good life in the past few decades since the founding of the country, why does the prince still need to solve the problem of food and clothing?" Cen Wenben continued.

Li Chengqian glanced at him, smiled, and shook his head, saying, "These two things are not actually contradictory. The people are living a good life, it's just relative. Just like a steamed bun, it can save people in times of famine, and it can also fill their stomachs in times of peace and prosperity."

"You can't say that the steamed bread is useless, right?"

"This"

Cen Wenben and Li Yuan looked at each other in bewilderment.

But then Li Chengqian added, "Why did I take over the administration of Jiangling? It's because I wanted to use Jiangling as a pilot to open up a path to save the country and ensure that the people of the Tang Dynasty could live a better life for more than a few decades."

of course!

There is one thing he didn't say clearly!

At this time, engaging in political struggles in the court is the most hopeless, because no matter how hard you try, you are always within the circle of other people's rules.

Why were the aristocratic families able to hinder Emperor Li II?

It’s because they have something in their hands.

Then, Li Chengqian’s ultimate purpose of coming to Jiangling must be to have something of his own.

"Good! What ambition! My grandson has great ambition!"

When Li Yuan heard Li Chengqian's words, he clapped his hands and laughed, his face full of relief.

He originally thought that Li Chengqian's little head was full of conspiracies and intrigues, but now it seems that he still cares about the world and the common people.

Such a person can definitely become a truly wise ruler.

However, I am too young, otherwise I would go back and fuck Erlang even if it cost me my life!
"But why did the country fall into ruin after a few decades? Could it be related to the people not having enough food and warm clothes?"

"Or"

At this point, Cen Wenben subconsciously glanced at Li Yuan, then cautiously continued, "Or perhaps it's related to the frequent emergence of incompetent rulers and the rampant corruption of corrupt officials?"

Li Chengqian thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "I believe that after a few decades of prosperity, a country will eventually fall into decline. This has little to do with whether it is a wise or foolish ruler."

"Ah? Why is this?"

Cen Wenben was filled with surprise. "Isn't it said that wise rulers prosper nations, while foolish ones destroy them? Why does Your Highness say that the rise and fall of dynasties has little to do with the wisdom of the emperor?"

"Cheng Qian, don't talk nonsense!"

Li Yuan, who had just praised Li Chengqian, frowned when he heard Li Chengqian's remarks that went against the common sense of the time.

Obviously, such remarks are somewhat groundbreaking for them.

Li Chengqian said thoughtfully, "Because, what really matters is the land!"

"land?"

Li Yuan and Cen Wenben's expressions changed.

This was another point they had not expected.

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(End of this chapter)