Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 414 My Imperial Treasury Has Other Uses
At a street corner tea stall in Weizhou City, the crisp sound of rough porcelain bowls clattering together mingled with rising steam. Several men dressed in coarse cloth and short jackets sat around the table, their voices growing louder and louder, attracting passersby to stop and watch.

"Have you heard? Chen the rich man from Chenjiazhuang secretly went to Chang'an half a month ago to buy Zhenguan rice seeds!"

A peddler carrying a load put down his carrying pole, leaned over, and whispered something.

"what?"

An old farmer carrying a hoe suddenly looked up, his face full of disbelief.

"Didn't he tell people the other day that the Zhenguan rice was a hoax, that it could only yield three dou per mu at most, and that it would harm the soil if we commoners planted it? How come he secretly bought it himself?"

"Hey, that was all a lie!"

The peddler took a sip of her cold tea and raised his voice a few decibels.

“My distant cousin works in Chang’an. He said that all the farms around Chang’an are now growing Zhenguan rice, and with that compost, each mu (unit of land area) yields at least 1.3 shi (unit of dry measure)! That’s more than double the yield of the old grain we grow!”

"One stone and three bushels?"

People around gasped in shock, and some couldn't help but ask questions.

"Where can I buy compost? How much is needed to grow Zhenguan rice?"

"The Cui family's shops sell them!"

Another man in shorts chimed in.

“I asked yesterday, and it’s only twenty coins a pound. If you sow it on the ground, it will produce more grain. Moreover, the government said that farmers with household registration and land can go to the county government to get Zhenguan rice seeds for free, without spending a penny!”

"Free to claim?"

A dark-skinned day laborer sighed, his voice full of envy.

"It's a pity that although I have a registered residence, I don't own any land, so I can only do odd jobs to make a living."

"What's wrong with not having land? Join the army!"

The man who had just finished talking about composting slammed his hand on the table, making an even louder sound.

“A few days ago, the government posted an edict that anyone from Hebei Province who joins the army will receive two mu of land! I signed up yesterday and am just waiting for military training so I can finally have my own land!”

The moment these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent, then erupted into an even louder murmur. A burly man with bare arms and well-defined muscles squeezed in and asked in a gruff voice.

"Brother, are you serious? I've never heard anyone mention this before."

The man who spoke glanced at the burly man's size and thought to himself.

“This is excellent material for joining the army. It’s just a pity that our Hundred Cavalry doesn’t accept outsiders, otherwise we would have recommended him to the young master.”

He sighed inwardly and quickly nodded.

"Of course it's true! The people from Zhechong Prefecture said that Weizhou will recruit three thousand people this year, first come, first served! And if you make meritorious contributions in battle, you'll get even more land!"

The crowd instantly became excited.

The eyes of those men who made a living by doing odd jobs and manual labor lit up.

They either had no land or had sold it, earning only a couple hundred coins a month, barely enough to support themselves, let alone get married and start a family. If they could join the army and get two acres of land, at least they would have some stability.

"Back in the Xia Dynasty, even those who rendered meritorious service were only given one acre of land, right?"

Someone muttered under their breath, their tone hesitant.

"Even if we gave it to them back then, we might not be able to keep it!"

An old laborer with a weathered face gave a soft hum.

“My father followed the Xia King back then and finally got two acres of land, but it was taken back later! No matter how good the Xia King was, he didn’t give us any real benefits. Now the emperor is giving us land and we can even get free grain seeds. As long as we work hard, we can have enough to eat. Isn’t that better than anything else?”

These words struck a chord with everyone.

Whether it was the Xia king or the current emperor, to them, whoever could provide food and land to cultivate was a good ruler.

"That's right, in the end, aren't it still those manor owners who benefit?"

"They lied to us again this time, saying that the Zhenguan rice variety yielded less grain!"

This statement caused a great stir.

Many farmers present were filled with righteous indignation.

"Spring planting is already over, so even if we can get the benefits this year, it'll probably be too late!"

"It's all those farmers, those bloodsuckers! They charge exorbitant rents all the time, and now they don't even want us to have enough to eat!"

The farmers all looked at each other, their eyes blazing with anger.

But as angry as they were, what could they do?

Those individuals all have guards at their homes.

Thinking about this, they all felt a little helpless.

"How about we go to the General's Office and ask?"

The group of day laborers exchanged glances, and they all saw interest in each other's eyes.

Since I'm the only one who's hungry, I might as well give it a shot.

As soon as he finished speaking, more than a dozen people put down their work and headed towards the Zhechong Prefecture.

Seeing this, many people around followed suit.

Anyway, there's no war now. It's just a few days of training each month, and I can get two acres of land. It's a good deal!
But as soon as they arrived outside the Zhechong Prefecture, they were startled by the scene before them.

The Zhechongfu, which should have been deserted, now had a long queue stretching from the gate all the way to the street corner.

"Don't push! Those who need to register, go and carry the stone mortar first. If you can't carry it, go back now!" A captain in armor stood in front of the mansion gate and shouted loudly.

"How old are you, little kid? You haven't even grown all your hair yet, go home and drink your milk!" Another soldier waved at a thin boy.

"What...what's going on?" The day laborers who had just arrived were stunned.

"What else could it be? Everyone wants to join the army and get a place!" A man at the back of the line turned around and said with a smile.

"Didn't you hear what that person just said? They're only recruiting three thousand people. If you're late, you'll miss your chance!"

The crowd then realized what was happening and quickly squeezed to the back of the line, afraid of missing their chance. Some people in the line joked with each other.

"Zhao Ba, didn't your father used to follow Dou Jiande? How come you've joined the army too?"

Zhao Ba blushed and said stiffly.

“My father followed the Xia King, but in the end he couldn’t even keep a piece of land and lost his life! I don’t want to end up like him! Now that the emperor is giving away land, why shouldn’t I take it?”

"Liu Si, didn't your father die at the hands of the Tang army? Why are you here too?" someone teased.

Liu Si clenched his fists and said in a deep voice, "My father is my father, and I am me! I don't care about the past. As long as I can have land to cultivate and enough to eat, I am willing to serve the imperial court!"

"That's right, to hell with the Xia King! Even when he was in power, we still didn't have enough to eat, did we?"

"Master Liu of Liu Family Village ate his fill, but he didn't leave us a single scrap."

The queue grew longer and longer, filled with chatter, laughter, and urging voices.

The sound is getting louder and louder.

……

"Great! That's great!"

Inside the Lizheng Hall, Li Shimin held the letter from Hebei Province in his hand, his lips curving upwards in a continuous smile, his tone filled with barely suppressed joy.

He handed the letter to the eunuch beside him and addressed the important officials in the hall.

"In Weizhou alone, there are over 6,000 registered soldiers in its thirty-odd military prefectures! If there is war in the north this year, there will be no need to mobilize troops from within the pass; they can be directly drawn from Hebei. In such a short time, the hearts of the people of Hebei have already been won over!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and other high-ranking officials from the three provinces and six ministries rose to their feet, bowed, and offered their congratulations, creating a festive atmosphere in the hall.

Wen He stood in the crowd, just about to yawn.

He had been busy in the newly built workshop until late last night and was feeling sleepy, but he forced back his yawn and bowed with everyone else, trying his best to squeeze out a joyful expression on his face.

Li Shimin was in high spirits when he caught a glimpse of this subtle movement out of the corner of his eye. The smile on his lips faded slightly, and he narrowed his eyes and suddenly spoke.

"The success in Hebei this time is largely due to the efforts of the Hundred Cavalry in secretly investigating rumors and assisting the scholars. Wen He, you have done a good job."

Wen He's heart skipped a beat. He quickly straightened up, his tone sincere.

"Your Majesty, this is all thanks to the hard work of the Hundred Cavalrymen, the scholars who stayed in the villages to teach, and the people's willingness to trust the court. I have only done my duty. However, I think it is too early to be happy now."

He didn't mean to spoil Li Shimin's mood; he genuinely felt that way.

The promotion of new grain varieties and the surge in military service are just the beginning of the results. To truly win over the hearts and minds of the people of Hebei, we need to see if subsequent policies can be implemented. If there are any mishaps, all the previous efforts may be in vain.

“What the magistrate of Gaoyang said is very true.”

Fang Xuanling immediately echoed this sentiment. He was now the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and after Xiao Yu retired due to illness, the responsibility of the chief minister of the court fell on his shoulders.

Therefore, Lao Fang is now the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in the Tang Dynasty, and the rightful Prime Minister.

He stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that we should take this opportunity to promote the curved plow throughout Hebei Province. This tool is labor-saving and high-yielding, and can help farmers see results more quickly."

"Furthermore, I have heard that Wu Sheng, the former magistrate of Chencang County in Yongzhou, has achieved good results by implementing the 'cattle distribution policy' in the area. Cattle can be distributed to households to solve the problem of farmers having no cattle to plow their land."

"This old minister suggests that Wu Sheng be transferred to Hebei Province as a county magistrate, specifically to promote the curved plow and the 'ox-sharing strategy'."

Upon hearing this, Wen He, who had been feeling sleepy, immediately perked up.

Fang Xuanling actually recommended Wu Sheng?
But come to think of it, he hasn't written to me recently.

But judging from Fang Xuanling's words, Wu Sheng seems to have done a good job.

Although the Tang Dynasty is still short of cattle, if it can continue to operate in the form of production teams, it will not have to worry about oxen for a long time to come.

Sending Wu Sheng to Hebei at this time would not be a bad idea.

"In addition, Cui Dunli had previously said that he was willing to persuade the Cui family of Boling to assist the court in promoting Zhenguan rice. This old minister believes that he can be appointed as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue to assist the Ministry of Revenue in handling agricultural and sericultural affairs in Hebei."

The moment these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.

No one objected, but no one immediately echoed either.

Cui Dunli was originally just a fifth-rank official in the Secretariat, but he jumped to the rank of fourth-rank official and became the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He was promoted two ranks in a row, which was quite fast. More importantly, he represented the Cui family of Boling.

This position can be described as the mainstay of the Tang Dynasty.

The next step is the position of Minister.

The main problem was that those present couldn't figure out Li Shimin's intentions.

I wonder if he would be willing to add another member of the aristocratic family to the upper echelons of the court.

Li Shimin did not immediately express his opinion, but turned to Du Ruhui and asked, "What does Keming think?"

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes it is appropriate," Du Ruhui replied, bowing firmly.

Wen He stood aside, inwardly grumbling to herself.

Is this what is meant by "Fang's planning and Du's decisive action"?
But he quickly shook his head slightly.

It was simply that Du Ruhui had guessed Li Shimin's thoughts.

The gentry in Hebei were deeply entrenched, and the imperial court could not interfere too deeply, otherwise it would easily trigger a backlash.

Previously, Wen He suggested that the Li family of Zhao County take the lead, and Li Shimin readily agreed; now, Fang Xuanling recommended Cui Dunli to win over the Cui family of Boling. This was in line with the idea of ​​getting two of the five surnames and seven noble families to stand on the side of the court, using the aristocratic families to check and balance the aristocratic families, and stabilizing the situation in Hebei.

My head hurts.

Wen He rubbed her temples.

Thinking about all this, Wen He felt a headache coming on.

He didn't come here today for anything related to Hebei.

There were a hundred riders operating in secret, along with scholars who had traveled and studied, and those who used Li Shimin's reign title as collateral.

It's only a matter of time before the grain varieties are widely adopted.

The east wind has already started to blow; are we still afraid that the fire won't reach Red Cliffs?

He came today to ask Li Shimin for money.

"Well, then let's do it that way."

Li Shimin nodded and gave instructions to the officials of the Secretariat.

"The Secretariat should instruct the Ministry of Personnel to verify Wu Sheng's resume and Cui Dunli's qualifications for the position, and issue an imperial edict as soon as possible."

He paused abruptly, turned his gaze to Wen He, and asked with a deliberately teasing tone, "County Earl of Gaoyang, do you agree with the Left Minister's arrangement just now?"

Wen He had just ruined his good mood, so Li Shimin asked this question on purpose to tease him and get revenge for the previous time when Wen He had ruined his mood.

But to his surprise, Wen He actually shook her head, her tone serious.

"Your Majesty, what Lord Fang said makes sense, but I believe there is one crucial matter that has been overlooked."

"Oh?"

Fang Xuanling stroked his gray beard, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes, and asked with a smile.

"I wonder what the magistrate of Gaoyang thinks I have overlooked?"

"Water conservancy".

Wen He uttered only two words, yet the hall fell silent instantly.

Hebei has historically had poor water conservancy, especially the area near the Yellow River.

It will overflow every few days.

According to historical records, there were 37 floods in the early Tang Dynasty.

This mother river can be quite volatile.

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads.

Water conservancy projects are indeed of paramount importance in Hebei, but the high-ranking officials present all understood what this meant.

This is yet another huge expense.

Previously, when the Guannei Road was repairing water conservancy projects, although it was contracted to merchants, if it weren't for Wen He's scheme to swindle the gentry and Li Shimin's deception of the imperial clan, it would have been a different story.

Those water conservancy projects simply cannot be built.

The powerful families and merchants of Hebei Province are not like those in the interior; it would be difficult to fool them.

"Cough cough."

Seeing that no one in the main hall spoke, Dou Jing had no choice but to step forward and say with a bitter face.

“Lord of Gaoyang County, it’s not that I’m unwilling to repair water conservancy projects, but most of the money in the national treasury has already been allocated to specific purposes. Promoting the Zhenguan rice variety in Hebei, building the curved plow, and purchasing oxen for the ‘ox-sharing policy’ all require money. There simply isn’t any extra funds to invest in water conservancy.”

Since he is the Minister of Revenue, in charge of the national treasury's revenue and expenditure, only he can say such things.

Upon hearing this, Wen He was not surprised at all. Instead, her eyes lit up and she looked intently at Li Shimin.

"His Majesty's private treasury..."

"My imperial treasury has other uses!"

Before he could finish speaking, Li Shimin's eyes widened in surprise, his tone carrying a hint of wariness.

That brat, how dare he try to steal his private funds!

He needed to reserve his private funds to deal with the Turks, so naturally he couldn't take them out now.

Besides, even if all of it were taken out, it wouldn't be enough to cover the expenses of water conservancy repairs in Hebei Province!

Seeing Li Shimin's strong reaction, Wen He quickly smiled.

"Your Majesty, please do not be anxious. I do not intend to use the imperial treasury. In fact, the biggest expenses for building water conservancy projects are only two things: materials and labor. As long as we can reduce the cost of these two things, it will not cost much at all."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall turned to Wen He in surprise, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Materials and labor are the core expenses for water conservancy construction; how could they be easily reduced?

In particular, Li Shimin, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui all looked at Wen He with a burning gaze.

(End of this chapter)