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

Chapter 66 He, Li Yi, son of the district gatekeeper general

Just do it.

Yan Liben immediately designated a section of land within the government treasury and reported the matter to Li Shimin.

Before long, Li Shimin, who was in a state of great distress in the Eastern Palace, only glanced at the document, stamped it with his seal, and sent the messenger back with the message.

"Why is Yan Liben, that scoundrel, still in the Prince of Qin's mansion instead of taking a job at the Ministry of Works?"

Upon learning that it was Yan Liben's letter, Fang Xuanling asked with some doubt.

"They said they wanted to make some new farming tools, but I don't know where that sudden idea came from," Li Shimin chuckled, then waved his hand, unwilling to discuss the matter further.

"Let's talk about Li Yi. The pharmacist has already gone to Jingzhou, but we haven't received any reply from Li Yi yet. Could something have happened?"

This is what Li Shimin is most worried about now. If Li Yi discovers anything unusual and immediately raises an army in rebellion, the current military strength of Chang'an City will not be able to withstand the Jingzhou army.

Not to mention, if the news reached the Turks, Jieli would very likely immediately launch an attack southward.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling shook his head.

"Your Highness can rest assured that the four gates of Chang'an City are sealed off. For the next few days, people are allowed to enter but not leave, so there is absolutely no possibility of any news leaking out."

He was being a bit too absolute.

Du Ruhui, who was sitting opposite him, also looked rather unpleasant.

"What about those people?"

He didn't specify who it was, but everyone present knew that he was referring to the people from Guanzhong.

At this moment, everyone's eyes turned to Yuwen Shiji at the front.

In the current imperial court, he is one of those people's spokespeople.

After Li Shimin became the crown prince, people like Pei Ji were abandoned by those people.

They then turned to Yuwen Shiji and Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu was not here today, which is why they went to ask Yuwen Shiji.

"The Grand Secretary?"

Li Shimin looked at him.

Yuwen Shiji took a sip of tea, feeling the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns bursting in his mouth. He shook himself awake and looked at Li Shimin with a smile.

"Your Highness, rest assured. Li Yi is merely the son of a mere gatekeeper general. When he started his rebellion, he only dared to call himself the governor of a prefecture. No one would risk their life for such a short-sighted and unambitious person."

Yuwen Shiji's so-called "Gatekeeper General" refers to Luo Yi's father, Luo Rong, who was merely a fourth-rank military officer.

The following sentence refers to Li Yi's uprising, after which he occupied Zhuojun in Youzhou and proclaimed himself the governor of Youzhou.

He said these things to reassure Li Shimin.

Those people wouldn't support Li Yi, so they certainly wouldn't tip him off.

If the troops being led outside are from the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families, or a certain force from Guanzhong, then there is something to worry about.

"It's best to resolve this as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications." Li Shimin rubbed his forehead, feeling a terrible headache.

He wasn't worried about not being able to deal with Li Yi.

However, the fact that someone plotted a rebellion shortly after he became the crown prince would inevitably damage his reputation if the news got out.

Seeing his troubled expression, everyone in the hall exchanged bewildered glances.

After a while, Fang Xuanling stepped out of the ranks and bowed.

"Your Highness, why not issue an imperial edict in His Majesty's name, bestowing honors upon Li Yi and ordering him to return to Chang'an immediately to assist the Crown Prince in ascending the throne?"

"This……"

"Your Highness, I second that opinion." Du Ruhui also stepped forward and said, "Li Yi is a man blinded by greed. If he knew that His Majesty intended to abdicate, he would definitely be eager to gain merit for supporting the emperor. Although he is the Prince of Yan, what he wants is not just the empty title of Prince of Yan."

"Your Highness may also specify in the decree that after the matter is accomplished, you may be granted land and be enfeoffed as a king. However, this decree must not go through the Secretariat and should be a secret decree, so as not to damage Your Highness's reputation in the future."

Fang planned and Du made decisions.

This was also the case when discussing matters in the Qin Prince's residence.

The rest of the crowd looked at Li Shimin, and seeing his approving expression, they all stepped forward to second his opinion.

Seeing this, Li Shimin sighed and reluctantly agreed.

"Li Yi is ultimately a meritorious official. Don't mistreat him after we arrive in Chang'an."

"Yes." The crowd responded, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly, but he quickly hesitated again.

Because he discovered that his brother-in-law, Changsun Wuji, who always wanted to show off, was sitting there without making a sound.

Could there be some disagreement about this?
"Auxiliary machine?"

Li Shimin called his name, but he didn't even react.

All eyes turned to him, and it wasn't until Li Shimin called out three times that he snapped out of his daze and hurriedly stepped forward to apologize.

"I have been disrespectful before Your Highness, and I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."

Seeing his flustered appearance, everyone in the hall burst into laughter.

Li Shimin pointed at him, laughing so hard he almost fell over: "You little rascal, what are you thinking, behaving so rudely? Do you think there's something wrong with what Xuanling and Keming said just now?"

Changsun Wuji glanced at Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.

He hadn't listened to what the two of them were saying at all, so he had no opinion whatsoever.

He shook his head and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, I was just thinking about the memorial that Yan Liben submitted earlier."

"Ok?"

At this moment, not only were the others in the hall confused, but even Li Shimin was bewildered.

They were just talking about Li Yi, and you're thinking about that insignificant little thing involving Yan Liben.

Li Shimin frowned, feeling that Changsun Wuji was being somewhat absurd.

Before he could even question her, Changsun Wuji explained, "Your Highness, have you forgotten that Wen He is still in the manor? That distiller was what he wanted, and it has captivated Yan Liben for a long time."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin was immediately taken aback.

Yes!

How could I have forgotten him?

"Prepare the carriage immediately, I am returning to the Prince of Qin's residence!"

"what?!"

Everyone in the hall was taken aback and stared in disbelief.

what's the situation?
"Wen He?!"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui suddenly exchanged a glance and were greatly alarmed.

Yes, if this matter is related to people from later generations, who knows what horrifying thing he might be doing.

The two exchanged a few glances and immediately understood each other's thoughts. They stepped forward and said, "Your Highness misses your old home. I haven't been there for many days either, and I miss it dearly."

"Yes, yes, yes, I haven't been back to the Qin Prince's Mansion for many days. I'll go back and take a look today. Please make yourselves at home, gentlemen. Hehe."

He knew he had lost his composure, but fortunately Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui gave him a way out.

But to others, this reason seemed rather far-fetched.

Your Highness, you've only been away from the Prince of Qin's residence for a few days. What do you mean by missing him? You're just kidding.
But who dares to say that?

Even Yuwen Shiji had to respectfully say, "Respectfully seeing off Your Highness."

Just as Li Shimin was quietly leaving the Eastern Palace in his carriage.

Inside the Qin Prince's Palace treasury.

Wen He was holding a charcoal pencil, frowning, and squatting on the ground drawing something.

Yan Liben looked on thoughtfully, sometimes frowning, sometimes relaxing.

No one around dared to make a sound.

Not long ago, looking at the completed curved plow, Wen He suddenly slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "A curved plow alone might not be enough!"

Then he asked for paper, burned wood to make charcoal pencils, and squatted on the ground to write and draw.

Upon seeing this, everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and dared not make a sound.

Thank you to the following readers for their monthly tickets:

Ao Tianmin, Transmigrated God Must Marry A-Zhui, Chinese Sword, Book Friend 161116082810818, lllllliiiiii, Book Friend 20220407084032080, Ao Long Shen Zhi Xin, Book Friend 20220827104338682, Pseudo-Otaku Knight



(End of this chapter)