A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 1190 Chang'an
Changan.

Taiwei Mansion,
The eunuch Zhang Ananda came in person to announce the decree.

The Grand Marshal, Grand Secretary, and Governor of Luozhou, Zhangsun Wuji, was playing with his eldest grandson in the study when the housekeeper came to report.

"Zhang Jian is here?"

Zhang Sun Wuji hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said to his grandson, "My dear grandson, follow Grandpa to meet Zhang Jian."

"Why bother you to come in person, Zhang Jian?" Changsun Wuji went to the gate to greet the eunuch.

Zhang Ananda, who was dressed in a purple robe, said with a smile, "There is good news, and we have specially asked the saint for the mission of spreading the news, so that we can also share in the joy."

Chatting and laughing,

Arriving at the hall, Zhang Ananda took out the imperial edict written on bright yellow silk.

"The Imperial Court has issued an edict: Taiwei Wuji's eldest grandson Yan has been taught etiquette and is filial, respectful, and humble. He can be granted the title of Imperial Court Official, Fengche Duwei, and the title of Baron of Tingshan County."

"Congratulations, Captain."

Zhang Sun Wuji smiled and thanked him, then pushed his eldest grandson forward and said, "Hurry up and thank you and accept my order."

"Did my grandfather give me the official position?"

Zhang Ananda smiled and said, "Well, the saint has appointed you as a fifth-rank official and granted you the title of county baron."

The eldest grandson Yan was only six years old, with his hair tied in two corners, looking very cute. He happily stepped forward to express his gratitude and accept the order, looking quite decent.

It has to be said that Changsun Yan was the kind of person who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His grandfather was the Grand Marshal of the Three Dukes, and the Duke of Zhao, Changsun Wuji, who was actually granted 1,800 households and held the highest position among ministers.

His father, Chang Sun Chong, also married the eldest princess's cousin at a young age. He was appointed as the Secretary General and the Royal Concubine of the Imperial Household, a third-rank Jinzi Guanglu Doctor.

His mother was the eldest princess of the royal family.

My maternal grandfather is the current Holy Emperor, my maternal grandmother is the late Empress Changsun Wende, and my eldest uncle is the current Crown Prince.

Yesterday,

The fifteen-year-old Wu Chengsi was conferred the title of Fifth-Rank Doctor of the Imperial Court and Water Envoy by the emperor, and was promoted to the title of Duke of Taiyuan County, which shocked the entire Chang'an.

But today, Changsun Wuji's grandson, who is only six years old, has been granted the title of a fifth-rank imperial doctor, and has also been granted the title of a fifth-rank Fengche Duwei, and has also been granted the title of a county baron.

The three commanderies since the Han Dynasty were the Imperial Chariot Commandant, the Imperial Horse Commandant, and the Cavalry Commandant. Although they are now sinecures without real power, their ranks are there after all. From the fifth rank down, one can also wear a scarlet robe.

Changsun Wuji sent Zhang Ananda away.

Back in the hall, the eldest grandson rushed in with a smile on his face.

"What are you laughing at?" Changsun Wuji glared at his son. Although this son was now the Secretary General, the Jinzi Guanglu Doctor, and the Royal Son-in-law Commander, Changsun Wuji was still not very satisfied with his eldest son.

Even though his son had some experience abroad, served as the governor of Qinzhou in Lingnan, and made achievements, Changsun Wuji did not approve of him. He felt that his son had been too successful and that it was all due to his family background.

Wu Huaiyu and Chang Sun Chong are not much different in age, but there is a world of difference between them. Even compared with Cheng Chumo, the son of Cheng Mowang, they are far behind. Cheng Chumo has become a governor based on his own abilities.

"Yan'er has been awarded an official title by the saint, and my son is very happy."

"What are you happy about? Do you think this is a good thing?" Changsun Wuji was very disappointed with his friend.

"Isn't this a good thing?" Chang Sun Chong was puzzled. His son was given an official title at the age of six. Doesn't this represent the emperor's favor to the Chang Sun family?

Zhang Sun Wuji sighed helplessly, "According to the court system, the sons of nobles and high-ranking officials can enter the government through family connections. The son of a first-rank official can be promoted to a seventh-rank official, the son of a second-rank official can be promoted to a seventh-rank official, and their grandsons will be demoted to a lower rank, and so on.

Tell me, according to the imperial system, what rank of official can Yan'er be promoted to?"

Chang Sun Chong was quite familiar with this. According to the Tang Dynasty's system of hereditary inheritance, only officials of the fifth rank and above and those who were granted titles were eligible to inherit the title of emperor. According to this system, although Chang Sun Yan was the grandson of a first-rank general and the son of a third-rank secretary, he could at most inherit the title of emperor from the seventh rank.

Although the Tang Dynasty's system of hereditary succession was directly written into the Zhenguan Law of the Tang Dynasty when the law was revised, only the eldest son had this right of hereditary succession.

Of course, this is direct use of shade, and there is also indirect use of shade.

Apart from the eldest son, the rest of the legitimate sons and illegitimate sons, as long as they are officials of the fifth rank or above, or the descendants of ministers with titles, can also enter the officialdom indirectly through some channels such as students in the academy, students in the Imperial Academy, guards of the three guards, and escort officers, but their starting point is lower.

But no matter which one, there are basically age restrictions.

Chang Sunyan is the eldest grandson of the Chang Sun family. Of course, he has the right of inheritance and can inherit the title in the future. But he is only six years old now, and it is far from the time for him to be granted an official title.

Especially the casual ranks and officials.

"Think about it again, what happened in Chang'an yesterday that caused such an uproar in the whole city?" Changsun Wuji asked again.

"Are you talking about the reward for Wu Jia Dalang?"

Zhang Sun Wuji nodded. Wu Huaiyu had been impeached by many people in recent days, and the trend of impeachment was getting stronger and stronger.

At this moment,

The emperor gave the nineteenth princess a fief of five hundred households and required her to prepare a dowry according to the specifications of Princess Changle's original dowry. He also conferred the title of fifth-rank imperial doctor on the fifteen-year-old Wu Chengsi and appointed him as the fifth-rank official of the Capital Water Envoy. He even raised his title from Duke of Sanyuan County to Duke of Taiyuan County.

The nineteenth princess, Princess Lanling, was Wu Chengsi's fiancée.

Wu Chengsi was Wu Huaiyu's eldest son. When half of the court officials were attacking Wu Huaiyu, the emperor not only did not ask the officials to investigate and file a case, but also kept all the impeachments in his hands without saying a word.

At this time, the emperor issued three such decrees.
According to gossip, these three edicts were sent to the Council of State and failed twice in a row. The prime ministers argued fiercely, but in the end the emperor sent the edicts intact for the third time.

This is a very rare situation. In the past, when the emperor's decree was rejected by the prime ministers in the Council of State, it would be temporarily shelved or modified. It was very rare for such a confrontation to occur.

This time, the Political Affairs Hall gave in.

"Do you know what the consequences will be if Wei Zheng, Xiao Yu and other prime ministers in the Political Affairs Hall do not approve it? They will have to resign."

Chang Sun Wuji stroked his beard.

Wu Huaiyu made great contributions in the Western Regions this time, but he did act a bit domineeringly, which was not like the shrewd Wu Huaiyu in Changsun Wuji's impression.
But he did it anyway, even going so far as to let his adopted son become the king of the Stone Kingdom.

It was inevitable that Wei Ting and others in the court would take the opportunity to impeach Wu Huaiyu.

But no one expected that in the end it was not Ma Zhou and others who would protect Wu Huaiyu, but the emperor who would use this method to protect Wu Huaiyu.

He even went so far as to force Wei Zheng and Xiao Yu to resign.

This incident is bound to cause a big disturbance which will be difficult to calm down for a while.

At this time, the emperor suddenly conferred the title of Imperial Doctor to the eldest grandson of the Changsun family, a title of fifth-rank official, and a baron.

This is obviously an attempt to divert conflict.

To divert public opinion.

His Changsun family is taking the blame for the Wu family.

His son actually looks cheerful and happy. Why are you so happy?
Zhang Sun Wuji was filled with rage.
It's already the 15th year of Zhenguan, and the emperor still has no intention of re-employing him. Although he has been promoted to the rank of Grand Marshal, the head of the Three Dukes, what's the use?

He is still the governor of Luozhou, and after the New Year, he has to return to Luoyang.

Wu Huaiyu returned last year after his mourning period ended. He led the Western Expedition and made great achievements. He then stayed in the Western Regions. Changsun Wuji thought it was a good thing. At least although Wu Huaiyu was appointed prime minister again, he was not in Chang'an and was not a real prime minister.

Who would have thought that Wu Huaiyu would let loose in the Western Regions?
He stirred up trouble and turned the Western Region upside down. Not only did he let his adopted sons take important positions and command heavy troops, he also outrageously said that his adopted son Shi Shouxin was the son of the youngest son of Shi Nie, the old king of Shi State, who had escaped.

This sounds outrageous. The prince of Shiguo fled from Hezhong to Shuofang, hiding his identity and becoming a shepherd for a landlord. His son, who was in his teens, ran to Guanzhong to harvest wheat for others. He was spotted by Wu Huaiyu and became his servant. Later, he became his adopted son.
Now that he has finally regained his status, as the grandson of the Shi Kingdom, he will rule the Shi Kingdom as its king, command 5,000 Tang troops, and serve as the governor of Dayuan.

When Changsun Wuji heard the news, he was inexplicably excited, thinking that Wu Huaiyu had gone too far this time and was about to fail.

who knows,
But now this is the result. He is fine, and his 15-year-old son has been made a county duke and is the water envoy.

That’s not all. Now he has to use the eldest grandson of his eldest grandson’s family to calm the public opinion storm and divert the topic.

His eldest grandson Jiacheng has become a toilet paper.

Chang Sun Wuji was so angry,

But his son Chang Sun Chong was still cheerful.
"Father, our Yan'er is the saint's grandson," Chang Sun Chong still didn't believe it.

Changsun Wuji flicked his sleeves and said, "Get out." He didn't want to talk to his son anymore. He was the Queen's younger brother and a meritorious official, but what was his situation these years?
Sitting on the couch,

Chang Sun Wuji really envied Wu Huaiyu,
Where did the emperor's trust in him come from?

Why did Wu Huaiyu do so many extraordinary things in the Western Regions, but the emperor still protected him in the end?
When Li Jing conquered the Eastern Turks, he was not in this situation. After being impeached, he was immediately investigated. Other generals such as Li Ji, Hou Junji, etc., did not receive the same treatment as Wu Huaiyu.

As expected, the people of Chang'an City were immediately attracted by the fact that Zhangsun Wuji's six-year-old grandson was awarded the title of Fifth-Rank Imperial Doctor and the title of Fengche Duwei, the male of Tingshan County.
The streets and alleys, the neighbors, are all discussing this matter.
Yesterday everyone was still shocked that Wu Huaiyu's fifteen-year-old son was appointed Du Shui Envoy, but today few people are talking about it anymore.

But the fact that Chang Sunyan became the Commandant of the Imperial Chariot at the age of six was not talked about for a few days because the results of the imperial examination were announced.

The people of Chang'an all turned their attention to the annual list of successful candidates.

He then started to watch the excitement of choosing a son-in-law from the list.

Although there were imperial examinations every year and there were competitions to find a son-in-law, the people of Chang'an enjoyed it very much and vied with each other to see what would happen. A poor boy might be a farmer in the morning and become an emperor in the evening. Once his name was on the imperial examination list, it would become known throughout the world. He would then be noticed by some noble official, who would send people to capture him and marry him to his daughter.

The daughter of a minister or a general is not very pretty, she is still unmarried at the age of 20. This time, she vows to catch a talented man from the imperial examination.
In these hot discussions in the city,
Only the Western Regions Hu merchants in Chang'an, especially the Sogdian Hu merchants, especially the Sogdian Hu merchants from Shiguo, would still pay attention to and discuss the affairs of Wu Huaiyu and Shi Shouxin.

When they saw the imperial edict and the saint personally confirmed that Shi Shouxin was indeed the grandson of King Shi Nie, they were shocked and excited.

Especially when he saw the imperial edict officially conferring upon Shi Shouxin the titles of General of the Auxiliary State, Duke of Yiguo, Governor of Dayuan, Governor, and King of Shi.

The emperor not only recognized this grandson of Shi Wang and appointed him king, he even arranged for Shi Shouxin to marry his daughter, Duan, of the Langya Princess family.

Who is Princess Langya?
Wife of Duan Lun, the Minister of Works, the emperor's sister, once named Princess Gaomi, first married Zhangsun Xiaozheng, then remarried Duan Lun.
The Changsun family married four princesses, had a queen, and two prime ministers, so their status is naturally self-evident.

The Duan family was also a wealthy family in Guanlong. Duan Lun's father, Duan Wenzhen, was the Minister of War of the Sui Dynasty. When Li Yuan started his rebellion, Duan Lun spent all his family wealth to recruit more than 10,000 soldiers and horses, and put his head on his belt to help him establish the country.
So later on, Li Yuan treated his son-in-law very well and made him Duke of Ji.

Li Shimin conferred the title of Princess of Jinchang on his sister's daughter and arranged her marriage to the King of Shiguo.

The Sogdian merchants of the Shi State in Chang'an were extremely concerned about this matter. Many of them actually believed the imperial edict of the Heavenly Khan and believed that Shi Shouxin was really the grandson of the Shi King.
Now that the prince, with the support of Prime Minister Wu, has been canonized by the emperor and has returned to the Shi Kingdom to continue the royal lineage, they are very happy.

The Sogdians of the Shi Kingdom in Chang'an also intermarried with the nine Hu clans of Zhaowu and jointly wrote a letter to the emperor to express their gratitude to the Tang emperor for helping them expel the Turks and restore the Shi Kingdom's royal lineage for them.

They also pooled together some money and presented it as tribute to the emperor to thank the Tang Dynasty and the Khan.

(End of this chapter)