A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 1224: Wang Mang was humble before he usurped the throne

Liaodong was originally the homeland of the Central Plains. Li Shimin, who took the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor Wu as his role models, of course wanted to recover the old Han territory of Liaodong, and also to avenge the countless Chinese people who died in Liaodong during the Sui Dynasty's several expeditions to Goguryeo.

Since the end of the Western Han Dynasty, Goguryeo gradually expanded its sphere of influence, occupying the northern part of the Korean Peninsula and parts of Liaodong. During the Three Kingdoms and Wei and Jin dynasties, it took advantage of the civil strife in the Central Plains to encroach on and annex Liaodong's land, becoming the overlord of the northeast and even crossing the Liaohe River to invade western Liaoning many times.

The Sui Dynasty launched several expeditions against Goguryeo until it had no choice but to fight, but unfortunately Yang Guang was defeated.

When Yang Guang conquered Liaodong, Li Yuan, as the Minister of Imperial Guards, was in charge of military equipment and food supplies. Li Shimin and his brothers also followed him. Although they did not go to the battlefield themselves, they witnessed the fierceness of the little bully of Liaodong.

Although the Sui Dynasty did not destroy Goguryeo, it did inflict heavy damage to it. After the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, Goguryeo also became a vassal and paid tribute. Li Yuan had not yet unified the country and could not take care of Goguryeo. In the early days, Li Shimin was busy defending against the Turks and managing domestic affairs, so he lived in peace with Goguryeo.

Now the time is ripe.
But there is still the Xueyantuo in Mobei that needs to be dealt with first before taking action against Liaodong.

Over the years, the Goguryeo people, while paying tribute to the Tang Dynasty, also started to fight with Baekje and Silla to seek compensation from the south. They were afraid of the Tang Dynasty in the Central Plains, knowing that sooner or later the Central Plains people would come for revenge. In the past ten years, they have spent countless manpower, financial resources and material resources to build a thousand-mile Liaodong Great Wall along the Liaohe River.

Wu Huaiyu's proposal to go to Liaodong at this time was unexpected to Li Shimin and even exceeded his plan.

After returning to Taiji Palace, Li Shimin summoned Crown Prince Cheng Qian.

"Wu Huaiyu just now vehemently refused to be granted a surname and title of king, and also refused to serve as the Minister of the Central Secretariat and the Minister of Personnel. Guess what he asked of me?"

Cheng Qian shook his head to indicate that he couldn't guess.

"You are his student, guess what."

Cheng Qian poured a cup of milk tea for his father and thought for a moment, "Could it be that the teacher requested to return to Lingnan to guard it?"

"Hahaha, you guessed half right. I just mentioned to Wu Huaiyu that we should conquer the Xueyantuo in Mobei, and he agreed. He also recommended Li Ji to me as the chief steward.

Then he said that in order to conquer Mobei, we must be on guard against Goguryeo in Liaodong, so he asked to go to Liaodong to manage it. "

Cheng Qian really didn't expect this.

"Did the Emperor agree?"

"Do you think I should agree?"

Cheng Qian thought for a long time while holding the teacup. On the one hand, he felt that his teacher had made great contributions to the country, and it was unfair to treat a meritorious official like this. Moreover, Wu Huaiyu was not only his teacher, but also his strongest supporter. Having been the crown prince for sixteen years, Cheng Qian was no longer the ignorant boy.
He also knew very well that if he wanted to succeed to the throne smoothly in the future, he had to have his own power, and that power had to be strong enough.

However, the imperial skills that his father had passed down to him made him feel that he must impose restrictions on his subordinates, especially capable ministers like Wu Huaiyu. If he was not restricted, not only would there be no more titles to be given, but he would also face the situation where a powerful minister would emerge if he was not careful.

You cannot trust anyone unconditionally, and you cannot hand the handle of the knife to someone else.

Power must be in your own hands at all times, and you must always take the initiative.

"If the teacher goes to Liaodong, he will definitely be able to deter Goguryeo for the court, so that the court can concentrate on destroying Xueyantuo. With the teacher's ability, he can even make comprehensive preparations for the court's future expedition to Liaodong.
However, I think that it is not the right time for you to go to Liaodong now."

"Why is it inappropriate?"

"Father, the teacher has made such great contributions. He was originally the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. When he returns to the court this time, he must be given a higher title. If he goes directly to Liaodong, the title of Liaodong Jingli alone is far from enough.

This will be seen as a degradation by the world.”

"In addition, the imperial court sent three armies to attack Mobei, with Li Ji, the Minister of War, in command. The King of Jiangxia was appointed as the general manager of the eastern route, with Fan Xing and Xue Wanche as deputy generals.

Qiu Xingze, governor of Youzhou, and Cheng Mingzhen, governor of Yingzhou and protector of Andong, were not among the troops in the camp.

If you go to Liaodong now, you will still be under the control of the general manager of the camp, and Li Ji is only the Minister of War, not the Prime Minister. "

After listening to the prince's analysis, Li Shimin nodded.

He sipped a cup of tea.

He said slowly, "I drank a pot of tea with him in the Wude Hall, walked around the Daming Palace, and talked with him for a long time. Although I haven't seen him for two years, Wu Huaiyu is still the same Wu Huaiyu. He is still a little greedy, lustful, and loves food and luxury, but he has no hidden ambitions.

He actually told me that he wanted to retire and return to the countryside, saying that he missed the lychees and mangoes of Lingnan, the coconuts and bananas of Luzon, and the beaches and seafood there.

This guy is only 35 years old, but he actually wants to retire. He says he wants to go home to spend time with his wife, concubines and children, travel around the country, write poetry and paint in his free time, and by the way, inherit and carry forward the Longmen Dao passed down to him by his master Xiaoyaozi.

He said that he is still the head of Longmen Dao. "

Cheng Qian smiled and said, "Teacher knows how to advance and retreat."

"That guy is so smart. I have trusted and used him so much over the years because I appreciate his ability and his sense of propriety." Li Shimin sighed, "But he is only 35 years old. If he were 53 now, I wouldn't have to worry so much."

He looked at his son. In fact, when Li Shimin was in power, he didn't have to worry about Wu Huaiyu. He believed that Wu Huaiyu would not dare to have any thoughts in front of him.

But he was afraid that after he left, Crown Prince Chengqian would not be able to suppress Wu Huaiyu in the future.

Now Wu Huaiyu has such great achievements and reputation, and even has such influence in the court. How powerful will he be in another twenty or thirty years?
Can Cheng Qian suppress Wu Huaiyu?
Especially the Prince’s East Palace, Wu Liangdi and Han Liangyuan, who now have sons, are Wu Huaiyu’s cousin and niece respectively.

Given the situation of Crown Princess Su, when Cheng Qian chooses a crown prince in the future, he will probably have to choose between the sons of Han and Wu. No matter which of the three children is chosen, they will all be relatives of the Wu family and will either call Wu Huaiyu his cousin or his great-uncle.

Even if Li Shimin had the worst idea, Wu Huaiyu was ten years older than Cheng Qian, but his health was much better than Cheng Qian's, and it was possible that Cheng Qian would be ahead of Wu Huaiyu in thirty years. Then Wu Huaiyu would be the regent, and with the power he had built up for decades, if Wu Huaiyu really had ambitions, wouldn't he be the second Yang Jian?
Or another Wang Mang?
Even if it was just Huo Guang, Li Shimin could not accept it.

If Wu Huaiyu revealed the slightest bit of restless ambition this time, Li Shimin would be determined to deal with Wu Huaiyu. He would not kill him, but would definitely throw him to some border area, or settle him in Luoyang or Yangzhou for twenty or thirty years.

He kept Li Ji in Bingzhou for sixteen years.

At first he had wanted to keep Wu Huaiyu in Lingnan for twenty years, but Wu Huaiyu was too troublesome, and he developed Lingnan too quickly. Lingnan's development was so fast that Li Shimin did not dare to let Wu Huaiyu stay there for long, for fear that he would become entrenched there.

He was asked to replace Hou Junji and go to the Western Regions. The idea was that the Western Regions were so large and the situation was so complicated that it would be enough for Wu Huaiyu to mess around for twenty or thirty years.

But who could have imagined that in less than two years, he would have conquered the Western Regions, which Li Shimin had estimated would take 20 to 30 years to control.

Wu Huaiyu could not stay in the Western Regions any longer. The Hundred Cavalry Division sent him secret reports one after another. The Khans and kings in the Western Regions all began to call Wu Huaiyu "Sir" and were willing to be his sons. This was too much. If Wu Huaiyu was allowed to stay in the Western Regions any longer,
By then, all the towns in Anxi would be run by his adopted sons, students, and former subordinates, and the Khans, kings, and governors of various tribes and countries would also call him "Father".
Isn't the Western Region going to become a Wu family?

There are 60,000 Tang troops in the Western Regions. If Wu Huaiyu is allowed to manage them for 10 or 20 years, once the situation in the court changes, he will raise the banner of rebellion, which will be a great threat. If Wu Huaiyu only wants to secede from the Western Regions, Cheng Qian may not be able to pacify him.

Wu Huaiyu could not continue to guard Lingnan or the Western Regions.

But Li Shimin didn't dare let Wu Huaiyu stay in the court for long.

He really hopes that his subjects are both civil and military, but at the same time he is afraid that they are too capable. He is really worried.

Suzaku Gate Square.

Chengsi took off his armor and Qianniu sword, and changed into a round-necked purple robe with a seven-ring gold and jade belt. In the cold wind, he covered himself with a sable fur coat. He stood there with a handsome and upright figure, truly a graceful and noble young man.

"Aye,"

Seeing his eldest son's handsome appearance, Wu Huaiyu was very pleased. People become mature only when they become parents.

The children are older and the parents are older.

"His Majesty gave me three days off so that I could go home and spend some time with my father and mother."

Wu Huaiyu walked side by side with his son in the square.
"Have you set a date for your wedding?"

"Well, His Majesty has chosen March of next year for me and Princess Nineteen."

Wu Huaiyu nodded, "March is good, it's the time of spring when flowers are blooming."

The Tang people were averse to getting engaged in the twelfth month and getting married in the first month. Getting married in the first month was said to be like looking up in the red, which was like Tai Sui suppressing one's head and was unfavorable to future generations.

Getting engaged in the twelfth lunar month is considered unlucky for the husband's family, and it is difficult for the couple to live together forever. Therefore, it is said that one should not get married in the first lunar month or get engaged in the twelfth lunar month.

The first month of the lunar calendar is also considered to be the time for ghost marriages, because the first month of the lunar calendar in the underworld is the same as in the world of the living, with holidays for the New Year. All underworld things can come to the world of the living, so when you see a wedding in the wilderness, don't stop to watch, it's best to leave as soon as possible.

There is a folk saying that mice get married on the third day of the first lunar month.

There are many folk customs of this kind, and they are generally followed. For example, there is a custom in Jiangnan that if a child is born in February, it is forbidden to raise him. This means that if a person is born in February, he is unlucky, and even if he is a rich and powerful woman, he should be cut off. Empress Xiao of the Sui Dynasty was born in February, so she was sent to her uncle's house to be raised since she was a child.

"In the blink of an eye, you are going to get married." Wu Huaiyu was even in a trance for a moment.

How come time flies so fast? Sixteen years have already passed in the blink of an eye.

The father and son rode on their horses, not caring about the wind and snow. Both of them were very strong, so they rode side by side, chatting as they walked.

The child has indeed grown up and has many ideas of his own.

Although Chengsi was born into a wealthy family, he was not spoiled. He lived in Chang'an and Guangzhou, traveled around most of the world with Wu Huaiyu, and even went to sea to Ryukyu and Luzon.

He was also personally taught by Li Shimin in the palace for several years and was well-trained.

"Do you like Princess Lanling?" Huaiyu asked.

Chengsi smiled shyly, "I often see Princess Nineteen in the palace. She is well-educated, polite and gentle, and she treats me very well. We will definitely become a good match like Father and Mother."

"Hahaha, as long as you two are in love with each other, that's all."

This marriage was arranged with Li Shimin when the child was still young. It was a political marriage. He was also worried about what would happen if the child didn't like the other party when he grew up.
Cheng Qian and Su's marriage was very unfortunate.

"Let's go quickly. Your mother and the others must have been waiting at home for a whole day."

He has been in Kyoto for a whole day and has not yet returned home.

Chengsi lightly kicked the horse's belly, caught up with his father's horse, and suddenly asked, "Aye really slept with the Queen of Shule in the Western Regions, why didn't you bring her back to Chang'an?"

Wu Huaiyu smiled and glared at the disrespectful guy.
Chengsi quickly rode away on his horse.

(End of this chapter)