A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 690 Tyrant
Changan.

Li Shimin spent the Mid-Autumn Festival with the Supreme Emperor from Da'an Palace back to Taiji Palace, and looked at the moon alone in front of Ganlu Palace.

bright moonlight,

The emperor's mood was ups and downs. Just now he accompanied the Supreme Emperor to admire the moon, and the two of them had a rare conversation.The Emperor has become very old. In the past few years, the Emperor has indulged in singing and playing too much, and his body has been hollowed out by wine and sex.

The emperor today is very different from the father who was strategizing and controlling everything in the past. The emperor's eyes no longer have the sparkle, but only loneliness.

Li Yuan told him today that he was very happy to see that the Tang Dynasty is now stable and the country is stable. He saw Jieli Khan dancing for the Tang Emperor at the Chang'an palace banquet, and saw the son of the Lingnan chief congratulating him with poems. When he went to Mobei Xue Yantuo, Xiyu Xitujue and other great chiefs, they all sent envoys to pay tribute to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. He was indeed shocked and relieved.

The Supreme Emperor even lamented that even he would not be able to do these things in just a few years.

He admitted that he was old and that Li Shimin was good enough.

These belated affirmations made Li Shimin almost cry.

But after returning, Li Shimin slowly calmed down, and it was not time to relax yet.

The Supreme Emperor had previously talked to him about the Sui Dynasty, about Yang Jian and Yang Guang, and about the Kaihuang rule and the collapse of the Great Cause. The Emperor had a rare reminder to him that in the early years of the Great Cause, Yang Guang's martial arts had reached its peak since the Han Dynasty. ,
There are nearly 900 million registered residents and a population of 5000 million.

Canals were built in Yingdong,

He marched south to Linyi, destroyed the royal capital, and plundered the golden statues of the ancestors of Linyi before returning. He sent troops across the sea to conquer the barbarians on Liuqiu Island, and captured the barbarian kings and returned to the court.
He defeated Tuyuhun, opened up the four counties of Xihai, and even sent troops out of Yumen Pass to attack and destroy the counties of Yiwu.

The Turkic Khanate even crawled at the feet of Emperor Daye. The Great Khan of the Eastern Turks cleared the way for Yang Guang's northern inspection tour, and the Great Khan of the Western Turks was directly captured back to Luoyang.

If it weren't for the defeat of the million-strong army in the final expedition to Goguryeo, and the successive defeats, causing chaos in the world...
In other words, Li Yuan felt that he was far behind Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty Yang Jian. Yang Jian unified the north and south and created a prosperous age. It was a truly prosperous age. However, although Li Yuan used all his power and tactics and had nine years of military virtue, he could only barely pacify the Central Plains.

Although Li Shimin had been in power for more than four years and had already destroyed Jieli Khan, a captive of the Eastern Turks, it was indeed far behind Yang Guang's achievements at the beginning of his reign.

Tian Khan Li Shimin only took advantage of the internal and external troubles of the Eastern Turks to destroy them, but he has not yet conquered other Tibetan barbarians, such as Tuyuhun, Western Turks, and even Linyi, Liuqiu, Yiwu, Goguryeo, Xi, and Khitan.

When Li Shimin heard these words in Da'an Palace, he was a little unconvinced.

But after returning to Taiji Palace, I meditated for a long time in the Manna Palace, but I felt that it made sense.

Today's Zhenguan Dynasty has only 300 million registered households and a population of more than [-] million, which is only one-third of the registered households at the peak of the great cause.

But Li Shimin was still a little unconvinced.

Yang Guang was called a failed king and was even called a tyrant.

How could he, Li Shimin, be inferior to Yang Guang?

Yang Guang was able to accomplish so many great things in just a few years, including building the Eastern Capital, building the North-South Grand Canal, and even conquering all directions. This was only because of the substantial wealth that Yang Jian had accumulated for him.

Yang Jian reigned for 24 years and was determined to reform and enterprising, accumulating a rich family fortune. However, Yang Guang emptied the Sui family fortune in only about ten years.

Yang Guang defeated Tuyuhun and destroyed Yiwu to conquer Goguryeo. In Li Shimin's view, they all failed.

If I had the family strength left by Emperor Wen, and had millions of armored elites, how could I conquer Goguryeo several times without losing?
It is a pity that his treasury is now empty.

Li Shimin wanted to surpass Yang Guang, but the empty treasury hindered him at every turn.

"One day I will conquer Tuyuhun and restore the four counties of Xihai. I will also conquer Goguryeo and restore the four counties of Liaodong. I will even enter the Western Region again and repeat the Han Dynasty's Western Region Protectorate."

Li Shimin spoke boldly to the bright moon.

Queen Changsun came over and put a piece of clothing on the emperor.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late, please rest early."

"Guanyin, my conversation with the Emperor today made me realize that I, the Heavenly Khan, am still far behind the achievements of Emperor Daye."

"Your Majesty, how can Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty be compared with a saint? Emperor Yang loves great achievements, is eager for quick success, and is self-willed. He inherited the founding of the emperor's prosperous age, but made great achievements in vain, harmed the country and the people, and was a coward."

Li Shimin shook his head and sighed, "Emperor Yang had no virtues, but he also had merits. It's just that his merits are in later generations, but his sins are in the present. The North-South Grand Canal he built is of benefit to the future. It's a pity that he was too eager to conquer it. Tuyuhun, Goguryeo, and the attack on Khitan were all right, but the mistake was that they were too hasty."

Li Shimin actually had some respect for Yang Guang, his cousin. For example, Yang Guang was very talented, especially in poetry. Yang Guang was excellent in all aspects, and even ambitious.
Yang Guang was by no means a foolish king. He had the ability and ambition. Unfortunately, he failed to truly care about the people. He even ignored the Guanlong Group, which was the foundation of the Sui Dynasty's rule. He focused on his great cause and ignored everyone in the world.

His ambition and dream of a great cause eventually turned him into a nightmare that dragged thousands of people in the Central Plains into the abyss, and he also became an immoral tyrant.

To put it harshly, Yang Guang is a man with high ambitions and low abilities.

The next day.

Li Shimin specially asked Concubine Yang to invite Empress Xiao into the palace.

Concubine Yang is the daughter of Yang Guang, but she is not Empress Xiao's biological child. However, Concubine Yang's mother died young, and Concubine Yang was raised with the help of Empress Xiao.

Empress Xiao was captured by Li Jing and sent back to Chang'an. She presented the jade seal with merit and lived in Xingdaofang with her grandson Yang Zhengdao. Their life was not bad. After all, Yang Zhengdao was awarded the title of Duke of Yuzhang and was appointed as a regular attendant.

After receiving the order, Empress Xiao, who was in her 60s, changed her clothes and went to the palace to see her.

Concubine Yang welcomed her into the palace and met the saint together.

Ms. Xiao, who is in her 60s, has weathered hair, but she still looks dignified.

The emperor summoned her, not because he had any wrongdoing. After all, this was his mother-in-law, also called maternal aunt.If counted from the other side, they are also called aunts and uncles.

"Is everything going well after you return to Chang'an?" "Thanks to Saint Hongfu, everything is going well."

Although her husband and son have both passed away, the Xiao family in Chang'an has a daughter who is a concubine in the palace, a brother who is a prime minister in the court, and a brother who is a secretary, supervisor, and other officials. Even the former son-in-law Yu Wenshi and Na are former prime ministers.
So Xiao's life in Chang'an was actually quite good.

Li Shimin looked at her. She was in her 60s, but she looked like she was in her fifties. She still had charm and elegant temperament.

"When Emperor Yang was killed in Jiangdu, where was he buried?" Li Shimin asked.

Speaking of this matter, Mrs. Xiao wiped away tears. When Yang Guang was murdered and the palace was in turmoil, Mrs. Xiao and the palace officials took down the couch planks and made a small coffin, which was secretly buried under the Liuzhu Hall of Jiangdu Palace.

Later, Chen Leng, a general of the Sui Dynasty who occupied Jiangdu, gathered all the people to mourn Yang Guang, prepared ceremonial guards, and was buried under the Wu Gong Tower.

After Yang Guang's death, Yang Tong of Luoyang gave Yang Guang the posthumous title of Ming Emperor Shizu, Dou Jiande posthumously took the posthumous title of Emperor Min, and Li Yuan posthumously took the posthumous title of Emperor Yang after he became emperor.

The Tang Dynasty had been established for more than ten years, but no one paid attention to Yang Guang who was buried under Wu Gong's platform.

"I will immediately issue an edict to bury Emperor Yang in Jiangdu with imperial rites."

After hearing this, Mrs. Xiao excitedly bowed down and thanked her.

We chatted for a long time and recalled some past events.
Near noon, Li Shimin issued an order to summon brothers Xiao Yu and Xiao Jing, as well as Dou Yun and his mother Xiao, as well as Yuwen Shiji and Yang Zhengdao.

These people are all relatives of the Xiao family.

Xiao Jing, the secretary supervisor, was the fifth brother of Empress Xiao, and Xiao Yu, the prime minister, was his eighth brother. Dou Yun, the Minister of Civil Affairs, and his mother, Xiao, were the elder sisters of Empress Xiao. She was married to Dou Wei, the prime minister of martial virtue, who died young.

As for Yuwen Shiji, he was the eldest son-in-law of Empress Xiao, and is now his former son-in-law. His eldest daughter, Princess Nanyang, is actually still alive, but she has already broken up with Yuwen Shiji and became a nun. Yuwen Shiji was still a nun in his early years. I once asked for reconciliation.

This family dinner in the Manna Hall is quite special.

Li Shimin looked at everyone and said, "Wu Huaiyu is not in Beijing, otherwise he should come to accompany us."

Concubine Yang said, "Xianggong Wu adopted Princess Huainan as his concubine, and also adopted the concubine Xiao Ningzhu, the daughter of King Xi, who is also a relative."

Yang Muyun was the daughter of Yang Qing, king of the Xi clan of the Sui Dynasty. Yang Qing was Yang Guang's cousin in terms of seniority. His daughter was granted the title of princess and was married to the Turks, so she was naturally regarded as Empress Xiao's niece.Xiao Ningzhu's mother was Empress Xiao's cousin. She was also married to King Xi during the Sui Dynasty, and she was her niece.

Wu Huaiyu adopted Empress Xiao's nieces and nephews as concubines. Naturally, they were also relatives, so they were expected to attend this family banquet.

"I have long heard that Mr. Wu is very young and is a talented person in the country with both civil and military skills." Empress Xiao said.

"When he returns to Chang'an, let him bring Yang and Xiao to visit him at his residence." Li Shimin said.

This family banquet in the palace was quite enjoyable.

There are four Xiao brothers and sisters,

Empress Xiao's daughter Yang Fei, son-in-law the emperor, former son-in-law Yu Wenshiji, grandson Yang Zhengdao, and nephew Dou Yun.

Emperor Yang was buried with imperial rites.
Mr. Xiao was also treated generously and given the title of Lady of the State.

The next day, another edict followed. This edict was called the Imprisonment of the Descendants of Rebellious Officials. It announced that Yu Wenji, Yu Wen Zhiji, Sima Dekan, Pei Qantong, and Meng Jing who participated in the murder of Emperor Yang in Jiangdu would be punished. Dozens of people, including Yuan Li, Yang Lan, Tang Fengyi, etc., imposed serious punishments to encourage the ministers. Those who were still alive, regardless of whether they had official titles or no titles, were all removed from their names and assigned to Liulingbiao.

His children and grandchildren should also be imprisoned.

Among these rebellious ministers and traitors, Yu Wenhua and his brothers are more vicious and virtuous, but Yu Wenshi does not plan against his will, and the old scholar and the same family are not exempt from this.

In fact, this group of people had been dealt with before in the early days of Zhenguan. Pei Qantong, the governor of Chenzhou, had complaints against the court, causing the emperor to use him as a role model.

Now several years have passed, and the emperor not only failed to pardon the regicides, but instead increased the punishment, and even implicated his brothers and descendants.

The punishment this time was swift and severe, not only banishing and sitting together, but also confiscating all their property and fields.

Yu Wenshiji was the only exception who was specially pardoned.

And after this purpose,
The emperor held a court meeting,

"Attendant Wei Zheng reported to Chen Xiantian, and I gave it to all ministers for their reading."

"What do you think of this?"

The prime ministers were sitting in the palace, and no one spoke first. It was really a matter of limiting the land, and everyone felt that it was too big a deal, and there was no way to do anything about it. Moreover, it was an offending matter, and it might lead to fire.

Xiao Yu was clearly opposed to limiting the land. Although he knew that the emperor wanted to limit the land, he still stood up and said, "Your Majesty, who is willing to hand over the over-occupied land? This is impossible. If you insist on it, you will definitely In the midst of turmoil and chaos, Wei Zheng, a scholar, is derailing the country's strategy."

Li Shimin said calmly, "Xiao Xiang is wrong in what he said."

"May I ask Your Majesty, where did I go wrong?"

"The Duke of Jin State, Wu Huaiyu, has nearly [-] hectares of land under his name. However, after hearing that the imperial court intends to limit the land, he has taken the initiative to promise me that within three years, he will resell [-] hectares of border land, and will also sell acres of land in the interior one after another. He promised If the court needs to acquire land, it is also willing to resell it."

The emperor looked at the prime ministers and said, "Wu Huaiyu is a prime minister and an honorable minister. He has thousands of hectares of land under his name and is willing to sell it. Is it possible that others are not willing?"

As soon as this statement came out, the whole palace was shocked. Wu Huaiyu has been rising rapidly in recent years and has become very powerful. He has also been very generous in purchasing land, purchasing thousands of hectares of land in a few years.

Nowadays, a large number of sales are suddenly required. Is this possible?
Is he really willing?

(End of this chapter)