A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 893: Worshiping Sikong

Jiucheng Palace.

Li Shimin has been recuperating with the queen in this palace for a long time, playing polo and shooting, and spending his free time reading and practicing calligraphy. He deliberately cultivated the crown prince's ability to govern, and left Chang'an specifically to let the prime ministers and assistants assist the prince in supervising the country.

It's late autumn in a blink of an eye.

The queen held the emperor's hand and walked in the palace,

After staying here for a long time, I really can't bear to leave. Jiucheng Palace is indeed more suitable for living than Taiji Palace in Chang'an. There are mountains and water, good air, and a quiet environment.

"When will Your Majesty return to Chang'an?"

Li Shimin smiled and said, "With you, Maid Guanyin, by your side, I won't be happy here without thinking about Shu."

"Your Majesty, are you really confident that you can hand over all government affairs to Cheng Qian?"

"Cheng Qian has been crowned, and he has to start shouldering responsibilities. There are so many prime ministers and ministers assisting the court, so I have nothing to worry about. What's more, the affairs of the court will be copied and submitted to me, and the results of Cheng Qian's handling will be submitted to me. , I will also send you a copy,"

In fact, the emperor was still paying attention to the affairs of the court in Jiucheng Palace, but now he chose to start to relax and let Cheng Qian learn.

Fang Xuanling, Wen Yanbo, Wei Zheng, etc. were assisting. In fact, there was no need to worry. Major matters in the court were basically decided by the ministers of the Political Affairs Hall, and the most important thing was to learn.

This year the Huanghuai flood flooded thirty states and caused great losses.

On the one hand, the imperial court provided food relief to the prefectures to support the people, and on the other hand, it also ordered tax reductions and exemptions in the disaster-stricken areas. So far, there have not been a large number of hungry people in the disaster-stricken areas, let alone refugees. This is an amazing result.

These achievements can even be counted on the head of the prince of the prison country, adding to the reputation of this prince as a sage.

"Ms. Guanyin, I am very happy that Cheng Qian has really grown up and matured. You said, why not wait for Cheng Qian's birthday next year and let him officially welcome the Su family into the East Palace?"

"I want to hold my grandson soon."

Li Shimin said with a smile, Cheng Qian's performance over the past year has indeed been very good, which is in line with the emperor's performance as a good prince.

Cheng Qian will be sixteen next year, so it is not too early to marry a princess. Li Shimin married at this age.

Of course, Li Shimin actually had another plan. The Emperor's health has become increasingly poor in the past two years. After all, he is still in his sixties. It will definitely not be easy for him to be confined to the small palace of Da'an Palace every day, especially before. I heard that after my old friend Pei Ji died on the way back to Beijing, he became seriously ill and his health became worse and worse after that.

Although Li Shimin also sent doctors to deliver medicine, he still hoped that Li Yuan could live for a few more years, but he also knew that the Emperor's health was indeed not good. He was worried that the Emperor would collapse in the past two years.

In that case, Cheng Qian would have to keep filial piety for the Supreme Emperor, which would definitely delay his marriage. It would be better to marry early and have children early. Otherwise, if the emperor collapses, he will have to drag it on.

"That's good, Mrs. Su will be fifteen next year," Empress Changsun held her husband's arm and smiled. In fact, mothers also hope that their children can get married soon.

Having said this, she turned to her husband and asked, "Is Lizhi's wedding date confirmed?"

The emperor's previous wedding date for his daughter Princess Changle and Changsun Chong was September. However, due to the Huanghuai flood, the emperor did not want to make a fuss about the princess at this time, so the wedding was rescheduled and postponed.

Now the victims of the Huanghuai disaster are basically being comforted well. Most of the people have returned to their homes, and a small number of those whose homes were destroyed have also been temporarily resettled.

"I think it's better to have the wedding before the year before,"

"Okay, let's just schedule it in the twelfth lunar month. We will also go back to Chang'an to celebrate the New Year and hold the wedding for them. Make it grand."

Li Shimin was unwilling to owe anything to his eldest daughter, not to mention that his son-in-law was the eldest son of Changsun Wuji.

"I have owed something to Wuji in the past few years. I plan to let Wuji enter the political hall to pay homage to the prime minister after the new year."

Empress Changsun stopped and immediately admonished her husband. She did not want her brother to be too favored, "My uncle is already the prime minister of the court. It is really inappropriate for my brother to be the prime minister too."

Li Shimin pondered,

Holding the queen's hand, she continued walking on the bluestone road leaving the palace.

Back from a walk,

There are many new memorials on the imperial desk.

Li Shimin looked through it first and found something about Wu Huaiyu, so he picked it out first.

Dengzhou, pirate, veteran of Sui Dynasty’s conquest of Liao Dynasty...

The emperor was a little surprised,

Look more carefully.

After reading it, I turned it over and read it again.

Putting it down, the emperor brewed himself a cup of milk tea. The tea with fresh milk was very mellow.

"This Wu Qingyang is uneasy wherever he goes."

He went to Qizhou to express condolences to the victims, but ended up overthrowing the Prince of Qi's Mansion. Lao Wu was brought back to Chang'an by him. During the period of self-reflection behind closed doors, Lao Wu's uncle was demoted to a commoner and exiled to Huanzhou. Sima of the Prince of Qi's Mansion and Yan of the Dian Army The brothers were demoted to slaves...

Wu Huaiyu traveled eastward to Dengzhou, and then another big incident occurred.

The soldiers of the Sui army who conquered Goguryeo,

This group has been forgotten,

Li Shimin sent someone to summon the veterans who were accompanying him to come over for tea.

While drinking tea, the emperor showed them this memorial.

"Wu Huaiyu said it very well. Although they are soldiers of the Sui Dynasty, they are also sons of my Han family. Although the dynasties have changed, they cannot be forgotten in a foreign country.

I remember that when I was still young, the Supreme Emperor was responsible for the logistics and food supplies for Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. My brothers and I also accompanied the Supreme Emperor to escort food and grass. We also went to Liaodong City and saw with our own eyes the brutality of the conquest of Liao."

"Countless soldiers fought bloody battles under the tall Liaodong City. Liaodong City was like a flesh and blood pound, grinding so many soldiers to pieces,"

Talking about the past, Li Shimin couldn't help but talk about Yang Guang's random command.

One will be incompetent, exhausting the three armies.

More than 1.1 million troops set out for battle, starting from Zhuojun.

The total amount is one hundred, one hundred and thirty-three thousand eight hundred, with a number of two million, and the number of gifts will be doubled.

On the first day of the war, the army was launched, and by the end of the forty days, all the troops had been led.

This size, even if it is a bit exaggerated, is still an amazing army. However, it failed in Liaodong. In the final analysis, there was a problem with Yang Guang's strategy and tactics.

"If I come to conquer Goguryeo now, I don't need millions. I only need one hundred thousand elites, which will be enough." When Li Shimin said this to his veterans, he was very proud and confident.

In Li Shimin's view, one hundred thousand elites can go anywhere in the world and no one can stop them.

When the ministers heard this, their hearts suddenly changed.

In fact, I am very worried. Although the Tang Dynasty has grown rapidly in recent years, don't forget that in the 9th year of Wude, when the emperor first succeeded to the throne, the Turkic Jieli Khan led his army to Chang'an and led the Wei River.

That was only seven years ago.

Although Jieli has been dancing in Chang'an for several years now, Xue Yantuo of Mobei has already unified Mobei and wants to get involved in Monan. After DTZ Jieli was captured, he still had a lot of sweat and a lot of shooting. powerful,

Including the Western Turks, Tuyuhun, etc., it can be said that the Tang Dynasty cannot sit back and relax, nor does it have the strength to conquer Liaodong now.

In recent years, the price of grain has been able to remain at four or five yuan per bucket of rice. What does it rely on?

In addition to the absence of major disasters, it relies on recuperation and no large-scale wars. People can farm and produce at home, so that food can be harvested.

Once a large-scale war breaks out, countless soldiers and strong men will go to the front line, which will inevitably delay production and even cause some people to hoard food, leading to soaring food prices.

In fact, it only took three years to defeat the Turks and capture Jieli.

"Your Majesty, although Goguryeo is not a kind person, it still needs to be careful when dealing with them, and must not easily provoke provocations."

"As an important official of the imperial court, it would be okay for Wu Huaiyu to go to Qingqi to express condolences to the victims, but in Dengzhou, he would cross the sea and go to Liaodong to attack villages and rob people. This is very inappropriate,"

"If this causes a conflict or a war, it will break the imperial court's plan."

Most of the veterans expressed dissatisfaction with Wu Huaiyu's behavior.

Too messy.

Li Shimin sat there, holding the teacup and sipping slowly.

Although the old ministers said that they are old and seek the country, Wu Huaiyu was impulsive and did the right thing. Those veterans made people regretful and even made them feel guilty.

"Don't worry, gentlemen,"

The emperor put down the tea cup, "I have said a long time ago that sooner or later the Tang Dynasty will conquer Goguryeo again and avenge the Chinese people, but not now,"

"But there are some things that the court did not do before, but now they have to do it. As mentioned in Huaiyu's memorial, our Tang Dynasty will send envoys to Goguryeo to meet the King of Goguryeo.

To destroy the Sui army’s capital and collect the bones of the Central Atomic brothers who died in Liaodong.

We also want to make a request to Goguryeo to redeem our brother Central,"

As for Wu Huaiyu leading people to Liaodong to rob people, let's deal with it in a low-key manner. Even if the Goguryeo people really knew about it, what could they do if the Tang Dynasty did not recognize it?

Li Shimin said domineeringly that the Tang Dynasty would indeed not go to war with Goguryeo, but it was not afraid of the Goguryeo people. The Goguryeo people did not have the courage to quarrel with the Tang Dynasty at this time.

So as long as the Tang Dynasty insists that there is no such thing, the Goguryeo people will find their own way out.

"Send another envoy to the Silla Kingdom to give the King of Silla some rewards and talk to them about increasing trade cooperation. We can also sell them some warships, armor and weapons,"

You don’t need to sell too much, just sell a small batch to express a gesture. This is also a pressure on the Goguryeo people. If they are unwilling to cooperate and dialogue, refuse to demolish the Jingguan, and refuse to return the bones of the Sui army, then add more Great support for Silla Kingdom.

It is indeed inappropriate for the Tang Dynasty to start a war with Goguryeo.

But strategic fraud is okay;

It's not impossible to make a gesture and scare them.

······

"Wuji, I think the marriage between Changle and your eldest son should be scheduled in the twelfth lunar month. Don't delay the wedding in the twelfth lunar month."

Changsun Wuji was very happy to hear this, and he was willing to complete the good deeds as soon as possible.

"Which day of the twelfth lunar month is suitable? Your Majesty, please choose an auspicious day."

"Well, the queen and I asked someone to check the date. The eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month is a good day."

Changsun Wuji agreed and said that arrangements would be made immediately and the wedding would be held grandly and beautifully.

"Although Lizhi is the eldest daughter of me and the queen, she is also a close niece. And after we get married, she will be your daughter-in-law. The queen and I also told her that after she has passed through the door and entered the eldest grandson's house, you and your wife She is her uncle, she wants to offer you tea to say hello,"

After many princesses get married, their parents-in-law have to pay respects to the princess. This is even normal.

"Wuji, after the new year, you can go back to the political hall."

Changsun Wuji felt hot in his heart,

"Your Majesty, my uncle is also in the political hall. This is inappropriate."

Li Shimin continued, minding his own business, "Your right servant, Li Jing, has written several times this year to retire because of his illness. I have repeatedly asked him to stay, but you know Li Jing and are cautious. Although you are the prime minister, you can be the same as Qin Qiong in the political hall. I actually have some problems." Disappointed,"

"My political hall does not need decorations. What we need are people who are truly responsible and willing to do things. If Li Jing wants to retire, then let him go.

Wuji, you take his place. "

Changsun Wuji was very moved, but in the end he shook his head and refused. He had been with the emperor for many years and was very familiar with the emperor. He felt that this was not the emperor's true intention.

Changsun Wuji repeatedly declined.

The next day,

Li Shimin issued an edict to worship the eldest son Wuji as Sikong of the three princes.

On the same day, the emperor used Fang Xuanling to assist the prince in supervising the country for his meritorious service, and granted him the title of Kaifu Yitong Third Division and the prince's junior division.

He was given a rhinoceros stick to Li Jingling, and the Jin Dynasty opened the Yitong three divisions, and added the crown prince as the Taibao.

Qin Qiong was the crown prince's master, and Wu Huaiyu was the crown prince's master. They were each given five hundred pieces of silk.

This edict shocked many people.

Previously, there were only three people in Kaifu Yitong Sansi, Changsun Wuji, Qin Qiong and Wu Huaiyu. Now, Fang Xuanling and Li Jing have also been promoted to Kaifu Yitong Sansi, the highest rank among casual officials.

However, news also spread that Li Jing was asking to resign as prime minister. It was said that he would officially retire after becoming the prime minister.

Changsun Wuji paid homage to the Three Dukes at this time, which inevitably aroused many speculations. Some people thought that this was because the uncle was going to take a step further and return to the political hall, but more people had already seen it.

The emperor gave Changsun Wuji the honorary title of Three Dukes, so it would be impossible for him to succeed Li Jing in the political hall this time.

Who will take over as the right servant has caused countless speculations for a while.

Of course, some people think that Wu Huaiyu is the prince's tutor, while Li Jing is the prince's guardian. It seems inappropriate for a student to be before a teacher, but more people don't think it is inappropriate. Wu Huaiyu's high rank is due to his meritorious service.

(End of this chapter)