People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1766: Yao Chong, Song Jing, He Zhizhang, Chen Ziang, it’s time to come up
In the Liangyi Palace, Li Xuan looked calmly at the Mobei topographic map in front of him, his eyes unfocused.

Yu Ze stood beside Li Xuan and bowed, saying, "The news that the Eastern Palace is compiling the Han Shu has spread throughout the two capitals and the local areas, and everyone praises your majesty for his wisdom and unparalleled wisdom."

"There is nothing brilliant about it. It is nothing more than a comparison with Emperor Gaozong's reign. Without Empress Wu, I'm afraid all the scholars and generals in the world would like to see it." Li Xuan smiled softly, and then said, "Things in the world are afraid of comparison. Once the matter of Empress Wu is brought up, the Xuanwu Gate Incident will inevitably be mentioned at the same time."

"Yes!" Yu Ze bowed solemnly.

Nowadays, almost no one in the court or the country cares about the reign of Emperor Gaozong anymore.

Li Chongjun was unable to shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing the country due to health reasons, and Li Chengqi even voluntarily gave up the throne. The direct lineage of Emperor Gaozong no longer had any hope of taking back the world.

Li Chongjun and Li Chengqi were too young. In at least ten years, or even just five years, Li Xuan would be able to run the world like an iron barrel, and no one would trace back to the previous dynasty.

Then only the descendants of Emperor Taizong are left, those on the roster and those outside the roster. Apart from the two brothers Li Chongjun and Li Chengqi, I'm afraid Li Xiang and Li Jue will be the main ones.

For these two brothers, just bringing up the events of Xuanwu Gate would be enough to shake the minds of those who want to support them.

The ones left at the end are the completely ambitious ones.

"Yizhou and Bingzhou, find a few soldiers who have done something wrong, and find a way to pass their crimes to Li Xiang and Li Jue, and see what they will do." Li Xuan looked up calmly and said, "If they are fair, then there is no need to interfere. Every now and then, put the faults of local officials in their hands. If they are partial, then find a way to tell the censor about their partiality."

"Yes!" Yu Ze nodded seriously. Li Xiang and Li Jue had been closely watched for a long time, so it was not easy for them to do anything.

After a short pause, Li Xuan said, "But if my guess is correct, they should be fair and just during this period. I sent people to keep an eye on them, and they should be able to guess what happened."

"Your Majesty, do you mean they can disguise themselves?" Yu Ze raised his eyebrows.

"Of course." Li Xuan turned around and said, "How is Tang Jianri doing?"

Yu Ze was stunned for a moment, then he said, "Tang Jianri has been keeping a low profile for a while, but Zhou Jitong has been jumping up and down."

Zhou Jitong was the youngest son of Zhou Wudao, the former governor of Yingzhou, and Princess Linchuan. He had poor education and inability.

"I remember that he has not been appointed yet, right?" Li Xuan looked up and asked, "What does he plan to do, take the imperial examination, or the imperial examination, or is he planning to take the imperial examination?"

"Yinguan." Yu Ze said with certainty: "He doesn't have the ability to take the imperial examination. The Zongzheng test has been strict in the past two years, so there are only Yinguan. According to what Your Majesty said, Yinguan are mainly appointed as local county school officials, and the Left Prime Minister keeps a close eye on these."

Establishing schools has been the main means for Li Xuan to appease scholars throughout the world since he ascended the throne.

Although the Tang Dynasty today is not like the Song and Ming dynasties when only literature was valued, literati have gradually become the mainstream of the world.

In particular, the imperial examination every year is one of the sources of new officials in the world.

After Li Xuan ascended the throne, he prepared to gradually reform the imperial examination system.

The ultimate goal is to hold an exam every three years and admit 100 people.

By reducing the cost of imperial examinations for scholars from poor families, the proportion of officials from aristocratic families can be reduced.

Of course, this is not something that can be done immediately. He needs time, opportunities, and more importantly, Li Xuan needs to have prestige that is unimaginable to ordinary people in order to force all this through.

As long as this can be achieved, even if Li Xuan dies in the future, the world will not be overturned, and the descendants of Emperor Taizong will not be able to take the world back.

"The Ministry of War needs to hurry up and improve the system for transferring military officers to local officials as much as possible," Li Xuan instructed again.

"Yes!" Yu Ze bowed solemnly.

Scholars, royal family members, relatives by marriage, officials with royal connections, as well as transferred officers and soldiers in the army, as well as the Qianniu Jinwu Guards, a complete system of officials has taken shape in Li Xuan's hands.

However, even so, Li Xuan had only achieved the basics of Emperor Gaozong, and he was still far from what he needed to do.

"After this autumn, transfer Zhou Jitong to Jiangnan to take up a post. At the same time, tell him not to give him any preferential treatment." Li Xuan turned and looked at Yu Ze.

Yu Ze suddenly became dignified and bowed, saying, "Yes!"

"As for Tang Jianri, after the Turkic war ends this year, we will transfer Tang Jianri to Youzhou." Li Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly, "I want to see how much he can stir up the muddy water in Youzhou when he arrives."

"Yes!" Yu Ze's expression became serious.

Dou Huaiqi, the governor of Youzhou, always has something on his mind. He is the son-in-law of Emperor Taizong, and the brother-in-law of Li Chengqi and Li Chongjun. In addition, Youzhou is located in a key area, and he has hidden many cards in Youzhou during his many years in office.

Li Xuan will be of great use to Dou Huaiqi in the future, so now is not the time to alarm him easily, but it is also crucial to find out his background. However, Li Xuan's main attention is now on the Turks Ashina Gudulu and Ashina Mochuo, and he cannot take care of them for the time being.

After all this is over, Li Xuan will focus completely on Hebei.

While eliminating all the hidden dangers in Hebei, the main force of the Silla people was also killed.

"After March this year, Wei Xuantong will be transferred to become the Imperial Censor, and the position of Minister of Rites will be vacant. At that time, either Prince Huo or Prince Han will be the Minister of Rites, and the other one will be assigned to a local post. At that time, the position of Minister of the Imperial Clan will be vacant, and I will transfer Prince Zheng to be the Minister of the Imperial Clan. Uncle Yu will then be promoted to the Secretary General, and he will finally have enough experience."

Li Xuan turned sideways to look at Yu Ze. Yu Ze had been the secretary-general since Li Xuan conquered Chang'an the year before last, and this year had been two years.

After being promoted from Junior Secretary-General to Secretary-General, I have accumulated enough experience and it is time to move on to the next step.

"I obey your order, but Liu Siqing has been the Shaoqing of Zongzheng Temple for many years." Yu Ze looked at Li Xuan with some concern.

Liu Yuanshen, the father of Wu Niang Liu Qiongyu, was the Shaoqing of Zongzheng Temple. Originally, Liu Yuanshen got the position of Shaoqing of Zongzheng Temple by virtue of the relationship between Liu Rengui and Li Xuan, but now, he became Li Xuan's father-in-law, and seemed to be qualified to manage Zongzheng Temple.

"Give him the title of Earl, and grant him the title of Zhengyi Dafu. Let him last for a while." Li Xuan waved his hand and said, "The most important thing now is to promote our people. The position of Secretary Shaojian will be vacant. Only then can He Zhizhang, Chen Ziang and others make further progress. As for Yao Chong and Song Jing, after the imperial examination, it will be their time to make further progress."

Li Xuan did not even put Yao Chong, Song Jing, He Zhizhang, Chen Zi'ang, Zhuge Minghui, Wang Bo and others in the Eastern Palace, because he wanted to use these people himself.

Especially Yao Chong and Song Jing, only when they sit in the positions of assistant ministers of the six ministries, can Li Xuan truly control them as if they were his own arms, instead of now, when he still needs to compromise with others.

"Yes!" Yu Ze bowed slightly.

"Don't worry about anything. Next year, the position of Chief Clerk of Bingzhou Governor's Office will be vacant. We can transfer one of the six ministers." Li Xuan waved his hand gently, and then said with emotion: "And Mr. Yuan, he is old too. He will have to retire in one or two years."

Yuan Jiazuo, the Minister of Weiwei Temple, was already sixty years old when he served as the Chief Clerk of Luozhou. After that, he served as the Chief Clerk of Yongzhou for several years. Now he is the Minister of Weiwei Temple again. It is very difficult for him to make further progress.

"When the time comes, I will transfer him to be the Imperial Secretary. Before he retires, I will grant him the title of Tongzhongshumenxia Pingzhangshi. After one or two months, he will retire as the Prime Minister." Li Xuan sighed lightly. As an emperor, he had extremely strict requirements on the prime minister.

It is impossible for him to be like Liu Rengui, who was still working hard when he was in his seventies or eighties.

There are three hundred states in the world, and a large amount of government affairs are sent to the Political Affairs Hall. Li Xuan also strengthens his control over the provincial governors of the world through the Political Affairs Hall.

The intensity here is very high, and anyone who can't keep up will be eliminated immediately.

The elderly will even die.

"Your Majesty!" Shangguan Wan'er came over from the side and bowed, "Your Majesty, it's time to change your clothes. The envoys from various countries will be arriving soon."

"Yeah!" Li Xuan nodded slightly.

Today is the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It is the time for Li Xuan to entertain envoys from various countries. This is also related to the layout of the Turks...

……

In the Taiji Hall, Honglu Temple Minister Le Sihui said loudly: "All envoys pay homage to His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty."

"Foreign officials pay their respects to the Emperor of the Great Tang. May His Majesty live a long life and may the country be forever stable." Envoys from more than 40 countries, including the Turks, Arabs, Persians, Indians, Japanese, Ryukyu, Annan, Cambodia, Java, Uighurs, Tiele, Kangguo, Shiguo, and Anguo, all bowed to the ground.

Li Xuan, dressed in a black robe with a golden dragon pattern, sat on the imperial couch. Cui Ding, the general of the Jinwu Guard, stood solemnly beside him with his hand on a long sword.

On both sides of the golden steps sat respectively the Minister of Taichang Temple Lin Renji, the Minister of Guanglu Temple Chen Guang, the Minister of Dali Temple He Yiqiu, the Minister of Weiwei Temple Yuan Jiazuo, the Minister of Taifu Temple Yuan Ming, the Minister of Honglu Temple Le Sihui, the Minister of Sinong Temple Chen Yi, and the Minister of Taipu Temple Zhang Xi.

Li Xuan called out to everyone except Li Yuangui, the Prince of Huo, who was the Minister of Zongzheng Temple and whom he wanted to disturb.

"Please stand up, all envoys, and take a seat." Li Xuan raised his hand calmly and said gently, "I was also the Junior Minister of the Honglu Temple in the past. Many of you are my old friends, especially the envoys from Kangguo. You all don't need to be too formal."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Kang Liancheng, the envoy of Kang State, was the first to bow, and the other envoys quickly saluted at the same time.

They have all been in the Tang Dynasty for many years, so they naturally know that what Li Xuan said was just politeness. If they really acted recklessly, they would be punished in a couple of days.

Seeing the envoys sitting down, Li Xuan raised his glass and said, "My lords, since I ascended the throne last year, the border has been peaceful and trade has been booming. I respect you all and hope that the Tang Dynasty and the Western Regions will be stable. Come on, raise your glasses and drink!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The ministers inside and outside the court raised their glasses at the same time and drank them all in one gulp.

Put down the wine glass, the wonderful Hu Xuan dance has begun.

……

After the dance, many people had a hint of drunkenness in their eyes.

Fortunately, they all remembered that this was the imperial palace, not Pingkangfang, otherwise there would have been chaos long ago.

After everyone calmed down, Li Xuan looked at Kang Liancheng and said, "Envoy Kang, two years ago, I went to Kang State. Although Kang State is prosperous, it is indeed not as good as the Tang Dynasty."

With Li Xuan's words, the envoys from Kangguo, Shiguo, Anguo, Turkic, Persian, and Arab countries in the hall all became solemn.

Which emperor would go to fight thousands of miles away for no reason and even win a great victory?

Just during this trip, the true face of the Western Regions was completely revealed before Li Xuan's eyes.

The so-called prosperity of the Western Regions is, after all, nothing more than a joke.

It was merely a process in which dozens of countries in the Western Regions sent their most exquisite gems, the most beautiful women, and various treasures to the Tang Dynasty.

It was a process in which the Tang Dynasty used tea, silk, and porcelain to plunder the wealth of the countries in the Western Regions.

This is the Silk Road.

"The Great Tang Heavenly Kingdom is unparalleled in wealth. Your Majesty is a man of both civil and military virtues, and a gift of wisdom and intelligence from heaven. Ordinary people cannot compare to him. Ordinary people cannot compare to him." Kang Liancheng spoke first, and a series of flattery had already been delivered.

Li Xuan couldn't help but smile, and then said: "In that case, how about Envoy Kang staying in the Tang Dynasty forever?"

(End of this chapter)