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

Chapter 1778 Li Xuan's gaze finally fell on Hebei (2/2)

The second year of Kaiyuan, the first day of October.

The north wind is cold.

In front of the Taiji Hall, hundreds of Chang'an officials above the ninth rank stood solemnly.

Li Xuan, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, calmly walked down the jade steps. Behind him, dozens of officials of the fourth rank and above in the court, each holding a portrait in their hands, walked towards the Liangyi Gate.

The other officials below the fourth rank could only stand and watch, their eyes full of longing as more than 20 young men followed the important officials to the harem.

After passing Liangyi Gate and Ganlu Gate, you will reach the head of the harem.

Ganlu Temple.

Go east from Ganlu Hall to Taiqing Hall, and then go north to the Lingyan Pavilion.

Today is the day when Lingyan Pavilion reopens.

Not only did the newly rebuilt Lingyan Pavilion have to be inspected by the ministers, but the portraits of the heroes in the Lingyan Pavilion that were painted with great difficulty also had to be sent to the Lingyan Pavilion for enshrinement.

The world is watching.

Compared with the previous time, there were three more portraits of meritorious officials sent to the Lingyan Pavilion this time.

Duke of Bian Liu Rengui, Duke of Jiang Pei Xingjian, and Duke of Dai Xue Rengui.

Officials below the fourth rank were not allowed to enter the harem or go to the Lingyan Pavilion to see the real thing.

Only officials of the fourth rank and above, as well as the children of meritorious officials, are qualified to go to the Lingyan Pavilion.

……

In front of the Lingyan Pavilion, Liu Jinyu and Liu Shubi both brought their children and supported Liu Rengui who had entered the palace earlier.

Liu Qiongyu originally wanted to come, but Liu Jinyu refused. Wu Niang had just given birth to the seventh son, Li Zhijing, at the end of August and is now recuperating.

On the other hand, Liu Jinyu, who was seven months pregnant, had no effect on her movements.

But it makes sense. After all, she has already given birth to three children, and she is pregnant with the fourth.

Li Xuan brought his ministers to the Lingyan Pavilion.

Towering 40 feet high, with soaring eaves and four pavilions flying into the sky, the brand new Lingyan Pavilion appeared before all the officials.

Liu Jinyu brought Liu Shubi, Princess Fuchang, Li Zhizhao, Li Zhiming, Li Zhigao and others, and bowed slightly: "Your Majesty."

"Stand up!" Li Xuan quickly asked everyone to stand up, and then he bowed to Liu Rengui and said, "Father-in-law, your grandson-in-law is offering incense."

"Your Majesty, please!" Liu Rengui, with white hair and beard, bowed slightly, with a hint of excitement in his expression.

In his own lifetime, he could actually see his own portrait being sent to the Lingyan Pavilion. Liu Rengui was extremely excited and filled with emotion: Your Majesty!

Li Xuan walked forward and bowed deeply to the spirit tablets of Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Taizong, and Emperor Gaozong placed in front of the Lingyan Pavilion. Then he inserted three tall incense sticks into the incense burner. After bowing three times, he retreated.

The ministers followed Li Xuan and bowed solemnly to the three spirit tablets.

Now, the ministers tend to believe that Li Xuan succeeded Li Zhi to the throne.

Brothers eventually become brothers.

Although Li Xian ascended the throne, he did so in Luoyang and did not return to Chang'an to pay homage to the Taimiao, Emperor Gaozu, or Emperor Taizong.

His enthronement ceremony was not fully completed.

If we go into details, Li Xian did not complete the coronation ceremony, so he is not considered the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty at all.

Li Xian was like this, let alone Li Dan.

When he was alive, he was a puppet emperor, and after his death, he was merely posthumously named emperor.

Others, such as Li Chongzhao and Li Chongjun, were not even adults yet and did not have the qualifications to govern.

So, if we look at it from these aspects, Li Xuan inherited Li Zhi's throne.

Li Zhi was Li Xuan's cousin. During the Sixteen Kingdoms period, it was normal for a cousin to inherit the throne of his cousin.

The rumor that Li Xuan would inherit Li Zhi's throne gradually spread in Chang'an and even into people's hearts throughout the world.

After taking three steps back, Li Xuan turned around and looked to the side.

Ouyang Tong took two steps forward and walked to the newly built Lingyan Pavilion, unfolded the imperial edict, and said loudly: "In the second year of Kaiyuan, on the first day of October in the year of Bingxu, the emperor said:

Yu Xi!

Since ancient times, emperors have praised and esteemed meritorious service by engraving it on bells and tripods and depicting it in paintings.

Therefore, Ganlu was a good assistant, and Lin Ge recorded his merits; Jianwu was a meritorious official, and Yuntai recorded his deeds.

The Minister of State, Duke of Zhao, Wuji; the former Minister of Works, Governor of Yangzhou, Prince of Hejian, Xiaogong… the former Governor of Xuzhou, Duke of Huzhuang, Qin Shubao; the Grand Tutor, Duke of Bian, Rengui; the former Minister of Works, Duke of Jiang, Grand Governor of Yangzhou, Xingjian; the former Minister of State, Grand Governor of Bingzhou, Duke of Dai, Rengui, etc.: some were talented and capable, with far-reaching plans; some were well-versed in classics, with brilliant moral character; some fought bravely and bravely, and were outstanding in battles…

He has made great achievements and is a man of honor. He speaks the truth and is a man of the gentry. He looks up to Yi and Lu and makes the same connection with them, and he follows Fang Zhao and makes the same goal.

It is advisable to consider historical facts and expand this law.

It can be painted together with the Lingyan Pavilion, so that the merits of the emperor can be remembered without being thanked by the previous generations; and the honor of the emperor’s virtue can be passed on forever to future generations.

Admire this! "

"Your Majesty, we obey your order. May your Majesty live long and healthy." All the ministers in front knelt down together.

"We thank you for your grace. May your Majesty's reign be forever secure." Many sons of meritorious officials behind him, even Liu Rengui in front, could not help but kneel down.

As soon as Liu Rengui knelt, Liu Jinyu, Liu Shubi, and even the Crown Prince, Princess Fuchang and others all knelt down as well.

Even further away, all the imperial guards, all the palace eunuchs, and even all the ministers in front of the Taiji Palace, all knelt down and said, "... I wish your majesty a long life and a long and stable country... Your majesty a long life and a long and stable country..."

Li Xuan took a deep breath, took a step forward, walked to the door of Lingyan Pavilion, then pushed hard, and Lingyan Pavilion burst open.

……

One portrait after another was sent to the Lingyan Pavilion, and the portraits of the ministers in the Lingyan Pavilion during the reign of Emperor Taizong were sent to the second floor.

The portraits of Liu Rengui, Pei Xingjian, and Xue Rengui were sent to the first floor.

After all the ministers paid their respects together, they bowed and left.

Li Xuan looked at the three portraits deeply and then retreated.

"Send an order to the palace to offer sacrifices every day." Li Xuan spoke softly, and Liu Jinyu immediately bowed and said, "I obey your order."

"Pass on the decree." Li Xuan looked at the descendants of the meritorious officials and nodded, saying, "On the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month every year, the descendants of the meritorious officials can enter the palace to worship and entertain their ancestors."

"We thank Your Majesty very much. May Your Majesty live long and may your country remain strong forever!" The younger generation of ministers behind him all bowed to the ground.

Zhang Daan, Li Yuangui, Li Dazhi and others standing in front all bowed solemnly. "Decree that for the construction of Lingyan Pavilion, Li Ne, the Minister of Rites, Pei Feishu, the Chief Architect, Li Sixun, the Doctor of the Ministry of Rites, Xue Ji, the Prince's Sheren, Yin Zhongrong, and Yan Zhaofu, the Scholar of the Prince's Chongwen Academy, will be promoted to the next level of official rank, and the rest will follow the regulations." Li Xuan looked at the ministers.

Li Na, Pei Feishu and a group of officials from the Ministry of Works were responsible for the construction of the Lingyan Pavilion; Li Sixun, Xue Ji, Yin Zhongrong, Yan Zhaofu and others were responsible for painting the portrait.

Everyone stood up, bowed, and kowtowed to thank the emperor for his grace.

Li Zhi's eyes passed over Yan Zhaofu, then looked at the ministers and said, "The Liangyi Hall has prepared a banquet. My lords, let's go together."

"Yes!" The ministers obeyed the order solemnly.

……

The painted pavilion is beyond imagination, and looks far into the sky.

The red pillars are magnificent, and the white walls are painted with virtuous people.

The vital energy floats in the mist, and the auspicious smoke rises tall.

Looking closely, you can see hundreds of spirits; looking from afar, you may miss the group of immortals.

The pictures are outside the blue sky, and the ceremonies and punishments are in front of the Purple Forbidden City.

Looking at the clear sky, I raise my head and linger there.

Wang Bo stood in front of the Zhenguan Hall, looking at the Lingyan Pavilion, and couldn't help but recite a poem.

Li Xuan sighed softly, put his hands behind his back and said, "Looking at the clear and bright scenery, I raise my head and linger. Uncle, do you think I am still suitable to enter the Lingyan Pavilion now?"

"Lingyan Pavilion was built by Emperor Taizong to commemorate the meritorious officials of the Tang Dynasty. Your Majesty has inherited the mandate of heaven and created a more magnificent and prosperous era. Naturally, you are qualified to enter the Lingyan Pavilion to receive offerings, but..." Wang Bo turned around and looked at Li Xuan and said, "But I think that after a hundred years, it is more appropriate for Your Majesty to receive offerings from your descendants in the Taimiao instead of the Lingyan Pavilion."

"Uncle is the one who can make me happy." Li Xuan couldn't help but smile, and then said, "Uncle, please come in. Let's talk about the Hebei issue."

"Yes!" Wang Bo bowed solemnly, and a trace of solemnity flashed in the depths of his eyes.

A huge map of Hebei was hung on the wall.

Wang Bo held a bamboo stick in his hand and pointed at Jizhou, saying, "The core of Hebei's problem is Jizhou. Boling, Qinghe, Zhaojun, and even Xingyang at the foot of Taihang Mountain are also prosperous places, but their combined population is not as large as Jizhou, and the aristocratic families here are the most numerous."

Li Xuan nodded solemnly. If he wanted to solve the problem in Hebei, Jizhou and Youzhou were the most important.

"The Jizhou area is mainly populated by the Liu, Wei, Feng, Zhang and Zhao families. There are constant in-law exchanges among them, and some even collude with the Cui, Lu and Li families to jointly occupy farmland." Wang Bo spent a year in Hebei, and with the help of his identity as the Shaoqing of the Sinong Temple, he did investigate a lot of things.

"Liu, is it the Liu from Hejian?" Li Xuan asked softly.

Wang Bo immediately bowed his hands with a solemn expression and said, "Yes, they are the Queen's maternal family. Especially after Your Majesty became emperor, the Liu family not only helped Your Majesty stabilize Hebei, but also occupied a lot of land, some of which even used the title of Duke of Bian and Crown Prince."

"So we can't touch them for the time being." Li Xuan's face became solemn. He had just ascended the throne for more than a year, and it was not yet time to dig up his own roots.

Wang Bo nodded. If Li Xuan really wanted to take risks, Wang Bo would stop him.

The descendants of the Liu family spread all over the world were one of the biggest helpers in Li Xuan's rule over the world.

Now is not the time to move them.

"After all, the Liu family has Duke Bian to rectify the family tradition. Your Majesty only needs to pass on the message, and they will naturally know what to do." Wang Bo said softly.

Li Xuan nodded and said, "The Wei family is the family of Prime Minister Wei, right?"

"Yes!" Wang Bo said solemnly, "Since Prime Minister Wei passed away, the Wei family has begun to cultivate the local area, and with the help of Prince Huo, the family has not declined. Moreover, the family tradition is strict. Although there have been incidents of occupying farmland, it is not serious."

Li Xuan nodded calmly. Although Wei Zheng was a famous prime minister, he was the only one who mattered. Most of his children married into the Xue and Cui families, and they already had the problems of aristocratic families.

"The Zhang family is the largest family in Jizhou. They are the family of former Prime Minister Zhang Wenguan. Many of their sons have served as high-ranking officials in the court. They are known as the Zhang family of ten thousand stones." Wang Bo's face was solemn, and he said seriously: "Their family's occupation of land is also the most serious."

"Two provincial governors and two junior ministers, both are important officials I employ." Li Xuan sneered, then shook his head and said, "They are all difficult to deal with."

"The Feng family is the family of Shangshu Feng Zuocheng," Wang Bo mentioned Feng Yuanchang and said, "Although the Feng family ranks fourth or fifth in Jizhou, their greed far exceeds that of the previous families, and their methods are even more ruthless."

"Feng Yuanchang?" Li Xuan frowned slightly and said, "Mr. Feng has always been known for his fortitude and loyalty, and has made many contributions. Why has his family come to this?"

"Feng Zuocheng's reputation is actually average." Wang Bo sneered, and then said, "Feng Zuocheng's cousin Feng Yuanshu has served as a local county magistrate for many years. He encourages good and punishes evil in his administration. He lives a simple life. He and his servants only eat one meal a day, and his horses are only fed one meal a day. He does not bring his family with him, and any excess salary he earns is used to help the poor. He is extremely simple and honest."

"Extremely honest?" Li Xuan clearly heard Wang Bo's ridicule. He frowned and said, "That's not right."

Among the truly honest officials in the world, Hai Rui is the most honest. County Magistrate Feng sounds even more honest than Hai Rui.

"These are the things I have collected about the Feng family occupying land and causing deaths. In the Hengshui area, their family occupies nearly half of the land, and is known as Feng Half City." Wang Bo's eyes were full of sneers.

Li Xuan nodded gently and said, "It seems that Feng Qing will have a hard time getting promoted. Next year, I will focus on Hebei and see what he will do. If he behaves better, I will let him investigate himself. If he doesn't behave better, I will transfer him to Qianzhou."

"Yes!" Wang Bo bowed solemnly.

"Zhao family?" Li Xuan looked up at Wang Bo.

Wang Bo looked a little embarrassed, but he still cupped his hands and said, "The Zhao family of Hejian originated from the Zhao family of Zhending, and is related to the Zhao family of Tianshui, and is one family with the Zhao family of Qinghe."

Li Xuan waved his hand and said, "Although General Yunhui is a direct descendant of the Qinghe Zhao family, he is only a young branch. He does not have a good relationship with the main branch and has very little contact with them. The affairs of the Zhao family are mostly related to the Qinghe Zhao family. The Minister of Personnel Lin Renji and the Vice Minister of Personnel Zhao Xuan are all like this."

Li Xuan knew much more about Zhao's affairs than Wang Bo.

"Yes!" Wang Bo nodded slightly and looked at Li Xuan with a serious expression.

If we trace the source of the chaos in Hebei, we can even trace it directly to Li Xuan, but things are not that simple.

The imperial court has one attitude, but when local governments add more pressure, that’s another matter.

After all, it is always the people of Hebei themselves who oppress and exploit them.

Now that Li Xuan wants to intervene, it depends on who he will attack first.

……

Standing in front of the Hebei map, Li Xuan pondered for a long time, and finally said: "I am in charge of the government, and I should not frame people, so everything should be based on evidence first."

Wang Bo stood behind Li Xuan and bowed solemnly. This was the orthodox way of doing things.

"Li Mo." Li Xuan turned sideways and looked towards the shadow in the hall.

"I'm here." Li Mo, dressed in black clothes and black armor, stood up silently.

"You send people to Hebei to find those families who have been severely persecuted, and sponsor them to come to Chang'an to file a complaint. I want to see how the families respond." Li Xuan clenched his fists. The response methods of the families would determine how ruthless Li Xuan would be in attacking them.

"Your Majesty is steady." Wang Bo breathed a sigh of relief.

"This matter is not easy to handle, but there is one thing that can be brought up." Li Xuan looked at Wang Bo and said, "Uncle, you can inspect a scholar in the Prince's Chongwen Academy. I want to promote Scholar Kong to the rank of Grand Secretary, and it's just right for you to take his place."

"Kong Huiyuan, Your Majesty wants to use the Kong family of Jizhou to pry open the situation in Hebei?" Wang Bo immediately understood that the newly appointed Grand Secretary of the Prince's Chongwenguan, Kong Huiyuan, would become Li Xuan's sharp weapon in dealing with the affairs of Hebei.

Ultimately, Hebei’s affairs must be dealt with by the people of Hebei themselves.

(End of this chapter)