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

Chapter 1858: In the sixth year of Kaiyuan, the annual income was million guan
The sixth year of Kaiyuan, the first day of the winter month.

This winter is exceptionally cold, and the breath you exhale freezes in mid-air in an instant.

Qin Dunjiao sat in the carriage and headed towards the Taiji Hall.

"We were tricked." Qin Dunjiaogan raised his head and looked at Jin Yunqing opposite him, and said solemnly: "You could have arrived in Chang'an five or six days earlier, but due to the hassle of the journey, it was already the end of October when you arrived in Chang'an. The emperor had enough reason to delay the matter until the first day of November."

Jin Yunqing frowned and looked at Qin Dunjiaogan, and asked: "Envoy, will the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty really mobilize troops against Silla?"

"Which Tang Dynasty emperor has not launched military operations against Silla?" Qin Dunjiao asked back, and Jin Yunqing's face suddenly turned ugly.

After a moment, Jin Yunqing couldn't help but shook his head and said, "It will be seven years since the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty ascended the throne. In the past few years, the border between the Tang Dynasty and Silla has been peaceful, the mountains and rivers have been stable, the trade between the two countries has been smooth, and the people have frequent exchanges. Under such circumstances, why would the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty send troops? What right does he have to send troops?"

"It's because Silla once wanted to send Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty back to the court." Qin Dunjiaogan raised his head, looked straight at Jin Yunqing, and asked: "I want to ask you, is there any news about Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty in the country?"

Jin Yunqing looked at Qin Dunjiaogan deeply, and finally shook his head and said, "No."

"Is there not even a piece of plank or a page of book?" Qin Dunjiaogan couldn't help but ask.

Jin Yunqing smiled bitterly and said, "A few years ago, Princess Taiping sent a letter asking the country to search for him. The king and the nobles in the country all searched hard, but still found nothing. Perhaps Emperor Suzong really died in the sea."

Qin Dunjiao's expression darkened instantly, but then he relaxed again and said, "No, it's actually a good thing."

Jin Yunqing nodded in agreement.

"Today, if nothing unexpected happens, the emperor will definitely find an excuse to start a war with you. Today, you must keep your mouth shut and don't say a word that you shouldn't." Qin Dunjiaogan looked at Jin Yunqing solemnly.

The Tang Dynasty was going to send troops. Even if they had a large army, they would need a reason to invade Silla.

Just like when Emperor Taizong and Emperor Gaozong sent troops to attack Goguryeo, they were all doing so under the pretext of revenge for the King of Goryeo.

Silla is now unlucky as the king of Silla has passed away, but it is lucky in that the new king has ascended the throne and the situation in the court has gradually stabilized. Now it is just asking the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty to send someone to Silla to confer the title next year.

Therefore, as long as they don't give an excuse today, even if they want to send troops in the future, it will be delayed a lot.

……

In the Taiji Hall, Li Xuan, dressed in a scarlet and yellow dragon robe, walked into the hall with a calm expression. All the ministers inside bowed with their tablets in hand.

Liu Jinyu, dressed in a green phoenix robe, lagged behind Li Xuan by half a step. Crown Prince Li Zhizhao and Prince Yong Li Zhiming carefully followed Li Xuan and Liu Jinyu and walked towards the Danbi.

Li Xuan and Liu Jinyu walked up to the steps and sat down, while Li Zhizhao and Li Zhiming stood at the steps on the left.

The eunuch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs immediately stepped forward and said loudly: "The Holy Saint has arrived, and all the officials kowtow to him."

All the ministers bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to you. May your Majesty live forever."

Li Xuan raised his head calmly and looked at the ministers. In addition to the civil and military officials of the Tang Dynasty, there were also foreign envoys from more than 40 countries who were also present today.

Li Xuan raised his hand slightly and said, "Everyone, please stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" All the ministers stood up immediately.

The eunuch Xu Lu stepped forward and said loudly, "If you have a petition, please submit. If you don't, please leave the court."

"Your Majesty." The Minister of Revenue Pei Judao stepped forward and bowed, saying: "In the sixth year of Kaiyuan, the autumn taxes throughout the country have been preliminarily counted, and the total tax for the whole year is 27 million strings of cash. The world is prosperous. Congratulations, Your Majesty!" "The world is prosperous. Congratulations, Your Majesty." All the ministers bowed their hands.

Qin Dunjiaogan, who was standing at the back, couldn't help but turn pale. The annual tax revenue of the Tang Dynasty was 27 million strings of cash, which was 7 million strings of cash more than last year.

What does this mean? It means that the entire Tang Dynasty has an additional 7 million strings of cash on top of its original battlefield preparations.

Li Xuan was sitting on the imperial couch, also feeling surprised. Seven million strings of cash, compared to last year's increase of four million strings of cash, was there an increase of three million strings of cash?
Li Xuan's eyes sank slightly. Many things were in order, maybe they could be adjusted a little more.

……

"Your Majesty," said Liu Xingyu, the Junior Minister of the Hongluo Temple, standing up and cupping his hands, "Silla's special envoy, Jin Yunqing, has arrived in Chang'an on the orders of the King of Silla. He has important matters to report."

Li Xuan raised his eyes and said, "Special envoy from Silla."

"The external minister is here." Jin Yunqing walked out solemnly, knelt down and saluted, saying, "The external minister, Jin Yunqing, the special envoy of Silla, pays respect to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang. May His Majesty live forever."

"Stand up." Li Xuan nodded calmly and said, "I remember the last time Silla sent a special envoy to the court, it was the Silla King Jin Zhengming who sent people to send Emperor Sukjong back to the court. In the end, it turned out to be a fake. Why is it coming again now?"

"Your Majesty," Jin Yunqing bowed his head solemnly and said, "My king...the last king passed away on the sixteenth day of June."

"Oh!" Li Xuan leaned forward slightly and asked, "Who is the current King of Silla?"

"It's my eldest son, Crown Prince Jin Lihong." Jin Yunqing raised his head slightly.

"Why doesn't the Tang Dynasty know about this?" Li Xuan frowned tightly.

"Your Majesty." Jin Yunqing cupped his hands and said, "The Crown Prince was canonized in April this year, so I haven't had time to report this to Your Majesty yet."

"The crown prince was enthroned in April this year, and in June, the King of Silla died of illness?" Li Xuan said this with endless doubts. All the ministers in the hall couldn't help but turn their heads to look at Jin Yunqing at the same time.

Jin Yunqing took a deep breath and continued, "My king was unwell at the beginning of the year. In April, he felt something was wrong, so he immediately appointed a crown prince. Fortunately, everything went well. Now the crown prince has ascended the throne, so I sent an official to the court to ask Your Majesty to appoint him as the crown prince."

"Silla is a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty. There is no problem with my conferring the title." Li Xuan smiled and nodded, and said, "Where is the letter of credence?"

"Here." Qin Dunjiao stood up with his hands clasped, holding the letter of credence high in his hand, and then knelt on the ground.

Li Xuan looked at Qin Dun Jiao Gan with some amusement and said, "Show it up."

"Yes!" Qin Dunjiaogan quickly handed over the letter of credence. A eunuch walked out from the side, took the letter of credence and handed it to the bottom of the throne.

Xu Lu took it, then turned around and handed it to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan took it, then looked up at Qin Dunjiaogan and asked, "Envoy, have you read this national book in advance?"

"Your Majesty, the letter of state is so important that no foreign minister has ever opened it." Qin Dunjiaogan bowed heavily, feeling uneasy in his heart.

"That's good." Li Xuan raised the letter from the country and opened it in front of all the civil and military officials in the court and more than forty foreign envoys.

In an instant, a letter fell out from the credential.

Qin Dunjiaogan's face turned pale in an instant.

(End of this chapter)