Hengdao Sixteen Kingdoms

Chapter 746 Waves

Guangling is also the important economic and cultural center of Yangzhou in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It is surrounded by mountains and sea, and its prosperity is not inferior to Jiankang.

During the Han Dynasty, King Wu Liu Bi was granted the title of Guangling and established the State of Wu. He cast money in the mountains and boiled the sea into salt. The State of Wu was the richest in the world.

There is also a developed canal system here. The earliest canal in China, Hangou, is here, connecting the Huaihe River and the Yangtze River. The key is that it is close to the sea. From the perspective of the Central Plains, its geographical advantage is still higher than Jiankang.

It happened that Li Jian sent a memorial from Stone City, suggesting that Kangcheng be repaired and built.

Li Yue immediately rejected it.

More than ten days later, Li Jian came to Jiangling in person to state the matter, "Jiankang is the strategic point of Jiangdong. It has been the capital here for generations. If we get this place, we can settle Jiangdong. Why doesn't my father allow it? Restoring the old city is actually practical." We don’t have much food, there are many prisoners in the army, and there are refugees in the local area, so we can provide relief through work.”

Li Yue did not answer, "What do you think of Guangling?"

"Guangling?" Li Jian was not prepared for this sudden question. He looked at the map and thought for a while, "This place is an important town in Huainan. It faces Jiangdong to the south and the sea to the east. Could it be that my father wants to use this place as the base of the navy?"

"You just said that Jiankang is the strategic point of Jiangdong, and Jiangdong can be settled here. If it is stolen by thieves, the north and the south will confront each other again. The confrontation between the north and the south will last for decades. The most difficult thing to solve is not the confrontation between the north and the south in terms of territory, but in people. The division between north and south in my heart, rebuilding Jiankang, is not as good as expanding Guangling and controlling Jiangdong with Huainan!"

The burning of Jiankang was equivalent to breaking a barrier in the hearts of the people in Jiangdong.

Geographically, Guangling is naturally more inclined to the Central Plains.

The Sui and Tang dynasties also vigorously developed Guangling and suppressed Jiankang, which was quite effective.

Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty also destroyed the city of Ye.

Judging from the current situation, the destruction of Jiankang is not a bad thing. Even if it needs to be repaired, it will have to wait until Jiangling develops in more than ten years.

In addition, Li Yue did this to guard against the future rise of Jiangdong's powerful forces. Once they penetrated Jiankang, they would have the capital to confront the North.

Or if someone from the old Li family goes south and takes over Jiankang, the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion of the Han Dynasty will happen again.

Guangling is located in the north of the Yangtze River, facing Jiankang in the south.

Controlling the Yingshui Canal is equivalent to controlling Huainan, then controlling Guangling through Huainan, and then suppressing the rise of local forces in Jiangdong through Guangling, forming a complete control chain.

"I see, my son has learned a lesson." Li Jian quickly figured it out.

The game between the local government and the central government will always exist and will not change based on human will. Both sides have their own interests and demands.

Powerful people represent local forces. Even if Li Yue wipes out all these powerful people now, as long as there are still people in the place, powerful forces will rise again and continue the hatred of the previous generation.

Although Chu has three households, Chu will definitely destroy Qin. Chu is the most resolute in resisting Qin, and it is Chu who ultimately destroys Qin.

During the Tang Dynasty, it was always Hebei people who rebelled...

There are also problems that the knife can't solve.

"The south of the Yangtze River has been decided. I will return to Luoyang first." After half a year of this southern expedition, Li Yue was also a little tired.

"My son, I have something else to report."

"What's the matter?" Leaving it to the end is definitely not a good thing.

"All the famous people in the south of the Yangtze River were massacred, Jiankang was destroyed by the war, and the officials came to the table one after another, demanding severe punishment for the powerful Wu Hui family and the pirates."

When it came to the last two words, Li Jian hesitated.

The pirates are the navy. Although this dispatch of troops is not made explicit, it cannot withstand the thinking of smart people.

This kind of thing has always been tacitly understood.

Li Yue took two steps and laughed, "You can't give these memorials to me. I'll give them to you first. What's the point?"

Li Jian quickly handed over his hand and said, "My son... I have overstepped my bounds. Father, please forgive me."

The older the child gets, the more restrained he becomes in front of him. "I'm not blaming you, but someone is using you to test me. The nobles are all in the same spirit. The Jiangdong nobles used to be northern nobles." Li Yue knew very well what those people had in mind.

If the north and the south are unified, the struggle situation will change again.

These people were afraid that Li Yue would turn around and deal with them, so the trouble was directed to Jiangdong's powerful men.

Of course, they did not really complain about the Jiangdong nobles. One was to test, and the other was because they were afraid that Daliang would vigorously use Jiangdong's powerful people to divide their interests.

In recent years, a large number of common people from poor families have been promoted through the imperial examination, and many Kansai nobles have also been promoted.

The Kanto nobles will naturally feel the pressure.

In order to protect their own interests, they will do anything they can.

"My son also guessed their intentions."

"Since you have guessed it, why do you still bring it up? Do you also pity the Jiangdong nobles? Do you not agree with my methods?"

These noble families have been famous all over the world for more than a hundred years, and everyone looks up to them. Li Yue can understand that there are people who speak up for them and redress their grievances.

However, as the prince Li Jian also stood on their side, Li Yue felt a little chilled.

"If I don't come, I'm afraid they may have backup plans and cause a bigger disturbance. Moreover, these memorials have been sent to me, so I have to report them to my father." Li Jian said calmly.

The relationship between the emperor and the prince was inherently delicate.

After what he said, Li Yue thought of another possibility. It seemed that someone was trying to sow discord between himself and the prince.

If Li Jian hides and does not report the crime, and is exposed in the future, Li Jian will be a different person inside and out. He is eliminating hidden dangers in advance.

There will never be fewer people eyeing the position of prince.

"You have handled this matter very well. Take care of things one by one. First deal with Jiangdong affairs. I will transfer a group of subordinate generals such as Xie Xuan, Zhu Yao, and Huan Shiqian to your command, and add Deng Xia, Liu Lao, etc. After that, Zhuge Kan and others will leave it to you to pacify Jiangning, Guangzhou and the four states."

"Thank you, Father." Li Jian understood the meaning behind it and looked touched.

After pacifying the four states in the south of the Yangtze River, with military exploits and so many old friends, the crown prince's position will become more and more stable.

Li Yue handed over part of the military power to him as a sign of his trust and peace of mind.

The relationship between the emperor and the prince is the foundation of Daliang's stability.

"When you are outside on weekdays, you should wear a layer of armor inside, take more guards, be on guard day and night, and pay more attention to your diet and daily life. Now that the north and south are unified, all kinds of ghosts and monsters will also appear." Li Yue tirelessly warned.

Just like the confrontation between the center and the localities, the battle for the right to inherit the throne is as inevitable.

Power is like a moth to a flame. Countless people will jump into it even if they know they will be shattered into pieces.

What's more, it is the supreme power in the world, and I don't know how many careerists are jealous of it.

The battle for the right to inherit the throne is not just a private matter for the royal family, various other forces will also be involved to push the situation forward.

"My son... my son..."

Li Yue patted him on the shoulder, "Remember, you are my son, the prince of Daliang, and the future emperor. You cannot be controlled by others!"

"My son, please remember your father's teachings."

Unification of the north and the south does not mean peace of mind.

More challenges are yet to come. It’s extremely cold at high altitudes, and there are whirlpools everywhere in the rapids.

(End of this chapter)