Long live Emperor Wu!

Chapter 288 The rotation of the sun and the moon
After the emperor left, the maids and chamberlains who accompanied him also withdrew. The palace suddenly became empty and even seemed a little deserted.

Wu Rou seemed to be infected by the atmosphere. She stood there and looked around, but did not leave immediately.

Seeing this, Helan Qingjue thought that her reluctance was due to worry and sadness, so he mustered up the courage, took a step forward, and said in a low voice:
"Aunt, Your Majesty is easy-going and gentle. You will definitely always be kind to your aunt."

When Wu Rou heard this, she was stunned for a moment, and then smiled lovingly. She walked out and said:

"Why did you suddenly say this?"

Helan Qingjue followed her closely. Compared with those real female officials, he was obviously much more casual and close to her. He asked doubtfully:

"Wasn't aunt worried just now? Worried about Your Majesty..."

She didn't say the next words, but everyone understood what she meant, which was nothing more than a change of heart over time and a different love.

Wu Rou glanced at her lightly, the smile on her lips was a bit sarcastic and confident, and she said as she walked:

"I'm not worried about this. Besides, what's the use of worrying?"

She changed the subject and said solemnly:

"By the way, I have to give you a few words of advice. Everyone in the world knows that His Majesty has a gentle and kind temper, but being gentle and kind does not mean that he is easy to bully.

Don't be like others, relying on His Majesty's gentleness to push your limits without any measure. That is what he is most taboo about. "

Wu Rou told the truth. After all, Helan Qingjue was her mother's family, and she didn't want her family to make Li Shan upset and disgusted.

But these words sounded a bit harsh to Helan Qingjue.

She responded "yes" obediently, but thought happily in her heart:

Listen, if you say don't worry, isn't the next sentence telling her how to please the emperor?
Sure enough, Aniang was right. Her aunt kept her by her side because she was intentionally helping her become the emperor's concubine and consolidate her position.

Being a concubine is fine, as long as the emperor likes her.

……

……

At the court, Li Shan raised the issue of increasing government schools. Not many people opposed the increase, but how many schools should be added was highly controversial.

The Minister of Hubu said:
"Your Majesty, although the Tang Dynasty has had good weather in recent years, troops are being used everywhere. There are Turks in the north to suppress the rebellion. You also have plans to conquer Goryeo eastward. If the number is increased too much, I am afraid that some military expenditures will have to be reduced."

As soon as this was said, the Ministry of War refused, and some veteran generals came out to retort:

"Your Majesty, how can military expenditures be reduced? It has to do with the country and the prestige of the Tang Dynasty. Even if everyone tightens their belts and goes hungry, we can't reduce military expenditures... What's the point of a few official schools? It won't be too late to add more when we have money. !”

When Li Shan heard this, he raised his eyebrows, glanced at the court hall, and asked Pei Xingjian, the minister of official affairs:
"What do the officials mean? Pei Xingjian, what do you think?"

Pei Xingjian heard this, respectfully stepped out of the queue, thought for a while and said:

"From the perspective of the officials, I support increasing the number of schools appropriately according to the population of each state. Chang'an and Luoyang can increase more.

In this way, each year's imperial examination talents in various subjects will have more places to put themselves to use, which is even more beneficial to Datang's training of talents. "

Li Shan nodded, raised his voice and said to the people in the Ministry of War:

“The addition of government-run schools is not only beneficial for cultivating talents, but is also useful for protecting the country and bringing peace to the people.

The Book of War says that the one who subdues the enemy's troops without fighting is a good person.

Fighting is still a last resort, and it requires a lot of money and human lives. Many powerful countries in history have turned from victory to decline because of a war. If our Tang Dynasty wants to be strong for a long time, in addition to soldiers throwing their heads and blood, we must also ..." Li Shan paused, as if he was considering the right words. The courtroom was silent, and the ministers were quietly waiting for his next words.

"...Start with the soft knife that can avoid war. How to avoid war? Military deterrence, economic co-prosperity, and cultural convergence. Among them, culture requires the least consumption and has the most far-reaching effects."

As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, turned his gaze to the Ministry of Revenue official, and said gently and patiently:

"Calculate, if you fight a war and mobilize 300,000 troops, how many schools can be built with the money and food consumed in one day? In order to stabilize the Turkic economy, more than tens of millions of resources are invested and consumed every year?

These can only provide temporary relief.

But culture is different. Culture is based on cultural education. After giving me the education of the Tang Dynasty, I can communicate and reason, and then I can be of one heart and mind, advance and retreat together.

This is why, when Emperor Taizong was still alive, he encouraged envoys from other countries to come to China to study and serve as officials in the Tang Dynasty. Have you forgotten? "

His voice was gentle but sincere, making those listening always feel like they had done something wrong.

What's more, with Emperor Taizong's virtuous reputation, who can say that the national policies he formulated are wrong.

For a moment, everyone in the court looked at each other, and there was no rebuttal at all.

Li Shan sat up straight, raised his chin slightly arrogantly, and continued:
"Next year the Japanese Kingdom comes to our country and sends a delegation of more than 300 people, including many monks and students. They want to stay in Chang'an to study. I have agreed.

In the future, there will only be more and more people coming from foreign countries. As long as they are willing to accept our Datang culture, Datang will support it. The expansion of official schools now is just a precautionary measure. "

An official from the Ministry of War seemed not to give up, and stood up to ask for instructions in a low voice:
"I understand, but if that's the case, we can only expand in Chang'an and Luoyang. When the time comes, the visitors from foreign countries will mainly be in these two cities, and there will be no need for other state capitals, right?"

Li Shan heard this, glanced at him sideways, and said softly:
"It's ridiculous. For others to learn, you have to have something worth learning. If culture wants to develop, how can it be separated from cultivating talents? Only when there are more talents can we innovate and bring forth the new.

Now we are stuck in our ways. I'm afraid no one will be willing to come if someone is ordered to come. "

When the officials from the Ministry of War heard this, they immediately retreated.

Li Shan glanced at the people in the court through Mianqi again. Seeing that his words had finally paid off, he said:
"Okay, let's discuss this matter here. The Minister of Secretariat will draw up a detailed regulation for implementation, with a deadline of three days."

……

……

The inner garden of the palace.

At the front, there was court, and at the back, the wives of the officials were ordered to enter the palace to participate in the garden party hosted by the queen.

Wu Rou sat on the buchu, and the palace guards of honor were placed on both sides, and they went to the garden in a mighty manner.

The garden is still the same garden as before.

It's just that she was a little talented back then. She worked hard to arrange everything and stood in the corner of the pavilion, quietly waiting for the arrival of the imperial concubine's ceremonial guard.

Now, she has become the queen, sitting on a high position, and has become the person everyone is waiting for.

When the banquet came, all the ladies stood up to greet him. Wu Rou stood beside the banquet and couldn't help but look at the corner where she once stood.

As if in a trance, fifteen-year-old Wu Rou was still standing there, as if wearing a green palace robe. She secretly raised her eyes and looked at everything here with envy.

The sun and the moon rotated around. At that time, how could she have imagined that she would have such a fate now?
"Welcome the queen." Everyone shouted.

Wu Rou smiled slightly, raised her hand politely, and said gently and kindly:
"Everyone, get up."