The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 141: Expansion
"In that case, General, just tell Father about it."

Li Ying casually made a suggestion.

Wang Zhongsi shook his head and lowered his voice, saying, "Dong Yanguang is on good terms with the Right Prime Minister. If the Right Prime Minister speaks for him, I am afraid I will be unable to defend myself."

Li Heng said: "As far as I know, Dong Yanguang is greedy for money. General Wang, why don't you give him some gold and silver? Besides, we need money to reward the troops in the front."

Wang Zhongsi was startled when he heard this and said, "Your Highness, what you said is exactly the same as what the soldiers in my army said."

Li Heng asked, "Who is joining the army?"

Wang Zhongsi said, "My surname is Li and my name is Guangbi."

Li Heng was very familiar with the name Li Guangbi, but he did not talk much about Li Guangbi. After a moment's silence, he said, "What do you think, General Wang?"

Wang Zhongsi said: "I have been seeking justice all my life, and I would never act like this. Moreover, my lifelong wish is not to pursue wealth and honor. How can I bear to exchange the lives of tens of thousands of people for an official position?"

"General, you are a man of high integrity." Li Heng admired Wang Zhongsi's character and praised him. He then asked, "Then are you prepared to take the blame when you return to Chang'an this time?"

Wang Zhongsi sighed and said, "The saint gave Dong Yanguang a deadline of half a year. If Dong Yanguang fails to take Shibao City after half a year, I will have no choice but to do this."

Li Heng was impressed by Wang Zhongsi's noble character and decided to give him a plan. After thinking for a while, he said, "I have a plan that can not only help the general maintain his integrity, but also save him from this disaster."

"Your Highness, please give me some advice." Wang Zhongsi quickly stood up and asked sincerely.

Li Heng said: "Since Shuofang and Hedong are facing threats from the Turks, Xi, and Huihe, why don't you take the initiative to attack and take down the Turks and Xi? As long as you make great contributions in these places, the support from Shibao City will not be good, and the emperor will not mind it."

“This…” Wang Zhongsi was stunned, and said with a wry smile: “Your Highness is right, but the Turks are quite powerful, I’m afraid it will be difficult for me to win.”

Li Heng said: "The Huihe, Basmil, and Karluk tribes have long been dissatisfied with the Turks and have long wanted to unite with the Tang to attack the Turks. However, they are worried that the Tang is not strong enough and does not have the will to fight. The general can first attack the Xi tribe in the north and win a great victory to shock the northern desert. Then, unite with the Huihe, Basmil, and Karluk tribes to attack the Turks directly."

Li Heng gave a specific strategy.

Wang Zhongsi was shocked when he heard this.

He was surprised at Li Heng's strategy, and even more surprised that Li Heng, who was far away in Anxi, had such a clear understanding of the situation in the north.

Wang Zhongsi exclaimed: "Your Highness is concerned about border affairs and has foresight. I admire you very much."

After that, he bowed deeply to Li Ying and said, "I thank your Highness for your guidance."

"We are all devoted to the Tang Dynasty, so you don't have to be polite." Li Heng smiled slightly, then changed the subject and said, "By the way, the court situation is complicated right now. My father has summoned you to Chang'an, and I'm afraid he will ask you something else. You should think twice before speaking."

What Li Heng was talking about was the matter of appointing a crown prince, but he couldn't say it explicitly, so he just mentioned it briefly.

Wang Zhongsi understood Li Heng's meaning and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I will reply carefully."

After they finished discussing their business, they chatted about family matters before saying goodbye.

……

……

……

Yuan's funeral was held as scheduled. Li Heng saw Yuan off for the last time and rested for a day before entering the palace to discuss the affairs of Anxi.

Xingqing Palace, Purple Palace.

In this court meeting, in addition to the usual ministers, there were also Li Heng, Wang Zhongsi and An Lushan.

Li Linfu first presented this year's financial budget to Li Longji and explained it one by one.

If it were in previous years, this report would not have been completed in a short time.

Because in the early Tang Dynasty, the national expenditure plan and its implementation procedures were quite complicated.

The Ministry of Revenue must first submit a copy, then issue a daily edict, and then make a document for the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Cang. After the document for the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Cang is completed, the Ministry of Finance will copy it and send it to each state. The document sent to each state also involves the payment of taxes across the country.

It is very time-consuming and laborious.

In response to this situation, in the 24th year of Kaiyuan, Li Linfu proposed the "Changxing Zhi".

"Changxingzhi" is considered to be China's earliest fiscal budget system and also China's earliest national unified accounting subject.

This system is one of the highlights of Li Linfu's abilities. It is also because of this system that Li Longji is more confident in Li Linfu's financial management ability.

Li Longji was quite satisfied with Li Linfu's financial budget and praised him: "You Xiang is cautious in everything, organizes all affairs, improves discipline, and has a constant pace in the removal of officials from inside and outside the country. With You Xiang here, I feel much more at ease."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Li Linfu greeted him, "I have devoted my life to the Tang Dynasty and devoted all my energy to it. I only hope that I can relieve even a tiny bit of your worries."

"Yes." Li Longji nodded happily and said, "Does the Right Prime Minister have anything else to report?"

Li Linfu said: "Lu Xuan, the governor of Huazhou, has been ill recently and unable to manage the affairs of the state. The saint has always been considerate of his subordinates, so I would like to ask for Lu Xuan to be transferred to another position."

Lu Xuan was previously the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. He once rode his horse across the Qinzheng Building. Li Longji watched him and was very impressed by Lu Xuan's handsome posture and gentle manners.

Then this matter was known to Li Linfu, who then tricked Lu Xuan into being the governor of Huazhou.

But even though Lu Xuan was sent out, Li Linfu still pursued him and lied that Lu Xuan was ill. Li Linfu did this because he was worried that Lu Xuan would return to the court and step on him to death, and he also wanted to use this incident to attack Li Heng.

Because Li Heng was also ill.

Li Longji understood Li Linfu's meaning, glanced at Li Heng, and then replied to Li Linfu: "What position do you think Lu Xuan should be transferred to, Right Prime Minister?"

Li Linfu said, "There is a vacancy in the Luoyang Zhanshi, Yuanwai Tongzheng."

"Then follow the suggestion of the Right Prime Minister." Li Longji agreed to Li Linfu's proposal, and then asked Li Heng: "Shibalang is also suffering from illness, can he manage the affairs of Anxi?"

Li Longji asked Wang Bing and learned that Li Heng's meridians were good enough for him to work normally, but he did not draw his own conclusion. Instead, he passed a message to Li Heng. As long as Li Heng said it was okay, it would be unreasonable for Li Linfu to use this excuse to dismiss Li Heng in the future.

Li Ying replied: "My son's illness is a mild one. As long as it doesn't get worse, I still have some strength left."

"Yes." Li Longji nodded, "I asked Zhang Lingzhi to go to Anxi. Shibalang needs Zhang Lingzhi to take care of him more."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Li Heng thanked him and continued, "Your Majesty, I have something else to report."

"Go ahead." Li Longji said in a gentle tone.

Li Heng said, "Now Suiye City has been brought under the jurisdiction of the Tang Dynasty, but the officials and soldiers guarding the border in Anxi can only govern the original four towns in Anxi. I ask your father to decide whether Anxi can expand its troops and increase its officials."

After hearing this, Li Longji did not rush to issue an order, but asked Li Linfu: "How is the farming in Anxi these past two years?"

Li Heng reported this matter, and Li Linfu could only reply truthfully: "Qiucha's military farms increased by 30,000 mu, Yanqi's increased by 10,000 mu, Shule's increased by 8,000 mu, and Khotan's increased by 5,000 mu."

"What about commercial taxes?" Li Longji asked again.

Li Linfu said: "The trade routes are stable, and the commercial tax has been increased by 10%."

"Yes." Li Longji nodded and turned to ask Li Heng: "If we establish military farms in Suiye, how much do you think we can cultivate at most?"

Li Heng said: "In total, we can cultivate about 100,000 mu."

Li Longji then turned to ask Li Linfu: "Right Prime Minister, do you think it is possible to expand the army and increase the number of officials?"

Li Linfu knew that Li Longji had a rough idea of ​​the situation in Anxi. Li Longji asked this question deliberately to do the economic calculations for them, so that they would understand that Suiye City was an important town on the Silk Road and could be used for farming, so it was profitable to manage Suiye City.

If it is profitable, we can expand the army and increase the number of officials.

Therefore, Li Linfu had no room to refuse and could only say: "We should increase the number of troops and officials."

(End of this chapter)