Don't be a prince

Li Gang smiled and said: "It's just a trivial matter, why are you digging deeper. Since the Japanese people have shown their barbarism in the academy, I believe that you will not hold any grudges against your original arrangement."

Li Chengqian shook his head, clapped his hands, and called Fang Sheng in.

"Send someone out to inform the dark guards, let them pay attention to the Japanese people, and see where they went after they left the academy!"

Li Chengqian's guess was indeed correct. At night, the secret guard sent back the news that the envoy sent to Tang Dynasty did not return to Honglu Temple, but entered a separate courtyard.The most unexpected thing is that the owner of this other courtyard is Pei Shi from Hedong!

This is interesting, no wonder there is a conflict and running away, it turns out that they have found a good next home!

"Pei's family is also a common surname, but because he doesn't have too many prominent officials and lack of background, he was excluded from the five surnames. If the old man guessed correctly, it is estimated that the Pei family took a fancy to the high tuition fees of sending Tang envoys."

Facing the old man's analysis, Li Chengqian said angrily: "I don't care who has received the benefits of being sent to the Tang Dynasty. The disciples are just worried that they will disclose the technology of smelting and the like to the Japanese. When facing foreigners, one's own good things have to be hidden. Get up, if you take it out for money, it will be a traitorous behavior!"

"It's too extreme, isn't Zhishensili, Qibiheli and others also foreigners? Why do you think they are not like this? Old man, do you know that you gave moon cakes to these prairie generals during the Mid-Autumn Festival. "

Li Chengqian shook his head: "This is different. Although Zhishisili and the others are also foreigners, their actions have proved that they are sincerely attached. You may not know that in order to save his disciples, Zhishi stabbed him with a knife. He killed his horse, causing the horse to deteriorate and die in the end. Such a loyal foreigner, how can the disciples treat them differently? The country of Wa is different. They have no contribution to our Tang Dynasty, so why should we treat them well? ? Believe it or not, anyway, the disciples think that if they respect Datang now, they will definitely become ambitious in the future."

Li Gang smiled and said nothing more.

Whether it's the matter of the Wang family or the matter of sending Tang envoys, Li Chengqian has seen the importance of hidden guards.

The emperor needs Baiqisi as his eyeliner all over the world. If he, the prince, doesn't set up his own intelligence network, won't he just dawdle?

Five hundred hidden guards may seem like a lot, but after spreading, it is still not enough.Therefore, the improvement of the intelligence network has become the top priority.As long as the palace's lowly alliance intelligence network and the external secret guard intelligence network are established, Li Chengqian doesn't believe there is anything that can catch him off guard.

None of this was hidden from the old gentleman, but the old gentleman said nothing.In his opinion, what the prince is doing now is what the princes of all dynasties will do.Originally, he wanted to remind him, but now it seems that he still underestimated this disciple.

The establishment of an intelligence network is the most important thing, and it is much more useful than trying to win over ministers without thinking.

Zhenguan four years, soon sent away with the bell on New Year's Eve.

After this year, Li Chengqian is 12 years old.

12 years old is just a node in the growth process for other children, but for Li Chengqian, it is a very important change.

Because, at the age of 12, he is already qualified to watch politics!This is an important node. Although he has tied a few thick ropes to the position of the prince and himself before, only after he starts to observe politics and even handle some government affairs can he truly turn this position into a cast of copper and iron. .

After the New Year's Eve, the Yuanri Court Meeting is the most solemn meeting of the year.

Li Chengqian, who had been on crutches all winter, also chose to throw away the crutches under his arm on this day.

Taking this opportunity, it's time for those who still have a chance to take a look.

Hey, not only did I not leave any disability, but he is now fully healed!

In a few days, let alone walking, even running in front of you will be fine!

Because it is the New Year, it is inevitable that the officials who meet will congratulate each other.

Li Chengqian did not act with his eldest grandson this year, but came to the Tai Chi Hall.

Looking at the prince who was walking normally without a trace of lameness, many people had their mouths widened, exhaling a long white mist in the cold wind...

Chapter 219 Five Years of Zhenguan

With Li Chengqian's normal appearance at the Yuanri Dachao this time, all the nonsense disappeared.

Since the prince did not become lame, he could no longer open his mouth in front of the emperor who was eager to protect the calf.If he was really lame, there might still be a chance under the subtle influence, but now the prince is fine, it's just a few scars on his legs, it's not a big deal.

After the Yuan Dynasty meeting ended, Li Chengqian did not go back to the East Palace directly, but entered the Baifu Hall with the emperor.

The apse of Baifu Hall still looks like it is covered with screens, and many noble plaques hanging on the wall have been taken off unconsciously.

At the beginning of the founding of each dynasty, in order to stabilize people's hearts, a large number of titles must be released.If it is a viscount or baron, there is no problem, but for the duke and duke, it is troublesome.The inheritance of the title is decremented by one level each generation, and the founding duke can pass it on once without decrementing.Take Changsun Wuji as an example. In the future, Changsun Chong will still be the Duke of Zhao, and only the children of Changsun Chong will become county princes.

All the nobles are actually parasites that live on the common people. If it is a person with outstanding achievements, this is a reward, but if it is an opportunistic person, the title does not match him.

"Don't look at the top, look at the bottom. Since I came to power, I have tried my best to reduce the titles of 31 families. The rest of them have never made mistakes. Although the removal of their titles is for the sake of the people, there is no excuse. But it will make people feel that the royal family is cold. Remember these, even if I can't cut them all off, after you ascend the throne, you still have to sit down!"

It will take one generation, or even two or three generations, to eliminate the scourge left by Li Yuan.

This is also the helplessness of the royal family.

Looking away from the Xungui sign, Li Chengqian began to check the records on the screen.

It is still the same that merits and demerits are recorded in detail, and there is a large blank screen at the bottom. The emperor stood in front of the blank screen, thinking hard for a long time but failed to write.

"Father, what are you thinking?"

Li Chengqian was very puzzled. For this person, there were probably very few things to think about.

He picked up a pen and wrote the word "grassland" on the screen, and Li Shimin said: "I was thinking about how to deal with the newly incorporated grassland area of ​​East Turkistan. The officials who went there will not play much role on the grassland. Although Hou Jun gathered on the grassland and cleared away all opposing voices, how to govern it is still a headache.

Since ancient times, the control of the grasslands in the Central Plains has been weak.Once the territory has been conquered, it is troublesome to stick to it.I thought about many strategies, but they were all discarded.If it is brought down, but it cannot be controlled, this piece of land cannot be said to be ours! "

After expressing his emotions, Li Shimin put down his pen and asked Li Chengqian with a smile: "Since you also came in today, why don't you tell me what you think. I have been thinking hard for many days to no avail. Maybe, what good solution can you come up with."

What good solution can I come up with?

Li Chengqian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. After all, he was just a soul from later generations, and he had a lot of ideas in his mind, but how to use them correctly in Datang still needed careful thinking.

One country, two systems?If you bring it up now, you will be laughed at to death!In the Tang Dynasty, even the most pedantic master believed in "Is there any king in the world".

"I have no good solution, but I believe that the dynasties and dynasties have not been able to integrate with the grassland because of the clear distinction between races. The herdsmen on the grassland have never formed a sense of belonging to the Central Plains, so they can't be merged into the national territory. "

"That makes sense, but do you think it's so easy for the nation to integrate? Not to mention that people from the Central Plains don't want to go to the grasslands, even if you let the people from the grasslands come to the Central Plains, do you think they can live a happy life? You still take it for granted. Already!"

Pushing the screen aside casually, Li Shimin began to check his past records on another screen full of words.

A new year has begun. Officials who have accumulated enough achievements last year need to be promoted, and those who are temporarily inconvenient to convict will now have to settle accounts after the year.As an emperor, one should have the world in mind.As for the Chinese New Year and the holidays, there is no time to sneak in.He had to work here during the period after the Great Court Meeting on Yuanri.

After erasing a few names on the screen and remembering them in his heart, Li Shimin turned around and saw Li Chengqian was reading the writing on the screen, and said, "It's too early for you to read these, and when the imperial court resumes, remember, Watch more, learn more, and interrupt less. Your leg has just healed, so don't stand for a long time. But today is the first day of the lunar new year, go to the harem to see your mother, queen and siblings, and go to Da'an Palace to visit the Supreme Emperor for me!"

Li Chengqian nodded, turned around and left.Now I haven't studied much about the official system of the Tang Dynasty, even if I look at the screen, it's just an eye addiction.

The harem was still the same as before, because the emperor ordered it, so after Zhang Yun came out, he arranged for Li Chengqian to carry a chariot. To put it bluntly, it was something like a wooden stretcher, which was carried by two eunuchs, looking silly.

Unable to stand the strange eyes of the surrounding palace people, Li Chengqian couldn't help but said to Zhang Yun: "You get a wheelchair for Gu, it's better than this thing, why do you have to get a carriage?"

There are only a few faint scars on Zhang Yun's face now, which cannot be seen without careful attention.Seeing the prince complaining, he said: "Your Highness, your legs are not good, so don't bother with these things. You have finally passed through the gate of hell, so you should take good care of yourself! Your Majesty intends to send slaves to the East Palace, maybe My son, tomorrow the servant will go to the East Palace to take up a post."

"You want to come to the East Palace?"

He didn't hear the previous words clearly, but the last sentence made Li Chengqian ecstatic.Don't look like a bastard like Zhang Yun, but he really doesn't have any skills.If this guy comes to the East Palace, he will have one more opponent when he usually exercises.

Seeing the prince's eyes shining, Zhang Yun shuddered: "Your Highness, don't look at your slaves like that. Even if your slaves go to the East Palace, they won't practice against you. If you want to resume your previous training, it will take a year anyway. Only later!"

Touching his left leg, Li Chengqian could only sigh.

From the time of autumn hunting to now, his legs have returned to normal.Sun Simiao felt the bone again, and said that apart from some unevenness, it should be fine.It's just that those few scars are really terrible. I used honey and pearl powder, but they didn't mean to disappear.But I am still growing my body, so it should fade a bit as I grow up.

When we arrived at the Liangyi Hall, we realized that today was very lively, and Li Tai was also there, running around with Li Lizhi holding three-year-old Li Zhi.Since the eldest grandson had to take care of Chengyang, he could only order the female officer to take care of him.

After entering Liangyi Hall, the eldest grandson put down the sleeping Chengyang and came to see his son's legs.

"Does it still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore, it's just that I have been sitting and lying down for a long time, and now I am too tired to walk a few steps."

The eldest grandson lifted Li Chengqian's trouser legs, and shed tears when he saw the scars on his calf.

Li Lizhi also shed tears. Little Li Zhi didn't know why his mother and sister were crying.

Only Li Tai looked at the scar and stretched out his thumb: "Brother Huang, you are really powerful. If you are a younger brother, I'm afraid you can't bear it. You might as well be a cripple."

The eldest grandson immediately widened his eyes: "What unlucky words can be said on the day of Yuan Ri!"

Li Tai chuckled, and sat on the ground in a rascally manner.

Looking at Li Tai's bandaged hand, Li Chengqian said with a smile: "Aren't you still talking about me? Don't you always get hurt yourself? Let me see, yo, why are your hands still bandaged?"

Li Tai immediately hid his injured hand behind his back, and said helplessly: "The Liuli workshop has tried its best to remove impurities, but the pure and transparent glass produced is still pitiful. After being burned last time, the head craftsman of the Liuli workshop They invited me out and said that they were not allowed to go in again. If they were injured again, they would not be able to afford such a crime. Brother Huang, please think of a way. Now I feel that learning is extremely boring, only the pulley block and Liuli are needed Brainstorming and figuring out things interest me."

Hearing what Li Tai said, the eldest grandson couldn't help reaching out and hitting him: "How can a dignified prince go to work as a craftsman? Look at what your hands look like!"

Li Tai can always find the best position, for example, he is now sitting on the left side of Li Chengqian, making the eldest grandson want to reach out to hit him, but he is afraid of hitting the eldest son.

But Li Chengqian smiled, turned to Li Tai and said, "Since Liuli can't go any further, let's not do it for now, and since you don't like going to the academy, then go to Yan Liben's Engineering Academy with brother Wei. I arranged a job for him years ago, and I don’t know how he is doing now.”

"Yan Liben's engineering school? Go, go!"

Li Tai immediately became interested when mentioning the engineering college. He also lived in the engineering college for a while, and was also very curious about the things there.If he hadn't gone to the Liuli workshop after teaching the pulley block, he must take a good look at the engineering college.

Seeing the enthusiasm of the two sons, the eldest grandson could only turn around and take care of Chengyang.The closeness of the two sons now is a scene she is happy to see.After the prince's leg fell, she naturally knew that some people with ulterior motives were looking at Li Tai again.If it wasn't for the emperor's dissuasion, she might have to do it.A bunch of idiots, won't they be angry if they bully my queen?

Ziyan, the eldest grandson's accompanying female officer, brought a gift box and handed it to Li Chengqian, which was an annual gift prepared by the empress for the Supreme Emperor.

Unlucky for Pei Ji, especially after the fall of the Eastern Turks, Li Yuan, who felt that his martial arts and martial arts were surpassed, happily let go of the last bit of nostalgia for the imperial power, not only returned the Tai Chi Hall to the emperor, but also honestly Living in Da'an Palace, he never seeks trouble.

Probably, he also knew that it was time for him to step down.

Li Yuan completely left the palace, which seemed to represent Li Shimin's complete victory.However, the eldest grandson, who was unwilling to let the originally relaxed royal family relationship break again, still told Li Chengqian to take his younger siblings to pay New Year's greetings to the Supreme Emperor.

After having lunch in Taiji Hall, Li Chengqian took Li Tai, Li Lizhi, Li Ke, and Yuzhang to Da'an Palace.

Yuzhang is only five years old this year. He was originally born to a concubine, but because that concubine died of an illness, he was adopted by his eldest grandson and treated him as his own.If this leaves other queens, let alone adopting them, I'm afraid they will just care about life and death.

The five brothers and sisters went directly to Da'an Palace under the escort of a group of guards.

It stands to reason that it would be rude not to pay New Year's greetings early in the first year of junior high school, and to go after noon, but Li Yuan didn't care at all. , making Li Yuanchang roll his eyes when he didn't get it.

The current Li Yuan didn't remember the curse he had done back then, and he wanted to play chess while dragging Li Chengqian.

As for Go, Li Chengqian is considered to have achieved a little achievement now. Although Li Yuan is the Supreme Emperor, he is really not very good at Go.

After winning another game, Li Chengqian chuckled and said to Li Yuan: "Grandfather, it's still boring for us to play like this. Why don't we bet with chess, and whoever loses can pay a gold or two?"

Li Yuan laughed loudly: "You boy, it's really interesting, you actually set your sights on my pension money. But anyway, I heard that you built a college, spent a lot of money, and will expand it in the future, so I will sponsor some for you." .”

Reopened, but still lost again and again.

At sunset, Li Chengqian asked the guards to carry a heavy burden, and returned with a big victory.

After leaving Da'an Palace, Li Tai couldn't help asking: "Brother Huang, Grandpa Huang is in Da'an Palace now, it's already very...why do you want to win his money!"

Li Ke turned his head away, with a puzzled look on his face.

Li Chengqian smiled, walked to his carriage, grabbed a handful of broken silver for each of his brothers and sisters from the baggage, and said: "You guys still don't understand the old people. If you want things from them, as long as you are fair, why not?" Besides, Grandpa Huang has not gambled for a long time, you expect him to gamble with concubines, court ladies and eunuchs, or children?"

Originally, when Pei Ji was not unlucky, he always went to the palace to fight with Li Yuan, but since he was implicated by the demon monk Fa Ya, hardly anyone went to see Li Yuan.Although the emperor felt guilty because of the Xuanwu Sect, and always sent money to Li Yuan for beautiful women, and the eldest grandson almost responded to his requests, but the days of indulging in wine and sex may not really make people happy!

After returning to the East Palace in a carriage, Li Chengqian hurried to pay his respects to the old gentleman.

In the past, the old man had to go back to his grandson's house to celebrate the New Year, but in recent years, Li Chengqian forcibly stayed behind.

Old people in their octogenarians need to be taken good care of. In winter, they have to be cats in the house.

For some reason, the old man has recently become interested in teaching him again.

Not only took over the work of the commander, but also began to explain the composition of the imperial court to him.Obviously, I can only eat half of the previous meal, or even less, but my spirit has improved.

The two masters and apprentices chatted about the official positions, grades, and powers of various parts of the Tang Dynasty while eating. When they talked about the general manager of the army, Li Chengqian became interested:

"Master Li, my disciples were puzzled before. Li Jing is obviously the head of the Dingxiang Road and the head of the army. Why can he temporarily set up various official positions on the grassland? Shouldn't this be the work of the Ministry of Officials or the emperor?"

Li Gang explained: "The grassland is different from the Central Plains. In fact, when a general is in danger and is ordered to become a general manager, it is the military and government. However, no general will really exercise power. Generally, they temporarily suppress the situation. After the civil servants arrive, they will hand over the relevant responsibilities to the civil servants. Li Jing is in the grassland, and it is not an overreach to temporarily appoint two official positions. Even if he goes too far, he will not be punished, at most he will be reprimanded by the emperor..."

Many official positions in the imperial court are actually divided into chief and deputy, real power and false titles.Some positions have no name, but as long as the incumbent exercises the power of this position, it is a serious crime.

It took half an hour to eat a meal because of chatting.

After dinner, the old man just walked slowly back to the bedroom from the dining room, even if he had finished his exercise.Because he was afraid that the old man would be too tired from walking, Li Chengqian has now moved the restaurant to a room not far from the old man's bedroom.

After helping the old man to lie down and rest, Li Chengqian turned and left when the old man's breathing became stable.

In any case, the old man can't be with him for a long time.

Li Chengqian knew that the reason why the old man taught him so much about the court during this period of time was because he saw the transformation of his apprentice.He really hoped from the bottom of his heart that this apprentice could successfully become the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

Just after the Lantern Festival, Li Chengqian took the old man back to the academy.

The Confucian scholars of the college scoffed at the "one and a half month" winter vacation set by Li Chengqian, thinking that it was a waste of time.Not only the great Confucians said so, but the students also felt that a month and a half was too long.When students of later generations hear that the holidays have been reduced, they will greet the ancestors of the school leaders for more than a dozen generations from their hearts.Here, it's completely reversed.

No way, under the denunciation of all the teachers and students of the college, the holiday can only be changed from one and a half months to less than one month.The new year is on holiday, and school starts on the [-]th.

Although he returned to the academy, Li Chengqian still outrageously rejected the old gentleman's idea of ​​teaching.The heating in the old gentleman's small yard is no less than that of the East Palace, so he agrees with the old man's idea. As for the class, it is still too exhausting for him.

After settling down the old man, Li Chengqian took Li Tai to the experimental site of the engineering college.

In a desolate place by the Wei River, a thatched hut has been built now. A few craftsmen wrapped up like bears eat and live here no matter autumn or winter, and conduct experiments.

As early as the time of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, Bi Lan created a prototype of waterwheels. According to legend, it was promoted and used in the Shu Kingdom after it was improved by Kong Ming during the Three Kingdoms period, and it was widely used for agricultural irrigation in the Sui Dynasty.

Although something has appeared, no one has connected this kind of thing that irrigates the farmland with mechanical force until now.