Don't be a prince

The sound of Zhang Yun knocking on the table woke up Li Chengqian from his contemplation, and after another look, he realized that Li Jian was right behind him.

Li Jian still had that smirk expression: "Your Highness, Your Majesty announces that you go to the main hall to have dinner together, and Su Shi is not allowed to follow."

The emperor, of course, can't live in the side hall, so in the emperor's words, the place that was clearly the main hall became the name of "side hall", and the side hall was upgraded to the main hall.Even the craftsmen have begun to lay the right way and open the main entrance at the entrance of the side hall, and plan to expand the palace on the side of the side hall, so that the side hall will become the central hall of the palace.

"Madam Su can't accompany you? Well, I'll leave now."

After getting up and stretching, after changing clothes, Li Chengqian followed Li Jian to the main hall.

If Su Yuan is not allowed to follow, then it is not an ordinary family banquet, and there is obviously something else going on.

After arriving at the main hall, Li Chengqian realized that his guess had made a serious mistake.

Have dinner together?This... This is clearly a banquet!

Not only him, but even Fang Xuanling, Li Jing and other well-known people came.

He quickly found his seat and sat down. After waiting for a while, Changsun Wuji came late.

When Changsun Wuji sat down, Li Chengqian immediately leaned over and asked softly, "Uncle, why is Father having a banquet tonight? Is there something wrong?"

It was Changsun Wuji who answered Li Chengqian with a confused face. Obviously, he didn't know what the emperor was going to do.

Without waiting for too long, as the golden bell rang, the emperor entered.

"Your gentlemen, you are exempt from the ceremony. Today is just an ordinary dinner, so there is no need to be so formal."

Now that the emperor said so, everyone could only put down half of their buttocks again.

Picking up the wine glass, Li Shimin said to Fang Xuanling's direction: "The new business law and Lao Aiqing have sorted it out as soon as possible. During this period of time, Aiqing is busy with work. I am very moved. Come, I will toast you."

And... again?

They obviously changed places, but everyone couldn't help but think of a banquet in Chang'an back then.

It's not the point that the civil and military officials vomited all over the place at the gate of the palace. The point is that the emperor gave the order to go on tour last time through a banquet!Now that the old trick is repeated, there is definitely a problem!

Chapter 382 Going to Mount Tai

Fang Xuanling naturally saw the emperor's malicious intentions, but in this world, there were probably not many people who dared to refuse the emperor's toast.It's a toast, but it's clearly a forced drink!

Although there was no way to refuse, Fang Xuanling used a very good method - fake drinking!At this time, even if the crown prince was near him, he couldn't care less.Li Chengqian watched as Lao Fangtou and the emperor gestured to each other, and they seemed to hold a glass of wine elegantly, but in fact they all fell down along the wide sleeves.Fortunately, the water absorption of his sleeves is good, so it didn't spill on the ground.

With the first, there will be the second, after Fang Xuanling, is Du Ruhui.Seeing that the prince didn't make a fuss, but kept silent, Du Ruhui and Changsun Wuji all used the same method.

After Wen Yanbo repeated his old tricks, the first person who refused to drink appeared.

Wei Zheng didn't drink, but said politely: "Your Majesty, I felt a cold yesterday, and the high fever was hard to get rid of. I had to ask Sun Daochang to prescribe a dose of medicine. Sun Daochang repeatedly told me not to drink alcohol. Why don't you and my ministers use tea instead of wine?" ?”

Hearing what Wei Zheng said, Li Shimin on the throne said displeasedly: "It's just a glass of wine, don't worry, Ai Qing, I'll let you drink just this glass."

Wei Zheng remained unmoved and said: "Your Majesty, don't try to persuade me. Since ancient times, it is not the way of a Mingjun to force his subjects to do things they don't want to do. I think that Your Majesty has the idea of ​​repeating the old things. I don't know if His Majesty is doing it again this time." for what?"

"Wei Zheng is rude!"

Although he roared out, the emperor's voice was somewhat lacking in confidence.

Wei Zheng was not frightened, but left the table, saluted again and said: "Your Majesty often says that when a ruler treats his subjects like his confidantes, he treats his superiors like brothers and sisters. Do you have anything to say or do?" , you might as well say it bluntly, why do you have to get the ministers drunk before you are willing to speak out?"

Seeing Wei Zheng's pressing step by step, all the courtiers, even Li Chengqian secretly gave him a thumbs up.Apart from this one, there are not many who dare to confront the emperor like this.Even the new servant, Ma Zhou, was only persuasive, and had never really confronted the emperor.

On the throne, Li Shimin's expression changed very quickly, sometimes angry, sometimes calm, and even a little bit ashamed.

After a long time, Li Shimin sighed and also stood up: "I want to enshrine Chan Taishan, are you willing to accompany me? My wish in my life is nothing more than that. Now I am traveling to Dengzhou, but I am afraid of seasickness and fear of water. Hold on, I don’t know if I will have the chance to come to Shandong again in my lifetime. Sigh!”

Seeing the emperor pacing left and right, looking sad for a while, many people wanted to laugh, but they couldn't.

Here, where is the emperor? Doesn't he look like a child who can't get what he wants?seasick?Seasick, you sailed to Korea with the fleet and killed dozens of people?When bragging that you are still mighty, why don't you feel that you are getting old?

Wei Zheng obviously didn't like the emperor's tricks, and said seriously: "Your Majesty, it is not impossible to enshrine Zen on Mount Tai. With your current achievements, it is enough to enshrine Zen, but, for the sake of abstinence..."

"That's all right?"

Before Wei Zheng finished speaking, the emperor turned his head in surprise, obviously not intending to listen.

"But Your Majesty, in order to guard against arrogance..."

"Since Wei Qing has said so, then I will make arrangements and prepare to leave! Where is Lu Kuan?"

Seeing Lu Kuan bow his head and come out with a wry smile, Wei Zheng felt a sudden sense of powerlessness.The emperor was so rogue that he was at a loss as to what to do.

Seeing that the emperor had already discussed with Lu Kuan the scale of etiquette and other issues, Wei Zheng could only sigh and retreat.

The banquet ended with the emperor staying with Lu Kuan and Fang Xuanling to discuss matters overnight.The courtiers all left the field dumbfounded, and even Wei Zheng was defeated by the emperor's rogue tactics, who among them could dissuade him?What's more, the emperor had emphasized that Taishan Fengchan would pay for it himself when he was in Chang'an, and even the most practical reason could not be used, so what reason could stop him?

Wei Zheng's face was so ugly that many people wanted to avoid him.

However, those who avoided him naturally did not include Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui and Wen Yanbo.

Changsun Wuji pulled Wei Zheng back and said, "Okay, don't put on such a bad face. The emperor returned with the power of a big victory over Koryo, who would dare to steal his edge? He didn't insist on using imperial power to achieve his goal, but played a rogue. It's already pretty good. Could it be that you still want to be the same as before, press every step of the way, and face-to-face questioning with His Majesty?"

"Are you here to be a lobbyist for His Majesty?"

Wei Zheng's face was still ugly, Changsun Wuji had acted as a lobbyist for the emperor not once or twice before, making him more like a prime minister than Fang Xuanling.

Du Ruhui was more direct, and said directly: "Forget it, old Wei, if His Majesty wants to confer Zen, let him do so, and we can go down in the annals of history as we follow suit!"

Wei Zheng said angrily: "What name is in the annals of history, don't talk about this with the old man, I will ask you, have you not noticed that His Majesty has become more and more reckless? We..."

I couldn't continue, because Li Chengqian happened to be passing by.

Seeing that the four of them looked at him in surprise, Li Chengqian dug his ears, coughed lightly, and prepared to pass by with no expression on his face.Miscalculation, I knew I should avoid it.

Just as he was about to leave, Changsun Wuji stretched out his hand to grab him and said, "His Royal Highness, you might as well listen to it. You are the crown prince. This can be regarded as a lesson for you from my servants!"

After finishing speaking, Li Chengqian was dragged by Changsun Wuji to leave the main hall and returned to their office.Some things should not be said in public.

After each took their seats, Li Chengqian looked at Changsun Wuji suspiciously. He didn't know what gossip about the emperor had anything to do with the prince, and he was still in class?

Seeing that Changsun Wuji had no intention of forcing the prince, Wei Zheng sighed, and then continued: "Since Xuanwumen, Your Majesty has worked hard to rule the country. Internally, he has promoted population growth and survived natural disasters one after another. Externally, he has been aggressive and aggressive. Grassland, Gaochang, Tuyuhun, Goryeo. Through this series of events, His Majesty has indeed proved that he is a generation of British Lord. However, at the same time, His Majesty's desire for power is constantly expanding.

The first is the tour in Qizhou, then the tour in Dengzhou, and now it is Taishan Fengchan again.Once His Majesty prepares to go to the south of the Yangtze River next year, what should we do?Now the military power is gathered in His Majesty's hands. Although this has largely relieved the internal worries of war, it has also made His Majesty's power limitless.Once His Majesty makes a move against the civil servants and succeeds, what will the court do at that time? Who dares to disobey His Majesty's order? "

Seeing Wei Zheng's serious look, Li Chengqian suddenly remembered a part of Emperor Learning.

The courtiers and the emperor were originally relative but cooperated with each other. The emperor commanded the courtiers, and the courtiers restricted the emperor and restricted imperial power.If the master is strong and his ministers are weak, accidents will happen; if the master is weak and his ministers are strong, then big troubles will happen.Now, Wei Zheng is obviously worried about the former.

The emperor is just one person. If one person worries about the whole world, it will definitely become a blind worry.

Li Shimin now has some signs of going his own way. If this continues, ninety-nine percent, if not ten percent, he will be swallowed up by desire and power.

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian suddenly regretted tinkering with gunpowder.Without gunpowder weapons, even if Datang would still win external victories during this period of time, it would not be so complete.

Seeing Li Chengqian bowing his head in thought, Wen Yanbo couldn't help but glared at Changsun Wuji, and said softly, "Your Highness, I didn't mean to judge His Majesty when I told you this. You are still the crown prince. When you inherit the throne, you will be the prince." You will find that the taste of power will fascinate people, and no matter how strong and self-disciplined people are, they will involuntarily indulge in it. Therefore, it is impossible for a person to resist desire, and the courtier is the object of leverage. A person can judge things. It is possible to fall into a misunderstanding, and it is possible for two people, but for three or five people, the probability is much smaller."

Li Chengqian nodded, since Wen Yanbo was just speaking the truth and didn't involve the emperor, he could still respond.

At this time, Fang Xuanling also came back.Obviously, when he saw the prince was there, he couldn't help being stunned for a moment, but he still sighed and said: "It's decided, this time Mount Tai will be enshrined in Zen, it is inevitable, and at the same time, the treasury will pay for it."

"what?"

Hearing this news, Wei Zheng stood up straight away. Didn't the emperor agree to pay for it himself?Why did the treasury pay this time?No, this precedent cannot be set. Once it is set, it will be used by the emperor sooner or later, just like the previous few times.

Fang Xuanling laughed loudly and said, "Sit down, sit down, I haven't finished my words yet! The premise of the treasury's payment is that His Majesty is not going to ask for the bank's share, but transfer it to the treasury, how about it?"

"what?"

Not only Wei Zheng was surprised, but even Changsun Wuji stood up.The emperor's share in the bank is the largest. Although it has been settled, it is obvious that the previous two years cannot be compared with the past two years.Although it is hard to say the exact figure, there is no doubt that this will be a huge sum of money!As for the cost of Taishan Fengchan, it certainly cannot be compared with this.

Fang Xuanling smiled and said: "Don't look at this old man, this is not what this old man proposed, but His Majesty said it on his own initiative. Forget it, I don't need to worry, Taishan Fengchan is His Majesty's greatest wish, and he is also very clear that doing so will cause harm. I was dissatisfied with waiting, so I gave up the bank's profit as compensation."

"In this case, it seems that it is not a loss..."

Wei Zheng, who was righteous just a second ago, is now like a shopkeeper in a restaurant.

Obviously, the emperor didn't mean to indulge himself too much. He was the one who was narcissistic, and he was the one who knew how to measure. Facing such an emperor, not to mention Wei Zheng, even Li Chengqian was extremely helpless.

The emperor's father whose emotions are polarized to such a degree is really...

After getting up to leave, Li Chengqian felt that it was time for him to plan his itinerary.Participation in the Taishan Fengchan is a must. After the Fengchan, it will be autumn. The emperor must return to Chang'an, and he will go south to Lingnan.Taishan is the point of separation.

The news that the emperor wanted Mount Tai to be enshrined in Zen spread like wildfire, and the businessmen in Shandong were the most excited.Different from the emperor's journey to Dengzhou, starting from Dengzhou, the emperor must travel according to etiquette.The so-called etiquette, as long as it starts, is synonymous with burning money. Whether it is decoration or food for the army, businessmen can make a lot of money by taking this opportunity.

After replenishing the food and grass, the army dispatched, instead of boarding the boat, they took land, even though it was much slower than taking a boat.

The etiquette of the emperor offering sacrifices to heaven is already very complicated, but the etiquette of enshrining Zen, even Lu Kuan, the Minister of Rites, has to carry a notebook at all times to memorize it.

However, these are not related to Li Chengqian's business. After arranging Xiuxiu, Su Yuan, Qi Shi, and Yan Shi to ride in a carriage with the queen, he and Ashina Xue followed the big team on horseback.The costumes of the soldiers of the Tang army made Ashina Xue very novel. It would be impossible not to wear them like this. Whose prince and concubine rode a horse to show her face?

The emperor wanted to leave Dengzhou, which made the people of Dengzhou somewhat reluctant.

It didn't take long, but they had already begun to accept the emperor.He did not extort violently, and even defeated the Koreans.Especially during his tour of Dengzhou, Dengzhou has obviously become prosperous.

The emperor's carriage took the lead and drove out of the state capital of Dengzhou under the escort of the people in Dengzhou.

Li Chengqian, the crown prince, was honored to be assigned the post of "Double Empress", so he was the last to leave.

Riding through the city gate, seeing Zhao Yi hand in hand, he stopped his horse and said, "Zhao Yi, I'm waiting for the day when you realize your goal. Fang Yu, governor of Yanzhou, has a relationship with you at the front and rear levels of the college. He wants to develop Yanzhou's water transportation, so he will inevitably contact you. If the two of you can open up the waterway and become one, it will be a relationship of mutual prosperity."

Zhao Yi knew that this was already a point made on the surface, and immediately bent his waist a little: "Students, remember His Highness's instructions! Don't dare to slack off!"

Nodding his head, Li Chengqian also set off with his own lead.

Dengzhou is equivalent to Yantai City in the later generations, and Mount Tai is in Tai'an in the later generations. The distance between them is not a big deal on the map, but it is extremely difficult to walk.What's more, although there are "official roads" similar to expressways in Datang, there is obviously no such thing in Shandong.

From the main road to the small road, from the small road to the wilderness, sometimes it is even necessary for the army to open the way in order to advance.It is not allowed to retreat. After the etiquette begins, retreating is disrespectful to the heavens, so the team can only grit their teeth and move forward.

Although he can ride a horse, when did Li Chengqian try to ride a horse all day?Every day when I got off the horse, the first thing I couldn't bear was the crotch. The burning pain had to be treated with cold water from the stream to make it feel better.

He is not the only one who has the same situation. The same is true for Li Tai and Li Ke, and the same is true for civil servants. Even the generals have two broken chains.

Screaming and putting the cold towel on his thighs, Li Tai said helplessly, "It's better to take a car. We can go to Mount Tai by water, so why do we have to go by land? It's okay to go by land, why did we take the wrong road? Want to go on? Why bother!"

Li Ke also had the same expression after the cold compress, but he didn't scream. Hearing what Li Tai said, he reprimanded: "Shut up, you, this is stipulated by etiquette, and you have to do what you want! Here with us What are you two complaining about? If you have the ability, you can complain to your father? If it doesn’t work, why don’t you try to replace Yan Shi?"

Now the most comfortable ones in the team are the emperor's carriage and the queen's carriage.These two are the only ones who are qualified to take the carriage, and Su Yuan and others are only able to go up because of the Queen's kindness.

Hearing Li Ke said that Yan Shi should be replaced, Li Tai stopped screaming immediately: "Forget it, a man, what a fight with a woman, just bear with it!"

Li Chengqian really wanted to tell Li Tai that this kind of forbearance would last for more than ten days, but he swallowed the words again.It's better to rush without knowing anything, if you know the specific date, maybe it will collapse faster.

The tent was lifted, and it was Sun Simiao who walked in.Lao Sun was also invited by the emperor. After days of horseback riding, he couldn't maintain his demeanor anymore, and walking was also awkward.

Throwing the three small bags of ointment in front of the three brothers, Sun Simiao said: "Wipe this thing on, it will make you feel much better, and put a cotton pad on the saddle tomorrow, it will make you feel better."

After finishing speaking, Sun Simiao sat next to Li Chengqian. Although he didn't pull down his trousers to dry unrestrainedly, he frowned from time to time.

Rather than enduring the pain honestly, it is better to have a chat, so Li Chengqian took the initiative to provoke the topic: "Daozhang Sun, what have you learned from your stay in Dengzhou during this time?"

Sun Simiao was stunned for a moment, as if he was surprised that Li Chengqian brought it up, but he understood immediately, and replied: "You said that the thing called kelp can cure big neck disease. The old man tried it on the sick people in the inland area, and it is true. It is effective. However, when you say that sea cucumber is a great tonic, it is a bit exaggerated, and the idea of ​​strengthening yang is even more out of the question.

However, the veteran has visited folk remedies and found that the oil extracted from cod liver is really effective in treating night blindness and rickets.Even you, you have to eat it often in the future. Although your legs look like ordinary people now, I am afraid that you will still give birth to diseases when you get older. "

"Of course what you said is good advice, but ah, cod liver oil is not easy to store, it's better to get it in Dengzhou and eat it now, or take advantage of the winter to transport it to Chang'an..."

Seeing that Brother Huang and Daoist Sun chatted, his expressions became much more relaxed, and Li Tai couldn't help but interjected: "Brother Huang, you said that the three ships will go south along the coastline. Just go south?"

"Yeah, now the commander of the East China Sea Navy has become Uncle Xiaogong, and he also wants to go south with us. The three ships are parked in Jiaozhou Bay, and we can just go eastward and downstream by water, there is no need Riding suffers..."

Speaking of horse riding, the four of them felt that the pain that had been calmed down rose again...

The emperor awarded his Zen, but he had to bring so many people to suffer, no wonder he was willing to give up the bank's interests.If you don't make such a big concession, and don't announce that everyone in this industry will be rewarded before departure, who the hell can bear it?

Chapter 383 The Emperor's Temptation

Complaints are complaints, and we should persist or persist.

When passing by a place called Qinglong Mountain, the emperor finally ordered the whole army to rest for a day.

The procurement officials prepared a large amount of high-quality supplies. On this day of rest, everyone can not only rest, but also have a long-lost meal of meat.After all, traveling repeatedly, eating dry food and drinking boiled water all the time, is too sharpening one's will.

Since ancient China, there has been a saying of the four holy beasts. The blue dragon dominates the east and represents the tree of vitality.Qinglong Mountain is naturally a suitable place to rest, but in Li Chengqian's opinion, this so-called Qinglong Mountain is probably just one of the thousands of Qinglong Mountains in the Tang Dynasty, and it will not be very brilliant.

However, no matter how good he is, since the emperor has taken pleasure in it, he can only accompany him.

No one would be happy to be dragged up a mountain on a good day of rest, so Li Chengqian called Li Tai and Li Ke, who were gloating, and the original gloating suddenly turned into depression.

"Tsk, this mountain range is winding and undulating, really worthy of the name of Qinglong!"

Standing on the top of the mountain, the emperor enjoyed the mountain breeze with his hands behind his back, full of ambition.Although paying the bank's income in exchange for the opportunity of Taishan Fengchan, in his opinion, it is very worthwhile.